Don't Store Junk

Working with my mom on packing when we moved to Texas in 2008.
We brought so much stuff we didn't need!

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

In 2010 things that were put into storage units stayed there on average for 15 months. If the owner was paying $200 a month on that storage, that's $3,000 dollars. [Source] I looked up recent costs for storage units (2019) and saw prices ranging from $40 to $300 per month, depending on the size and whether or not there is climate control. I suspect that in some areas the costs might be higher depending upon supply and demand.

This makes sense for people who are moving and have to leave one house before they move into the next one. It also might make sense for some high value items such as art, collectibles with known value (not guessed value), and furniture that would cost appreciably more to replace than the cost of storage. A person running a home business or who is self-employed and doesn't have room at their residence to store their merchandise or tools and materials may also find this type of storage cost-effective.

But...

The idea of paying to store our extra junk because we're too precious to part with it is, frankly, ridiculous...

Continue Reading.

Thoughts from the Past -- Everlasting Strength

Oct. 30, 2006 [Edited]
Everlasting Strength

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Verse 3 is commonly quoted, and it is a good and sweet promise. In fact, it was through a song based upon this verse that my Grandma Van Nattan came to realize her own need of peace with God and was ultimately saved.

However, I had not really noticed verse 4 till recently. Everlasting strength! What a wonderful thought that is for us in these amazingly weak bodies of flesh! What more could we ask for? Yes, we are plagued with weakness, but God's strength is greater, and it is longer - it is everlasting. It will never give out or let us down.

I am also reminded of Paul's words:

Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

By God's grace we have access to the everlasting strength of the Lord Jehovah through Jesus Christ our Lord. Truly He is a God worthy of being trusted forever.
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Post Script – 2012

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I really struggle with strength, or the lack thereof.  Physical weakness, mental and emotional weakness, spiritual weakness – they all can be a real challenge.  But, what a comfort it is know that in the LORD there is everlasting strength.  This is connected closely with that perfect peace that we desire because when our minds are staid on the Lord, we can keep His everlasting strength in view.  The tendency to dwell on my own weaknesses is a surely a weight that I need to lay aside!  God is so abundantly able to do more than I can ask or think and His strength is everlasting.  Why do I fret so much about not being “able”?

Ephesians 3:20-21  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

When I Think of Thee by Annie Johnson Flint

Laying Aside Weights – Some Thoughts On Dealing with Things

 

1 Corinthians 7:29-31  But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

These articles written by others go well with the Laying Aside Weights series. (I know, I thought I was done with that too, but it keeps coming up again.)

Spring Cleaning Your House and Your Mind - Here’s an article over at Living On A Dime about clearing our thinking up as we prepare to clean up our houses for spring and summer.  I dare say most of us could stand to remove some of the “scum of life” that has accumulated from the winter months.  She has some helpful observations about how we view our things and how our things should serve us rather than us serving our things.  (If you have trouble figuring out how to go about organizing and cleaning up – especially if you have some illness that hinders you – you might want to also read this:  How to Get Organized! Part 2.)

Letting Go of Someone Else’s Memories - Here is a thought-provoking item at A Slob Comes Clean for those who are tempted to keep and store other people’s memories and stuff.  I may have posted this before, but it goes well here.

New Year, New Challenge – Get Rid of 365 Things in 2014

 

As some will remember, I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions.  Solomon said,  “Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”  Ecclesiastes 5:5  So, I try to avoid making commitments to things in that way.

However, this year I have made a goal or challenge – not a promise – to try to get rid of 365 things.  I hope that it is a reasonable goal, and with the pile in our garage it should be feasible.  We’ll see how it goes over the long haul.  If I don’t accomplish the goal, no harm done anyway.

I am not doing this like the “Get Rid of 50 Things” challenge.  If I get rid of some books I may count each one, and if I get rid of more later they will be counted separately.  But, I am combining some things.  The several pounds of beans I got rid of, though not all in the same container, counted as one thing on my list, but the 2 shirts and 2 mugs were each listed as separate items. :-) 

The first week of January – which was less than seven days – I got rid of 7 things.  The second week I got rid of 6 things.  I do want to get ahead on some things so that I can take some weeks off.  But, so far it is easier than you might think.  Because I had already worked on the 50 Things challenge and made my list of questions for getting rid of items, they have become sort of subconscious and it’s not quite as hard now to look at something and honestly tell myself whether I can discard it or not.

This could technically fall under the “Laying Aside Weights” series, but since I did something similar with the 50 Things challenge, I think I’ll keep it separate at this point.

I keep track of my progress in my new daily planner on the weekly pages where I write my weekly goals and “to do” lists.  I may try to give some updates over the course of the year, but we’ll play that as it comes.  No promises on that either. :-)  I would like to give some photo examples of improvements that have come about through this plan.  We’ll see if that ever works out.

Is this something you could do too?  Give it a thought.  If you need to start with a smaller goal try 52 things – one a week.

Laying Aside Weights – Dream Homes and the Beautiful Life

Hebrews 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In winding down this series on laying aside weights I come to a subject that has not been easy for me to deal with.  The reason is not because I don’t know what I think about it, but that it is one of those packages without a handle.  Have you ever tried to pick up something that had no handle?  It’s not easy.  With this, I don’t know for sure where to grab hold of it because there are so many ways it can play itself out in our lives today.

Proverbs 31:30 says,  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.  This verse appears to be speaking in relation to individual women as the last half indicates.  But, I want to focus on the phrase “beauty is vain” here.

First of all, please don’t get me wrong.  I have no problem with making ourselves attractive in a modest and wholesome manner.  I have no problem, as regular readers will well know, with making our homes comfortable, attractive and homelike.  My concern about the “beautiful life” is that there is so much vanity available for us to imbibe in a capitalistic world gone crazy.  There is a lot that is purely of the world and the flesh.  In fact, it is probably safe to say that this subject, like that of perfectionism, is quite close to being a “sin which doth so easily beset us”.

Never Satisfied

In a number of cultures now there are aspirations to gracious living and “the beautiful life”.  These things take on different aspects depending on the group you’re looking at, but there is an obsession with the beautiful life, dream homes, gracious living and being outwardly “gorgeous”.  Consumer-driven commercialism, T.V., internet sources, the DIY movement, and more have presented a multitude of ways to become more lovely, stylish, beautiful, etc.  The “before and after” images and episodes, which are common, give an added “inspiration” to covet better houses, furniture, décor, clothing, makeup, even faces.  (It’s always important to remember that Paul wrote Christians through the Holy Spirit that comparing ourselves among ourselves is not wise! 2 Corinthians 10:12)

This ideal has made its way into the Christendom (meaning all areas of religion that claim anything to do with Christ) in various ways as well. Some groups – Mormons, “Biblical Patriarchy”, Reformed, and Charismatics, to name a few – even put a spiritual connection/obligation on living the beautiful life and having a beautiful family.  Among some “christians” it is as if it were a moral duty to present a lovely image to the world.  Some even have the ideology that by flaunting their wealth they will impress others; and in the case of some, such as the Dutch Reformed and some mega church gurus, there can be a belief that they are “showing how much God has blessed us” by doing so.

One of the problems we need to confront is the confusion between the beautiful life of gracious living and the beautiful life of holy and grace-filled living.

Growing up in Western Michigan I had the opportunity to see that the beautiful life mentality does not lead to happiness and contentment.  One young lady we knew came from “an elegant home” in a “prestigious neighborhood” in the suburbs.  Her mother had strict rules for the décor of their house which applied even in the kids’ own rooms.  I was in that house once and saw the almost austere gorgeousness on display there.  One day this particular young lady had occasion to visit my family’s house.  We lived in a parsonage with mismatched trim and carpeting, cheap paneling, etc., which was very plainly and inexpensively decorated.  When she came in she exclaimed, “Oh, it’s so cozy!”, and was obviously very pleased.  I was rather surprised since our house was so unstylish.  Probably the young lady could see that our house was used for love, family comforts, friendship and general amiability rather than as a show piece and investment.  She preferred humble comfy to “the beautiful life” in a “dream home” – at least when she met it face to face.

My mom also had two different friends – one a believer and one unsaved – who had all white living rooms in which their children were not allowed.  She was totally unimpressed with this kind of décor.  Her attitude was that any room in a family home that was such a show piece that it was off limits for the kids was a waste.  Can you imagine Jesus Christ being impressed with that?  Matthew 19:13-15  Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

My mom lived in numerous small, unimpressive dwellings during their years as missionaries, yet one friend of hers once told her that she envied her because my mom knew what her work for the Lord was.  Mrs. Brown (as we’ll call her) had no clear idea apparently.  She did try, but she also worked outside the home and  spent a lot of time and money making her house and family “beautiful” and redecorating periodically to impress her social club….er…church friends.  (Yes, the church you fellowship with can and does affect your thinking about and contentment with your living arrangements!)

My family also knew a lady (a believer) years later who moved her family from one house to another in search of her “dream home” but never found it.  She undoubtedly wasted a goodly portion of her husband’s hard earned money purchasing and selling houses in such quick succession.

The common theme that stands out in all of this to me is the emptiness.  None of them were fulfilled with their beautiful life, their dream home, or their gorgeous houses.  Some were never ultimately satisfied with what they had either.  They were always straining toward something better.  This disturbs me as I find myself having similar feelings and I don’t want to pour my life work into something that only ends with emptiness.  After all is said and done, she who dies with the most beautiful dream home dies. 

2 Peter 3:10-11  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

How were the Christian ladies bettered in a way that counted for Christ?  They weren’t.  We can’t take the things of this life into eternity with us.  In the end, perfect house décor, “dream homes” and the beautiful life are all very much of this world and not of the one to come.  Somehow, in light of the things that Jesus and the apostles taught, they can’t matter all that much.  Luke 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.  The Lord Jesus said, “…The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”  Matthew 8:20 

The apostle Paul asked for some things to be brought to him, 2 Timothy 4:13  The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.  This shows that some things in this life do have value, but they are not the main event in life.

The Dream Life

God created a beautiful world.  We’re created in His image, so it also gives us pleasure to make attractive spaces and things.  But, beauty living is overrated.  A perfect living room or dining room or even a house is not essential.  It is not next to godliness, and often it isn’t even comfortable.  Comfortable houses may be pleasant but they probably aren’t elegant and may not be “beautiful”.  [Painting by Carl Wilhelm Hols]

Having a house to keep, clean, decorate, etc. is time consuming, no doubt about it.  But having your “dream house” can be so much more consuming.  Mandy at Biblical Homemaking found to her chagrin that having her large “dream house” required much more work than the small house they left behind.  Now she struggles to stay focused on God and people.  He has to remind her more to think on Him than He did back when they were in the small house.  Link: letting go of your dream house (Disclaimer on versions other than KJV and possibly some content.)

Having a beautiful life can also tempt us to pride.  It can tempt us to think selfishly, as the rich man in the parable who decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones.  Yet God called him a fool!  Luke 12:18-20  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

1 Timothy 6:9 says, But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. More possessions mean more trouble, more work, more complications, more things to go wrong.  Living “the beautiful life” requires more money, more time on pointless things (manicures, pedicures, yearly fashions, new cars, new paint, etc.), more care for weeds and thorns rather than for the fruit unto righteousness. Luke 8:14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. The beautiful life can choke us and make us unfruitful.  These things are weights that need to be laid aside.

We all feel the pull of things and of making things beautiful, elegant, pretty, cute, etc.  Books, T.V. shows and internet sources are rampant with such things.  This is the reason that Home Depot sponsors HGTV.  Many of those  shows make people want to “improve” their life ($$$) in some way.  The DIY movement entices us by saying we can have “the beautiful life” at a fraction of the cost – but what is the work and time investment?  Don’t be fooled into wasting your life on projects to “keep up with the Joneses on a shoestring”.  We need to weigh things carefully so that we don’t spend our time and resources wastefully.  We need to weigh our motives and discern if we have a good reason for some project, or if it is just a desire to keep up with the rest of the pack living the beautiful life.  I know.  I struggle with these things myself.

Some of us love to garden, but that also can become a snare.  The creation of God in flowers and plants is beautiful, but it can be overdone.  My desire at this point in my life is to make gardens that are less work to maintain and that also produce some useful things while still being beautiful to look at (mixing herbs and flowers).  Gardening is very therapeutic, so it can offer a great escape from stress, depression and anxiety, but as with all beautifying ventures, it can be overdone.  I’ve seen yards that obviously consumed huge amounts of time to be maintained.

Some people also get caught up in the beautiful family image.  The late Vision Forum Ministries and other “Biblical Patriarchy” groups encourage this to a great extent.  Some Christians colleges do as well.  Beware of the vanity of pride that comes from showing off beautiful daughters with long flowing hair and handsome sons all dressed to certain specifications.  It is very enticing to think that we can exhibit spiritual things with beautiful outward appearances.  1 Samuel 16:7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.    [Painting by Walther Firle]

What is the Christian’s dream home? 

Heaven.  John 14:1-3  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

What is “The Beautiful life”? 

Walking with God and doing His work and will.  Psalms 90:16-17  Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. 
Micah 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

The fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Beautifying the inner man - 1 Peter 3:3-4  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

What is Gracious Living?

Living in the grace of God - 1 Corinthians 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain…  (What a thing to be able to say with the apostle Paul!)

2 Peter 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

The Ministry of Less

I have a friend who has a “beautiful home”, or it could be if she made it that way.  She has decorated it to be comfortable and pleasant up to a point, but it is not pristine or gorgeous inside.  It is, in fact, a bit humble.  I thought it was a bit odd at first until I had occasion to visit some Christians who have a show place style house.  Then I understood.  She did not want to make other Christians who live in humble houses feel ashamed or intimidated when they visited her house.  She herself had formerly had a nice house in the suburbs and she figured it out when she moved to another area.  She intentionally made their current house plainer so that it would be comfortable to all.

A dream home or beautiful life in the worldly sense is not necessary to serve Christ.  In fact, perfect homes often limit the amount of serving that can be done in them because they are too perfect to be comfortable and useful.  They tend to be obviously expensive and self-aware.  And then too, when we spend less time puttering around our “beautiful things”, we will have more time to spend actually ministering to others. [Painting by Margaret Isabel Dicksee]

The seduction of fine things is also that they are difficult to hold lightly.  It is hard to take joyfully the spoiling of your goods when you’ve put a lot of focus on your earthly possessions.  Hebrews 10:34  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.  It is also hard to extend hospitality without grudging.  1 Peter 4:9-10  Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

My own grandparents struggled with this in the first house they actually owned.  Because they’d always lived in parsonages, mission houses and rentals, they had a hard time not putting too much value on the house they owned in their retirement.  The living room in that house had a white carpet when they bought it, but instead of changing it (it was a small room) or having it dyed, they covered the main thoroughfare with runners and plastic and then fussed about any stains or marks guests got on the carpet.  I never understood their behavior when they could have afforded to change the carpet and avoid the worry.  It really was an unnecessary weight.

This isn’t to say that it’s “evil” to have some luxuries or nice things in this life.  But, don’t set your heart on them.  Don’t give yourself to them.  Sometimes God gives us some fleshly comforts to enjoy for a season – good vanity to help us stay in the fight or to keep us in good health so that we can serve Him more effectively.  We will know the difference if we’re honest with ourselves about these things.  Sometimes, for His reasons, God gives much.  It is not evil or wicked to enjoy that while it lasts, contrary to what some Mennonites and Amish might teach.  But, we need to remember Proverbs 23:4-5,  Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 

The luxuries of this life are Of This Life.  Paul said he learned to be content with both much and little.  This is the key.  Philippians 4:11-13  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

In Conclusion

So, these are some weights we need to lay aside -
Dream houses
The beautiful life
Gracious/beautiful living

The worldly, earthly versions of these things are all choking thorns that make us unfruitful.  Paul said,  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8 

Remember the story of Mary and Martha?  When Jesus visited Martha’s house she became very distracted with serving her guests. 

Luke 10:38-42  Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Jesus was not looking for a “beautiful home” and lovely family, a beautifully appointed table, an elegant meal, amazing “foodie” dishes with rare ingredients, fine china, clean carpets, dust-free mantles, immaculate guest chambers, etc.  No.  He said ONE thing is NEEDFUL – sitting at His feet hearing His word.

God’s creation is full of beauty, true.  But, most of that is free!  Beautiful faces and bodies still age, become ill, die and rot.  Beautiful homes and things may perish in fire or flood, or be stolen; and you can’t take them with you.  Beautiful gardens may die or be plucked up by the next owner.  Beautiful clothes do little to nothing for the inside person.  Beautiful families may or may not grow up to love and serve God. 

If you get nothing else out of this please remember these two things:

1. Beauty is vain (Prv. 31:30).

2. The needful thing is to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His word.

Matthew 6:19-21  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

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Martha and Mary – A poem by Annie Johnson Flint

Laying Aside Weights – Goodbye to Chicken Little

See previous posts in this series.

Hebrews 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

One weight that we can become weighed down with these days is worry about all the dreadful things that “could” happen or “are going to” happen or “are” happening.  This kind of thinking and worry can be a serious hindrance to running the race with patience.

I suppose many people have heard the fable of Chicken Little, how the acorn hit her on the head and she thought the sky was falling and set off to tell the king.  Of course, she met Henny Penny and explained to her about the sky falling and hitting her on the head and Henny Penny joined her in going to tell the king.  Along the way they told Ducky Lucky and Goosey Loosey and Turkey Lurky who all joined the crusade to go and tell the king that the sky was falling.  But, then they met their natural enemy Foxy Loxy.  Because they were so intent on the fact that the sky was falling, they told him about it too and then foolishly allowed him to join their program.  According to the book my family had the end of the story was that “Foxy Loxy walked with Turkey Lurky.  Foxy Loxy ate Turkey Lurky.  Foxy Loxy walked with Goosey Loosey.  Foxy Loxy ate Goosey Loosey.”  Right down to Chicken Little they were all devoured by Foxy Loxy.  And, the king never knew the sky was falling.

The world today is literally bursting with Chicken Littles who have very important messages to us that the sky is falling.  The internet is teeming with such sources.  Because there are certainly many unhappy, evil and worrisome things in this world, it’s easy to get sucked into the panic and dismay that these people peddle.  Whether it’s predictions of coming troubles, the pollution of food and environment, “chemtrails”, HARP, weather annomilies or any of the many other “impending dooms”, there is bound to be someone who is informing the world that the sky really is in fact in the very act of falling.

First of all, regarding the “big, bad” things, if there is nothing we can do about the scenario or claim (no matter what it is), then it really isn’t worth wasting our time and worry over!  Really.  If you can’t change it or fix it or avoid it, what’s the point of getting all frazzled and stressed over it?  Now I admit that a falling acorn might be a pretty big deal to the Chicken Littles, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us need to panic along with them.

Secondly, we need to remember that just because a Chicken Little has “proof” and was an “eyewitness” himself or knows “eyewitnesses”, doesn’t mean that he (or she) knows what he’s talking about!  Oh, there are many claims made by the Chicken Littles.  They will press us with all kinds of “good reasons” to believe them, often resorting to mockery if we refuse.  But, those things ultimately prove nothing.  The truth may be very far from the terrible interpretations they claim – as far as an acorn is from the sky.

Thirdly, too many of the calamities that are declared to be coming or already upon us are really only acorns.  This is especially true when they are compared with some of the more real issues at stake, such as the selfishness and lack of holiness in the Lord’s church and the lost souls that are dying without Christ.

Some things we may find a small way to avoid, such as buying foods that are less likely to contain bizarre and dangerous things.  But, even with that there are limits.  Unless you have the time and strength to grow virtually all of your own food, you can’t get entirely away from it in many parts of this world.  So, what is the point in fretting?  As my Gramma used to say, “You can only do so much and then you just have to trust the Lord.”  She didn’t mean that we shouldn’t trust the Lord right from the first, but rather that in certain situation there is a limit to our ability to “fix it”, and so we simply have to commit ourselves to God and go forward in His will because He is faithful.  As long as He has work for us to do He will take care of us, even when we can’t avoid “dangerous” situations. 

1 Peter 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

It is true that “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”  Proverbs 22:3  There are some things that we can or should hide from, as it were.  But, we can’t avoid all evil without leaving this world!  [1 Corinthians 5:9-10  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.]  Added to that, when we foresee an “evil” and hide ourselves we really need to make sure it’s a real evil!  And, we have to acknowledge that some things we are not going to be able to avoid.

Paul wrote of his experiences as an apostle,  …in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27  Yet, even though we know Paul was cast down at times and disappointed, we also know that he was not a Chicken Little and he didn’t spend his life trying to avoid these situations.  Instead, he warned the saints of the most important perils in this life – the spiritual dangers.

Paul wrote, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 

The trials of our life allow us to make the life of the Lord Jesus manifest to those around us.  If we could avoid all trials and tribulations then would we not be hiding the power of Jesus Christ?  It seems like we might make that conclusion from what is written.

When we allow ourselves to become weighed down with the threats of the sky falling we forget the words of our Lord Jesus when He said, “…Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:34  Most of us have enough to deal with today in our own lives without borrowing a lot of conspiracies and threats that may happen tomorrow.  Even things that are supposed to happen “today” according to the Chicken Littles may not ever happen, or may not affect us if they do.  Often they don’t. 

Wait, read that again.  Often they don’t! 

I don’t know how many times in my life I have worried about this or that happening – either my own acorn or one handed me by someone else – and after all my worry and distress and expectation, it did NOT happen.  Strangely enough, the unhappy things that did happen seldom were the things I’d anticipated, prepared for and stressed over.  Unless it’s something obvious like death, which we can’t avoid anyway unless the Lord comes first, it very often isn’t what we expected.  

More than this, though, is the very real danger that accompanies following Chicken Little – not the sky falling, but being devoured.  As you will recall from the story, all the other birds joined the parade to tell the king the sky was falling, and they were all so distracted with their terror and drama that they allowed their natural enemy to join them.

The scripture tells us, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:6-9 

I find it very interesting that casting all our care upon Him comes right before the admonition to be sober and vigilant because the devil is seeking to devour.  When we are carrying around our cares instead of giving them to the Lord as He told us to we will be too distracted to be vigilant and we will be too weighed down and encumbered to resist stedfast in the faith! “Foxy Loxy” may not devour us physically as he did Chicken Little and her friends, but he (the devil) can devour our strength, our peace, our health, our time and our resources when we are worrying about the sky falling instead of watching unto prayer.  1 Peter 4:7  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Ultimately, a fate worse than the sky falling came to the birds in the fable.  Being eaten by their natural enemy was a lot worse than getting hit on the head by bit of falling sky.  We also may find ourselves in a situation far worse than the imagined one we became preoccupied with when we failed to watch for the adversary.

Also, referring back to 1 Peter 5:8 and 4:7, it says to be sober.  One thing that tends to come with the the Chicken Little crowd is a lot of “unsober” thinking, and by that I mean irrational.  If the sky was truly falling don’t you think someone besides Chicken Little would have noticed?  And, why didn’t any of them ask to see the piece of sky that had fallen (which would have been an acorn in reality)?  Also, it seems like they should have been observing other “pieces” of the sky falling as they set out on their journey to tell the King.  They didn’t stop to think.  Sadly, this is the way we tend to be when we take up with some Chicken Little’s story.

What we need to do is learn to ignore the Chicken Littles of life.  We need to turn off the news and talk shows, avoid the web sites, not listen to the preachers and politicians, and avoid the people who generally are peddling “falling sky” scenarios.  They are handing out weights that we don’t need to carry.  Our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the only one who can stop the sky from falling in any situation!  We need to cast all our care on Him and then get busy with the real things of life, the things that we can do something about.

Psalms 55:22-23  Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Psalms 115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

I Am Tired

 

(Photo taken in 2008)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3, 6-7  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted…a time to break down, and a time to build up…A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

This has been an extremely busy year for us, as I mentioned before.  But, it has also been a stressful year for our country in general with much ugly news and some depressing revelations.  In considering life and its variables, I’ve realized there are some things that I’m tired of.  I don’t intend to share all of them here, as some are perhaps too personal.  But, I’d like to discuss a few since some of them will affect this blog in some ways.  Please bear with me and don’t assume the worst. :-)

1) I am getting tired of keeping up with this blog.  I’m not tired of blogging in general, but keeping this updated to the extent I have has become a burden.  It is a weight that is hindering me from running the race with patience.  There are other things I feel are more important that are not getting done.  So.  It has to be adjusted so as not to be such a weight, or it will have to be laid aside.  Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

When something is making us weary in well doing it is a good idea to consider if there is a way to change that.  2 Thessalonians 3:13  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

2) This blog was not meant to supplant the Home Maker’s Corner, but I feel like it has done this.  There are things I want to write and need to write for the HMC which haven’t gotten done.  I feel that the blog has in some ways gotten in the way.  Also, there is no reason why I can’t write proper articles for the HMC and link to them from here as I’ve done in the past. Maybe I should even link to some of the older articles that might be of use.

The HMC needs some updating and restyling in some places as well.  For those who may not realize it, building and maintaining a web page is a lot more work than blogging – especially blogging through one of the blogging services that provides so much help to make it all work.

3) I want to spend more time doing things with my husband.  He works a lot of hours and I feel the need to make his off time more ours.  He is a computer programmer and I’d like to get a little more idea why it’s his hobby and job (yes, in that order).  I can understand his pleasure in building a house or finishing out a commercial building.  I’d like to see a little bit into his programming world too.  My husband has wanted to teach me CSS (cascading style sheets) and more about html, both of which would be very useful in the building of the HMC.  My brain is lazy.  It prefers to stay in its own familiar ruts.  But, sometimes it is good to “take it by the collar and give it a good shake” and put it on some new track where it can learn and grow in new ways.  I know learning CSS would do this.  And, it would give me more time with my husband. :-)

4) I’m also a bit tired of not getting some things done around here that I’d like to do.  “Needing” to blog is too often an excuse to get online which, because it’s easier to browse and “research” than to actually write, leads too often to not enough getting done. This is a weakness of my own flesh, I know.  But, rethinking how and how much I blog and where my time and energies should go is part of taking back this area of my life. 

5) It seems needful to make adjustments to see if this blog can become less of a weight and more focused.  How this will work out I’m not entirely sure yet, but I expect to make changes.  It has wandered some from the kitchen, cooking, and homemaking theme originally intended for  “The Cotton Apron”.  I also feel sometimes like there are not as many Bible studies and spiritual thoughts as there once was.

I really enjoy quilting and sewing but, truth be told, there are a lot of quilting and sewing blogs out there.  I don’t need to add my two cents.  So, the sewing posts will be greatly reduced, if not eventually eliminated, or merged back into the homemaking theme posts.  At this point I’m not projecting how often is enough.  I’m just letting go of it mentally and we’ll see what happens.

6) I also have some long term goals which have been overshadowed by the pressing needs of so many weekly blog posts.  I really want to finish the Laying Aside Weights series.  I have a handful of subjects left that seem appropriate for that.  I also want to do more “Hard Questions” here or on the HMC.  And, last but not least, Lord willing, I want to start publishing some books.  Oh, nothing unusual – mostly compilations of things I’ve already written, photo books and a collection of poems by Annie Johnson Flint. 

All these issues and goals relate entirely or considerably to my own management of time.  My husband has told me I don’t have to post so much.  I can even take a week or more off at a time.  He is right.  But, I also know that with some pruning, weeding, water and encouragement an overgrown plant can become more productive in a better way.  I feel like this blog has become overgrown and it’s time to prune it back.  Also, I’ve been allowing too many weeds of wasted computer time to grow up around it.  It’s time to use the hoe and rake and get some things out of my life.

Thanks for your patience and support at this time. :-)

Sew Much for That

 

This photo has absolutely nothing to do with this post –
except that I liked it because it was peaceful and cheerful.
If you continue to read you will understand why today, that is enough. :-)

Yet another weekend is going by without a Sew Happy Saturday post here.  Last week was OK to miss.  I don’t remember my reason, it has skipped my mind, along with a lot of other things.  But, I’m allowed to skip the sewing post once in awhile because I gave myself permission not to post one every week.  :-)

I had illusions of making a quick, fun project today and getting a post up about it.  Who was I kidding?  My mom and I canned 8 pints of pepper relish today – with several breaks and a couple naps thrown in for good measure  (an act of kindness to my husband).  Now, as I write, I’m getting dinner.  OK, cooking the chicken.  Mom is making spinach, and the rest is leftovers to be added to the pan at the last minute.  (Ah…leftovers, how I love thee now that I keep house myself!)  My husband is reassembling our reluctant washing machine to see if it will work for us for a little longer.

Do I sound a little overwhelmed by life right now?  I should because this week has seemed rather overwhelming to me….well, this month…this year!  What in the world happened to it?  We’re already at the end of May?!?!  What??

In January my Mom had hip replacement surgery.  That was all that happened in January, if you know what I mean.  In February we were helping her with her therapy and I was surviving the winter – as usual.  March was focused quite a bit on getting ready for family to visit in April – family we hadn’t seen in almost 5 years.  So, yeah, it was a big deal!  In April they were here – for a week and a half – and yet it seemed like two days and the whole month all at the same time.  Also, mixed into March and April was yard and garden work and a lot of other things.  Well, May has been a little tamer, but can we talk about catching up – just a little?  Maybe? :-)

And, then there’s June.  In June we are expecting more family to visit.  We have a wedding among our friends, which wouldn’t be a big deal except we’re committed to help – in a small way.  Also there are things I want(ed) to sew for her!  SO much.  Argh.  We also have some church and friends’ activities we wish to attend.  And, this isn’t even mentioning much about all the chores that really, really need to get done!

Now I realize that to some of you this totally misses the mark for “overwhelming”.  I know.  A lot of people live much busier lives than we do.  But, if you only knew how little I’m used to this, and how really unable I would’ve been to do all this a few years ago…

At the same time, with all that and the regular everyday things crammed in, I’ve read too many books, spent too much time reading online and watching many quilting videos, and who knows what else.  Writing…oh, yeah.  I’ve been writing.  And actually doing a little sewing.  Sigh….but the wasted time…  How can we waste so much time right in the midst of feeling so terribly busy?  I haven’t figured that one out yet.

But, when it all comes down to it, after the close scare we got last week about very severe storms here (which the Lord so kindly vetoed!), I have been trying to refocus.  You know, thinking about Moore, Oklahoma (and Granbury and Cleburne, Texas), and thinking about the possibility of it coming here, well, I just want to try to DO the things that are important in the eternal picture more and leave behind the things that don’t count – lay aside more weights that are dragging me down unnecessarily.  We all have weights that we have to carry, so to speak, but I want to think more again in terms of that laying aside of weights that I was focused on last year.  It’s time for a little revival and reorganizing of thoughts.  Maybe I’ll even go back and reread those posts myself.  I never did feel like I finished that series properly.

Yesterday I did decide to lay aside some of the “Very-Urgent-Things” that were nagging to be done, and instead I went and did some other things that needed to be done that would give me more joy (and some pleasant outdoor exercise).  They were the sort of jobs that give a sense of accomplishment when you finish, with not so much of the “Oh-good-I-get-to-do-this-chore-again-right-away-why-did-I-bother” feeling.  (“Forget the vacuuming, I’m going out to prune that photinia bush!”)  Guess what?  I felt a lot better at the end of the day!  And, while “digging” in the garage, I found various things that three different family members have been asking about for some time – things that were in “The Pile” in our garage!  So, I had the added blessing of making other people happy too.  Wow.  Does that feel nice, or what? :-)

Another small tip I actually remembered to put into use this week (thanks to the friend who was praying for me) – when you feel overwhelmed and like you just can’t manage it, instead of crying or getting angry, which may be easy but may have difficult complications, find something that tickles you (like this crazy run-on sentence) – even if you have to make it up – and then just laugh out loud! :-)  Stress relief does not require anger or crying to vent.  Sometimes a good long laugh or singing at the top of your lungs will really do the trick!  And, if you have kids, the great thing is that they will probably join you, even if they are laughing at your maniacal laughing/singing. ;-)

And, in case you didn’t catch it, this post is a steam letting rant cleverly disguised as (feeble) humor. ;-)  But, since dinner is now ready, it’s time to go clear off the table so that I can set it.  My parents are coming to eat with us since Mom is making part of the meal, so I do need to make the room for a proper meal – that’s a good thing tonight.  Once my husband proofreads this for me (and eliminates the parts that are really too nonsensical to publish), I’ll try to get this posted before mid-night.  Maybe.  If it’s important enough. ;-)

How about you?  Has life been just a bit too overwhelming this week, spring, year?  Let’s see if we can reconsider some things and try to simplify and clarify our lives a little – lay aside some weights (Again!) – as we head into June, shall we? :-)  I double-dog dare you. ;-)

James 1:23-25  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Laying Aside Weights – The People Problem

 

Hebrews 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Some of you will remember that in one or two previous posts in this series I mentioned that sometimes people can be weights.  I have to admit that sometimes this is something we deal with almost unconsciously, but it is also sometimes something that we don’t want to deal with when it comes to certain people.

We deal with it unconsciously when we eliminate troublesome or trouble making people from our lives by just avoiding or mostly ignoring them.  This can be that woman at church who is always being cutesy with other men; the older man who always flirts with the ladies and tries to give them hugs; the lady in your Bible study group who never has anything good to say about anyone or anything – ever.  The girl who dresses in such a way that you don’t want your sons around her.  You know who they are.  You just sort of gravitate away from them without too much thought, especially if you see they are set in their ways and are not going to change without a miracle – which is God’s department.  I remember my mom telling about one lady who was so difficult to handle that my mom would actually cross the street to avoid her if she saw her coming.  These people are not as much of an issue.

But there are others who are harder to deal with.

Bad Friends

1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

[Some details have been changed to protect the identities of the subjects.]

I had a friend years ago, whom we shall call “Shelly”.  Shelly’s best friend was an unsaved woman.  They had grown up together, married, had kids and gone through many things in life together.  But Shelly’s friend persistently refused to believe the Gospel, and Shelly refused to give up the friendship.  Shelly sometimes did things that were inappropriate from a Christian perspective in an effort to “be friends” with this unsaved woman.  Her friend was influencing her to do wrong.

Another lady we’ll call “Angie” had a friend who professed to be a Christian.  Angie spent a lot of time with her and talked to her often.  The friend appeared to be sincere and honest, but it seemed like everywhere she went she was saying things that were offensive or divisive among Christians (Proverbs 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him…he that soweth discord among brethren.) She also had a habit of asking difficult questions of people she didn’t appreciate.  She did this with what appeared to be sincerity, but in the end she tended to make people feel or look foolish.  Angie shared some of her complaints about their church fellowship with this woman.  Her friend encouraged Angie in this, even convincing her that certain types of sinners ought to be treated “nicely” and not be made uncomfortable about their sin.  Eventually Angie took her family out of the church fellowship.  One way or another, her children became “tolerant” of sin and some of them ended up entering into things that brought embarrassment to Angie and her husband.  [Incidentally, her husband didn’t want to “be nice” about those sins, but Angie wouldn’t listen to him.]

You see, we become what are friends are.  How many, many people have been led down the road to destruction because they made or kept bad friends!

Proverbs 22:24-25 tells us, Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Anger is perhaps one of the most contagious things, as this verse implies, but there are many things that we pick up from other people if we spend time with them.  There are so many ways in which friends can be a snare to our souls, and also in which they can drag us down from running the race with patience.  Sometimes it doesn’t seem like someone is really “that bad”, but what kind of thinking are they introducing us to?  Are they leading us to handle the word of God lightly and to play along the edges of sin?

Proverbs 14:7  Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

Basically it comes down to this – if you want to be a fool, spend time with fools; if you want to be wise, spend time with wise people.

Which Light?

I have a friend I’ll call “Cammy” whose husband came up with an interesting method of categorizing her friends and acquaintances.  He rates them as “red light, yellow light or green light”.  You can about imagine what that means.  The friends who are an encouragement and help to her, who edify her and also are edified by her, are the “green lights”.  That obviously means she can enjoy their fellowship.  The “red lights” are a full stop.  These she must drop entirely because they are a problem, a weight, a bad influence, too difficult or hard hearted.  The “yellow lights” are interesting, though.  These are the friends who are in an uncertain standing, the ones who are waffling on standards of right or wrong, who are not clearly for or against, who are sometimes helpful and sometimes not.  These are the hardest ones to deal with.

One young lady in particular was a very “helpful” hairdresser type who would do Cammy’s hair free of charge (helpful for them on their budget).  However, Cammy’s husband labeled her a “yellow light” because as he said, she was always “right on the edge” of what was appropriate.  She was always right at the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior, never fully inside of it.  This bothered him.  Well, one day she came to cut Cammy’s hair, and though she knew full well what their standard was for women’s hair, she cut it much shorter than they felt was honorable to scripture.  That day she went from being a “yellow light” to being a full stop!  And no wonder.  She had been a bit of a stress point for a long time because Cammy never knew when the young lady was going to cross over the line entirely and be a real offense.  She was a weight, and in the end, it was good to put her down and move on less cumbered.

Where are you drawing the line?  I’ve seen so many women who had different standards at one time begin to slide in regards to modesty because of the friends they kept.  Women who never drank alcohol or considered it a poor testimony begin to sip a little wine with their friends “socially”, and later you learn they have become winebibbers or are visiting bars.  Women who wouldn’t have entered a casino will end up there after they start playing “games” online or with friends in private.  There are many areas of life where we can allow this to happen when we befriend and spend time with people who actually encourage us to be more “tolerant” of sin, to “relax” and “enjoy” the ways of the world.  You probably know just what I’m talking about.  You’ve seen it and/or felt it yourself.

The Apostle Paul wrote, Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;  2 Thessalonians 3:6-7

Some Christians find it extremely hard to actually go so far as to withdraw themselves from those that walk disorderly among the saints.  Some of the people who walk disorderly are so “nice” or “sweet” or “fun”.  But, as the verses in Proverbs taught us, there is good cause.  We will learn these people’s ways if we walk with them.  Trying to walk with them and not be affected will be a weight that will slow us in our race; and ultimately we will be affected – it is impossible not to be.  Amos 3:3  Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Jesus Christ was a friend of sinners, but this was for the Gospel’s sake.  When someone is in the Lord’s church representing themselves as “good, godly Christians” and yet they are walking disorderly, it is only a weight to try to be friends with them.  They will drag you down and discourage you, maybe embarrass you, eventually even draw you into sin.  Remember the Lord commanded us through Paul to withdraw in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!  It is not unloving.  It is wise.  It is obedient.  It is for our good.  It is for the good of our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The Apostle Paul also had this to say to the church at Corinth,  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.  1 Corinthians 5:9-11

Other Problems

There are many other kinds of people who can drag you down and discourage you in your walk with God.  Perhaps they are constantly talking about conspiracies, perhaps they are totally immersed in politics or sports to the point of being useless on any other subject.  Perhaps they are full of vain glory or self-righteousness.  Perhaps they are constantly meddling in other people’s affairs – just regular busybodies.  As much as is possible it would be wise to avoid these people.  I know that sometimes people have relatives or others they are “stuck” with that they cannot escape.  When this is the case it might help to train yourself to lay aside the weight of their troublesomeness in your own mind even when you cannot escape them in the flesh.  Ask the Lord to help you shed their crankiness so that it doesn’t stick.  God is merciful and if your heart is toward Him, He will help you in such situations.  Sometimes one simply has to excuse oneself and go do something else for awhile if possible.

Some friends can be a weight because you don’t know where you stand with them.  They claim to be you friend but they never act like a friend.  Sometimes you need to distance yourself from someone to find out. If they care, they will notice and seek you out. If they don’t notice you know what the friendship really meant to them. But, also, if you find when you step away that you actually do better without that friendship, then probably it is time to lay it aside, or at least drop the importance of it.

The Reward

Laying aside weights has it own reward in helping us to run the race with patience.  It should be noted that often when we step away from someone who is a problem or a weight, we will find we are stepping closer to someone who is a blessing and a help.  Sometimes, to our surprise perhaps, that “someone” will turn out to be the Lord Himself.  The fact of the matter is that when we are weighed down by people who hinder us from running the race with patience, we probably haven’t been looking unto Jesus as we should either.  Weights keep us focused on self and on earthly matters.  When they are dropped it’s easier to get the focus back where it belongs.  Good friends will help you keep it there.

Nehemiah 10:28-29a  And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their brethren, their nobles…

Proverbs 18:24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

John 15:13-15  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Laying Aside Weights – Counting: Every Blessed Thing

 

This is part of series.

Hebrews 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

None of us would probably ever think of counting blessings as a weight to be laid aside.  It just doesn’t sound right, does it?  And yet, I think that sometimes we can get so caught up with keeping track of everything that God has done for us that we can become overburdened with the sheer weight of it all.  Real life tells us that there can be “too much of a good thing”.

David the king wrote, Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.  Psalms 40:5

Journaling and recording blessings has become a modern fad.  I don’t mean to imply that these things in and of themselves are bad, but some of the types of journaling and record keeping are either new age, mystical or trivial in nature. 

The book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp has probably been very instrumental in promoting the introspective, contemplative Christianity aspect of counting personal blessings in a sort of religious and “self-affirming” way (even though it claims to glorify God).  Thankfully, some very on-target reviewers on Amazon.com have dealt with the problems in this mystical Christian book and explained quite well what is wrong with it.  Some of the reviews here [see the review by ForeverHis] and here [see the reviews by Mtn. Girl of Colorado and Sunny Shell] and here [see review by Ruby Slippers] are very helpful and insightful. (Some of the other reviews may or may not be helpful.  Please use biblical discernment!)

Another useful item explaining some of the problems with the book One Thousand Gifts was in the Lighthouse Trails newsletter, which you can read here.

One of the main faults of the book, according to the various reviews I’ve read, is Ann Voskamp’s preoccupation with self-focus in her alleged relationship with Christ.  As the writers at Lighthouse Trails point out, appealing to the senses – what we see, feel, hear, etc. – is sensual and appeals to the flesh – the carnal man. 

Romans 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

In trying to keep track of every little blessing we find or imagine God has given us, we can easily become totally preoccupied with ourselves and our flesh – our sensations and how we perceive God is blessing us.  In trying to see “God in everything” (Voskamp’s views appear to be panentheism) we can easily become fixated on the creation (things and concepts) rather than on the Creator and His Son, Jesus Christ.  In other words, heavy focus on “my blessings” can result in idolatry and selfishness.  This is, quite simply, sin.

But, in addition to that, this kind of self-compelled, imaginary necessity to be perpetually grateful can become a burden too heavy to bear – a weight that will keep us from running the race with patience.  Trying to enumerate every little blessing and write it down is an overwhelming task.  It is the sort of religious self-punishment or abasement that monastics lay upon themselves thinking that they will get God’s approval or an “intimate relationship” with Him by doing things rather than through simple faith in Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Not long ago a friend suggested to me that I should keep a journal of answered prayer so that I could go back over it later to be encouraged.  I thought at the time that it was a good idea and I got out a blank book  and laid it where I thought I would remember to use it.  After awhile I came to myself, so to speak, and realized that I was not going to do that, no matter how good it seemed.  Keeping a journal for myself has never worked, though I’ve tried several times over the years.  For me, writing is a gift, not to myself, but to others.  I keep a very skeletal record of the days’ activities in a date book, and I keep a Bible study journal part of the time; but to write out my thoughts or thanksgivings in a journal just does not appeal to me.  I know I won’t take the time to do it, so why make the commitment to myself?

I am not saying that it is necessarily wrong to keep a journal, or a prayer journal, or a blessings journal.  They can serve a useful purpose to some people.  But, I do so want to warn you that it can consume too much of your life!  It can become a burden that is simply not worth the trouble.  And, it is not commanded in scripture.  As the verse in Psalms clearly says, the thoughts of God toward us are more than can be numbered!

What would your husband or your father or your mother or even your children think, if every time they did the smallest thing for you, you ran and wrote it down in a book – and might I say, probably forgot to mention it directly to them?  Don’t you think they would rather have a heartfelt “Thank you” spoken directly to them?  Do you think OK – honestly, I wonder if Mrs. Voskamp really was dumping her own special OCD on an unsuspecting audience and encouraging “us” to join her in it in order to make it seem right and good for her to do it. Just a passing thought from a former sufferer of religious scrupulosity speaking here! :-)maybe they would rather have the time you spent writing down every little thing instead spent on them or communicating with them directly?  Maybe they would even get annoyed with your neurotic compulsion to record every detail of their kindness to you. 

Do you think it’s possible that the Lord also doesn’t really want you beating yourself into recording every little blessing, real or imagined, that you receive from Him?  Do you think that just maybe, He would rather have a simple and heartfelt “Thank you” said to Him directly, and then have you go on about His business?  I believe that it is not God’s will for us to burden ourselves with a “requirement” that causes us pointless stress or makes us self-focused.

The Apostle John ended his book with this amazing statement, And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.  John 21:25  If the acts Jesus did, presumably in the 3 years of his ministry, could not all be written down, how do we imagine that we are going to record every single thing He does for us on a day to day basis without becoming burned out in the process?

You see, this is the crux of the matter.  Whenever we invent something that is not commanded in scripture and lay it upon ourselves or others as a requirement of being “spiritual”, we are making a burden that can and will drive us away from Christ rather than to Him.  Something that might bring some joy and encouragement in moderation, when run to extremes can and will cause discouragement and weariness.

Galatians 6:8-10  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Colossians 2:8-10  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Man’s traditions do not lead to peace and completeness in Christ.  They lead to weariness and bondage.  And, that is what can easily happen when we compel ourselves to count every little blessing.

We have the freedom in Christ not to record every blessing.  We have the freedom to thank Him personally and then keep on moving, leaving the burden of recording and counting with Him – if He keeps records of such things. :-)  So, if you enjoy keeping a prayer journal, or an answered prayer journal, or just a journal – that is your choice and is fine.  But, it is completely possible to live a thankful life and acknowledge the blessings of God without writing down every single one!  What do you think the Christians did for hundreds of years when paper and ink were not common commodities and they couldn’t keep journals?  Quite simply, they forgot, or they remembered only the significant things.  I think we can safely say that those that walked with God thanked Him and moved on.  And, the Lord didn’t count that as sin!  How could He?  That’s the natural course of human life in this weak flesh.

Is it wrong to remember blessings?  No, but the thing can be overdone or done for wrong motives.  And we are told …to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.  Acts 20:35  When we are spending a lot of time remembering all the things we have received from God, we are likely to forget to give – which is a greater blessing!  Even worse, we are likely to forget the words of our Lord Jesus when we are focusing so much on ourselves.

What’s more, we read in Hebrews 13:15,  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.  This means that God wants to HEAR our thanks to His name!  The sacrifice of praise is not writing in a journal or on a list, it is speaking with our lips!  This is something to really think on in the face of the writing trend.  And, by the way, when we speak His praise, others are going to sometimes hear it as well and receive a blessing – remember giving is more blessed that receiving.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with keeping a journal, a prayer journal, a blessing journal or list maybe it is time to lay it aside and instead focus on the Giver of the blessings Himself.  Maybe it is time to stop examining your own “attitude of gratitude” in every situation and just say “Thank you, Lord” out loud to God Himself whenever you are blessed.  Perhaps it is time to use your voice to make known His wondrous works rather than obsessing about writing down every blessed thing.

Psalms 26:6-7  I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

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After thought – if you would like to keep a written record of some of your blessings without the burden of writing a journal, I might recommend a “Blessings Jar”.  You – and your family, and even friends – can write your blessings on slips of paper and place them in a jar.  At the end of the year – or really whenever you want to – you can read all the blessings and see the things the Lord has done and/or prayers He’s answered.  Maybe you could even add verses of scripture that are an especial blessing to you over the year.  But don’t forget to talk of His blessings too! :-)  Psalms 145:21  My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Laying Aside Weights – Counting: Works unto the Lord

 

I haven’t written an item for the Laying Aside Weights series for some time.  As I was working on this post it occurred to me that this was something that can be a real weight for believers.  There are a lot of areas where people think they need to “keep score” on certain aspects of the ministry that just aren’t encouraged in scripture.

Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

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1 Corinthians 1:16  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

It’s very interesting here that Paul was not “keeping score”.  He didn’t even remember who all he had baptized at Corinth.  I wonder if he even kept track of those whom he “led to Christ”. 

Man has an instinct to count things – especially if it’s something that will make him look good to other men or himself.  Nations like to count their people to determine how much tax they can raise, how big of an army they can raise, and other sundry things.  Radio and television stations and programs like to raise funds by enumerating their “listening audience”.  Many organizations and groups like to count their members to prove their success.  Churches like to count their members, baptisms, salvations and attendance, probably assuming the same thing – that more means they are successful.

I have heard of people who boasted about how many people they “led to Christ” “every week”.  I’ve even heard of Christian colleges that required their students to witness to a given number of people each week.  I am sure that some of the former are lying (for one thing, many of them practice the “one, two, three repeat after me” method, which is usually not the true Gospel of Jesus Christ).  I know that at least some of the latter lie about their numbers because a good friend of mine had a lady admit it to her.

Keeping count is also a terrible burden.  People who are counting their works and various aspects of their ministry are often comparing themselves to others. 2 Corinthians 10:12  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.  When you find you can’t keep up with other people’s numbers, it’s a temptation to become frantic in your efforts and careless in the endeavor, or to quit entirely.  It can become a serious weight and hindrance to running the race with patience.

But, in 1 Cor. 1:16 we see that Paul wasn’t even keeping count of those he had baptized. 

If the great Apostle was not making “marks on his gun” as to how many people he’d baptized (and possibly those he led to Christ), why should we?  Success is not measured by numbers.  Jesus Himself did not have a huge following and, interestingly enough, when He did have more He preached a hard message that sent all those who were looking for shows and handouts running for cover (John 6:48-66).  He also told us that it would be the few who would find and enter the strait gate: Matthew 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

From what Paul had to say in other places I think it’s safe to say that Paul was more concerned with people going on with the Lord and walking in the ways of righteousness than in how many people he had personally baptized.  Over and over he talks about standing and growing and walking in God’s word and ways.  Over and over he reproves, rebukes and exhorts with all longsuffering and doctrine (2 Tim. 4:2).  From that I think we should take the hint that edifying our fellow believers in much more important than keeping track of our own personal accomplishments in the work. 

Romans 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Ephesians 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

1 Thessalonians 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

I think we are all tempted by this from time to time in various ways. It is a common thing to dwell on our own accomplishments to make ourselves feel like we’re worth something.  At the end of the day, Jesus told us not to count our accomplishments, but to consider what we did our expected duty.  Luke 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

In 1 Corinthians 4:2-4 Paul wrote,  “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.  For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.”

When it’s all said and done, our judgment comes from the Lord.  If we are working for the Lord and to be a blessing to men, rather than to impress men, we will leave the record keeping and counting in God’s hands.  And, this will be a great weight off of us.  When we stop counting and let the Lord give the increase, we will be happier, freer and less burdened with human ideals and demands (both of our own and others).  When we do this, we are free to focus on the Lord and His work instead of on ourselves and the opinion of others.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

2 Corinthians 10:18  For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Laying Aside Weights – Suffering for 15 Minutes Demo

 

In the second post of this series I put up a link and briefly discussed the idea of “suffering for 15 minutes”.  The idea is to set a timer and work for just 15 minutes at a time on some project that is overwhelming you and seems too large to complete.  By limiting your “suffering” to 15 minutes at a time, you can eventually get the job done.  As some people have put it, “You can do anything for 15 minutes.”  Instead of having it hanging over your head and frustrating you in the background of life, you can actually get through the job, or at least make some movement toward that end.  This has some very practical applications and can actually help to reduce stress! :-)

Awhile back I decided to tackle my small-but-stuffed sewing room.  It was a mess and discouraging.  Of course, due to it’s size and content the results are not as stunning as some other area of work might have been, but I certainly felt better about it! :-)  I took photos so that I could share the results.

I did the job in several “installments” of 15 minutes.  The first time, just as I was starting, my sister-in-law showed up and kindly offered to help me.  So, I had the added blessing of extra hands and someone to talk to while I spent the first 15 minutes on this project!  What a blessing! :-)  Once I saw some results I decided to push on, but I was interrupted at some point, so I just turned the timer off and came back to it later.  I did a second and a third installment of 15 minutes each (not all on the same day!) to finish the project to my satisfaction.

Before

This was the view looking straight into the sewing room door.

After

This is quite an improvement and probably the best feeling area in the room.

Before

Half way

All that fabric that was draped all over the pace got gathered up and folded nicely. :-)

After

Before

It’s hard to get an appreciation for the size of this pile here, but it was really way too big!

After

You can see on the left that that huge mountain has disappeared. :-) Yes, there was actually an “L” of the desk over there holding it up!

Before

That is the same pile on the right as is shown above.

Half way

After

Well, I had a new pile on the left of the machine, as you can see.  This pile was things that I wanted to get done sooner rather than later.  Some of them did get done, or discarded. :-)  [Remember that sometimes it’s good to get rid of an unfinished project.]

I needed to spend another 15 minutes on the top shelf of the desk, but that didn’t happen.  Since I do use this room, it has reverted to some extent and is probably ready to be tackled again, though it’s not as bad as it was. 

This picture cracked me up when I took it.  I just had to laugh when I saw that denim bag (unfinished) actually hanging off the top shelf.  You know sometimes it’s better to laugh at ourselves than to stress over it. ;-)  Too bad I didn’t take an “after” shot.  [Yes, that is water on the top shelf.  We’ve had ours go out more than once, so we keep several gallons on hand, and strangely enough, somehow it ended up there.  Weird, I know.]

As you can see, my sewing room is far from being a model room, and there’s no way I’ll ever appear on any organizing show with the “after” results.  Ha.  But, I was happy with the results and it was good enough for me to be able to work in there again without feeling like it was going to cave in on me! :-)  And, after all, that’s what really counts.  [Remember our discussion of “good enough” in the Perfectionism “chapter”? :-)  ]