If there's one thing about me that everyone knows, it's that I want 20 children. Once I introduced myself to someone at my church with the statement "I'm the crazy white girl who wants 20 kids," and they told me that they had heard of me.
What interests me is that everyone has the same response when they hear I want 20 kids. Whether the hearer is Christian or secular, they all respond with the question, "How will you afford it?" (or they tell me I need to marry a very rich man.)
I usually point out that I lived for a year on $5 a week for all of my groceries. $5 times by 22 (my and the husband'd have to eat too) only equals $110.
They usually want to know how I managed this. I point out how you can get plenty of free bread, fruit, vegetables, eggs, and honey if you know how to. Really, I spent most of the $5 on things like toilet paper.
The thing is, BOTH of these attitudes are the wrong attitudes to have.
Most people think that children are a burden. That they cost a lot of money, so you'd better not have too many.
And while I wasn't falling into that trap, I was thinking that I can provide for any amount of children. The key word there is the I could provide.
I cannot provide for 20 children. Heck, in my own strength, I cannot provide for 1! But God CAN provide for all the children He gives me, and it is no harder for Him to provide for 20 than for one.
God is sovereign, and He gives all that He needs for all of His people.
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
Psalm 37:25
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Witnessing Failures
I love apologetics. I think it’s so fascinating, and I love to share with my friends why I believe in Jesus and how I try to live out my life as a result.
In fact, I like this so much that my friend Stephen apparently thinks my hidden spiritual gift is evangelism. Which made his girl-friend, my housemate Kallie laugh. It made me laugh to. I so don’t think so.
I have written before how the thing is to be obedient. Don’t worry about what your spiritual gifting is. Sure, you will be better at some things than others. We all are. But the thing is to do what you can in the situation that you are currently in – whether the situation calls for “spiritual” ministry or material ministry or anything else.
And boy, do I struggle with this. I am actually really bad at starting a conversation. Sure, once the conversation gets going, I’m usually all right. But starting one is another matter. I mean, I plan often out my phone calls on paper because otherwise I find it too difficult to dial the number. (Seriously. I have issues.)
But even when I am in a conversation, I am often SO tempted to do less than my best. I am so often tempted to let a few things slide because it’s easier, because then others will think better than me. (Fear of man = sin. I’m working on it.)
Two examples from recent times, both in relation to speaking to others (who started the conversation, no less) demonstrate this. Just before Easter I was going to the library and I bumped into two Mormons. They asked for some directions, then turned the conversation to matters of God etc. They were kind of amazed that I even know any part of Mormon theology (they don’t believe in the Trinity, etc) so we had an interesting five minute conversation. In the course of it, they mentioned how they believe in the Bible but believe that it is full of errors and that textual criticism has proved that.
The thing is, I actually know a small amount of textual criticism, and it supports the opposite – that the Bible is reliable in pretty much every aspect. And I can give enough information on this to demonstrate my point.
But I didn’t. And afterwards I felt terrible. And even when I ran into them for a second time (with my friend Kallie, just after Easter) I didn’t bring it up. Whatever happened to being always ready to give an answer?
The second one is happening now. (Well, not literally now, but I’m stressing about it now.) One of my bus drivers has passed me a few DVDs he burnt, because we then talk about history and philosophy etc. One of the DVDs he gave me was Rome, series 1 and 2. And so, when I was at home sick, I started watching them.
Oh my goodness, they were beyond inappropriate. There was way more scenes of people having s*x than some adult films. I made it through 3 episodes (the history is actually interesting; I’d go make tea while people were being inappropriate) before giving up.
The thing is, the bus driver is going to ask me all about the show next time I catch his bus. And I need to tell him that I thought it was inappropriate, and why.
I know that it is a GREAT witnessing opportunity, but I’m quite frankly, terrified.
So please pray for me.
In fact, I like this so much that my friend Stephen apparently thinks my hidden spiritual gift is evangelism. Which made his girl-friend, my housemate Kallie laugh. It made me laugh to. I so don’t think so.
I have written before how the thing is to be obedient. Don’t worry about what your spiritual gifting is. Sure, you will be better at some things than others. We all are. But the thing is to do what you can in the situation that you are currently in – whether the situation calls for “spiritual” ministry or material ministry or anything else.
And boy, do I struggle with this. I am actually really bad at starting a conversation. Sure, once the conversation gets going, I’m usually all right. But starting one is another matter. I mean, I plan often out my phone calls on paper because otherwise I find it too difficult to dial the number. (Seriously. I have issues.)
But even when I am in a conversation, I am often SO tempted to do less than my best. I am so often tempted to let a few things slide because it’s easier, because then others will think better than me. (Fear of man = sin. I’m working on it.)
Two examples from recent times, both in relation to speaking to others (who started the conversation, no less) demonstrate this. Just before Easter I was going to the library and I bumped into two Mormons. They asked for some directions, then turned the conversation to matters of God etc. They were kind of amazed that I even know any part of Mormon theology (they don’t believe in the Trinity, etc) so we had an interesting five minute conversation. In the course of it, they mentioned how they believe in the Bible but believe that it is full of errors and that textual criticism has proved that.
The thing is, I actually know a small amount of textual criticism, and it supports the opposite – that the Bible is reliable in pretty much every aspect. And I can give enough information on this to demonstrate my point.
But I didn’t. And afterwards I felt terrible. And even when I ran into them for a second time (with my friend Kallie, just after Easter) I didn’t bring it up. Whatever happened to being always ready to give an answer?
The second one is happening now. (Well, not literally now, but I’m stressing about it now.) One of my bus drivers has passed me a few DVDs he burnt, because we then talk about history and philosophy etc. One of the DVDs he gave me was Rome, series 1 and 2. And so, when I was at home sick, I started watching them.
Oh my goodness, they were beyond inappropriate. There was way more scenes of people having s*x than some adult films. I made it through 3 episodes (the history is actually interesting; I’d go make tea while people were being inappropriate) before giving up.
The thing is, the bus driver is going to ask me all about the show next time I catch his bus. And I need to tell him that I thought it was inappropriate, and why.
I know that it is a GREAT witnessing opportunity, but I’m quite frankly, terrified.
So please pray for me.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Monday, 11 April 2011
Food For Thought
Friends, God did not put us on this earth to indulge ourselves. He put us here for one purpose and one purpose alone. And that purpose would not be to die with the most toys. In fact if a person is someone who easily generates money, it is a gifting from God and it is only for the purpose of giving away. It is not to hoard or spend frivilously. It is to give to those in need.
From this post at A Place Called Simplicity.
From this post at A Place Called Simplicity.
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
How's Your Work?
One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. (Proverbs 18:9)
Let's face it, we're all tempted to do less than our best at times. It doesn't really matter, and then we'll have some spare time at the end of the day to spend on ourselves in whatever way we want.
The thing is, our time is not our own - we were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20), and part of that means that we are to do all of our work as to the Lord. (Colossians 3:23).
The thing is, when we choose not to work, we are choosing to let things go. We are choosing to let those who are working against God and His Kingdom take the initiative. We are choosing to let God's work be destroyed.
It isn't easy to work hard all the time. It's so much EASIER to let things go, just for a bit. To do less than our best. Especially when what is below your best is "good enough" in the eyes of most. But less than our best is never good enough for God's kingdom. God made us each for a specific purpose, and if we are not doing our best we are often neglecting the work that Jesus has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
So roll up your sleeves, and get to work for the glory of God!
Let's face it, we're all tempted to do less than our best at times. It doesn't really matter, and then we'll have some spare time at the end of the day to spend on ourselves in whatever way we want.
The thing is, our time is not our own - we were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20), and part of that means that we are to do all of our work as to the Lord. (Colossians 3:23).
The thing is, when we choose not to work, we are choosing to let things go. We are choosing to let those who are working against God and His Kingdom take the initiative. We are choosing to let God's work be destroyed.
It isn't easy to work hard all the time. It's so much EASIER to let things go, just for a bit. To do less than our best. Especially when what is below your best is "good enough" in the eyes of most. But less than our best is never good enough for God's kingdom. God made us each for a specific purpose, and if we are not doing our best we are often neglecting the work that Jesus has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
So roll up your sleeves, and get to work for the glory of God!
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Romans 8:29
If you remember my new years goals, you may remember this one...
5. To speak words of encouragement and not mean words, impure words, or gossip.
Yeah, well, clearly God agreed with me that I needed a bit of work on this.
At the beginning of the year, I was getting slightly frustrated because I didn't feel like I was growing as much spiritually. My old team leader quit, and the result was that I didn't have to daily be stretched in patience. My new team leader is great, and I get along fairly well with everyone else in the team.
I don't really believe that God gives us real "down-time" of non-character growth - at least not if we're in step with His plan for us. He is always conforming us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. So I knew I was missing something. I prayed about this for a while, and God brought this to my attention:
The thing is, my work collegues are not all the most effective workers. (Actually, none of them are that effective - even those that think they are. I even probably aren't, and I'm generally recognised as the fastest at everything, only person who can cope outside on their own, etc, etc.) And as a result, while I was getting along well with everyone individually, the rest of the team is more or less at war. And so they are all going back and forth with the comments about how useless so-and-so is and how they are so slow at nappies and how they don't set up well, etc, etc.
And they pretty much all come to me to complain about everyone else.
And it's really hard to not complain with them.
But I'm getting better at keeping my mouth shut.
So with this and the occasional annoying church member, I'm getting a lot of practice.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:28-29
5. To speak words of encouragement and not mean words, impure words, or gossip.
Yeah, well, clearly God agreed with me that I needed a bit of work on this.
At the beginning of the year, I was getting slightly frustrated because I didn't feel like I was growing as much spiritually. My old team leader quit, and the result was that I didn't have to daily be stretched in patience. My new team leader is great, and I get along fairly well with everyone else in the team.
I don't really believe that God gives us real "down-time" of non-character growth - at least not if we're in step with His plan for us. He is always conforming us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. So I knew I was missing something. I prayed about this for a while, and God brought this to my attention:
The thing is, my work collegues are not all the most effective workers. (Actually, none of them are that effective - even those that think they are. I even probably aren't, and I'm generally recognised as the fastest at everything, only person who can cope outside on their own, etc, etc.) And as a result, while I was getting along well with everyone individually, the rest of the team is more or less at war. And so they are all going back and forth with the comments about how useless so-and-so is and how they are so slow at nappies and how they don't set up well, etc, etc.
And they pretty much all come to me to complain about everyone else.
And it's really hard to not complain with them.
But I'm getting better at keeping my mouth shut.
So with this and the occasional annoying church member, I'm getting a lot of practice.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:28-29
Monday, 4 April 2011
Dominion
I was recently reading a book (which I do a lot) which was talking about how the church needed to start taking dominion. No arguments there. Then the book went on to talk about "workplace apostles" which lost me until I worked out that he basically just mean Christian leaders in a field who are dedicated to taking that field over for Christ. Not exactly sure that I would call them "workplace apostles" but whatever.
And then he started talking about how the reason the church hasn't taken dominion to this point is because we don't have enough money. Yeah, right. And God is soon going to give us money because we will have all of the workplace apostles in place and then we can take dominion. Sure.
Now, I believe that God will often (not always) bless those who are obedient to Him finacially. Historically we can see this. The Puritans for example had far more of the wealth of England than their population percentage (or even their social standing) would lead one to expect. The wealthiest countries today are predominiantly those that come from a Christian background.
BUT...
The idea that we can't take dominion now because we don't have enough money (or anything else for that matter) is WRONG. We have everything that we need in order to do God's will where we are. (See 2 Peter 1:3)
What's more, most Christians are already far more wealthy than we think. The majority of the world live on $2 or less a day! Sure, there are a lot of Christians in that group, but there are a lot of Christians in the West who have plenty to spare.
We do NOT need more than what we have. He who is faithful with little will be faithful with much (Luke 16:10), and he to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). Let's do something with the much or little that God has given us, to take dominion NOW and not at some nebulous time in the future.
And then he started talking about how the reason the church hasn't taken dominion to this point is because we don't have enough money. Yeah, right. And God is soon going to give us money because we will have all of the workplace apostles in place and then we can take dominion. Sure.
Now, I believe that God will often (not always) bless those who are obedient to Him finacially. Historically we can see this. The Puritans for example had far more of the wealth of England than their population percentage (or even their social standing) would lead one to expect. The wealthiest countries today are predominiantly those that come from a Christian background.
BUT...
The idea that we can't take dominion now because we don't have enough money (or anything else for that matter) is WRONG. We have everything that we need in order to do God's will where we are. (See 2 Peter 1:3)
What's more, most Christians are already far more wealthy than we think. The majority of the world live on $2 or less a day! Sure, there are a lot of Christians in that group, but there are a lot of Christians in the West who have plenty to spare.
We do NOT need more than what we have. He who is faithful with little will be faithful with much (Luke 16:10), and he to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). Let's do something with the much or little that God has given us, to take dominion NOW and not at some nebulous time in the future.
Friday, 1 April 2011
From A Place Called Simplicity
At the risk of stepping on toes, really sweet bloggy friends, most of what we do is a giant waste of time - almost all the "stuff" that fills our time. Our stuff distracts from loving God and our stuff distracts from loving others. Our stuff steals our time. Our stuff costs us valuable energy. If it isn't done with pleasing Him first and foremost and ministering to the less fortunate - then it is a time and energy sucker. And with no time and energy we have nothing left over to do what really counts, ya' know?
From this post at A Place Called Simplicity
From this post at A Place Called Simplicity
Insulting Your Husband's Little Toe
Imagine a wife, looking at her husband, and telling him he has just about the most ugly little toe in the world. It's horrible. It's hideous. There are times when she gets a sight of it and she just about hates it.
Sometimes she goes up to her friends (and on occasion people who don't know her husband) and tells them all about how much that little toe of his is really just dreadful.
What would you think?
I'd think she was nuts. I mean - it's a little toe! And this is her husband, the man she loves, and she's picking at some ridiculously small thing that she doesn't even have to see that often.
The thing is, I AM THAT WOMAN. And you probably are too (even if you're a boy).
In Scripture, we are referred to as both part of Jesus' bride and as part of his body. Other Christians are likewise.
And I complain about some of them. A LOT.
I complain about them to my other Christian friends (sometimes they agree), and then I'll complain about them to my non-Christian friends - and that hardly helps them form a positive opinion of the Church, Christ's bride, now does it.
Sure, sometimes they deserve it. Some of my fellow believers are really UGLY little toes. (They probably think the same thing about me.) But if I truly love my Heavenly Husband, I need to love all of Him, even His ugly little toe.
Sometimes she goes up to her friends (and on occasion people who don't know her husband) and tells them all about how much that little toe of his is really just dreadful.
What would you think?
I'd think she was nuts. I mean - it's a little toe! And this is her husband, the man she loves, and she's picking at some ridiculously small thing that she doesn't even have to see that often.
The thing is, I AM THAT WOMAN. And you probably are too (even if you're a boy).
In Scripture, we are referred to as both part of Jesus' bride and as part of his body. Other Christians are likewise.
And I complain about some of them. A LOT.
I complain about them to my other Christian friends (sometimes they agree), and then I'll complain about them to my non-Christian friends - and that hardly helps them form a positive opinion of the Church, Christ's bride, now does it.
Sure, sometimes they deserve it. Some of my fellow believers are really UGLY little toes. (They probably think the same thing about me.) But if I truly love my Heavenly Husband, I need to love all of Him, even His ugly little toe.
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