Smells Like...

Last night, I picked a book off of the shelf that we've had for a while.  Neither Jonathan nor I have started to read it yet, but during a two hour conversation with my college roommate, Kate, this book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan, came up.  Kate loved the book and made me promise I would read it so that we could talk about it in our next conversation.  Well, that was over a month ago, and I just got to it last night.  I haven't quite gotten a feel for the book yet, but about two chapters in, I was really touched by the following.  I thought I'd share, and I pray that it challenges you as much as these words have challenged me in this area.


     "Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional.  Both worry and stress reek of arrogance.  They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed."

Crazy Love, page 42

I am totally guilty of worrying and "stressing out."  I am a self-professed control freak when it comes to certain things (i.e. my comfort, my children, my household, honestly, anything involving me!), and I am aware that this is an area of sin that I need to grow in.  God has been gracious to open my eyes to these things, but I am aware that I need to grow.  I am very guilty of all that Francis Chan said about stress.  I excuse my behavior, my attitude, my actions and responses because I feel that the circumstance that I am in that is causing me to stress out "merit[s] [my] impatience, [my] lack of grace toward others, or [my] tight grip of control."

Also, I had such a visual and sensual image of how my arrogance "reeks" before God when I worry, stress, and remain anxious about circumstances in my life.  A funny occurrence from this past weekend immediately came to mind that drove the point home even more to me.  This past Saturday, Jonathan and I went white water rafting on the Ocoee River along with his sister, Amy, and her boyfriend, Andrew.  We had a great time!  In order to be safe while rafting, you are required to wear a helmet and a P.F.D. (Personal Flotation Device), or as we common-folk refer to them, life jackets.  Well, about half-way down the river, Jonathan leans over to me and says, "My life jacket REEKS of B.O."  At the time, I was sitting in the front of the raft, and he was directly behind me and conveniently "down wind," so I hadn't noticed the smell.  We didn't bring our own life jackets, but used the ones that the Rafting Company provided.  A bit later, I moved to the back of the raft, now having Jonathan right in front of me.  It didn't take long before I smelled him.  It was awful.  Every now and again, I would get a wave of the stinky body odor as it passed over me.  It was terrible, and I immediately felt sorry for Jonathan who was surrounded by the smell for the entire rafting trip (over an hour and half).

That smell of B.O. is nothing compared to the reeking smell of arrogance that drifts up toward the Lord.  It is not a pleasing scent, to say the least.  I am thankful for such a vivid reminder of how my pride personally affects the Lord.  I will continue to dwell on these thoughts, praying that my worry and stress are short-lived as I remember that God is in control.  He is big enough to carry my burdens.  He is so patient with me.

Encouragement from Charles Spurgeon

"It is true that our sanctification is a long and continued process, and we shall not be perfected till we lay aside our bodies and enter within the veil; but nevertheless, had the Lord so willed it, He might have changed us from imperfection to perfection, and have taken us to heaven at once. Why then are we here? Would God keep His children out of paradise a single moment longer than was necessary? [. . .] The answer is--[we] are here that [we] may 'live unto the Lord,' and may bring others to know His love. We remain on earth as sowers to scatter good seed; as ploughmen to break up the fallow ground; as heralds publishing salvation. We are here as the 'salt of the earth,' to be a blessing to the world. We are here as workers for Him, and as 'workers together with Him.' Let us see that our life answer its end."

I read this quote just a bit ago and was very encouraged for my current season of life! I am called right now to life my life, live every day "unto the Lord." According to Spurgeon and the Gospel, I am here to glorify God in everything I do. Right now, that is changing diapers, disciplining my almost two-year-old, waking in the early hours of the morning to feed my baby boy, and all else that comes with learning to be a mother to two. I am to sow seeds into the lives of these two precious gifts. With the power of the Holy Spirit, I am helping to break up fallow ground in their hearts. What a task! It helps to be reminded of the bigger picture and to keep my mind on the eternal goals, instead of the daily ones. As a good friend of mine says....it's for tomorrow, not today!

Encouraging Quote About Motherhood

"Mothering can seem an isolated occupation unrelated to anything beyond the immediate needs of the family, but there is no more natural way for a mother to influence her world for Christ than through her own children. We will touch few lives with more intensity than the children God has placed in our homes. The implications of this are awesome. Time devoted to our children should not be spent marking time, but as an investment in one of our greatest ministry opportunities." A Mother's Heart by Jean Fleming

I was really encouraged by these words today.
Also, Jonathan and I will be going on a date night tonight. Yea! It's way overdue! We recently met a college student at church who will be babysitting for us a few times a month so we can have some quality time together. Please pray that Nora does well for Jessie tonight!

Serving with Sincerity

"I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant. [. . .] Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness."
Joshua 24:13-14

I came across these verses yesterday as I was reading in the book of Joshua. It is such an encouraging book about the Lord's faithfulness to His people. In these verses, Joshua is reminding the Israelites that they received the Promised Land as a gift from God that must not be understood as based on their own achievements or behavior. One of the things that I struggle with a lot as a Christian is the belief that my actions, my achievements, and my behavior determine the way God views me. I sometimes go into this "performance mentality" instead of realizing that my merit before the Lord comes from the work of Jesus on the cross, not how well I "performed" for the Lord today.

These verses also reminded me of the innumerable amount of blessings the Lord has bestowed on my life. I have an amazing husband, a precious daughter, loving families, a beautiful home, blossoming friendships, and a God-glorifying church. The Lord brought such a gentle reminder and some correction to my heart because there is nothing that I have that is due to my own achievements. It is all the Lord's doing. I pray that I will walk in obedience as I "therefore, fear the Lord and serve in sincerity and in faithfulness." May I do this not because I aim to earn the Lord's favor through my actions, but as a response of love and gratitude and awareness of the God I serve.