We started a mother/daughter class at church, and one of the older women had a bit of very good advice. She reminded us to be happy in whatever season we are in. She said she enjoyed every season she was in, and she recommend that we apply that in our lives.
I was thinking about it. And at first, I thought that I applied it pretty well already. But, as I thought about it more, I realized that I am often wishing for things to be like they used to be.
I have had many fun seasons of my life. There was the time when I was working on a farm, feeding animals and various other chores. It may not sound that fun... but I really enjoyed it. When that time was over, I spent a lot of time hoping I would be able to go back to it.
We also had a time when we were doing a Bible study and then afterwards, going outside and playing games with lite sabers. Which we really enjoyed. And when that was done, I again wished we were still doing it.
Then there's people we were friends with who now live far away. And I keep wishing they were here.
There are many other examples of this... those are just a few.
Anyway, through this lady God has been showing me that I need to just be happy with where I am right now. Thankful for the past, yes. But focused on what is good about where I am now.
What a waste it would be of my life if I was continually wishing for times gone past!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Us? You Mean You Want to be Like Us??
We were having our family Bible time one morning. It was several days ago. And, in the course of discussion, mama told us that at least three people had asked her recently how to get girls like Hannah and I. (Well, okay, so that's probably not how they put it. But you get the point. :) )
Anyway.
At first, I was slightly happy with the news. I mean, it's nice to think that people want their children to be like you. Plus, it was heartening to know that we are living in a holy enough manner that others can detect it. Yes, it is encouraging.
But...
Shortly afterwards, I started thinking about it more. (we're talking seconds after my first thoughts... the human brain is amazing. :) ) They want to be like me? Do they know who I am? If they knew me like I know me... well, we'll just say I don't think they'd want to be like me.
I also thought about how low the standard is. I mean, Hannah and I have done some nice things. Like Bright Lights. And we do dress more modestly than the majority of girls out there. And, yes, we are nicer to our siblings than most girls. And we do have devotions daily...
But, guess what? We could be doing so much better with Bright Lights. And I don't even always meet my own standards for modesty. And I know I could be more helpful, more loving, more caring with my siblings. And I should be doing more for my devotions... I'm not really memorizing anything right now. I know I could be doing so much more for the glory of Christ.
If they think we're amazing, then wow, have we fallen in our expectations and standards. (Does that make sense? :)
So... where am I going with this? I don't really know. But I have been thinking about it quite a bit. So now you get to think about it with me. :P
Anyway.
At first, I was slightly happy with the news. I mean, it's nice to think that people want their children to be like you. Plus, it was heartening to know that we are living in a holy enough manner that others can detect it. Yes, it is encouraging.
But...
Shortly afterwards, I started thinking about it more. (we're talking seconds after my first thoughts... the human brain is amazing. :) ) They want to be like me? Do they know who I am? If they knew me like I know me... well, we'll just say I don't think they'd want to be like me.
I also thought about how low the standard is. I mean, Hannah and I have done some nice things. Like Bright Lights. And we do dress more modestly than the majority of girls out there. And, yes, we are nicer to our siblings than most girls. And we do have devotions daily...
But, guess what? We could be doing so much better with Bright Lights. And I don't even always meet my own standards for modesty. And I know I could be more helpful, more loving, more caring with my siblings. And I should be doing more for my devotions... I'm not really memorizing anything right now. I know I could be doing so much more for the glory of Christ.
If they think we're amazing, then wow, have we fallen in our expectations and standards. (Does that make sense? :)
So... where am I going with this? I don't really know. But I have been thinking about it quite a bit. So now you get to think about it with me. :P
Monday, August 17, 2009
Jesus Died for Us Because We are Worth it??
"God dramatically confirmed His estimate of our worth by sending Jesus to the cross for us. When Jesus counted the cost in Gethsemane before going to Golgotha, He affirmed that sinful humanity was worth the sacrifice. He decided that we were worth it." --Listening, for Heaven's Sake
When you read that quickly, it seems good. At first, I agreed. But as I thought about it, it just didn't seem right. We were worth dieing for? How can we be worth it? Isn't the whole point of Jesus dieing that we aren't worth it?
I did what I usually do-- I asked my dad about it. And he agreed. That's taking God's esteem of us too far.
A few days later, I read this:
"Had men not been lost no Savior would have been required. Had they been abandoned no Savior would have come. But He came, and it is now established that God has a concern for men. Though we have sinned away every shred of merit, still He has not forsaken us. 'For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.' (Luke 19:10) " --Tozer on the Almighty God
Now that's more like it!
The whole point of Jesus dieing on the cross is not to show how great we are. It's to show how great He is.
When you read that quickly, it seems good. At first, I agreed. But as I thought about it, it just didn't seem right. We were worth dieing for? How can we be worth it? Isn't the whole point of Jesus dieing that we aren't worth it?
I did what I usually do-- I asked my dad about it. And he agreed. That's taking God's esteem of us too far.
A few days later, I read this:
"Had men not been lost no Savior would have been required. Had they been abandoned no Savior would have come. But He came, and it is now established that God has a concern for men. Though we have sinned away every shred of merit, still He has not forsaken us. 'For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.' (Luke 19:10) " --Tozer on the Almighty God
Now that's more like it!
The whole point of Jesus dieing on the cross is not to show how great we are. It's to show how great He is.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
He Gave Up So Much
A few days ago, I was washing dishes. A bit unwillingly. And as I was standing there, I was thinking. (What else can you do when you are washing dishes?) This is what I was thinking:
I can be so unwilling to give up my time to do things for my family (like washing dishes) at times. I want what I want. And I don't want what I don't want. And what I don't want is to give up what I want. :)
Then I started thinking about Jesus. What did He give up? He gave His all-- His glory, His home in heaven, His relationship with His Father, (for a brief time) His very life, for me. Me, who is a worthless sinner, a mere creation of His--one of billions of other sinners. It is stunning, really, when you think about it.
And it made me think how thankful I should be, and how very willing I should be to give up my time to serve others.
It's the least I can do, really.
I can be so unwilling to give up my time to do things for my family (like washing dishes) at times. I want what I want. And I don't want what I don't want. And what I don't want is to give up what I want. :)
Then I started thinking about Jesus. What did He give up? He gave His all-- His glory, His home in heaven, His relationship with His Father, (for a brief time) His very life, for me. Me, who is a worthless sinner, a mere creation of His--one of billions of other sinners. It is stunning, really, when you think about it.
And it made me think how thankful I should be, and how very willing I should be to give up my time to serve others.
It's the least I can do, really.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Thank you God!
When we think of how great God is, and how undeserving we are, we should be the most grateful and amazed people on earth.
We are doubly undeserving, as we read in Don't Waste Your Life. Not only are we creatures, a product of God's creation, but we are sinners. So, really, God shouldn't even bother with us.
But He did. And He does. And I am thankful, very thankful.
Think of all the gifts that we have received from Him. Wait, everything we have is from Him.
But think about:
Every breath we take.
Each heartbeat.
Every single step we take.
We are doubly undeserving, as we read in Don't Waste Your Life. Not only are we creatures, a product of God's creation, but we are sinners. So, really, God shouldn't even bother with us.
But He did. And He does. And I am thankful, very thankful.
Think of all the gifts that we have received from Him. Wait, everything we have is from Him.
But think about:
Every breath we take.
Each heartbeat.
Every single step we take.
Finger prints.
Trees, flowers, and birds.
A family.
Toes.
Legs and arms and fingers.
Smiles.
Computers.
Homes.
Eyes and noses and ears.
Sleep.
The ability to talk.
Brains.
Babies.
Amazing animals
Like elephants and tigers and blue whales
Sunshine.
Finger prints.
Air to breathe.
Books!
The ability to read and write and do math.
Paper and pens
Wonderful colors.
Like green. :)
Autumn.
Cameras and amazing photographs.
Poetry.
The wind.
Music.
Art.
The moon.
Opposing thumbs
Salvation!
The Holy Spirit.
The ability to talk directly to our Creator
And live with Him forever if we accept His gift of Salvation.
And countless other wonderful gifts.
All of them directly from His hand. Wow.
What an awesome God we serve!
Psalm 145:21
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever
Monday, August 3, 2009
It's the Little Things that Count
Making your bed. Brushing your teeth. Reading your Bible. Praying. Dishes.
All of those things are so simple... and yet-- so difficult. Why? What makes doing the dishes so difficult? What makes those little, daily task so hard? Well, one of the main reasons is that they never get done. The dishes don't stay washed. You unmake your bed every night. These small things never stay done. It is frustrating.
So why bother? Why even do them? Who cares if your bed is made or not? Will it really make a difference in eternity?? Does it really make that much difference whether or not you read your Bible every day? Maybe it's all pointless. Maybe we should just quit. That's it! Let's just quit!
No, wait. Maybe, just maybe, there is a reason for these seemingly insignificant, definitely hard daily tasks.
What, you ask, is the reason? Why should we do these things?
I'm glad you asked. :)
The reason, the purpose, of doing small hard things faithfully, is that it builds character (oh, yes, and skills). That's what it all comes down to.
Small hard things build perseverance, self-control, faithfulness, integrity and patience.
Those little things that we do daily are what life is made up of. Think about it: Those people who are amazing at piano, who are fantastic a basketball... they didn't just wake up one day with those talents. "Look mom! I can make this shot from from half court!!"
Those things take small, boring, repetitious actions to develop them into something great.
What we do everyday is who we really are. All those big dreams and goals we have are made up of little things that we must do. Books are written one letter at a time. Mountains are climbed one step at a time.
All of those things are so simple... and yet-- so difficult. Why? What makes doing the dishes so difficult? What makes those little, daily task so hard? Well, one of the main reasons is that they never get done. The dishes don't stay washed. You unmake your bed every night. These small things never stay done. It is frustrating.
So why bother? Why even do them? Who cares if your bed is made or not? Will it really make a difference in eternity?? Does it really make that much difference whether or not you read your Bible every day? Maybe it's all pointless. Maybe we should just quit. That's it! Let's just quit!
No, wait. Maybe, just maybe, there is a reason for these seemingly insignificant, definitely hard daily tasks.
What, you ask, is the reason? Why should we do these things?
I'm glad you asked. :)
The reason, the purpose, of doing small hard things faithfully, is that it builds character (oh, yes, and skills). That's what it all comes down to.
Small hard things build perseverance, self-control, faithfulness, integrity and patience.
Those little things that we do daily are what life is made up of. Think about it: Those people who are amazing at piano, who are fantastic a basketball... they didn't just wake up one day with those talents. "Look mom! I can make this shot from from half court!!"
Those things take small, boring, repetitious actions to develop them into something great.
What we do everyday is who we really are. All those big dreams and goals we have are made up of little things that we must do. Books are written one letter at a time. Mountains are climbed one step at a time.
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