All in a Day's Work

Read  Psalm 119:137-144


My mom’s job sucks.


No joke, although the pun was totally intended.

As the lead housekeeper at a busy Christian camp, she keeps the place spick and span despite campers’ best efforts to thwart her. There’s mold, bodily fluids, unmentionables left behind… She vacuums and scrubs toilets. Her job is about as far from fulfilling as you can get. Unless you count the clogged toilets.


It's not a dream gig, but she does it. And she does it joyfully--mostly. Some days the joy is harder to come by.


There’s a lot of talk these days about finding your purpose, following your dream, living life to the fullest. Living life to the fullest means finding that one thing that brings you joy and finding a way to make your life revolve around it.


Fulfillment is a wonderful pursuit. Really. I’m not knocking it in the least, but we tend to look for it in all the wrong places.


We neglect our families to find it in the work place. We shirk responsibilities to find it at home. We pursue it in hobby form to financial peril. Obviously these are the extremes, but it happens all the time. All we like Solomon seek in vain for bliss, when all along, its right there, ready for the taking.


The secret to happiness, the key to contentment hides in plain sight.


Solomon says at the end of Ecclesiastes, “Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the whole duty of mankind.”


I think Solomon was tired after writing the book of Ecclesiastes. Who wouldn’t be? It’s an emotionally taxing job writing about stuff that depressing. One would assume that once the light bulb went on, he’d wax a little poetic about it, but he didn’t.


Did he find joy in the revelation? Or did he, like we do when confronted with a reality other than what we imagined or anticipated, furrow his brow in disappointment.


That’s it? The law? Obedience?


Yuck-o!


Where is the glamour in that? Where is the thrill?


Solomon’s father had already found the answer when he penned Psalm 119. The longest chapter in Bible, it is dedicated entirely to delight found in obedience to God.


I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches. (v14)


I run in the path of your commands,
for you have broadened my understanding. (32)
Am I the only one who has ever trudged in the path of His commands?


I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts. (42)


Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands are always with me
and make me wiser than my enemies. (97-98)


Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple. (129-130)


All your words are true;
all your righteous laws are eternal. (160)


You get the idea.


David found obedience to the Lord a delight, a joy, a consuming passion.


He was a shepherd boy at home in the fields with sheep and nature shoved into the role of warrior when no one would fight and king when no one else would lead. And he found his delight not in his day job, but in the promises of God.


Surely God plants dreams in our hearts. He made us to long for something more.

But He’s it.


At the end, our dreams, our goals, our labor and our intensity must first be directed toward him.


Sometimes he will grant us work that gives meaning, texture and joy to our lives.


Sometimes he will call us to clean up someone else's mess.


He never promised glamour.


He promised abundance through obedience.

Keeping The Heart of Your Child

Read Matthew 7:7-14



I hold my little child's heart in the palm of my hand. God designed me as a parent to have the unique privilege of molding and shaping my child. The spiritual, emotional, moral, and intellectual core of my child belongs to me. No small matter!




"My child, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways."

Proverbs 23:26



When a child is small, it is easy to assume the concept in that verse is normal and will always come naturally. My little baby made eye contact with me, as her mother, first after birth. I am LIFE to her. Her smiles and giggles, cuddles, and love are all mine. I take for granted that she runs to me for help, comfort, excitement, and love. Woohoo! Mission accomplishes, she delights in my ways!




But we must watch out, because assuming we already won at this parenting race is foolish. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10). A child grows and matures and his/her heart is fragile. My husband and I strive to bring up Godly children and we are in competition with the enemy for our child's spiritual, emotional, moral, and intellectual core.




I can easily lose my child's heart. If her heart doesn't belong to me and my husband, it belongs to someone else. Is there anyone worthy of possessing my child's heart? A friend, neighbor, teacher, Sponge Bob Square Pants? No, God gave the responsibility of molding a child's heart directly to his/her parents.

Who am I?

Read Psalm 145


Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Fruity

Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

In this part of the country we are snobs. Particularly when it comes to strawberries. I dare you to try convincing a native Oregonian that delicious strawberries are available in other parts of the country. Here in the Willamette Valley, our damp springs and cool, sunny early summer days provide the ideal climate for giving red berries adequate time to ripen into their full flavor before harvest.

The powers that be are projecting a dismal strawberry harvest this year. We’ve had too much rain and not enough sun. It’s supposed to be hot this week. Too hot, too quick. The delicate fruit will fry before it hits it’s prime.

Oh, there will still be fruit. It will just be harder to come by. But the plants will bear fruit.

The primary sign that we are functioning properly in our spiritual walk is that we bear fruit. Paul explains the metaphor when he lists for us the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control.

Wearing Your Heart

(As written by Anna Voskamp)






In a fallen world, we trip and break our hearts.



Shalom comes to me with her’s cut directly out of paper.



When you’re five, you can do this, take a pair of scissors — if you can find a pair of scissors in a house where glue sticks seem to always stick themselves to invisible places and scissors seem to cut themselves a hole in the atmosphere and disappear (poof!) into thin air — but if you’re five, and you can find yourself a pair of scissors, and the paper, you can cut your heart neatly out of a square, white 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of white paper.



This is what she brings to me.



A white paper heart, like a paper doll turned right inside out to everything on the inside, a white paper heart, this pressed out, bleached bits of tree.

Who am I?

I'm not alone, I have to remind myself. I am not the only one floundering. I'm not the only one in sweat pants. I'm not the only one who doesn't measure up. Slacker, insignificant, inadequate and foolish. All of these are words I would use to describe myself if I had to rely on what I bring to the table. 


All that and Jesus. 




Jesus changes the equation.




Because of Jesus...

I am loved 1John 3:3

I am accepted Ephesians 1:6

I am a child of God  John 1:12

I am Jesus’ friend John 15:14

I am a joint heir with Jesus, sharing His inheritance with Him Romans 8:17

I am united with God and one spirit with Him 1Corinthians 6:17

I am a temple of God. His spirit and his life live in me 1 Corinthians 6:19

I am a member of Christ’s body. 1 Corinthians 12:27

I am a Saint Ephesians 1:1

I am redeemed and forgiven Colossians 1:14

I am complete in Jesus Christ Colossians 2:10

I am free from condemnation Romans 8:1

I am a new creation because I am in Christ 2Corinthians 5:17

I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved Colossians 3:12

I am established, anointed, and sealed by God 2Corinthians 1:21

I do not have a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind 2Timothy 1:7

I am God’s co-worker 2Corinthians 6:1

I am seated in heavenly places with Christ Eph 2:6

I have direct access to God Ephesians 2:18

I am chosen to bear fruit John 15:16

I am one of God’s living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house 1 Peter 2:5

I have been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God by which I share His 

nature 2 Peter 1:4

I can always know the presence of God because He never leaves me Hebrews 13:5

God works in me to help me do the things He wants me to do Philippians 2:13

I can ask God for wisdom and He will give me what I need James 1:5

I am convinced that this list should be required daily hourly reading. Print it. Stick it up somewhere you can't help but stare the Truth in the face. Believe it. 



Content borrowed from here

Bring On The Compassion

Read Mark 5:21-34




If I were to make it as a character in a Bible story, I would want to be known for something more glamorous than "the woman subject to bleeding for twelve years." Most men shutter and skip over the content as quickly as possible, highlighting the poor woman's stellar faith. As women, we can all identify with her female issues (maybe not to that severity). She had some bad, bad womanly problems that had the doctors stumped. She was beyond desperate.




I was at store the other day and the woman at the cash register grimaced as she helped me with my items. I asked if she was okay because pain was written all over her face. With tears in her eyes she clutched her abdomen and bent over slightly. "It's my monthly thing, I'm so sorry, I should have called in sick, but it is like this for 4-5 days a month. Pain meds don't even touch it." I completely identified with her problem, even though I do not have symptoms that lasted that long. There are times every month when I can't drag myself out of bed and I lay with a heating pad groaning and moaning for some relief. I felt compassion for this woman who had to go about her job while in crazy, horrible, pain.




We can imagine the woman in the Bible was in some horrible pain as well. Severe bleeding was the only symptom listed and it alone would have been an ordeal in the day before maxi-pads. The Scriptures say she suffered a great deal and I'm inclined to believe them.

My Father's Eyes

Amy Grant. How's that for a throw-back for today's casual Friday? I always think of this song around Father's Day. It's probably not fair considering it has little to do with earthly Fathers, but I like any opportunity to honor my heavenly Father. The song is old, but it's message conveys what I hope is a goal for all of us. To have our Father's Eyes. 



I may not be every mother's dream for her little girl.
And my face may not grace the mind of everyone in the world.
But that's all right as long as I can have one wish I pray.
When people look inside my life, I want to hear them say,


She has her Father's eyes.
Eyes that find the good in things, When good is not around.
Eyes that find the source of help, When help just can't be found.
Eyes full of compassion, seeing every pain.
Knowin' what you're going through, and feeling it the same.
Just like my Father's eyes.


And on that day when we will pay for all the deeds we have done,
Good and bad they'll all be had to see by everyone
And when you're called to stand and tell just what you saw in me,
More than anything I know, I want your words to be,


She has her Father's eyes.
Eyes that find the good in things, When good is not around.
Eyes that find the source of help, When help just can't be found.
Eyes full of compassion, seeing every pain.
Knowin' what you're going through, and feeling it the same.
Just like my Father's eyes.

Things I don't do Anymore

Read Psalm 77:11-20




Some things I don’t do anymore...

1. Drive more than 4 MPH over the posted speed limit. I’m sorry if you’re in a hurry and are stuck behind me, but I have learned this lesson thoroughly.

2. Laugh and/or sneeze without a certain amount of fear.

3. Get bored.

4. Use the restroom in my own home without locking the door.

5. Feel self conscious during a worship service.

6. Wonder if I’m good enough. I’m not. God can work with that.

7. Argue with Pharisees.


The following list was inspired by this post at (in)courage.me. Sometimes I feel like I keep learning the same lesson over and over again and it’s just not sticking. Maturity seems to be a long time coming, but looking back, I really have learned a few things.


Instead reading a really long blog post, wouldn’t it be more fun to make your own list? Go ahead. Think back on your spiritual life and consider how far you’ve come. Make a list. And feel free to share it with us.


The journey is long, but don’t spend so much time lamenting the long way ahead that you forget to rejoice in the ground you have covered.

Set up road signs;

put up guideposts.

Take note of the highway,

the road that you take.

Jeremiah 31:21

Take My Life and Let It Be

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20



From in[courage].me



I hear her making noise, softly at first but then with volume increasing. She’s supposed to be taking a nap. Irritation and anger, my heart grows dark. This is my time. My time to read. My time to get things done. If this Eldest Daughter of mine gets any louder, she’ll wake Baby Sister and then my time will be gone. I storm down the hall toward her bedroom and I begin to hear what she is doing.

“Take my life an’ leddit be”


Oh.


“Aw for you an’ for your glory”


Anger melts and irritation dissipates like a cold mist when the bright, warm sun appears. The words make me pause, cause my mind and heart to ponder. I wish she could always sing those words with such carefree abandon.


At two, she doesn’t really understand what this means. I only have a glimmering myself, but it is enough to make me wonder.