Fully Clean

Did I mention that it is cold here?  Due to no central heat, pipes freezing, and the time it takes to heat up bathrooms, we don't shower everyday.   So when I entered the warm bathroom after 3 days with no shower, I was more than ready to be fully clean.  No sponge baths or extra deodorant, I wanted to be fully clean.  I took my time and scrubbed my hair watching as a trail of dirty soapy water went down the drain. Since I was the last one to shower that day, I lingered under the hot water just a few seconds longer enjoying the warmth and being clean.   As I finished getting ready for my day, I enjoyed the joy of being refreshed and ready to face the world with a new outlook- a clean one.   A clean outlook is one where the world seems a little more positive and you have a "I can take on this day with a smile" attitude.

In Psalm 51, David had a similar idea about being fully clean in regards to his relationship with God.  His heart was dirty with the sin of murder, adultery and all the sin that led up to those.  David didn't mess around with a few bullet prayers of "God, I am sorry, please forgive me."  He prayed for a deep cleaning.  His words ring true for me today.  "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love." vs1  "Wash me and I will be whiter than snow." vs7  "Surely you desire truth in the inner parts." vs6  "Create in me a clean heart, O God."vs10  It is so easy to keep taking sponge baths and putting off being fully clean.  But being fully clean before my Savior gives life a whole new perspective.  It makes you wonder why you waited so long.

Dear God, I come before you today knowing that you are merciful and forgiving.  Create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Make me more like you.  Amen


Others posts you might enjoy.
Confession is good for the Soul
A Prayer Like Ezra and Daniel

Whose side are you on?

(picture taken from canibuyavowel.wordpress.com)

It is time for class to start.  We are one day short this week due to an unplanned holiday which means only two days to review before the final.  Now, are my senior students worried about this?  No, not really.    Three of my students are warming themselves by the heater and not too concerned about getting ready for class to start.  So instead of asking my students  how their three day weekend was and getting them focused in a positive way, I immediately got on them for not being on task and moved them back to their regular seats away from the heater.   In the next 5 minutes, I could see that my approach was not the best.  Out of four students, I had two with me and two not with me.    Now I do realize that a better approach might not have had better results but at least I would not have felt like it was my fault.  To top it off, the next morning as I was reading through Philippians 4 in the Message, I came across this paragraph.

Celebrate God all day, every day.  I mean, revel in him!  Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you are on their side, working with them and not against them.  Help them see that the Master is about to arrive.  He could show up any minute.

Was I celebrating God?  No.  I was stressed about getting my students ready for a test and disappointed in their apathy.   So often I look at a situation as a problem instead of celebrating God and the opportunities he sends me to influence those around me in a positive way.  Was I making it clear I was on their side?  No, I was combative and authoritative.  My attitude was clearly not showing the Master to my students.  Everyday I have a choice with my students.  I can let them know I am on their side, working with them and not against them and focus on them.  Or I can focus on the task and getting it done at all costs.  I am finding that the former gets better results.  The next day I tried a different approach- a more positive one that was focused on the student and not the task.  Were all the students with them?  Well maybe 3 out of 4 this time but I felt I had done the right thing.   So sometimes it is the simple things that help me be on my student's or even children's sides.  Maybe it is having extra pencils and erasers available for students to borrow.  Maybe it is coming along side my son as he cleans his room and helping him.  Maybe it is quizzing my daughter on her biology the night before her big test.  May I choose to celebrate God all day, everyday in all my interactions.

In the gospels, Jesus is in the business of showing people he is on their side.  Jesus reached out to tax collectors like Matthew and Zacchaeus.  He took the time for children to sit on his  lap.  He sees women as equals with value.  His disciples were not a list of who's who but that didn't stop Jesus from coming along side them and using them to start his church.  But most of all, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross allowed us to reconcile with God.  It showed us that God was not against us.   Jesus allowed us to see the Master.  I, for one, am thankful for that.

Dear God, Thank you for Jesus and how he showed us the way to you.  Thank you for second chances.  Help me each day to celebrate you.  Help me to come along side those you send my way.  Help them to see that the Master is about to arrive.   May I show the way not be in the way of you being glorified.  Amen

Keeping Warm

As you can see, it is cold where I live.   January has been colder than normal this year.  In fact, today it was only 10 degrees Fahrenheit.   Now where some of  you live the weather is much colder.  What makes it feel so cold here is that there is no central heat.  This Iowa girl had a few cold winters growing up but somehow she is very cold here.  Since we cannot just turn a switch and our heat comes on, a lot of time and energy is spent into staying warm.  At home, we spend most of our time in the living room where the wood stove is located.  My husband and son graciously bring in the wood each evening and keep the fire tended.  Then when it is time for bed, we run upstairs and jump quickly into a bed that has hot water bottles and two down comforters plus a few other blankets.  If the hot water bottles were put in at the right time, the bed is warm.  If not, it will be cold for a few minutes.  In the morning, my husband wakes up earlier so that he can have the dining room warm for us when we get up.  Other times he will have the bathroom heater lit so that we can get ready in a room where we can not see our breath.    Have I mentioned the layers of clothes we wear each day?  At school, my students are all fighting over who can sit the closest to the heater.  Some students wear a stocking hat all day.  Some days I join them.

We use a lot of energy keeping our bodies warm here.  It made me think of how much energy I use keeping my heart warm for the things of God.   Do I daily spend time with the light of the world so that I can shine brightly to those around me?   Do I dedicate time each day to spend with my Savior who when he speaks has been know to make those around him feel like their hearts were burning within them? (Note: the men on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24)  Most of all, am I praying daily for God's spirit to warm the hearts of those around me to his words and his salvation?  We live in a world that is cold to the things of God.  May we not let our hearts grow cold or even lukewarm. 

God, Thank you for the warmth in the midst of the cold.  I ask that you be with those who have no source of heat that you would provide for them.  Also be with those who need the warmth of your love to transform their hearts and lives.  Bring warmth to this land.  May I be diligent and guard my heart from even becoming luke warm.  In Jesus Name, Amen

Talking About Jesus

As I woke up this morning and lay in bed awake, my mind started thinking about a blog post I had read recently by John Piper called Know A Christian Who Seems to Love Movies More Than Jesus.  It really made me think about the daily conversations I have both inside and outside my home.  What do I get excited about?  What do I talk about?

But then I thought, why don't I talk more about Jesus and what he has done? Is it because I am afraid of coming off as too religious?  Most of all, do I get just as excited when I talk about Jesus as I do if I am talking about a favorite book or new item in my house?   I am challenged just to talk about what Jesus is doing in my life more often with my husband, kids and close friends.  I think then it will become  naturally a part of other conversations.  Of course, if I am excited about Jesus, I would not be able to stop talking about him.  So the question is am I excited about Jesus?

So as you can see I have a lot of questions and not many answers.  I know the article was more about others than examining myself.  But for me, I needed to start with myself.   I live in a culture where religion is a common topic even though Jesus is not.   I find myself talking more about God and what he is doing than Jesus.  Maybe it is because God is a safer topic.  My prayer is in the coming weeks for me to seek God's leading in my conversations to see if now is the time to introduce the name of Jesus.  What about you?

Dear God, Thank you for your son.  May I never take for granted what Jesus did on the cross.  May I set my eyes of Jesus the author and perfecter of my faith.  Give the words to share Jesus in this culture.  May my excitement for Jesus be contagious.  Amen

December 2011/January 2011 Links

Here are some posts that have me thinking and hopefully applying.  

Lysa Terkeurst in her post Confessions- Part 3 talked about how we can often push the limits and manipulate instead of waiting on God.

Another Lisa, Lisa Byrne reminded me of our 4 minimum requirements. They are not rocket science but practical.  

Ann challenged me to a JOY DARE. Actually she is challenging all of us to one.  So far I am keeping up.

Laura challenged me to Learn From Imperfect People. 

Desiring God had a post that made me think about the conversations that I have with others.  What do I talk about?  Why don't I talk about Jesus more when He is such an important part of my life?

Dear God,  As the New Year begins may I begin it with joy and thankfulness.  Help  me to remember my limits and take good care of myself so I can serve more fully.  May I remember that I can learn from all the people you put in my path and always remember to wait on you in all things.  In the Name of Your Son, Amen

2012 The Year of ...

Last year I was inspired to put one word to what I wanted the New Year to be about.  2011 was the year of Discipleship.    Rereading the post from last year, I see I didn't quite hit all the things I wanted to but I think I made progress.   Reading the bible through in a year was hard for me.  Between getting sidetracked by another study or taking a day off here and there, I still have some pages to go.   The kids and I have been memorizing Colossians which has been a challenge but rewarding.  It has been a simple way to begin our day and work on a Christian discipline. We have made it through the first chapter. Speaking the local language is better but still has a ways to go.   Over all, I could use another year of discipleship but after much thought and prayer, I have decided that 2012 will be the year of Seeing.

What do I mean by seeing?  One of my favorite quotes from a former BSF teacher was about how important it is to have a high view of God and an accurate view of ourselves.  So to start off with, I want to see God.  I want to see His character as I read the scriptures and see Him working around me.   I want to see myself as God sees me.   To know that I am loved but to also remember that I am a sinner saved by grace and not be blind to my faults.   Next, I want to really see those around me.  I interact with students, teachers, local people, teammates, and neighbors every day, but do I really see them?  This past year, I have been learning a lot about how I  react to someone based on a preconceived notion that I have about that person.  In those instances, I am not seeing that person as he or she is.  I am responding to the stereotype I have of the person and not to that person.  For example, my W makes an unkind remark to her brother at the breakfast table.  How I respond to her can make the difference in both of our days.  If I respond with a sharp attitude because I can not believe I am dealing with this issue again, it will probably just lead to more words.  On the other hand, if I respond with kind words finding out about her day and what is going on, I will probably have better results.   Notice I said probably.   It is my responsibility to respond in love and see my daughter.  I can not control the results but I can feel better about my actions.   When I see those around me, I am making an effort to get to know them, love them and accept them.

Living in a different culture requires me to see those around me if I want to bloom where God has planted me.   Our family is learning to value and respect much of the culture where we live and to understand our new friends.   It is challenging at times not to judge when things don't go like we are used to.   Seeing those around me means understanding who they are and what they have struggled with.  It means finding out that one friend didn't go to school but learned on his own due to all the fighting in the country.  Or learning that another friend's father died from a rocket that landed in their backyard.   How do you relate? I am trying to figure that out.

So this year is the Year of Seeing.  Seeing is a daily thing.  It requires my attention on a hourly basis.  To be successful, seeing will have to become a way of life.

Dear God, Thank you that you see us, truly see us.  May I see you in all that you do each day.  May I see your attributes and remember that I am in the presence of a holy God and there is no other God besides Him.  Help me to truly see those I interact with each day.  Help me to care for them as a person and not just as a name in my grade book or someone who can help me get a task accomplished.  May you be glorified in each interaction.  Amen