This world where we dwell runs on rules and laws. Our Father supersedes those rules and laws – such as gravity, time and even death – but not just all willy nilly. He is an orderly God.
We walk in this world and with a contentious awareness of the rules and laws. The power of God pushes us forward and propels us with love, compassion and forgiveness that could not exist any other way.
There are moments in my walk when I wonder if the compassion and forgiveness are ever superseded by the laws and the rules?
A friend told me that she was hit by a guy. “He did not mean to hurt me, so I chose not to press charges.” We all think that they do not mean to hurt us. After a few days, the realization of what occurred finally sunk in. She was fearful for what he might do next time, either to her or to the next person. At the same time she was concerned that going through the laws and rules of this world (the court system) would mean that she had abandoned the forgiveness and compassion of God.
Another friend mentioned a time when a family member died. After having stated for years how the will was written, one family member received the entire inheritance. My friend debated going to court. She struggled between being a good steward over the inheritance and trusting that what worked out worked out for a reason. She did not want the greed of the world to be the driving force over love and faith.
Walking in this world feels like a balancing act most of the time. Sometimes the answers seem easier than others. What would you say to my friends? What are the keys that will allow us to stand firm, be humble and meek, and walk in faith?
I am no June Cleaver. There has never been any desire in any part of my body to vacuum my house in a dress, heels, and pearls. Making my bed every morning is something I have only recently mastered (and I usually just get out of bed first so my husband has to do it).
Homemaker skills were not passed on to me from generation to generation and are skills I continually work to perfect. I have the cooking part down on most days (except with fish – fish and I have issues), but I have to coax myself into washing the dishes that I use to cook. When I leave the dishes stacked up in the sink they have a tendency to multiple into an overflowing mound. I avoid the kitchen when that occurs.
Growth is something I do desire, so I have started doing things that will force me to stretch and to be more.
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• Have company over on a regular basis. Knowing others will see my home keeps me accountable to keep it clean. I am not going for the “unlived in” look, not with three active boys, but I do want people to be able to stop in without having to step over piles or move piles to sit down.
• Volunteer to lead a bible study. This may seem like it has nothing to do with having a good, orderly home, but God has a way of working things into any study that you might pick up. I discovered in the first group that I lead that I was an example to those around me. I now try to think before I react, say or do, “what kind of example will I be?”
• Accept that you are a role model. Someone looks up to your walk RIGHT NOW – where you are. It may be your children or that cashier at your local grocery store. Forget about big brother, people are watching you to discover the right walk.
• Do a little every chance that you get. Thirty minutes worth of cleaning in the morning and evening go a long way towards keeping your house ship shape.
• Do it as you go. “If you kick it or step on it then pick it up and put it in its home.” That one rule has saved me hours of clean up. BUT this rule also goes for my cooking. Doing the dishes as I cook makes it easier to do the dishes and keeps my kitchen ready for the next round.
Keeping a good house requires more than housekeeping skills. A good, warm house comes from a Proverbs life and that Proverbs life springs directly from the heart. Plant the good, the positive and the uplifting in your heart and you will see the benefits of a good home sprouting soon.
The little things can end up being the big thing that makes THE difference in your journey.
What is worship? The Greek and Hebrew words that are translated to worship meant to prostrate. They give the indication that we are to lower ourselves in the presence of God.
I was thinking about worship during church the other day. It was one of those days when I would have preferred to be home still in bed but made the choice to attend as an example to my children (and to my heart).
We sang two fast songs, then a slow song, then a call to worship God and to praise God and to thank God, then another slow song, and then we ended with a fast song. We do the same thing every week. Across town in another church, theirs is just a different order. It is no worse and it is not any better. There is nothing wrong with order, but order is not worship. It is designed to evoke certain responses and feelings. This is emotion with a little tradition thrown in.
Before anyone hunts me down, let me try to explain. There are times when I am out walking and the beauty of what I see, or smell, or feel will overwhelm me to the point that I have to stop and praise God right then. Sometimes I sing, say a prayer, or even do a twirl or two. This is praise. God loves the praises of His children. But He desires the worship of His children even more.
According to Webster worship is “reverence or respect paid to God.” True reverence is when you hold the other person in a higher regard than yourself. Reverence requires that you listen to the person you revere without question, hesitation, or argument because you know that person is beyond mistakes. Reverence REQUIRES obedience.
In past days, when royalty walked by, the peasants would lower themselves to the ground to show their respect. Worship is the essence of that act. It is when we lower ourselves before God and allow Him to direct our lives. We push down our own desire and emotions, and we choose to listen to the words of God and follow His way. We come to the place where we know that no matter how it may look right now, what God has for us is beyond anything that we can think or imagine.
Worship is not about the music, the service, or even the emotions. Worship is not about whether you choose to kneel when you pray, to close your eyes when you pray, or to lift your hands when you pray. True worship is about God. True worship is when you see with the eyes of Jesus, you hear with the ears of Jesus, you feel with the heart of Jesus, and you speak with the words of Jesus.
The choice that I made to be obedient to the call to come together in fellowship was worship. During this time of Lent, how are you willing to lay down before God so that you can experience true worship in your life?
This post was originally used in September of 2008. It holds true for my life at this moment so I thought I would bring it back, touch it up, and offer it to you once again.
Over the last several weeks, every bible study I have been going through, every devotional that I have received and every sermon I have heard has focused on choice in one form or another. They are a constant reminder that my path and my journey are dictated solely by my choice. These are not the words I want to hear.
My belief has always been that obedience was the issue. It has been easier for me to “pass the buck” by talking about how difficult it is to be obedient.
The reality is that we are all obedient. The issue I have had to face comes down to those things that are receiving my obedience. There are plenty of reasons and excuses that I could come up with that justify me NOT making the right choice. Often obedience to self is the easiest path.
Top Issues Affecting Choice
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1. There is always a reason to NOT to choose the right path. You are too tired. The timing not right. My husband yelled. You did not do it in the first place. You JUST did it. It is time for a favorite show. The list can go on forever. Excuses are always around. If you want to make an excuse you will be able to make an excuse. Determine today that there will be no more excuses for anything in your life.
2. The right choice is not easy. The idea of choosing obedience to the right path is a simple one; it is just not an easy one on many days. It hurts to push past our own wants and desires and do just what we are supposed to do. But the end product feels better – eventually.
3. It takes time. You have to choose to manage your time to choose a life of obedience to the right path. I read recently that if you choose not to manage your time then something or someone will choose to manage it for you. Get a schedule and stick to that schedule!
4. Consistency will take you miles. Do it at the same time, every day – just like you would any other job that you have. The consistency will carry you when your determination seems to give up.
5. Take each step one at a time. The choice you made yesterday does not dictate the choice you make today or tomorrow. Each step brings the opportunity for choosing right.
There is no true justification for my disobedience to the Right path. My choice, and nothing more, leads me in the other direction. Even partial obedience to the right translates to complete disobedience.
There is so much in the path that can get you off track. Get rid of the excuses, push past the pain and choose this day to focus on the prize!
