"A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things." (Proverbs 18:9 NLT)
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4 ESV)
My children are lazy. Now, I know part of it is just a lack of understanding and common sense. However, they leave things out or undone with the unrealistic expectation that it won't matter to anyone else and will take care of itself.
We are working on teaching the older two that they should be responsible for their actions and belongings. Sometimes that means leaving a mess for the day so that they can take care of it later. Or holding my tongue to keep from nagging them so that they can learn that not putting away their laundry means it is much harder to find a clean pair of socks to wear to school. They have to learn that someone has to deal with the consequences of laziness.
When you are lazy, who is it that has to pick up your slack? Do you think about who it is that has to clean up that trash you leave at the movie theater or the laundry you throw on the floor? How about thinking of who it is that has to help teach Sunday School because it takes too much time to prepare or work in the nursery because it is hard to clean up the toys at the end of the hour? If we all took Philippians 2:4 to heart, we would truly live in a better world. A world of service instead of selfishness.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
Whiter Than Snow
"Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."
Psalm 51:7
God has given us an atypical winter this year. The kids have already had nine snow days which has not happened in a while here. We have had snow and ice and sleet separately and all together. I have truly learned what it means to be a northerner in the snow and I am very ready to buy a snowblower even for our very small driveway.
However, I was challenged by the sermon Sunday to recognize that God sent the snow for His glory and we need to accept that instead of complain about it. All week long, even as more snow fell, I have been looking at the snow on the ground and seeing God in it. I have truly enjoyed the beauty of the farms and fields that are free of tracks and footprints and are pure white. I have marveled at the vast amounts of snow but the way that neighbors have helped each other to clear it. I have listened as people have feared the warm up late in the week because they don't want the snow to melt too fast and cause flooding.
This morning while driving, I noticed something else. As we have had a few days of melting, the dirt and grime in the snow is starting to distract from the whiteness. It is starting to look gray and dirty and is no longer smooth.
The Bible tells us that when our sins are washed away we will be whiter than snow. Fresh snow is white, but as time goes by we continue to sin. We are no longer pure and clean and white, but we become dirty and grimy and something that even God doesn't want to see.
When you become a Christian your sins are forgiven. We are washed clean, but you don't stop sinning. We all sin every day, more often than we probably even realize. We become like that dirty snow, in need of renewal and refreshing.
God sent a lot of separate snow storms this winter. Each time an old layer of snow was covered with a new coat of white was a reminder of our continual need for forgiveness. A need to be returned to the whiter than snow condition of cleanness and purity.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."
Psalm 51:7
God has given us an atypical winter this year. The kids have already had nine snow days which has not happened in a while here. We have had snow and ice and sleet separately and all together. I have truly learned what it means to be a northerner in the snow and I am very ready to buy a snowblower even for our very small driveway.
However, I was challenged by the sermon Sunday to recognize that God sent the snow for His glory and we need to accept that instead of complain about it. All week long, even as more snow fell, I have been looking at the snow on the ground and seeing God in it. I have truly enjoyed the beauty of the farms and fields that are free of tracks and footprints and are pure white. I have marveled at the vast amounts of snow but the way that neighbors have helped each other to clear it. I have listened as people have feared the warm up late in the week because they don't want the snow to melt too fast and cause flooding.
This morning while driving, I noticed something else. As we have had a few days of melting, the dirt and grime in the snow is starting to distract from the whiteness. It is starting to look gray and dirty and is no longer smooth.
The Bible tells us that when our sins are washed away we will be whiter than snow. Fresh snow is white, but as time goes by we continue to sin. We are no longer pure and clean and white, but we become dirty and grimy and something that even God doesn't want to see.
When you become a Christian your sins are forgiven. We are washed clean, but you don't stop sinning. We all sin every day, more often than we probably even realize. We become like that dirty snow, in need of renewal and refreshing.
God sent a lot of separate snow storms this winter. Each time an old layer of snow was covered with a new coat of white was a reminder of our continual need for forgiveness. A need to be returned to the whiter than snow condition of cleanness and purity.
My Heart's Desire
Abby has a special blanket that she absolutely loves. She wants to take it everywhere and carries it around the house. She holds it to sleep, she holds it to wake up, she holds it near her when she eats, she holds it to sit in the car. She takes that blanket everywhere! Recently, she has started holding onto it as you lay her in her bed then standing up as fast as she can to throw it out of her bed before you make it to the door and turn the light off. Then she screams until you come back and give it back to her. Once you give it back, she curls up with her blanket and settles down to sleep.
This got me thinking about what I am clinging to and what I am doing to let go of those things. Do I hold on to it until I need it to do everything? Do I let it go to play games with others? Or myself?
This got me thinking about what I am clinging to and what I am doing to let go of those things. Do I hold on to it until I need it to do everything? Do I let it go to play games with others? Or myself?
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