So that's it for my pictures. Unless I start deleting blogs that I haven't published into books I won't be able to download anything new. Good incentive to make some blog books over Christmas!!
It may take me awhile to get to that so I thought that until then I would write more and share some thoughts with you. A bit dangerous but what's life without a few risks right?
Right now I'm at home with the four children. Will took one son to church to do some work and the rest are here with me. They are waiting very (im) patiently for me to finish so that we can have lunch. Nice hay?? It's good to be in high demand and have people waiting for you to wait on them:).
Therefore the really deep and amazing thought for today will be rather simple and perhaps old and tired. You be the judge.
Today, as on every Saturday morning we were doing chores. I feel content about this process. We all sit down once breakfast is done and make a list. Every Saturday we change the way we choose who get's to do what. Since I am rather big right now, more tired, grumpy, out of breath, and what ever other symptom for this ever so natural process of pregnancy, I feel very priveleged to have the least number of chores. What a great deal!! It's a great example of cause and effect. The more I do this pregnancy number the more children I have to do chores and the less I have to do!! This plan should work for oh maybe 15 to 20 more years. Not bad, not bad. I am truly blessed.
On Sunday, our minister was preaching about our sin and how we all have sin addictions. Wow. That got me thinking. What is my sin addiction? Things that we have a hard time letting go of. And...we may start to eliminate that addiction from our lives in a certain way only to discover later that it was more deeply rooted then we thought and we have more digging and discarding to do.
One I will share is my discontentment. Never truly content with how things are going - never showing the true thankfulness that I should. I will be going my merry way doing something and then realize that the true motivation for doing that thing is because I actually am not happy with what God is doing with me. I want bigger and better, I want to be the best. Being obedient and trusting is easy when you don't have lots to lose but when you are older and have more to lose and perhaps feel like you deserve more, it get's harder.
So, it happened again this morning with the windows... As I'm washing I'm grumbling for everyone to hear. "Ughhh I can't believe how wet these windows get, and it doesn't wipe up very well. (quick plug: I used my new eco-cloth I bought from the school and LOVED it!!)" Mesnwhile I am thinking "We need new windows, this is ridiculous, I can't believe we live like this, this can't be healthy!!, How much longer are we going to have to wait?? NOTHNG every get's done blah blah..." Pretty rotten hay? My husband heard my grumbling and HE was blessed with a thankful spirit this morning and said "Yes, isn't it great how we have so many children to breath the air in this house to make our windows so wet?" The part that I am most ashamed of is that he didn't have to say it once - he had to say it twice!! Twice, before I started to take it to heart and change my thoughts and my words.
Lord, help all of us to get to the heart of our sin addictions and repent when we need to. Help us all to repent and smile knowing that in Jesus all of our miserableness is covered in Jesus' blood and that you love us despite of ourselves. Continue to work in us your Spirit of contentment so that no matter what our circumstances we can be thankful for all YOU do for us and never bitter. AMEN
Oh Gloria - I so do the same thing! What a wise husband. Thank the Lord for him! Thanks for the food for thought (and action!)
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ReplyDeleteGloria, knowing a weakness is the first part in working to overcome it. A habit I got into years ago was, upon waking, to give thanks to God. I was thankful that I was able to lie down and if I slept well I was thankful for that. If I hadn't slept well I was thankful for a comfortable bed and home and husband and loving children.... and before I knew it there was a whole list to give thanks for. I didn't just rattle this off, I let it truly penetrate my being. That helped set the tone for the day. Oh, and to be sure, I did not stay thankful throughout the day but it put me on a good path. Then during the day if I had negative thoughts or was grumbling I would try to tell myself to get off that track. Reciting Scripture or singing a hymn, if even silently would help a lot. Above all we need to remember that we do all this by God's strength, not our own. If we try to pull up our own boot straps we will most definitely fail but if we turn to God He will be near and help.
ReplyDeleteEven that is not to say we will overcome our weaknesses. It is often because of them that we remain humble and dependent on Him -- and that's good. ;) <<<>>>