Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a sunny day! It’s Donut day here and I then I went to Aldi’s since I never made it yesterday. Al has a dermatology appointment and then we have Bible Study here. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Have you heard the old saying, “He’s too smart for his britches!?” When said it is usually a warning to the person to be respectful and that he needs to watch what he is saying. Most often he is wrapped up in himself and swelled with self-importance.
   We’ve all met people that may feel very important because of their prestigious job, or the number of degrees after their name etc.; but what do we have that is not because of the grace of God?
   I was reading from Proverbs 26 (Message) yesterday and I was struck by the verse 12; it says, “See that man who thinks he’s smart? You can expect more from a fool than from him.”
  How many think they are so smart that they put others down, or that rules don’t apply to them; maybe that they deserve more attention because of their intellect and gifting?  But that is not the Jesus way.
 Apostle Paul was smart for he was a Pharisee with credentials, being highly educated by a rabbi Gamaliel. He was confident, and steeped in all the rules found in scripture and persecuted others who didn’t agree with his way of thinking. But when he met the Lord on the Damascus Road and was blinded for 3 days, he was a changed man. He no longer bragged about all he knew but he said in I Cor. 15: 10 (NRSV), “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace towards me has not been in vain.” Paul now saw himself in a different light and felt unworthy and undeserving to even be called an apostle. He often spoke of himself as a servant of the Lord.
  No matter how educated we might be, or high our I.Q., or how many trophies we have, it is no cause to think highly of ourselves; but let us be humble as Jesus was and instead give thanks for His amazing grace to us.
  Challenge for today: Softly sing or say the words to “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a retch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”
 Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy