Though few and far between in this season of life, I enjoy reading in the calm quiet moments during my day. Right now I'm in the middle of reading Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. In it, Piper talks about boasting in the cross and while I've been a believer since i was a young child, I've never really understood what that phrase meant until reading this book. As Piper explains, it means that you rejoice in the cross. Anything that we as believers are have or experience that is good or that was bad and God turns for good is something undeserved that was bought for us on the cross. We are not deserving of anything other than judgment and condemnation. Every good thing- or bad thing that God turns for good- from work, to sex, to cars, to leisure, to health, and even life is paid for in blood. Litterally every breath, every heart beat is an undeserved gift. Thinking about that while holding my little 9 month old brought tears to my eyes. I just stood there smelling his sweet baby smell and feeling his soft hair and skin against me cheek and cried. I just cried and was so very grateful for the cross, for his blood that paid for that moment, for his blood that paid for this healthy baby in my arms, that paid for this heart beat...and this heart beat...and this heart beat...and each and every breath I heard him breath in and out. The cross is why I had healthy pregnancies and safe births and healthy babies and a good husband and a lovely home. The cross is why I can step outside with my kids and see the joy on their faces as we catch ladybugs in the front yard. The cross is why I can taste the awesome sea scallops at Park Avenue Grill and why I have the ability to eat and digest food at all. The cross is the source of all joy, of all life, and I can never repay it. The awesome thing is, I don't have to repay it. It makes me think of that song by Third Day that says
And I know that you don't realize the fullness of my love
How I died upon the cross for your sins
And I know that you don't realize how much that I give you
But I promise, I would do it all again....
God is just so good. So much better than we deserve. He's not just the best thing. He's the only thing.
Showing posts with label lessons from God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lessons from God. Show all posts
be less Martha and more Mary
So, today was a typical day. Me trying my very best to make my home a peaceful haven for my husband, ie. running around up and down the stairs like a chicken with my head cut-off to attempt to get caught up on laundry, dishes, dusting, cooking, as well as the ever present rearing of children. I was actually getting quite a bit done without too much stress which was a nice change from my omgiamsolosingmymarbles type days. While I count it an answer to prayer, God also needed to remind me that while having a tidy home is good, it is not what is most important.
He did this in such a clever, unexpected way, as is typical with the way of God. I was putting my older boys to bed. Right now our routine is potty time, bible story time (which also gives us a set time every day to practice sitting still and listening), lights out, prayers, sleep. I picked up where we left off in the New Testament of The Beginner's Bible Timeless Children's Stories, when we came to the story about Mary and Martha. Mary is sitting and listening at Jesus' feet while Martha rushes around doing all the housework. Martha gets irritated that Mary isn't helping her, but Jesus explains that Mary "has chosen what is better. She is listening to me." I've heard that story a bagillion times, but this time- reading it in a children's story bible- I finally "got it", not in my head, but in my heart. So many days I end the day feeling sad and guilty that I didn't spend anytime with God in the word or in prayer other than to send up the emergency prayer like "Lord, so and so's friend/sister/mom/dog was in a carwreck/is in preterm labor/had a heart attack/has to be put down, please be with my friend and let your will be done." So often I just treat God like a vending machine.
Anyway- back on subject, so many times I end the day and feel the Holy Spirit convicting me of neglecting my relationship with God and I always try to rationalize and justify it with myself saying how much there is that needs to get done in a day that is my responsibility and blah blah blah. Today is the first day it has really sunken in that God is more important than have the table wiped off. God is more important than getting that load of clean clothes put away rightthissecond. God is more important than stuffing diapers/making beds/emptying the dishwasher/responding to an email....None of those are bad things in an of themselves, but when all is said and done and I have to stand before Christ and give account, is he really going to care how often I vacuumed? Is my heavenly Father going to be pleased that I put folding towels and matching socks and wiping counter tops before my relationship with him?
I want to get all this blogged out so that I can have a reminder that my home is not going to fall apart if I take 10 minutes to touch base with the person who sacrificed his life for me. The towels and socks and dusty coffee table will all still be there.
He did this in such a clever, unexpected way, as is typical with the way of God. I was putting my older boys to bed. Right now our routine is potty time, bible story time (which also gives us a set time every day to practice sitting still and listening), lights out, prayers, sleep. I picked up where we left off in the New Testament of The Beginner's Bible Timeless Children's Stories, when we came to the story about Mary and Martha. Mary is sitting and listening at Jesus' feet while Martha rushes around doing all the housework. Martha gets irritated that Mary isn't helping her, but Jesus explains that Mary "has chosen what is better. She is listening to me." I've heard that story a bagillion times, but this time- reading it in a children's story bible- I finally "got it", not in my head, but in my heart. So many days I end the day feeling sad and guilty that I didn't spend anytime with God in the word or in prayer other than to send up the emergency prayer like "Lord, so and so's friend/sister/mom/dog was in a carwreck/is in preterm labor/had a heart attack/has to be put down, please be with my friend and let your will be done." So often I just treat God like a vending machine.
Anyway- back on subject, so many times I end the day and feel the Holy Spirit convicting me of neglecting my relationship with God and I always try to rationalize and justify it with myself saying how much there is that needs to get done in a day that is my responsibility and blah blah blah. Today is the first day it has really sunken in that God is more important than have the table wiped off. God is more important than getting that load of clean clothes put away rightthissecond. God is more important than stuffing diapers/making beds/emptying the dishwasher/responding to an email....None of those are bad things in an of themselves, but when all is said and done and I have to stand before Christ and give account, is he really going to care how often I vacuumed? Is my heavenly Father going to be pleased that I put folding towels and matching socks and wiping counter tops before my relationship with him?
I want to get all this blogged out so that I can have a reminder that my home is not going to fall apart if I take 10 minutes to touch base with the person who sacrificed his life for me. The towels and socks and dusty coffee table will all still be there.
