Only Our Reasonable Service

Warning! This post is a rant of my pet peeves! Read with caution! 

When we go to work, we're usually always on time. We don't think twice about getting there. We don't want to be late because it's not right to be late. When we are tired, we go. It's our job. It's required of us. We don't make excuses why we can't get there.  We don't just not show up because there's something more fun to do.We just go. On time.

When we make a doctor's appointment, we go. We put it on our calendar to remind us that we have an appointment. If we don't show up, we're charged a fee. We go. On time.

Why is it then, when it comes to church services and ministries, that these "rules" fly out the window? If we showed up 15, 20, 30 minutes late to work every single time, what would happen? We know it's wrong to be late for work. Why is it any different to be late, sometimes very late, for church? I've noticed several families that are always late. Sometimes 20 minutes after the service has started. It's a distraction. It's disrespectful. It says that God isn't important. Church isn't important. It's disrespectful to the Pastor. It's disrespectful to our fellow worshipers because it distracts us from the service. Why is that some are consistently late? Are you 20  minutes late for work every day? Okay, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that every time you're late it's a problem. I get that things come up that make us late - we've slept through the alarm, somebody spilled something on the way out the door. I take issue with the habitual offenders. 

As a former nursery director, I noticed that some don't take their ministries seriously either. Like I've already stated, when we make an appointment, we keep it. Why do we then not write down when we're serving in a ministry? When we don't show up for a scheduled slot in the nursery, someone else needs to fill it. When we don't show up to sing in the choir, other voices have to make up for that missing voice. If we don't show up to usher, someone else has to do it, etc. 

Ministries aside, just making to church is important. Church is part of our Christian lives. I know there's a lot of services to attend. God expects the best from His children. Church is where we learn more about Him, it's where we fellowship with His other children. Prayer meeting is a refreshing time in the Word in the midst of the busy week and it's where we learn how to better pray for our fellow brethren in the Lord. I know there are times we just plain can't make it out - we're sick, our kids are sick, the car breaks down. Then there are times we just don't want to go - we're tired, we've worked all day, there's other things to get done. Those are the times we need to go. I'm sure our dear pastor has had those same feelings. I'm sure he's exhausted! We just go to church, he actually works when he comes! When I don't feel like getting my lazy butt off the couch to go to evening service or prayer meeting, I just think of Pastor. I just can't ever see him saying, "I'm too tired tonight. I'm not going to prayer meeting." "I have too much to prepare for this class, I think I'll stay here and work on it."

This is just my opinion and my conviction, it is only our reasonable service to be at church, on time. It is only our service to be at our appointed slot in whatever ministry we're serving in, on time. I believe it's not only my conviction, but it's Biblical as well ... If you ignored the warning and stuck it out, thanks! 

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Romans 12:1-2

"For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
Matthew 18:20

Changing Seasons

This past year has been pretty crazy for me. My daughter worked hard to finish her senior year early, while taking 3 college courses. At the same time, I was taking the same courses plus one more. We then added Drivers' Ed and a job for her into the mix. Somewhere in there, I turned 40! Let's also throw a baby in there too ... Sarah (my cousin's daughter, born in February) became my part time job while I was finishing up 4 college classes! All this got me pondering ...

The life of a mother is like the changing of seasons. The only difference is that the seasons may not circle like normal seasons - spring, summer, fall, winter, spring, etc. "Mom Seasons" probably look more like this - infancy, toddlerhood, school days, teen years, high schoolers ... on and on until empty-nester. Depending on how many children there are will depend on the change of seasons.

Because my 2 children are so close together (19 months), my seasons were pretty much non-cycling. They either did things together or one was right after the other.

Why am I pondering on the changing seasons?

It's a bittersweet time in my life right now. My children are no longer school-aged. I'm heading quickly toward the season of an empty nest. Sometimes I look over the last several years and think that they dragged on and on as one or both of my kids fought me tooth & nail on a daily basis about getting schoolwork done. Other times I look back and wonder how on earth they flew by so quickly. Did I blink and miss something?

It's an odd feeling at times. I used to have a set routine that included reminding the kids to get schoolwork done, chores completed, and cooking meals. Now, more often than not, there's only my husband and me at home. I believe I've forgotten how to cook for just two! It's weird to know that we can just pack up and leave for a weekend away alone and not have to find a sitter ... when did that happen???

Odd feelings aside, it's been a blessing to be a wife and mother. I've enjoyed all the roller coasters of changing seasons (even though it might have felt like I wasn't enjoying the ride at the time). I'm looking forward to seeing how God will work in this new season!

Reflections of Light

Last week someone was talking about the moon. I can't remember the whole conversation but what I heard of it made me think of spiritual life.

The moon not pretty to look at and it has no light of its own. It's a big ugly rock full of holes and pits. What are we seeing then when we see that beautiful sphere in the sky? It is the reflection of the sun that makes it appear beautiful.

It's the same way with us. We are not pretty to look at and we have no light of our own. We are full of holes and pitiful! The only way that we can appear in any way but horribly is through the light of the Son!

We have no good in us. There is nothing that we can do to endear ourselves to God, but in His graciousness, He sent His beloved Son to shed His precious blood on the cross for our sins. Because of that blood paid as a ransom for our souls, when we believe on His name by grace through faith, we can reflect the glorious light of the Son!

May I be a reflection of His light!

"Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!"

 2 Corinthians 9:15

Block your nose and ...

JUMP!

A few weeks ago, that's exactly what I did. I blocked my nose and jumped feet first right off the cliff! I went back to school ... after 21 years. It started out that I would audit 4 classes just to learn, but somehow after talking to my pastor, I ended up taking all 4 for credit. It's one of the hardest things I've decided to do in a long time, but I am enjoying it all - even the massive amount of homework!

My pastor and few other pastors from local assemblies got together to start a Bible Training Ministry, college level Bible classes to help young men who would like to serve in the ministry or anyone that wants to learn more about the Bible and the Christian life. I don't want to become a pastor, so I guess that means I want to learn more about the Bible ... why???

I am ashamed to say that in my 30 years of salvation, just knowing that I was going to Heaven was enough for me. I have always gone to church weekly (sometimes more), attended Bible studies, went to a Christian school, but never did I strive to know God's word as Paul did in Philippians 3:10, "That I may know him ..." Sure, I know of Him, but do I truly know Him? Only in the past few years has a daily quiet time become something that I realize I need in my life (which is starting to slip again).

Occasionally I have wanted to take some of these classes at various local Bible schools, but there was always some reason I wasn't able - kids were too little, there wasn't enough money - and finally the Lord has seen fit to make this available. My kids are 17 & 18 (one is even taking 3 of the 4 classes) and the classes are free!

Some days I feel like I have jumped off that cliff and I am drowning, but most days, even though I am gasping for air, I am loving the fact that I am finally learning some things that I should have learned all those years ago!

Reflections on 2011

2011 is coming to a close. I feel like it's been a long year, but I also can't believe how fast it flew by! I learned a lot about myself this year (some good, some bad) and I really learned to rely on God for every aspect of my life!

What did I learn this year?
I need a quiet time every day ... time alone with my Father.
God is all sufficient and all I need.
God provides in ways I could never imagine ... so I have no choice but to *know* it was Him!
"No." It's an answer, too. 
I am not a disciplined person. 
I make a lot of dumb choices. 
Punishment *has* to hurt in some way in order to be effective. 
God will always bring us to the end of ourselves in order to break us.
He will never give us more than we can handle - even when it seems He has given us more, He hasn't!
It's important to admit when you're wrong. Be honest and truthful. Face the consequences. 
I am way too judgmental. 
I will always be a coffee addict c[_] c(_)  <[_]


I'm sure I learned more than I can think of at the moment, but armed with this new knowledge of myself, I am looking forward making a fresh start in 2012.

*I will not be making any New Year's Resolutions ... why? This comic says it all!

Where do you draw the line?

Today I've been dwelling on this thought, "There's a fine line between a lack of trust and being realistic. Where is that line?"

This is just more of a vent post. I struggle. Daily. Am I not trusting in what God can do? Am I not fully relying in faith that He can provide for my every need or am I just being realistic that He will not swoop down and fix the problem? I'm angry today. I know that doesn't "help my cause" with God, so to speak. Sometimes it gets wearisome when I pray for others and I see God answer in a mighty way, then sit and wait while He [seemingly] remains silent in regards to my own requests.

In all honesty, I don't think my anger is directed towards God. I think I'm angry with myself for wavering. I don't think I really know the answer to my question above. I don't know if I am just being realistic in knowing that I screwed up and need to learn, or if I am lacking in my faith & trust that God will provide for my every need. I almost feel like I need some counselling today. I think I'm losing my mind ...

truth and consequences

I have done quite a bit of growing this year. I am thankful for the many lessons that God has taught me over this past year. I rebelled and fell away most of 2010, but my God is loving and gracious. I am thankful for His chastening hand, as well.

Recently, I made some poor choices and have had to suffer the consequences. As I prayed for God's forgiveness, I also prayed that maybe He would "rescue" me from my stupidity. While I did pray for God to swoop in and fix it all, I am not crazy enough to think that I wouldn't have to suffer for my actions. What child doesn't get punished when they do wrong? While I am still suffering from my actions, I feel that it has drawn me closer to my Lord.

The time I have had in prayer over these last few weeks has been so sweet. I feel that as He has stripped away layers that needed to go. He has shown me things that needed to change in my life. He has shown me that He is in complete control of everything that happens in my life. I am finally at a point where it's not just words, God is in control, it is fact. Ok, it's always been a fact, but it's a believable truth in my heart & mind now.

A Father's discipline ... Hebrews 12:5-11
    And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.