Post Category → scripture

honeycomb; p.s.

I’ve been trying to read more. In theory, if I keep a book nearby to grab during all of my nursing sessions, I could read quite a bit. Of course, this means staying on top of things and making sure there’s a book I’d like to read in the house!

Right now, I’m [re]reading Future Men. This is not a book review. Perhaps one will be forthcoming, but I just had to note something so good, so interesting.

As you would assume, this is a book on raising boys to be men. (Believe it or not, becoming a man doesn’t happen by simply allowing to Time to do its thing!) One chapter is titled, “Secret Sin, Tolerated Sin.” Here’s the snippet and thought I wanted to share:

But not all sin is hidden away. In many homes there is another category, that of open, tolerated sin.

Pause. What do you think he’s going to address? Something pretty big and bad, right? Something scandalous that certainly we would never allow, right? I guess that’s what I was ready for. But instead:

This is usually tolerated verbal sin — words spoken around the house. There are many aspects to this because we sin more with our mouths than any other way…

Isn’t that interesting? The sins of spreading falsehood, foolish presumptions, just too much talking, spite, haste, gossip — things that are so often right under our noses, and we don’t even notice. (Perhaps we easily grow accustomed to the stench?)

Can I just say one more thing about how awesome my parents are? Sorry to sound like a Johnny One-note (but you would, too, you know!)

My parents didn’t tolerate these sins in our house. No one got off the hook because, you know, it’s just home and family and we should be free to let our guard down a bit now and then… We weren’t allowed to blow up at each other, get snippy and rude, make sarcastic comments, and Mom piped up when the conversation was veering quickly into the muck and mire of gossip, mockery, or just plain foolishness. No one got roasted around the family dinner table. Well, except for a few choice politicians now and then, and even so, we’d end up getting called on the carpet and told to honor and pray for our leaders. See? It just wasn’t allowed.

And I really appreciate that! There is no loophole in the scriptures for speaking wholesome words — unless you’re just talking with a sibling, in which case you can enjoy all the tasty trifles you want.

If anything, our family relationships should be where we learn the art of holding our tongues, guarding our words, cultivating speech that is seasoned with grace. There, we learn how to repent for hasty words, foolish conversations, barbed comments, taking full responsibility for the effects of such actions.

Because watching our speech isn’t just something we can do to be more pious. Words count. More than you or I even understand. And they count at home just as much as they do anywhere else.

p.s. Another post on mom and us today.

enough, and more

One of the things I really appreciate about my parents is how practical their Christianity is. By their example, I realized that Christianity applies to every waking minute, every task you put your hand to, every thought that graces (or attacks!) your consciousness.

The very cool thing about faith becoming an everyday, practical living sort of thing is that suddenly, amazing passages of scripture apply to me! I don’t have to be hosting revival meetings in sub-Saharan Africa for the writing of Paul to have meaning in my life. You know?

Like this one, for example:

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. (2 Cor 9:8)

That verse has been a rock of truth so many days in the last six months. When I’m exhausted. Weary. Unsure. Stretched thin. Empty. Probably popular counsel would tell me that I should call Ryan, tell him to get home and watch the kids, and go to the spa for a day. ‘Cause, you know, I clearly need me time. But this life-giving, empowering Word tells me this: God can make all grace abound to me. In Him, I have all sufficiency. And I have an abundance for every good deed.

Deeds like speaking patiently. Doing more laundry. Even folding and putting away that laundry. Being awake because I can’t sleep on the job. (You know, the big things.) Serving my husband faithfully.Smiling.

When a nagging whisper tells me I don’t have enough to give a single bit more to anyone, the Word tells me there is a Fount that never runs dry. There is grace, sufficiency, and abundance.

That is the kind of Christianity I need.

And that is the kind of God we serve.

sarah and peace

“Submission’s greatest enemy in our hearts is fear. Yes, we have to get over our stubbornness, our pride, our American feminist independence, our plain old preferences. But when it comes down to it, when the rubber meets the road, it’s fear that can completely do us in. I mean, let’s face it: we’re being asked to put our life on the line by a fallible man. That doesn’t sound very secure. And it’s not — except that God Himself is part of this equation, and He’s ready to defend those who walk in obedience to Him. [read more]

more on sarah

Sarah, part three:

Submission is not a crazy idea someone had back in the Stone Age (as if there was such a thing…) God Himself has ordained this authority thing, and has chosen to execute His plan for our lives through it. Yes, God’s plan for your life will come to pass as you embrace His call to follow and place yourself under the authorities in your life. Honestly, submission is really about obedience to God. It might seem crazy at times. (Or insane; ask Sarah!) But the question God is asking us is, Will you obey me in this? Why would God promise to lead and guide us and then tell us to submit unless He planned on guiding us through the structure of authority? God will not contradict himself; there is no way true joy for you lies in disobedience, and there’s no way His plan includes rebellion. (more)

to do or to be

By 10:30 this morning I was wishing I’d made a list of to-dos for the day — and not because I was losing track of things, but because I’d gotten so much done. However, because there was no list to cross off (and because the undones ALWAYS outweigh the dones!), I didn’t have much sense of accomplishment.

And that got me to thinking about my craving for accomplishing, getting things done, being productive. Simply put, I love to do.

Doing, however, is not in vogue with Christian circles these days. Having perhaps gotten too caught up in attaining righteousness through works, many of my peers are emphasizing the being aspect of the gospel: that is, the fact that it’s all grace, and my contribution adds up to a bunch of nothing.

Well, I got that (and yes, I needed to really get that, along with everyone else!), and sometimes I am tempted to come down hard on myself for always wanting to have done something, and not always being content with simply having been. You know — “Danica, why are you so hung up on productivity? Just be a good mama. The being is more important than the doing.”

Been there?

But then I come back to this deep desire to work. To roll up my sleeves and do something. Could that possibly be a good thing — this constant need to do?

Isn’t it curious that the words I long to hear, more than anything else, are, “Well done, My good and faithful servant”?

Could it be that we’re hardwired to know we’re here to work hard? Could it be that the urging to do the grand work of the gospel is mirrored in a hundred small ways as I cross of my little chores?

I dare say there’s nothing wrong with my longing to work — so long as the first item on every to-do list is this: Love God, love others.

(And the second like it is this: smile at your kids.)