05.29.09
Posted in Fear of the Lord, Joyful Work at 7:20 am by trisha
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.
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05.22.09
Posted in Fear of the Lord, Joyful Work at 8:10 pm by trisha
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?
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05.04.09
Posted in Joyful Work, Productivity, home management at 11:43 am by trisha
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.
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