Endurance required

Running for …what?

Life swirls around us and we sometimes muster up the courage to grab some time to stop and rest. Schedules, tasks, duties, relationships, budgets, errands, ministry, friends, birthdays- all capture our attention. Swirling time and memories flash behind us. 

If all of these moments were a race, what is at the end? What are we racing towards or for? There are many piles of work and the piles never go away.

We run faster and harder in this race of days to get through it all, yet what is getting my body in action? The sweat drips down and the busyness increases for what?

What is at the finish line?  What is all this effort really about? Why do we strain to get through it all? No one seems to notice my straining, since everyone else running beside me is dripping with motivated strides. 

Then, I stop and look around to get perspective. I see myself burdened with the a heavy load, perspiring, and about to cry from exhaustion. I see others doing the same. Some are setting down with tears of despair from the increased loads. There are some who are veering off the track to some other destination, a distraction of some sorts. Others, look peaceful as if they were all ready done. Just resting and glad about it. I look ahead and I see no finish line, even though I was promised it was right ahead of where I stopped! A race that never ends? What did I sign up for?

Thus is the race of our Christian faith. Specifically, my roles as wife and mother. What waits for me as my reward? What motivates my heart to work hard? Throughout the day, what drives me? What is my rest and peace? What are my eyes focused on?

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

God is the reward. He is the motivation. There is a finish line and our home in heaven is waiting for us. Bridging the gap of labor and my heart is worship. My effort is God- the Holy Spirit enabling me to do tasks because He has called me. 

God wants me to run this race of life with endurance. He has set before me this body, this life, this heart to look to Jesus. I run hard for nothing if I am not looking to Jesus. Jesus is the why of my worship, the object, the reward.

Colossians 3: 23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

I work my self up to a pretty great rhythm and my breathing seems right for the pace, then all of the sudden I get anxious at the hills ahead of me. My breathing starts getting more labored and my heart starts to get discouraged. I whisper, “ I can’t go any further.”

So, it is with work. Just as I get my house organized and the laundry caught up, I am staring at overwhelming and steep hills of work ahead of me. What keeps me moving forward growing in endurance? It can only be Jesus that moves me. 

God is with me now, not just at the finish line. He is with me with every move I make, every thought, every tender feeling. He is the promised land, but I am already there. In Christ, I am both running towards Him and with Him.

As I run this laborious calling- my worship is increasing. My independence is decreasing. And.. I fall in to God’s precious arms, so that He can carry me the rest of the way. 

time WITH God

borrowed from lifeaction.org; great site for devotional help. thank you!
Surveys indicate that most Christians spend five minutes or less each day in prayer. A meaningful time with God is vital to a vibrant spiritual life, but many don’t know how to get started. Here is a simple pattern for organizing a daily time with God. Spend five minutes on each of the following:

1. Confession. Sin is the greatest roadblock to prayer; early in your prayer time, confess—agree with God about your sin. (Psalm 139:23-24; 51:10-11; 1 John 1:9)

2. Praise. Dwell on God’s attributes. He is an awesome God! (Psalm 34:1-3; 63:3)

3. Waiting. Quiet your mind and heart before God; focus on Him, being quiet in His presence. (Psalm 37:7; Isaiah 40:31)

4. Scripture. As you open your Bible, ask God to bless you with concentration and understanding as you read His Word. (2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 19:7-8)

5. Intercession. Develop a list of names of others to uphold in prayer. (1 Timothy 2:1-2; Psalm 2:8).

6. Petition. Make a list of your own personal needs, and check them off as God answers prayer. (Matthew 7:7; James 4:2)

7. Thanksgiving. Thank God for what He has done. We have so much to be grateful for! (Philippians 4:6; Psalm 100:4)

8. Singing. Sing Scripture back to the Lord, or use your favorite hymnal or worship CD. (Psalm 100:2; Ephesians 5:19)

9. Meditation. Actively ponder and digest a passage of Scripture or a character trait of God. (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-2)

10. Listening. Ask God for specific direction concerning the day’s activities. (1 Kings 19:11-12; Psalm 46:10)

11. Psalms. Read a psalm, and pray back portions to the Lord. (Psalm 95:2; 147:1)

12. Praise. You began your time with praise. What better way to end it? (Psalm 150:1-2; 50:23)

Busyness Vs. Laziness

God’s grace at work -in my work…

By the Grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I but the Grace of God with me” - 1 Corinthians 15:10

God’s grace is with us in all we do. He enables me to work not for my own accomplishment, but for HIS own glory.

“He wills and he works for his good pleasure. But believing this does not make Christians passive. It makes them hopeful and energetic and courageous. Each day there is a work to be done in our special ministry. Paul commands us to work at doing it. But he tells us how to do it in the power of future grace: believe the promise that in this day God will be at work in you to will and to work for his good pleasure.” - John Piper, Future Grace

Every good work that I can possibly do is God at work in and thru me. For HIS glory.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Whatever work God has called me to, He provides grace to me all that I need to accomplish the ministry for His glory and purpose.

My labor because of who I am:
I am a christian woman. I desire more and more of Jesus, knowing him, worshipping him, and working for him.  I am a wife. I am called to serve, love, respect, grow with, minister with, repent with, my husband. As he loves Jesus and me, I become more radiant like Christ and the church. I am a mother. God has called me to raise four children up in him, serve them, nurture them, laugh and play with them, teach them, and guide them like a shepherd to Jesus, the great shepherd. I am a friend. God’s love happens in these relationships as we sharpen one another, preach the gospel to one another and confess sin to one another.   I am “in Christ.” So, every battle I fight, Jesus fought and won.  In Christ, I have eyes to see needs for others and in Christ, I can love, be in this world and minister to others…

In all of these callings- there is labor. Labor for what. For the Gospel. For God’s glory. I keep asking myself this fundamental question, “In my work/labor, am I worshipping JESUS?”

God’s grace is sufficient! Certainly!

Ah ha!

If I am worshipping Christ in my work, the focus is not on me working, the attention, the spotlight, the focus is on GOD being the worker. He is as Piper said, that…

God is the decisive worker.

Philippians 2:12-13 but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

As I am doing my “works, good deeds, labor” God is surrounding me moving my hands, in my heart showing me his grace, his glory is revealed in the duties, works, and righteousness because of Jesus. The imagery I see is- the glory coming off of my body because of Jesus and God is at work to receive it. Like a vapor moving out of my body, Christ absorbs it, for His glory!

My work is because God is the most magnificent worker, and He is perfect at it.

Filed under Fear of the Lord, Joyful Work | Comment (0)

Waking up to Worship

What gets you up in the morning? Do you awaken to the sound of your alarm or the gentle tapping of a toddler on your arm? As you get out of bed beginning your day, what are you looking forward to? What motivates any of us to get out of our slumber?

Why get up? What do I need?

There are many mornings that I would love to put earplugs in and just sleep! For those of us with young children at home sleep is a rare commodity. Waking up in the middle of the night to feed a baby is part of the job and it is worship. Worship because God loves your baby and when you love them, you are doing what God wants! Waking up to read, exercise, get a jump start on your work day, can all be worship. Whatever season you are in, God has called you to work out your worship.

For me- I have four children and a husband. God has put before me a home to manage and a family to care for. I cant’ just “will power” myself out of bed! That can only last so long before I grow bitter and resentful at what God has called me to! The motivation has to be more than just waking up to do whatever the day requires of me! There is a deeper and more meaningful purpose in our work. There is always a list to accomplish or a schedule for the day. Yet, the list isn’t enough.  Will power is shallow.

I have been pondering heart motivations and desires lately. There is a lot of information and self-help books that are “needs based.” Supposedly, each person has basic “needs.” Furthermore, if those needs are met, the person is supposed to be happy. But met needs grow more needs, ironically. The bucket of human need is never full. We all invent new ways to “need.” Call it desire, needs, dreams, motivations, or even wants.

I think that our hearts are designed for more than meeting our own needs and the needs of others. The “MORE” is worship. We either worship the Creator or Creation. We are motivated certainly from desires, needs, and wants, but they are to be directed toward worship. We worship God when those desires are for His glory, not our own fulfillment. Worship motivates us through and through. My heart is like my brain telling my hand to move. My heart motivates me to worship. My heart also motivates me to fleshly and sinful desires. Thus the war of the heart.

If I worship my home, then my happiness is wrapped up in always improving my home.  Perhaps I worship a friendship– then I have fear that the relationship may produce rejection. If it is my family, then I crave acceptance from and fulfillment in them alone. My heart’s motivations make me act, think, feel, and respond to my environment.  Worship compels the heart!

What compels you?

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the LOVE of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Redeemed people want to Love Jesus and others. The Grace of Jesus compels us to get up in the morning and love well. There is most certainly a struggle in this. Nonetheless, Jesus redeems our desires. Our love for Christ controls us, gets us up!

The Gospel frees us. Grace defines us. God lavishes His love on us. Living out the Gospel and embracing the Grace of God is a daily belief and action! In myself, I don’t want to get up and do work. But, in Christ I do! Because Jesus has given me His righteousness, I want to worship Him in my daily actions, thoughts, deeds, relationships, and especially my DESIRES.  He has given me a new heart and new desires. I want to worship Jesus in and through my works. Not so that I can boast, but so that Jesus looks good.

Ephesians 1 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

So, what I am saying is this: the only way that I get up in the morning and do anything is purely the Grace of God. He has lavished His love on me! My new heart seeks to worship Jesus in the different ways that He has called me to live. My life will certainly change over time and different things will be expected, yet my Saviour will continue to redeem my godless heart and progressively save me. He has imputed His righteousness on me and I am absolutely grateful. May the Love of Christ control all of us. And may our waking up be joyful service to those God has entrusted us to love!

Can you see your waking up as worship?

homeWork: Spring Fever

Spring fever: A feeling of restlessness, excitement, or laziness brought on by spring.

We have been here 9 years last month and have certainly gotten acclimated to the climate, the dreary days, and have become what we mocked when we first arrived. When we first got here, we snickered in disbelief for the pacific northwestern behavior when the sun peaks out. The tank tops and flip flops appear at the hint of 65 degrees and sunny. Now, I am one of my fellow city dwellers with no shame.  WE love the weather and really don’t mind the dreary days or drizzly rain.

As Spring has arrived in its fickle, teasing, rebellion against consistency, the warmth appearing then leaving. I am antsy. It isn’t about the weather as much. This isn’t a weather talk. The weather more REPRESENTS the wave of inconsistency in my heart. The weather is like a mirror to see how I respond to circumstances.

As the darker days become more lit with the promise of the sun and flowers start their beautiful blooms and people eagerly garden and lay on the grass, my heart is anticipating. My heart races at the plans of all that I want to do in these next short 5 months!

Spring Fever is a cue for me to see how fickle my heart is. I am as inconsistent in my worship as Seattle is with sunny days. I am so quick to put my hope in all MY plans, not God’s.  The calendar and lists thrive in the spring. The productivity meter goes way up. My heart is eager to grow things, teach things, filter, organize, and make changes.

Spring Fever pokes at my restless desires, thinking that by accomplishing anything, peace is the reward.

God is my reward. Spring time fun, projects, and thoughts can be purposeful in my heart to connect to Jesus. He is to be worshipped when I dig in the dirt, worshipped in the mundane raking of constant pine needles in our lawn. He is to be praised in the planting of vegetables and acknowledged for His miraculous creation. Whatever my hand finds to do, whatever my heart craves this spring, I am admiring God.

Spring Fever is ok, I think if it draws my desires in to Jesus’ desires. Passion Redeemed. Restlessness stilled. And Work becomes Worship.

Worship God through your struggle

This past Sunday, we studied 1 Peter 4:12-19. Worshipping Jesus is depending on Him in the midst of it, growing in the knowledge of Him, and suffering to ultimately give God glory in our hearts. Jesus Christ is worthy of our worship. In everything. Including suffering. I pray that my heart would yearn as Paul’s did, to struggle well. I want to grow in vulnerability as the GOSPEL gets down deeper in my heart. 

God is faithful to hold us in our struggles. He understands. He came into human history to identify with us and maintained His divinity. He was fully God and humbly lived as a servant and suffered. Jesus endured opposition at the extreme. The Holy Spirit gives me the capacity to believe this and walk thru suffering, comfort, and joy in my struggles. 

I am grateful for a church family that is honest about suffering, repentance of sin, and the joys found in Christ. We can celebrate all that  Jesus has accomplished on the cross- even in the midst of - especially in the midst of our suffering.

Who is your audience?

Feeling distraught and invisible recently, I dramatically threw myself down on the couch and said to my husband, “You don’t even see all the work I did today.” My Godly husband said to me, “Well, sweetheart, God sees.”

Duh.

I must admit that my audience is most often myself. Sometimes others, probably depends on who it is. That is where most of my sin lies, in pride. I work to please my own standard, not God’s. 

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

When Mike reminded me that God sees, I realized how easily  and often I forget who my audience is. I do everything better when I know someone is watching. I clean my house better when someone is on their way to my house. I do my hair and make-up better when getting ready for a date. I correct my children more tenderly in front of a friend than I do alone with them. God sees those movements of my heart, the fact that in my sin, I turn up the quality when someone is watching.

YET God sees me constantly. I can’t hide my heart from him or my work.

God knows the number of diapers, messes, snotty noses for the day. God knows the moments where I have to stop and pray for self-control and gentleness to intervene in a sibling argument. He knows the details, tasks, choices, and little moments of service. He is watching closely as I manuver relationships, conversations, research, and how I apply and comprehend the gospel. He is watching to see if my theology merges with the everyday small interactions. God is paying attention to ME! He is in the details.

If God is watching, why am I so quick to forget his presence?  If I am working for Him, why don’t I stop more often to acknowledge that? Repentance continues to be, turning up the quality because I work for Jesus! Redemption for me is dependence on Jesus and worship in my work. It is also growing in humility to comprehend my part in God’s story.

HE is watching me because he loves me and HE alone is the reward. Knowing Jesus Christ is enough. Praise from people sure feels great, but knowing the King of Kings, my savior sees me and chose me, is the inheritance that Colossians 3 speaks of. 

I work for Jesus. He is watching and cheering me on. For His Glory. Not mine. I am so thankful for that. His grace teaches and instructs me to lean into Him today and see God watching.

homeWork: Closet Organization

You ain’t really organized until your closets are organized- in my opinion. This spring, I am attacking my closets, cabinets, and drawers. 

Check this super helpful video out:

Steps for closet organization: (thanks mom for being the clean closet queen; she taught me all of these)

1. Get better quality hangers and have only one kind of hangers. Looks nicer. (I think black plastic looks best)
2. Purge clothes that you haven’t worn in 6 months.
3. Is your closet large enough to have all four seasons of clothes? If not, put out of season clothing in clear containers to simplify the closet to the season you are in. (containers for under your bed?)
4. Zone your closet. Sections for shirts: short sleeve to long sleeve. Dresses- pants. Dark to light. Solid to pattern.
5. Shoes on shelves or shoe cubbies and zoned
6. Scarves and hats, gloves and other accessories in clear containers
7. Purses all together on shelves or drawers.
8. Keep empty hangers in a section of their own, hung up.
9. Keep dirty clothes hamper close by, so that no piles start to form.

Happy Closet Organizing!

Springing into Work

What is all the fuss with spring cleaning? Shouldn’t we always be cleaning regardless of the season? I think it is a common feeling to be motivated by changing seasons to change things in our environment.  When the trees start  budding leaves and the air gets scents of bloom, spring fever hits me! Then, I am ready to buy vegetable seeds  and excited to make lists of projects for outside and inside the home.

As Spring approaches, it is an excellent time to think about what areas of our homes need extra attention. What projects have been put off or need attention? A few questions come to mind as I ponder this topic:

1. What projects can I give an hour a day to that would help my home and family run more smoothly?
2. What spring and summer memories or events are typical for my family and what steps can I take to plan those?
3. What areas outside or inside my home are being avoided because it is too overwhelming to clean, organize, or decorate?

Spring Cleaning is just a name that our society has come up with for a temporary motivation to organize with an extra measure of social pressure.  It is really nothing more than surveying the home or workplace and taking inventory.

Inventory by room by room. Each room should be maintained daily, weekly, and monthly. Clutter, clean, and deeper clean. Spring cleaning can be an extra time to re-decorate, put an organizational system in place, or re-arrange for a more effienent space. 

Spring Cleaning Inventory (the List)

• organize the list by room
• scan the room: what do you not like in the room?
• assign your name or someone else’s name to each task
• write down items to purchase
• what needs to be thrown out, given away, sold, etc.
• what doesn’t work about the space? brainstorm solutions
• budget any changes and talk thru it with your spouse, get ideas, look thru magazines for ideas, get help, share resources
• plan time to give to the tasks/projects
• enlist kids and or family members to have fun with the project

After each room gets this inventory, priortize the rooms in order for your time and attention. Look at your life schedule and set aside a reasonable amount of time for these extra jobs. They are in addition to our daily stewardship of our home. Spring projects are great opportunities for communities/groups to take turns helping each other with as well. I have heard of groups in our church, once a month serving a family in the group on a Saturday with Spring outside projects. What a great way to serve and be served.

I love Spring. I am reminded as the green stuff starts appearing of the newness of life and the character of God. It is so amazing that God created seasons, months, weeks, and days. I find that with each new day I feel a fresh start, new motivation to love God and others more.  

As I start my list for Spring Work, I am intensely motivated to worship God in the ”before and afters” of projects!

Worship While Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed?

We push ourselves and those around us to meet deadlines, routines, tasks, lists, and relational goals. We are surrounded by others like us: ambitious and aggressive. Too slow? YOU LOSE! Only the fast win and the longer you take to think about what you are doing, the farther behind you get. Results motivate and speed is our friend.

When you are overwhelmed, the tendency or temptation is to have decreased joy and more independence. Challenge produces an “I can do it” mentality. The challenge brings us to more strength in ourselves — or so it seems.

Or, maybe you are quick to give up. The challenges are too overwhelming and you  throw your hands up sooner. You say, “I can’t ” and would rather lose than push yourself to accomplish the overwhelming reality that you are in.

You are tired of the stress, the pressure, and the strain.  You have been in survival mode so long you don’t remember resting and enjoying peace. Sabbath? Forget it. There is too much to do, right?

When I am overwhelmed, my weaknesses are more evident to me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Being overwhelmed always sneaks up on me. Most of the time, work seems like manageable chaos. I get overwhelmed when I have housework debt and relational debt. I feel like I just can’t catch up and it stops being manageable. I start feeling like I am losing! My joy decreases and I pull myself up by my own bootstraps and get to work. Self- sufficient, Godless behavior kicks in. The challenge is a mission. I get tough and dutiful and feel proud at the finished work.  My independent crown is shining bright while I strut my productivity streak in my heart. However, God is not invited into this picture.

Yet, it wasn’t me producing the work. It is always Christ enabling these good things. Jesus wants me to see that when I am overwhelmed, He is giving me a gracious gift. The gift is seeing my need for Him.

God, in His grace, shows me the independence and fear in my heart.  Jesus offers forgiveness to me for my relationship with selfish ambition. The comfort of the Holy Spirit shows me that I am loved. Despite my tendency toward self-sufficiency, God shows me that He is sufficient.

I want to run more quickly to Jesus in total dependence. The state of being overwhelmed is a giant distraction for me and gets my eyes off the goal of my faith. Dependence on Christ while working hard is a continual act of repentance. When overwhelmed, I believe God wants my work to actually be the opposite of fast and aggressive. I think He wants tender and steady stewardship, trusting Him along the way.

So, if you are feeling overwhelmed like me, dig in and depend on Jesus.

Hebrews 4:14- 16 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

As you dig in and depend, remember that God’s grace is lavished on you even before the work is done.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Worship through work is not just working hard to God’s glory. It is especially when we realize how weak and unable we are to do our work. We grow in dependence on Christ and boast in our weakness. We must humble ourselves before the face of God and thank Him continually for GRACE.

homeWork: Systems

The second you walk into your home, there is a system in place. What do you do with your shoes? Do you have a shelf, a basket, or how about just a heap of shoes?  In the northwest,  it is common to take your shoes off when entering a home.  We have  a big wooden  box with a lid that is child proof.  I love that the shoes aren’t a visual.  In my family of six, shoes can be  overwhelming! The children are great about immediately taking their shoes off and putting them into the shoe box.

In theory, systems should make work flow easily.  Systems are the various methods in which to organize your life, stuff, and sometimes relationships.  A trash can is a system. A fridge is one. Anything that collects things and has a purpose. Closets, cars, drawers, email, moleskines, dressers, shelves, cabinets, and even your home is a system. In it contains things to organize and steward. IT is either chaotic or has some sort of order, which is a system.

Some systems work. Some don’t. And systems change according to their function over time as the needs change. For example, my toys are organized in to a system.  I have bins for categories of toys. Balls, dress up, characters, legos, puppets, cars, etc. Having toys streamlined in this system keeps our family organized with the toy clutter. The toy that the eager child is searching for (hopefully) is always in the designated place. This is helpful to parents as well. How many times have you been asked to help search for the lost toy?

Paper systems are WAY more difficult for me to maintain. We have a mail inbox, every day the mail goes in and once a week it is gone through. Coupons and paper reminders go in either my moleskine for shopping list or the junk drawer. Sometimes they go on the fridge. I have a difficult time keeping up with the flood of paper and toys in the house, van, purse, backpacks, mail, etc. The systems that don’t work for me are the things that I don’t see. Like my garage for example. Out of sight out of mind.

Your child comes home from school.  Another thing to “process”. The lunch box gets emptied and put away for filling it the next morning. The papers in the folder: looked at and complemented, some tossed, some saved. The saved ones go to the “child saved papers” bin in my office area. The homework gets done and put back into the folder. Then, the notes from the teacher or fliers to be saved, all processed. If they aren’t, you have your self piles of stuff.

Systems take the guess work out of where things are. If you don’t keep up with your systems daily, then they really have lost functionality. You can find yourself guilty and overwhelmed real quick! Your email is a system. In Getting Things Done, Allen talks about the 2 minute rule.  Answer each email right away if you can do it in less than 2 minutes. If it is a deeper, more heart felt email, requiring you to think more, flag it and come back at a designated time to answer the flagged emails. If you do this each day, you can reasonably keep your inbox empty.

Processing your inbox, putting clean clothes away, clearing counters, keeping up with your lists, and projects, are all examples of maintaining home systems. Not maintaining systems gets you in house work debt.

I need a better system for laundry. I have to do 2 loads each day, or I am in over my head with laundry debt.  I dream of a laundry shoot and envy my friends that have one. I lug two hampers down the stairs to keep my system going, but surely there is a better way! Once the clothes are in the laundry room, I sort.  I usually have at least one pile of dirty or clean clothes on the floor at any given time.  Any thoughts on laundry sorters or containers for laundry rooms?

What systems are not working for you in your home? What systems would help you be able to steward your home more effectively? Do you resist systems?

I would love your thoughts!

homeWork: office space organization

 I thought this video was great at capturing quickly how to streamline the space, keep inboxes cleared out, and stay on top of work.

Book Review: The Prodigal God by Tim Keller

Prodigal means recklessly extravagant or having spent everything.

Tim Keller’s newest book is my first book to read in 2009. This book retells the story that Jesus Christ told in Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 of the Prodigal or Lost Son. Through Keller’s exposition, he suggests it should be called the Parable of the Two Lost Sons.

He draws out the sins of both sons and the forgiveness of the father to each son, both undeserving in their rebellion. The younger son has always gotten the most attention, but as Keller unfolded the story for me, it wasn’t long and I realized that the elder brother’s story is familiar to me. The elder brother was proud, religious, and jealous. Instead of celebrating his brother’s return or even going after him in the first place, he angrily rejected his dad and repentant brother.

To both the rebellious swanderer of his blessing and the religious resentful son, the dad gives forgiveness freely and lavishes affection on both sons. The moral son (the good son) was just as evil as the son who ran away to waste all his inheritance.

Religious people categorize people into “good people” and “bad people”. And, they always think that they are “good,” deserve wealth, power, love, forgiveness, etc. The elder brother stood in opposition to the grace the father was giving and with a hard heart missed the gift God was giving their family or reconcilation through repentance! Wow!

“The father also goes out to the angry, resentful elder brother, begging him to come to the feast. This picture is like a double-edged sword. It shows that even the most religious and moral people need the intiating grace of God, that they are just as lost; and it shows that there is hope, yes, even for the Pharisees. This last plea from the father is particularly amazing when we remember Jesus’ audience. He is addressing the religious leaders who are going to hand him over to the Roman authorities to be executed. Yet in the story the elder brother gets not a harsh condemnation but a loving plea to turn from his anger and self-righteousness. Jesus is pleading in love with his deadliest enemies” - page 74

For me, I realized how easily I compare my sin to others sins. Those occassions for me are self-righteous. Any time that I use someone else’s sin, I am either on the side of condemnation or of self-righteous. As God spoke tenderly to me thru this parable, I am truly thankful that though my sin is great, I am forgiven.

God is EXTRAVAGANT with his grace and love for me.

People or Tasks? Can People be Tasks?

When do you work and when do you engage with those around you? Do you struggle with resentment when trying to be productive and a relationship presents itself? When do you choose to  play or relax when you should or need  to accomplish something? Are you more lazy or are you too busy with work? These questions should poke at you! If you have been reading this past year at all, you know that I am more likely to work than play.

For me, I am more likely to obsess over a clean and orderly home than chill out and take a break from work. Repentance isn’t always the opposite of my behavior, however.  Tasks can easily become more important to me than people. Change doesn’t mean that I abandon tasks and instead sabbath all day, everyday. Change is having a soft heart (awareness of God directing my actions and emotions) and know each day, each action, what is the better thing. Change is slow for me, and over time I am beginning to see my work not just tasks, but also relationships. Worshipping Christ in my work is also recognizing the people around me in my life as I work!

Here are some examples of straightforward tasks:

• Cleaning
• Cooking
• Errands
• Budgeting
• Shopping
• Email: calendaring, projects

Here are some examples of relationship moments:

• Time with God, reading, journaling, praying
• Dates with the kids
• Playing with them: toys, sports, boardgames
• Dates at home or away (full atttention) with spouse
• Emails that communicate encouragement or affection
• Out with a friend
• Phone call
• Serving someone in need of mercy
• Urgent prayer in person or on the phone

When do tasks merge into relationships? Can relationships become tasks? Is it OK for me to “accomplish” or be “productive” with a relationship? Can I put relationship time on my “list?” Is it cold to think of a person as a task? Can I do work items with my husband or child and “kill two birds with one stone?” I have done this a lot while talking on the phone while the kids are napping. I will clean like a mad woman while catching up with a friend. Multi-tasking is great! Yet, I miss it if I am more interesting in the task than the person present with me.

Hmm. I think as long as I step forward in repentance to worship God in my work, this is one layer to the journey! As I continue to grow in humility, by God’s grace, I am finding that there is NO FORMULA!  Shoot! Humility and maturity for me right now is growing moment by moment, being led by God, letting go of control, and moment by moment discerning like Mary (in Luke Chapter 10) what the Greater Portion is.

For your own pondering and conversing:

• In your daily routine, what gets the most attention?
• What thing that you can’t get to during your day, triggers anger?
• Do you give some people more heart attention than others, why?
• What do you avoid?

prayers for our kids

This is borrowed from desiringgod.org and has been powerful for me to read through, print out and agree to start these prayers for each of my four children.

That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (Matthew 19:13-15)

That they will respond in faith to Jesus’ faithful, persistent call.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments.                         

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage.                                         

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

That their thoughts will be pure.                 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord’s work.                                   

All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. (Exodus 35:29)

That when the time is right, they will GO!                             

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

homeWork: Productivity: GTD model

I guess I am officially a productivity nerd. I love this GTD model/method for work so much that I printed the above diagram and put it in the front of my moleskine. Organizing your flow of work is key for productivity.

This isn’t just for the workplace! It is an effective tool for home management. If you find that your lists are everywhere around the house, try out a moleskine notebook keep it all together. There needs to one place where most of your thoughts, ideas, lists, prayers, tasks, plans are together.

Mike and I use outlook for social calendaring and appointments. However, for tasks, lists, projects, relationship goals, menu planning, etc- it is good to have a location for all of that. If you are really geeky, like my husband, Mind Maps are effective. If you have an IPhone or other PDA, you can put those there.

Getting Things Done has transformed both Mike’s and my productivity for 5 years. Say goodbye to “open loops”. Capture those tasks and free your brain and heart space. GTD is a method for stewardship. Stewardship is the principle. Godly stewardship is prayerfully considering the practical ways in which God would have you take care of the gifts He has given.

Practically speaking, this method/model helps streamline your thinking not just your productivity. Remember- “open loops” are those thoughts, reminders, tasks, list items swirling around in your brain, uncaptured? Capturing those loops helps you focus more on what is in front of you. Open loops are unfriendly. They create chaos, stress, and keep your productivity stifled.

Yay for GTD! Yay for organization!

homeWork: Distractions

Productivity. Menu Planning. Cleaning. Distractions can take our eyes off the goal of our worship. Distractions tempt us to lose vision.  

For a few years, I have talked about a woman named Margaret. She is a fictitious woman I’ve made up, trying to understand the Martha and Mary story in Luke 10. I jokingly call the blend of both Martha and Mary “Margaret,” assuming that there must be a gal that is both a hard worker and a worshiper. My tag line in the Margaret story has been: “Sure, Mary had it right–setting at the Lord’s feet listening to his teaching–but hey! JESUS had to eat!”

But I am starting to grasp that Margaret isn’t the answer. I am starting to understand what Jesus meant when he said, “Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken from her.”

Martha:

All of my Christian life, I have heard about the differences between Martha and Mary. Often it is suggested that Martha is the stressed out sister concerned about tasks. She can’t relax because “there is much to be done.” Martha works hard but seems to lack the peace and worship that goes with working heartily unto the Lord. When God himself is a guest in her home she can’t even handle the pressure to perform the tasks. It seems as though that is all she is concerned with–the preparations.

Check her out:

Luke 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Martha is distracted.

Distracted. Hmmm. Who does this resonate with? Me! For sure. I often find myself BUSY with much serving. Distracted from what? Why was Martha, or any of us, distracted? We think that what we’re doing is most important: the tasks and preparations. Jesus told Martha that she was anxious and troubled about many things. What was she troubled by? I can answer for myself. When I am like Martha–when I am not worshipping in work but JUST working–I am busy, frustrated, fast, and resentful. I resent it if my husband is in the room and not helping out in some way. My heart is troubled by the tasks yet to be done. I’m ticked that I have to do it all. Maybe I’m trying to enjoy the preparations. Yet inside my heart I’m looking for any opportunity to complain that I am going it alone. How foolish and self-focused I can be.

Continue reading »

homeWork: A Peaceful Home

Heart check!

What does a peaceful home feel like? Are you peaceful? Does your home promote peace?

In the past few weeks, my thoughts have been tuned to the tasks and atmosphere of my home. It is important to work as worship in our tasks, and the atmosphere of our homes is an outward expression of our stewardship. Yet, if our home is clean, orderly, yummy food is prepared, and we are productive, we miss the POINT it if we aren’t worshipping Christ in it.

God has graciously reminded me that even as I mature in outward stewardship, my heart will continue to reflect Christ’s peace. He is refining, sanctifying, and loving me intensely as I reflect Him. My home is the primary place where that inward peace will be seen.

So, it occurs to me to insert a heart thought in the middle of all this practical home management study. Jesus is my peace and THAT is the most important ingredient in a home that glorifies God. A well managed home without the peace of Christ is just a well-managed home.

Colossians 3:15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Ephesians 213 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Yet, stewardship flowing from a heart at peace is a sweet aroma of the pleasures of Christ! Peace is an aroma of the home. My kids sniff out anxiety like a burning pot. My time with God and the peace that comes from walking daily in prayer is foundational to my management of my home. Stress is inevitable. Burdens are daily. Temptations to sin are constant. Yet, does peace reign in my heart?

Do my children, do my guests experience peace?

So, with this reminder of what a peaceful home is, please remember as you steward the resources God has given you, first pay attention to peace. Do you have a peaceful heart? Do others experience the peace of Christ in you? Does your home reflect that peace?

My prayer is that all of us would walk in the daily peace that Jesus Christ offers, calming our fears, bringing us to repentance, increasing our joy, and causing us to work hard to His glory!

homeWork: Home Organization

Great home organization tips: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_organizing_storage

Great website on home organization: www.organizedhome.com