Remaining with God - Last Entry

You know those times when the Lord keeps hitting on a specific theme, or in cases like this just one specific passage of scripture? Isn't that sweet? The first time I remember feeling the weight of this verse was just a couple of years ago while I was reading a book about single life as a Christian (I honestly can't even remember which book it was). The author quoted 1 Corinthians 7:17 "Only let each person lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him." I remember the lightbulb moment of realizing, "Oh! Scripture says it that plainly and clearly!" That is a great nugget verse for me in the battle for contentment. I love the thoroughness of scripture - that God just covers every topic clearly and perfectly. This enlightenment came at a time where I still was very prone to covetting mothers who get to be home with their children and even get to home school them. That's a desire I've had probably as long as I've been a mother, but God has had other very good plans which I would be missing out on. His wisdom is so far beyond mine and is absolutely perfect!

I've been reading "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper which has a chapter entitled: Remaining With God, addressing many people's call to bring glory to God and share the gospel in a secular work setting. The title of the chapter is drawn from the concluding verse of the passage which starts with 1Cor. 7:17. Verse 24 says, "So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. Well guess what - God called me as a single mother - and he has seen fit to keep me there. Right now that necessitates that I work to provide for my family and that brings glory to God. It means that I must find him alone sufficient for every need and want and I am never disappointed! But how helpful it is to look at scripture and be certain that God is sovereign and good and that he has perfectly designed this for his glory. This is the life he has generously and graciously assigned to me. And how sweet it is compared to the "life" I would have if he had not turned me from my sin! Knowing that gives me much peace and joy in the day to day. And he does give me ample opportunity to speak about him with coworkers which I would not have if I were not blessed with this calling! And it blows my mind when I look back over these years and see a trail of lives affected by the gospel and saved from hell! because of how he uses weak vessels!

Another thing which really struck me in this book was the challenge to deny myself more for the direct benefit of others. While there are countless ways to do this, there was one that the Lord kept bringing to mind and giving me a real longing to pursue. It has a financial commitment involved and this is a season where the budget is changing dramatically already. So after seeking God's direction for where I could cut back on spending for myself so I might be able to sow toward others I began to see that internet and phone are really a luxury right now. This opportunity is so much more important and will, Lord willing, one day have an eternal impact. So this means no more posting, but sadder than that is not being able to keep up with friends' blogs. I'll try to find time on lunch breaks to peek in on my girls and see how each of you are doing. Thank you for all of the sweet and encouraging thoughts you've left for me here. You are dear sisters and I thank God for you!

A Misty Morning

We had a mildly foggy morning recently , the kind where if you look at a dark background you can actually see the water droplets swirling up around you. So I went out web-shooting. It's a little creepy to consider how very many spiders are all around us but we just don't see most of them. I like seeing their webs in the dew though. One of those displays of God's glory my Mom taught me to appreciate.

I don't know what kind of spiders make these webs in the grass but our lawn was spotted with them all over, this was the biggest.




Our pretty Tiger Liles at the back of the yard


I had to run to Walmart for a few things this morning. I often feel silly having Xavier use my girly smelling soap, though he never complains. So I offered to get him some manly soap. He was very excited! He sniffed each package until we found a winner. As I added it to the basket he asked, "Can I get some deodorant too?" The clerk in the aisle laughed at him and reminded me how very quickly these years are passing.

When we got home he helped put things away and was eager to open a bar of "his soap". To his amusement the bar actually says, "Dial for Men" on it :-) I told him to look manly so I could take a picture of him with his manly soap. In the first shot he must have been distracted by those big biceps. Doesn't he look macho... in front of the flowery shower curtain? ;-)




While praying before lunch Xavier said, "... and thank you Lord that they stopped killing the flock..." I wasn't sure what he meant by that, but the rest of the prayer was pretty sound so I had to ask what he was thinking of here. He clarified that it was in reference to making animal sacrifices. He concluded that "no one must have enjoyed that - except David because he sure sacrificed a lot." He didn't hesitate when I asked him why we don't need to sacrifice animals anymore. Thank you Jesus for becoming the only sacrifice we'll ever need!!!! It was a neat opportunity to recount all the ways scripture points to the saving death of Christ from the beginning of creation. The Lord is really working in Xavier's heart to trust and love him. Any time Xavier prays, no matter what the initial point is, he always thanks Jesus for paying for our sins on the cross. That is so precious and encouraging to my heart! Thank you God for the mercy you pour on our family!

While he was finishing lunch I was reading from our dessert book "A Gospel Primer for Christians" by Milton Vincent. I found this quote so refreshing. The Lord has been focusing my attention on how I have nothing to boast in but Jesus Christ and his willingness to save me. So as I finish going through Romans, and C.B.'s wrapping up Galatians, and I'm relfecting on notes from this series which explain that the gospel is freedom from self not freedom to self (oh that is what I need! Thank you Lord!) I get to read this:

"God deliberately designed the gospel in such a way so as to strip me of pride and leave me without any grounds for boasting in myself whatsoever... Pride wilts in the atmosphere of the gospel... Conversely, humility grows lushly in the atmosphere of the gospel... such humility intensifies my passion for God and causes my heart increasingly to thrill whenever he is praised."

"My soul makes its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear it and rejoice." Psalm 34:2
Oh I want and need more of this - what wonderful news that Jesus had done all that is necessary for me to obtain it!