After a month break from Blogging (my dear SIL informed me, or rather scolded me) I've posted a couple new pictures. The sad thing is I have no pictures to BLOG! Since coming back from MN our camera has been resting on it's place on the shelf. So we need to revive that a bit. I've only been taking pictures of things like homes, ect....for Real Estate. So..yes Christine...I will make efforts to regain my position as a BLOGGER. Our life has been busy as usual...just a different busy...I have found that staying home, in the place where God has for me at this time in life, is so refreshing. Everything works smoother..when we are home for days on end...instead of running around. Discipline, home life, laundry, attitudes towards eachother...you name it...are better when we aren't involved in everything.
I've been challenged, convicted, however you want to put it, in my personal life...to re-think all the "things" I do. Allbeit, they are good things, even things that are for God's Glory. You know the church of today...even Baptist churches....there is a program for everyone and everything under the sun. Now, the programs aren't bad...they are wonderful...they are God honoring...they are good! However, I feel (broad brushstroke here) we as Christians (especially Christian mothers) fall into the trap that we need to be serving, teaching, planning or cleaning up after as many of these programs we can!
There are so many verses that support moms, being moms. I will list a few...Ephesians 5:15-16, II Timothy 3:2-7, we are in a large sense...gatekeepers of our little ones. If we have served the church with passion and love....however good that is...and our children who are to be our primary responsibility go by the wayside...due to running around, doing busy work for God, serving others....Now....don't get me wrong...these things are good..in and of themselves...but what I am trying to say is...when we have meetings/playgroups/planning committees/hosting a new family/bible study/prayer meeting/AWANA/Youth Group/mens prayer breakfast/womens bible study/baby shower/small group/ect...the list goes on...in ONE week...the family DOES start being secondary...When you need to discipline that 5 year old for an ungrateful attitude...but...alas..there is no time or we will be late for AWANA.....this is a problem. For me it seems to be the story of my life. Always too busy doing, doing, doing....to really be DOING WELL, the business God has for me right here, right now.
This is in no way to respectful to our Great and Awesome God. I love our church and the people and the programs. I just want to throw this challenge out there...for anyone who was brave enough to finish this scatttered message, how busy are we...and why are we that busy....I don't know just some really random thoughts that have been pressing and weighing on me.
Karen
5 comments:
Preach it, Sista!
PS - How does it feel to be me? ;-)
I struggle with this a lot- especially as the kids are getting older and are able to be in things. Piano, soccer, swimming... there is an endless list of "good" things they can be in... but will all the running be to the detriment of our family?
There is a balance, somewhere, I'm sure and it seems my continual quest to find it! :)
Dr. Dobson addressed this issue very well in his Feb 2006 newsletter. "Busyness" and simplifying life... I'd expound, but I've only skimmed it... I haven't had time to sit and read it all... :)
WoW! I've been waiting for you to get to this point......it's so hard
to find that balance. Your children are at home for such a short time and once they are gone you can't get that time back.... ever! May you seek God's will and
direction as you sort this out. I love you & my grandbabies.
You are so right. So much of our culture is performance driven - if you do this, you will be rich; if you go here, you'll be _____. It's the same with church. If you do this activity, you'll be spiritual. (And so much we do can be guilt motivated, too!) Yet the Bible say that yes, truly man looks on the outward busyness, but God looks on our heart. This morning I'm taking some time to dwell on that, and get my priorities back in line. Thanks for the reminder!
O.K. now dear, I hope you didn't really think I was scolding you about no updates on that blog!! ha ha We just miss not seeing what's going on in your guy's lives out there!!
As far as what you wrote -that's exactly right!! To many times, we're busy doing good stuff, but stuff that won't even matter in the light of eternity!! Our hearts have been so burdened with just spending all the time we can, with these three precious gifts sent straight from our Heavenly Father! Before we know it, we'll look back and wonder where all this time went, and I want no regrets. Stamping parties at church can wait, showers and yes, even social outings with friends and there friends can wait. I really agree with what fannie said - that the more busy we are with church relatived activities, the more spiritual we will be. Oh, what a falsehood!! Yea, we might look spritual from the outside looking in, but have a house that's crumbling apart from the inside! "Oh, Father, just help and guide us as we always seek to please you and nobody else, and as we teach and love unconditionally our husbands and children, that you so graciously have given too us!!"
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