Read Colossians 3
I’m going to share one of the best kept church-lady secrets of all time. Right here on the internet. Scandal and outrage are sure to follow. But you deserve to know. We all need to know the truth. The ramifications are too serious for those who don’t know.
We think we’re doing the right thing. We think we are seeking God’s best. We are well-intentioned, but are totally unprepared for the consequences.
So here it is. You should never
ever
under any circumstances
even consider
praying for
Monday, January 31
Friday, January 28
In Living Water
John 4:1-26
The green numbers on the oven read 5:22pm and the children are acting like it. One cries from his bed, one shouts from the living room. Mom stands with her hands in the dish water looking at the dirty window in front of her. She stares at the white index card taped to the glass with masking tape, the words acting simply as ink on paper as she mechanically moves the dish rag over the pot in the sink. She breathes in and reads the words:
“Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water I give him will become a fountain of water springing to everlasting life.”
Thursday, January 27
The Incredible Shrinking God
Read John 14
We forget how big God is. We make him small when we don’t call on him in the little things. When we say, “God has more important things to worry about than the meltdown I am about to have over this (third cup) of spilled milk,” we mitigate his power. He’s better at multitasking than any mom. It’s not a big deal for him to simultaneously keep the world spinning and reach down and put his hand on you when you need to feel him there.
I’ve found refreshment in some of the most bizarre places since becoming a mom. A sick baby makes me hold still and hold him--soaking in his body heat, breathing when he does, feeling the softness of his hair with my hand and my cheek. Yeah. Two minutes ago, I cleaned up some vomit. In three more, he will want to get up and play, leaving a cold spot where his fevered body sat a minute ago. But in that tiny time-span, I was rewarded for giving, serving and going down lower, literally on my hands and knees with a rag and carpet cleaner. I felt that “hitherto unknown delight” of being held as I surrendered my will to the act of giving.
“How can one abandon themselves in this way? Hannah Hurnard asks. "One cannot get a mighty and powerful fall of water if there is only a low place and a short way to fall. It is the “high places” of faith and obedience which make the falls of love possible!”
This blog is meant to be a starting point. A stop on the way to the high places Hannah talks about. Oh, how I wish I had this all figured out! I’m still on my journey. But I have learned a few things along the way. Moms don’t have time. We give and give and give. We serve and serve and serve. Sometimes we do it with a good attitude, sometimes we don’t. But claiming we don’t have time for God is inexcusable. We will continue to live unfulfilled, stagnant, discontent lives if we do not actively pursue a relationship with the heavenly Father.
But how?! There is literally no time. Well, for now, it means making the intentional choice to put in the big rocks first. It means opening your Bible and reading it. It means asking for His help when you want to throw a fit. It means taking His rest whenever, however and wherever he sees fit to give it and bask in it.
This idea sounds miserable. Hard. Dirty. Unfulfilling. Politically incorrect. But Jesus warned us to expect that sort of thing. (See John 14). He also promised to give us exactly what we need.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:30
This whole thing is a frightening prospect.
What if it doesn’t work this way?
What if I end up losing myself becoming so wrapped up in my family?
A waterfall might look like gravity working against water to the casual observer, but upon closer inspection…
“Perfect love casteth out fear.” Yes, that is what the water utters so exultingly as it rushes toward the great, terrifying rocky lip of the gorge and plunges over, utterly abandoned and unafraid of the dreadful depths into which it must fall, down onto the threatening rocks below.
… If one looks at the falls as a whole, they are marvelously beautiful. But if one gazes at one particular part of the water as it plunges over the lip, and then watches it as it falls right down, the almost crazy, blissful abandonment is staggering. I never saw motion so utterly expressive of joy! The movement looks like perfect rapture, fearless surrender to a hitherto unknown delight… The downward motion is light, adventurous, and perfectly happy. The water, after casting itself over the rocks, seems to be held up and supported as though floating down on wings! A glorious contradiction indeed.
We might be crushed. We might be held. But in obedience to God’s will for our lives we will find joy, delight, adventure and refreshment. We don’t have this all figured out, even if it sounds like we do. God set both Alysun and me on this path toward finding joy in serving our families and we are finding it to be an incredible road to walk. Full of really huge obstacles (like looming self imposed blog deadlines) and the most breathtaking vistas (like the love that threatens to swallow you whole the first time your little boy proposes marriage to you).
Come on in. The water is fine!
By Andrea
We forget how big God is. We make him small when we don’t call on him in the little things. When we say, “God has more important things to worry about than the meltdown I am about to have over this (third cup) of spilled milk,” we mitigate his power. He’s better at multitasking than any mom. It’s not a big deal for him to simultaneously keep the world spinning and reach down and put his hand on you when you need to feel him there.
I’ve found refreshment in some of the most bizarre places since becoming a mom. A sick baby makes me hold still and hold him--soaking in his body heat, breathing when he does, feeling the softness of his hair with my hand and my cheek. Yeah. Two minutes ago, I cleaned up some vomit. In three more, he will want to get up and play, leaving a cold spot where his fevered body sat a minute ago. But in that tiny time-span, I was rewarded for giving, serving and going down lower, literally on my hands and knees with a rag and carpet cleaner. I felt that “hitherto unknown delight” of being held as I surrendered my will to the act of giving.
“How can one abandon themselves in this way? Hannah Hurnard asks. "One cannot get a mighty and powerful fall of water if there is only a low place and a short way to fall. It is the “high places” of faith and obedience which make the falls of love possible!”
This blog is meant to be a starting point. A stop on the way to the high places Hannah talks about. Oh, how I wish I had this all figured out! I’m still on my journey. But I have learned a few things along the way. Moms don’t have time. We give and give and give. We serve and serve and serve. Sometimes we do it with a good attitude, sometimes we don’t. But claiming we don’t have time for God is inexcusable. We will continue to live unfulfilled, stagnant, discontent lives if we do not actively pursue a relationship with the heavenly Father.
But how?! There is literally no time. Well, for now, it means making the intentional choice to put in the big rocks first. It means opening your Bible and reading it. It means asking for His help when you want to throw a fit. It means taking His rest whenever, however and wherever he sees fit to give it and bask in it.
This idea sounds miserable. Hard. Dirty. Unfulfilling. Politically incorrect. But Jesus warned us to expect that sort of thing. (See John 14). He also promised to give us exactly what we need.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:30
This whole thing is a frightening prospect.
What if it doesn’t work this way?
What if I end up losing myself becoming so wrapped up in my family?
A waterfall might look like gravity working against water to the casual observer, but upon closer inspection…
“Perfect love casteth out fear.” Yes, that is what the water utters so exultingly as it rushes toward the great, terrifying rocky lip of the gorge and plunges over, utterly abandoned and unafraid of the dreadful depths into which it must fall, down onto the threatening rocks below.
… If one looks at the falls as a whole, they are marvelously beautiful. But if one gazes at one particular part of the water as it plunges over the lip, and then watches it as it falls right down, the almost crazy, blissful abandonment is staggering. I never saw motion so utterly expressive of joy! The movement looks like perfect rapture, fearless surrender to a hitherto unknown delight… The downward motion is light, adventurous, and perfectly happy. The water, after casting itself over the rocks, seems to be held up and supported as though floating down on wings! A glorious contradiction indeed.
We might be crushed. We might be held. But in obedience to God’s will for our lives we will find joy, delight, adventure and refreshment. We don’t have this all figured out, even if it sounds like we do. God set both Alysun and me on this path toward finding joy in serving our families and we are finding it to be an incredible road to walk. Full of really huge obstacles (like looming self imposed blog deadlines) and the most breathtaking vistas (like the love that threatens to swallow you whole the first time your little boy proposes marriage to you).
Come on in. The water is fine!
By Andrea
Wednesday, January 26
Love's Prerogative
Read Matthew 21:33-46
Andrea: As if the discussion of humility wasn't uncomfortable enough, today we continue with Hannah's principals of love and contentment. Giving and Serving. As we continue to explore the topic of living a self-less life, we see that an integral piece of the puzzle is love. And a characteristic of love is to give.
“The poured-out life gives life and power to others. The more love gives, the more it fulfills itself for it is Love’s prerogative to GIVE and GIVE and GIVE.”
The more love gives the more it fulfills itself? It sort of feels like we’re crossing the line into absurdity here, doesn’t it?
God loves working contrary to human intuition. The first will be last. Weak will be strong. Helpless baby as Savior of the world. Gain a fortune, lose your soul. Eternal life comes through death. Contradictions pepper the Biblical narrative and the epistles. God’s plan is so big, it would fry our brains to even try to grasp it. (That’s a lose interpretation of Isaiah 5:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”).
Andrea: As if the discussion of humility wasn't uncomfortable enough, today we continue with Hannah's principals of love and contentment. Giving and Serving. As we continue to explore the topic of living a self-less life, we see that an integral piece of the puzzle is love. And a characteristic of love is to give.
“The poured-out life gives life and power to others. The more love gives, the more it fulfills itself for it is Love’s prerogative to GIVE and GIVE and GIVE.”
The more love gives the more it fulfills itself? It sort of feels like we’re crossing the line into absurdity here, doesn’t it?
God loves working contrary to human intuition. The first will be last. Weak will be strong. Helpless baby as Savior of the world. Gain a fortune, lose your soul. Eternal life comes through death. Contradictions pepper the Biblical narrative and the epistles. God’s plan is so big, it would fry our brains to even try to grasp it. (That’s a lose interpretation of Isaiah 5:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”).
Tuesday, January 25
Finding the Lowest Place
Read Philippians 2:1-18
As we established with yesterday’s post, we desperately crave refreshing contentment. Hannah Hurnard offers up the three steps that lead to real love and contentment: humility, giving and service. So we’re going to spend today talking about step one, humility.
Hannah is not referring to the abstract (to us) idea of applying this concept on the mission field or in a fanciful allegory. Rather, we can act out humility, giving and service in our own families, local churches, offices…
“The first characteristic of love is humility: the pouring of oneself down lower and lower in self effacement and self-denial. The message of running water always is, “Go lower. Find the lowest place. That is the only way to true fulfillment.”
Could we apply this concept with our families? According to Philippians, I may have to consider my children better than myself. My children? I am their parent. I am an authority over them. They are required by the Ten Commandments to obey me. How can I consider them better than me?
As we established with yesterday’s post, we desperately crave refreshing contentment. Hannah Hurnard offers up the three steps that lead to real love and contentment: humility, giving and service. So we’re going to spend today talking about step one, humility.
Hannah is not referring to the abstract (to us) idea of applying this concept on the mission field or in a fanciful allegory. Rather, we can act out humility, giving and service in our own families, local churches, offices…
“The first characteristic of love is humility: the pouring of oneself down lower and lower in self effacement and self-denial. The message of running water always is, “Go lower. Find the lowest place. That is the only way to true fulfillment.”
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Could we apply this concept with our families? According to Philippians, I may have to consider my children better than myself. My children? I am their parent. I am an authority over them. They are required by the Ten Commandments to obey me. How can I consider them better than me?
Monday, January 24
Zero Calorie Refreshment that Lasts!
Read Psalm 1
Alysun: I emailed Andrea a draft of today’s post and asked, “What do you think? Too harsh?” Email followed email and then we had to talk on the phone. Ironically, or providentially, she was thinking on the same topic and our mutual passion was contagious. She combined her words with mine and they far surpassed a “ten minute” Drop. It’s now three weeks later and one post has grown to four. Our Drop has turned into a Flash Flood. So hold on to something as we explore the topic of giving as mothers.
Andrea: Oh, sweet hypotheticals: “God will supply all your needs.” So profound. “Love is sacrifice.” What a delightful concept.
Today, rubber will meet road. Status quo will be challenged. Theology and reality will start to meet up. Can you handle it?
Recently, we featured an excerpt from Hannah Hurnard’s Lessons Learned on the Slopes of the High Places. In it, she wrote about “love’s ecstatic joy” found “in ceaseless, blissful giving.” What does this superficially pretty topic mean in real life?
Take a break, society tells us. You deserve it. Take a mommy time-out. Go to coffee with the girls. We’ve all experienced the truth though, haven’t we? Refreshment of this order is temporary at best. Real life crashes in all the harder upon Mommy’s re-entry into the home. The moments of peace and quiet are nothing but warm memories within minutes. Seconds, if permanent markers were involved while you were out.
Alysun: I emailed Andrea a draft of today’s post and asked, “What do you think? Too harsh?” Email followed email and then we had to talk on the phone. Ironically, or providentially, she was thinking on the same topic and our mutual passion was contagious. She combined her words with mine and they far surpassed a “ten minute” Drop. It’s now three weeks later and one post has grown to four. Our Drop has turned into a Flash Flood. So hold on to something as we explore the topic of giving as mothers.
Andrea: Oh, sweet hypotheticals: “God will supply all your needs.” So profound. “Love is sacrifice.” What a delightful concept.
Today, rubber will meet road. Status quo will be challenged. Theology and reality will start to meet up. Can you handle it?
Recently, we featured an excerpt from Hannah Hurnard’s Lessons Learned on the Slopes of the High Places. In it, she wrote about “love’s ecstatic joy” found “in ceaseless, blissful giving.” What does this superficially pretty topic mean in real life?
Take a break, society tells us. You deserve it. Take a mommy time-out. Go to coffee with the girls. We’ve all experienced the truth though, haven’t we? Refreshment of this order is temporary at best. Real life crashes in all the harder upon Mommy’s re-entry into the home. The moments of peace and quiet are nothing but warm memories within minutes. Seconds, if permanent markers were involved while you were out.
Friday, January 21
You're so Vain, I Bet you Think this Post is About You
Read Romans 12
You’d think I was an equestrian from the amount of times I’ve had to climb down off my high horse over the years. These days I’m really trying to climb on nothing higher than a Shetland pony, but once in a while I still pick one that resembles a big ol’ Clydesdale. When that happens, it just results in that much farther I have to lower myself. I think it’s called the humbling process.
The tempting thing about swinging yourself astride a high horse is that you think you have such a better view from way up there. Well, there’s a view, though it may not necessarily be a better one. Different yes, and that’s ok. If we were all alike, we’d be quite the boring bunch.
There’s also a downside to the upswing of hoisting one’s derriere up into that high saddle. The air is thinner up there and it does things to one’s brain cells. Breathing ‘high horse air’ too long or too frequently tends to make one’s pride puff up like an overly inflated balloon. And you know what eventually happens to balloons that are just too full of hot air…
We’ve all been around someone who has floated into our atmosphere and sucked up all the good air. Gasping for your next breath in a toxic environment is not a healthy way to live. Neither is being the one who is straddled in the saddle, sitting high and blocking others’ view of Christ. The only thing that should be high and lifted up is Him, not us. If that’s not the case in your immediate surroundings, it’s a safe bet that it’s time to analyze why that is.
As for me, should I feel the need to throw my dainty little foot into the stirrup (again), Holy Spirit has been given permission to stop me in mid-mount before I misrepresent His character and require yet another crash course in how to dismount with grace and humility.
Since I know I’m not the only heart that has held itself in too high regard at times, may I suggest that a barn cleaning might be in order for all of us? Believe me when I say the best antidote for a case of high horse fever is prostrating oneself at the foot of the Cross.
Will you join me? I can move over…
You’d think I was an equestrian from the amount of times I’ve had to climb down off my high horse over the years. These days I’m really trying to climb on nothing higher than a Shetland pony, but once in a while I still pick one that resembles a big ol’ Clydesdale. When that happens, it just results in that much farther I have to lower myself. I think it’s called the humbling process.
The tempting thing about swinging yourself astride a high horse is that you think you have such a better view from way up there. Well, there’s a view, though it may not necessarily be a better one. Different yes, and that’s ok. If we were all alike, we’d be quite the boring bunch.
There’s also a downside to the upswing of hoisting one’s derriere up into that high saddle. The air is thinner up there and it does things to one’s brain cells. Breathing ‘high horse air’ too long or too frequently tends to make one’s pride puff up like an overly inflated balloon. And you know what eventually happens to balloons that are just too full of hot air…
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
We’ve all been around someone who has floated into our atmosphere and sucked up all the good air. Gasping for your next breath in a toxic environment is not a healthy way to live. Neither is being the one who is straddled in the saddle, sitting high and blocking others’ view of Christ. The only thing that should be high and lifted up is Him, not us. If that’s not the case in your immediate surroundings, it’s a safe bet that it’s time to analyze why that is.
As for me, should I feel the need to throw my dainty little foot into the stirrup (again), Holy Spirit has been given permission to stop me in mid-mount before I misrepresent His character and require yet another crash course in how to dismount with grace and humility.
Since I know I’m not the only heart that has held itself in too high regard at times, may I suggest that a barn cleaning might be in order for all of us? Believe me when I say the best antidote for a case of high horse fever is prostrating oneself at the foot of the Cross.
Will you join me? I can move over…
“For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think more highly of himself than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.” Romans 12:3 AMP
By Nancy Bentz
Thursday, January 20
Permission Granted
Read Luke 11:1-43
A very, very dear friend of mine moved away several months ago. Sometimes I think it shouldn’t be such a big deal. She only moved 3 hours away. So far we’ve seen quite a bit of one another, and the time spent together since has been quality. With no such thing as long distance phone calls and the internet shrinking the universe, keeping in touch is not the dilemma it once was. Still, I don’t call as often as I should because kids are getting ready for school or we‘re eating lunch or it‘s nap time and there is no way I‘m calling during dinner prep time. Facebook isn’t keeping us as connected as I would like. And while I go about my busy life doing my busy things and spending time with other friends, I keep her in the back of my mind. I wish she was here. I miss her wise words, insights and her ability to keep track of all of my appointments.
With joy, sadness and a little divine nudge, I came upon a recent blog post of hers. I asked if I could share it. She said sure, so here it is. Not in it’s entirety, but in it’s essence. Maybe you need permission today too.
Beth Moore in her Breaking Free study on the day of "Hearts Broken by Loss" after listing a bunch of losses she went through including death of someone close to her, the loss of a 7-year foster son of theirs, two of her best friends moving away and more, she says this:
"Many emotions have swept over me during the last two years, but if you asked which emotion served as the common denominator, I would not hesitate to say grief. In fact, I was somewhat taken aback over the feelings of grief accompanying the moving of my two best fiends. The grieving seemed out of place to me in relation to my other losses yet oddly unavoidable."
A very, very dear friend of mine moved away several months ago. Sometimes I think it shouldn’t be such a big deal. She only moved 3 hours away. So far we’ve seen quite a bit of one another, and the time spent together since has been quality. With no such thing as long distance phone calls and the internet shrinking the universe, keeping in touch is not the dilemma it once was. Still, I don’t call as often as I should because kids are getting ready for school or we‘re eating lunch or it‘s nap time and there is no way I‘m calling during dinner prep time. Facebook isn’t keeping us as connected as I would like. And while I go about my busy life doing my busy things and spending time with other friends, I keep her in the back of my mind. I wish she was here. I miss her wise words, insights and her ability to keep track of all of my appointments.
With joy, sadness and a little divine nudge, I came upon a recent blog post of hers. I asked if I could share it. She said sure, so here it is. Not in it’s entirety, but in it’s essence. Maybe you need permission today too.
-Andrea
Beth Moore in her Breaking Free study on the day of "Hearts Broken by Loss" after listing a bunch of losses she went through including death of someone close to her, the loss of a 7-year foster son of theirs, two of her best friends moving away and more, she says this:
"Many emotions have swept over me during the last two years, but if you asked which emotion served as the common denominator, I would not hesitate to say grief. In fact, I was somewhat taken aback over the feelings of grief accompanying the moving of my two best fiends. The grieving seemed out of place to me in relation to my other losses yet oddly unavoidable."
Wednesday, January 19
An Unlikely Princess
Read Joshua 2
Once upon a time there was a princess....
My daughters ask me to tell them stories that start just like that. And fairy tales are not just for little girls. We all love a perfect story about a lovely princess, a dashing prince. Neat details that close with everyone happy, "the end."
But God has a way of using the imperfect. He likes the unexpected, the intrigue, and always a show of His power. Joshua chapter 2 starts out with another true, awe inspiring, God-written story:
Once upon a time, there was a prostitute named Rahab....
Once upon a time there was a princess....
My daughters ask me to tell them stories that start just like that. And fairy tales are not just for little girls. We all love a perfect story about a lovely princess, a dashing prince. Neat details that close with everyone happy, "the end."
But God has a way of using the imperfect. He likes the unexpected, the intrigue, and always a show of His power. Joshua chapter 2 starts out with another true, awe inspiring, God-written story:
Once upon a time, there was a prostitute named Rahab....
Tuesday, January 18
In the Rapids
Read scripture as noted
It was a bad day, emotionally speaking. As I browsed through one of my favorite blogs meant to encourage and uplift, I found myself circling the drain of despair. These women are so talented, I thought. They have accomplished thing in their lives already and I feel like mine has been on pause for the last, oh, I don’t even know how many years.
I let the feelings of inadequacy and inability wash over me, and I sobbed a few bitter tears and asked God why and what a few times in unfriendly terms. And then I felt a word sinking into my awareness. As I was busy trying to absorb my own feelings of insignificance, a word soaked in along with it.
Lies.
As I was being tossed about in the white water of insecurity and crashing into boulders of doubt, I felt the sureness of that word and grabbed for it. I clung to it, closed the browser window I was overcome by and typed the following list:
It was a bad day, emotionally speaking. As I browsed through one of my favorite blogs meant to encourage and uplift, I found myself circling the drain of despair. These women are so talented, I thought. They have accomplished thing in their lives already and I feel like mine has been on pause for the last, oh, I don’t even know how many years.
I let the feelings of inadequacy and inability wash over me, and I sobbed a few bitter tears and asked God why and what a few times in unfriendly terms. And then I felt a word sinking into my awareness. As I was busy trying to absorb my own feelings of insignificance, a word soaked in along with it.
Lies.
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