Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Momentary Trials
When I think about how long a trial is lasting and then compare it to the amount of time that I will have absolutely no trials (eternity)...well, actually my trial is just momentary.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Motivations and Expectations
Something I have been thinking alot about lately...the Lord has recently been revealing some motivation in me that is less than pure. It's funny how when you begin a new role in your life you can face some insecurities. And that's kind of where I am at.
As a PW I go to my husband's work. I watch him at work. The way I act and my kids act are kind of all connected to his job. It's hard to keep it all separated out.
Actually, there are some biblical expectations the Lord has placed upon me as a PW--like, I need to be temperate, self controlled, etc. I suppose you could say that in order for my husband to qualify for the job he has, I have to qualify. And really, so do my kids. Scripture even teaches that an Elder/Bishop should be able to manage his own household well or he is not qualified.
Ultimately though, those qualifications all fall on my husband's shoulders.
That's alot of pressure.
Then you add to that hundreds of people's expectations. People are all so different. Therefore, expectations will be different from person to person. Everyone comes from various backgrounds, etc.
Then there are the expectations that I place on myself. Sometimes those are very unreasonable. Why I do it, I don't know for sure--expect that maybe it has to do with pride. The Lord is slowly revealing to me the "whys" of this.
Anyhow, I find myself tempted at times to respond to expectations from myself or those around me instead of from the Lord. It's a huge temptation when you are in the spotlight.
My most recent prayer has been, "Lord, please help me to be the woman you have called me to be. Help me to seek to serve you, not man."
I believe that I need to be responding from faith to do the things I do, not other's expectations. I need to be compelled by love to serve. I need to have a genuine heart for this ministry God has placed us in.
It's also easy to get wrapped up in self-serving motivation. Like, doing for others, so that I get something in return, perhaps approval, maybe friendship, etc.
I have to be on guard for this. It's way too easy to fall prey to these wrong motivations. I am just a person with very weak flesh.
Di
As a PW I go to my husband's work. I watch him at work. The way I act and my kids act are kind of all connected to his job. It's hard to keep it all separated out.
Actually, there are some biblical expectations the Lord has placed upon me as a PW--like, I need to be temperate, self controlled, etc. I suppose you could say that in order for my husband to qualify for the job he has, I have to qualify. And really, so do my kids. Scripture even teaches that an Elder/Bishop should be able to manage his own household well or he is not qualified.
Ultimately though, those qualifications all fall on my husband's shoulders.
That's alot of pressure.
Then you add to that hundreds of people's expectations. People are all so different. Therefore, expectations will be different from person to person. Everyone comes from various backgrounds, etc.
Then there are the expectations that I place on myself. Sometimes those are very unreasonable. Why I do it, I don't know for sure--expect that maybe it has to do with pride. The Lord is slowly revealing to me the "whys" of this.
Anyhow, I find myself tempted at times to respond to expectations from myself or those around me instead of from the Lord. It's a huge temptation when you are in the spotlight.
My most recent prayer has been, "Lord, please help me to be the woman you have called me to be. Help me to seek to serve you, not man."
I believe that I need to be responding from faith to do the things I do, not other's expectations. I need to be compelled by love to serve. I need to have a genuine heart for this ministry God has placed us in.
It's also easy to get wrapped up in self-serving motivation. Like, doing for others, so that I get something in return, perhaps approval, maybe friendship, etc.
I have to be on guard for this. It's way too easy to fall prey to these wrong motivations. I am just a person with very weak flesh.
Di
Saturday, May 26, 2007
His Light is greater than my despair
I have always "known" this...but have just recently taken it to heart more than ever before in my life. It has been making such a difference too. I thought I knew peace with Him and His presence. And I did, but now on a very new level. And this has come about because of a new and fresh realization that His light is greater than any despair, grief, sin, or sadness I could have.
There are times that our sadness overwhelms us and feels so big. I have also come to realize that my feelings, especially during periods of deep sadness are usually very unreliable. Our "dark" certainities that we tend to cling to while in depression, you know, the lies that Satan will attack our minds with are not sureities at all. The only sureity is God's Light. And we must cling to that in the middle of all sadness. We have to discredit each dark thought and take it place it into the light where the true perspective will be revealed.
Here is a quote from John Piper that I have found encouraging, "While we have light, let us cultivate distrust of the incertainities of the darkness." This means that when I am walking in the light and the times when the sadness has lifted I must saturate myself with the true certainties of his light and truth--this will arm for the times that the darkness will fall.
I believe this will be a huge weapon when that darkness falls again--and you know what? It will because we live in a sad world. Even God has told us not to be surprised when we suffer various trials. We need to be prepared. And I really don't want to continue on in my naivity believing that it won't happen to me. It will and I need to be ready, not in denial.
Di
There are times that our sadness overwhelms us and feels so big. I have also come to realize that my feelings, especially during periods of deep sadness are usually very unreliable. Our "dark" certainities that we tend to cling to while in depression, you know, the lies that Satan will attack our minds with are not sureities at all. The only sureity is God's Light. And we must cling to that in the middle of all sadness. We have to discredit each dark thought and take it place it into the light where the true perspective will be revealed.
Here is a quote from John Piper that I have found encouraging, "While we have light, let us cultivate distrust of the incertainities of the darkness." This means that when I am walking in the light and the times when the sadness has lifted I must saturate myself with the true certainties of his light and truth--this will arm for the times that the darkness will fall.
I believe this will be a huge weapon when that darkness falls again--and you know what? It will because we live in a sad world. Even God has told us not to be surprised when we suffer various trials. We need to be prepared. And I really don't want to continue on in my naivity believing that it won't happen to me. It will and I need to be ready, not in denial.
Di
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Unconditional Love
I have been reflecting an awful lot on the unconditional love of God. A thought that keeps coming back is just how much he loves me with an eternal love--there is no end to His love. His love for me never changes based on what i do or don't do...his love for me is based upon Him, His holiness, the fact that He is the same always. He loved me when I was unloveable, therefore it stands to reason His love for me will not change based upon my performance here on earth. So, to conclude, God loves me the same today as He will in eternity even when I am perfected. He loves with an eternal love. How awesome is that?
Monday, May 21, 2007
Which is harder?
Dying for Christ or living for Him?
I think the living is the hardest. Recently a question was posed, "Is it harder to live for the Lord or without him?"
Jesus knew we would ask this question, he was ready with the answer, "Consider the cost." Of course it is harder, for if we walk with him, we walk the road of calvary beside him. If we walk this earthly path, well, there is instant gratification...but then what? Wander aimlessly and pointlessly through life, for what? Ourselves and by ourselves? Hmmmm...I would much rather have a difficult life with purpose than to have an easy life without purpose. Isn't that what Ecclesiastes is all about?
And how much more has he suffered for me?
Oh yay, the lazy fleshly side of me...well, yeah, who wouldn't want things to be easy? But the common sense, logical and intellectual side of me says, "Who else has the words of eternal life? Where would I go?"
I think the living is the hardest. Recently a question was posed, "Is it harder to live for the Lord or without him?"
Jesus knew we would ask this question, he was ready with the answer, "Consider the cost." Of course it is harder, for if we walk with him, we walk the road of calvary beside him. If we walk this earthly path, well, there is instant gratification...but then what? Wander aimlessly and pointlessly through life, for what? Ourselves and by ourselves? Hmmmm...I would much rather have a difficult life with purpose than to have an easy life without purpose. Isn't that what Ecclesiastes is all about?
And how much more has he suffered for me?
Oh yay, the lazy fleshly side of me...well, yeah, who wouldn't want things to be easy? But the common sense, logical and intellectual side of me says, "Who else has the words of eternal life? Where would I go?"
Sunday, May 20, 2007
My Shepherd
I have been reading the book, "The Lord is my Shepherd" by Elizabeth George. She says that when she is in the "falling-apart" stage of a trial her husband will remind her, "everything will be okay." He doesn't tell her when, or how, or who, or what...just that everything will be okay. She was comparing this to our Good Shepherd--God the Father. It reminded me of something my husband said to me several years ago. We were really having some struggles in our marriage. I remember it just felt like we just weren't communicating with each other. It felt like a constant friction. Never on the same page. One morning my husband had left for work kind of upset with me and I at him. I just cried and cried that day. I prayed and asked the Lord to bring comfort to my heart. That evening when Paul got home he asked me to come into our room. He sat down with me and gently said, "everything will be alright, we will get through this." Those were probably the most reassuring words he had ever said to me. Those words have stuck with me like glue. I don't believe he has ever said that to me again, but I have heard those words in my head so many times since then. Somehow it is comforting to know that everything will be okay and we will get through, no matter what.
Isn't it interesting how comforting that is to know? It's not even about knowing the how's or what the fors...just that everything will be okay.
Since then I have spoken those words to different friends who needed comfort. Even to my kids. And each time they have looked up at me and looked so reassured and comforted.
I like the words of this passage in I Corinthians 1:
2Co 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
2Co 1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2Co 1:5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
2Co 1:6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
2Co 1:7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
Di
Isn't it interesting how comforting that is to know? It's not even about knowing the how's or what the fors...just that everything will be okay.
Since then I have spoken those words to different friends who needed comfort. Even to my kids. And each time they have looked up at me and looked so reassured and comforted.
I like the words of this passage in I Corinthians 1:
2Co 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
2Co 1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2Co 1:5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
2Co 1:6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
2Co 1:7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
Di
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Sorting laundry
Sorting laundry is kind of like sorting through emotions. You have to put each piece of clothing/emotion in it's proper place. You have to identify which pile it goes in. Silly analogy, I know. For some reason I thought of this the other day when I was doing laundry. I have had alot of emotions to sort through lately. I have had to give each one to the Lord to help me process it or sort it...to make sure it goes in it's proper place. Sometimes, my emotions have to go through the wash of sanctification because I sin in my emotions at times.
Anyway, this sorting pattern has been helping me alot lately. Just purposefully taking each emotion to the Lord and asking Him if it is clean. I mean, emotions in of themselves are fine, they come from God. Yet in our flesh sometimes we can sin through our emotions.
Anyway, this sorting pattern has been helping me alot lately. Just purposefully taking each emotion to the Lord and asking Him if it is clean. I mean, emotions in of themselves are fine, they come from God. Yet in our flesh sometimes we can sin through our emotions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
