01.03.10
Posted in Fear of the Lord, Heart Distractions, Stewardship/Organization at 3:53 pm by trisha
Busy Body. That word is power packed with negative emotions and disgust, right? This “town gossip lady” image in my head is not the “busy at home lady”, but instead is the lady that chooses to be in other people’s business. I certainly never thought I was idle, lazy, or pointlessly or wandering about my day, looking for some one or something– to scratch an itch–in my heart….
When is the last time you found yourself going around from house to house being idle? Or, perhaps calling too many friends in one day? Concerned or thinking about other people more than what you are called by God specifically to be mindful of?
I haven’t identified much with this particular sin until– I realized that the Internet is my “town” to meander. I have found myself “going from “house to house” rather “website to website” seeking something: information, research, book reviews, blogs, facebook, or email all potentially sucking in my time and seducing my attention.
1 Timothy 5: 13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
To ignore this comparison is for me– choosing blindness. I have been blind to the fact that I am tempted to ignore greater blessings that God has called me to. Sin is giving in to the temptation to busy body with my eyes and heart focused on worthless and sometimes meaningless information that swirls around in my head taking up the mental space that should be occupied by meaningful thoughts and purpose.
Repentance is not always the opposite behavior. It doesn’t mean social networking is bad and email, internet, and helpful websites are now of the devil. As much as legalism lures me; I believe that repentance isn’t rule making here, but instead it is being tender to the Holy Spirit, moment by moment, day by day with my time and attention. There is remarkable joy and satisfaction in this discipline, as I depend on Jesus’ strength to walk with the submission to God enabled by the Holy Spirit in this area.
Practically, it means that I set thoughtful boundaries on time spent on websites. I choose appropriate times to give attention to it. It needs to be at times that relationships aren’t ignored or neglected. Stewarding my time, means seeing internet time as a resource to be used with wisdom –as worship.
Internet Busy Bodying is really just another form of laziness and escapism, not worship. Worship is living our lives in such a way that honors and glorifies God.
By God’s grace, my slices of time for Internet will be stewarded more wisely.
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12.16.09
Posted in Christmas, Heart Distractions, Parenting, worship at 7:00 am by trisha
How many strangers have walked up to your kids, “What do you want for Christmas?” Or even well-meaning family members…We can easily think that Christmas is mostly about gifts. Especially, in America. Commercialism can over–ride the meaningfulness of it. Our hearts can be so captured by the season that it the “joy of the season” actually can eclipse Jesus all together. The hoopla can become an idol that we stroke, full of our expectations and lists.
As with many things, God teaches me through the calling of motherhood. The fog of Christmas gets clearer as I am compelled to give my children an appetite for worship. As I check toys off the list, I should all the more be looking at my list for their hearts. Do I have a list of each child’s heart needs, where they are at with Jesus and how I can love them? It is more valuable eternally for me to pay attention to that list. Pointing them to Jesus is the greatest gift I can give.
Have you ever made a list of free things you can do with and for your family and children that exhibits service, humility, training in Godliness? A list that– is a worshipful response to God, stewarding relationships not with things but with heart? Make time think and pray about your family and seriously write down how you can love them more this year. With each item, ask yourself, “is this free, sacrificial, will they feel loved, does this point them to Jesus, does this cultivate our relationship unselfishly?”
Christmas is a beautiful season, but it is also a season to reflect on various areas of our hearts that God is moving in. Drawing nearer to the Savior is such joy! WE do that through worship! Just as he sent the greatest gift to us, Jesus, we are called to recognize and respond in worship all year round. The busyness of of the season distracts us all from treasuring Jesus.
As Mary with her new baby– king Jesus, treasured the events in her heart, let us respond to Christmas in our hearts.
Luke 2:16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
I have felt urged to remember – how is God revealing Himself to you this Christmas? Are you worshiping Jesus in what you are doing? Are you distracted with much? Who are you trying to please? When you go about your activities, what are you motivated by? Do you feel the weight and joy of the task of shepherding your children?
Is your heart tender to Jesus? Are you hurried, distracted, thinking about tasks and purchases?
If those same strangers, asked YOU, “What do you want for Christmas?” What would you say?
God became a man, Jesus. The Incarnation is unfathomable. Let’s not miss Jesus in Christmas.
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11.09.09
Posted in Heart Distractions at 5:47 am by admin
Ecclesiastes 6:7-9
All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor manhave who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
in the Net Bible:
All of man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach yet his appetite is never satisfied! So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive? It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile – like chasing the wind.
I chase the wind of a thinner body, cleaner house, healthier choices, finished projects, peaceful relationships, etc. I long to treasure the feeling of everything in my life in order. I seek tasks more frequently than the ongoing peacefulness of being in communion with my Savior Jesus. My Vanity streak in my heart is thick. God is loving me as I repent of the preoccupation of my self and my “toiling.”
God has enabled me to enjoy Him. Treasures in HIS kingdom last, not things on earth. IT is so easy for me to replace contentment in that knowledge with worry and toil. My Father knows my needs and is graciously providing His Grace each day- so that I can continue to work.
Contentment is not wrapped up in being “ok” with the material possessions we have or the season we are in. Contentment is a peaceful heart in light of seeing the meaninglessness of earthly strife, and putting hope in the Savior in and through it all.
My husband wrote this song from Ecclesiastes on this topic 5 years ago: IT is really great!
http://www.marshillchurch.org/Audio/meaningless_parsons_062203.mp3
1 Timothy 6:6-8
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
“If I aspire to anything, it should be serve my God and King. I must to learn to seek his kingdom first.”
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02.20.09
Posted in Heart Distractions, Humility at 2:18 pm by trisha
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.
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01.08.09
Posted in Heart Distractions, Humility, Joyful Work, Productivity, home management at 6:32 am by trisha
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?
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12.02.08
Posted in Heart Distractions, home management at 9:53 pm by trisha
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.
Read the rest of this entry »
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07.27.08
Posted in Fear of the Lord, Heart Distractions, worship at 2:02 pm by trisha
Am I a content woman of God? Do I trust God to order my steps, my day, my plan?
God has really convicted me lately of so many idols in my heart. Specifically, I desire too much to know the “plan” for the season, for the day, for the hour… Hence, my difficulty to roll with the flow or my lacking flexibility. Deeper than that, it is discontentment, not trusting God, anxiety, and me trying to control. ugg.. My discontentment is masked very well (not in a sneaky way)by joy. My passion covers up my unmet desires at times.
Philipians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
My heart as John Calvin once said is an “idol factory” and in the midst of the the gratitude and worship unto Christ is my idolatrous heart. My heart wanders around looking for more. The “more” always serves me, not my family, friends, or my God. The more, is discontentment.
Paul Tripp says it this way: “You see, you and I are worshippers. This is one of the things the separates us from the rest of creation. As worshippers we’re always living for something. Something is always laying claim to the affection and rulership of our hearts. There’s always something that commands our dreams. There’s something that we look to to give us identity, meaning and purpose, and that inner sense of well-being that everyone seeks. Now, Scripture says that there are only two choices (Romans 1:25). You’re living in pursuit of the creation or the Creator. You’re looking for your satisfaction and meaning in the physical created world, or you’re finding it in the Lord.
What this means is that there’s a war of dreams that rages in our hearts, and in the middle of the fog of this war it’s so easy to get it wrong. It’s so easy to think that because I have my theology in the right place, because I am biblically literate, and a functioning member of a good church, that my life is shaped by worship of the Lord. But, that may not be the case at all. On closer inspection, it may actually be the case that underneath all of those things is a life that’s driven by personal success, or material things, or the respect of others, or power and control, etc. I am deeply persuaded that there’s a whole lot of idolatrous Christianity out there. The most dangerous idols of all are those that fit well within the culture of external Christianity.
Am I living in pursuit of God’s glory and do my choices reflect that? As God crushes idols in my heart, I am starting to understand more of the Gospel. My idols have clogged the pipes and crowded my heart. As the war in my heart continues, I am fighting with clearer vision!
Worship is contentment, but I have to fight for it, and reflect and acknowledge in prayer and praise to God for how GOOD He is and how Victorious Christ is! Repentence of discontentment will be more rest, trusting, in the midst of not knowing answers. I will stand in Philippians 4!
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07.26.08
Posted in Heart Distractions at 1:58 pm by trisha
Vacation: (definition) leisure time away from work; devoted to rest or pleasure
For the last few weeks, my computer was down and we took a 2 week “staycation” where we enjoyed vacation time at home in our city with our visiting family members…
Staycation was awesome! Less expense, kids get their own beds, we could get out of the house for a whole day for fun activities, then stay home the next day to recoup, quality conversations, normal routines, but with less stress, no airports, or roadmaps.
God helped me not to obsess over laundry and floors and picking up toys. My family helped a lot and at the end of the two weeks, I had at least 8 loads of folded, yes clean laundry in my bedroom, ready to be put up. There were many times I could have put up laundry or mopped my floors, or windexed the fingerprints on mirrors and doors that seemed to yell at me when I would walk by, I could have swept everyday, but didn’t. The house was fine. The kids were fine. It was great. God helped me repent, rest and relax. I enjoyed my family, my home more, and feel refreshed!
As most mothers know, you really don’t get vacation, even if you are away from home. Vacation to me is someone else makes the meal and cleans it up, someone else cleans the house, someone else does the laundry, etc. And even if all of that is done, my sweet children still need bathed, wiped, dressed, combed, brushed, sanitized, held, loved, talked with, played with, kissed, hugged, and all of that from 7am until 8pm. A mother’s job is constant and it is never vacation.
I wouldn’t want that kind of vacation. So, what I am blessed with are small moments of vacation and alone time. 1 hour of reading outside. 20 minutes in the shower. Errands without the kids. Dinner out. Date night with Mike always feels like vacation!
Our staycation did include much work. Yet, my heart is refreshed. Mike was home, comforting me with his presence. Our parents were here and we enjoyed them and made a lot of memories. Vacation for me is becoming an annual time in July where we break from normalcy, still doing work, but with a different approach, to have fun, to engage our kids more, to take a ton of pictures, to plan summer outings, to take family naps, try out new recipes, play in the yard, no make-up, and no email… My heart is refreshed!
Why do people crave vacation? I struggle to not feel entitled to have a break or a vacation. If I am exhausted, the last person I tend to tell is God..
Do I view breaks or vacations or those small moments to refresh myself as gifts? Often, I think I am owed the time.
Why do I need an occasional break from my house, my kids, my husband? For me, it is an opportunity for my heart to be refreshed. I feel this way after church and listening to a sermon, a good chunk of time in the Bible, a date night with Mike, or family reading time. I feel the vacation feeling when I have talked with a friend or sipped coffee looking at the lake. The moments are there, I don’t have ride an airplane to be energized. The destination for vacation is Jesus Christ in my heart, I can go there and worship him and enjoy the pleasures of Christ anytime!
Thankfully, God faithfully refuels my heart when I go to him with an empty tank!
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05.20.08
Posted in Fear of the Lord, Heart Distractions, relationship with Jesus, worship at 5:29 am by trisha
Do I fall at the feet of Jesus in complete adoration? Do I care too much of the opinion of others that I am distracted in my worship? If my God were in my home, would I see Him and know what humble and passionate worship would be? Or would I be my “default self” distracted and proud?
Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha: she sat at Jesus Christ’s feet and listened to his teaching. She chose the good portion, which would not be taken away from her. In Luke 10, I have read so many times this story and have taught on Martha- here is a link to the article, I wrote on Martha and her distraction: http://voxpopnetwork.com/reformingthefeminine/2008/02/09/margaret/
So, what did Mary get so right? Jesus said, ” Mary has chosen the good portion and it will not be taken away from her.”
Mary was open and flexible: Martha and Mary lived in the same home in Bethany. Mary and Martha both had to be hard workers to keep their home. They were hospitable and loved Jesus. When, Jesus entered their home, on the spur of the moment, Mary knew in her heart that listening to his teaching and setting at his feet would be the good choice. She was blessed in this act of worship.
Mary responds with passion:In Luke 10, when Jesus was in her home, she quickly responded with attentive ears and a posture of worship, setting at his feet listening to God. And in John 11, Lazarus died. He was the brother of Martha and Mary, and Jesus loved them all. Lazarus had been sick and Jesus knew that he had died, while he was away. Martha went to find Jesus to tell him and he started walking towards Bethany (Jerusalem was just a couple miles away) and she stayed there until Martha came back to tell her that Jesus was asking for her. Mary jumped up and ran out to Jesus, who was in the same spot he was when talking with Martha on the road somewhere between Jerusalem and Bethany. The Jewish crowd that was with Martha and Mary while they were mourning was so moved by Mary’s jumping up to run out to Jesus, that they went too. When they all got to Jesus, Mary fell at Jesus’ feet. Her tears and their tears moved Jesus. And he wept too. How amazing. Her passion, her love, moved JESUS! He knew he would raise Lazarus, he had a plan because he loved them all. Yet, he still wept with them. This is huge for me as I walk with hurting people. Flying a victory banner over some-one’s pain doesn’t communicate love, weeping with them and reminding them of God’s sovereignty is love. Jesus embraced Mary’s mourning by also mourning. wow.
Mary is generous. In John 12, this is where the same Mary anoints Jesus with very expensive perfume. Her devoted sister faithfully serves a meal to Jesus, the back to life Lazarus, Jesus, and the disciples. Mary poured this perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. Jesus’ response to Judas’ push-back on Mary’s actions, once again shows that Mary instead of selling this perfume to give the money to the poor she chose to be worshipful in choosing to anoint her God before his death. Jesus defended her actions in Luke 10 and here, making sure that those who complained about her actions, knew that she was making the good choice. Matthew and Mark say that she poured it on his head and feet. Wiping his feet with her hair was truly an act of worship with humility and devotion. I can’t imagine doing this. I hope that I would have ignored all of those people around and humbly worshiped my God. I am sad to say my struggle is caring too much what those near would think of me. Mary didn’t seem to care. She worshipped Jesus with a passionate decisiveness that I am longing to see lived out in my heart and life!
My world can shrink so easily to the size of my life, my tasks, my own pain. I feel like if I can consistently see the sovereignty of God and walk in the knowledge of God’s transcendent character, my fear of man will fade away and my passionate pursuit of God’s holiness will replace it. As I study Mary, I am encouraged to see a woman who at least a couple times worshiped Jesus with decisive, passionate, and humble responses.
Psalm 25 comes to mind when I pray for a heart to worship with passion and humility.
Psalm 25: 4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. 5Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. 6Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me,for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.9He leads the humble in what is right,and teaches the humble his way. 10All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
For this in a song form: check out: www.marshillchurch.org/audio/Psalm25_Parsons_070610AM11.mp3
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03.23.08
Posted in Heart Distractions at 7:15 pm by trisha
When is the last time you found yourself going around from house to house being idle? Or, perhaps calling too many friends in one day? Surely, not you, NOT me!
I never thought of myself as a busybody. Busy body has a very negative connotation, doesn’t it? I think of the town gossip lady and is not busy at home, but off out and about her life…I certainly never thought I was idle, lazy, or pointless or wandering about my day, looking for some one or something to scratch an itch.
Until… I found that the Internet is my “town” to meander. I have found myself recently “going from house to house” or “website to website” seeking something. Information, book reviews, someones blog, or my email that seduces my attention.
1 Timothy 5: 13Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
I try not to check email too often in my day, but this takes such discipline, lately. I think the heart of this temptation for me is the same sin battle that the busy body who wants to see things, people, know stuff, because she isn’t content with what she already knows and has.
When is it ever appropriate to “surf” the Internet? Perhaps, I am researching… But, most commonly I only surf as a time waster. If I am researching I usually find the information quickly, thankfully. I am here to repent of the time waster surfing which is sinful busy body behavior!
By God’s grace, my slices of time for Internet will stewarded more wisely.
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03.05.08
Posted in Heart Distractions, Joyful Work, worship at 10:03 pm by trisha
Sometimes the biblical word for worship is translated “sacrifice.”
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
This week, I read Vintage Jesus, Pastor Mark’s newest book. It has been a solid and thoughtful look at the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you, Pastor Mark! I love the following in the section on worship:
Glorymeans weightiness, importance, preeminience, priority, or that which is our greatest treasure, deepest longing, and fountain of hope. Functionally, what we hold int he place of glory is in effect our real god. People can and do hold various people and things in a position of glory and then worship them by making sacrifices. Because we have limited resources (time, energy, money), we must allocate those things to what we consider most important or glorious to us and in so doing make sacrifices for our functional god. Whatever we hold in the position of highest glory is by definition our god(s). Practically, worship is making sacrifices for what we are living to glorify. – Mark Driscoll, Vintage Jesus
What do I make sacrifices to daily?
Like in my previous posts, so many other things lure my heart to make sacrifices to, other than Christ. God’s grace is amazing and I am utterly grateful that He accepts me “in Christ.” Not because my sacrifices to worship Jesus are always pure.
My heart’s desire is: Acts 20:2424 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Philipians 3:3For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—
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02.28.08
Posted in Heart Distractions, Joyful Work, worship at 2:05 pm by trisha
What do I give MY attention to?
In no certain order (what comes to mind): Tasks. Duties. Relationships. My body: working out, make-up, hair, food, etc. Reading. Studying. Writing. Sex. Emails. Driving my car. Cooking. Shopping. Meal planning. Cleaning. Organizing. Ministry. Phone calls. Teaching school. Of those things, do any of them stand out in front with too much of my heart’s attention? Do I honor any of those things above Christ with my ATTENTION?
I give a lot of my attention to my husband and children and my friends. I serve them, enjoy them, value time with these people that I love. Yet, do I forfeit time with my Bible and prayer to love someone? hmm.
I give much of my attention to tasks, stewarding God’s resources.
Enter..sin. I give my attention to myself. What would I like to do today? What would make me feel good today? Who will give me attention, today? My heart wars against my desires…
Who or What gives ME attention?
So, to change the words, helps me see the sin. Who will give ME attention today, what will give me what I want today.. Who will worship me today, or what object will bow down to me today?
I love to get attention. I love being in front, going first with speeches, eye contact, intimacy, emotional fluff, relational health and cosistent pursuit from those I give my heart to. Yet, somewhere sometimes the desire for those things crosses a line. The line is when the desire isn’t met, and I am disappointed too greatly.
Repentance:
For me, attention can be worship. Repentence is walking in the light over these heart struggles, SAY with the internet…The internet is a cold body, though. Rejection tends to be a blog’s middlename, if the motive is for attention. By, God’s grace, my heart is in check with sinful motives and Christ is changing me.
Repentance is holding passionate desires loosely. Ready to confess selfish desires. And in the disappointment, not to demand that I am worshipped.
On, my most obedient and worshipful days, I start out early praying before the sun and my family rises, to confess my sin, my battle over worship. That I would die and Jesus would be lifted up and my heart would be full of worship unto Christ. That my whole day would be in different expressions, giving attention, worshipping my God.
I pray my attention is wrapped up in Jesus more often and consistently. Too much attention to/of something MAY reveal an idol of my heart.
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01.22.08
Posted in Fear of the Lord, Heart Distractions, relationship with Jesus, worship at 3:57 pm by admin
In continuing our look at Work and Worship, I am peering into the story of Martha, Mary, and Jesus in Luke 10. I have been meditating on worship and how my actions rarely reflect an attitude of worship. Often, my attitude as I work is an attitude of self-worship not worship of Jesus- just like my sister- Miss Martha.
I am zeroing in on: Luke 10:42 “but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
So, what is the good portion?
Many time in scripture, you find “portion” being associated with heritage, right, inheritance, or simply portion of land. Here are some examples where “portion” is used:
Psalm 119:57 The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
Psalm 142:5 I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
Numbers 18:20 and the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.
Jesus is the “portion” of Jacob, he is our “portion.” Yet, we so easily miss him. The whole Bible is unified and points us to Jesus. My whole life is meant to be about giving God glory, enjoying Him, being satisfied in Him- true worship. Yet, my distractions are set up as idols replacing Jesus. My attention, my worship is distracted.
In John Calvin’s commentary on this- he said-“Martha, by distracting her attention, and undertaking more labor than was necessary, deprived herself of the advantage of Christ’s visit.”
Martha chose to deprive herself by fluttering around distracted with much toil, and Mary chose the good portion. The portion was Christ himself.
Reminder of Grace: As God reveals His truth to me, I am comforted by Christ’s provisional grace to move in my heart, as HE SEEKS worshippers. My heart is being transformed, by grace. God is my portion, my desire, my REWARD!
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01.11.08
Posted in Heart Distractions, Idolatry, relationship with Jesus at 3:45 pm by admin
I don’t save money. As soon as I get a few bucks, I know exactly where, what, and when I will get it the item at the top of the list…
I realized today- ministry is like this for me. I love staying busy. I love projects. I love helping, serving, and teaching. You know, the “important” things. Dang. My depravity leaks out again.
Thank God for a good friend, who said, “Do you think ministry won’t be there, when your kids are older?” I struggle not doing more in ministry now, because I love serving with my husband and being on the “front lines,” so to speak.
I am passionate about my children, my home, my husband, yet I get bored. Where is the next “big thing?” The next project, the next curriculum to write? Seriously, when I get bored, I write curriculum. It is hard to see that one as sin, because I am immersed in the Word. But, I am starting to see more about how discontent I can grow as my selfish ambition sides with my passion.
Is it enough for me that my savior delights in me? Psalm 41 11By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.12But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.
Work or Worship?
Selfish Ambition or peaceful contentment?
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