As much as we love our children, we all need a little time away now and then. Knowing this, when my sister asked if I could help watch her two boys while she and her husband took a four day trip to Florida, I said I would. Now, this is no small undertaking-- I have three children of my own, I homeschool one of them, and I was in the middle of two painting projects (mural artwork is my other part-time job). But, my mother was going to help with a couple of days too, so I knew I could swing my share. The story got a little more interesting when, two days before they were set to leave, my youngest nephew vomited. He was fine by the next day, so we figured that it would be alright for me to keep them after that.
Not so much. By the time my two days of keeping them were up, my little girl and I were both calling RALPH. I am a really big baby about this stuff, I hate being sick! I was sick for days! And, then my son got sick. Two days later, my other son got sick. This thing, whatever it was, was vicious! The worst part: Thanksgiving is the next day. I had planned on being at my Grandma Nannies with the other forty-some members of my family for a nice big dinner. Now, we would have to stay home. I'd be lying if I didn't admit this: I couldn't help but think how unfair it all was. I mean, there I was, trying to do a nice, selfless thing for my sister, and this is what I get? It reminded me of the time that I volunteered to take an elderly lady from our church to her doctor appointment, and while I was helping her out to my car, her 76 year old neighbor rammed into it in the parking lot outside their duplex. And then yelled and YELLED at me for parking too close to her driveway. Yeah, that was a nice day....
As I prayed about this whole mess I was in, only one word kept coming back to me: SACRIFICE. I felt God saying: I am teaching you about sacrifice. We all have needs of varying kinds, and at different (often unexpected) times. As the BODY of Christ, we know that we are supposed to serve one another. Sometimes we do so, and all goes well. Everything works out, and we may even get a nice "Thank You" note in the mail. Other times, it may be horribly inconvenient timing, our least favorite task, or cause us to have to give up something that we really wanted for ourselves. In those types of situations, should we just say "no?"
I don't watch Dr. Phil, but I have seen a clip or two where he talks about setting personal "boundaries." There is some truth to this, no doubt. Of course, in our culture, you won't have to look very far to find someone or something to encourage you in the "ME FIRST" philosophy. I am not saying that it's never ok to say "no." I am not saying you should always say "yes" to every request. What I am saying is, pray. If we pray about each obligation before we commit, we can know for sure that we are making the right choices. There may be times when you want to say "yes" to some need, and it's not God's will for you at all, because unbeknownst to you, He has someone else He wants to do it. There may be times when He leads you to take something on, and like my Thanksgiving, you have no idea what it's going to cost you. But, He does know and it's a refining process He wants you to go through. I keep asking God to make me more and more into who He wants. So I should not be shocked at trials and sufferings and sacrifices. These are His tools. Sacrifice, not selfishness, is His m.o.
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Phillipians 2:5-8
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
So, we may sit around and feel sorry for ourselves (a sneaky form of pride, self-pity!) and say that things in life are not fair. Praise GOD that this is true!!! I praise God that life is not fair! For it was far from "fair" that God sent is baby boy, one He dearly loved, down here to be tortured and to die. It's not fair that He, so perfect, would bleed and hang for all my selfishness and sin. From the majority, He never gets that "Thank You" note, either. He came because we desperately need Him. It wasn't comfortable or convenient to leave heaven's peace for this place, don't forget. It cost Him a great deal, but Jesus came anyway and He didn't grumble on the way to the cross. Can you conceive it???? I cannot! He put on human flesh and He came. I don't know a thing about sacrifice. I'll go ahead and speak for all of us: we don't know a thing about sacrifice. I publicly want to thank God right now that He decided to use this Thanksgiving to teach me a little more about what Jesus did for me! It's way more important than a turkey. Hopefully, one more tiny facet of me has been conformed to His image. If so, calling RALPH was worth it!
Phillipians 2:9-11
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
SOLO CHRISTOS!
Not so much. By the time my two days of keeping them were up, my little girl and I were both calling RALPH. I am a really big baby about this stuff, I hate being sick! I was sick for days! And, then my son got sick. Two days later, my other son got sick. This thing, whatever it was, was vicious! The worst part: Thanksgiving is the next day. I had planned on being at my Grandma Nannies with the other forty-some members of my family for a nice big dinner. Now, we would have to stay home. I'd be lying if I didn't admit this: I couldn't help but think how unfair it all was. I mean, there I was, trying to do a nice, selfless thing for my sister, and this is what I get? It reminded me of the time that I volunteered to take an elderly lady from our church to her doctor appointment, and while I was helping her out to my car, her 76 year old neighbor rammed into it in the parking lot outside their duplex. And then yelled and YELLED at me for parking too close to her driveway. Yeah, that was a nice day....
As I prayed about this whole mess I was in, only one word kept coming back to me: SACRIFICE. I felt God saying: I am teaching you about sacrifice. We all have needs of varying kinds, and at different (often unexpected) times. As the BODY of Christ, we know that we are supposed to serve one another. Sometimes we do so, and all goes well. Everything works out, and we may even get a nice "Thank You" note in the mail. Other times, it may be horribly inconvenient timing, our least favorite task, or cause us to have to give up something that we really wanted for ourselves. In those types of situations, should we just say "no?"
I don't watch Dr. Phil, but I have seen a clip or two where he talks about setting personal "boundaries." There is some truth to this, no doubt. Of course, in our culture, you won't have to look very far to find someone or something to encourage you in the "ME FIRST" philosophy. I am not saying that it's never ok to say "no." I am not saying you should always say "yes" to every request. What I am saying is, pray. If we pray about each obligation before we commit, we can know for sure that we are making the right choices. There may be times when you want to say "yes" to some need, and it's not God's will for you at all, because unbeknownst to you, He has someone else He wants to do it. There may be times when He leads you to take something on, and like my Thanksgiving, you have no idea what it's going to cost you. But, He does know and it's a refining process He wants you to go through. I keep asking God to make me more and more into who He wants. So I should not be shocked at trials and sufferings and sacrifices. These are His tools. Sacrifice, not selfishness, is His m.o.
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Phillipians 2:5-8
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
So, we may sit around and feel sorry for ourselves (a sneaky form of pride, self-pity!) and say that things in life are not fair. Praise GOD that this is true!!! I praise God that life is not fair! For it was far from "fair" that God sent is baby boy, one He dearly loved, down here to be tortured and to die. It's not fair that He, so perfect, would bleed and hang for all my selfishness and sin. From the majority, He never gets that "Thank You" note, either. He came because we desperately need Him. It wasn't comfortable or convenient to leave heaven's peace for this place, don't forget. It cost Him a great deal, but Jesus came anyway and He didn't grumble on the way to the cross. Can you conceive it???? I cannot! He put on human flesh and He came. I don't know a thing about sacrifice. I'll go ahead and speak for all of us: we don't know a thing about sacrifice. I publicly want to thank God right now that He decided to use this Thanksgiving to teach me a little more about what Jesus did for me! It's way more important than a turkey. Hopefully, one more tiny facet of me has been conformed to His image. If so, calling RALPH was worth it!
Phillipians 2:9-11
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
SOLO CHRISTOS!
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