Midweek Motivation
Scripture, Short Devotion
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God. – 1 Cor. 1:26-29
It’s a good thing, too. As I prepared to be all prompt and useful for this series of columns, I started out by sending them to the wrong person. When I did get the right person, I managed to forget to attach one of them. Anybody remember Don Music from Sesame Street, with his head-pounding-on-keyboard maneuver?
It was a total forehead-slapping day. (Actually, it was an entire week.) I probably needed to feel my human limitations, but it sure didn’t feel comfortable.
However, God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.
Thank God for His grace, which not only gives us the tools we need to deal with our own limitations, but gives others in the body of Christ the “filler grace” to hang in there with us when we’re lacking. If you’re having one of those days, smile. When we’re weak, then we’re strong. If nothing else, you’re the opportunity God is handing someone else so they can share their blessings and help you along the Heaven-road.
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Cor. 1:30-31
I homeschool. Therefore, multitasking is the only way I can get anything done around here. I have to make chances to meet my own goals. To achieve this, I often assign bookwork and insist they complete it quietly while I work.
I work in the same room with them.
You see, having a husband on shift-work means I can’t rely on him to be there at regular intervals to give me “alone time.” It was a real pain at first, but I’ve found it’s worth it (once your kids are of an age where they can comply) to train your children to leave you alone and behave themselves constructively for short periods of time.
I do have a super-secret: I keep tabs on the healthy, educational activities my kids really, really love. I then use those things to either bribe them shamelessly or keep them distracted. If I want to write, they get to do pages and pages of artwork, go out to the pond to catalogue duck species, or hold a jam session with their trombone and trumpets in the basement. (I’ve learned to block out noise.)
The essential ingredients are consistency, not overdoing their built-in time limit, and staying plugged in to what’s going on in the room. Once they adjust, it can be a “teamwork” feeling as everyone works to educate themselves in their chosen subject area.
Every so often, I get a nagging sense that while there’s nothing inherently wrong with my dreams and goals, I’m not quite headed in the right direction yet.
Tomorrow, May 24th, I’ll be talking about something much less comfortable than the whimsical philosophizing I prefer. I’ll be going on a live podcast show called Grace Talk Soup to discuss the controversial issue of abortion.
Only, I’ll be doing it from the perspective of a woman who’s had one.
How can I do such a personal thing? Because it’s too important not to. It’s not my favourite topic. I don’t touch on it often. But, sometimes, people need a safe place to ask difficult questions, or to hear that someone else has faced the same secret troubles they’ve had.
It’s not a message I would choose. But the thing about being a communicator is that I can’t just be here to spout my own thoughts. “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind.” (Proverbs 18:2) Hey, who wants to be a fool?
Check in with God today, and take the time to find out if you’ve gotten distracted from the spiritual purposes He’s given you.
It’s super-worth-it too. (Anybody counting hyphens yet? ;~) This is based on two different wholegrain bread recipes. You can use this recipe to bribe your spouse, children, neighbours and co-workers. So, it can get you out of trouble big time if all you get done in a day is writing. . . and a batch of bread. Here’s the link:
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/LazyCreekHoneyFarm/55832/
In the opening of First Corinthians, Paul writes about the wisdom of God, and how foolish the cross seems in the world’s reasoning, and then he writes:
But just as it is written,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
– 1 Cor. 2:9
I memorized this verse one week after I repented of my sins and received Christ. I spoke it at my baptism. I cannot tell you how true these words of God are. You can trust them. There are things which you and I have never imagined, waiting ahead. I had a taste of that when I trusted Christ to take my sins on Himself and substitute His life in their place.
Pure and undefiled things. That’s the first thing I think of – they must be infinitely pure, because sinless perfection is that one great thing my heart can’t contain.
And yet, my heart contains God – or rather, His heart contains me.
I encourage you – close your door, fall on your knees and give your praises to the God who loved us, and gave Himself up for us.
