Monthly Archives: October 2008

homeWork:Cleaning

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woman cleaningspic and spanspicspan

Cleaning can be overwhelming. Seeing each room as a daily, weekly, and monthly chore is challenging. Yet, if we see the mundane tasks as worship, I believe we all can grow in this area. To clean to God’s glory, because we WANT to steward well what He has given us.

My friend Keisha wrote the following content a few years ago. She is in my opinion a cleaning queen. I have been blessed many times by her expertise and am thrilled to pass on her knowledge.

Building a Groundwork
In order to get a home to the point of manageability, there needs to be an entire deep cleaning of the home from top to bottom, room by room.  Without this done, you are just hitting the surface each time making it more difficult to keep on top of things from week to week.The time it takes to get a home to this level is based upon many things.  How much of the home is just the usual dirt to be cleaned or is there clutter that needs to be organized and gone through?  These are things to be discussed and taken into consideration.  The best possible result is based upon individual needs discussed between the cleaner and clientele. Like with most things in life, this will be a work in progress and will take time.  Try to be patient with yourself as you work to achieve your personal goal.  This will look different for everyone.

Tips For Cleaning
Have one area for all your cleaning supplies to be stored.  From that area, create a basket of supplies to take with you around the house while cleaning.Materials Used:
• Flexi-Laundry Basket (oval shaped with handles) can be found at Target or Wal Mart.
• Mini dust pan w/ attachable duster
• Feather Duster
• Large extendable ceiling duster
• Step stool
• 2-4 packs of white bar rags (found in car cleaning sections of most stores)
• A couple of non-terry rags (the dish rags that are non-absorbent)
• 1 Medium sized bucket
• If you prefer to use a mop, the Limberman (I call them Tampon mops) work the best. You can replace the heads every couple of months.
• Covered toilet brush
• Sponge with scrubby sideCleaning Products Used: (Sorry, I am not a Green Cleaner…)
• 409 for multi-surfaces, toilets
• Windex for mirrors and glass
• Lysol Toilet Cleaner for toilet bowls
• 2 T Palmolive in a bucket with hot water (used for most everything) See below
• WD40 for stainless steel
• Orange Oil for Wood
• Murphy’s Oil Soap for hardwood floors that don’t require special treatment
• Soft Scrub Orange for sinks
• Soft Scrub w/ bleach gel for tubs and showers
• Scrub Free or Comet Spray for shower doors

Cleaning Hints
For the Kitchen, I first make a bucket of 2 T Palmolive and hot water.  Using a rag and ringing it out good.  I use this mixture for all counter tops, cupboards, microwave, refrigerator, appliances… I basically wipe down everything with this changing the water when necessary.  I use this method first, and use 409 on the tough areas, wipe down again with the rag and then buff areas with a dry rag.  I use Soft Scrub in the sink area and buff with WD40 on stainless steel sink and other appliances with stainless steel.  For linoleum floors I use this same Palmolive mixture (unless it is a heavier job requiring something stronger) For the Bathroom I first wipe down the mirrors with the non-absorbent rag with Windex, moving to the sink with soft scrub and buffing with a dry rag (especially the chrome area) I used the damp rag to buff the sink for the toilet.  First I spray 409 all over and put Lysol cleaner in the toilet.  I use the toilet brush for the toilet and then wipe up the top, seat and base with the damp rag used from the sink.  Flush and your done.  I use Soft scrub bleach gel in the shower/tub area and buff it all down with a dry rag to make it shiny.  Before cleaning the sink I usually soak a rag in water and ring it out, putting it on the door handle for later and then using it at this point to wipe down light switch plates, cupboards and towel racks etc. buffing as you go.  Then I clean the floor with the Palmolive mixture.For dusting I use a combination of feather dusters on picture frames etc. Windex on the mirrors and glass, a bucket of the Palmolive mixture with a tightly rung out rag for any areas that won’t be damaged by water (light switch plates, non-wood surfaces, window sills etc.) and finishing with the orange oil spray for wood areas.Tips on Organizing
List of Supplies Needed:
• Sharpie Pen & Labels
• Various sizes and shapes of Rubbermaids, Baskets & Nice Boxes
• Throw-away boxes
• Give-away boxes
• Garbage Bags (large heavy duty black bags)
• Boxes/Bags for recycling

The importance of Piles:
As you go through each room, there needs to be a pile for:
• Garbage
• Recycling
• Give Away Pile #1 (to Value Village etc.)
• Give Away Pile #2 (to Friends, family, those in need)
• “Don’t know yet” pile (for things you just can’t decide on that you may need to ask hubby)
• Selling Pile (Consignment, Ebay, Craigslist) *Don’t make this too big or you will be overwhelmed.  Only do items that are worth the time and effort.
• Paper Pile (all pictures, artwork, bills to be filed, cards, letters, e-mails etc. go in a large rubbermaid or box and set aside to go through at a later time.  Perfect for a rainy day project and out of your way for the time being).

Order of Events:
• In each area that you are to begin, have your piles & supplies ready.
• When you step into each room start with the door and work your way around the room from right to left (out the door) DO NOT SKIP OVER ANYTHING.

Things To Remember:
• Any doubt, throw it out.  If you haven’t used something in a month it’s time to go.
• The less you have, the more free you will feel.  Clutter weighs you down and cuts into having order in your home.  The less there is the easier it is to manage.
• Pray if there is a hard thing that needs to be tossed.  Pray all the time through the process. At the end of each day of organizing have a place to put your piles until next round and our of your sight (like the garage or basement for example)

Cleaning & Organizing Schedule (Sample)
Each room is broken down into 4 groups.  I suggest sitting down and creating your own list of your home to get started.  The “house projects” category is just a running list of things that you need or would like to get done in the future so fill it out according to your own needs.The sample below is based on a 5 bed / 3 bath home.Bathrooms: Master, Kids, Main Floor
General Clean (Weekly)
• Wipe down mirror
• Wipe off light switch plates, towel bars, sills, etc.
• Wash Sink/Counter, outside of cupboards
• Clean Toilet bowl, top & base
• Clean Shower
• Empty Garbage
• Vacuum/Wash floors

Organizing (Monthly)
Starting from the door work your way from the left of the room to the right discarding items and organizing:
• Bathroom Closets
• Drawer’s & Cupboards
• All visible items on counters, tub, shower or sills

Deep Clean (Monthly)
• Use tall duster to dust ceiling and corners
• Wipe down smudges on walls, baseboards, and doors
• Wash all surfaces (inside & outsides of all cabinets/shelves)
• Wash Shower Curtain & Hanging Shower Racks
• Clean Light FixturesHouse Projects List
• Touch up paint

Upstairs Hall Closets/Laundry Area
General Clean (Weekly)
• Wipe down appliances
• Wash Sink/Counter, outside of cupboards
• Empty garbage
• Vacuum & Wash floor
• Re-stock cleaning basket, wash dirty rags

Organizing (Monthly)
Starting from the door work your way from the left of the room to the right discarding items and organizing:
• Go through all cupboards & drawers
• Go through all visible items in room
• Go through all upstairs hall closet spaces

Deep Clean (Monthly)
• Use tall duster to dust ceiling and corners
• Clean light fixtures
• Wipe down smudges on walls, baseboards, and doors
• Wipe down appliances
• Wipe down inside and outsides of cupboards

House Projects List
• Touch up paintPantry/Desk Area/Downstairs Hall Closets
General Clean (Weekly)
• Wipe down shelves
• Wipe down outsides of cabinets
• Clean Sink
• Organize shoes, pick up
• Put away papers on desk
• Empty garbage
• Vacuum & Wash floor
• Re-stock cleaning basket, wash dirty rags

Organizing (Monthly)
Starting from the door work your way from the left of the room to the right discarding items and organizing:
• Go through all cupboards, drawers & baskets
• Go through all visible items in room
• Go through all downstairs hall closets

Deep Clean (Monthly)
• Use tall duster to dust ceiling and corners
• Clean Light Fixtures
• Wipe down smudges on walls, baseboards, and doors
• Wipe down all surfaces
• Wipe down inside and outsides of cupboards

House Projects List
• Touch up paint

Kitchen/Dining
General Clean (Weekly)
• Wipe down outside of cupboards
• Wipe down counter tops & outside of appliances
• Clean Microwave
• Clean sink
• Wipe down chairs, bench & tables, Polish
• Go through refridgerator, discard old food and wipe down if necessary
• Empty garbage and recycling
• Vacuum and wash all floors

Organizing (Monthly)
Starting from the door work your way from the left of the room to the right discarding items and organizing:
• Go through all cupboards
• Go through all visible items, clear counter tops and put items away

Deep Clean (Monthly)
• Use tall duster to dust ceiling and corners
• Clean light fixtures
• Wipe down smudges on walls, baseboards, doors & light switch covers
• Wash insides of windows and window sills
• Wipe down inside/outside of cupboards
• Clean inside refridgerator/freezer
• Clean Stovetop/Ovens
• Clean inside of Dishwasher
• Wipe down all countertops/appliances
• Wipe down chairs, bench & table, Polish
• Wipe down light fixture
• Vacuum, edge and wash floors

House Projects List
• Touch up paintLiving Room/TV Room & Guest Room

General Clean (Weekly)
• Dust all surfaces, polish as needed
• Windex mirrors, smudges on windows
• Wipe down obvious smudges on walls and doors
• Empty or remove garbage
• Vacuum & wash flooring

Organizing (Monthly)
Starting from the door work your way from the left of the room to the right discarding items and organizing:
• Toys in living room boxes
• Inside Cupboards
• All visible items

Deep Clean (Monthly)
• Use tall duster to dust ceiling and corners
• Wipe down smudges on walls, baseboards, doors & light switch covers
• Wash insides of windows and window sills
• Dust all surfaces (inside & outsides of all furniture)
• Vacuum under/outside of cushions on sofa/chairs
• Wipe down light fixturesYearly
• Windows Washed (Professional)
• Carpet Cleaned (Professional)
• Touch up PaintingHouse Projects List
• Touch up PaintingKids Bedrooms/Closets

General Clean (Weekly)
• Dust all surfaces
• Change linens, make up bed
• Pick up items and put away
• Wipe down obvious smudges seen on windows, walls, light switch plates, doors
• Empty garbage
• Vacuum & wash flooring

Organizing (Monthly)
Starting from the door work your way from the left of the room to the right discarding items and organizing:
• Closets (organize clothes, shoes, accessories)
• Go through all drawers, cupboards, desks etc.

Deep Clean (Monthly)
• Use tall duster to dust ceiling and corners
• Wipe down smudges on walls, baseboards, doors & light switch covers
• Wash insides of windows and window sills
• Dust all surfaces (inside & outsides of all furniture)
• Wipe down light fixture
• Wash quilts, mattress covers, bedskirts
• Vacuum, edge and wash floorsHouse Projects List
• Touch up paintPlay Room

General Clean (Weekly)
• Dust all surfaces
• Wipe down smudges seen on windows, walls, light switch plates, doors
• Vacuum & wash flooring
• Empty Garbage
• Put away toys, blankets & pillows

Organizing (Monthly)
Starting from the door work your way from the left of the room to the right discarding items and organizing:
• Finish organizing toy bins, discard unwanted toys
• Organize Art Area

Deep Clean (Monthly)
• Use tall duster to dust ceiling and corners
• Wipe down smudges on walls, baseboards, doors & light switch covers
• Wash insides of windows and window sills
• Dust all surfaces (inside & outsides of all furniture)
• Vacuum under/outside of all items
• Wipe down light fixture

House Projects List
• Touch-up paintMaster Bedroom/Closet
General Clean (Weekly)
• Dust all surfaces
• Change linens, make up bed
• Wipe down smudges seen on windows, walls, light switch plates, doors
• Empty garbage
• Vacuum & wash flooring

Organizing (Monthly)
Starting from the door work your way from the left of the room to the right discarding items and organizing:
• Walk in Closet- Discard unwanted shoes, clothing, accessories
• Go through any drawers, bins, under bed etc.

Deep Clean (Monthly)
• Use tall duster to dust ceiling and corners
• Wipe down smudges on walls, baseboards, doors & light switch covers
• Wash insides of windows and window sills
• Dust all surfaces (inside & outsides of all furniture)
• Wipe down light fixture
• Wash quilts, mattress covers and bedskirt
• Vacuum, edge and wash floors

House Projects List
• Touch up paint Garage

General Clean
Just make sure things don’t pile up in there every week, go in and skim to make sure items haven’t been left out, if so, put away.Organizing
Starting from the door work your way from the left of the room to the right discarding items and organizing:
• With spouse go through his items, discard unwanted items
• Organize and re-arrange, bring items in the house to store or decide what to keep out there

Deep Clean
• Vacuum cobwebs
• Wipe down all surfaces
• Sweet/vacuum ground
• Spray off ground with water

Projects List Yard
General Clean
• General up-keep of yard (raking when leaves are falling, wedding in the summer, watering, etc.)

Organizing
• Get rid of any unwanted items in front & back yard

Deep Clean (To be done 1-2 times a year)
• Window washing of all outside windows
• Spraying down the house
• Gardening, up-keep
• New door mat when the other one is older
• Vacuum areas right outside door to keep from tracking things in (making sure everyone takes their shoes off at all times will eliminate dirt)

Deep Clean (To be done 1-2 times a year)
• Window washing of all outside windows
• Spraying down the house
• Gardening, up-keep
• Wipe down patio furniture
• New door mat when the other one is older
• Vacuum areas right outside door to keep from tracking things in (making sure everyone takes their shoes off at all times will eliminate dirt)

 If speed cleaning is your style, try this or this. Fly Lady is great too! Have fun!

homeWork: Productivity

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working ant

First things first:Is time yours? Whose is it? Do you try to control your time or are you rebellious to observe time? Time is a gift from God. NO one has more time than you. Time management is a myth. David Allen, of the popular book and productivity system Getting Things Done, says that you can’t manage time, but you can manage actions. I wholeheartedly agree. 

Proverbs 6:6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! -NLT 

 

This was our proverb for our ‘morning heart journaling proverbs time’ with the kids today. I laughed out loud, because of how fitting the ant is with productivity. Considering the ant in productivity is wise, God says. The ant is an expert with productivity. Productivity is good. However, we must remember that productivity needs to be an outworking of a heart that fears the Lord. Stewardship isn’t just planning and producing; it is a worshipful heart that seeks to honor God with thoughtful work. Please be mindful of your heart as you seek to grow and be productive.Work is a biblical mandate. We need to take that seriously.  Our successful productivity is a worshipful response to God’s blessings. We can enjoy work and feel a godly pride from the productivity, as God enables the job well done!

1.PLAN and Schedule

Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. 

 

“The key is not to prioritize what is on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” What are your priorities? Have you written them down? Have you and your spouse talked about what is essential to the vision/mission of your family? Start with a conversation about what is important for your time. We will talk much more about priorities and balancing relationships and tasks in another post; this one is about shear productivity. Keep lists all in the same place: a file, a drawer, an envelope. Write a to-do list, putting the most important tasks at the top. Keep a schedule of your daily activities to minimize conflicts and last-minute rushes.

Incorporate your lists into a schedule. Buy a week-at-a-glance appointment book, use Outlook, or buy a business table top calendar for your desk or wall. Write everything that you need to accomplish in this book or the margins. Differentiate between the urgent and the vital. The urgent may be making a lot of noise to get your attention, but it is rarely vital that it be done right now or at all.

The daily, weekly, and monthly plan needs to be posted in some form. A calendar in your cabinet door, a posted calendar on the fridge, or Outlook for those who are online often. Look at it frequently, as a reminder of what to stay on top of. I have a calendar in my kitchen on the inside of the cabinet door that has the menu plan and our social (guests, visits, playdates, appointments) calendar on it. This is not my household management calendar. I use Outlook for household chores, birthday reminders, project lists, shopping lists, and the activities and events that are months away.

2. Prioritize your tasks Time-consuming but relatively unimportant tasks can consume a lot of your day. Prioritizing tasks will ensure that you spend your time and energy on those that are truly important to you. Urgent tasks take our attention from the important ones. If the important ones aren’t done, they create stress. Being thoughtful and prayerful about planning gives you a little more freedom to respond to urgent things. 

3. Free your brain from “open loops” Learn to say no if it is beyond your priorities. In Getting Things Done, David Allen talks a lot about “Open Loops.” These are the items that go on a list somewhere that swirl in your brain and you lay in bed thinking, “I should do that tomorrow or next week, presents to buy, recipe ingredients, a conversation to have, hopes, and regrets…” – just random thoughts that need to be captured somewhere. Open loops can make us daydreamers or to even lose sleep. Busy brains can rest, if we can prayerfully put most of those swirling thoughts to bed in a plan, list, or prayer. As soon as you realize you are out of peanut butter, put peanut butter on your grocery list, or as you accept a party invite, put the present on a list and the event on the calendar. Otherwise, trying to remember all that will take up brain space. Those “open loops” will start to diminish as we write things down. The “GTD” language calls that “capturing.”

4. Establish Routines. What is your morning routine? What do you try to accomplish before 9am? Everyone dressed, and the kitchen cleaned from breakfast? What is your routine while kids are napping? What is your routine while getting your family out the door for an activity? What is your bedtime routine? Establishing routines makes it easier for you to habitually accomplish what you need to do to run your home well.

5. Break large, time-consuming tasks into smaller tasks. Work on big tasks a few minutes at a time until you get them all done. Get a cheap timer and set it for 15 minutes and challenge yourself to cleaning and organizing one room, top to bottom. Maybe it is the competitiveness in me, but I love this! I do this with my kids and they work on a task while mine is the whole room, and we have fun doing work together.

6. Limit distractions. Block out time on your calendar for big projects. Try to focus on one thing. During that time, silent your phones, and have self-control to not check email. This work will have distractions if you have children around or are in a work environment with knocks on your door. That is ok; don’t be angry. Lovingly respond to ‘people distractions’; they aren’t robbing you. Then after the conversation is had, get back to your planned task or project.

7. Get plenty of sleep, have a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Healthy choices can improve your focus and concentration, which will help improve your efficiency so that you can complete your work in less time. Waking up early gives the opportunity to work out and study the Bible, take a brisk walk, get a few minutes to think about your day with your calendar, pray that your heart would serve and love those near you, and that you would depend on God to give you the courage, endurance, joy, and strength to accomplish what you need to do that day.

When in doubt about your time: Journal your productivity. Keep track of your time by 15 minute increments for 2 weeks to see how you actually spend your time. Compare this to what you should be or want to be spending your time on. It will give you the motivation to make needed changes. This is helpful if you feel frustrated with not getting things done, and feel like you are constantly working. You may find that you are working frantically but not necessarily working with wisdom.

Keep an “inbox” in every floor of your house My mother always said, “Make your trips count.” The basic idea is that if you are going downstairs, take something with you. Having an inbox, bucket, or container that holds various miscellaneous items that go to other rooms can be an important time-saver. My kids are constantly taking things from other rooms and leaving trails. It is helpful to throw those items in the container when you are cleaning up. That way, clutter doesn’t pile up and you can “make your trips count.” You obviously shouldn’t be neurotic about this one, but you will see how much miscellaneous items pile up, and then you can empty the ‘inbox’ in just a few minutes.  Some ideas are to keep a bag in the car for items that go to the house, a container on the stairs, a laundry basket for bedroom items, etc.

Repent of Procrastination Procrastination has a lot of different causes: fear, boredom, perfectionism, an overwhelming task and unclear goals. Sometimes it is plain laziness. Rebellion isn’t new. If you know God wants you to do it and you say no, it is sin. Be thankful for God’s grace! He is patient with us as we learn and consider how to worship in work. I pray that Jesus will show us his grace continually as we work as a reflection of his love, and that our hands would merely express our gratitude by loving him and those in our lives. Work is WORSHIPFUL when we consider our hearts before an awesome God and respond with joy, repentance, and surrender! For more resources: Here is a great article about Getting Things Done.

There is so much more to discuss in this topic of productivity. I would love to have a long list of comments here! Please send your responses and comments. I would love to add your helpful tips, as we all need wisdom in this area of home management! 

homeWork:a stewardship issue

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Working Woman

This is the beginning of a home management series that I have been thinking and praying about doing. homeWork is a double entendre, here. “Homework”, as in the supplemental work to further your learning AND secondly, work in the home, which is an outward act of worship to God. This will be a series on stewardship of the home as a worshipful response to God’s blessings. I will spend more time on the practical side of things, giving tips and research on home organization, help with menu/meal planning, and balancing career and relationships, while maintaining our homes. This will last a couple months, just in time for the upcoming holiday season.

I am not an organizational expert, nor am I a perfect example of being “busy at home”. I am passionate about seeing work as worship, so that none of us would be lazy or work through a self-sufficient arrogance. I pray that this would be an exercise in growing in wisdom in our work, and learning more ways to be busy at home- as worship.homeWork: a Stewardship Issue will look at ways that we all can improve (by God’s grace) in the way that we order our home. Stewardship is a humble acknowledgement of what we have and who gave it to us, with a response that worships the giver with steadfast and faithful management of the gift. One disclaimer is that this will be an effort in understanding tips, tasks, methods, and areas that we all can grow in. My aim is not to be legalistic but to embrace many styles of home management that honors Christ in stewardship, with freedom. I am excited about learning with whoever joins me! Get ready for lots of information, resources, and most of all, join me in the journey to worship Jesus with our work. My passion for order will come through, but please take heart that my desire is to not make you like me! My prayer is that my passion to influence for the gospel is a louder message, and that these methods will be a fun and lighthearted attempt at growing in practical theology!

So, let’s put on our latex gloves, pray for soft and teachable hearts, and get to our homeWork!

Proverbs 31: Part 5: A Woman Who Fears the LORD

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What makes you tremble?

What brings tears of awe to your eyes? What brings you satisfaction? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.(Proverbs 9:10) It is the satisfied emotion that rests in the awe and presence of God. Knowing his wrath, his judgement, his power, his holiness, his grace, his sacrifice, his faithfulness, his tender mercies, his riches, his holiness, we bow in reverence, in fear.

I fear wind. The wind that is so powerful that the giant evergreen trees towering, surrounding, over our house swaying 50 miles per hour with branches falling terrifies me. Oh, some people have said, “wind storms are cool.” or “the loud sound of the wind is peaceful.” what??? Some winters, I have allowed the fear of the wind and the trees to be so controlling in my heart, that I don’t trust God to protect me, my family, or our home. Fear can be irrational. Fear can be all-consuming. Fear can seemingly take over our thoughts. Every winter a tree falls near our home. On days that it isn’t windy, my heart can experience more peace. I know that fearing God would mean even on the wind storm days, my heart would be in the same place as the “still” days. Fearing God is to trust him and his power over my fear of the wind. To experience calm and rest because God is keeping me safe.  The last couple seasons, my wind fear has decreased as fear of the Lord has increased! I have bathed in psalms that talk about God being our fortress, refuge, safety, rock, stronghold, etc. As God has supplied my heart with His fatherly care, concern, lordship, and strength, I am starting to get it. There is no formula for replacing one fear for the right fear. Yet, in God’s grace, he has calmed my fears as I have placed more trust in God’s power, protection, specific love for me, his wrath, his kindness, and his mercy. I have to fight for this trust and fear. I have to tune my heart to the music of Psalm 27,31,61, 71 and believe the words!

In the same way that paying attention to the wind stirs my fear, which motivates me to hide from the wind, fear of the Lord motivates me to hide in him.

Psalm 46:1 God is my refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea

Deuteronomy 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.

God wants us to Fear Him. He wants my heart to trust him, because he wants me to be satisfied in him, so He is glorified.

Proverbs 19:23The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

Deuteronomy 10: 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.

Fear of the Lord leads to life, and satisfaction. 

“Fear of the Lord means reverent submission that leads to obedience, and it is interchangeable with “worship,’”rely on,”"trust,”and “hope in.” Like terror, it includes a knowledge of our sinfulness and God’s moral purity, and it includes a clear-eyed knowledge of God’s justice and anger against sin. But this worship-fear also knows God’s great forgiveness, mercy, and love. It knows that because of God’s eternal plan, Jesus humbled himself by dying on a cross to redeem his enemies from slavery and death. It knows that, in our relationship with God, he always says, ”I love you” first. This knowledge draws us closer to God rather than causing us to flee. It causes us to submit gladly to his lordship and delight in obedience. This kind of robust fear is the pinnacle of our response to God.”    -Edward Welch When People Are Big and God is Small

Fear of the Lord is Worship.

“Fearing the Lord means that this worshipful awe is the single and unchallenged motivator of everything I think, desire, say, and do.” – Paul Tripp, The Quest for More

Fear of the Lord is REAL beauty.

Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Are you amazed at Jesus? Are you bored in your Christianity? Do you tremble when you see glimpses of God’s glorious grace and presence?

We need to fight for fear of the Lord. It is a temptation for me, for all of us, to not fight for the fear of the Lord. It is a fight of faith. (1 Timothy 6:12) It is a battle to take the blinders of the world off, to fight against indwelling sin, and to fight against evil (Ephesians 6:12).

Just yesterday, a surprise early fall wind storm hit us. With power outages all around and a giant tree that split in half, resting on trees near our vehicles, and wind so loud you could hear the branches spitting. I saw the wind picking up early afternoon. Jesus worked on me. I felt peace. Instead, of right away having anxiety, I went to Psalm 121 and read it out loud to my kids and prayed silently that I would trust God and have peace in my heart. I took a nap! Now, that my friends, is redemption. It snuck up on me. I was sharing with my husband how I didn’t worry, then I realized I am growing in the fear of the Lord. God’s grace is evident! Thank you, Jesus!

How can we practically cultivate and at a heart level have the Fear of the Lord? Borrowed from When People Are Big and God is Small:

  1. Review the creation psalms: Psalms 8;19;29;65;104
  2. Meditate on the enthronement psalms: e.g., Psalm 95-97;99
  3. Memorize Psalm 139. It states that God’s providence is so extensive it goes into all the details of our lives.
  4. Go through worship songs/hymn book and highlight songs that express God’s majesty and holiness.
  5. Read the book of Habakkuk. It is similar to Job in that God directly addresses a man who had questions about what God was doing. All the questions were resolved when Habakkuk was schooled in the fear of the Lord.
  6. Read The Holiness of God,by R.C. Sproul.
  7. Review the New Testament passages on hell. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10;2 Peter 2:6, and Revelation 14:9-11.
  8. Talk with others in community about your reflections and meditations.

AND- pray for the Lord to show you where you are hard hearted to fear him. Our God is slow to anger and abounding in love, holy and faithful to hear your desire for him.

Cultivating fear of the Lord is also surrounding yourself with other people who demonstrate this beauty. For example, John Piper. Watch this:

Let us work out our salvation with FEAR and TREMBLING. Lord, thank you for your faithfullness to care for me. You are my rock, my safe place, my hiding place, my comfort, my refuge. I thank you for the work of redemption you have done in my heart. Jesus, your blood was shed so that I could experience new life in you, thank you that I receive that gift daily. You are a good dad, who knows me. Amen.