I recently watched the movie "The Devil Wears Prada" (yes, I watched a movie with the word 'devil' in it....gasp!). The main plot of the movie, as I see it, was about a young woman who gets 'forced' into a lifestyle through circumstances about which she claims she had no choice. She had no choice. Hmm. The phrase "I have no choice" is really a lame excuse. We ALWAYS have a choice. "But what if it means I'll lose my job?" It's still a choice. "What if someone is holding a gun to my head?" It's still a choice. Rather dramatic, I know. But isn't choice what Jesus died for?
*disclaimer: this post is referencing able bodied and mentally capable adults as opposed to children or those physically restrained against their will*
I've had many conversations lately with friends about this subject. Choices. Priorities. Control. The Lord has convicted me of late regarding my choice of words in relation to our finances. It's easy to say, "I can't afford that." But the reality is, whatever "that" is, has just not become a priority in our budget, right? Now, I am in no way attempting to minimize the very real needs that exist in our lives. Believe me. It's just that the word is the word. God promises to provide for our needs according to His riches. Our needs, His riches. Maybe that's where I miss the boat.
Anyway, one conversation with a friend was her venting about how 'Lucy' can say she can't afford a new kitchen when my friend knows how much money 'Lucy' makes. Had that thought before? I sure have! Here are a few principals I've been trying to keep in mind as I come face to face with the consequences of my choices:
1. Keep my eyes on my own paper. Only God knows our hearts.
2. We reap what we sow. There's no getting around it. Time, money, resources. The amount we give away has direct influence over what we receive (but has no bearing on how much we are loved!). I have no idea the seed that has been sown by those around me.
3. It's all a matter of priority. What is most important to me is where I will invest my resources.
4. I do not have an infinite supply. When I give to one thing (not just financially), I am withholding from something else simply because I am not God.
5. I have no idea the measure of debt others carry to fulfill their priorities.
6. The world evolves around money and time. God does not.
Now, about that new house, Lord....:-)
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
7 Important Minutes
Check out this link for a perspective change in your day. I think I could use a reminder like this everyday! This is the reality I want my kids to grow up in....
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
When I Fell In Love
Recently I was posed with the challenge of sharing a story of the Lord's love that would bless and encourage others to fall in love with Him all over again. It was honestly hard for me to come up with something that happened recently.
However, that thought led me to another, as it usually happens. "When was it that I fell in love with Jesus?" Looking back over my life, I honestly can't not remember a day without knowing Jesus and being in relationship with Him. Sure, that relationship has grown immensely over the years. And I've always known He loved me and I professed my love in return. But now I know, I was not truly head over heels in love with Him. I was performing a duty as every good Christian did. Along with my profession of "love" came my faithful acts of scripture memorization, church attendance, moral living and repentance of sin (every night as I lay in bed lest "I should die before I wake...")
The truth about when I truly allowed my heart to be one with His and let His affections for me draw me into the sweetness of His presence, came as a surprise to me. I'm not even sure why, but it was when I married my love and quickly thereafter started having children. That was the true beginning of my love story with Jesus. It's really rather ironic since that was the start of the season of having the least amount of time for "devotions" and "duties" as I had become dependent on and familiar with. Maybe it's because those years of popping out babies every 18 months absolutely stripped me of any unknowing attempts at works based relationship. All past efforts of perfectionism didn't have a prayer in this new season of nursing, diapers, sleepless nights, newly-wedded bliss, meals, laundry, dirty house, etc. Now how Jesus got through to me and allowed me to fall in love is still a mystery. Perhaps it was while I prayed in the spirit over a sick child while trying to stay awake, or the tears I cried in worship because it was the only way I could express my desperate desire for a drink from His well, or the moments I was "left behind" to nurse a baby while everyone else rode the hayride or went on a hike.
Truly He is always near to me. Truly His love for me has nothing to do with what I do for Him or give to Him. Truly I love Him only because He first loved me. And, truly, only He knows my heart and my deepest longing for more of Him.
However, that thought led me to another, as it usually happens. "When was it that I fell in love with Jesus?" Looking back over my life, I honestly can't not remember a day without knowing Jesus and being in relationship with Him. Sure, that relationship has grown immensely over the years. And I've always known He loved me and I professed my love in return. But now I know, I was not truly head over heels in love with Him. I was performing a duty as every good Christian did. Along with my profession of "love" came my faithful acts of scripture memorization, church attendance, moral living and repentance of sin (every night as I lay in bed lest "I should die before I wake...")
The truth about when I truly allowed my heart to be one with His and let His affections for me draw me into the sweetness of His presence, came as a surprise to me. I'm not even sure why, but it was when I married my love and quickly thereafter started having children. That was the true beginning of my love story with Jesus. It's really rather ironic since that was the start of the season of having the least amount of time for "devotions" and "duties" as I had become dependent on and familiar with. Maybe it's because those years of popping out babies every 18 months absolutely stripped me of any unknowing attempts at works based relationship. All past efforts of perfectionism didn't have a prayer in this new season of nursing, diapers, sleepless nights, newly-wedded bliss, meals, laundry, dirty house, etc. Now how Jesus got through to me and allowed me to fall in love is still a mystery. Perhaps it was while I prayed in the spirit over a sick child while trying to stay awake, or the tears I cried in worship because it was the only way I could express my desperate desire for a drink from His well, or the moments I was "left behind" to nurse a baby while everyone else rode the hayride or went on a hike.
Truly He is always near to me. Truly His love for me has nothing to do with what I do for Him or give to Him. Truly I love Him only because He first loved me. And, truly, only He knows my heart and my deepest longing for more of Him.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Divorce
Once again, I have gotten to a place where there are about a dozen different topics floating around in my brain to blog about. Hats off to you faithful, regular bloggers out there!!!
I once heard it said "Discontentment is the seed of divorce." It makes sense. What do we do when we are not content with something? We find a way to satisfy the lack. And often times in marriage, that leads to wandering eyes, thoughts, desires, etc. all while "happily" married.
Not long ago, it occurred to me that this can apply to many areas of our lives. I thought of this in regards to my own wrestling with this pregnancy and the Lord's plans for our family, etc. During a recent sermon I heard, the challenge was put forth: "How many times does the Lord show us our promised land, our inheritance, and then we choose to settle for something else instead due to our discontentment with the 'plan'?" He was referencing a couple of the tribes of Israel that, instead of occupying the promised land on the West side of the Jordan, chose to settle on the eastern shore. After all, it made sense! They had cattle and the land was lush and prime to raising their herds. It was easy for them. It was not an unknown. It wasn't long before the land they were promised and supposed to occupy was overcome by their enemies. Their inheritance, promised by the Lord was stolen by the enemy. Hmmmm.
In that moment of hearing this story, I felt the Lord speak to my heart: "The land I've chosen for your inheritance is larger than what you thought." So this big family thing, this land of many children, is still larger than I realized. AUGH! That's another whole rabbit trail of thoughts....
So now I realize, if I allow discontentment to fester in my heart towards the Lord and His plan, I could easily end up divorcing myself from His promised land, His inheritance for me and the generations to come! I could allow myself to get distracted by this persons calling or that persons destiny. I could even get distracted by what is to come in other seasons of my own life. As difficult as it may be to settle this promised land that He is offering me now, I can only imagine the rewards that are awaiting us. After all, what could be better than the inheritance of the Lord!
I once heard it said "Discontentment is the seed of divorce." It makes sense. What do we do when we are not content with something? We find a way to satisfy the lack. And often times in marriage, that leads to wandering eyes, thoughts, desires, etc. all while "happily" married.
Not long ago, it occurred to me that this can apply to many areas of our lives. I thought of this in regards to my own wrestling with this pregnancy and the Lord's plans for our family, etc. During a recent sermon I heard, the challenge was put forth: "How many times does the Lord show us our promised land, our inheritance, and then we choose to settle for something else instead due to our discontentment with the 'plan'?" He was referencing a couple of the tribes of Israel that, instead of occupying the promised land on the West side of the Jordan, chose to settle on the eastern shore. After all, it made sense! They had cattle and the land was lush and prime to raising their herds. It was easy for them. It was not an unknown. It wasn't long before the land they were promised and supposed to occupy was overcome by their enemies. Their inheritance, promised by the Lord was stolen by the enemy. Hmmmm.
In that moment of hearing this story, I felt the Lord speak to my heart: "The land I've chosen for your inheritance is larger than what you thought." So this big family thing, this land of many children, is still larger than I realized. AUGH! That's another whole rabbit trail of thoughts....
So now I realize, if I allow discontentment to fester in my heart towards the Lord and His plan, I could easily end up divorcing myself from His promised land, His inheritance for me and the generations to come! I could allow myself to get distracted by this persons calling or that persons destiny. I could even get distracted by what is to come in other seasons of my own life. As difficult as it may be to settle this promised land that He is offering me now, I can only imagine the rewards that are awaiting us. After all, what could be better than the inheritance of the Lord!
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