Monday, April 18, 2011

Make Me Wise


A friend sent us this cd, and on it is the song, Make Me Wise. I've been singing it all day...


"Make me wise, make me wise
Let me see through this world's lies...


There are so many paths to follow 
And I don't want to compromise...


Make me wise, make me wise
So I'm pleasing in Your sight...


Lord, I want to bring You glory
So I'm asking You to make me wise..."


The last three weeks have been WONDERFUL. And I am exhausted. Two weeks of work travel with The Engineer and oldest two, followed by a week of Spring Break that included Mama and my sister visiting, along with other commitments we'd made...I am pooped. 



And I find myself hungering and thirsting for alone time with my Savior. With three crazy weeks came crazy schedules. And time in His Word suffered most.


I was working through my CBS lesson and came across this:

The Lord's Supper also reminds us that God has sanctified all of life. One of our highest acts of spiritual worship (partaking of Communion) is expressed by common physical acts - eating and drinking. There is no division between the sacred and the secular, the physical and the spiritual. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will recieve an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." -Col 3:23-24



There is "no division" between the "sacred" and the "secular!?"


Do all things with all my heart like I'm working for the Lord and not for men.


All things? Like, scrubbing the shower? And folding the laundry?


Like...these seemingly meaningless things I do, we do, day in and day out...


Making lunches and sweeping floors and hours waiting in the dentist's office...reminding them again and again and again to say "please" and "thank you" and "yes ma'am and no ma'am."


These things, these COMMON things can be done to the glory of God!!! Yes! Yes! (And I know this. Why don't I LIVE it?!)


We are talking about the very things I do day in and day out. The things no one notices until I don't do them and then there are cries of dissatisfaction - the very things, the things I -yikes, like to feel bitter about - because I want the thanks and praise of man. Those things can be done to the glory of God.

I read on...

"true greatness is expressed in a life of service (Phil. 2:5-8)....However, the Lord goes on to speak of the necessity for continued moment-by-moment cleansing from the sin that spiritually defiles us even after our initial salvation experience. (John 13:10). And then on to Galations 5:16,25 - "Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature....Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."



And I remember reading Stepping Heavenward. Once in high school and again last summer, and I remember Katherine finding herself utterly frustrated over the demands of motherhood and the lack of time she had to spend in scripture and how in the throes of life with children, she felt she needed that time most and then it dawned on her...


These days are where it counts. This, THIS is where I practice what I preach, what I claim, what I have for so long in the past feasted upon. This is where the rubber meets the road.



This is when it counts. Now. When no one is looking and it isn't always fun and thanks are not offered as often as my flesh would like.


And these often thankless, seemingly mundane and meaningless tasks can be done in a spirit, with a heart, that brings God glory and honor.


How precious to be reminded that God has sanctified all of life. That there is no division between the sacred and the secular, the physical and the spiritual.


Because today, there is a lot to do. Tomorrow there is more. And I am tired. And time is scarce. And though this is nothing new, I struggle to remember that God is glorified in the seemingly mundane and that He sees and knows all. How precious that He redeems fallen, sinful, self-loving people (me). 

13 comments:

  1. Oh how I LOVED this post Jenn! How I love YOU! What a blessing to call you friend...and to really be friends...you are precious!

    I love all the Scripture and the life application and how the LORD is teaching you these WONDERFUL truths early on in your career as Wife and Mama...such a BLESSING!!

    I read Stepping Heavenward long ago and just loaned it out to a friend...it had a great impact on me. How neat that you have it too.

    Hang in there. Step by step. Moment by moment. WITH the LORD!

    Much Love,
    Camille

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  2. I too, my friend. I found myself yesterday grumping at everyone. I was sick, I was tired and everyone seemed to be trashing the house and wanting something from me. I hadn't been in the Word and I suffered for it.

    Today is going to be different. Circumstances haven't changed, but my heart has. I need the Spirit to fill me up from my head to my toes so that I can live in victory.

    Loved the last photo!

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  3. Amen, sister. I, too, find myself having to preach to my heart that my homemaking is an act of faith.

    We have the "To Be Like Jesus" CD and love, love, love it. I'll have to check out "Make Me Wise," too.

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  4. Thank you, J! This is wonderful. I've been struggling with the mundane and you are so right: I just need to lift it up!

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  5. Peace, Endurance, Perseverance and blessings to you J. Oh it is tiring. I will pray with you for contentment and a passion to glorify our God in all things. I am tired too and needed the renewal that only He can bring. Great post.
    Love,
    Misty

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  6. Tears in my eyes... saying thank you, my friend. I'm so where you are right now after 3.5 weeks of having the husband away. Your thoughts and these words are what I needed to read.

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  7. So, so convicting and encouraging at the same time!!! Thank you for sharing your heart and your insights. I too, have been struggling with a heart that want to bitter (and feeling justified in my anger) over the everyday exhaustions of life with little kids. You are so right--this is the time of life to live what we believe like we really believe it. Thanks for the encouragement!

    LOVED that last picture! My kids just spent the night in Harry's room because there was thunderstorm. Praying that they will always see each other as a source of support and comfort! :)

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  8. Great post. Encouraging words! I especially love what you shared from Stepping Heavenward. I so need to re-read that.

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  9. Awesome post! I needed a reminder! Lately it seems like I'm fighting to have joy in the everyday things. This is a great encouragement!

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  10. Man, this is good stuff.
    Make me wise too, Lord, while You're working on Jenn :)

    Are they really sleeping in that last photo? Looks like after all the beautiful fun they had in the others, they crashed :)

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  11. Hi there! We have some mutual friends, and I found your blog and really love it! Such encouraging thoughts and real moments.

    I, too, am at home and I know what you mean about it being a calling. Hang in there! The Lord is glorified in your wife-ing and mother-ing!

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    Xo, Meme

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