Last week at my bible study, our teacher reminded us that God has given us everything we need for this life. He has shaped us and planted in us the character that we need to fulfill the plan that he created us for. However, we need to leave sin behind us.
I wasn't even out of the parking lot before I sent my husband a text message to share with him the simplicity of this matter. So often we STRIVE (and i really hate that concept) to be better. Better planners, better super moms, better doctors, better everything. But FIRST we MUST evaluate what our sin patterns are. When those are stripped away the true person that God made is beautifully revealed. Did you catch that? It isn't that we shouldn't become better, but it is in the way that we accomplish improvement that makes a big difference: In our own will, or the opening of our hands, the surrendering of our will. In the throwing away.
This simple message hit me so hard, because there are many days when I know I need to better. Take this last weekend for example. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday I had loaded and unloaded all of my children at 4 different establishments that make a point to sell food to consumers. Now it was beyond my control that the specific ingredients I was shopping for were unavailable due to their popularity on that particular day. So now, here it is, Monday morning. I'm "supposed" to have a plan for the week of what to feed my family, and I don't. The anxiety and frazzeledness of feeling like I'm not in control still looms before the sun is even up. And I'm stressing about it. It is really stupid, I know. So when i flipped open to James this morning and read the following passage, I was ever so quickly reminded of what our teacher told us this last week.
James 1:19 (the Message)
So throw away all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation garden of your life.
Let our gardener, God, landscape you with the word, making a salvation garden of your life.
I love words. I love the images that come into my mind as adjectives move and change the visuals behind my eyes. And this verse is no exception. Did you hear it in there? Did you SEE it? What does it look like for you to throw sin into the garbage and be landscaped? I know what is going into the garbage today: trying to do it all, and the lie that I'm not enough. And already, I'm seeing something beautiful.
The NIV says the same verse a bit different, of course:
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
I'd like to point out that there is a different tense used in each verse. The message says "landscape", which I take as work to be done. The NIV says "planted", which i take as work yet to be accomplished. But aren't both truth?
What is planted in you? While knowing that, what lies, deceit and sin need to be PURPOSEFULLY placed into the garbage? Let God work on you today. He has made you so beautiful. A garden is is in the process, all you need to do is rake up the old rubbish.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
God Really Does Care About Dishwashers
It all started a year ago.
Well really, my story begins many more years ago. As does yours. But I must pick up somewhere, and this is where I begin: with the dishwasher.
It was December 1st, 2011. My husband and three children picked me up from the airport. I had just spent an entire month overseas. Zimbabwe. AH... yet another story. Anyhow. My husband brought me home to a new home. While I was away, he had moved us into a new house that we closed on literally the day before I left for Zim. It was a foreclosure home, and needed much work. We had big plans. But the top priority was new flooring, check. Reposition the basement staircase, check. And appliances, check.
So with a blindfold, I entered into my new home, starting in the kitchen. I opened my eyes and with my husband in full beam behind me, I laid eyes on the most beautiful set of matching used kitchen appliances: Gas stove and dishwasher, glimmering stainless steel. We had purchased the refrigerator before I left, so that was set. My husband was so excited to show these to me, because they all matched. Same steel, same brand, everything. Craigslist had provided a sweet deal, once again.
Washing dishes is my least favorite household task. I've come to embrace it out of necessity, but I really would rather scrub a toilet or organize a bookshelf. Seriously. We have moved every two years for some time, and with our growing family I've always had one "no budge" piece of criteria in our home: Must. Have. Dishwasher. Well in this case, my husband went out of his way to pay extra for matching, ripping out the dishwasher that was left in the house, to provide me with one that was "extra good". One problem: it didn't work. Now, my husband worked his tail off while I was gone... He didn't even have kids to look over- just his chiropractic practice. Once I arrived, he made the house livable and we've been pounding away little by little ever since. I should really say "he" not "we".
So this beautiful dishwasher, all shiny and "new", it even came with a few nice spatulas and sippy cups left over inside! Ah! Bonus! So the cupboards flung open, the dishwasher shimmied into its perfect little spot... and the hoses don't fit. At least two trips to Menards and many hose clamps later, it still didn't work. I went for four months with out a dishwasher. I didn't complain, but on that day that the appliance repair man left in his aqua colored Dodge truck, I jumped for joy! I proclaimed that He was my new best friend! I couldn't wait to load it up, and press START.
So it hummed along and washed dishes for a few loads, and thats when the mold came. The heating element had burst before we even purchased the dishwasher. The dishes where getting washed while the dishwasher was getting nasty.
So why am I on this seemingly pointless tyrade about dishes? Oh just wait. I started a blog because of this story, so you must read on to the end.
The heating element was bought and paid for at SEARS.com, and now we have paid more in repairs than we did for the machine. It took a few months for the element to be installed, but once it was the inside was scrubbed down and again, I was on cloud nine because of this modern day convenience.
Then we began to smell it. Something hot. Then... nothing. No lights on the front panel. No hum, no swishing and circulating water. Nothing. Much to my surprise, dishwashers are hard wired, so my husband did sort of chuckle when I was riding on the hope that it had just become unplugged. Nope.
So yesterday, my husband was in fix it mode. With a big grin on his face he said, "Lets just say a little prayer that this thing will work."
"Dear God" I said, "Please let the dishwasher work. Amen."
We both laughed, and then I said "I don't think God cares about dishwashers. (Long thinking pause) But then again... he cares about spice funnels (another story)."
"He cares about US." my husband replied.
So I sat nursing the baby, and I still don't know the diagnosis, other than it it still doesn't work.
I saw I had missed a call from a friend. So after a few more story books with my son, I dialed her up and left her a voicemail.
A bit later, around lunch, she called back. She wanted to ask me if I needed any help. She had known that my dishwasher broke, and she stated that she loves doing dishes. She wanted to offer a hand, and had about an hour to give. I have a seven week old baby... and this is what us 'sisters' do. We help. She is an amazing woman who gives to so many people. She gives her time and talents. I was humbled. I didn't want to accept the offer. Sometimes us ladies can be territorial over our kitchens. It might be that we don't want others to even catch a glimpse of our mess; thinking that they will judge us. It might be that we only wash dishes in a certain way. Or, it might just be that we don't know how to accept help. We think we need to be wonder-moms and do it all ourselves. I've been working to dispel this "do it all perfectly" mentality. With gusto and giggles I replied, "Yes. I would love your help.".
As she was asking to come wash my dishes, I couldn't contain the giggle. I couldn't believe it. God heard my somewhat snide remark. I didn't say it to be sarcastic, I just don't usually find myself praying over a dishwasher. The fact that this all came together in one morning, within a few hours just reminds me how our amazing God is right with us every step of the way. He really does care about dishwashers. So much so, that he sends them not only in human form, but in the form of a dear sister willing and ready to serve.
Well really, my story begins many more years ago. As does yours. But I must pick up somewhere, and this is where I begin: with the dishwasher.
It was December 1st, 2011. My husband and three children picked me up from the airport. I had just spent an entire month overseas. Zimbabwe. AH... yet another story. Anyhow. My husband brought me home to a new home. While I was away, he had moved us into a new house that we closed on literally the day before I left for Zim. It was a foreclosure home, and needed much work. We had big plans. But the top priority was new flooring, check. Reposition the basement staircase, check. And appliances, check.
So with a blindfold, I entered into my new home, starting in the kitchen. I opened my eyes and with my husband in full beam behind me, I laid eyes on the most beautiful set of matching used kitchen appliances: Gas stove and dishwasher, glimmering stainless steel. We had purchased the refrigerator before I left, so that was set. My husband was so excited to show these to me, because they all matched. Same steel, same brand, everything. Craigslist had provided a sweet deal, once again.
Washing dishes is my least favorite household task. I've come to embrace it out of necessity, but I really would rather scrub a toilet or organize a bookshelf. Seriously. We have moved every two years for some time, and with our growing family I've always had one "no budge" piece of criteria in our home: Must. Have. Dishwasher. Well in this case, my husband went out of his way to pay extra for matching, ripping out the dishwasher that was left in the house, to provide me with one that was "extra good". One problem: it didn't work. Now, my husband worked his tail off while I was gone... He didn't even have kids to look over- just his chiropractic practice. Once I arrived, he made the house livable and we've been pounding away little by little ever since. I should really say "he" not "we".
So this beautiful dishwasher, all shiny and "new", it even came with a few nice spatulas and sippy cups left over inside! Ah! Bonus! So the cupboards flung open, the dishwasher shimmied into its perfect little spot... and the hoses don't fit. At least two trips to Menards and many hose clamps later, it still didn't work. I went for four months with out a dishwasher. I didn't complain, but on that day that the appliance repair man left in his aqua colored Dodge truck, I jumped for joy! I proclaimed that He was my new best friend! I couldn't wait to load it up, and press START.
So it hummed along and washed dishes for a few loads, and thats when the mold came. The heating element had burst before we even purchased the dishwasher. The dishes where getting washed while the dishwasher was getting nasty.
So why am I on this seemingly pointless tyrade about dishes? Oh just wait. I started a blog because of this story, so you must read on to the end.
The heating element was bought and paid for at SEARS.com, and now we have paid more in repairs than we did for the machine. It took a few months for the element to be installed, but once it was the inside was scrubbed down and again, I was on cloud nine because of this modern day convenience.
Then we began to smell it. Something hot. Then... nothing. No lights on the front panel. No hum, no swishing and circulating water. Nothing. Much to my surprise, dishwashers are hard wired, so my husband did sort of chuckle when I was riding on the hope that it had just become unplugged. Nope.
So yesterday, my husband was in fix it mode. With a big grin on his face he said, "Lets just say a little prayer that this thing will work."
"Dear God" I said, "Please let the dishwasher work. Amen."
We both laughed, and then I said "I don't think God cares about dishwashers. (Long thinking pause) But then again... he cares about spice funnels (another story)."
"He cares about US." my husband replied.
So I sat nursing the baby, and I still don't know the diagnosis, other than it it still doesn't work.
I saw I had missed a call from a friend. So after a few more story books with my son, I dialed her up and left her a voicemail.
A bit later, around lunch, she called back. She wanted to ask me if I needed any help. She had known that my dishwasher broke, and she stated that she loves doing dishes. She wanted to offer a hand, and had about an hour to give. I have a seven week old baby... and this is what us 'sisters' do. We help. She is an amazing woman who gives to so many people. She gives her time and talents. I was humbled. I didn't want to accept the offer. Sometimes us ladies can be territorial over our kitchens. It might be that we don't want others to even catch a glimpse of our mess; thinking that they will judge us. It might be that we only wash dishes in a certain way. Or, it might just be that we don't know how to accept help. We think we need to be wonder-moms and do it all ourselves. I've been working to dispel this "do it all perfectly" mentality. With gusto and giggles I replied, "Yes. I would love your help.".
As she was asking to come wash my dishes, I couldn't contain the giggle. I couldn't believe it. God heard my somewhat snide remark. I didn't say it to be sarcastic, I just don't usually find myself praying over a dishwasher. The fact that this all came together in one morning, within a few hours just reminds me how our amazing God is right with us every step of the way. He really does care about dishwashers. So much so, that he sends them not only in human form, but in the form of a dear sister willing and ready to serve.
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