sick day thoughts

I know I've neglected this blog to a shocking degree lately, and I do have every intention of resurrecting it at some point. Just not quite yet. Right now I have no time for writing, which is okay because my skills in that area seem to have hit dead end anyway. I hope to take some writing classes in the next couple of years to brush up on my skills, and maybe then, if I'm not still working full time, I'll start posting regularly again.

In the mean time, here are a few lessons I've been learning lately. The first few I picked up from a sermon by Al Martin titled "How To Live So As To Be A Cause of Boasting for Your Pastor In The Day Of Judgement."

1. Philippians 2:14- "Do all things without grumbling or complaining." Why is this so hard to remember? The Isrelites complained about two things: God's provision for their physical needs, and the leadership He placed over them. God dealt with them very seriously for these sins. I tend to complain constantly about the very same things without ever giving it a second thought. Paul's next words on the subject make it very clear that this isn't just an arbitrary, random exortation- but a very key principle when it comes to being set apart "in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." Everyone complains. If we don't, the difference will stand out.

2. Blamelessness is an attainable goal. Philippians 2: 15- "...That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish." Also Luke 1:6- "And they [Zachariah and Elizabeth] were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord." If course, it's impossible to be sinless- but to be blameless is to walk in a way that is always consistent with my profession. That means forsaking sin at every turn and leaving no turf in the lawn of my life unsurrendered to Christ's examination and transformation. How far short I fall of this every day!

3. (Not related to the sermon today.) Mission work is almost worthless without the Gospel. I've always been a huge advocate of the "cup of cold water in My name" mentality, thinking that if I just chose to serve people's physical needs in Christ's name I would be doing enough. And don't get me wrong, I still think there is some value in doing humanitarian work- just as there is value in doing accounting work or street-sweeping. But there is no longer any question in my mind that what starving people need the most is the gospel, and that it's not arrogant or blind to say so. Of course we don't just hand out Bibles and leave people to starve- but it is just as foolish to imagine that we can do the opposite and have any kind of lasting effect. Also, I'm realizing it takes serious organization and wisdom on the part of those willing to undertake these kinds of efforts in order to be truly effective, which is daunting and also exciting. It really makes me want to get my ducks in a row so faster so that I can be of more use in this lost and dying world- although I wonder just how far I have to go before I can really be a worthy tool!

4. Being a woman is a huge, daunting, overwhelming and also thrilling responsibility. I guess all my life I thought I had two options- settle down and be a Godly woman in a family (good) or be a world traveler and do big things (great). I'm learning that no matter where I am, weather it's in Africa teaching English or here raising children, my job will be basically the same- and that roll is fundamentally grounded in small services and daily sacrifices that add up to a glorious responsibility. I'm sure I will always struggle to find the meaning in the mundane work I have to do, but it's through this kind of work that the greatest efforts of the world have been accomplished. Girls, it's not even just about supporting the men in our lives or taking a back seat to bigger dreams- it's about doing what we were designed as women to do. I don't think I'm quite tapping into the full power of this concept with these weak words, but needless to say I've been inspired.

That's all for now folks!