The Lord has been working in me, teaching me about the dangers of comparison. I spent a good part of my devotional reading this summer in Psalm 73, which talks extensively about the subject. The writer talks about nearly losing his foothold (v. 2-3) and behaving like an emotional “beast” before the Lord (v. 21-22) because he got caught up in comparing himself to others. Only when he settled into God’s presence (v.16-17) did he have the right perspective of himself (v.23-28).Read more »
Category: service
I just returned from a retreat for homeschooling moms. God took our simple plans for a refueling, reviving weekend and He blew it out of the water! The theme was “From Empty to Overflowing”. We talked a lot about allowing the Lord to fill us. Several times we delved into Psalm 23 and listened to what God had to say about His plans to fill us and provide for all of our needs. I learned so much from Him this weekend.
I have to admit that one thing I resent about mothering is the constant serving, constant demands, constant turnover of laundry, dishes, messes, food, etc. How futile and unappreciated many of my responsibilities seem. I have been praying like crazy for God to fill my heart with joy as I serve at home. I long to be filled with joy no matter how many times I have to clean something, cook something, put something away.
I realized this weekend that my problem is that I want to be filled by the Lord, but I do not want to be emptied out! Each moment that I spend seeking His face and pouring through the pages of His word results in the filling of my “cup”. God showed me that the reason He fills me is not so that I can stay full. He does it so that I can be poured out into the lives of others around me. Then I can go back to Him and be filled anew… to be poured out again.
God brought to mind a water wheel, and I thought about how each nook collects water on the lower part of its journey and then pours the water out on the upper part of its journey. The wheel goes around and around, repeating the same actions over and over again. To look at one revolution of the wheel, one would not be impressed with the outcome. However, as it moves through countless cycles, energy is produced. The wheel shows its effectiveness by plodding away, hour after hour, never giving up on its assigned work.
What a picture of motherhood.
I’m asking the Lord to fill me with joy and to remember that the repetitive revolutions of my day are accomplishing the great work that He has called me to: raising educated, respectful, passionate children that will love Him and go wherever He wants to send them.
So, here I go again….
water wheel
I was reading today in Acts 6 about the early operations of the church. Christ had already ascended into heaven, leaving His 12 disciples to lead the believers in Jerusalem. Every day, new believers were being added as the disciples taught and shared what they had seen during their time with Jesus.
In Acts 6, the body of believers became so large that the disciples needed to start delegating. There were some problems with their daily food ministry that fed those in need, especially widows. The disciples decided to appoint seven men to run this food ministry, while they themselves continued in prayer and teaching the word.
At first read, it sounds like the teaching and prayer ministry was elevated above the food ministry. The scriptures refer to the ministry as “waiting on tables”. I’m feeling a little like these seven delegates… assigned to serve in a daily food ministry. To make meals for my family. To clean up their messes. To wash their clothes while they continue to perpetuate more laundry. To tend to their needs…. to even anticipate their needs. Lord, is this really all that you have for me?
The Lord began communicating to me through Acts 6 as I continued to read. Look at the description of Stephen, who was first chosen as one of the leaders:
“a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit…” Acts 6:5
Would a man such as this be limited to waiting tables?? Look at the other things that were said about him:
“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.” Acts 6:8
“Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen…these men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.” Acts 6:9-10
When he was falsely accused of speaking against Judaism…
“All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” Acts 6:15
Here is a man who loved the Lord, who radiated grace, and was overcome by His Spirit. It didn’t matter where he was assigned to serve. God used him in amazing ways wherever he went.
Am I assigned to my full time daily food ministry because I don’t have the gifts or the spirituality to do other things? Am I excluded from doing front line ministry because most of my time is devoted to my homestead and those that live there?
God’s word tells me, through the life of Stephen, that I am NOT exempt from participating in wonders. Signs. Speaking irrefutable wisdom. Engaging in spiritual warfare. Do you see the key to being a vessel of wonder as Stephen was?
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Stephen’s face actually had the appearance of an angel… as if He had been to heaven and soaked up some of the heavenly light. But we know he hadn’t been to heaven yet. The secret? He invited heaven into his life. Into his heart. Into his mind. He sat before the Lord daily and soaked up God’s Spirit and His light.
I want to glow like Stephen. God will use me as a vessel of wonder if I seek Him and sit before Him daily. I’m going to soak Him up and then see what He will do in and through me. Bring on the wonders… both at home, and out there in the world!