Job Description

Growing up in the south, I never was exposed to unions. My sheltered white-collar existence knew about these groups, studied them a little, but never had personal experience with the unions.

When Matt and I lived in California, he worked for UPS and was part of the union. We enjoyed the benefits of good insurance, but the union effect on work ethic was clear even in a well run business like UPS. Matt would lament the fact that their job descriptions were very narrow and kept them from doing things that would be helpful, because that was someone else's job.

Now, as a mother of five children, I have found the union attitude present in my home. We have clearly defined chores for each child. Each one knows what he/she should do each day. What is funny is how quickly the report spreads if someone does not do their job, and how reluctant the others are to pick up the slack. I have often heard, "But, that is not my chore, Mom."

We are called to be workers. Work was created before the fall and in our work we find enjoyment and satisfaction. We also glorify God when we do our jobs well, which should be our chief aim. Work is not our enemy, our old sin nature which longs to be lazy is the enemy.

As I have worked through the wrong attitudes in my home and in our hearts, I have been reminded of Christ. The perfect, second person of the Godhead was not too good to take on a new job description. It was not a job that very many people would even think about doing. He "emptied himself, humbling himself to the point of death, even death on a cross." He washed the feet of His creation. He labored among the sick and needy. He sacrificed himself in so many ways as He walked earth's terrain. He was sleep deprived, without a home of His own, and was tempted beyond any other man that has ever existed. He never pulled the, "that is not my job" attitude. He did not shrink back from the dirty jobs. He, the very King of all kings, God of all gods, Alpha and Omega, was a servant and a sacrificial lamb. The very Lion of Judah in all his majestic splendor, was beaten and crucified bearing the weight of the iniquities of those whom He had predestined to adopt, justify, sanctify, and glorify.

So the next time your husband leaves his dirty clothes on the floor, remember Christ and His example of being a servant. What about a situation at church that should be taken care of by someone else and they are always late, or unreliable? The next time your children complain that they are doing the chores of another, point them to the greatest servant that has ever lived. Remind yourself and your families of the example of a servant that Jesus was for us. Not only did His actions show His love, but in His mind and heart there were no complaints and there was no sin. His motives were pure always. This is our example. Our salvation is so great. the work of Christ can occupy our minds as we seek to delve into the theological points. We can spend eternity praising the Godhead for the work of redemption. We can also find very practical application to our daily lives. Expand your job description in your own mind. We are not part of a union with only specific duties. We can be servants out of love and gratitude to our Savior. Follow the example of Christ. No one may ever notice, but be sure your Father in heaven will see. You will be obeying His word and His revealed will. And after all, is that not how we should spend ourselves in seeking, "to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever"?

An Earnest Plea

It has been a great pleasure and privilege to visit differing churches throughout my life. It is a delight to be among God's faithful people in differing provinces, all worshipping our great and glorious YAHWEH. Although, as it is with most things, there is bitter intermixed with the sweet.

Upon occasion, I have come upon a church where there was an abundance of grown covenant children, most were second and third generation believers. Their heritage of grace a beautiful thing that was most unfortunately, taken for granted. It was clear from the level of conversation that love for Christ was foreign, holiness anathema, and doctrine a thing to be despised.

We do not expect to find this in our carefully guarded Reformed churches, but here it was. I am not Pollyanna enough to believe that this is not more common than any of us would want to admit. Which causes me a great amount of sorrow and concern. I wonder, how did they get here? How can I keep my children from this apathy? How can I keep my own heart?

Thankfully, God has revealed some mysteries to us and they are ours and our children's. (Dt. 29:29) God has taught us in His Word, what the chief means of grace is, His Word faithfully proclaimed going forth which will not return to Him void. (Is. 55:11) There is no great, brain- teasing conundrum to figure out, where there is weak preaching the people of God will be anemic Christians if christian at all. Even as a babe grows and hungers for more than the milk that has been his sustenance, so also the believer should grow and hunger for more than milk. The heart filling and sustaining doctrines taught in God's Holy Word should be our soul's longing for this is how we know God and draw nearer to Him. (Psalm 42:1-2) Sermons should be filled with the truths of scripture, doctrine, attributes of God and application of God's holy law and requirements to our lives so that we may know how to love Him rightly, walk with Him daily, serve Him gratefully, and rely on nothing but His righteous surety.

I come to the crux of this post, which is an earnest plea from a simple pilgrim sitting in the pew. PLEASE PREACH GOD"S WORD! Preach it to me, preach it to my children, preach it my friends. Preach it in our churches. Preach the word to those lost, lonely, despairing, and hopeless. Preach it to those bound in chains of sin and satan. Preach it in dark corners that the light of truth may shine forth. Preach it to all. "Preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." Be faithful to God's Word and trust His means to save and sanctify His people.

And secondly, pray for our church leaders. Be thankful for our elders and pastors. Remind them to "guard the trust". Write to pastors and encourage them and let us sit submissively under the preaching of the Word.

Preaching is a preservative for the saints. It is not to be relegated to the last fifteen minutes of the worship service. It is not a time for ditties and silly stories. Preach to us, please pastors, that we may grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Exalt our Saviour in your sermons so that we may gaze upon His loveliness. Show us our King triumphant in all His splendor. By God's grace, He will use His means to keep us from apathy and from stumbling as we live out our days pursuing our chief end... to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever!

Thankfulness

"O, give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever." Psalm 118:1

I posted earlier in the year that fall is my favorite season. The cool, brisk wind blows ushering in manifold colors and harvest time. Football games, apple picking, country fairs, school and caramel apples follow in quick pursuit of the change. Fall is also a time of culinary treats such as pork roast, turnip greens, and sweet potatoes. Warm foods fill our bellies as the temperatures cool.

Not far behind, and all too often here before we can believe, comes Thanksgiving. I enjoy every year pulling out my leaves, Indian corn, acorns, pumpkins, and dishes that decorate our home throughout the fall. Thanksgiving is by far my favorite celebration. I am reminded of our basic obligations to our God and Father. I think of how blessed I have been and am. There is a flood of remembrances as I seek to thank the One who is the "giver of every good and perfect gift". I am also keenly aware of the debt of love that was paid for me by Jesus Christ. Yet, He did not stop there, He sent the "Comforter" who abides with me,

Contemplation of our triune GOD fills my heart and mind with gratitude. He has been so kind to me. He has faithfully walked with me all the days of my life leading me and holding me in His hands. He has brought many godly influences into my life like Granny and Papaw, Matt, Bebe, Milton and Lain, Dr. P and Sissy, Sonny and Patsy, Iain and Louise, Bernie and family, and Kimberly. He has given me a husband who loves me warts, hurts, and all. He has blessed me with five covenant children and promises to hope for their salvation. He has allowed me to see fruits of the spirit in the lives of my children and growth in grace. He has carried me in dark valleys, dried my tears, and given me many joys. He has faithfully continued to sanctify me applying in needful succession sorrows, disappointments, distress, and content hours of calm as needed to keep me in "neither riches not poverty... lest I be full and deny (HIM) ... or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God". ( Prov. 30:8-9)

I could sing of the mercies of the Lord with thankfulness forever. I only scratch the vast surface. It is like looking at the ocean and seeing water for as far as the eye can take in and realizing that we only can comprehend the surface... what about the depth!

I encourage each of you to take account over the next few days. Consider the many blessings of being a follower of Jehovah. Think of the riches that are yours in Christ. Spend a little time in thanksgiving to our God. Hug your children and tell them that you are thankful for them. Tell your husbands you appreciate them. Communicate to family and friends your gratitude for them. After all, it is the season... so let us be thankful!

Is it in you?

I have been thinking about this post for a while, as it has knocked about in the pin ball machine of my head. And before, I write anymore, I want to give this caveat; my writings are personal reflections. They come from my struggles and are not in anyway meant to be statements of others conduct. I hope they encourage us all to think and to love our Lord more.

Gatorade came up with the catchy advertising logo, "Is it in you?" As I have been mulling the current topic over and searching my own heart, those four words kept popping into my thoughts. As my children grow older, I have met with struggles that I never thought would be struggles. My son, questions almost everything and treads the boundaries. About 90% of his questions, I would think, he need not ask, if only he would think through biblically. He knows the answers. My daughters asked this year to wear a two piece?!?!?! What? They want to go "Trick or Treat". They want to wear slightly immodest/inappropriate clothing, and ears pierced. What about this song or movie? And what about the Sabbath? The list goes on and on...

I have wondered with incredulity at their struggles. They have all been taught since birth to know better. I have always pointed to the greater authority in my parenting and tried hard not to be arbitrary (living by the standard of doing things in faith.)God and his holy law, have been laid before them. They have been taught the scriptural principals from their youth. Many prayers have been offered on their behalf. They are God's children, I am only a steward. They know that we are to be "holy", set apart, for we belong not to ourselves, but to God.

But, as is usually the case, as I have thought through it all, praying and asking for wisdom, the pointer finger comes back to me. (Thus the title, "Is it in you?") I have had to ask myself, are these struggles in you?Have I bought into the lie of worldliness?Am I allowing myself to compromise because, everyone else does and it is the path of least resistance. Have I forgotten the standard of our God, so high, so unattainable, that it took the death of a perfect sacrifice? Have I forgotten that I was bought with Christ's blood? Have I forgotten to fear our "holy, holy, holy" God? Have I forgotten that I am called to walk in the fruit of the spirit with righteousness and love? Have I forgotten the love to our Redeemer that should motivate us to want more godliness and piety? Why settle? Is our God, is our Savior, is the Holy Spirit so easily set aside? Why do I not love him more and hate the world more? My heart lies open and condemned. Yes, worldliness is in me. I am lazy and I forget, Lord please help me, for even my repentance needs to be repented of.

My children struggle, because in all honesty, I struggle. I am inconsistent at best. And it is here that comfort is manifested. My failure, my inability to be upright, my completely hopeless condition all point me back to grace. I end up back on my knees. A sinner fleeing to my Savior. Oh, how I need Him! And what a blessing that He loves and does not despise up when we are debased and humbled before Him. When our world would disdain and mock, God draws near.

Let us draw near to him in repentence. Let us seek more fervantly His face. Let us live our lives as "ambassadors" for Christ who are set apart and who are different. May the world see Christ in us and may we be "salt and light". And let us never grow weary of pointing our children to Christ even as we apply in our parenting the holy laws of the King of kings. May we be transparent but not wavering, firm in love, and steadfast in Our beloved Redeemer who is ever so holy. May we not be content with having worldliness in us, or in our children! Will we not pray for our children and for each other!

Tears

I could hear the argument escalating. I listened quietly from the kitchen to the dispute in the room down the hall where my two middle girls were supposed to be cleaning the room.

"Gracie, that is mine, you cannot take it, DON'T THROW IT AWAY!"

I heard as Gracie exited the room with her prize in hand. It was time for intervention. "What is going on?" I asked.

Gracie was cleaning what she considered to be a dirty mason pint jar out of the room. It was about 1/8 full of clear liquid. It looked like something to be removed to me as well. But, I pressed Jessica for an answer. "Why do you want to keep this?" To which she began to cry, she said, "Because the Bible says that God keeps our tears."

Defeated completely and touched deeply, I returned the jar with the tears to the room and there it will stay.

Yes, God does keep our tears. There is not one stray that falls from our eyes that eludes Him. Even those that barely press into the corner of our eyes before we embarrassedly wipe them away He has collected them before us. We may cry rivers, or gentle trickles, but none goes unnoticed by the God of the universe. Psalm 56:8 " You have kept count of my tossings, put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?" My eight year old, clearly understands and trusts her God in this. She is taking Him at His word. And, to my sorrow, she has cried many tears. God has allowed her path to go through dark lands of loss. Yet, she still trusts Him, by His grace!

Why cannot we? Why is that when we go through trials we throw up our hands to God and say, "Why me, God?" Why are we discontent? Why do we question, doubt, or despair?

John 14:1 has a clear, simple directive "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me (Jesus)."

Let us believe in God. Let us cry with others, for others, and when our hearts are burdened with the cares of this life. We can pour out our hearts to Him who hears, sees, feels, and collects the tears. He is a God of compassion who has wept with and for His people. Our God comforts and holds us in His hands! Thank you Jesus!

As fall fast approaches we are reminded that, "for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Ingrained into our lives is the structure of minutes, days, seasons, years. All flow with a never ceasing current and always as the Lord has designed. There is no turning or changing by human means, no, it is only the Lord who sovereignly oversees all. There is a corset which underlies all the pomp of life and holds all to a certain mold. Of course this is the Lord's doing. Order is a reflection of Him. There is no order without Him. There is no structure without Him. There are no absolutes without Him. He holds all together and as a conductor directs all in perfect time to make the symphony of our lives turn from a cacophony of noise to a harmonizing masterpiece.

The order that God oversees and commands, is one that includes change. Change is a constant character in the course of daily living. It is a hurdle set before us, as we jump we know that there are more ahead. Look at the change of seasons. As the leaves turn, release their precarious grasp and fall to the ground, we see fall coming. Change. The long days of summer grow short and the heat relinquishes its hold. Change. We know as fall settles in that it is not here for long. It is a friend with visits that are far to short. (I personally am left always wanting more fall. )

I have always struggled with change in life. As I love the seasons and the variation they bring. I am not so easily wooed by change's upheaval in the day to day. I have been vividly reminded of this over the past several weeks as we have gutted our kitchen and then remodeled. While we unpacked the kitchen and moved all the furniture to other rooms, the whole house suffered a violent assault. There was kitchen stuff everywhere! It has taken some time, but I am finally getting things back in order.

Which brings me to my blog. As the house was taken over, so was my life. Chaos has reigned over the last few weeks. My routines have gone out the window, my life taken hostage to the demands of change. After all the many changes the Lord has brought me through over the years, one would think that I could manage it better. But, no, I still struggle to keep my head above water. Now, however, school is back in session, the kitchen is almost finished, and I am able to re-assemble my home. Things are returning to some semblance of order. I can drink my tea, sit at my computer, and write on my blog. I have missed writing, but have continued to mull things over in my head and to prepare posts that are wandering thoughts caught and captured.

It has all made me so thankful for my God, who changes not! He is ever the same. He is immutable! What comfort lies in this! He does not change His mind. He does not alter His opinion. Once, his love is set upon us, it is never removed. In fact, it has been set since before the foundations of the world were laid. He is not wishy-washy. His Word which has been spoken can be trusted. Praise be to Him. In a life, were change is constant, we can see the contrast of our marvelous God. Does it not make your heart leap within you? Do not you want to praise Him? As Sunday approaches, think on Him:Trust Him. Love Him. Worship Him!

Always Outdone

There are characters in the Bible that I would like to emulate. I love Enoch. He is scarcely mentioned in Holy Writ, but the description given him is as a man who "walked with God". I would love to be described that way, wouldn't you?

Yet, there is another man that I have always wanted to imitate. It is the man who was "after God's own heart". My heart envies the description. I want to be after God's heart! I want to be like David. I read about David and am struck by him and the fact that I am always outdone! When David praised God, he was able to put to music and arrange words which would become some of the most beautiful poems the world has ever seen, a shepherd boy composing Psalms that would last for centuries. I am woefully outdone. David was not afraid to bear almost all and dance before the Lord with great rejoicing. I find myself shy, embarrassed, and outdone again. When David fell, he was not content to remain in the state of being separated from fellowship with his God, and repented with great weeping, sorrow, and earnestness. I all too often, forget to repent after asking to be forgiven, once again outdone! (Lord, please forgive my cold heart, for my repentence needs to be repented of!)

David was far from a perfect man, but I cannot "cast the first stone" at him. He suffered at the hand of his earthly king, his children, and had many trials. Yet, he loved God with a whole heart. He was sent from his country and his home, he slept in caves running for his life. He endured the scoffing of those who should have bowed down to Him, and yet he trusted the Lord in all.

But even more, he was after all, just a shadow. He was a dim reflection of the One who would come after Him. David's greater son, the one who would reign with an eternal dominion. The one who with a perfect heart, perfect love, perfect obedience, and perfect submission would be for us the perfect sacrifice.

I want to be like David, but O, so much more like his greater Son! I know that I am always outdone, but I will continue to love my Sovereign. I pray that he would make me like David and more and more like Christ!