Some days....most days, lately....I feel like I have just missed it.
I've missed what it's all about. This life I live is so much bigger than I allow God to make it.
I get focused on myself....contained within my own little walls of this house. I make all the daily decisions more weighted than they should be....distracted by our "problems" that are not really problems - but blessings that can become burdens.
Am I thankful we have a house? YES!!
Am I thankful we have a car? YES!!
Am I thankful we have food to eat and clothing to wear? YES!!
BUT....Am I caught up in our own lifestyle....falling short of seeing a bigger blessing and being a part of a bigger blessing by ending my worship with a simple thanks for provisions???? Sadly, yes. Worship of God Almighty is so much more than thankfulness for stuff....for needs met. To end worship there, your soul misses out on so much. Worship also involves serving - to realize that your needs have been met so that you can be used to help another.
Life is not about just getting needs met.....
I've missed what it's all about. This life I live is so much bigger than I allow God to make it.
I get focused on myself....contained within my own little walls of this house. I make all the daily decisions more weighted than they should be....distracted by our "problems" that are not really problems - but blessings that can become burdens.
Am I thankful we have a house? YES!!
Am I thankful we have a car? YES!!
Am I thankful we have food to eat and clothing to wear? YES!!
BUT....Am I caught up in our own lifestyle....falling short of seeing a bigger blessing and being a part of a bigger blessing by ending my worship with a simple thanks for provisions???? Sadly, yes. Worship of God Almighty is so much more than thankfulness for stuff....for needs met. To end worship there, your soul misses out on so much. Worship also involves serving - to realize that your needs have been met so that you can be used to help another.
Life is not about just getting needs met.....
- it's about barely having needs met AND giving what I did not think I could give to another in need.
- it's about living in the present AND being ready to go where God wants to send me in the future.
- it's about living with eternity with Christ in my heart AND being useful while still here on earth.
- it's about finding joy in my daily moments AND submitting to conviction for repentence.
- it's about keeping my heart/mind/soul focused on the things of Christ AND being aware of the torment and evil and horrendous acts in this world so that I can be used to HELP those who are helpless.
Each day, my struggle grows stronger. How can I continue going about life "as it is" when I know that there are humans that won't get to eat today.....humans that will have to sleep out in the rain and cold....humans that will be sold into slavery of all kinds....humans that are abused just because....how can I continue on this same path, not making any decisions that would disrupt this life I am living....how can I continue filling life up with stuff, and not emptying it so that it can be filled with God's love being poured out on others? Jesus Christ came for ALL......ALL!!!! And especially for the least of these....he came to save, to heal, to restore. God help me...help our family....as we fall into a deeper relationship with Him, as we lean on Him more in all things, as we trust Him with what He has planned for us.
Some wise and convicting and motivating and loving words from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity:
“Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self---in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.”
“It is better to forget about yourself altogether.”
“The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self--all your wishes and precautions--to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is to remain what we call "ourselves," to keep personal happiness as our great aim in life, and yet at the same time be "good.”
"In the passage where the New Testament says that every one must work, it gives as a reason ‘in order that he may have something to give to those in need’. Charity—giving to the poor—is an essential part of Christian morality. ... ... I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charities expenditure excludes them."
Find other blog posts concerning faith, marriage, raising children, homemaking, homeschooling, gardening, crafting, natural living, & ministry @ this link up over at Raising Mighty Arrows
Some wise and convicting and motivating and loving words from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity:
“Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self---in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.”
“It is better to forget about yourself altogether.”
“The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self--all your wishes and precautions--to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is to remain what we call "ourselves," to keep personal happiness as our great aim in life, and yet at the same time be "good.”
"In the passage where the New Testament says that every one must work, it gives as a reason ‘in order that he may have something to give to those in need’. Charity—giving to the poor—is an essential part of Christian morality. ... ... I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charities expenditure excludes them."
Find other blog posts concerning faith, marriage, raising children, homemaking, homeschooling, gardening, crafting, natural living, & ministry @ this link up over at Raising Mighty Arrows
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