You know the phrase: the pot calling the kettle black? It's condemning someone for something we ourselves do. We are all guilty of it: metaphorically (or actually) pointing our fingers at someone else and thinking, I would never do that! What can that person be thinking? It's very easy to fall into that trap when thinking about the Israelites coming out of Egypt. They had just seen the 10 plagues, only three of which afflicted them. They'd seen Moses part the Red Sea in front of them. They were free. Then, just a few days later, they were complaining and grumbling against God. It seems incredible that if we were there, we'd do the same thing! But, I suspect that we'd do the very same thing they did.

The children are memorizing Deuteronomy 9:6 this week. It's a very convicting verse: "Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people."

Oh, that word "stubborn"! I know I'm stubborn, although I'd like to spin it into "persistent." Nevertheless, it's enough to make me stop and consider myself. What is it that God has given to me? He has blessed me with a great family: a wonderful husband and intelligent children. He has blessed me with a beautiful, comfortable home. I have plenty to eat, good health, and more blessings that I can count. It's tempting to think that I've gotten all that I've deserved. I've been obedient to God. I've been a good person. But that word "stubborn" pulls me up short. I know I'm stubborn. And I know that God has blessed me, not because I deserve it, not because I'm so good, not because I've been obedient to Him, but because He is so good. He is so merciful. He is gracious and long-suffering. He has given me so much to show to the world how much He can do with so little. It's for His glory.

It's a good reminder. The next time I'm tempted to look at someone else and either condemn them or praise them, I need to stop and consider that I have escaped condemnation for my sins, not that I should be praised, but that He should be praised. No more of the pot calling the kettle black.

Feast fever is rampant in our house. The children are SO ready to go to the Feast of Tabernacles and worship God. But they are also very adamant that they need to take their bicycles. As we speak, they are writing out all the reasons they can think of as to why they should be allowed to take their bikes.

Ron and I just looked at each other this morning and wondered, "Should they take their bikes?" We're thinking of the difficulty of getting them there, protecting them from the elements and theft while we're there, and even the necessity of taking the bikes to the Feast when there will be so many things to do outside of bike riding!

It's funny. The children are focused on what fun it will be to ride with their cousins and ride on the paved roads around the lake. We parents are focused on the logistics.

The kids are good for me. Sometimes I think I let too many of the adult pressures of how to make things work inhibit the doing of said things - thereby missing out of the fun things for which children are always ready.

I suspect we'll end up taking the bikes. I pray that I'll also take the lesson with me; sometimes the "doing" of a thing is worth the effort.  Selah!