This weeks chapter in my book study was all about priorities. What's really important to us... and where do we really place our walk with God on our list of things to do??
One thing that jumped out at me.... actually while I was reading my friend Jennifer's blog.... is how God gives us enough time to accomplish everything HE has for us to do in the day. Part of our reading was in Proverbs 31, and I admit I don't measure up. My excuse has always been that I have 3 messy boys (4 if you count Brian!) in the house so anything I'm going to do is just going to get messed up again..... usually as soon as I leave the room! So I do the bare minimum to get by and not be horribly embarrassed if someone comes over unexpectedly. That means that while the clothes are clean... we have to dig through the dryer and baskets to find something to wear, and while you can usually find a clean plate.... there's a stack of dirty in the sink most of the day, while the floors are swept..... there are still toys scattered everywhere.
Satan has lied to me and told me that keeping a clean house is to much, not worth the effort, and I need time to do things I enjoy and not spend all that time slaving over the housework. But God is telling me that part of my ministry for Him is keeping a tidy house. I John 5:3 says For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. So the things that God has for me to do are not too hard, and the way I show my love for Him is by doing His will.
And the thing is it's not really about a tidy house. God knows that when I wake up to a clean kitchen I feel better about my day. When the house is in decent shape I'm in a better mood. And when I feel better I treat my family better. If the house is crazy, I just want everyone to leave me alone. But last night I had the boys pitch in a help tidy up and clean the kitchen, working together everyone was cheerful and it took all of 15 minutes to get things in shape. Then I felt up to spending time reading to them before bed and ..... maybe because of that or maybe because they had expended all their energy cleaning house.... when they went to bed they laid right down and went to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another thing we were reading this week is how important prayer is in our lives. I don't think many of us would come right out and say that we can get by on our own steam and don't need to spend that time in fellowship with the Lord.... but that's what we believe when we put everything else ahead of our prayer time. How arrogant of us!!!! Go read Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35 and Luke 6:12 and 9:28. Jesus himself.... the Word made flesh (John 1:14), with the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in Him (Col 2:9).... still took that time to get away by himself and pray. And we think we don't have to.... seriously???? What arrogance!!!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Learning to drive
Brian's teaching me to drive his truck..... it's a lot of fun... not!!!
Somehow, out of the four children in our house growing up, I was the only one never taught to drive a standard. I learned on an automatic and that's all I've ever driven.... until now. In an effort to spend our money more wisely I'm trying to learn so that when my van dies I can drive his truck instead of having to buy a new vehicle. Only problem is his truck is HUGE.... and a stick.... and scares me to death. But I can do this. I will persevere!!!
Today we borrowed my brothers normal size truck for me to practice. Oh, joy!!
Brian: Let off
Me: LET OFF WHAT?!?
Brian: There's a car, slow down
Me: HOW????
Me: Ok, so when I need to stop what do I do?
Brian: sigh I just told you a minute ago
Me: WELL TELL ME AGAIN!!!!
We won't talk talk about how many times it died when I tried to take off.... or how the gear shift knob CAME OFF IN MY HAND while I was shifting...... or how I was driving along at a speedy 30 mph and came to a flooded creek and he wouldn't tell me how to stop. But I will say I didn't wreck and I don't think I did any permanent damage to Chad's truck!!
All in all I think I did pretty good..... but if you see me coming in a big ole blue truck you might want to get far away!!!
Somehow, out of the four children in our house growing up, I was the only one never taught to drive a standard. I learned on an automatic and that's all I've ever driven.... until now. In an effort to spend our money more wisely I'm trying to learn so that when my van dies I can drive his truck instead of having to buy a new vehicle. Only problem is his truck is HUGE.... and a stick.... and scares me to death. But I can do this. I will persevere!!!
Today we borrowed my brothers normal size truck for me to practice. Oh, joy!!
Brian: Let off
Me: LET OFF WHAT?!?
Brian: There's a car, slow down
Me: HOW????
Me: Ok, so when I need to stop what do I do?
Brian: sigh I just told you a minute ago
Me: WELL TELL ME AGAIN!!!!
We won't talk talk about how many times it died when I tried to take off.... or how the gear shift knob CAME OFF IN MY HAND while I was shifting...... or how I was driving along at a speedy 30 mph and came to a flooded creek and he wouldn't tell me how to stop. But I will say I didn't wreck and I don't think I did any permanent damage to Chad's truck!!
All in all I think I did pretty good..... but if you see me coming in a big ole blue truck you might want to get far away!!!
Friday, February 5, 2010
I know it's after midnight and I should be in bed by now..... 7:00's going to come early.... but tonight was book study night and I'm having trouble shutting my brain off!
I'm reading through "The Lies Women Believe and The Truth That Sets Them Free" with a group of friends and it's been such an encouragement. Thanks Jennifer for planning and leading us!! We're only about half way through, but I'd already really recommend this to anyone who hasn't read it. Go get a copy.... or better yet wait til I'm through and you can borrow mine. It's all about the lies that Satan tries to trap us with to keep us from reaching our potential with God. So many of them are so prevalent in society that many times we don't even recognize them as lies, but when you hold it up to the truth of God's word it becomes obvious.
I'm really enjoying our group nights. I hope I'm as much of an encouragement to the other ladies as they are to me! I tend to isolate myself.... not always on purpose, just busy with the boys...... so it's nice to spend time with other mom's who have a heart for Jesus and a desire to live pleasing to Him.
One of the lies this week..... and I'm paraphrasing here 'cause I don't want to get up and find my book!..... is that "My Sins Aren't That Bad". Standing next to a sinful world I might not look that bad..... but the thing is God doesn't look at us compared to how everyone else is doing. I have to stand myself up next to His Word, that's the yardstick we're measured by.
I have to admit to sometimes wanting to believe this lie. I'll tell myself Well, at least I don't do That or No one knows about it so it's not that big a deal. But truthfully I know better. Sometimes I have to remind myself that Jesus didn't just die for my "little" sins too, He died for them period. My sin of unkind thoughts caused my Lord to be put to death. Because of my jealousy Jesus had to die on the cross. And He didn't hang there a minute for me and the rest of the time was for the "bad" sinners..... it was all for me. Sin is sin is sin.... there is no big or little, there is no bad and not so bad, it all separates us from God. Fortunately He did make a way, because of Jesus' sacrifice we can now come to God and His blood covers our sins, no matter how "big" or "little" we might think they are.
I'm reading through "The Lies Women Believe and The Truth That Sets Them Free" with a group of friends and it's been such an encouragement. Thanks Jennifer for planning and leading us!! We're only about half way through, but I'd already really recommend this to anyone who hasn't read it. Go get a copy.... or better yet wait til I'm through and you can borrow mine. It's all about the lies that Satan tries to trap us with to keep us from reaching our potential with God. So many of them are so prevalent in society that many times we don't even recognize them as lies, but when you hold it up to the truth of God's word it becomes obvious.
I'm really enjoying our group nights. I hope I'm as much of an encouragement to the other ladies as they are to me! I tend to isolate myself.... not always on purpose, just busy with the boys...... so it's nice to spend time with other mom's who have a heart for Jesus and a desire to live pleasing to Him.
One of the lies this week..... and I'm paraphrasing here 'cause I don't want to get up and find my book!..... is that "My Sins Aren't That Bad". Standing next to a sinful world I might not look that bad..... but the thing is God doesn't look at us compared to how everyone else is doing. I have to stand myself up next to His Word, that's the yardstick we're measured by.
I have to admit to sometimes wanting to believe this lie. I'll tell myself Well, at least I don't do That or No one knows about it so it's not that big a deal. But truthfully I know better. Sometimes I have to remind myself that Jesus didn't just die for my "little" sins too, He died for them period. My sin of unkind thoughts caused my Lord to be put to death. Because of my jealousy Jesus had to die on the cross. And He didn't hang there a minute for me and the rest of the time was for the "bad" sinners..... it was all for me. Sin is sin is sin.... there is no big or little, there is no bad and not so bad, it all separates us from God. Fortunately He did make a way, because of Jesus' sacrifice we can now come to God and His blood covers our sins, no matter how "big" or "little" we might think they are.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)