02.26.10
Posted in Parenting, Stewardship/Organization, home management at 9:53 am by trisha
Recently, I set down with my 6 year old son. We talked about his room and how he might “steward” his stuff better. He confessed he doesn’t like to throw stuff away and likes to keep it all under his bed. As I have watched him hoard things from small little papers to candy from previous holidays; I have noticed the boy needs some patient and firm training in organization.
Organization naturally flows in you or not. Those that have it see life in orderly categories and “stuff” as a positive challenge to organize. Others, don’t get it, are frustrated by it, and or resist it. Many learn the skill and have to discipline themselves to stay on top of organization, or the chaos is overwhelming. Organized or not, we are image bearers of God, meant for reflecting Jesus. We can all learn from one another and worship in our strengths and our weaknesses.
Practical project: My second son needed some guidance. We brought 3 opened paper bags into his room. We pulled all the stuff off his shelf, under his bed, and in his drawer. Facing a mountain of items to process, I helped him see how to approach it. I showed him to consider each item quickly. Then- place it in one of the 3 bags. 1: trash (obvious junk- don’t need to keep). 2: Not sure (ask mom about) 3. Keep (and find a home to put it) He processed the pile and asked me to come back in the room. It took him about 30 minutes and he had successfully filled the trash bag. We discussed the 2nd bag and found homes for the 3rd bag’s items. He saw the order in the project and seems delighted to do it. I complemented him on being “teachable” and willing to learn from momma, we exchanged warm affection at the job we did together, and I believe he felt loved by the learned skill. I talked to him about stewardship and how when we take care of God’s stuff, we are showing him a thankful heart.
Heart lesson for me from little lesson with my son: Motherhood sanctifies me. It takes God’s strength to lovingly and patiently teach my children. They are gifts from God and I have the immense responsibility to steward them. As I was setting on my son’s bed with him chatting about organization and stewardship, I had a beautiful moment of practical love from the Lord. As I teach my children how to steward God’s varied grace, I am stewarding the child (a gift from the Lord). I tremble with the weight of this responsibility and praise God that I get to love and steward these children.
Permalink
02.16.10
Posted in Stewardship/Organization, worship at 2:59 pm by trisha
We looked at the Sloth in a previous post. The sloth, a consistent couch potato and friend with apathy. Always looking for a way out of hard work, the sloth doesn’t feel deeply or live life under discipline or passion. The Sloth is content with life as it comes, whatever…
In extreme contrast, the Controller is obsessive, busy, and demonstrates a rigid lack of flexibility. Controllers can appear to be disciplined, productive, and virtuous. Often leaders, their lives are characterized by multitasking, vision, lists, and accomplishment. They see life as orderly chaos and their job is to orchestrate the order.
Well, you guessed it. If you know me personally or through this blog– you’ve guessed which extreme I am the closest to. Yep– the Controller. My sin with control is mostly subtle but occasionally the desire to control my environment leaks anger and anxiety like a deadly poison– affecting my family, friends, and anyone who is the obstacle to my completed task. Control hardens my heart to hear the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my day.
Ellen Vaughn, in the book, Time Peace has covered this in greater detail and has confronted me Biblically. With her prodding, I am face to face with my sin of controlling. Don’t get me wrong, a competent and organized life lived in humility is a precious opportunity to reflect Jesus. However, the more I am redeemed by the blood of Jesus, I am realizing my deep need for sanctification in even the best areas of my life. The Controller sin, in my heart is forgiveable, thankfully.
Our dear sister, Martha in Luke, chapter 10, was a controller. She lost sight of her aim to worship Jesus, and instead her goal became the task, her work, the preparation of the meal. Jesus loved her and spoke truth to her that I can only imagine humbled her competence (her ability to accomplish much) until she died. I wish that I could spend the day with Martha and ask her questions about her heart that day. I am grieved that I can relate so so much, to the distraction of being more concerned with tasks than worship so often. I can relate to the tattle telling heart that resents when others experience a freedom to engage and flex on tasks.
The Controller can eventually relax. Only by submission (yes, submission) to Christ. He can redeem to ambitious heart that seeks to get things done. As this heart transaction happens (almost daily) for me, I see how precious grace actually is and how near my Heavenly Father is to me. I can calm down, enjoy the freedom to be flexible, and worship Jesus in and through my work more quickly.
I can trust Jesus to Lord over my life, arrange it all. He has it all under control. Martha had God in the flesh pointing out her sin of controlling and her misplaced worship. Jesus was gracious to her and is the same Lord being gracious to me. In his grace, I find my hope that he can change my heart. I stand in joy and belief that as my heart is broken over sin, Jesus’ death and resurrection– I can trust Jesus to sanctify me.
I probably will always (given my personality) tend towards selfish ambition and the desire to control my environment. Jesus is changing me. And no, the opposite of who I am isn’t repentance, necessarily. I can be controlled by the Love of Jesus, rather than Me being the controller.
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 no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
For more on Martha and Mary, see more of my articles here. Just search “Martha” in the search box, if this link doesn’t work for you.
Permalink
02.08.10
Posted in Stewardship/Organization, worship at 2:32 pm by trisha
The idea of Biblical Stewardship is old school. No one in our culture actually thinks that everything that they have–from: resources, health, gifts, children to- time, money, and relationships– aren’t their possessions! And the truth is–all is from our Creator God. The notion that we are “managers” of God’s stuff is laughable to most people.
Yet, the Bible calls us to Stewardship. The responsibility to care for everything is to reflect God’s goodness. What a joy to be able to see Christ in everything and respond with worshipful stewardship!
Reading through scripture, we find that few actually are Godly stewards. We squander, hide, resent, ignore, obsess, control, and basically rebel against God’s lavish gifts. He calls us to worship Him. Stewardship is an avenue in which we can express to him our gratitude for realizing his provision.
There are several categories where sin shows up in the way we engage with stewardship. Firstly, the Sluggard or the Sloth. Throughout God’s word, we see these people rebuked for their idle behavior.
The sin of sloth can invade even the busiest life. In fact, it tends to infect lives that are too busy, full of too many things. Though we tend to lump sloth with laziness, it isn’t necessarily physical idleness. It’s more of an attitude, a spiritual idleness. The Latin term for it was acedia, which means “not caring.” Slothful people might well run around doing everything or lie around doing nothing. The core problem, either way, is that they feel nothing. Down deep, they don’t care. Sloth can be expressed both as do-nothingness– or extreme busyness that covers up the apathy within so that person doesn’t have to face its core cause. -Ellen Vaughn
The soul of a sluggard craves and get nothing while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs 13:4
As you read this, are you asking yourself, “Huh–Am I dadgumb sloth?” or maybe you already know that you are tempted in these ways. The sloth is apathetic and sometimes masks it with busyness so we don’t catch on to the idleness in his/her heart.
The sloth can repent! However, behavior may change, but the heart is what matters most. Pray that as God sees your (our) hearts, he would see a heart that is diligent and responding in worship with work. The good news is that Jesus can redeem these sloth-like tendencies and as we are being conformed to His image, we are rescued by His grace.
Permalink
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.
Permalink
03.06.08
Posted in Stewardship/Organization at 2:24 pm by trisha
Stewardship: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care
Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you.
Time Management is the outflow of a conscious understanding of this, daily. The method may vary, yet stewarding God’s grace in my work is a constant dutiful awareness of the resources God has blessed me as a gift.
Managing my time well is stewarding the resources God has given me. Time is grace. Time is a gift. In each day lays opportunities In Christ to worship him.
- If I view my day and all the events of my day as a gift of God’s grace to me, then in my worship, I will steward to God’s glory.
- I will work hard in humility and my heart will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to guide my steps.
- The opposite of godly stewardship would be blind laziness.
- Any fruit of godly stewardship is again gifts of grace to God’s glory not my own.
- I am aware in my heart in prayer throughout my day of God’s evidences of God’s grace.
Work as Stewardship for me is laying aside my plans and allowing God to make my plans. If you are a productivity nerd like me or my husband, check out www.nodeglue.com for my husband’s continuous thoughts of productivity and tools that enable such excellence.
Tools for time management are to be held loosely. They don’t save me or make me a godly steward. I can use outlook daily or be an expert at “Getting Things Done,” yet my heart is set on my own glory, my familiar “hit of accomplishment.” Like a true addict, my sinful drive to accomplish replaces a pure desire to submit to God’s plan for my day.
In an effort to be successful with time management, I have squeezed my hand around my plan and revealed that the desire to “produce” was too great.
Humble stewardship holds time management loosely and wisely, aware of time traps, legalistic lists, and the passionate self-centered desire to perform for self and others.
God’s grace is a gift to steward. Work is an opportunity to worship thru the acknowledgement of His grace.
Permalink
03.04.08
Posted in Fear of the Lord, Humility, Stewardship/Organization, relationship with Jesus, worship at 8:01 pm by trisha
My sin of giving my attention to tasks more than giving my attention to the eyes and hearts of those in my home hangs out in my heart daily.
God is at work. This is one reason why I am blogging this topic to show the journey of my repentance, to process, to practice writing more, to share with strangers, to not be motivated for feedback, to ultimately give God the glory for any of my heart change.
I am a list maker. My outlook calendar usually just has appointments/meetings/outings on it. My daily list has a schedule for the day. Starting at 6 am and ending at 10- on my list are all the things I want to accomplish. The first things I usually put down are the house chores. Second, my exercise and reading goals for the day. Thirdly, I glance at the schedule and see if there is room for leisure, like a nap, or more reading…
ON SOME DAYS, I remember to put down on the list things like: play little people 30 minutes, shoot hoops with Henry, set up fort downstairs for boys, etc. I have been so busy in the last few weeks, I have neglected playing with my children. I can so easily go into caretaker mommie, that I only take care of them and don’t also enjoy them, thru play, and relationship. This is HUGE for me.
Remember, Martha’s sin, my sin? My default tendencies are just like Martha’s in Luke 10, to be distracted with much, busy, yet not choosing the “good portion” at the right time. I have countless opportunities throughout my day, to stop and choose the hearts of my kids. I don’t want to just “manage” my children and house. These moments when we giggle together, play a board game together, when I play dolls with my daughter and use pretend voices, run races in the yard together, have impromptu puppet shows, those are the moments that the kids treasure, and yet those are not my first desires. Surviving the day, as I have blogged is maintaining work so constantly so to not accrue house debt.
Honestly, God has to be yelling at me to sometimes HEAR HIS VOICE to stop working and play. So, tomorrow- on my daily list will be play with each child their choice of toy/game. I don’t believe that God wants me to legalistically place play on my list each day, yet the sin I am convicted of right now suggests that am aware of God’s grace to give me the gift of time with my children. God is renewing my desire and my satisfaction in worshipping Jesus in work and THIS is YET ANOTHER act of seeing God.
thank you, Jesus!
Permalink
02.11.08
Posted in Practical Household tips, Productivity, Stewardship/Organization, home management at 2:07 pm by trisha
Ever get to zero in your inbox , no pieces of clothing in your hampers- not one dirty dish? WOW! Congratulations! Doesn’t that feel great? And, how long does that last? For me, about 30 minutes for any of it.
I have to do two loads of laundry every day. If I don’t, I have a pile of clothes that could reach the ceiling in a few days. I am totally serious. There are the dishes, the floors, the bathrooms, the cobwebs, the dust, the pine needles in the entry, etc. If I don’t a little every day- balance withdrawls happen. Then, the house Work becomes so accumilated, it is like DEBT. It takes a whole day of work to get back up to zero.
I enjoy making the deposits- so that I don’t have debt. Yet, sometimes I do it to control my work, so it doesn’t control me. IS that good stewardship that leads to worship OR is that controlling work so I am in control? I believe that it is both. Most worshipful opportunities for me -are both. My drive to accomplish to my own end (glory) for self and the other side is to truly steward my life to God’s glory.
My aim is to see Jesus in my laundry. Not literally speaking. But, to see that He cares about the way that I do my laundry. He cares about how I steward what He has given me. Keeping busy to the glory of God. Not rules driven, but a tender submission- that says, the work never ends- and I am thankful I have the clothing and the hands to work with it.
Titus 2:5 says: -to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
HouseWork Debt is inevitable. Worship is stewarding these resources to God’s glory. Thanking Jesus that He is providing for me. God has called me to keep processing all of that, so that the people in my inbox, the clothing, the dishes are stewarded. Working hard and busy, smart and patient, making deposits to avoid debt each day looks like this for me:
- 3 (15 minutes) time slots for processing email
- start load of laundry before kids wake up and fold and put away during nap (30 minute job)(older children fold and put away their own clothes)
- load dishwasher after dinner and run it during nighttime
- empty dishwasher as I make breakfast
- 5 minute clean up in kitchen after every meal (children help)
- 1 room a day to clean and organize (30 minutes)
Tips for making houseWork fun and teachable:
- Put on music and dance with the kids when putting up toys
- Make organizing projects with the child fun craft time!
- Let your children try to help with jobs- encourage their work ethic!
- Read to your child while they do a house job
- Game with Laundry: “Who can find the most clothing items that our yours,” or matching socks, or sorting.
- Have kids dishes stored low in the kitchen, so that they can easily take and put away their dishes.
- When a child is taking a bath, talk to him or her and clean out your drawers! (this takes only 10 minutes!)
- Have a bed linen day, where everyone brings all of their bedding to the laundry room, and at the end of the day, everyone helps make beds (I do every other week)
- Lay out clothes for the next day for your child
- Make working rewarding, by talking about it. Encouragement and thankfullness for trying and doing is great!
Happy houseWork Debt Consolidating!
Permalink
02.06.08
Posted in Humility, Stewardship/Organization, relationship with Jesus, worship at 1:46 pm by trisha
So much of our world tells us to be strong, independent, and confident. I grew up built on the foundation of independence and self-worth, and an ambitious feminism that gave me gigantic false confidence. Slowly, but surely, in God’s great love for me- He is changing my heart.
When I am in need- I am SO VERY SLOW to depend on Christ. When I am weary…
Matthew 10: 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus is my example for Dependence:
Periodically, I think of my Lord Jesus, as a baby. I marvel at the Incarnation. Wrapping my brain around that point of theology- could possibly take years. Nonetheless, I imagine Jesus sometimes as a young boy- because I have two sons. Sometimes we talk about Jesus as a son and how he never sinned, so he never got a spanking. My kids love to hear that, it gives them hope! He was the best brother and son anyone could ever want. As a mom, as a Christian, I am amazed that God came as a man- I can imagine Jesus as a baby, boy, then man. Still God-yet in his youth- fully dependent on Mary and Joseph- stewards of God.
As I care for my baby, I am humble by her “deep need” for me. Her survival is based on my caring for her. I provide her food, clothing, soap, nurture, comfort, kisses, etc. Her dependence keeps her alive! Gradually, she gains independence, which is good. Physically, she can start to care for herself. Like my oldest son, who showers himself, gets his own breakfast, dresses himself, and anything else I would like for him to do himself, he is capable. I like that! But, my husband and I desire our sons and daughters to still “depend” on us. We want them to gain understanding on how to live, function, work, but in their hearts depend on God. Emotionally, we pray that they depend on us, need us, long for sweet relationships, deep connection, and evenutally we will enjoy adult friendship with them.
Jesus is my example for how to depend on God. He matured physically yet he still depended on His father. Though, I am a sinner, Jesus still wants my dependence. It is worshipful for me to offer my weakness, boast in them, and with empty hands offer my dependence as worship.
When tempted in the wilderness, Jesus appealed to Father and quoted scriptures to fight against Satan. Jesus, again is the example for dependence. Jesus being God shows me that while he was a incarnate, He showed his dependence on His father.
God wants me to BOAST in my WEAKNESSES.
Most of the time, weakness and dependence are interchangeable for me. Yet, as Christ shows me my needs- He is showing me that it is could to boast in my weakness and needs- so that I will boast in my insufficiency and HIS AMAZING sufficiency.
1 Corinthians 10:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Boasting in my weaknesses is worship? I must admit I am not capable to “do” my life. But, “in Christ, ” I am. I must confess that the weed of independence robs my heart of security God offers me. Independence is a lie. Dependence is worship.
Dependence on Jesus is increasing in my heart- quietly and consistently and it whispers I believe that Jesus is ABLE, FAITHFUL, and in my worship- I get to depend on GOD.
Permalink
