"Spiritual" Activities

"The Lord said to Moses, 'Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy."
-Leviticus 19:1-2

Have you noticed how some activities seem more spiritual, more sacred than others? Singing hymns, teaching church school, or preparing a care basket for a sick friend - all of these seem exalted.

But what about when you drive to the gas station for a fill-up? Or when you count up coupons to the clerk at the supermarket? Or while you're waiting for the salesperson to wrap what you've bought?

We do it all the time - separate "religious" activities into one group and "regular" into another. But Leviticus 19 addresses that problem. In one verse Moses says, "Do not steal," yet the next verse states, "Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen" (Leviticus 19:10). Again he says in one verse, "Love your neighbor as yourself" and the verse following, "Do not mate different kinds of animals" (Leviticus 19:18-19).

Why didn't Moses group together all the spiritual activities and leave those nonessential things for another chapter? It's no mistake that God spoke these commands in one breath, mingling "spiritual" and "nonspiritual." In God's eyes, all of life's activities are sacred.

God wants you to understand that all life is spiritual; all of life's activities come under His domain. How you "tend your vineyard" and how you talk to the shop assistant. How you "mate animals" and how you treat your neighbor. Everything you do can be a way of worshiping the Lord. Remember that, the next time you wash dishes.

Dear God, I want to view everything I do as a way of worshiping You. Remind me that every activity is spiritual in Your eyes, no matter how small or insignificant it seems.

Taken from Diamonds in the Dust. Copyright © 1993 by Joni Eareckson Tada. Used by permission. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Little Known Lyric...

Why am I smiling
And why do I sing?
Why does September
Seem sunny as spring?
Why do I get up
Each morning and start?
Happy and head up
With joy in my heart
Why is each new task
A trifle to do?
Because I am living
A life full of you


~Singin' in the Rain~

:)

Hate... But Cling to What Is Good

Hate... But Cling to What Is Good

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."

-Romans 12:9

Christians have a great deal to fight against these days: Pornography. Corruption in government. Abortion. Homosexual rights. Euthanasia. Humanism and secularism in schools.

But our campaigns simply can't be aimed at what is wrong in our society. We can't rebuke evil, expose the works of darkness, and simply stop there.

Rather, God calls us to lay down our lives for the people behind the issues we support. Heroism is an extraordinary feat of the flesh, and campaigns are occasionally won that way. But not people. Holiness is the only power that not only defeats darkness but changes our lives, including the lives of those behind the issues we oppose.

That means praying for the pimp who exploits wayward teenagers on the street. It means interceding for the homosexuals who march against city hall for sexual civil rights. It means campaigning in prayer for the pornography mongers. It could mean connecting with the director of a nearby abortion clinic, or contacting a government leader who's on the "take," and letting them know you care about their spiritual needs. It could mean taking a right-to-die advocate out to lunch to discuss life worth living.

Fighting and winning a campaign may bring one personal glory, but fighting for souls in prayer and winning them to Christ brings glory to God.

Approach problems in our society with a Romans 12:9 frame of mind. Hate what is evil. But, in prayer, love the individuals behind those hateful issues. As Jesus said, bless those who persecute you and love your enemy.

Oh Lord, I confess I am so critical of so many wrongs in society, but I don't pray for the people who perpetuate the wrongdoing. May my love be sincere and may You use my prayers to win those people to You.

Taken from Diamonds in the Dust. Copyright © 1993 by Joni Eareckson Tada.

Dad's Brownies

A father of some teenage children had the family rule that they could not attend PG-13 or R rated movies. His three teens wanted to see a particular popular movie that was playing at local theaters. It was rated PG-13.

The teens interviewed friends and even some members of their family's church to find out what was offensive in the movie. The teens made a list of pros and cons about the movie to use to convince their dad that they should be allowed to see it. The con's were that it contained ONLY 3 swear words, the ONLY violence was a building exploding (and you see that on TV all the time they said), and you actually did not "see" the couple in the movie having sex - it was just implied sex, off camera. The pros were that it was a popular movie - a block buster. Everyone was seeing it. If the teens saw the movie then they would not feel left out when their friends discussed it. The movie contained a good story and plot. It had some great adventure and suspense in it. There were some fantastic special effects in this movie. The movie's stars were some of the most talented actors in Hollywood. It probably would be nominated for several awards.

Many of the members of their Christian church had even seen the movie and said it wasn't "very bad". Therefore, since there were more pros than cons the teens said they were asking their father to reconsider his position on just this ONE movie and let them have permission to go see it.

The father looked at the list and thought for a few minutes. He said he could tell his children had spent some time and thought on this request. He asked if he could have a day to think about it before making his decision. The teens were thrilled thinking; "Now we've got him! Our argument is too good! Dad can't turn us down!" So, they happily agreed to let him have a day to think about their request.

The next evening the father called in his three teenagers, who were smiling smugly, into the living room. There on the coffee table he had a plate of brownies. The teens were puzzled. The father told his children he had thought about their request and had decided that if they would eat a brownie then he would let them go to the movie. But just like the movie, the brownies had pros and cons.

The pros were that they were made with the finest chocolate and other good ingredients. They had the added special effect of yummy walnuts in them. The brownies were moist and fresh with wonderful chocolate frosting on top. He had made these fantastic brownies using an award-winning recipe. And best of all, the brownies had been made lovingly by the hand of their own father.

The brownies only had one con. The father had included a little bit of a special ingredient. The brownies also contained just a little bit of dog poop. But he had mixed the dough well - they probably would not even be able to taste the dog poop and he had baked it at 350 degrees so any bacteria or germs from the dog poop had probably been destroyed.

Therefore, if any of his children could stand to eat the brownies which included just a "little bit of poop" and not be effected by it, then he knew they would also be able to see the movie with "just a little bit of smut" and not be effected.

Of course, none of the teens would eat the brownies and the smug smiles had left their faces. Only Dad was smiling smugly as they left the room.

Now when his teenagers ask permission to do something he is opposed to the father just asks, "Would you like me to whip up a batch of my special brownies?"

Testing...

Well, in the last week, I have gotten a deep bruise in my thigh, been eaten alive by mosquitoes, and messed up my back. The blessing in these things comes in how they happened I suppose...

I bruised my thigh helping my mom clean my great-grandfather's apartment, but I'm so glad he is living (he's almost 93!) and we can serve him in this way.

I was eaten alive by mosquitoes while pushing swings and singing songs with the most adorable children, and I wouldn't trade that time for anything.

I messed up my back while moving things into my new apartment (old microwaves are heavy!), but I am so grateful for God's provision of this new place to call home.

So, take that, satan!
I still have the JOY of the Lord, and you aren't going to steal that away from me!

Sidenote: I find it quite humorous that in the Bible Reading Plan, I begin reading Job today.


Training has been difficult to fit in with this crazy time of moving, but honestly, I feel that the Spiritual lessons I have learned this week about God's might will truly help me in the race. Besides, all that packing and moving up and down the stairs counts as cross-training, right? :P

I'm headed out to Colorado today for the Set-Apart Girl Conference with Eric and Leslie Ludy. Needless to say, I am thrilled. This was such a great experience for me two years ago, and I am looking forward to seeing how God is going to use this in my life this year.


"But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield."
~Psalm 5:11-12~

Week Zer0

Well... here we are almost at the end of what I'm calling 'Week Zer0".

One of the many lessons I learned from Kung Fu Panda that there is indeed a Level Zer0. I think that in this level, we discover that we know nothing. We can do nothing on our own without God's strength and guidance. I am sure I will be reminded of this many times throughout this training process!

With a bit of research and help from family and friends, I have committed to the following two plans:

The Training Plan
The Eating Plan (Top Two Tiers)

I have a feeling that it will be easier to stick to 'The Training Plan' than 'The Eating Plan', but then, I must remind myself that these two will work together to strengthen my body for the upcoming race. In addition to these plans, I am striving to be more focused in my spiritual life... for without His strength, I am like a limp glove with no strong hand to fill it.

When I think about being able to run 13.1 miles by September 18, I'm not quite sure how I will do it. That's the beauty of this whole project. This is a completely impossible task for me, Elise Ivey, but the beauty comes in this:


"...for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me... my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
~Psalm 63:7-8, 73:26~

The First Step...

Anytime you begin a journey, you must begin with the first step.

In my case, the first step was filling out a form with my name and address, putting in my t-shirt size, and guesstimating how long it would take me to run exactly 13.1 miles.

No, I can't run 13.1 miles NOW, but I am going out on faith. I'm trusting in the strength of the One who has all Power, and I'm embarking on a journey with my Lord.

On September 18th (about four months from today), I will wake up for my first day as a 23-year-old, and I will go to bed having run a half marathon.

Wow. Just typing it makes me feel crazy enough to be committed to the insane asylum!

That's all for now. It's time to go run.

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Just a bit from my devotions this week:

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

~v. 1 ~
"So then, men out to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God."

-Servants of Christ
-Entrusted with and stewards of the secret things (revelations) of God
-Secret Things= things human wisdom cannot discover, but that are revealed by God to His people

~v. 2~
"Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."

-We must prove ourselves to be faithful with this entrustment of these revelations of God

~v. 3~
"I care very little if I am judged by you or any human court; indeed I do not even judge myself."

-We should care very little about what others think, say, or do in their judgments
-You cannot even judge yourself

~v. 4~
My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me."

-We are guilty of the judgment of others
-Only the Lord can be the Judge

~v. 5~
"Therefore, judge nothing until the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time, each will receive his own praise from God."

-Judgment is not my task
-Wait on the Lord and His perfect judgment
-God will bring these things to light (not my job)
-Motives of the heart will be exposed (motives are judged)
-True praise comes from the Lord, not from men