This past year or so has been a challenge to me. I've let myself become weary of the very things and opportunities I've longed for, and developed a rotten inward attitude. I'm just tired of it. Most of it doesn't matter. I worry, fret, or get anxious about the most ridiculous things. I want to go back to enjoying the beauty of life that God has given me now, and long for the amazing life yet to come!
I've done a lot of thinking, praying, and reading. I'm very self-centered and self-focused lately, but I'm not happy with it. In fact, the more I think about and ponder myself, the more anxious, depressed and grouchy I become! So, I've decided to change.
God had been good, merciful, and gracious to me. I want to show that in my life! If my husband, children, and friends see a woman who is worn out, dreary, and un-interesting - what honor does that bring to God??
So, part of changing is actually doing something about what needs changing. I used to be more active in prayer and bible reading, but sadly, I have neglected this more than I care to admit. I need God. I depend on God. My hope, my strength, my joy - it all comes from God! So God is going to get my attention, my love, and my worship. Prayer and study about God is my primary focus!
I've never been organized. I'm at a loss with it. I never learned this skill. So, for my families sake, I am going to work hard at developing this ability. There are so many good resources out there, so I am confident that with Providence and diligence, I will be much better at this come January 2010!
Finally, I have been wishing that I knew how to sew. Oh, I can repair a small rip or sew on a button, but I haven't put together an outfit on my own - ever. So, I plan to figure out this skill this year. No more wishing... time to do. (Was it Yoda that said "There is no try. Do or do not..."?)
Anyway, these are some of the things that have weighed heavily on me for a while. My relationship with God, my relationship with family, my attitude, and my activity. With God's great mercy and His divine will... I'll be working on these goals!
It amazes me how God uses other people to work out good in you. My darling husband emailed me last week with a plan to read through the bible in a year and to read through Calvin's institutes in a year. We got a couple days behind because of some medical stuff, but we're catching up quickly. It has been so refreshing and amazing to hear the word of God. To go through and read, ponder, and discuss as a family the things written in the Bible - things we've sometimes missed or not fully pondered before. With the bible-reading-in-a-year schedule, it helps to not feel burdened or lost. I'm not sure where he found the institutes plan, but I found this one, and it looks similar/exact to what we are doing.
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Hoarding... some thoughts.
Have you ever been protective of something you have in your stockpile? I've realized recently (today) that I am a food hoarder. I don't really know why I panic if certain things aren't in the house - or in abundance. There's apparently some fear in me that the world will spin out of control if we run out of nuts, berries, peanut butter, and canned soups. I'm always protective of my nuts and berries - shooing away the munchkins, measuring them out carefully for recipes - it's really quite ridiculous.
Now, I am all into stockpiling items, but that has a purpose. Stockpiling is purchasing multiples of items at a very frugal cost now (and in a big enough quantity to last you from one sale to the next) so that you don't have to run out and pay top dollar later. For example, if I can get children's pain reliever now at 1.00 a bottle - then I should get several bottles now so that I am not paying 4.99 (or more) when Eleanore wakes up with a 103.6 fever in the middle of the night and I have to run to the store cuz we're out! That is being frugal and shopping wisely.
Hoarding is stockpiling things - then not using them (or donating them). I have been hoarding the berries and nuts in my freezer for some time now - to the point that if I don't use them - they will be yucky and worthless. Now, while I got them at a great price initially, letting them go bad is *NOT* frugal! So, to start breaking my hoarding tendency with these little lovelies, I've been forcing myself to use them.
On top of having this irrational fear that there will be dire consequences if I use up the berries, there is the realization that my attitude towards this stuff is a sin! By worrying about a potential lack, I am not being thankful for what God has provided right now, nor am I trusting that He will provide later!
Matthew 6:25-34 25“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29“yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32“For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Even Christ, our Savior, has reassured us that our Heavenly Father will take care of us! If His attention to detail includes caring for the minor things of this world - how much more will He attend to His children!? Our God is a good and gracious God!
Luk 11:9-13 9“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12“or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Remember to trust Him. Ask Him to supply your needs! First for spiritual needs, and secondly for our earthly needs. He is a good and gracious God and has promised to provide in abundance!
Now, I am all into stockpiling items, but that has a purpose. Stockpiling is purchasing multiples of items at a very frugal cost now (and in a big enough quantity to last you from one sale to the next) so that you don't have to run out and pay top dollar later. For example, if I can get children's pain reliever now at 1.00 a bottle - then I should get several bottles now so that I am not paying 4.99 (or more) when Eleanore wakes up with a 103.6 fever in the middle of the night and I have to run to the store cuz we're out! That is being frugal and shopping wisely.
Hoarding is stockpiling things - then not using them (or donating them). I have been hoarding the berries and nuts in my freezer for some time now - to the point that if I don't use them - they will be yucky and worthless. Now, while I got them at a great price initially, letting them go bad is *NOT* frugal! So, to start breaking my hoarding tendency with these little lovelies, I've been forcing myself to use them.
On top of having this irrational fear that there will be dire consequences if I use up the berries, there is the realization that my attitude towards this stuff is a sin! By worrying about a potential lack, I am not being thankful for what God has provided right now, nor am I trusting that He will provide later!
Matthew 6:25-34 25“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29“yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32“For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Even Christ, our Savior, has reassured us that our Heavenly Father will take care of us! If His attention to detail includes caring for the minor things of this world - how much more will He attend to His children!? Our God is a good and gracious God!
Luk 11:9-13 9“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12“or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Remember to trust Him. Ask Him to supply your needs! First for spiritual needs, and secondly for our earthly needs. He is a good and gracious God and has promised to provide in abundance!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
God as sustainer
I've been thinking a lot about some recent sermons we've had at church. Today, my thoughts have been on God and his sovereignty.
As a Christian, believing the bible, I affirm that I believe that God is not only creator of all things, but that he is sovereign over them and continues to sustain them at His will.
Sure, I affirm this - but in reality I don't always act like I believe this foundational truth! It is amazing how easy it can be to try to lean on my own self, to forget that God is truly in control of all things! It is easy to be frustrated, depressed, angry, blameful - and it is easy to think or want to be the one in control! However, I know that nothing happens that is outside of His control or His will. My children exist and happen to both be girls because that is how God willed it. I am writing this blog right now, because that is how God willed it. My husband forgot a step in his home brew because that is how God willed it. Why? It is always for His glory!
Anyways, I diverge... What I wanted to reiterate is something the young guest pastor at our church stated - or pointed out. He was speaking about the wonderful saving work of Jesus Christ. He spoke of how Jesus was fully man and fully God. As man, he suffered - as God, he didn't have to but willed it to happen anyways. The pastor pointed out that God as sustainer of all things is why we exist as we do - why we live, breathe, eat, etc... He pointed out that even on the cross Jesus was fully God, and in complete control.
Think about that for a moment. Our wonderful God - creator, all powerful, ruler of all things seen and unseen, majestic, awesome - this very God hung upon a cross. He bore the sins of his people willingly. He became the propitiation of his people's sins! What is more, not only did Jesus willingly hang on the cross, but he sustained the men that hammered nails into his body - giving them strength and ability to finish that work. He sustained the nails and the wood - giving them form and ability to hold his flesh, and what's more - he sustained the very ground that the cross was placed in - giving it substance and form. If it weren't for this divine sustenance, we would have no salvation! As our God hung upon a cross, bearing the most horrific moment of human history and fully taking the wrath of God and bearing the judgement of his people's sins - he sustained the very cross on which he hung!
Praise God! What glory and majesty! What grace and mercy! Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty!
So, Christian, what is it that you believe? What God do you worship? Does your life show it? These are questions I am asking myself every day.
As a Christian, believing the bible, I affirm that I believe that God is not only creator of all things, but that he is sovereign over them and continues to sustain them at His will.
Sure, I affirm this - but in reality I don't always act like I believe this foundational truth! It is amazing how easy it can be to try to lean on my own self, to forget that God is truly in control of all things! It is easy to be frustrated, depressed, angry, blameful - and it is easy to think or want to be the one in control! However, I know that nothing happens that is outside of His control or His will. My children exist and happen to both be girls because that is how God willed it. I am writing this blog right now, because that is how God willed it. My husband forgot a step in his home brew because that is how God willed it. Why? It is always for His glory!
Anyways, I diverge... What I wanted to reiterate is something the young guest pastor at our church stated - or pointed out. He was speaking about the wonderful saving work of Jesus Christ. He spoke of how Jesus was fully man and fully God. As man, he suffered - as God, he didn't have to but willed it to happen anyways. The pastor pointed out that God as sustainer of all things is why we exist as we do - why we live, breathe, eat, etc... He pointed out that even on the cross Jesus was fully God, and in complete control.
Think about that for a moment. Our wonderful God - creator, all powerful, ruler of all things seen and unseen, majestic, awesome - this very God hung upon a cross. He bore the sins of his people willingly. He became the propitiation of his people's sins! What is more, not only did Jesus willingly hang on the cross, but he sustained the men that hammered nails into his body - giving them strength and ability to finish that work. He sustained the nails and the wood - giving them form and ability to hold his flesh, and what's more - he sustained the very ground that the cross was placed in - giving it substance and form. If it weren't for this divine sustenance, we would have no salvation! As our God hung upon a cross, bearing the most horrific moment of human history and fully taking the wrath of God and bearing the judgement of his people's sins - he sustained the very cross on which he hung!
Praise God! What glory and majesty! What grace and mercy! Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty!
So, Christian, what is it that you believe? What God do you worship? Does your life show it? These are questions I am asking myself every day.
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