"She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands." Proverbs 31:13
I'm not even sure how to begin this morning with my posting here. It's really been a remarkable weekend, and when I keep thinking on it, I'm totally overwhelmed. Truly overwhelmed, because God spoke to me this weekend, and I'm still processing how incredible this was. And the thing is, when Thursday evening arrived- the first night of this weekend's conference, I was totally chastising myself. I was feeling like I'd not appropriately prepared myself for the weekend. In the days leading up, I would think about really sitting down with my Bible, even fasting in preparation, and I did nothing. I did the barest Bible reading last week- I think I only progressed through about four chapters in six days. So I kind of scolded myself, but then I decided that I was not going to dwell on that at all, and I was really going to dig in and experience this weekend. I was not going to let the distractions going on in normal everyday life get to me this weekend while we were spending time with God.
It was a great weekend. And I think I'll be spending a bit of this week sharing bits and pieces. Because it's way too much to share at once. My brain cannot process it all at once. But one thing that came to mind to me this morning, just now was how my attitude was this weekend. I just wanted to make the most of it. The last conference we had was in the middle of a busy recital weekend, so while I was able to participate, I had to keep my mind on the clock and on my kids, and I just wasn't able to really just focus on what was going on in front of me. So this weekend, I purposed to focus. And it was delightful.
God reminded me of something this weekend in a very big way. Two years ago, I came up with this crazy idea to bake and pray. At the time I was excited about it, but the more I thought on the idea of baking and praying for people while I baked just started to sound silly. Add to that that since then, the checkbook has been a little snug, so buying extra ingredients for baking sprees hasn't been much in the cards. I've thought on that a lot since then, and every once in a while I'll have a thought to bake something for someone- and then I dismiss it. Well. Apparently I need to stop dismissing, because God used an international speaker, television producer and author to tell me from the pulpit that I needed to get back to this baking. Seriously.
It was an extremely cool moment for me, because what she was telling me about baking was not new news to me. She was saying how my baking will bless people- and I knew that. But this was, in fact, complete 100% confirmation to me that this idea I had had two years ago, was not a nutball idea. It was a God idea, and I need to take action on it. Of course the practical part of my flesh kicked right in as soon as she was done speaking to me, and I thought, baking is all well and good, but it costs money to buy ingredients. Literally, within seconds of sitting back down, these were the very thoughts that went through my head. It's incredible to me how quickly the devil will try to steal something from a person. Within seconds, I went from this awesome feeling to second-guessing it.
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
Well, I saw what was going on, and I started praying about baking. I had a nice little talk with God about it, and I thanked Him for sharing with me in that way, and then I told Him that I was going to be expecting the ability to do this baking. By that, I meant that the ingredients would be there- the finances would be there to buy them, and the time would be there to do the baking itself. And I assured God that I was not going to let the devil steal this away from me a second time. I was going to cling to it and remind myself about it, and I was going to get into gear to do this baking. I'm going to be spending time in the next few weeks going through my favorite baking cookbooks and making notes- notes about which people come to mind when I see a specific recipe. Seriously, in the last few weeks I've had such an itch to work on some cookie baking. I have thoughts and ideas and I've wanted to work on a few new recipes, but lack of funds for such an endeavor has kept me from doing so.
I am a very firm believer that if God plants a seed of an idea inside of us, that He wants us to bring to fruition, that He will make a way for that idea to blossom. I just know that I know that I know that God wants me to do this baking- AND HE will make a way for that baking to be done in all areas of my life. He will make a way with the extra time to do the baking, and He will provide the necessary ingredients and tools as well. And most importantly, He will keep this desire alive inside of me, and show me, through the Holy Spirit, when I am supposed to activate this baking ministry. He will show me who needs the blessing of baking, and He will make that possible.
And I think with that, I may go see if I can find something to bake today. Tomorrow I will share something else that God spoke to me about this weekend. Something that, well, I truly did not expect.
Monday, August 08, 2011
Thursday, August 04, 2011
One Of The Purposes of Prophecy
" In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’”
2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, 3 “Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5 “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. 6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.”’”
This passage in the Bible has been on my mind all week. In my Bible reading, I keep coming back to it and reading it again, because it really shows what the purpose is in prophecy. There are so many times where I'll read about someone prophesying a disaster, and I wonder why we are to know about it ahead of time- what is the purpose there?
The purpose in this case was so that prayer could happen. Isaiah went to Hezekiah and told him, basically to prepare for death, that his time was up, and he should get his affairs in order before God took him home. Hezekiah had two choices there- was he going to accept the word of the prophet and simply do as told- prepare to die- OR was he going to head to his knees and ask God for mercy. Hezekiah chose the second one and asked God to change his mind. And He did. Before Isaiah had even left the building, he returned to Hezekiah and told him that God had heard his pleas, and would grant him his request. The more I read this, the more I think that it is just really cool!
Maybe there are times where you see or hear how a prophet has shared that a disaster is coming to an area. You hear that, and there are two things that you can do. One, you can just accept that the disaster is coming, and prepare accordingly. OR you can do as Hezekiah did, and spend time interceding and talking to God about it. THAT is one of the prime purposes of prophecy. God warns us about some things because He wants to hear us. He wants to hear His children in prayer, asking Him for forgiveness and mercy.
And honestly, the same can be said for any time anyone shares something of a prophetic nature with us- even something personal. If someone were to come up to me and tell me that they really felt that God wanted me to be a Pastor, I wouldn't just automatically go, oh, okay, and then take the necessary steps- like going to Bible school. Instead I would think on that, and spend a lot of time praying about it, talking to God about it, and most importantly- in that case, I would want confirmation. And that would really apply to anything- if someone came up to me and said that I was supposed to be a missionary to some country, I would want confirmation. If someone came up to me and told me something about one of my children, I would really want confirmation. But in all these things, my number one response would be prayer.
Over the years I have heard more words and prophecies regarding the future of this country, and my response to them all has been exactly the same. I pray. I started Warfare Wednesday to pray for the President, because I don't think that enough Christians ARE praying for our president. But as this presidency has gone on, I've also spent a lot of my Wednesdays praying for our country and other countries around the world as they come to mind. Because God wants to hear His children talk to Him. Maybe it doesn't make total sense. Why would God send a prophecy about a natural disaster and then change his mind? And yet He does! Just look back to when the earthquake and tsunami hit in Japan, and there was a serious tsunami headed towards Hawaii and the West Coast of this country. I truly believe that it was the prayer and intercession of the Christians in this country that caused God to stay the waves and cause very little damage.
I know there are many people out there who are against or on the fence about the whole idea of prophecy and prophetic words. I get that- maybe it seems a little to Old Testament, or a little out there. But let me just say this. If our reaction to prophecy is to pray, how can it really be bad? Oh, there are bad prophets and bad prophetic words, but regardless, if our reaction to any word- whether for ourselves, those around us, or for our region- is to go to our knees and talk to God about it, how can it be bad. If it's not meant to be heeded- if it's a false word, it won't happen anyways, and instead, we've just added our prayer to others prayers and, well, we've just spent time talking to God! That's never a bad thing- to talk to our Heavenly Father.
And that should be our reaction. Whether we agree or disagree with the whole idea of prophecy- when we do hear it, rather than just dismiss it entirely, simply commit the matter to prayer. Talk to God about it, and He will direct you in the way you are to go. He's a loving Father, and He will not steer us in a bad direction. People may steer us in a bad direction, but when we turn to God, He will help us get back to the right path and will show us the truth. Lean on God, and let Him deal with right or wrong.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5,6
2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, 3 “Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5 “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. 6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.”’”
This passage in the Bible has been on my mind all week. In my Bible reading, I keep coming back to it and reading it again, because it really shows what the purpose is in prophecy. There are so many times where I'll read about someone prophesying a disaster, and I wonder why we are to know about it ahead of time- what is the purpose there?
The purpose in this case was so that prayer could happen. Isaiah went to Hezekiah and told him, basically to prepare for death, that his time was up, and he should get his affairs in order before God took him home. Hezekiah had two choices there- was he going to accept the word of the prophet and simply do as told- prepare to die- OR was he going to head to his knees and ask God for mercy. Hezekiah chose the second one and asked God to change his mind. And He did. Before Isaiah had even left the building, he returned to Hezekiah and told him that God had heard his pleas, and would grant him his request. The more I read this, the more I think that it is just really cool!
Maybe there are times where you see or hear how a prophet has shared that a disaster is coming to an area. You hear that, and there are two things that you can do. One, you can just accept that the disaster is coming, and prepare accordingly. OR you can do as Hezekiah did, and spend time interceding and talking to God about it. THAT is one of the prime purposes of prophecy. God warns us about some things because He wants to hear us. He wants to hear His children in prayer, asking Him for forgiveness and mercy.
And honestly, the same can be said for any time anyone shares something of a prophetic nature with us- even something personal. If someone were to come up to me and tell me that they really felt that God wanted me to be a Pastor, I wouldn't just automatically go, oh, okay, and then take the necessary steps- like going to Bible school. Instead I would think on that, and spend a lot of time praying about it, talking to God about it, and most importantly- in that case, I would want confirmation. And that would really apply to anything- if someone came up to me and said that I was supposed to be a missionary to some country, I would want confirmation. If someone came up to me and told me something about one of my children, I would really want confirmation. But in all these things, my number one response would be prayer.
Over the years I have heard more words and prophecies regarding the future of this country, and my response to them all has been exactly the same. I pray. I started Warfare Wednesday to pray for the President, because I don't think that enough Christians ARE praying for our president. But as this presidency has gone on, I've also spent a lot of my Wednesdays praying for our country and other countries around the world as they come to mind. Because God wants to hear His children talk to Him. Maybe it doesn't make total sense. Why would God send a prophecy about a natural disaster and then change his mind? And yet He does! Just look back to when the earthquake and tsunami hit in Japan, and there was a serious tsunami headed towards Hawaii and the West Coast of this country. I truly believe that it was the prayer and intercession of the Christians in this country that caused God to stay the waves and cause very little damage.
I know there are many people out there who are against or on the fence about the whole idea of prophecy and prophetic words. I get that- maybe it seems a little to Old Testament, or a little out there. But let me just say this. If our reaction to prophecy is to pray, how can it really be bad? Oh, there are bad prophets and bad prophetic words, but regardless, if our reaction to any word- whether for ourselves, those around us, or for our region- is to go to our knees and talk to God about it, how can it be bad. If it's not meant to be heeded- if it's a false word, it won't happen anyways, and instead, we've just added our prayer to others prayers and, well, we've just spent time talking to God! That's never a bad thing- to talk to our Heavenly Father.
And that should be our reaction. Whether we agree or disagree with the whole idea of prophecy- when we do hear it, rather than just dismiss it entirely, simply commit the matter to prayer. Talk to God about it, and He will direct you in the way you are to go. He's a loving Father, and He will not steer us in a bad direction. People may steer us in a bad direction, but when we turn to God, He will help us get back to the right path and will show us the truth. Lean on God, and let Him deal with right or wrong.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5,6
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Warfare Wednesday
"Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need." Acts 4:32-35
I had a dream last night or early this morning about vegetables. In this dream, we were in a town that was growing vegetables. By that, I mean, that instead of flowers, decorative plants, and trees. They were grown along the sides of roads and in patches where there was simply green space before. And the best part of all these vegetables was that anyone could simply help themselves when they needed it. And they did. I watched as people would harvest a melon, a few zucchini and a few beets and take them home to make dinner. No one sat and harvested everything and no one hoarded it all to themselves. Vegetables for everyone!
I woke up thinking about that place- a place where people were not going hungry, and everyone was willing to share with everyone else. There was no selfishness by anyone, and the city workers who were planting and tending these vegetables were overjoyed to do their job. AS I really think on this- what an incredibly simple idea that in reality, could work on so many levels. Oh, I don't think cities and communities will start planting kale and zucchini instead of flowers in their planters, but the simple idea of having real community gardens. There are community gardens all over the place, but normally they are of the type that people rent out plots of specific spaces and then can treat that small space as their own. Instead, these different kind of community gardens would simply be in neighborhoods of need, and people could help themselves as they needed them.
This dream comes on the heels of another investigation into salmonella-tainted meat AND the discovery of a resistant strain of salmonella- a superbug that won't respond to the usual medications used to treat it. While my dream was delightful and idyllic, the sobering reality is that we still need to be praying for one of the basic necessities for human life- food. This is a multi-purpose prayer this morning, because we clearly need to pray for the safety of our food supply. We need to pray that superbugs and germs will cease to exist and contaminate our food- and we need to pray that those who would wish to do harm by introducing these things into our food would be stopped before they could do so. Additionally though, we need to be praying for the people who have serious food needs. There are just so many- I was just reading in the paper about how every single food pantry in our area has reported an increase in use. This shouldn't be! In an affluent society, there should not be people struggling to put food on the table.
Additionally, talking about people who don't have enough to eat completely reminds me of the heartbreaking situation in Somalia. There is severe drought there, and the people are literally starving to death. As if that wasn't bad enough, when relief organizations try to deliver food to the shanty towns of starving people, terrorists threaten the relief workers, and the food is sent away undelivered. Completely heart wrenching. I would pray that these terrorists will have a change of heart- may their eyes be opened to the truth, and may they experience a love and compassion like never before! Their fellow countrymen are starving to death for what? To simply prove a point? I am praying that food will get to these people- and not just a little handful of this or that, but real food- substantial sustenance that will nourish and fill those bellies.
As I sit here writing this morning, my stomach is indeed empty. I woke up hungry, and actually, I think I went to bed feeling a little hungry. But the fact is, that I can get up at any time and walk to the kitchen and get myself something to eat. There are dozens of options available to me. For millions of people around the world, these hunger pains are normal, everyday, and they can go days without anything to put in their bellies.
People should not be hungry for food. Ever. This is a terrible injustice, and to be honest, I don't even know how to pray for it! I guess I would pray that people's eyes would be opened to the need around them- and that those who have would be moved to help those who have not. God knows the answers to the extreme hunger around the world. God certainly loves those people in Somalia, may the rest of the world see that love and be moved to do something about the great need there.
I had a dream last night or early this morning about vegetables. In this dream, we were in a town that was growing vegetables. By that, I mean, that instead of flowers, decorative plants, and trees. They were grown along the sides of roads and in patches where there was simply green space before. And the best part of all these vegetables was that anyone could simply help themselves when they needed it. And they did. I watched as people would harvest a melon, a few zucchini and a few beets and take them home to make dinner. No one sat and harvested everything and no one hoarded it all to themselves. Vegetables for everyone!
I woke up thinking about that place- a place where people were not going hungry, and everyone was willing to share with everyone else. There was no selfishness by anyone, and the city workers who were planting and tending these vegetables were overjoyed to do their job. AS I really think on this- what an incredibly simple idea that in reality, could work on so many levels. Oh, I don't think cities and communities will start planting kale and zucchini instead of flowers in their planters, but the simple idea of having real community gardens. There are community gardens all over the place, but normally they are of the type that people rent out plots of specific spaces and then can treat that small space as their own. Instead, these different kind of community gardens would simply be in neighborhoods of need, and people could help themselves as they needed them.
This dream comes on the heels of another investigation into salmonella-tainted meat AND the discovery of a resistant strain of salmonella- a superbug that won't respond to the usual medications used to treat it. While my dream was delightful and idyllic, the sobering reality is that we still need to be praying for one of the basic necessities for human life- food. This is a multi-purpose prayer this morning, because we clearly need to pray for the safety of our food supply. We need to pray that superbugs and germs will cease to exist and contaminate our food- and we need to pray that those who would wish to do harm by introducing these things into our food would be stopped before they could do so. Additionally though, we need to be praying for the people who have serious food needs. There are just so many- I was just reading in the paper about how every single food pantry in our area has reported an increase in use. This shouldn't be! In an affluent society, there should not be people struggling to put food on the table.
Additionally, talking about people who don't have enough to eat completely reminds me of the heartbreaking situation in Somalia. There is severe drought there, and the people are literally starving to death. As if that wasn't bad enough, when relief organizations try to deliver food to the shanty towns of starving people, terrorists threaten the relief workers, and the food is sent away undelivered. Completely heart wrenching. I would pray that these terrorists will have a change of heart- may their eyes be opened to the truth, and may they experience a love and compassion like never before! Their fellow countrymen are starving to death for what? To simply prove a point? I am praying that food will get to these people- and not just a little handful of this or that, but real food- substantial sustenance that will nourish and fill those bellies.
As I sit here writing this morning, my stomach is indeed empty. I woke up hungry, and actually, I think I went to bed feeling a little hungry. But the fact is, that I can get up at any time and walk to the kitchen and get myself something to eat. There are dozens of options available to me. For millions of people around the world, these hunger pains are normal, everyday, and they can go days without anything to put in their bellies.
People should not be hungry for food. Ever. This is a terrible injustice, and to be honest, I don't even know how to pray for it! I guess I would pray that people's eyes would be opened to the need around them- and that those who have would be moved to help those who have not. God knows the answers to the extreme hunger around the world. God certainly loves those people in Somalia, may the rest of the world see that love and be moved to do something about the great need there.
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
The Princesses Will Wake Up!
"Awake, awake, Deborah!
Awake, awake, sing a song!" Judges 5:12
When I first began digging into this Bible blogging thing, I was amazed with how many Bible blogs were out there. In the five years that I've been doing this, that number has grown exponentially- there are so many people out there blogging about the Bible. And why not? Blogging is a fabulous way to do some journaling- to chronicle our individual journeys to becoming what God wants us to be. I have no doubt that if Paul were alive today, he would be an exceptional blogger. That would be a fun blog to visit each and every day! Five years ago I was particularly interested in all the blogs that spoke directly to women. There were many women out there striving to be the best wife/mother/help meet they could be, and would tell their tales and share scripture that encouraged them.
The thing about many of these women who blog? That's their only voice, because they're trying to live the life of a silent, shrinking violet. Titus 2 is often the chosen passage leading these women into subservience.
"the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Titus 2:4,5
Somehow, women all over the place have decided that "reverent in behavior" means that they are to be silent and submissive. So I looked up reverence, and it simply means to show honor and respect. It does not mean to stay silent, to have downcast eyes, and it does not mean that because you are a women, you are no better than a piece of furniture. In the most basic of examples, we show respect to someone when we allow them to finish speaking before we interject. We show respect to a pregnant woman by standing up and offering our seat when we can. We show respect when we hold the door open for the person behind us. We honor someone by remembering to wish them a happy birthday. We honor someone by giving them a small gift to let them know we were thinking of them. We honor someone by simply listening to what they have to say.
And look! Women are to be teachers of good things! And good things is not just the life of a domestic servant- how to cook, clean, sew and bear children. Yes, I am a housewife, I take care of the household needs to the best of my abilities, it's part of who I am and who I am meant to be. But I am also meant to be a teacher of good things! What could be more good than the goodness of God? When God speaks to me or shows me something, I am supposed to share it, to teach it to others- I am not meant to keep it to myself and only speak when spoken to...
I think that things are changing in the church. For far too long, women have had a secondary role, and it's time for them to wake up! It's time for the women to share all these wonderful things that God has been giving them, but they haven't been able to share!
I also decided to look up the word "discreet" in the dictionary, because I have a mental image of doing something in secret or quiet. But in actuality, the word discreet means "to show discernment or good judgement in conduct and in speech". It means that you think twice before gossiping, and then choose not to share those gossipy details. It means that you pray for wise words before going to someone and discussing something personal to them. It means that you are thoughtful, simply thinking before speaking instead of just blurting something hurtful out. It means that instead of tying one on at that wedding and drinking yourself into a stupor, you wisely chose one glass of wine with dinner and then have soft drinks the rest of the evening.
I am a quiet person myself. I just prefer to take everything in, and not fill the air with meaningless chatter. That's just who I am. But someone once told me that people often think that the quiet ones get walked all over and dismissed, but in fact, are actually the people who are confident and know who they are. What the women in the church need today is confidence. For too long they've been told that they are second rate simply because they are women- they are first rate, and God wants them to know that. The fact of the matter is that I am a daughter of the King, which means that I truly am a princess. A princess is not a wallflower meant to be silent and admired from afar. A princess takes an active role in her duties, giving direction and assistance to the people around her.
Almost every single little girl goes through a period in her life where she wants to be a princess. I remember when Abigail was four and we went to Disney, she wanted to meet the princesses more than anything. She wanted a princess dress so she could be just like Sleeping Beauty, so we got her one, and she spent the day floating about just like a princess. The truly incredible thing about all the princess playing that little girls do is that it really isn't as pretend as we all make it out to be. Every girl and woman is a daughter of God. When they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they attain the rights to put on the princess tiara and carry themselves accordingly. She should be proud to be a daughter of the King, and no longer be afraid to speak up. It's time for a whole legion of princesses to wake up and realize that they DO in fact have something to say- and something to do.
Do you know what one of the best, most stereotypical traits of a princess is? She is benevolent- caring and compassionate. A princess will have compassion on those in need around her, and will go the extra mile to see that everyone is clothed and fed, and has a roof over their head. We just need to take that a step further, and in addition to the physical well-being, we should pray for spiritual well-being for those around us.
We are to be wallflowers no longer. We are to rise up and take our proper places as Princesses of the Kingdom of God.
Awake, awake, sing a song!" Judges 5:12
When I first began digging into this Bible blogging thing, I was amazed with how many Bible blogs were out there. In the five years that I've been doing this, that number has grown exponentially- there are so many people out there blogging about the Bible. And why not? Blogging is a fabulous way to do some journaling- to chronicle our individual journeys to becoming what God wants us to be. I have no doubt that if Paul were alive today, he would be an exceptional blogger. That would be a fun blog to visit each and every day! Five years ago I was particularly interested in all the blogs that spoke directly to women. There were many women out there striving to be the best wife/mother/help meet they could be, and would tell their tales and share scripture that encouraged them.
The thing about many of these women who blog? That's their only voice, because they're trying to live the life of a silent, shrinking violet. Titus 2 is often the chosen passage leading these women into subservience.
"the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Titus 2:4,5
Somehow, women all over the place have decided that "reverent in behavior" means that they are to be silent and submissive. So I looked up reverence, and it simply means to show honor and respect. It does not mean to stay silent, to have downcast eyes, and it does not mean that because you are a women, you are no better than a piece of furniture. In the most basic of examples, we show respect to someone when we allow them to finish speaking before we interject. We show respect to a pregnant woman by standing up and offering our seat when we can. We show respect when we hold the door open for the person behind us. We honor someone by remembering to wish them a happy birthday. We honor someone by giving them a small gift to let them know we were thinking of them. We honor someone by simply listening to what they have to say.
And look! Women are to be teachers of good things! And good things is not just the life of a domestic servant- how to cook, clean, sew and bear children. Yes, I am a housewife, I take care of the household needs to the best of my abilities, it's part of who I am and who I am meant to be. But I am also meant to be a teacher of good things! What could be more good than the goodness of God? When God speaks to me or shows me something, I am supposed to share it, to teach it to others- I am not meant to keep it to myself and only speak when spoken to...
I think that things are changing in the church. For far too long, women have had a secondary role, and it's time for them to wake up! It's time for the women to share all these wonderful things that God has been giving them, but they haven't been able to share!
I also decided to look up the word "discreet" in the dictionary, because I have a mental image of doing something in secret or quiet. But in actuality, the word discreet means "to show discernment or good judgement in conduct and in speech". It means that you think twice before gossiping, and then choose not to share those gossipy details. It means that you pray for wise words before going to someone and discussing something personal to them. It means that you are thoughtful, simply thinking before speaking instead of just blurting something hurtful out. It means that instead of tying one on at that wedding and drinking yourself into a stupor, you wisely chose one glass of wine with dinner and then have soft drinks the rest of the evening.
I am a quiet person myself. I just prefer to take everything in, and not fill the air with meaningless chatter. That's just who I am. But someone once told me that people often think that the quiet ones get walked all over and dismissed, but in fact, are actually the people who are confident and know who they are. What the women in the church need today is confidence. For too long they've been told that they are second rate simply because they are women- they are first rate, and God wants them to know that. The fact of the matter is that I am a daughter of the King, which means that I truly am a princess. A princess is not a wallflower meant to be silent and admired from afar. A princess takes an active role in her duties, giving direction and assistance to the people around her.
Almost every single little girl goes through a period in her life where she wants to be a princess. I remember when Abigail was four and we went to Disney, she wanted to meet the princesses more than anything. She wanted a princess dress so she could be just like Sleeping Beauty, so we got her one, and she spent the day floating about just like a princess. The truly incredible thing about all the princess playing that little girls do is that it really isn't as pretend as we all make it out to be. Every girl and woman is a daughter of God. When they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they attain the rights to put on the princess tiara and carry themselves accordingly. She should be proud to be a daughter of the King, and no longer be afraid to speak up. It's time for a whole legion of princesses to wake up and realize that they DO in fact have something to say- and something to do.
Do you know what one of the best, most stereotypical traits of a princess is? She is benevolent- caring and compassionate. A princess will have compassion on those in need around her, and will go the extra mile to see that everyone is clothed and fed, and has a roof over their head. We just need to take that a step further, and in addition to the physical well-being, we should pray for spiritual well-being for those around us.
We are to be wallflowers no longer. We are to rise up and take our proper places as Princesses of the Kingdom of God.
Monday, August 01, 2011
Hope
"You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word." Psalm 119:114
"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:5
There is always hope. I was thinking about hope on my drive home from church last night, because I just felt it. The last couple of months have been a little tough at times for me. There have been moments where I've almost felt despair at different situations, and it looks like things are just impossible. But I've kept those things in prayer, and spent time talking to God and reminding Him of promises, and last night as I drove home, thinking that this morning was a new beginning to a new month, I was just flooded with so much hope.
And that got me thinking about many of the books I read and the movies I've watched in the past. I read quite a bit of fantasy, and there is one consistent among all the different books I've read- there is always hope for someone in the story. Even in disaster type movies, where things are coming to an end, parents will hide children away and then fight themselves to the death, because as long as their children are alive to live on, there is always hope.
I'm waiting this morning for news of a new nephews arrival, and as I think of that precious new life, there is another kind of hope- hope for this new life, that he may find such joy in everything he sets his hands and mind to.
See, there's always a new day! I can have the worst day on earth, but at the end of it, I get to go to bed and sleep, and then wake up with a whole new day- yesterday is never coming back, it can't be re-lived, so there is always hope that tomorrow will be better.
And there is always hope in God,and there is hope in knowing that all the struggles we go through here on earth are helping to shape us and mold us into the people that God wants us to be. He doesn't send the struggles our way- we do that to ourselves, or the destroyer does it to us- but God will use those struggles, He will use them to help us learn to hear His voice, and He will use them to teach us so many valuable lessons. That in itself is a great hope. When I'm going through something, I love to focus on the hope that God gives- I have hope that there will be an end to the struggle, and I look forward to looking back and seeing the lessons learned along the way.
Just look at that verse above from Romans- just reading it again this morning floods my very being with warmth and hope.
"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:5
The love of God has been poured out into our hearts... THAT is a great hope and a wonderful feeling. And it gives me so much hope for the day ahead- it's going to be a great day indeed. In fact, this whole week is going to be wonderful, and the whole month of August is going to be special, because as of right now- it's new. It's new and it's beautiful, and it gives me great hope this morning.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:5
There is always hope. I was thinking about hope on my drive home from church last night, because I just felt it. The last couple of months have been a little tough at times for me. There have been moments where I've almost felt despair at different situations, and it looks like things are just impossible. But I've kept those things in prayer, and spent time talking to God and reminding Him of promises, and last night as I drove home, thinking that this morning was a new beginning to a new month, I was just flooded with so much hope.
And that got me thinking about many of the books I read and the movies I've watched in the past. I read quite a bit of fantasy, and there is one consistent among all the different books I've read- there is always hope for someone in the story. Even in disaster type movies, where things are coming to an end, parents will hide children away and then fight themselves to the death, because as long as their children are alive to live on, there is always hope.
I'm waiting this morning for news of a new nephews arrival, and as I think of that precious new life, there is another kind of hope- hope for this new life, that he may find such joy in everything he sets his hands and mind to.
See, there's always a new day! I can have the worst day on earth, but at the end of it, I get to go to bed and sleep, and then wake up with a whole new day- yesterday is never coming back, it can't be re-lived, so there is always hope that tomorrow will be better.
And there is always hope in God,and there is hope in knowing that all the struggles we go through here on earth are helping to shape us and mold us into the people that God wants us to be. He doesn't send the struggles our way- we do that to ourselves, or the destroyer does it to us- but God will use those struggles, He will use them to help us learn to hear His voice, and He will use them to teach us so many valuable lessons. That in itself is a great hope. When I'm going through something, I love to focus on the hope that God gives- I have hope that there will be an end to the struggle, and I look forward to looking back and seeing the lessons learned along the way.
Just look at that verse above from Romans- just reading it again this morning floods my very being with warmth and hope.
"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:5
The love of God has been poured out into our hearts... THAT is a great hope and a wonderful feeling. And it gives me so much hope for the day ahead- it's going to be a great day indeed. In fact, this whole week is going to be wonderful, and the whole month of August is going to be special, because as of right now- it's new. It's new and it's beautiful, and it gives me great hope this morning.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Warfare Wednesday
"Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5
Over the last few days here in our country, there has been a lot of talking- and not much action. And all the talking is... well, not much. No one even wants to listen to it anymore, because neither side is correct. This verse in Psalms? This is what we need. Instead of just one side coming up with an idea, we need BOTH sides to agree together to do what is right. And to do what is right, they need to go back to some of the reasons this country was founded and remember that God is our nations sovereign. God is the head of the United States of America, and we could be rid of these troubled times if the people would only remember that.
And so I pray this morning for President Obama. I pray that He will see that everything he does is nothing without God. I pray that He will turn to God in this hour of need for our nation's finances, and that He will hear from God in a very real way. I also pray this morning for House Speaker John Boehner. May he turn to God and seek Godly wisdom for the problems our country is facing. If both of these men will seek God's will for this country, we will see things turn around. God knows exactly what needs to be done here, He's just waiting for the right people to seek Him out for the answers. May God become very, very real in Washington DC right now.
I also want to pray this morning for the people in the country of Norway. I pray for the families who have been affected by this tragedy- may they find comfort in knowing that their loved ones are now celebrating with Jesus- and may God give that country peace. May the people have no fear in going about their day to day lives.
I also pray this morning for the people of South Korea who have been dealing with intense and abundant rain- may that rain not bring any further destruction to the people of that country. Instead, may it be a sign to them that God wants to pour out his blessings upon that nation. May the people turn to God with all their hearts and may He give them peace as they deal with the loss of their friends and neighbors due to landslides.
And finally this morning, I want to return to the country of Haiti for some prayer. I pray for their new president, Michel Martelly, who has been struggling to learn how to BE president. The people are growing restless as he finds his feet and learns how to govern, and he has been the target of recent protests. I pray that he would also turn to God for the answers for his impoverished country. I pray that he will be protected from those who would do him harm, and I pray that he will find a way to give aid to the people who need it most. May God bless the people of Haiti, and may He give them encouragement when they need it most.
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5
Over the last few days here in our country, there has been a lot of talking- and not much action. And all the talking is... well, not much. No one even wants to listen to it anymore, because neither side is correct. This verse in Psalms? This is what we need. Instead of just one side coming up with an idea, we need BOTH sides to agree together to do what is right. And to do what is right, they need to go back to some of the reasons this country was founded and remember that God is our nations sovereign. God is the head of the United States of America, and we could be rid of these troubled times if the people would only remember that.
And so I pray this morning for President Obama. I pray that He will see that everything he does is nothing without God. I pray that He will turn to God in this hour of need for our nation's finances, and that He will hear from God in a very real way. I also pray this morning for House Speaker John Boehner. May he turn to God and seek Godly wisdom for the problems our country is facing. If both of these men will seek God's will for this country, we will see things turn around. God knows exactly what needs to be done here, He's just waiting for the right people to seek Him out for the answers. May God become very, very real in Washington DC right now.
I also want to pray this morning for the people in the country of Norway. I pray for the families who have been affected by this tragedy- may they find comfort in knowing that their loved ones are now celebrating with Jesus- and may God give that country peace. May the people have no fear in going about their day to day lives.
I also pray this morning for the people of South Korea who have been dealing with intense and abundant rain- may that rain not bring any further destruction to the people of that country. Instead, may it be a sign to them that God wants to pour out his blessings upon that nation. May the people turn to God with all their hearts and may He give them peace as they deal with the loss of their friends and neighbors due to landslides.
And finally this morning, I want to return to the country of Haiti for some prayer. I pray for their new president, Michel Martelly, who has been struggling to learn how to BE president. The people are growing restless as he finds his feet and learns how to govern, and he has been the target of recent protests. I pray that he would also turn to God for the answers for his impoverished country. I pray that he will be protected from those who would do him harm, and I pray that he will find a way to give aid to the people who need it most. May God bless the people of Haiti, and may He give them encouragement when they need it most.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Don't Lose Sleep
"Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:" Isaiah 26:4 (KJV)
"So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]." Isaiah 26:4 (AMP)
Surely I'm not the only one who lays awake at night trying to solve problems in my head... I can't tell you how many times in the past I would literally lose half a night of sleep just because I kept thinking on different situations. Most recently, one of the very things that I would lose sleep over was a few months ago when I was in a place where I really didn't want to play drums at church. I would literally lay awake half the night on a Saturday night, worried that no drummers would show up the next day and I would have to play. Of course, now I look back and I just shake my head. All that worry for nothing. All that lost sleep for nothing! With God's help, I've been able to play the drums decently, and so far anyway, I have not embarrassed myself at all- which was one of the things those sleepless nights were about.
When I click on the news pages right now, I'm taken to headlines about the bickering going on at Capitol Hill and if I really thought on it, I could totally see myself worrying about all that is going on there. I could see many a heated discussion forming with various opinions, but you know what? As I read about what is going on, all I can really do is pray about it. Last night the President made an appeal to the American people to let our voices be heard, and I have to tell you, at this point, I don't think it's about having our voices heard at all. It's about hearing the voice of God- and acting on what God would have us do for this country.
I am certain there are plenty of people losing sleep about what is going on in our country these days. More than that, every day there are random things that come up and try to rob of us of our precious sleep. Really- think of all those scenarios and situations that you really have no control over, yet you stay awake thinking on them and worrying about them. All that does for us is... well, nothing. We don't get our much needed sleep, and since we can't do anything about the problem anyway, coming up with any kind of solution is really a pointless activity.
So what do we do in those situations? We put our trust in God. We put our trust in knowing that God knows what is going on- and we tell Him so. At the end of June we had our family camping trip. While we were gone on our vacation, we were anticipating an e-mail containing our new schedule for the dance season. There was one night when we were in the middle of the woods, and I was lying awake fretting about that e-mail. I was worried that we were going to get scheduled at a time or on a day that wouldn't work for us for a class or two. And yet, that worry was completely pointless. I was in the middle of the woods! It would be days before I would get the e-mail containing our schedule, and THEN I would be able to deal with it. Worrying about it and ruining our vacation because of it was completely pointless. I finally realized that, and I had a chat with God. I told Him that He knew our schedule, and that He wouldn't have allowed our classes to be placed on days when we'd indicated that we weren't available.
When all was said and done, the schedule worked out fine. It needed a little tweaking, but the major worries I had were completely unfounded and were a non-issue. That's how we need to approach these sleep-eating issues. We need to follow the words of Isaiah and place our trust in God. In all things! Even better- look at that verse above! We can trust in God FOREVER. Not just today, not just about tomorrow or next week. We can trust in God every single day of our lives. And honestly- for us Americans, anyway, should we need a reminder of that, all we need to do is look at a piece of our currency, and see the words "In God We Trust". It seems to me that our government needs to be reminded of this and turn to the One who holds all the answers in the palm of His hand. If we lean on God, HE will be our Rock and our Strength for each and every moment that we need Him to be there for.
"So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]." Isaiah 26:4 (AMP)
Surely I'm not the only one who lays awake at night trying to solve problems in my head... I can't tell you how many times in the past I would literally lose half a night of sleep just because I kept thinking on different situations. Most recently, one of the very things that I would lose sleep over was a few months ago when I was in a place where I really didn't want to play drums at church. I would literally lay awake half the night on a Saturday night, worried that no drummers would show up the next day and I would have to play. Of course, now I look back and I just shake my head. All that worry for nothing. All that lost sleep for nothing! With God's help, I've been able to play the drums decently, and so far anyway, I have not embarrassed myself at all- which was one of the things those sleepless nights were about.
When I click on the news pages right now, I'm taken to headlines about the bickering going on at Capitol Hill and if I really thought on it, I could totally see myself worrying about all that is going on there. I could see many a heated discussion forming with various opinions, but you know what? As I read about what is going on, all I can really do is pray about it. Last night the President made an appeal to the American people to let our voices be heard, and I have to tell you, at this point, I don't think it's about having our voices heard at all. It's about hearing the voice of God- and acting on what God would have us do for this country.
I am certain there are plenty of people losing sleep about what is going on in our country these days. More than that, every day there are random things that come up and try to rob of us of our precious sleep. Really- think of all those scenarios and situations that you really have no control over, yet you stay awake thinking on them and worrying about them. All that does for us is... well, nothing. We don't get our much needed sleep, and since we can't do anything about the problem anyway, coming up with any kind of solution is really a pointless activity.
So what do we do in those situations? We put our trust in God. We put our trust in knowing that God knows what is going on- and we tell Him so. At the end of June we had our family camping trip. While we were gone on our vacation, we were anticipating an e-mail containing our new schedule for the dance season. There was one night when we were in the middle of the woods, and I was lying awake fretting about that e-mail. I was worried that we were going to get scheduled at a time or on a day that wouldn't work for us for a class or two. And yet, that worry was completely pointless. I was in the middle of the woods! It would be days before I would get the e-mail containing our schedule, and THEN I would be able to deal with it. Worrying about it and ruining our vacation because of it was completely pointless. I finally realized that, and I had a chat with God. I told Him that He knew our schedule, and that He wouldn't have allowed our classes to be placed on days when we'd indicated that we weren't available.
When all was said and done, the schedule worked out fine. It needed a little tweaking, but the major worries I had were completely unfounded and were a non-issue. That's how we need to approach these sleep-eating issues. We need to follow the words of Isaiah and place our trust in God. In all things! Even better- look at that verse above! We can trust in God FOREVER. Not just today, not just about tomorrow or next week. We can trust in God every single day of our lives. And honestly- for us Americans, anyway, should we need a reminder of that, all we need to do is look at a piece of our currency, and see the words "In God We Trust". It seems to me that our government needs to be reminded of this and turn to the One who holds all the answers in the palm of His hand. If we lean on God, HE will be our Rock and our Strength for each and every moment that we need Him to be there for.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Family
"Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.” Genesis 31:3
God gave us a pretty cool gift when He gave us all families. Really. I mean, in what other situation can you not see people for years and years, and then when you do see them again, it's like no time has passed and everything is wonderful. We just had a delightful weekend getting together with extended family who we truly have not seen for years. I was kind of reminded of when Jacob returned to his brother Esau, expecting a great trial with his brother, only to be embraced.
"But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept." Genesis 33:4
Not that I expected any kind of fighting or trials this weekend, but there was great joy upon seeing this family gather together just for the purpose of getting together. What's so cool about family is that we can share with one another all the good things and all the bad things, and it just really doesn't matter. With family there is a unique kind of love that transcends normal boundaries- it's just always there!
That love that is found in blood-related families is the exact same love that we should be showing to one another in Christ. We are family- we should love each other no matter what is going on. And more than that, we should not allow the world around us to dictate how we should love each other.
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;" Ephesians 3:14-17
Had my family focused on what the world thought of family reunions, we would have all been anticipating some kind of blow-out or rift to happen. But we didn't. Instead, we focused on each other and as a result, we spent a wonderful time together.
Family is important, and we should take the lessons we learn from our natural families and apply them to our church families. But more than that... think of the really extended families- those distant cousins that you really only see once or twice in your lifetimes. They're still family, and there is still love and respect there. In the exact same way, different churches should behave with one another as those distant cousins- we should not be fighting or arguing between churches or denominations. As long as we all have Christ as our center- we're related- we're family.
God gave us a pretty cool gift when He gave us all families. Really. I mean, in what other situation can you not see people for years and years, and then when you do see them again, it's like no time has passed and everything is wonderful. We just had a delightful weekend getting together with extended family who we truly have not seen for years. I was kind of reminded of when Jacob returned to his brother Esau, expecting a great trial with his brother, only to be embraced.
"But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept." Genesis 33:4
Not that I expected any kind of fighting or trials this weekend, but there was great joy upon seeing this family gather together just for the purpose of getting together. What's so cool about family is that we can share with one another all the good things and all the bad things, and it just really doesn't matter. With family there is a unique kind of love that transcends normal boundaries- it's just always there!
That love that is found in blood-related families is the exact same love that we should be showing to one another in Christ. We are family- we should love each other no matter what is going on. And more than that, we should not allow the world around us to dictate how we should love each other.
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;" Ephesians 3:14-17
Had my family focused on what the world thought of family reunions, we would have all been anticipating some kind of blow-out or rift to happen. But we didn't. Instead, we focused on each other and as a result, we spent a wonderful time together.
Family is important, and we should take the lessons we learn from our natural families and apply them to our church families. But more than that... think of the really extended families- those distant cousins that you really only see once or twice in your lifetimes. They're still family, and there is still love and respect there. In the exact same way, different churches should behave with one another as those distant cousins- we should not be fighting or arguing between churches or denominations. As long as we all have Christ as our center- we're related- we're family.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Do It With Joy
"Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come." Proverbs 31:25
I was thinking this morning on the message our Pastor preached last night. It was one of those rare messages where I almost felt like I was being picked on. There are always things that I can pull out of his messages that apply to me directly- always. But last night was one of those where... I felt a little awkward... He was talking about the ministry of helps, which is what I do right now- I clean the church, and of course, that's one of the easiest helps ministries to use for an example. I know I wasn't being picked on, but yet, there was a lot that I took home with me from church last night, and I'm still rolling much of it around in my head, thinking on it.
One of the things he talked about was the very reason why I clean the church- and that is because I do it joyfully. Something that I have always felt impressed upon me when it came time to clean the church was that I would have to prepare myself for it. I would coach myself to spend the cleaning time in prayer or in praise- to not think about the various messes I would discover, and to not spend any time dwelling on anything negative that came to mind while cleaning. Most often now, when I clean, I put on my MP3 player and spend all my cleaning time worshiping and praising. It just has always felt like the right thing to do.
I went to Proverbs 31 this morning to see how my favorite woman did her work joyfully, and to my surprise, it wasn't mentioned. It mentions how she is constantly busy, seeing to the needs of everyone, but it doesn't make any mention of her attitude- and the attitude of joy. The verse I posted is the closest- that she will rejoice in the time to come. Well, I argue that of course she will rejoice in the time to come- but it's equally important to rejoice in the now- regardless of what is going on.
Did you ever have a bad attitude while doing a task? Whether it be at a job or doing something within the household, a bad attitude makes that task seem to take so much longer. Bringing out the joy makes something go much more quickly. My kids are the perfect example of that. On a normal day, when I send them to clean their rooms, they do it grudgingly and grumpily, and the cleaning project takes a very long time- usually several hours. But, when I send them with a mission to clean as fast as they can, as quick as they can, it becomes a game to them. They're trying to beat the clock and get their rooms cleaned up quickly, and they always manage to do it. When they clean with joy, it truly does get done much more quickly.
There's more to it than that, and here is the "not-so-secret" secret. When I do my cleaning with joy- with a song in my heart and on my lips- I'm filling wherever it is I'm cleaning with the goodness of God. Whether that be at home or at church, when I can do my cleaning with joy, it fills the rooms with joy. When I spend my time grudgingly cleaning or cleaning crabbily, it fills the space with negativity. I can tell when I've been crabby during the day at home- because when Andy walks in at night, he instantly picks up on it and then we're all crabby. But when I can tackle my tasks with joy and cheerfulness, it creates a nice atmosphere for Andy to come home from work to.
Ultimately, that is why I clean the church. Because I don't mind the tasks of vacuuming, dusting, cleaning toilets- and not only don't I mind, but I can do them with joy- and I can do them while I sing some really great music to praise God with. It always makes me laugh when people discuss the cleaning, like scrubbing a toilet is the last thing they ever want to do. And yet, every week, when I'm there doing that very thing, I always think that there is no place I would rather be. I enjoy my time serving, and I enjoy knowing that when people walk in the doors Sunday morning, they will be greeted by a nice clean building. Not only that, but they will also walk into a building that has been filled with joy.
Do your work joyfully! No matter how mundane or boring or disgusting the task it, if you can do it with joy, it will make a world of difference. Not only to yourself as you do the task- but to those who will come after you. They will pick up on that joy and not be able to contain themselves. Think of that the next time you do a major housecleaning- clean with joy, and then all who enter will be delighted.
She shall rejoice in time to come." Proverbs 31:25
I was thinking this morning on the message our Pastor preached last night. It was one of those rare messages where I almost felt like I was being picked on. There are always things that I can pull out of his messages that apply to me directly- always. But last night was one of those where... I felt a little awkward... He was talking about the ministry of helps, which is what I do right now- I clean the church, and of course, that's one of the easiest helps ministries to use for an example. I know I wasn't being picked on, but yet, there was a lot that I took home with me from church last night, and I'm still rolling much of it around in my head, thinking on it.
One of the things he talked about was the very reason why I clean the church- and that is because I do it joyfully. Something that I have always felt impressed upon me when it came time to clean the church was that I would have to prepare myself for it. I would coach myself to spend the cleaning time in prayer or in praise- to not think about the various messes I would discover, and to not spend any time dwelling on anything negative that came to mind while cleaning. Most often now, when I clean, I put on my MP3 player and spend all my cleaning time worshiping and praising. It just has always felt like the right thing to do.
I went to Proverbs 31 this morning to see how my favorite woman did her work joyfully, and to my surprise, it wasn't mentioned. It mentions how she is constantly busy, seeing to the needs of everyone, but it doesn't make any mention of her attitude- and the attitude of joy. The verse I posted is the closest- that she will rejoice in the time to come. Well, I argue that of course she will rejoice in the time to come- but it's equally important to rejoice in the now- regardless of what is going on.
Did you ever have a bad attitude while doing a task? Whether it be at a job or doing something within the household, a bad attitude makes that task seem to take so much longer. Bringing out the joy makes something go much more quickly. My kids are the perfect example of that. On a normal day, when I send them to clean their rooms, they do it grudgingly and grumpily, and the cleaning project takes a very long time- usually several hours. But, when I send them with a mission to clean as fast as they can, as quick as they can, it becomes a game to them. They're trying to beat the clock and get their rooms cleaned up quickly, and they always manage to do it. When they clean with joy, it truly does get done much more quickly.
There's more to it than that, and here is the "not-so-secret" secret. When I do my cleaning with joy- with a song in my heart and on my lips- I'm filling wherever it is I'm cleaning with the goodness of God. Whether that be at home or at church, when I can do my cleaning with joy, it fills the rooms with joy. When I spend my time grudgingly cleaning or cleaning crabbily, it fills the space with negativity. I can tell when I've been crabby during the day at home- because when Andy walks in at night, he instantly picks up on it and then we're all crabby. But when I can tackle my tasks with joy and cheerfulness, it creates a nice atmosphere for Andy to come home from work to.
Ultimately, that is why I clean the church. Because I don't mind the tasks of vacuuming, dusting, cleaning toilets- and not only don't I mind, but I can do them with joy- and I can do them while I sing some really great music to praise God with. It always makes me laugh when people discuss the cleaning, like scrubbing a toilet is the last thing they ever want to do. And yet, every week, when I'm there doing that very thing, I always think that there is no place I would rather be. I enjoy my time serving, and I enjoy knowing that when people walk in the doors Sunday morning, they will be greeted by a nice clean building. Not only that, but they will also walk into a building that has been filled with joy.
Do your work joyfully! No matter how mundane or boring or disgusting the task it, if you can do it with joy, it will make a world of difference. Not only to yourself as you do the task- but to those who will come after you. They will pick up on that joy and not be able to contain themselves. Think of that the next time you do a major housecleaning- clean with joy, and then all who enter will be delighted.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Warfare Wednesday
"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37
This morning as I was thinking about what to focus on for Warfare Wednesday, I actually had a difficult time honing in on something. Usually I spend some time reading up on current events, and something always jumps out at me- some situation that could really use some prayer. Whether that be events in a particular country, weather events, specific people to pray for, etc. But this morning I kept coming back to various stories that, on the surface, didn't even seem related. And then I thought about it some more, and something very clear came to me.
As a whole, as a country, we need to stop judging one another. We need to stop judging on a personal level, on a political level, and on a global level. The thing is, we "Americans" always think that we're right. About anything and everything. I was thinking about the recent high-profile murder trial that ended in a not guilty verdict. Immediately, people all over started crying out about injustice and the news media outlets were full of judgements for this person- even though a jury found them not guilty. Who are we to judge? Seriously.
I really think many of our problems our country is facing right now is because we all seem to think we have the right to judge anyone and everyone. And how could we not? Every day of the week there are dozens of reality TV shows where people are being judged in one form or another. We even get opportunities to be a judge at home, and then phone in our conclusions.
The fact is, we are not to judge one another, and in fact, we are to love on one another. God created each and every person to be unique and to be the people that they are. Now, we may not agree with someone's actions or ideals, and that's okay, but it's not our place to pass judgment on them and condemn them for what they do or believe in. If anything, our place is simply to commit the matter to prayer. We should be praying for one another, not passing judgements and insisting that we are always right. As our politicians are bickering and fighting and going back and forth on some major budget issues facing our country, every key player is just so insistent that their ideas are the right ones- that their way is the best way, and they've judged all other options and worthless and void. That is not the way to govern a country- the way to govern is to discuss, to see all sides of the picture and assemble various parts and pieces to come up with the best idea for all.
Most days, I am very thankful to be living in the country I'm living. I am proud to be an American, and knowing the history of our country, I am so incredibly thankful for the freedoms we have today. But I do wish that we had less of a critical eye as a whole. I wish that our friends, neighbors, families, and colleagues could collectively just decide to stop being so judgemental, and to embrace the uniqueness that truly makes up what is best about this country. I even think about small neighborhood disputes and issues. There's a woman in Michigan who actually faces jail time because she put a vegetable garden in her front yard, and there are people who think that it isn't pleasing to look at.
I guess my prayer this morning is that a great big wave of love, compassion, and understanding would sweep across our country. May our eyes be opened to all the condemnation going on around us, and may we grab those opportunities to minister grace to one another. May we look upon those things that bother us with fresh, new eyes, and see the potential that God has created and put into the people around us. I am also praying for a revolution to sweep through the media in our country. Honestly, I don't know what the answers are for the terrible direction the news media has been heading, but God knows. I pray that He will put the right men and women in charge of these organizations, and may they be utilized to spread the truth- and to spread God's love all across the country.
May we forgive one another for the behavior of the past, and may we all move forward together, in one accord.
This morning as I was thinking about what to focus on for Warfare Wednesday, I actually had a difficult time honing in on something. Usually I spend some time reading up on current events, and something always jumps out at me- some situation that could really use some prayer. Whether that be events in a particular country, weather events, specific people to pray for, etc. But this morning I kept coming back to various stories that, on the surface, didn't even seem related. And then I thought about it some more, and something very clear came to me.
As a whole, as a country, we need to stop judging one another. We need to stop judging on a personal level, on a political level, and on a global level. The thing is, we "Americans" always think that we're right. About anything and everything. I was thinking about the recent high-profile murder trial that ended in a not guilty verdict. Immediately, people all over started crying out about injustice and the news media outlets were full of judgements for this person- even though a jury found them not guilty. Who are we to judge? Seriously.
I really think many of our problems our country is facing right now is because we all seem to think we have the right to judge anyone and everyone. And how could we not? Every day of the week there are dozens of reality TV shows where people are being judged in one form or another. We even get opportunities to be a judge at home, and then phone in our conclusions.
The fact is, we are not to judge one another, and in fact, we are to love on one another. God created each and every person to be unique and to be the people that they are. Now, we may not agree with someone's actions or ideals, and that's okay, but it's not our place to pass judgment on them and condemn them for what they do or believe in. If anything, our place is simply to commit the matter to prayer. We should be praying for one another, not passing judgements and insisting that we are always right. As our politicians are bickering and fighting and going back and forth on some major budget issues facing our country, every key player is just so insistent that their ideas are the right ones- that their way is the best way, and they've judged all other options and worthless and void. That is not the way to govern a country- the way to govern is to discuss, to see all sides of the picture and assemble various parts and pieces to come up with the best idea for all.
Most days, I am very thankful to be living in the country I'm living. I am proud to be an American, and knowing the history of our country, I am so incredibly thankful for the freedoms we have today. But I do wish that we had less of a critical eye as a whole. I wish that our friends, neighbors, families, and colleagues could collectively just decide to stop being so judgemental, and to embrace the uniqueness that truly makes up what is best about this country. I even think about small neighborhood disputes and issues. There's a woman in Michigan who actually faces jail time because she put a vegetable garden in her front yard, and there are people who think that it isn't pleasing to look at.
I guess my prayer this morning is that a great big wave of love, compassion, and understanding would sweep across our country. May our eyes be opened to all the condemnation going on around us, and may we grab those opportunities to minister grace to one another. May we look upon those things that bother us with fresh, new eyes, and see the potential that God has created and put into the people around us. I am also praying for a revolution to sweep through the media in our country. Honestly, I don't know what the answers are for the terrible direction the news media has been heading, but God knows. I pray that He will put the right men and women in charge of these organizations, and may they be utilized to spread the truth- and to spread God's love all across the country.
May we forgive one another for the behavior of the past, and may we all move forward together, in one accord.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
No Fear, No Worries
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34
Wouldn't that be grand? A day where there is absolutely no fear, and no worries? Often times, those two things combine- especially as parents. We fear harm coming to our children, and that fear often translates to worry. And then there are the things that we worry about that we have absolutely no control over. Last night while I was sitting at the dance school, I overheard a phone conversation a man was having with his neighbor. The neighbor was away on vacation, and had called because they'd heard about storms passing through and he was worried about hail damage. My very thoughts were that I felt bad for this person who was going to spend the rest of their vacation worrying about potential storm damage to their home while they were away. Worrying wasn't going to do a single thing for him. If there was damage, they'd have to deal with it when they got back home, and in the meantime, that worry could totally ruin their vacation.
The media frenzied world tells us to worry-pretty much daily. We are constantly told to worry about our health, our diets, our weight, the planet around us... as I think about morning news programs and all the interviews that they have with experts on this and that, it occurs to me that they're trying to sow worry on purpose. Maybe there's a product that goes with the worry. Eat better to avoid cancer- and take these special vitamins to boost your health...
That reminds me of going to the pool. Once upon a time, you could go to the pool and see kids in their swimsuits getting sunscreen put on. Now it's completely different. People are told to fear the sun and to worry about skin cancer for their kids. So the kids start in their swimsuits... then they get the sunscreen slathered on. Over the top of their swimsuit and slathered skin they get special water clothes to put on- usually a high-necked tee-shirt to cover up most everything they just put sunscreen on. Then, they get hats on top of that, and when they're not in the pool directly, they are wrapped up in towels to shield them from the sun OR they are sitting under an umbrella or awning.
Why are we so afraid of the sun? Because we were told to fear it- and we were told to worry about it.
And do you know what one of the results of this sunshine paranoia is? We have a country full of people who are deficient in Vitamin D- a vitamin that our skin absorbs from the sun. A vitamin that is vital to overall health and a serious deficiency makes people very susceptible to colds, flus, and also causes muscle and bone troubles. Hair can fall out without proper vitamin D. Vitamin D also gives us energy, so those who are lacking will feel more tired all the time and lethargic. Unfortunately, while there are supplements, they don't work the same as regular old sunshine. Our body can't absorb and use them as easily as if we just sat in the sunshine for 20 minutes and soaked up the old-fashioned rays. Vitamin D deficiency is a very serious and real problem that many people are dealing with right now because they were told to fear and worry.
The real question is- how do we get rid of fear and worry? The sunshine is just one example of many, many things that we could fear or worry about. We get rid of fear and worry by diving into our Bible's and reading all the scriptures that tell us "do not fear" or "do not worry". When we catch ourselves worrying about something in the future, we can recite Matthew 6:34 to ourselves a few times to try and eliminate the worry that's creeping up on us. We can also give our concerns completely to God. Sometimes that's easier said than done, but when we really spend time talking to Him about our worries, and then tell Him we give them to Him, and want Him to take care of them, we can very well erase the worry that is plaguing us.
Going back to the sunshine and the pool example, do you really think those kids are enjoying their time in the pool? How can they, when they have to worry about keeping all the excess clothing on, and having sunscreen reapplied every 30 minutes. God wants us to enjoy life- He wants us to experience great joy and to have fun when the time is appropriate for fun.
He doesn't want us to worry- and He certainly doesn't want us to fear. Give God your fears and worries, and open up to all the wonderful possibilities around you.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34
Wouldn't that be grand? A day where there is absolutely no fear, and no worries? Often times, those two things combine- especially as parents. We fear harm coming to our children, and that fear often translates to worry. And then there are the things that we worry about that we have absolutely no control over. Last night while I was sitting at the dance school, I overheard a phone conversation a man was having with his neighbor. The neighbor was away on vacation, and had called because they'd heard about storms passing through and he was worried about hail damage. My very thoughts were that I felt bad for this person who was going to spend the rest of their vacation worrying about potential storm damage to their home while they were away. Worrying wasn't going to do a single thing for him. If there was damage, they'd have to deal with it when they got back home, and in the meantime, that worry could totally ruin their vacation.
The media frenzied world tells us to worry-pretty much daily. We are constantly told to worry about our health, our diets, our weight, the planet around us... as I think about morning news programs and all the interviews that they have with experts on this and that, it occurs to me that they're trying to sow worry on purpose. Maybe there's a product that goes with the worry. Eat better to avoid cancer- and take these special vitamins to boost your health...
That reminds me of going to the pool. Once upon a time, you could go to the pool and see kids in their swimsuits getting sunscreen put on. Now it's completely different. People are told to fear the sun and to worry about skin cancer for their kids. So the kids start in their swimsuits... then they get the sunscreen slathered on. Over the top of their swimsuit and slathered skin they get special water clothes to put on- usually a high-necked tee-shirt to cover up most everything they just put sunscreen on. Then, they get hats on top of that, and when they're not in the pool directly, they are wrapped up in towels to shield them from the sun OR they are sitting under an umbrella or awning.
Why are we so afraid of the sun? Because we were told to fear it- and we were told to worry about it.
And do you know what one of the results of this sunshine paranoia is? We have a country full of people who are deficient in Vitamin D- a vitamin that our skin absorbs from the sun. A vitamin that is vital to overall health and a serious deficiency makes people very susceptible to colds, flus, and also causes muscle and bone troubles. Hair can fall out without proper vitamin D. Vitamin D also gives us energy, so those who are lacking will feel more tired all the time and lethargic. Unfortunately, while there are supplements, they don't work the same as regular old sunshine. Our body can't absorb and use them as easily as if we just sat in the sunshine for 20 minutes and soaked up the old-fashioned rays. Vitamin D deficiency is a very serious and real problem that many people are dealing with right now because they were told to fear and worry.
The real question is- how do we get rid of fear and worry? The sunshine is just one example of many, many things that we could fear or worry about. We get rid of fear and worry by diving into our Bible's and reading all the scriptures that tell us "do not fear" or "do not worry". When we catch ourselves worrying about something in the future, we can recite Matthew 6:34 to ourselves a few times to try and eliminate the worry that's creeping up on us. We can also give our concerns completely to God. Sometimes that's easier said than done, but when we really spend time talking to Him about our worries, and then tell Him we give them to Him, and want Him to take care of them, we can very well erase the worry that is plaguing us.
Going back to the sunshine and the pool example, do you really think those kids are enjoying their time in the pool? How can they, when they have to worry about keeping all the excess clothing on, and having sunscreen reapplied every 30 minutes. God wants us to enjoy life- He wants us to experience great joy and to have fun when the time is appropriate for fun.
He doesn't want us to worry- and He certainly doesn't want us to fear. Give God your fears and worries, and open up to all the wonderful possibilities around you.
Monday, July 18, 2011
A Wonderful Timely Word
"A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" Proverbs 15:23 (NKJV)
"A man has joy in making an apt answer, and a word spoken at the right moment--how good it is!" Proverbs 15:23 (AMP)
This verse popped straight into my head this morning. Last night at church, in a seemingly normal conversation, I was given a wonderful, timely word that was exactly what I needed to hear.
I've been a little concerned over the last month or so about schooling for the kids. The finances simply have not been there to do any purchasing of our materials for the coming year, and I've been worried about that. My original plan had been to start school very early in August, because I knew that the coming school year was going to be a full one. But in order to start school, we need materials, and it's taking me much longer to save the necessary funds than I expected. So over the last few weeks, I've spent a lot of time talking to God about this very thing. I've pointed out that my Bible says that He shall supply all my needs- and for us, that includes school materials. I've been trusting that the finances would come in, but I've been feeling more urgent as time goes by and nothing has been ordered yet.
And then last night, I was having a normal conversation with our Pastor when she asked me a little bit about school. She's a homeschool veteran, having successfully educated and graduated her whole brood, and out of nowhere she simply encouraged me to enjoy it, and to just relax because we had plenty of time. At the time, I didn't realize it was the timely word that it was- it wasn't until a few minutes later when we were driving home that it really dawned on me what she had said. It was such an encouragement to me- because I know those words were right from the Father for me- that I should relax and enjoy my children.
I really have been stressing a bit about the coming school year! Abigail is a sixth grader- which is middle school- which is more intense than grade school. I already have her educational plan for the next six years all drawn up, and I know what we need to get done when- and that includes starting school for her in just a few weeks. Except this morning I woke up with such a peace about our coming school year. I will eventually get to order our materials- I know that- but more than that, I do need to remember that our homeschooling is not just about getting the proper education- it's also about enjoying each other and spending that time together as a family. And I truly do have all the time in the world! We can relax and anticipate the school year to come, but if we don't get to start it when we'd originally planned, that's more than okay! We'll start it when we can, and we'll finish it when we can- even if it takes a little longer than expected. We can make adjustments down the road if necessary.
What matters is right now. I can look at my plan for middle school and high school and see that it's a good one, but if I make school all about the educational aspect of it- and rushing through it to get it all in, I'm kind of negating a big part of our purpose in homeschooling in the first place. One of our biggest reasons for homeschooling is to foster the family dynamic- to build relationships and spend quality time together.
I just love how God will use an everyday, normal conversation to bring such wonderful encouragement and relieve stress. It just shows that (like I posted last week) He does care about the smaller things. When something is important to me, it's important to Him. I love that.
And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" Proverbs 15:23 (NKJV)
"A man has joy in making an apt answer, and a word spoken at the right moment--how good it is!" Proverbs 15:23 (AMP)
This verse popped straight into my head this morning. Last night at church, in a seemingly normal conversation, I was given a wonderful, timely word that was exactly what I needed to hear.
I've been a little concerned over the last month or so about schooling for the kids. The finances simply have not been there to do any purchasing of our materials for the coming year, and I've been worried about that. My original plan had been to start school very early in August, because I knew that the coming school year was going to be a full one. But in order to start school, we need materials, and it's taking me much longer to save the necessary funds than I expected. So over the last few weeks, I've spent a lot of time talking to God about this very thing. I've pointed out that my Bible says that He shall supply all my needs- and for us, that includes school materials. I've been trusting that the finances would come in, but I've been feeling more urgent as time goes by and nothing has been ordered yet.
And then last night, I was having a normal conversation with our Pastor when she asked me a little bit about school. She's a homeschool veteran, having successfully educated and graduated her whole brood, and out of nowhere she simply encouraged me to enjoy it, and to just relax because we had plenty of time. At the time, I didn't realize it was the timely word that it was- it wasn't until a few minutes later when we were driving home that it really dawned on me what she had said. It was such an encouragement to me- because I know those words were right from the Father for me- that I should relax and enjoy my children.
I really have been stressing a bit about the coming school year! Abigail is a sixth grader- which is middle school- which is more intense than grade school. I already have her educational plan for the next six years all drawn up, and I know what we need to get done when- and that includes starting school for her in just a few weeks. Except this morning I woke up with such a peace about our coming school year. I will eventually get to order our materials- I know that- but more than that, I do need to remember that our homeschooling is not just about getting the proper education- it's also about enjoying each other and spending that time together as a family. And I truly do have all the time in the world! We can relax and anticipate the school year to come, but if we don't get to start it when we'd originally planned, that's more than okay! We'll start it when we can, and we'll finish it when we can- even if it takes a little longer than expected. We can make adjustments down the road if necessary.
What matters is right now. I can look at my plan for middle school and high school and see that it's a good one, but if I make school all about the educational aspect of it- and rushing through it to get it all in, I'm kind of negating a big part of our purpose in homeschooling in the first place. One of our biggest reasons for homeschooling is to foster the family dynamic- to build relationships and spend quality time together.
I just love how God will use an everyday, normal conversation to bring such wonderful encouragement and relieve stress. It just shows that (like I posted last week) He does care about the smaller things. When something is important to me, it's important to Him. I love that.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The Little Things
"So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”
6 So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. 7 Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it." 2 Kings 6:4-7
I read this passage a few days ago in my daily Bible reading- I had to read it a few times, because honestly, I was wondering why this really was in my Bible. I even came back to it a few days later, because I couldn't stop thinking about this ax head. I mean, it was such a small and trivial thing, I was wondering if there was symbolism here with the iron floating or cutting down trees or something. But when I went back to it I actually started thinking on the man who lost the ax head.
I thought about this man, who obviously was a poor man, because he didn't even have his own ax- he had to borrow one. He was a poor man who was traveling with the man of God, and in this passage, he is using this borrowed ax to build shelter for himself and his comrades. Think about how exciting this must have been for this man- they've been traveling with this man of God, and now they are going to build a place to dwell for a time- it had to have been truly exciting- like a church breaking ground for a new building project. Only, a short while into this project, the man's ax head falls off the handle and into the water.
Have you ever tried to find an item dropped into a river? It's tough to do! A river constantly is swirling with different currents, and if you drop a heavy item it can still be carried quite far away via the current at the time. That ax head could have been anywhere in the river- and on top of that, depending on the flow of the river, it actually may have been hazardous for this man to attempt to retrieve the ax head. A river can be a dangerous place to go for a swim. So his ax head falls off, and I'm sure there are a few things running through his mind. One, this ax head was borrowed. Not only that, but since the ax head fell off the handle, I am also inclined to believe that the person he borrowed the ax from also was poor- but just happened to have an ax. For the man who loaned the ax, that ax may have been a precious item from his household. So here we have our man who dropped the head into the water, upset that he will now have to go back to his friend and figure out how to replace the ax head. But I also think that there was something else there that he was even more upset about.
Without an ax, how was this man going to help build the dwelling place for the man of God? All the excitement of the day was for nothing if he couldn't help build this shelter- I am certain he was full of zeal for the activity at hand, and to have it all brought to a sudden halt had to have been devastating to him. For us on the outside, this seems like such a small trivial thing, but for this man, this act of chopping down trees and building the shelter was very important. It was so important that he borrowed someone else's valuable ax to do the job in the first place. And now that ax was at the bottom of a raging river. I can clearly imagine the despair running through this man's mind.
And then God comes to the rescue. When this man shares with Elisha what happened to the ax head, God shows Elisha how to bring the ax head to the surface of the water. I can see the joy in this man's face. I can see his excitement and his fervor at getting the ax head back and being able to continue serving the man of God. And I can even see his face as he tells his comrades what happened, because it's such a big deal to him. But then I can also see the response of his comrades as they tell him that's great, but then dismiss him to get back to work, and I can see how disappointed this man is when his friends do not share in his great excitement.
This little story here in 2 Kings is chock full of notes for us as Christians. How many little things have we dismissed? I talked the other day about praying for small cuts and bruises- you know, when God heals those small things, it's a really big deal to the people who had the healing. Yet we dismiss them because, well, they're just cuts and bruises, they're not life-threatening diseases or debilitation's.
This is a cautionary tale with several different dimensions. The biggest thing I think we can take away from this story is that God truly does care about the small things. If they are important to us- they are important to Him. I think about my vegetable gardens and the trials I've had in getting them properly going. To many people, my gardening seems trivial and not particularly important. But to me it is, it's a source of food for my family, and hopefully for others. And God cares about how I care about my garden, so He's provided answers and finances to get it going like it should be going. God cares about me! And if my garden is important to me- it's important to Him. When my daughter cares about how well her swimming lessons go, God cares, and gives her the determination to see them through. God cares about all His children, and the things that may seem little to everyone else are not considered little in God's eyes. And that's the second thing to take away from this story.
To that man, that ax head was everything, and God saw that. When someone shares with us a story about how God did something- no matter how small, we should rejoice with them, because that tiny little thing may have been absolutely huge in their eyes. Sometimes, it's those very little things that God uses to bring someone to Him in the first place- which makes them just as important as the great big major things. We should not measure God's goodness with human eyes. In fact, we shouldn't measure God's goodness at all- we should simply rejoice in it, because His goodness is everlasting and may be different for each and every person He pours it out upon.
So I am going to remember this story of the ax head and rejoice in the little things. Whether they be for me or someone else, I am going to remember that God is a God who cares- no matter how small the matter may be.
6 So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. 7 Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it." 2 Kings 6:4-7
I read this passage a few days ago in my daily Bible reading- I had to read it a few times, because honestly, I was wondering why this really was in my Bible. I even came back to it a few days later, because I couldn't stop thinking about this ax head. I mean, it was such a small and trivial thing, I was wondering if there was symbolism here with the iron floating or cutting down trees or something. But when I went back to it I actually started thinking on the man who lost the ax head.
I thought about this man, who obviously was a poor man, because he didn't even have his own ax- he had to borrow one. He was a poor man who was traveling with the man of God, and in this passage, he is using this borrowed ax to build shelter for himself and his comrades. Think about how exciting this must have been for this man- they've been traveling with this man of God, and now they are going to build a place to dwell for a time- it had to have been truly exciting- like a church breaking ground for a new building project. Only, a short while into this project, the man's ax head falls off the handle and into the water.
Have you ever tried to find an item dropped into a river? It's tough to do! A river constantly is swirling with different currents, and if you drop a heavy item it can still be carried quite far away via the current at the time. That ax head could have been anywhere in the river- and on top of that, depending on the flow of the river, it actually may have been hazardous for this man to attempt to retrieve the ax head. A river can be a dangerous place to go for a swim. So his ax head falls off, and I'm sure there are a few things running through his mind. One, this ax head was borrowed. Not only that, but since the ax head fell off the handle, I am also inclined to believe that the person he borrowed the ax from also was poor- but just happened to have an ax. For the man who loaned the ax, that ax may have been a precious item from his household. So here we have our man who dropped the head into the water, upset that he will now have to go back to his friend and figure out how to replace the ax head. But I also think that there was something else there that he was even more upset about.
Without an ax, how was this man going to help build the dwelling place for the man of God? All the excitement of the day was for nothing if he couldn't help build this shelter- I am certain he was full of zeal for the activity at hand, and to have it all brought to a sudden halt had to have been devastating to him. For us on the outside, this seems like such a small trivial thing, but for this man, this act of chopping down trees and building the shelter was very important. It was so important that he borrowed someone else's valuable ax to do the job in the first place. And now that ax was at the bottom of a raging river. I can clearly imagine the despair running through this man's mind.
And then God comes to the rescue. When this man shares with Elisha what happened to the ax head, God shows Elisha how to bring the ax head to the surface of the water. I can see the joy in this man's face. I can see his excitement and his fervor at getting the ax head back and being able to continue serving the man of God. And I can even see his face as he tells his comrades what happened, because it's such a big deal to him. But then I can also see the response of his comrades as they tell him that's great, but then dismiss him to get back to work, and I can see how disappointed this man is when his friends do not share in his great excitement.
This little story here in 2 Kings is chock full of notes for us as Christians. How many little things have we dismissed? I talked the other day about praying for small cuts and bruises- you know, when God heals those small things, it's a really big deal to the people who had the healing. Yet we dismiss them because, well, they're just cuts and bruises, they're not life-threatening diseases or debilitation's.
This is a cautionary tale with several different dimensions. The biggest thing I think we can take away from this story is that God truly does care about the small things. If they are important to us- they are important to Him. I think about my vegetable gardens and the trials I've had in getting them properly going. To many people, my gardening seems trivial and not particularly important. But to me it is, it's a source of food for my family, and hopefully for others. And God cares about how I care about my garden, so He's provided answers and finances to get it going like it should be going. God cares about me! And if my garden is important to me- it's important to Him. When my daughter cares about how well her swimming lessons go, God cares, and gives her the determination to see them through. God cares about all His children, and the things that may seem little to everyone else are not considered little in God's eyes. And that's the second thing to take away from this story.
To that man, that ax head was everything, and God saw that. When someone shares with us a story about how God did something- no matter how small, we should rejoice with them, because that tiny little thing may have been absolutely huge in their eyes. Sometimes, it's those very little things that God uses to bring someone to Him in the first place- which makes them just as important as the great big major things. We should not measure God's goodness with human eyes. In fact, we shouldn't measure God's goodness at all- we should simply rejoice in it, because His goodness is everlasting and may be different for each and every person He pours it out upon.
So I am going to remember this story of the ax head and rejoice in the little things. Whether they be for me or someone else, I am going to remember that God is a God who cares- no matter how small the matter may be.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Warfare Wednesday
"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11
America is in a debt crisis. Not only are thousands of Americans struggling on their own financially, now we are seeing that the country as a whole- literally- is in more debt than ever. As President Obama and other members of leadership are trying to decide what to do about it, all we can really do physically is wait and see what decisions get made. But of course, we also have something else we can do: we can pray.
Once upon a time, the "American Dream" was simply of freedom. People came to our shores from other countries where they were persecuted for many reasons. Thousands upon thousands of people fled their homes to come to America, where they could worship God in whatever way they wanted. The American Dream was God- to be able to worship Him, and to be able to read His precious words in the Bible without fear of being thrown in prison or losing a life.
But as the years have gone by, the real American Dream has shifted in favor of the fake American Dream- one of wealth and financial riches. While people obviously need money to meet needs and make purchases and pay bills and such, money is not everything. And yet media tells us it is. While the whole country is focused on this debt debacle, so many are focusing on the worrying parts- and they are allowing that worry to affect them. We shouldn't worry. We really shouldn't- God knows the problems our country faces, and instead of worrying and speculating the possibilities, we should be praying and interceding for our country. We should be praying that instead of focusing on money as everything, we, as a country, should focus on God as our everything.
We need to return to our roots in this country. We need to remember those who came here because they were persecuted in their homelands for loving and worshiping God. Most importantly, WE need to love and worship God, and thank Him for this beautiful land we live in. And we need to pray for this country that is in trouble. God knows the solution- God knows the answers that are needed to fix our troubles. I pray that our leaders would turn to God for guidance in these troubled times, and that the people would see the need to pray. Both for the troubled times- AND for the leaders who need to make decisions. God knows best- we just need to ask Him.
America is in a debt crisis. Not only are thousands of Americans struggling on their own financially, now we are seeing that the country as a whole- literally- is in more debt than ever. As President Obama and other members of leadership are trying to decide what to do about it, all we can really do physically is wait and see what decisions get made. But of course, we also have something else we can do: we can pray.
Once upon a time, the "American Dream" was simply of freedom. People came to our shores from other countries where they were persecuted for many reasons. Thousands upon thousands of people fled their homes to come to America, where they could worship God in whatever way they wanted. The American Dream was God- to be able to worship Him, and to be able to read His precious words in the Bible without fear of being thrown in prison or losing a life.
But as the years have gone by, the real American Dream has shifted in favor of the fake American Dream- one of wealth and financial riches. While people obviously need money to meet needs and make purchases and pay bills and such, money is not everything. And yet media tells us it is. While the whole country is focused on this debt debacle, so many are focusing on the worrying parts- and they are allowing that worry to affect them. We shouldn't worry. We really shouldn't- God knows the problems our country faces, and instead of worrying and speculating the possibilities, we should be praying and interceding for our country. We should be praying that instead of focusing on money as everything, we, as a country, should focus on God as our everything.
We need to return to our roots in this country. We need to remember those who came here because they were persecuted in their homelands for loving and worshiping God. Most importantly, WE need to love and worship God, and thank Him for this beautiful land we live in. And we need to pray for this country that is in trouble. God knows the solution- God knows the answers that are needed to fix our troubles. I pray that our leaders would turn to God for guidance in these troubled times, and that the people would see the need to pray. Both for the troubled times- AND for the leaders who need to make decisions. God knows best- we just need to ask Him.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Try Again
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going." Ecclesiastes 9:10
Yes, you are seeing the exact same verse I posted yesterday. There were some thoughts I had about this verse, and I had been thinking on it, and then my posting went in a completely different direction than intended. That was certainly just fine, I rather like it when the Holy Spirit takes over.
But what I actually had been thinking about with this verse was how often we tackle something- anything- just partway. We do a task, and we do it half-heartedly, just enough to get the task done. Think of a child with music lessons. At the weekly lessons they are usually assigned a certain amount of practice time to practice at home, and most kids will practice that amount of time precisely- without a minute over. I know when I was in that situation, I would start the timer, and THEN I would get out my music book, tune my instrument, and by the time I actually started practicing, five minutes of my practice time had amazingly elapsed. I certainly never went even a second over my scheduled time.
And yet, I would look over at the girls who were playing beautifully and be disgusted that I wasn't playing more like them. I was certain that I could just pick up this instrument without much practice and play like a virtuoso. Obviously, it just doesn't work that way. (Except in rare cases where someone actually is a virtuoso or a prodigy, but that's not at all related to today's post.)
This verse reminded me of prayer, actually. We have a lot of speakers who come to our church and share what God has been doing with them and their ministries. So many of them talk about how they pray for someone to be healed of one thing or another, and they are healed. We even had one speaker last year whose ministry has raised over 400 people from the dead! It's always phenomenal to hear these speakers, and usually I leave these weekends feeling encouraged and like I can take on the world. I feel empowered, and ready to pray for someone to be healed of cancer, or ready to swoop in and pray for someone to come back to life after a tragedy. But then reality sets in. Usually shortly after one of these weekends, I'll have a conversation with someone who has a cold or allergies, or I'll run into someone with a basic broken bone, and while there may be a part of me who thinks that maybe I should pray for them. I don't. Later on I always think of that and regret that I didn't even try. Because the fact is, if I'm not willing to put in my practice times and pray for the smaller things- like colds and headaches and broken bones- how on earth am I going to know how to pray when it comes to the big things?
I think way, way back to my young Sunday School days. I remember how we would go around the room and share prayer requests, and the littlest ones would have a request for a small cut on a finger, or for their mommy who was home with the flu, or for their cat who had a cold in its eye. We would smile and pray for these things, not really expecting any kind of response from God towards these requests. Of course, now I can look back and wonder why we didn't have faith for these small things. What was wrong with us? To that child, their cat is everything to them, why wouldn't God heal their precious kitty and make the child happy again. Why wouldn't God heal little Katie's paper cut- He loves her so much, and that small owie is obviously causing great distress.
We get so excited when we hear about healings of the big things- the cancers, the arthritis, the metal dissolving in people's bodies (from pins and such for bones), but we don't take to the time to practice by seeking God for the little things. And you know what the biggest shame of it is? When God heals a paper cut, he's pouring out the exact same love that he's pouring out on someone who He is healing of brain cancer. We should rejoice in asking God to heal the smallest things, and we should rejoice when He does do it. Because the more we pray for the small things, the more we're building our faith for the bigger things.
Just like the child sitting in that music lesson chair. First, they have to learn how to play the nursery rhymes correctly, and THEN they can take a stab at that concerto. They don't give a first time student a score from a symphony and tell them to play it perfectly. They start with the basics, and work their way up as the students improve. And they way they improve? Practice.
Practice makes perfect. Although, to be honest, I am kind of in the mindset right now that there is no such thing as perfect. Really, there should be a mindset that we will never really arrive- that we will not reach perfection, yet we should constantly be striving to get there. When we pray for someone and they are not healed, we should be thinking "that's not good enough" and then pray again.
And this can really apply in all areas of life. I think of school teachers who have their degrees and are teaching- and yet they are still constantly taking classes, trying to improve themselves. I think of the growing trend right now of running marathons. People don't start training for small half-marathons and then think they've done good enough- they keep going, they keep pushing themselves to get to the next level.
That's how our Christian walk should be. We should never, ever be happy with where we are- we should always be striving for more, for forward progress. Because stopping and staying put right where we are is just never going to be good enough. And I don't want to be "just good enough"- I am after excellence in all areas of life.
Yes, you are seeing the exact same verse I posted yesterday. There were some thoughts I had about this verse, and I had been thinking on it, and then my posting went in a completely different direction than intended. That was certainly just fine, I rather like it when the Holy Spirit takes over.
But what I actually had been thinking about with this verse was how often we tackle something- anything- just partway. We do a task, and we do it half-heartedly, just enough to get the task done. Think of a child with music lessons. At the weekly lessons they are usually assigned a certain amount of practice time to practice at home, and most kids will practice that amount of time precisely- without a minute over. I know when I was in that situation, I would start the timer, and THEN I would get out my music book, tune my instrument, and by the time I actually started practicing, five minutes of my practice time had amazingly elapsed. I certainly never went even a second over my scheduled time.
And yet, I would look over at the girls who were playing beautifully and be disgusted that I wasn't playing more like them. I was certain that I could just pick up this instrument without much practice and play like a virtuoso. Obviously, it just doesn't work that way. (Except in rare cases where someone actually is a virtuoso or a prodigy, but that's not at all related to today's post.)
This verse reminded me of prayer, actually. We have a lot of speakers who come to our church and share what God has been doing with them and their ministries. So many of them talk about how they pray for someone to be healed of one thing or another, and they are healed. We even had one speaker last year whose ministry has raised over 400 people from the dead! It's always phenomenal to hear these speakers, and usually I leave these weekends feeling encouraged and like I can take on the world. I feel empowered, and ready to pray for someone to be healed of cancer, or ready to swoop in and pray for someone to come back to life after a tragedy. But then reality sets in. Usually shortly after one of these weekends, I'll have a conversation with someone who has a cold or allergies, or I'll run into someone with a basic broken bone, and while there may be a part of me who thinks that maybe I should pray for them. I don't. Later on I always think of that and regret that I didn't even try. Because the fact is, if I'm not willing to put in my practice times and pray for the smaller things- like colds and headaches and broken bones- how on earth am I going to know how to pray when it comes to the big things?
I think way, way back to my young Sunday School days. I remember how we would go around the room and share prayer requests, and the littlest ones would have a request for a small cut on a finger, or for their mommy who was home with the flu, or for their cat who had a cold in its eye. We would smile and pray for these things, not really expecting any kind of response from God towards these requests. Of course, now I can look back and wonder why we didn't have faith for these small things. What was wrong with us? To that child, their cat is everything to them, why wouldn't God heal their precious kitty and make the child happy again. Why wouldn't God heal little Katie's paper cut- He loves her so much, and that small owie is obviously causing great distress.
We get so excited when we hear about healings of the big things- the cancers, the arthritis, the metal dissolving in people's bodies (from pins and such for bones), but we don't take to the time to practice by seeking God for the little things. And you know what the biggest shame of it is? When God heals a paper cut, he's pouring out the exact same love that he's pouring out on someone who He is healing of brain cancer. We should rejoice in asking God to heal the smallest things, and we should rejoice when He does do it. Because the more we pray for the small things, the more we're building our faith for the bigger things.
Just like the child sitting in that music lesson chair. First, they have to learn how to play the nursery rhymes correctly, and THEN they can take a stab at that concerto. They don't give a first time student a score from a symphony and tell them to play it perfectly. They start with the basics, and work their way up as the students improve. And they way they improve? Practice.
Practice makes perfect. Although, to be honest, I am kind of in the mindset right now that there is no such thing as perfect. Really, there should be a mindset that we will never really arrive- that we will not reach perfection, yet we should constantly be striving to get there. When we pray for someone and they are not healed, we should be thinking "that's not good enough" and then pray again.
And this can really apply in all areas of life. I think of school teachers who have their degrees and are teaching- and yet they are still constantly taking classes, trying to improve themselves. I think of the growing trend right now of running marathons. People don't start training for small half-marathons and then think they've done good enough- they keep going, they keep pushing themselves to get to the next level.
That's how our Christian walk should be. We should never, ever be happy with where we are- we should always be striving for more, for forward progress. Because stopping and staying put right where we are is just never going to be good enough. And I don't want to be "just good enough"- I am after excellence in all areas of life.
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