01.26.09
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.
01.15.09
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.
Romans 5: 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Furthermore, my knowledge of God as father is taking more shape. I am trying to grasp the passion of knowing God is father and runs out to me, pursues me like a dad, conquering my enemies, and wiping tears from my eyes. I am sure that the rest of my life will be a series of attaining this belief.
God has recklessly spent everything on me. His life.
01.08.09
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?
01.06.09
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)