08.09.10
Posted in Rest/Sabbath, worship at 3:19 pm by trisha
Work, I get. It is familiar and mostly comfortable. Rest, however feels awkward, difficult and hardly feels satisfying.
The other side of work is REST. Both work and rest are amazing opportunities for worship. God has had me on a journey full of difficult twists and turns- learning how to depend on Him in my work, letting go of agendas, navigating through glory and repentance, and giving my roles to God as worship.
Genesis: 2:2
And on the 7th Day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the 7th day from all his work that he had done.
God rested.
We are finite creatures, unlike our Infinite God. He didn’t “need” rest, yet He rested. A whole day devoted to rest. He wasn’t weak or tired. He didn’t need to rest just to make it through to the next crazy busy week. What if God rested out of pure love for his people- as an example to show us how to worship Him also by resting?
We are mind, body, heart. Our bodies often rest first, but does our mind and soul?
I don’t rest well. Work is my default and rest is more difficult. I work until I “need” to rest. Rest is more of a necessity rather than discipline most of the time. Rest feels like pleasure and is far too infrequent. Yet, God calls me to rest – not as an optional survival method.
How many of us when we rest, take the moments to enjoy God? Our busyness is stilled and our soul finds satisfaction in refreshment of God? And when we experience this soul rest, we regret not resting more often? Exactly. That is why God established the Sabbath, to give us weekly opportunity to worship Him, with disciplined rest. Our bodies slow down long enough for our minds to be hearing the Lord, enjoy him, and be renewed.
We can rest, because we can trust God to take care of us.
Psalm 121 3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel –will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, – nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
The Lord does not sleep, he is constantly aware and watchful. We can rest because our Lord is caring for us. I don’t know about you, but that makes me want to calm down, take deep breaths, feel the warmth of my savior’s protection around me, and rest.
My soul rest is connected to my belief or unbelief. If I am anxious, I am not likely resting. If I am fearful, I am not likely to be calm.
God wants us to rest.
Learning to rest feels like work! This is a new thing for me, but I know God will continue to pursue my heart and I look forward to more restful moments with him. The unsatisfied feeling of rest can change. As God brings conviction and clarity, I am hopeful for continued calm and sweet rest.
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07.14.10
Posted in Ambition, worship at 1:58 pm by trisha
Are you ambitious? When you examine your life or heart, where do you see yourself tending towards selfish ambition? Are you finding that God is maturing your heart motivations towards Godly ambition?
Godly Ambition is reverent activism that constantly depends on the Holy Spirit to accomplish what he wants to do through us.
Selfish ambition is striving to accomplish anything for our own end, our own glory. It is a cold and empty lie that cheats us out of worship.
Dave Harvey in his new book, Rescuing Ambition calls ambition– the instinctual motivation to aspire to things, to make something happen, to have an impact, to count for something in life.
I’ve always had ambition, a passionate drive to accomplish as much as I can. Hyperactivity and the love of accomplishment have characterized my days. One could call it work ethic – a God created, directed vision for success that guides my dreams and decisions with passion and humility every day?! However, because of my sinful heart I so often in an effort to “check off the boxes” in my days, along the way, I steal God’s glory and feel pride in my work. As God changes me, ambition is changing, work is becoming more worshipful. I am SLOWLY becoming more dependent on Jesus and am more aware of His hand in even the smallest of tasks.
Pursuing ambition can certainly be self-glorifying. I don’t want to merely sprinkle bible verses and prayers on my ambitious striving and call it Godly. Seems to me calling my ideas God’s, is pretty low on the scale of selfish ambition. So how can we, pursue Jesus in life’s ambitions and trust that God will keep us from all evil. (Psalm 121)
1. God created us to be ambitious. (for HIS glory)
2. He wants us to work hard, steward well, and exercise wisdom with dreams, plans, and actions.
3. Ultimately, all that we DO or DREAM is for Jesus to look good, not us.
4. He knows me personally and the Gospel transforms my heart, plans, and dreams every day.
5. The Grace of God is where I get approval, in my justification before God is my peace.
6. Striving towards worship in my actions, prayers, and dependence on Jesus refines my motivations.
Awareness of the temptation to sin with ambition can suffocate a God given desire to act. “True humility doesn’t kill our dreams; it provides a guardrail for them, ensuring that they remain on God’s road and move in the direction of his glory.”
As Christians, we have a deep down appetite for God’s glory. Each of us have different expressions of worshipful response to the awe of God’s glory. When we plan our lives and actions, we must pray for wisdom and ask, “am I worshiping Jesus with this?”
If we love God’s glory, it translates into a lifelong, passionate quest –in other words, godly ambition.
Jesus Christ embodies the glory of God. As we come face to face with the Cross of Jesus, we are compelled in belief and worship. The grace of God wires us for ambition. Ambition that is authored by the in-dwellling Holy Spirit inspires us to “do” for his glory.
The good news with ambition for us, is that we can run with passion to point others to Jesus, by loving Jesus and others through the works he has given us to to.
Ambition can be sinful, but DOES NOT mean we should go apathetic because of our fear of sin. As sure as we are God’s loved kids, he will keep us from evil (Psalm 121) and rescue our hearts. He will create in us passion, conviction, and action to Give HIM Glory.
Are you worshiping Jesus with your ambitions?
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05.03.10
Posted in Humility, Independence, Productivity, worship at 1:35 pm by trisha
My relationship with work is complicated. I don’t just work and worship. I tend to grab the glory for myself when I accomplish work and I tend to work by will power and self-sufficiency than humble dependence on God.
Just yesterday, I felt proud with all that I got done in the day. Pride sucks out the humility and my arrogance kills worship. Good thing God is patient to redeem my heart in this area!
What about you? Are you competent in your work? At the end of the day, are you pleased with your accomplishments? Does your “plate” seem manageable? Are you satisfied even if you didn’t get your work done? Are you proud if you accomplish or grumble if you don’t?
Arrogance can sneak in with our completed tasks. As the boxes are checked, pride can carry us to the next action item. The ambitious heart seeks the next challenge and self-sufficiency is commonly the energy that drives our achievements. Self-confidence and self-sufficiency is often what motivates, not worship and dependence on God.
2 Corinthians 3:4-5
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
What does Godly confidence look like, then?
I can stand in confidence in God’s grace that I am a woman that Jesus loves. Jesus gives me all that I need as I depend on Him to complete (or not complete) my work each day. I can worship with confidence and competence, believing that I am not my work. My task list does not define me.
If I believe that the Holy Spirit is what drives me throughout my day, then I can stand confident even when there are incomplete tasks. My competence and confidence are not contingent on my accomplishments. My confidence is in Jesus and the work HE does, not my work. Jesus’ work on the Cross is what identifies me. He has made me competent to be a minister of the Gospel of Grace. Sometimes that means competence in completed tasks, other days competent in incomplete tasks, all the while needing Him to define my days for me.
God defines me, not my work. Grace feels wonderful.
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04.28.10
Posted in Humility, Uncategorized, worship at 1:21 pm by trisha
I despise weakness…
I get overwhelmed. Relational debt, housework debt, and the dread of some procrastinated project sneak up, drain the life out of me, and leave me feeling discouraged and flat out weak. Those overwhelming moments reveal my true weakness. Yet too often, I deny it. Blind with ambition, I reach for my bootstraps, pull myself up, and get back to work.
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.
My heart naturally resists depending on God when I’m weak. The noise in my heart, amplified by tough self-sufficiency, can drown out the Holy Spirit’s reminder: “my power is made perfect in your weakness.”
…yet weakness is a gift.
And then there are the times when his voice breaks through the noise and exposes my heart. It is a struggle to swallow my pride and obey, but it is that turn of repentance—right in the midst of the mess—that I begin to hope again.
The truth is that I am weak every second, not just when I feel overwhelmed. Jesus wants me to see that when I am overwhelmed, he is giving me a gracious gift: seeing more clearly my constant need for him. So rather than denying weakness, I can boast in it because it draws me closer to Jesus in worship.
Like the other day– I was scurrying around the house getting stuff done feeling very behind on my seemingly urgent tasks. Our third child invited me to play dolls. Pause. Graciously say no or accept this opportunity to connect with my daughter? In the moment, my overwhelmed with my work– heart was faint. I thought, “I can’t play right now!” Yet, the Holy Spirit changed my thoughts to dependence and flexibility in my weakness. We had a great time playing. When I went back to work, my heart was more tender than it was previously.
Feeling overwhelmed is a signal to check my heart’s dependence on God. Am I softened to the Holy Spirit? Digging in to depend on God? Do I find my soul’s refreshment in God’s sufficiency? In these times, I’m learning to cling to my savior who accomplished perfect work on the cross and continues to save me from my sin. God meets me at the point of my prideful self-sufficiency and lovingly brings me to my knees in worshipful dependence.
Worship through work is not just working hard for God’s glory; it is also in the attitude of humility, realizing how weak and unable we are. We can all grow in dependence on Christ and boast in our weakness. We must humble ourselves before the face of God and thank him for the gift of weakness.
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04.18.10
Posted in Independence, worship at 8:38 pm by trisha
“Do it… by myself!” I have heard those cantankerous words many times from my children, as toddlers. It is somehow adorable and aggravating at the same time, huh? Those words make an attempt at independence from my help. My kids have actually pushed my hands away as I have tried to help them: pull up their pants, tie a shoe, wipe their nose, etc. Some natural independence that comes with maturing I understand, but under the basic desire has a whiff of that familiar rebellion that my heart knows oh so well…. it smells like my own life long attitude to God–“Do it by myself”.
I am zooming in on what I call Godless Independence. It’s Godless because it denounces consciously or unconsciously the presence of God in our lives. Godless because it says to God, “ I got this one, thank you very much.”
One could blame this human independence issue on our culture, thriving on accomplishments and performance. One could decide to blame it on: apathetic communities that turn their backs on poverty–which can produce some independent, bitter people vowing never to burden society again, poor parenting, absent family members, bullies who slap you around, feminist philosophies meant to drain you of the Biblical confidence in God’s design for our roles, and/ or the buffet of worldly ideas that build your “self concept.” Our world loves independence! We praise you for “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps”, proud of your ability to shine while you did it all alone.
Actually, the blame.. the Core of the issue doesn’t lie within these circles outside ourselves. They are noteworthy influences, that is true. However, the real problem lies in our own hearts. You, and me babe. We are born with a resistance to God’s help. That urge to go it alone is a battle within our heart. It is in opposition to God’s loving enabling grace for us.
God lovingly and sovereignly created us in His image. We belong to him and are made for His Glory. Since the Fall, God’s beloved kids have foolishly claimed, “Do it by myself!” To –God! How wretched! From our career building to spouse selection, we know best? What? Especially with the little things: our schedules, our friendships, our tasks; do we believe that God cares and is paying attention to the details of our lives? Do we really believe that we can chart our own course?
I have been an Independence Queen. I shudder looking back on the foolish and prideful beliefs that I have acted on. A few years ago, I had this helpful image in mind when describing this Godless Independence. The picture was of me walking along: focused, driven, and Jesus is holding my hand, enabling each event, relationship, and task. In my independence, I shake his hand away. At first casually I shrug him off. I think. Then, my desires and my own ambition shakes him off a little harder. My sinful desires want to pridefully accomplish life and deny the supernatural enabling grace of the Holy Spirit. Thankfully, that isn’t the whole picture. He doesn’t let me shake him away!
With repentence is the gentle reminder that God never left me, even as I try to shake his hand off. The only difference is my perception of his presence. He is always present, even if my self-sufficient heart believes he isn’t with me. God faithfully purses me personally while I stubbornly resist his help.
It is his grace at work helping me to declare war with this version of Independence. This sin, when carried out to its fullest is the horrific belief that I could actually pay the price for my sin. Godless Independence says, “I will die for myself.”
The Cross of Jesus shows me the miraculous grace that transforms this independent queen into a joyful dependent servant for God’s glory. Jesus has already won every battle that I am fighting or will fight. His righteous blood shed for me has paid the price for my sin. Christ Jesus is my Savior and I celebrate His saving grace and transforming grace that continues to change my heart.
Dependence on God is only as the Holy Spirit works to redeem me. I am asking for help a lot more often from God and others. Feeling tender-hearted and heavy with the weight of various responsibilities characterizes my thoughts. Fear of God and Prayer are Biblical categories that have given me rich truths to cling to. I am still running fast and with passion, but I am finding more joy in worship along the way: seeing my strength, identity, and all love from my Jesus.
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03.02.10
Posted in Easter, worship at 6:50 am by trisha
I’m pulling out my Easter books today. Each year, I lay all the Easter Childrens’ books out for the kids to read and I grab a couple that I use as my daily devotionals.
Here is the list:
Adults:
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross
Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die
Cross Centered Life
Children:
Poison Cup
The Priest With Dirty Clothes
My Easter Basket
The Week That Led to Easter
The Easter Story
Peter’s First Easter
The Very First Easter
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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.
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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.
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01.27.10
Posted in Mercy, worship at 11:41 am by trisha
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1 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
“Devastation of Biblical Proportions”, some are calling the earthquake in Haiti. As we watch the footage and stare at the pictures –we are confronted head on with the contrast of our country verses theirs.
Their suffering and desperate need for aide brings tears of compassion and response that begs: donations, time, prayers, and service in as many ways as possible. We watch the events from a far and experience mercy, compassion, and sadness.
Often, as the needs are described, we scramble for resources to give, emptying out our pockets for any way to help. We are all (every person that has ever lived) image bearers of God. When, one part of us suffers, we all suffer. There is a God-given urge in our hearts to respond. But–almost as quickly as we are motivated to respond cheerfully fueled by compassion– there is often a desire to give– out of guilt.
You know what I am talking about. Guilt hits us and motivates us rather than cheerful and sacrificial giving. Or, maybe you aren’t aware. Let’s dig a little deeper to see maybe– a distinction.
Yesterday, I spoke with my children about the specific needs that the people in Haiti have. We desire to shepherd their hearts as we filter what information they get at these young ages. It is a beautiful opportunity to help them see the goodness of God, even in suffering. Anyway, our oldest, while biting down on a cheeseburger said, “I feel bad for eating this cheeseburger.” There, you see!! I didn’t teach my son to respond that way. Part of his experience with seeing need– is a “bad” feeling when you realize you are the recipient of blessing- from a cheeseburger to any other provision. Why is it so common to have a feeling of guilt for having good things, from a good God?
I told him that he need not feel bad for what he has, but instead feel grateful for every little thing, and see the giver as God. He doesn’t need to feel guilt and from that place hand over his cheeseburger. He can both feel gratitude for God’s blessings and respond in compassionate joy to give to others in need. To share with people, with a heart to serve- excited to give as a worshipful response.
Guilt sometimes is a mask for loving compassion. We do penance instead of giving with overflowing gratitude. Humble gratitude is replaced with “bad” feelings. When we feel guilt instead of gratitude, we can pray. We can pray that God would increase our worship. Our worship opportunity here– is to see God as our Father– A good dad who gives good things to His kids. He wants us to be thankful and share. Not compelled by comparison of resources, but out of an overflow of generosity. He wants us to share generously because HE is Generous. He delights is us, as He gives. Prayerfully, we can extend that love to others.
“The beauty of the gospel is that God supplies the grace to achieve in us the very thing that He loves. God provides grace to us that we might give cheerfully, feeling His pleasure.” – James Harvey
Seeing need and seeing plenty are both opportunities for us to see God in them. Not to just compare blessings and abundance with poverty and need. We should be responding with generosity and gratitude, NOT guilt driven religious penance.
James Harvey has this article that speaks to cheerful giving…good stuff!
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01.21.10
Posted in Joyful Work, relationship with Jesus, worship at 1:42 pm by trisha
Running….for…what? Why all this striving?
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so
closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Life swirls around me and I grab some time to stop and rest. All these schedules, tasks, duties, relationships, budgets, demands, errands, ministry, friends, birthdays, neighbors, projects- all capture my attention. Chaotic work and memories flash behind me and I strain forward in this race of “getting things done.”
Thus is the race of our Christian faith. Specifically, my roles as wife and mother. What waits for me as my reward and what motivates my heart to work hard? Throughout the day, what drives me? What is my rest and peace? What are my eyes focused on?
Oh so easily, my eyes are fixed on the little rewards of productivity, the before and afters, the praise from those near me to appreciate my work. My fake rewards leave me empty.
God Himself is my true reward.
He is my motivation.
There is an actual finish line and our home in heaven is waiting for us, our inheritance. Bridging the gap of work and my heart is worship. God wants me to run this race of life with endurance. He has set before me this body, this life, this heart to look to Jesus. I run hard for nothing, an endless race, if I am not looking to Jesus. Jesus is the why of my worship, the object, my reward.
Colossians 3: 23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not
for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as
your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
When the peace turns to chaos, fits are thrown, demands on my time are pressuring, and there is no way dinner is getting made, I freeze and am tempted throw my hands in the air and give up. Overwhelming feelings of my weakness threaten my faith. What keeps me moving forward with endurance? It can only be Jesus that moves me.
I am not alone. I don’t have to be strong.
God is with me now, He is my strength all along, not just at the finish line. He is with me with every move I make, every thought, every tender feeling. He is the promised land, but I am already there! In Christ, I am both running towards Him and with Him.
As I run this intense calling- my worship is increasing. My independence is decreasing. And.. I fall in to God’s precious arms, so that He can carry me the rest of the way.
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01.17.10
Posted in Fear of the Lord, Productivity, worship at 8:34 am by trisha
What “season” are you in?
As a young girl, I wanted to be an adult. When I was single I wanted to be married. When my kids were babies, I wanted them to be preschoolers… As each season changed, my ambitious heart would often covet the next season. Even in my current season, I am tempted to grumble in it, and look forward to a future time in the life of our family.
Each season that I am given is an opportunity for worship. Yet, deep under the sporatic complaints and restless discontentment for my season, lies a dissatisfied heart with what God has given me.
As God calls me to my season, He is calling me to steward His grace in it.
1 Peter 4: 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards, of God’s varied grace.
Ephesians 3:2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you.
Stewardship of God’s grace is more expansive than the stewardship of money. Christians have experienced miraculous grace and are called to be the agent of grace in many ways. We are called to manage God’s stuff (which is everything) and furthermore represent His grace.
Paul (the author of the above verses) was called and equipped by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit which was a season that lasted from conversion until his death. God calls all of us to a particular season and the purpose of it is worship.
My calling shapes my season today. Serving Jesus by serving my family is my daily stewardship of God’s grace. My season is packed with overwhelming dependence on the Holy Spirit to keep my family and home running. More than checking things off a list, I am called to steward the love and grace of God.
Managing God’s grace in my season calls me to humble service without grumbling. Being led moment by moment by God replaces going through the motions of my day. As God lovingly directs my work; I am more gracious and flexible with my duties. As four children experience their mother, they are seeing glimpses of God’s grace for them. The gift and weight of this calling is intense and beautiful. And it is His grace that allows me to extend it to others. I am truly grateful that I am in this season. I long to steward it with repentance and continual and contagious worship.
What is your season? How can you more faithfully steward God’s grace in it?
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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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11.13.09
Posted in Humility, relationship with Jesus, worship at 9:48 pm by trisha
I despise weakness…
I get overwhelmed. Relational debt, housework debt and procrastinated project dread sneak up, drain the life out of me, and leave me feeling discouraged and flat out weak. Those overwhelming moments reveal my true weakness. Yet too often, I deny it. Blind with ambition, I reach for my bootstraps, pull myself up, and get back to work.
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.
My heart naturally resists depending on God when I’m weak. The noise in my heart, amplified by tough self-sufficiency, can drown out the Holy Spirit’s reminder: “my power is made perfect in your weakness.”
…yet weakness is a gift.
There are the times when his voice breaks through the noise and exposes my heart. It is a struggle to swallow my pride and obey, but it is in that turn of repentance—right in the midst of the mess—that I begin to hope again.
The truth is that I am weak every second, not just when I feel overwhelmed. Jesus wants me to see that when I am overwhelmed, he is giving me a gracious gift: the ability to see more clearly my constant need for him. So rather than denying weakness, I can boast in it because it draws me closer to Jesus in worship.
For example, the other day I was scurrying around the house getting stuff done, feeling very behind on my seemingly urgent tasks. Our third child invited me to play dolls. Pause. Graciously say no, or accept this opportunity to connect with my daughter? In the moment, my heart was faint, overwhelmed with my work. I thought, “I can’t play right now!” Yet, the Holy Spirit changed my thoughts to dependence and flexibility in my weakness. We had a great time playing. When I went back to work, my heart was more tender than it had been previously.
Feeling overwhelmed is a signal to check my heart’s dependence on God. Am I softened to the Holy Spirit? Digging in to depend on God? Do I find my soul’s refreshment in God’s sufficiency? In these times, I’m learning to cling to my Savior, who accomplished perfect work on the cross and continues to save me from my sin. God meets me at the point of my prideful self-sufficiency and lovingly brings me to my knees in worshipful dependence.
Worship through work is not just working hard for God’s glory; it is also in the attitude of humility, realizing how weak and unable we are. We can all grow in dependence on Christ and boast in our weakness. We must humble ourselves before the face of God and thank him for the gift of weakness.
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11.02.09
Posted in Idolatry, relationship with Jesus, worship at 2:47 pm by trisha
Ever deny your struggle? So that you won’t look bad or feel needy? I have been the religious person and am by God’s grace, have had eyes to see and a heart to repent of this sin. The Sin is Religious Idolatry. Or as David Powlison calls it- Religiosity.
“the driving forces in religion are self-exaltation, love of status, reputation, visibility, pursuing religious behavior for gain, essentially becomes a puppet of self-righteousness. Ultimately using God as a superstition because of fear and control, getting the goodies and avoiding the bad things.” -David Powlison
Trapped by appearances and morality; the religious idolater adds to the Gospel of Christ. Religious people are compelled to do things of God, but may not actually know Jesus. There may be the motions and will that sets up a life to look great; but is disconnected from God in the heart.
Addictive Religiosity is the hardest addiction to break, because it is the hardest one to see:
- Seemingly from God
- Authority of Scripture
- Influencial people
- authority of personal experience
As I was growing up in Christ, I was surrounded by Jesus–loving people, but many (not all) who didn’t humble themselves and expose their struggles/sin and their sanctification journey. Part of it was doctrine, but more often it was the church culture that turned off the need for this raw transparency. I learned how to turn off the honesty and replace it with religiosity.
I am not blaming the christian sub-culture. But, what a dis-service to set people up with gospel knowledge/information but not a humble transformation that is seen by others at a heart level? Religious idolatry is all about protecting yourself from being seen for the– truly dependent and sinful person we all are. It is about steeling glory with morality instead of walking in the light with struggles.
Repentance for the Religious Idolater, including myself, doesn’t mean talking about sin all the time and being dark, and swinging to the opposite of the the fake joy spectrum. Repentance for me has been: letting go of my reputation, depending on the Holy Spirit, mourning for my own pain and others, being humbled by suffering, seeing the Gospel of Jesus in the mundane tasks of my life, not giving packaged answers or advice to people, seeing my sin of prideful performance with God, continual repentance, etc. That is just a few of the changes that the Lord has done.
Religious talk was usually about me performing Christianity. As God continues to save me from this, HE is way bigger and I am shrinking. And, the Gospel of Jesus is so beyond my comprehension.
Religious idolatry clings to things of God and not God himself. Blessings are the product, instead of the Gospel. God himself is the prize of my belief in Him. Treasuring Jesus is my only true hope.
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10.03.09
Posted in Fear of the Lord, relationship with Jesus, worship at 12:59 pm by trisha
I had a burst of excitement this morning, one of those moments where many truths hit you in to one momentous jolt of heart! As Mike talks with me about Worship and Change, and reading his latest paper on counseling that confronts religious dualism, I am jumping with joy that I get more of the gospel!
Change happens in some ways layers at a time over time. In our community, there is a lot of teaching and biblical plea to address heart and not just behavior. But, they are connected not separated parts of who we are.
For me to see what I worship- my idols, my straying heart, is to address the spiritual part of who I am. As I repent of sin, acknowledge who I am in Christ, I can rejoice of his grace! Out of that joy of right worship, my heart is shaped, and the other parts may be affected. The heart is connected to the body.
Proverbs 14: 30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
The heart is connected to the mind and strength.
Mark 12: 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
To worship Christ, I don’t just worship with my spirit, but as my heart is joined with Christ, through progressive sanctification, my whole self is made holy!
Holistic:(from ὅλοςholos, a Greek word meaning all, entire, total) is the idea that all the properties of a given system (biological, chemical, social, economic, mental, linguistic, etc.) cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone. Instead, the system as a whole determines in an important way how the parts behave.
My whole self, holistically worships, thru repentance and progressive change.. I am already holy in Christ, free, forgiven, His blood covers every part of my pain and sin. Yet, I still work out my salvation with fear and trembling, not because I am unsure of His grace, but because I know Christ’s grace covers me. I am humbled by the battle over my flesh so that I never take his grace for granted. My wretchedness shows me what to rejoice over. I rejoice in Christ and the grace and love he offers.
“There are other parts to being human. In Eric Johnson’s book, “Foundations for Soul Care”, he proposes four “orders of meaning” They are all interrelated and touch on one another, but they are hierarchically ordered. That means that some of them are more significant than others. His orders of meaning in order of the greatest to least significance: spiritual, ethical, psychosocial, and biological. Just because, these are distinct orders doesn’t mean they are disconnected from each other. For example, if I repent of sin at the spiritual order, that will have cascading changes throughout the lower orders, possibly even to the point of rewiring neural networks in the brain at the biological level. Going the other way, if my brain suffers injury, that would undoubtedly impact the higher orders that are built upon it; I may become more emotionally volatile which becomes a temptation to sin in my anger.” -Mike Wilkerson
Holistic Worship is the seeing myself in Christ, whole and new. Until we are glorified with Christ, we have to contend with our fallen bodies, depraved hearts, and minds affected by sin. In Christ, we have freedom, joy, calling, adoption, and GRACE in the midst of suffering. Jesus Christ took the punishment for our sin and only by grace did he do this! And I am in awe and fully boast in Christ!
Galations 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
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09.03.09
Posted in Proverbs 31, worship at 1:17 am by trisha
Proverbs 31: 17-25 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hand to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She in not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
Godly Strength: In a world that tells me that power, wealth, health, independence, positive self-esteem, and successful goals is strength, the Bible has many different explanations for what strength is. Godly strength is humble dependence on Christ, faithful security on God’s provision, presence, and grace for you. IN the knowledge of God, His holiness produces a freedom to be strong, because He is strong and He is the one in control. Godly strength is surrendering control and trusting His control. When I think about how magnificent God’s glory is and how perfectly detailed his provision and love is for me, I feel loved and strong!
Godly Clothing: She puts on strength and dignity. I don’t recall ever thinking, “What am I wearing today, OH!, I know, strength and dignity!” My story has an deep thread of vanity and my wordly influence body image. I have struggled for years to see beauty the way God sees it. Biblical beauty is not outward.
1 Peter 3: 3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Beauty that you put on like FEAR OF THE LORD, strength, dignity, gentle and quiet spirit. In God’s sight, that is true beauty. My cravings for outward beauty are diminishing, and being replaced with a worshipful view of beauty. Out of that inward beauty, the heart submitted to Jesus, will radiate far more loveliness than the worldly outward image of beauty. So, I like to think of this section as a reminder of what I wear.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Godly Confidence: Confidence is not self-focused, self-knowledge, or self-confidence. Godly confidence feels like the pressure is off you. You and I are continually receiving the Grace of God and stewarding and loving others around us all the time, not because we know how, have learned, or have the positivity to impart! Godly confidence is an ultimate trust in the sovereignty of Christ. When I feel this kind of confidence, it is a tender hearted trust that I don’t have to bear the ultimate weight. I will do my job, but I trust God to order my life.
Godly Provision and Planning: It is good to plan, prepare, provide. I love to geek out with lists, outlook, and ooh and awe over productivity tools, yet I could accomplish planning and not acknowledge the giver of good gifts, which is idolatry. I have written about this before, where it is easy to get sucked into behavior modification and set yourself up with a bunch of tools and projects for becoming a more efficient worker. Horray for you if that came from a desire to honor and worship Jesus with simple to complex tasks. YET, if your motives are clouded by desires to be planned, routined, or organized as an end, you have missed the point! We have an incredible opportunity to worship God in the planning, projects, and busy work. A Godly Strong woman plans her life according to God’s plans for her. She sets about her tasks with eager hands, a willing heart, and humble dependence on God to enable productivity in her. She asks for help before, during, and afterwards thanks Him for the perseverance and competence God gave. She provides and organizes to God’s glory.
Godly Service: She reaches out to the needy, to the poor. She seems to be aware of her community and the needs around her. She isn’t focused just on her household. She thinks, plans, and works for her household. And, beyond that she is loving those in her community. Why? She serves because she sees seeing others rightly. Fear of man can motivate me to serve others, to impress them with great food, compassion, or just consistent love. Fear of the Lord motivates me to be prayerful and ready when there is a need. Fear of the Lord keeps me quiet about it. With that as a heart motivator, I wouldn’t tell others if I served a widow in my neighborhood, or if I ran a last minute meal to a sick friend. Because, my aim isn’t for their approval, but it would be a worshipful heart, seeing myself actually serving the Lord Jesus!
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working of the Lord, not men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
In reading thru, my estimation of some elements of a biblical strong woman, what jumps out at you? What area, are you rebellious with? Do you sense the Holy Spirit conviction and you are covering your ears to him, as I have with beauty for so long? My prayer is 2 Corinthians 12 for myself, a section of scripture that I have tried to ignore for so long. I think this section of God’s word is so powerful to speak to what really strength is. Verses 9-10. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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08.08.09
Posted in Fear of the Lord, Proverbs 31, worship at 3:17 am by trisha
This section of scripture is an acrostic poem exalting a noble wife. Each of the 22 verses begins with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Such a woman is almost a personification of wisdom.
“A wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value, She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. ” Proverbs 31:11-12
The first attitude of her heart I see is- consistency. This woman has consistent character. Her heart is consistent, let’s explore that more deeply!
Capable Trustworthy Heart “Noble, Translated Capable. He trusts her. Her careful household management enhances their family’s wealth. This kind of woman is an asset, not a liability, to her husband. Good comes to him that can be directed attributed to her. She supports and encourages him. And she is faithful in helping him all ….her life..” - The Bible Knowledge Commentary
Consistent Stewarding Heart. Faithful. Her husband doesn’t doubt her delivery of her duties and it comes from a consistent and faithful character. Behind her character is the theme of this section, the fear of the Lord. She fears the Lord which is her motivation for her behaviors. Her diligence comes from fear of God.
Serving Generously Heart. If she is always doing him good, she is generous servant. She anticipates her husband’s needs and meets them, so much so, that he always trusts her. Her love for her husband thinks about him and acts with ways to show him.
Abundantly Fore-bearing Heart. He doesn’t doubt her work or her heart. She is consistent and ready to love, serve, work, and enjoy him. She is a crown, a Godly helpmate to her husband, if he can always trust her. She is thinking of ways to love not ways that she could be loved.
Her work is consistent because her character is. Her fear of God is in place and from that flows fruit of righteousness, capable work, abundant trust from her husband. God loves this woman and she is responding to God’s love by faithfully pouring out love to her family. It isn’t hit and miss, it is consistent, because her relationship with God is consistent.
So, the Holy Spirit prompts me to ask myself, “When am I not doing producing these attributes, God?” And, the LORD reminds me that if my heart is first motivated to love and serve Jesus, the rest will follow. There is no formula for being a productive woman. For the woman who fears God is to be praised. That is what I want to desire more. To fear God is beautiful. Not the perfect body, not the perfect house, family, effective household management, etc, etc. To fear God is it!
Jesus, I pray that I would first fear you and trust you to iron out my weaknesses. I thank you for your grace that you give me daily when I don’t worship through my work. I know that you want my realigned worship, that my heart would seek your face only and out of that by your grace, fruit would follow for your own glory! To your Glory and in your name, amen.
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08.05.09
Posted in Proverbs 31, worship at 2:18 am by trisha
Have you ever wondered what the Proverbs 31 woman was really like? I would love to follow her around and learn from her. Yet, God wants more than my productivity. He wants my worship. Join me in exploring the work of the Proverbs 31 woman and the quest for a heart that worships thru work.
I am going to post a 5 part series on this woman. My aim is not to set up a perfect ideal of a worshiping woman of God. She isn’t the Goal. Christ is. He knows our hearts and I believe he wants our realigned worship. My prayer is for myself and for you, to read with an open heart, be watchful of condemnation (the hints of the enemy that you will never measure up) and search your heart for where you are needing to confess sin and ask the Lord to show you how to worship Him.
Being like Christ is our motive for change- not to be a good and productive woman. I am excited about this journey through understanding this working woman and her motives, looking at my motives, and exploring lies we believe, and truth for our meditation.. More exposition to follow:
Proverbs 31 *ESV10[d](P) An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than(Q) jewels.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She(R) seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15She(S) rises while it is yet night
and(T) provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17She(U) dresses herself[e] with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20She(V) opens her hand to(W) the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in(X) scarlet.[f]
22She makes(Y) bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is(Z) fine linen and(AA) purple.
23Her husband is known in(AB) the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24She makes(AC) linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25(AD) Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29“Many(AE) women have done(AF) excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30(AG) Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
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07.14.09
Posted in theologians and thoughts, worship at 1:14 pm by trisha
I am enjoying staycation for nearly a month with out of town family. So- here is an article for all to enjoy as I did. Thanks, Justin Taylor!
Working out a Theology of Work
by Justin Taylor
Do you ever feel guilty for going to work when you could be doing ministry instead? If you’re a student, you’re spending hours in the classroom, hours typing papers, hours taking tests. But you could be out evangelizing. If you’re in the workplace, you spend hours in front of your computer, hours in meetings, hours in your little cubicle. But you could be on the mission field leading people to Jesus.
Should you feel guilty? I remember hearing a student leader in college who thought the answer to that question was definitely yes. We were on a retreat, and he was delivering a passionate exhortation. His belief was that God’s default expectation was for all Christians to go into full-time vocation ministry — the exception was the rare person whom God called to be in a “secular job.”
It sounds plausible, doesn’t it? It’s certainly well-intentioned. But I don’t think it’s biblical.
I want to offer some thoughts about what I’ve been learning about the biblical view of calling and vocation, but first we need to understand some biblical basics about the nature of work itself.
Building Blocks for a Theology of Work
1. God works.
The Bible wastes no time in conveying what it thinks about work, for it portrays the very act of creation as the work of God: “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done” (Gen. 2:2, ESV). And lest we think God is only resting and not now working, Jesus tells us, “My Father is working until now, and I am working” (John 5:17). God is the ultimate workman, which loads the act of work itself with inherent meaning, significance, and dignity.
2. As God’s image-bearers, God calls us to be subduers and rulers.
We were created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26, 27), which means that we relate to him, resemble him, and rule under him. God commands that we “subdue” the earth and “have dominion over” it. It doesn’t say “plunder and pillage,” doing whatever we want with the earth. Rather, as God’s image bearers we are to use our God-given creativity and responsibility to use the earth for godly purposes. For Adam and Eve, part of what this meant was that they were to “work” and “keep” the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15).
As a side note: this may sound funny, but it’s actually a serious point that brings correction and conviction into my own heart and mind: Some of us get pretty jazzed about “subduing and ruling” the earth — but how are we doing on subduing the mess in our rooms or our cars? “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much” (Luke 16:10)!
3. The fall frustrated all of our labors.
When Adam and Eve rebelled against God, we did too. Their debt was transferred over to our spiritual checking account. The entire world was also subjected to futility (Rom. 8:20). That means that human work, which used to be enjoyable, was now filled with things like thorns, thistles and sweat (see Gen. 3:17–19). Post-fall work is hard and marked by difficulties. (Murphy’s law — which I frequently experience! — says that whatever can go wrong will go wrong. But Murphy’s law didn’t exist in the Garden of Eden and, praise God, it won’t exist in the new heavens and new earth.)
4. God is transforming us into the image of His Son.
If the story ended with the fall of man, the marring of his image and the frustration of work it would be a tragic tale. But thanks be to God, the story continues. Jesus Christ “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of [that is, the ruler, the preeminent one over] all creation” (Col. 1:15). We are still in God’s image, but the reflection is damaged by sin. Jesus Christ perfectly reflects and represents His Father.
And the great news is that because of the cross, those who trust in Him become transformed from those who “have born the image of the man of dust [that is, Adam]” into those who will “bear the image of the man of heaven [that is, Jesus]” (1 Cor. 15:49). We are being conformed into the image of the Son (Rom. 8:29), which means that the work we do should reflect that reality.
5. God calls us to our vocations.
As an American, living in a republican democracy, I think I’m particularly tempted to think that everything in my life is ultimately up to me: where I live, whom I marry, where I work, etc. Even though it’s true that I make genuine choices and am truly responsible, it’s also true that God planned each of my days before I was even born (Ps. 139:16).
Your “vocation” is more than just your job, and it’s more than just your preference or choice. Rather, your vocation is what God has called you to do. Vocations change during seasons of your life. There may be a season where your primary vocation is “son” or “daughter.” Then the Lord may add the vocation of being a “brother” or “sister.” In another chapter of life you may take on the additional role of being “father” or “mother.” Someday he may add “grandpa” or “grandma.”
1 Cor. 7:17 is a profoundly important verse for understanding that God determines our various vocations: “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.” Wherever we are called, we are to be faithful.
6. God commands that we work quietly and honestly in order to provide for ourselves and others.
When we think of Scriptural condemnations we tend to think about the big, marquee, red-letter sins:
ADULTERY.
MURDER.
BLASPHEMY.
But tucked into the Pastoral Epistles is a very sober and startling warning against lazy moochers: “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8). Lest we think that was maybe a typo, it says that someone who doesn’t work and provide has not only “denied the faith” but is “worse than an unbeliever.” In fact, Paul says elsewhere that if someone is not willing to work, then he shouldn’t be given something to eat (2 Thess. 3:10).
The Bible affirms the goodness and beauty of good, simple, quiet hard work. Paul commends working quietly and earning a living (2 Thess. 3:11). He says that believers should “aspire to live quietly, and to mind [their] own affairs, and to work with [their] hands.” Why? Two reasons: (1) so that they “may walk properly before outsiders” and (2) “be dependent on no one” (1 Thess. 4:11-12; compare Eph. 4:28).
John 3:16 is a great verse — but if you rearrange the numbers in the reference just a bit, you come up with a much lesser known verse: 3 John 1:6. When talking about missionaries, it says, “You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.” The church needs people who will go out and preach the gospel so that every tribe and tongue and nation will heard the glorious good news. But the church also needs senders who stay behind and raise the money and send them out in a God-glorifying way. The kingdom of God has no second-class citizens. We are called to honor God, whether we go and spread, or stay and send.
7. God calls us to work unto His glory.
1 Corinthians 10:31 should fly like a banner over every term paper, over every e-mail, over every break, over every meeting, over every to-do list: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
At our jobs we obviously want to respect our coworkers and honor and please our boss. But ultimately we are not to be looking over our shoulder but above our heads as we work: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23-24).
As mentioned above, one of the purposes of work is to put food on the table — for us and for our family. But earning that bread should never be our ultimate goal, as Jesus said: “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.” How should we strive to live as godly, God-glorifying works? Few have summed it up better than John Piper: “the essence of our work as humans must be that it is done in conscious reliance on God’s power, and in conscious quest of God’s pattern of excellence, and in deliberate aim to reflect God’s glory.”
Dad, Dirty Diapers and the Gospel
Whatever your vocation, God calls you to honor Him, to reflect His image, and to labor with all of your might. You may not be in your dream job right now. But the secret is to honor God in the little things and to sanctify the ordinary.
The great Reformer Martin Luther was a brilliant, earthy man who had a way of bringing everything back to the gospel. When he wanted to illustrate the dignity and significance of seeing God in the ordinary events of life, he chose a very interesting example: a father changing diapers. (Just keep in mind that they didn’t have disposable diapers back in the 16th century — it would have been an even messier and smellier affair than it is today.)
He observed that worldly perspective would say something like: “Alas, must I rock the baby, wash its diapers, make its bed, smell its stench, stay up nights with it, take care of it when it cries, heal its rashes and sores … ?” But in the midst of the stench Luther breathes fresh gospel air:
What then does Christian faith say to this? It opens its eyes, looks upon all these insignificant, distasteful, and despised duties in the Spirit, and is aware that they are all adorned with divine approval as with the costliest gold and jewels. It says, O God, because I am certain that you have created me as a man and have from my body begotten this child, I also know for a certainty that it meets with your perfect pleasure. I confess to you that I am not worthy to rock the little babe or wash its diapers, or to be entrusted with the care of the child and its mother. How is it that I, without any merit, have come to this distinction of being certain that I am serving your creature and your most precious will? O how gladly will I do so, though the duties should be even more insignificant and despised. Neither frost nor heat, neither drudgery nor labor, will distress or dissuade me, for I am certain that it is thus pleasing in thy sight…. God, with all his angels and creatures is smiling — not because the father is washing diapers, but because he is doing so in Christian faith.
As we think about our tasks for the week ahead — or about the vocations God has called us to for this season of our lives — some will be great fun, and some will be difficult. But let us encourage each other that God has called us, God knows what He is doing, and we must see and honor God in everything that we do, big or small.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I have some diapers to go change….
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06.26.09
Posted in Humility, relationship with Jesus, worship at 1:49 pm by trisha
Running for …what?
Life swirls around us and we sometimes muster up the courage to grab some time to stop and rest. Schedules, tasks, duties, relationships, budgets, errands, ministry, friends, birthdays- all capture our attention. Swirling time and memories flash behind us.
If all of these moments were a race, what is at the end? What are we racing towards or for? There are many piles of work and the piles never go away.
We run faster and harder in this race of days to get through it all, yet what is getting my body in action? The sweat drips down and the busyness increases for what?
What is at the finish line? What is all this effort really about? Why do we strain to get through it all? No one seems to notice my straining, since everyone else running beside me is dripping with motivated strides.
Then, I stop and look around to get perspective. I see myself burdened with the a heavy load, perspiring, and about to cry from exhaustion. I see others doing the same. Some are setting down with tears of despair from the increased loads. There are some who are veering off the track to some other destination, a distraction of some sorts. Others, look peaceful as if they were all ready done. Just resting and glad about it. I look ahead and I see no finish line, even though I was promised it was right ahead of where I stopped! A race that never ends? What did I sign up for?
Thus is the race of our Christian faith. Specifically, my roles as wife and mother. What waits for me as my reward? What motivates my heart to work hard? Throughout the day, what drives me? What is my rest and peace? What are my eyes focused on?
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
God is the reward. He is the motivation. There is a finish line and our home in heaven is waiting for us. Bridging the gap of labor and my heart is worship. My effort is God- the Holy Spirit enabling me to do tasks because He has called me.
God wants me to run this race of life with endurance. He has set before me this body, this life, this heart to look to Jesus. I run hard for nothing if I am not looking to Jesus. Jesus is the why of my worship, the object, the reward.
Colossians 3: 23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
I work my self up to a pretty great rhythm and my breathing seems right for the pace, then all of the sudden I get anxious at the hills ahead of me. My breathing starts getting more labored and my heart starts to get discouraged. I whisper, “ I can’t go any further.”
So, it is with work. Just as I get my house organized and the laundry caught up, I am staring at overwhelming and steep hills of work ahead of me. What keeps me moving forward growing in endurance? It can only be Jesus that moves me.
God is with me now, not just at the finish line. He is with me with every move I make, every thought, every tender feeling. He is the promised land, but I am already there. In Christ, I am both running towards Him and with Him.
As I run this laborious calling- my worship is increasing. My independence is decreasing. And.. I fall in to God’s precious arms, so that He can carry me the rest of the way.
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Work, I get. It is familiar and mostly comfortable. Rest, however feels awkward, difficult and hardly feels satisfying.
