I have been accused by my friends and family of being Supermom. She's the one who seems to always have something going, and be doing it all well. My Crew will tell a slightly different story depending on the kid and the day. But since actions speak louder than words, and they are perpetually asking me to commit to another "something", I think they must think I'm pretty super too.
Let me be incredibly honest. I don't have it all together. I try really hard to do what I do faithfully and with excellence, but I am weak. There are days, weeks, months, when I feel like I'm failing at everything. There are times when I feel like I'm drowning in responsibilities. I. Am. Weak. And that doesn't even begin to touch my sin struggles!
As I've struggled with my weakness and sin the past few weeks, three things have stood out to me. First, God is my rock. Inevitably the worst days are the ones when I try to make it in my own strength (which is insubstantial). Second, God loves me. He proves this by His patient and persistent correction, and by the care of His people for me. And third, His strength is highlighted by my weakness. To be able to utilize the strength of a mighty person isn't that impressive. But to use a weakling in mighty ways shows amazing strength. So, I will boast of my weakness for His might to be magnified.
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. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Rest
Last week at prayer meeting, a sister asked that we pray for her because she has many responsibilities. She said that every night when she goes to bed, something on her list remains undone. Shorty leaned over and whispered, "I've heard this before." He was poking fun at me because we've had that conversation monthly, maybe even weekly, for quite some time. Well, several of our brothers in the group prayed for her, and the consistent request was that she be able to rest.
As I have pondered work and rest this week, I've noted four reasons to rest. They've encouraged me, and hopefully they will encourage you as well.
1. Rest because you need it.
In the beginning, God gave us the model of rest after work. He didn't need to rest, but because we are creatures, we do. Our resting is a testimony that we are not God.
2. Rest because it is commanded.
God knows that we are not good at doing what is best for us. So, because He is a loving Father, He tells us what we need to do for our good.
3. Rest because God is in control.
The Bible tells us that God never sleeps. He never needs anything. And He is in ultimate control over the events and creatures in His world.
4. Rest because Jesus finished His work.
Again and again in the gospels, Jesus tells us that He came to save sinners. He did this by perfectly keeping God's law in our place, then bearing God's wrath against our sin in our place. The resurrection tells us that His sacrifice is sufficient. He completed His work, and so has become our rest.
So, dear Christian, be diligent in work, but take time to rest. Because even if you don't always finish what you set out to do, Christ did. Rest in His completed work.
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 11:28-30
As I have pondered work and rest this week, I've noted four reasons to rest. They've encouraged me, and hopefully they will encourage you as well.
1. Rest because you need it.
In the beginning, God gave us the model of rest after work. He didn't need to rest, but because we are creatures, we do. Our resting is a testimony that we are not God.
2. Rest because it is commanded.
God knows that we are not good at doing what is best for us. So, because He is a loving Father, He tells us what we need to do for our good.
3. Rest because God is in control.
The Bible tells us that God never sleeps. He never needs anything. And He is in ultimate control over the events and creatures in His world.
4. Rest because Jesus finished His work.
Again and again in the gospels, Jesus tells us that He came to save sinners. He did this by perfectly keeping God's law in our place, then bearing God's wrath against our sin in our place. The resurrection tells us that His sacrifice is sufficient. He completed His work, and so has become our rest.
So, dear Christian, be diligent in work, but take time to rest. Because even if you don't always finish what you set out to do, Christ did. Rest in His completed work.
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 11:28-30
Monday, January 19, 2015
All People Will Know
When I got up this morning, thoughts of doctors and hospitals were the furthest thing from my mind. It is a holiday, the weather was beautiful, and we had planned an afternoon trip to the zoo. Instead we had our first broken bone. My son had spent the night with a friend, and had an accident with his new ripstick. We met them at the local hospital where the doctor quickly began the process to fix the arm.
We had all the usual suspects for support, doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Shorty has family who work at the hospital, and they were with us off and on. And my parents live in town. But we were also served by several of our church family through their presence, prayers, food, calls to check on us, and care for our girls.
After we got home and the excitement wore off, I was reminded of when Jesus told His disciples that they would be known by their love for each other. The world is watching how we love. The acts of love we were offered were quiet. So maybe sometimes they "see" because we tell.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:34-35
We had all the usual suspects for support, doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Shorty has family who work at the hospital, and they were with us off and on. And my parents live in town. But we were also served by several of our church family through their presence, prayers, food, calls to check on us, and care for our girls.
After we got home and the excitement wore off, I was reminded of when Jesus told His disciples that they would be known by their love for each other. The world is watching how we love. The acts of love we were offered were quiet. So maybe sometimes they "see" because we tell.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:34-35
Sunday, January 11, 2015
No Grandchildren
This past summer, my oldest daughter was experiencing a significant life event at the same time I was going to be gone for a weekend. I did my best to inform and encourage her, and ended by saying that if she had questions and COULDN'T reach me, she could call my mom. The look on her face was absolute horror and mortification. I've reflected on this conversation a lot since, and I realized that I would have responded the same way. This got me thinking about the difference in the parent/child relationship as compared to the grandparent/grandchild relationship. My relationship with my mommy is good, so it is completely natural for me to discuss topics of a personal nature with her. Not so much with either of my grandmothers. (Not because the relationships are bad, but because they are a bit more distant. Almost a relationship by association.)
As I have contemplated this, it occurred to me that in God's family there are no grandchildren. When a person places his or her hope in Christ for salvation, he or she becomes a CHILD of God. And with that comes all the privilege and intimacy of the relationship. As our Father, God is always able and willing, even eager, to listen to us. And although it may not feel natural to talk to Him at first, as you come to know Him more and more, it should grow easier. So I challenge you, Christian, talk to your Father today.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
Galatians 4:4-6
As I have contemplated this, it occurred to me that in God's family there are no grandchildren. When a person places his or her hope in Christ for salvation, he or she becomes a CHILD of God. And with that comes all the privilege and intimacy of the relationship. As our Father, God is always able and willing, even eager, to listen to us. And although it may not feel natural to talk to Him at first, as you come to know Him more and more, it should grow easier. So I challenge you, Christian, talk to your Father today.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
Galatians 4:4-6
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Lavish
My Shorty LOVES to give me gifts. He listens when I say I like something. He seems to store each "like" away in a mental filing cabinet. The month of December is particularly fun for him as both my birthday and Christmas fall in it. This year it felt like he was especially lavish, although I don't think he actually spent any more than normal.
I pondered this a lot in the throes of our holiday busyness. I was repeatedly reminded of the lavish nature of God's interactions with us. We were utterly unlovely. We had chosen to be His enemies. But He sent His Son to save us from our sins. And not just to pay our sin debt, but to make us part of His family! He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans8:32)
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.
Ephesians 1:7-10
I pondered this a lot in the throes of our holiday busyness. I was repeatedly reminded of the lavish nature of God's interactions with us. We were utterly unlovely. We had chosen to be His enemies. But He sent His Son to save us from our sins. And not just to pay our sin debt, but to make us part of His family! He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans8:32)
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.
Ephesians 1:7-10
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