Two things happen quite regularly in my life...well, that was vague. There are more than two things that happen regularly. Let me start again...
There are two realizations that I encounter almost every Sunday:
1. All the random "deep" thoughts of the past week come crashing together into one big logical idea, often influenced by the message I hear at church.
2. I'm humbly reminded of how parenting is as much about me becoming the adult God wants me to be as it is about my kids becoming the adults God wants them to be.
Showing posts with label Scenic Sunday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scenic Sunday. Show all posts
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Scenic Sunday: Change Before You Have To
This is my second "Scenic Sunday" post, where I gather up my Sunday inspiration to take with me into the coming week. When I write things out, I remember them better. So...
The current sermon series at church "Change Before You Have To" (based on Rob Ketterling's book by the same title) has been challenging and practical, as usual. It's the kind of message that leaves you feeling like a hypocrite if you don't do something about it...which I kind of love. I know I can be a better person. We all should know that about ourselves. But I love learning practical steps on how to be more of who God created me to be.
Here's the 4 phases of change that Pastor Peter Haas presented today, which are necessary for complete change:
1) Acquiring information (truth) about an area of your life that needs change
2) Recognizing what inferior substitutes you've been allowing in this area of your life
3) Making sure you have friendships/community that will support the changes you need to make
4) Maintaining those changes
I'm going to be transparent about the two things that I need to change right now: sugar and reading.
Using sugar as an energy booster or a reward for a long day is definitely a very poor substitute for good sleep, good eating and exercise. There must be something better for me than running to the cupboard for another handful of chocolate chips! In Spanish we say, "Una vez al año no hace daño" (Once a year will do no harm). But once every hour will! :)
And reading is not something I need to quit, it's something I need to do more! I'm in a stage of parenting that has definitely increased my level of prayer (ha!), but I know that there is much wisdom just sitting pretty on my bookshelves that I could be learning from. (HGTV, my frequent down time companion, isn't going to teach me any of that.) So what if I can't finish the book? Every little bit helps! I know by now that there are many methods, opinions and styles of parenting. But I have also learned to discern what is simply Bible-based and I know that it works! So I need to be filling my mind with these words of wisdom and fresh ideas on a daily basis, because I know I'm tired of hearing my own overused phrases that are obviously having no effect on the little people in my house. :)
So off to do some reading before bed...
The current sermon series at church "Change Before You Have To" (based on Rob Ketterling's book by the same title) has been challenging and practical, as usual. It's the kind of message that leaves you feeling like a hypocrite if you don't do something about it...which I kind of love. I know I can be a better person. We all should know that about ourselves. But I love learning practical steps on how to be more of who God created me to be.
Here's the 4 phases of change that Pastor Peter Haas presented today, which are necessary for complete change:
1) Acquiring information (truth) about an area of your life that needs change
2) Recognizing what inferior substitutes you've been allowing in this area of your life
3) Making sure you have friendships/community that will support the changes you need to make
4) Maintaining those changes
I'm going to be transparent about the two things that I need to change right now: sugar and reading.
Using sugar as an energy booster or a reward for a long day is definitely a very poor substitute for good sleep, good eating and exercise. There must be something better for me than running to the cupboard for another handful of chocolate chips! In Spanish we say, "Una vez al año no hace daño" (Once a year will do no harm). But once every hour will! :)
And reading is not something I need to quit, it's something I need to do more! I'm in a stage of parenting that has definitely increased my level of prayer (ha!), but I know that there is much wisdom just sitting pretty on my bookshelves that I could be learning from. (HGTV, my frequent down time companion, isn't going to teach me any of that.) So what if I can't finish the book? Every little bit helps! I know by now that there are many methods, opinions and styles of parenting. But I have also learned to discern what is simply Bible-based and I know that it works! So I need to be filling my mind with these words of wisdom and fresh ideas on a daily basis, because I know I'm tired of hearing my own overused phrases that are obviously having no effect on the little people in my house. :)
So off to do some reading before bed...
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Scenic Sunday: Batterson & Prayer
Sunday nights always find me challenged and inspired. I'm blessed to be a part of a wonderful church that leaves me wishing it was Sunday every day. I think that's what church is supposed to feel like. This morning's message was a challenging reiteration of what I just wrote about: inspiration. Basically, taking it to the next level, which would be "change". Have a responsive heart to the voice of God and obey, not just think about it.
Later this evening, my husband and I started reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. It's the book our small group will go through this Fall so we are getting a head start. Three chapters in and I'm already convicted about a major part of my life: prayer. I love books like that where the author clearly and skillfully presents deep truth that resonates in your Spirit. You start out thinking you know all about [insert subject], and suddenly you're hit with a completely new way of seeing it. But then what? There's always that question...what to do with this new and challenging information?
Well, first of all, I need to process through these thoughts for a bit, which is really why I write. It's how I process the best. A little while back I wrote a post about relating to God in a submissive "your-will-be-done" way. I still strongly believe that we need to beware of having a strong grip on "our way" because that may be getting in the way of "His will" which is always better than we can imagine. However, I realized tonight, in reading Batterson's book, that I've kind of developed a passive obedience in my relationship with God. Let me explain.
Batterson says that "if your prayers aren't impossible to you, they are offensive to God". It took me a few minutes to swallow that, but being a parent is awesome because I understand God at so many new levels. When my 3-year-old son whines for me to help him with something that we both know he can easily do, that offends me. It's sometimes his way of getting attention or competing with the younger ones. Or just being lazy. And when I'm juggling a nursing baby, a messy girl and a whiny boy, yes indeed, that's offensive.
Of course, God is infinitely more patient and gracious than me and my parenting skills. But on the flip-side, when my son sweetly asks for my help with something too big for him, some "big boy" step in life that he is trying to master, then I fill up with pride and compassion and grace and all these good things and I gladly help him. That's when I feel like a great parent. So Batterson's statement makes sense to me now.
I feel like I'm starting to see a deeper level of relationship that is possible with God! Maybe, just like any other relationship, He wants more with me than just a boring "yes, Sir" and "Your will be done". I mean, an obedient child is better than a rebellious one, but you can be obedient and compliant and still not have an exciting relationship. My husband doesn't want a wife who only ever responds to him with "Yes, Dear, whatever you want." It's way more interesting and exciting to have a little bit of discussion and conversation over things. So how does that apply to prayer?
According to Batterson, it's boldness, specificity. Being sure of what we hope for, that's the definition of faith. So, am I sure of what I hope for? Or am I vague and unspecific and, well, boring?
Well, that sums up my Sunday night thoughts. I think I will try to start a weekly Sunday post called Scenic Sunday, because come Monday, it's easy to forget all the things that got me stirred up and inspired the day before. I want to remember the "scenery" that Sunday painted for my life and take that into my week. So here's the first Scenic Sunday post.
Later this evening, my husband and I started reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. It's the book our small group will go through this Fall so we are getting a head start. Three chapters in and I'm already convicted about a major part of my life: prayer. I love books like that where the author clearly and skillfully presents deep truth that resonates in your Spirit. You start out thinking you know all about [insert subject], and suddenly you're hit with a completely new way of seeing it. But then what? There's always that question...what to do with this new and challenging information?
Well, first of all, I need to process through these thoughts for a bit, which is really why I write. It's how I process the best. A little while back I wrote a post about relating to God in a submissive "your-will-be-done" way. I still strongly believe that we need to beware of having a strong grip on "our way" because that may be getting in the way of "His will" which is always better than we can imagine. However, I realized tonight, in reading Batterson's book, that I've kind of developed a passive obedience in my relationship with God. Let me explain.
Batterson says that "if your prayers aren't impossible to you, they are offensive to God". It took me a few minutes to swallow that, but being a parent is awesome because I understand God at so many new levels. When my 3-year-old son whines for me to help him with something that we both know he can easily do, that offends me. It's sometimes his way of getting attention or competing with the younger ones. Or just being lazy. And when I'm juggling a nursing baby, a messy girl and a whiny boy, yes indeed, that's offensive.
Of course, God is infinitely more patient and gracious than me and my parenting skills. But on the flip-side, when my son sweetly asks for my help with something too big for him, some "big boy" step in life that he is trying to master, then I fill up with pride and compassion and grace and all these good things and I gladly help him. That's when I feel like a great parent. So Batterson's statement makes sense to me now.
I feel like I'm starting to see a deeper level of relationship that is possible with God! Maybe, just like any other relationship, He wants more with me than just a boring "yes, Sir" and "Your will be done". I mean, an obedient child is better than a rebellious one, but you can be obedient and compliant and still not have an exciting relationship. My husband doesn't want a wife who only ever responds to him with "Yes, Dear, whatever you want." It's way more interesting and exciting to have a little bit of discussion and conversation over things. So how does that apply to prayer?
According to Batterson, it's boldness, specificity. Being sure of what we hope for, that's the definition of faith. So, am I sure of what I hope for? Or am I vague and unspecific and, well, boring?
Well, that sums up my Sunday night thoughts. I think I will try to start a weekly Sunday post called Scenic Sunday, because come Monday, it's easy to forget all the things that got me stirred up and inspired the day before. I want to remember the "scenery" that Sunday painted for my life and take that into my week. So here's the first Scenic Sunday post.
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