Have you heard of this phenomenon? Rather than the traditional new year's resolution (e.g. lose weight, quit smoking, etc) which is also traditionally abandoned by spring, people are selecting one word to define their direction or focus for the year. I first heard of it from Ann Voskamp and decided this year to do the same.
In January I gave my new year a cursory name of "gratitude" but didn't go much further. After a bit of prayer, study and reflection, I've now refined that to "joy". Joy encompasses gratitude but also has a broader and deeper meaning. While nailing down the word "joy" and really defining it as my word for the year, I felt like a Bible college student again, pulling out my Strong's Concordance, Greek-English Interlinear Bible and Vine's Expository Dictionary to do a bit of a word study. I sat with my laptop at my dining room table, blanket over my legs, a kitten snuggled at my feet (no kitten in the dorm, but a recommended addition :) ) with my bibles and reference books scattered across the table (somehow the internet just wasn't enough today) trying to define this one word for my year. JOY
The world defines joy as a state of happiness or felicity. Well, that's easy, as long as everything goes my way and nothing bad happens. Or, I could just stick my head in the sand and pretend everything was great: walk around with a goofy smile on my face so everyone will think I'm joyful. But joy goes deeper than happiness. Happiness is a product of our circumstances, Joy is a reflection of our heart.
James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, you can't get much more contrast with the world's view than that, huh? In my life, when I think of a trial I think of something that has been very present in my life over the past ten years...infertility. In April my husband and I will celebrate eleven blessed years together, alone. I know I sound stark, and I'm trying not to wallow, truly, but a decade is a very long time to wait for something.
Now, according to James I should count all this 10 years of struggling a joy. But why? James 1:3-4 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
One verse I hear so often used in situations such as mine, when we as Christians can't see a reason for what God has ordained, is Romans 8:28. It's quoted almost as a platitude: I don't get it but God will work it all out for your good. What we forget is the following verses of context that define what this "good" is that God is working all things together for.
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
You see, the good He's working in us is to conform us to the image of His Son. And in verse 30 we see that He won't leave us half-done. We are not some DIY project He gets bored with before moving on to another. God always finishes what He starts.
In our infertility journey, we've struggled together, and individually, through both dark times and times of faith, lasting anywhere from months to minutes, and are stronger, both separately in the Lord and within our marriage, for that struggling. But we miss the point of the struggle if we're not learning through it to be more like Christ.
And that's where the joy comes in. This is not a case of making lemonade from lemons. I'm not to be superficially happy with all the free time I have on my hands or the lack of diaper blow-outs or the solid nights of sleep. Oh, no, I rejoice because I know that there's more to the situation than meets the eye. I know that what looks like a lack, is actually a tool in my Father's hands to mold me more and more to the image of Christ.
And that is true joy.
Is there an area of your life where you need to look for the joy?
Have you selected a one word resolution for your year? Will you share it with us?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
in His image
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
~ Genesis 1:27
The traditional interpretation of "in His own image" has been our place of authority over the plants, animals and earth the LORD created in the previous days, and I'm not arguing with that. However, I think there may be a broader application here: God as creator. When we create, especially when that creating is done in love for others, we reflect God's image as creator. Whether you're a knitter, a baker, a scrapbooker or a decorator...you're a creator!
For me, creating immediately triggers thoughts of spinning yarn and knitting gifts for others or stamping and sending a birthday card. But I also reflect God's image when I organize and beautify my home if I do these things in a spirit of service to Him and others. If I complain while I begrudgingly clean my home and decorate using money that would be better spent elsewhere because I want my home to look like a magazine cover, then I am not doing these things in love. I am only serving myself. However, if I cheerfully clean my home and make the most of what I already have in new and creative ways, I not only bless my family, I serve my God.
How do you reflect God's image as a creator?
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
~ Genesis 1:27
The traditional interpretation of "in His own image" has been our place of authority over the plants, animals and earth the LORD created in the previous days, and I'm not arguing with that. However, I think there may be a broader application here: God as creator. When we create, especially when that creating is done in love for others, we reflect God's image as creator. Whether you're a knitter, a baker, a scrapbooker or a decorator...you're a creator!
For me, creating immediately triggers thoughts of spinning yarn and knitting gifts for others or stamping and sending a birthday card. But I also reflect God's image when I organize and beautify my home if I do these things in a spirit of service to Him and others. If I complain while I begrudgingly clean my home and decorate using money that would be better spent elsewhere because I want my home to look like a magazine cover, then I am not doing these things in love. I am only serving myself. However, if I cheerfully clean my home and make the most of what I already have in new and creative ways, I not only bless my family, I serve my God.
How do you reflect God's image as a creator?
Monday, February 21, 2011
the ouch factor
It actually started with one of the opening hymns:
All the way my Savior leads me; what have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt his tender mercy, who through life has been my guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in him to dwell;
for I know, whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well;
for I know, whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
How can I be discontent with my lot when it is my Savior who leads me? Why do I doubt His tender mercy when He's always proven Himself faithful? How can I question His love for me just because I don't have what I want or what I think I need?? How ungrateful of me and how gracious of Him to bear with me!
Then, yeah, I really should have seen it coming. After all, our pastor has been doing a series on the 10 commandments for the past 9 weeks and the tenth commandment has been the tenth commandment for, oh, I don't know...several thousand years! I should not have been caught by surprise...and yet...
The sermon title was "Covetous or Content?" and really served up the ouch factor for me. You know the ouch factor, right? It's when something hits you so close to home that you can no longer deny it's application in your life. That feeling that a sermon was written just for you. (He is an omniscient God, after all, so that may very well be the case...I wouldn't put it past Him. ;) )
"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s." Exodus 20:17
Cancelling my subscription to Better Homes and Gardens went a long way to assisting me in not coveting homes I couldn't have (that doesn't mean that I'm perfectly content with the one I have, but I'm getting there). I don't know anyone with servants. I'm not a big fan of livestock. I really couldn't imagine having a husband better fitted to my personality, strengths and weaknesses. So, I'm in the clear, right? Wrong! It's the "anything" that condemns me. That includes so much! It's all the "if onlys" I tell myself so often. If only I didn't work in an office but could stay home... If only I were a mom... If only I had her business sense... If only I could speak/write/cook/bake/scrapbook like her...
What then? Oh, I'd be content! I'd have no complaints! Right? Wrong, again! John Rockefeller was once asked the question "How much money is enough?" His answer is so very telling: "Just a little bit more." You see, I'd be just as discontent even with all the things I think I need to be happier, because it's not the externals but the internals that dictate contentment. It's all about focus. When I'm focused on what I don't have, it's all I see...and no matter how much I do have there will always be so much more than I don't have. However, when my fucus is on my Savior, His sacrifice for me and how I can serve Him in thanksgiving...everything else is icing on the cake!
All the way my Savior leads me; what have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt his tender mercy, who through life has been my guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in him to dwell;
for I know, whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well;
for I know, whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
How can I be discontent with my lot when it is my Savior who leads me? Why do I doubt His tender mercy when He's always proven Himself faithful? How can I question His love for me just because I don't have what I want or what I think I need?? How ungrateful of me and how gracious of Him to bear with me!
Then, yeah, I really should have seen it coming. After all, our pastor has been doing a series on the 10 commandments for the past 9 weeks and the tenth commandment has been the tenth commandment for, oh, I don't know...several thousand years! I should not have been caught by surprise...and yet...
The sermon title was "Covetous or Content?" and really served up the ouch factor for me. You know the ouch factor, right? It's when something hits you so close to home that you can no longer deny it's application in your life. That feeling that a sermon was written just for you. (He is an omniscient God, after all, so that may very well be the case...I wouldn't put it past Him. ;) )
"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s." Exodus 20:17
Cancelling my subscription to Better Homes and Gardens went a long way to assisting me in not coveting homes I couldn't have (that doesn't mean that I'm perfectly content with the one I have, but I'm getting there). I don't know anyone with servants. I'm not a big fan of livestock. I really couldn't imagine having a husband better fitted to my personality, strengths and weaknesses. So, I'm in the clear, right? Wrong! It's the "anything" that condemns me. That includes so much! It's all the "if onlys" I tell myself so often. If only I didn't work in an office but could stay home... If only I were a mom... If only I had her business sense... If only I could speak/write/cook/bake/scrapbook like her...
What then? Oh, I'd be content! I'd have no complaints! Right? Wrong, again! John Rockefeller was once asked the question "How much money is enough?" His answer is so very telling: "Just a little bit more." You see, I'd be just as discontent even with all the things I think I need to be happier, because it's not the externals but the internals that dictate contentment. It's all about focus. When I'm focused on what I don't have, it's all I see...and no matter how much I do have there will always be so much more than I don't have. However, when my fucus is on my Savior, His sacrifice for me and how I can serve Him in thanksgiving...everything else is icing on the cake!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
a very good place to start
So, this is the beginning, and, as Maria of The Sound of Music says, that's "a very good place to start." My desire is to chronicle my journey as I strive to become altogether His. That is...wholly, entirely and completely my Lord's daughter. And while this is not the beginning of my spiritual journey (not by a long shot) it IS the beginning of me attempting to be more transparent about the lessons the Lord is teaching me, as well as how well or poorly I learn them.
From the first time I thought about starting a blog like this, I knew what the name would be. And as I searched for just the right scripture to accompany the title, I came up short. No single passage expressed all I wanted to convey. So, I'll share a couple that are part of the whole picture. :)
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Song of Solomon 4:7 You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.
I desire to glorify God as He prepares me for the good works He has in store for me so that I will be altogether beautiful in His eyes. Lord, grant that I keep my eyes on this goal and not be distracted by the transient or urgent things of this life. Amen.
From the first time I thought about starting a blog like this, I knew what the name would be. And as I searched for just the right scripture to accompany the title, I came up short. No single passage expressed all I wanted to convey. So, I'll share a couple that are part of the whole picture. :)
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Song of Solomon 4:7 You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.
I desire to glorify God as He prepares me for the good works He has in store for me so that I will be altogether beautiful in His eyes. Lord, grant that I keep my eyes on this goal and not be distracted by the transient or urgent things of this life. Amen.
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