It was VERY WEIRD for me when I took the pictures off our walls before we moved. And contrary to my Mommy's advice, I didn't take them off the walls in one house and immediately hang them in the new one. In fact, it's taken me nearly four weeks to get around to hanging pictures... and the rest of the curtains. ;) Anyway, the thing that was so weird was that when the pictures came down at the old house, it no longer felt like home. And the new house DEFINITELY didn't feel like home... I basically felt homeless for a few days. However, the more that our stuff has found a "home" at our new house, the more "settled" we get, (and with the help of a few candles!!! ;)) the more this space has started to feel like HOME. As I've been scrubbing and unpacking and what-not, I've also been pondering how my life is kind of like an empty house. Bare walls, no curtains, nothing beautiful or welcoming. But the Spirit took up residence in my life many years ago, and He's been in the process ever since of incorporating His beauty into the "bare walls" of my life.
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Proverbs 24:3-4
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
2 Corinthians 2:14-16
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:1-3
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Too Small
I like words-- especially "big" words. My kids got a volume a few years ago, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie... and three other "If You Give a Mouse" books, along with songs and recipes. One of the songs is called "Big Words" and the chorus is: "Supercilious, perspicuity, oratorical, ingenuity, I love being grandiose and very, very, verbally verbose."
So this morning I was reading in Psalms.
Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
Psalms 113:1-4
We live in the internet age, and probably nearly everyone has seen images from the space telescopes of the galaxies way out in space... This passage says that God's glory is ABOVE that. In fact, the next verses say:
Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
Psalms 113:5-6
And I started thinking about big words. Words like "awesome" and "mighty" and "powerful" and "superb" and "spectacular". And they all seemed too small. Even "Almighty" and "All-powerful" seem dim when I think about God's glory being GREATER than the glories of the heavens that He created.
But that is not the end of the Psalm. It could be, and it would be sufficient, but the Psalmist reminds us that this GREAT God is NEAR to His people! =)
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!
Psalms 113:7-9
As I was chewing on the greatness here, and pondering what to title this post, the phrase "too small" came to mind. Along with this verse:
he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Isaiah 49:6
That's the gospel! And that's good news! =)
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-- remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-13
So this morning I was reading in Psalms.
Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
Psalms 113:1-4
We live in the internet age, and probably nearly everyone has seen images from the space telescopes of the galaxies way out in space... This passage says that God's glory is ABOVE that. In fact, the next verses say:
Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
Psalms 113:5-6
And I started thinking about big words. Words like "awesome" and "mighty" and "powerful" and "superb" and "spectacular". And they all seemed too small. Even "Almighty" and "All-powerful" seem dim when I think about God's glory being GREATER than the glories of the heavens that He created.
But that is not the end of the Psalm. It could be, and it would be sufficient, but the Psalmist reminds us that this GREAT God is NEAR to His people! =)
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!
Psalms 113:7-9
As I was chewing on the greatness here, and pondering what to title this post, the phrase "too small" came to mind. Along with this verse:
he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Isaiah 49:6
That's the gospel! And that's good news! =)
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-- remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-13
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Song of the Day- 11
Well, I've been SUPER BUSY with... Someone Else's Mess
and... Stinky
and... "My Dirt"
And haven't sat down at the computer long enough to blog... Honestly, I haven't even had enough extra energy to WANT to blog! =(
But as I was thinking about my absence from blogging, I've been singing a song that ministered to my soul Sunday. =)
Listen to Outrageous Grace
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:1-14
and... Stinky
and... "My Dirt"
And haven't sat down at the computer long enough to blog... Honestly, I haven't even had enough extra energy to WANT to blog! =(
But as I was thinking about my absence from blogging, I've been singing a song that ministered to my soul Sunday. =)
Listen to Outrageous Grace
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:1-14
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Do It WELL
There are things that I really like about older houses... and then there are things that I don't like. I grew up doing minor-- and not so minor-- remodel jobs in the houses we inhabited. I learned a lot and am SO THANKFUL for all those experiences! Shorty and I are now on our second older home. (Prepare for a rant.) Today as I was scrubbing our shower, I found a spot where some previous owner had done a "quick fix" on a problem rather than taking the time to fix it WELL. We were perpetually finding things like this in our old house-- and it is SO FRUSTRATING!!! For one thing, now I am kind of at a loss as to how to go about REALLY fixing the original problem! Not only that, but "quick fix" jobs usually look so much DIRTIER! =P And I'm REALLYREALLYREALLY trying to to CLEAN my house!
As usual, God is our perfect example. There are probably many instances that I could mention, but the one that I thought of was creation. God did it in a particular order and for good reason! It would have been TERRIBLE if God had made all the land animals before there was land for them to live on... or before there was food for them to eat. And when he finished, this was his verdict: And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 1:31
In addition, we have this instruction: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Colossians 3:23
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
So whatever you do, do it WELL! (Okay, I'm done.)
As usual, God is our perfect example. There are probably many instances that I could mention, but the one that I thought of was creation. God did it in a particular order and for good reason! It would have been TERRIBLE if God had made all the land animals before there was land for them to live on... or before there was food for them to eat. And when he finished, this was his verdict: And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 1:31
In addition, we have this instruction: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Colossians 3:23
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
So whatever you do, do it WELL! (Okay, I'm done.)
Monday, May 20, 2013
"My Dirt"
The fact that I have moved is "old news". The fact that I am in a cleaning frenzy is also "old news". So I will not bore you with needless repetition. Yesterday I was talking to a dear sister who has moved many more times than me. We were discussing the "initial clean" when you buy a previously lived-in house. We laughed about how we didn't really want to walk barefoot on the carpets until we'd shampooed them. And then she mentioned that it took a few months for the dirt (or dirtiness) in the house to FEEL like "her dirt". She said, "I know that doesn't really make sense..." But I know EXACTLY what she means!
I was pondering our conversation with the back and forth of the steam cleaner this afternoon, and it hit me! When Shorty and I bought the house, all the dirt in it became "our" dirt. And then I thought about how Christ purchased ME. How my life was like an empty DIRTY house. (I'll talk about the "empty" later...) And then the Spirit began the arduous work of making it a HOME. He took my "dirt" and made it His, so that He could clean it up and receive glory for the work He's done!
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 1:18
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
I was pondering our conversation with the back and forth of the steam cleaner this afternoon, and it hit me! When Shorty and I bought the house, all the dirt in it became "our" dirt. And then I thought about how Christ purchased ME. How my life was like an empty DIRTY house. (I'll talk about the "empty" later...) And then the Spirit began the arduous work of making it a HOME. He took my "dirt" and made it His, so that He could clean it up and receive glory for the work He's done!
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 1:18
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Not In A Day...
I am not a fan of unpacking... =P
Don't get me wrong, I'll be glad to be unpackED, but I don't love the process. This was my first move since Shorty and I got married, and so I lived last week on adrenaline. It led to lots of work getting done... and me reaching a point of near exhaustion. But my adrenaline rush wore off before I reached the end of my list. And Shorty told me all last week that "Rome wasn't built in a day." I replied that I didn't want to build ROME in a day, just my HOME. ;)
As I was discussing this drive to get settled with a sister this week (and the heart issues that it displayed) she reminded me that I didn't need to EARN my rest. I tend to make a "to do" list and then feel like I've earned my down time at the end of the day. This often results in sin for me one way or another. If I make my list, I feel entitled to my "rest", and if I don't make my list, I'm angry with whomever I feel is responsible (or even a contributing party!). But I had a really funny thought as I was chewing on this during my devotions yesterday morning...
God didn't even create THE WORLD in a day! Not that He couldn't have. But in His perfect plan, He didn't. And I thought, maybe ONE reason that He didn't was because in May of 2013 one of His daughters would be trying to build a home "in a day". You may think that that is very narcissistic on my part, and I certainly don't think that that is the MAIN reason. But I do KNOW that He cares FOR ME!
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 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. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Genesis 2:1-3
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:27-30
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
Psalms 116:5-7
Don't get me wrong, I'll be glad to be unpackED, but I don't love the process. This was my first move since Shorty and I got married, and so I lived last week on adrenaline. It led to lots of work getting done... and me reaching a point of near exhaustion. But my adrenaline rush wore off before I reached the end of my list. And Shorty told me all last week that "Rome wasn't built in a day." I replied that I didn't want to build ROME in a day, just my HOME. ;)
As I was discussing this drive to get settled with a sister this week (and the heart issues that it displayed) she reminded me that I didn't need to EARN my rest. I tend to make a "to do" list and then feel like I've earned my down time at the end of the day. This often results in sin for me one way or another. If I make my list, I feel entitled to my "rest", and if I don't make my list, I'm angry with whomever I feel is responsible (or even a contributing party!). But I had a really funny thought as I was chewing on this during my devotions yesterday morning...
God didn't even create THE WORLD in a day! Not that He couldn't have. But in His perfect plan, He didn't. And I thought, maybe ONE reason that He didn't was because in May of 2013 one of His daughters would be trying to build a home "in a day". You may think that that is very narcissistic on my part, and I certainly don't think that that is the MAIN reason. But I do KNOW that He cares FOR ME!
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 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. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Genesis 2:1-3
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:27-30
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
Psalms 116:5-7
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Limited
Cleaning is HARD WORK!!! And I discovered yesterday that almost EVERY scrubbing job requires a functioning shoulder... I've mentioned that our new house is bigger with more carpet. But I didn't realize what a big difference this would be in terms of cleaning. However, after four days of shampooing carpets, my right shoulder was very tender--ESPECIALLY when I started in on another room. I didn't do any scrubbing Saturday, and Sunday I used my left arm to shampoo. I thought that two days of rest would be enough to recuperate, but when I started scrubbing yesterday BOTH my shoulders were tender... =( And so I am under strict orders NOT to do any heavy cleaning today. And I was thinking about how VERY limited I am. Even though I am relatively young and in relatively good shape, that repeated motion and strain on one part of my body brought me to the limit of my ability. And anytime I am faced with my own limitations, I am reminded that my God is LIMITLESS!!! And that's good news! =)
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.
Psalms 41:13
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalms 90:2
The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty! Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.
Psalms 93:1-5
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.
Psalms 41:13
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalms 90:2
The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty! Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.
Psalms 93:1-5
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4
Monday, May 13, 2013
Room to Move
WE HAVE MOVED!!! It was a bigger chore than I could have imagined, even with the great amounts of help from our family! I spent all last week cleaning... And cleaning gives me LOTS of time to think. ;) Our old house was 1350 square feet, and the new house is 1920 square feet. As I was trying to shampoo MORE of the carpet (we went from almost NO carpet, to LOTS of carpet!) toward the end of the week, I realized that this is almost fifty percent more house than I had before! And as I continued to ponder, I just had to laugh at myself because most of our "stuff" has been crammed into a couple of rooms... rather than spreading it out evenly. And I was reminded of when my babies were born. If you've ever seen a newborn, you know that it takes several days for them realize that they have room to move, and to begin to stretch out their arms and legs. You also know that babies don't reach out for their parents right away. If the child is in need, he cries. Then the parent has to come to him or her. I started thinking about that in relation to rebirth and the Christian walk.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:1-6
I thought about my tendency to curl in on myself when I am in need, rather than running to my Father. I thought about how He comes to me and carries me when I am in need... and I'm in need A LOT!!! But I began to realize that reaching for my God when I am in pain, or stressed, or in need, is a sign of growth! And I've got PLENTY of room to grow! =)
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation-- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:2-5
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:1-6
I thought about my tendency to curl in on myself when I am in need, rather than running to my Father. I thought about how He comes to me and carries me when I am in need... and I'm in need A LOT!!! But I began to realize that reaching for my God when I am in pain, or stressed, or in need, is a sign of growth! And I've got PLENTY of room to grow! =)
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation-- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:2-5
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16
Friday, May 10, 2013
A Story of Opposites
I have cleaned my first house for the last time. In truth, it isn't even MY house anymore and hasn't been for three weeks! The kids are at the new house, and I've been walking through, remembering the last 12 years. You've probably heard the phrase "if these walls could talk". So I began to ponder what story THESE walls would tell... My conclusion is that they would tell a story of opposites that goes something like this:
"We've seen lots of laughter and plenty of tears.
There's been joy and sorrow and pleasure and fears.
The family has grown through friendship and fights,
through ups and downs and when money is tight.
There's been sin, but lots more grace
as my occupants sought their Savior's face."
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
Romans 7:15-19
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:4-10
"We've seen lots of laughter and plenty of tears.
There's been joy and sorrow and pleasure and fears.
The family has grown through friendship and fights,
through ups and downs and when money is tight.
There's been sin, but lots more grace
as my occupants sought their Savior's face."
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
Romans 7:15-19
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:4-10
Thursday, May 2, 2013
White
One of the first practical things I learned as a mommy is that white is pretty much off limits-- at least for me. It just takes too much work to get things like chocolate, ketchup, mustard, red Kool-aid, grape juice, blood, etc. out of white fabric!
I've been singing the chorus of "Beautiful Scandalous Night" for a couple of weeks now. The phrase that really got the song "stuck" for me was : "forever washed white". That is SO HUGE!!! First the "forever" part. I can't even wrap my mind around forever-- I've only got 30 years of life in my pocket! Then "washed". I do LOTS of laundry. (Six people can make a mountain of laundry in less than a day!) So "forever washed" seems almost like an oxymoron. But "forever washed WHITE". Even whites don't STAY white. But in Christ my sins are "forever washed white". God no longer sees even the residue of my sin, only Christ's righteousness! WOW!
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalms 51:7
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 1:18
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:18-19
God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:28-31
I've been singing the chorus of "Beautiful Scandalous Night" for a couple of weeks now. The phrase that really got the song "stuck" for me was : "forever washed white". That is SO HUGE!!! First the "forever" part. I can't even wrap my mind around forever-- I've only got 30 years of life in my pocket! Then "washed". I do LOTS of laundry. (Six people can make a mountain of laundry in less than a day!) So "forever washed" seems almost like an oxymoron. But "forever washed WHITE". Even whites don't STAY white. But in Christ my sins are "forever washed white". God no longer sees even the residue of my sin, only Christ's righteousness! WOW!
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalms 51:7
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 1:18
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:18-19
God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:28-31
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Trophies or Tools
When I was in school, I received a fair few trophies for excellence in various subjects. And I proudly displayed them on shelves or my wall. But now, having been out of school for nearly 12 years, those trophies mean very little to me. In fact, most-- if not all-- of them have been thrown away. Who really cares if I was "Most Improved Beginning Woodworker", or "Spanish II Student of the Year"? However, Woodworking class gave me experience with tools that I have used A LOT over the course of our 12 years of home remodeling. And Spanish II gave me "tools" to be able to communicate with some of our customers when I worked at one of the banks in town.
I've been reading Romans 12 this week, and yesterday there was a phrase that really jumped out at me.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:
Romans 12:6a
Paul talks in several of his letters about the "gifts" of God or spiritual "gifts". But I was thinking this morning about my tendency to think about my gifts and talents more as trophies. I want to "set them on a shelf" or "hang them on a wall" for other people to admire. But Paul says I should USE my gifts. When Shorty buys a saw, it's not so that it can sit on a shelf and look pretty. There is something that needs to be cut. Or when I buy a cake pan, it's not to decorate the wall (Although the Winnie-the-Pooh pan is pretty cute!). It is so that I can make a cake! Whatever talents or spiritual gifts I possess are TOOLS to be used in serving my King as He builds His kingdom.
And we all get a different set of tools! But that may be a post for another day.... =)
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Romans 12:6-9
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