Does leading a quiet life include facebook?

Quiet! This is a word that is becoming more familiar to me. I am wrestling against the quiet like Jacob wrestled with God but in the quiet I am finding rest.  In the dictionary, the following definitions are offered for quiet:

1. Making little or no noise: quiet neighbors; a quiet engine.

2. Free of loud noise; hushed: a quiet street.

3. Calm and unmoving; still: a quiet lake.

4. Free of turmoil and agitation; untroubled. See Synonyms at still¹.

5. Restful; soothing: a quiet afternoon nap; a quiet tune on the flute.

6. Tranquil; serene: a quiet place in the country.

7. Not showy or garish; subdued: a room decorated in quiet colors.

8. Restrained in style; understated: a quiet strength; a quiet life.

 

I am suppose to be on voice rest for three hours a day due to vocal chord dysfunction from a viral illness I had three months ago.I can do vocal rest for two hours when my son takes a nap but he does not take a nap every day anymore. I am suppose to have an hour in the morning, hour in the afternoon and and hour at night. Last night, my voice was going completely and it was difficult to remain quiet. I desire to talk and share with my husband about church small groups. I wanted to share what I was learning. The more I tried to talk, the more pain I was in. My voice and body was exhausted trying to force my ability to talk.

 

A quiet life involves way more than keeping our mouth quiet but for me it has been the starting point of a quiet life. I am realizing I don't need to share every insight I have in the spoken word. Writing which is something I have always wanted to do helps me to be quiet. Without all the noise in my head and coming out of my mouth, there is a calmness when I don't struggle against the fact that I am losing my voice.

 

I am starting to see the new wave of being showy is on facebook. Many times, I am seeing we like to share everything we are doing. Sometimes it feels like bragging or gossip.  I am learning to do more in "secret" when I do something to help another. God tells us to do our acts of service in secret.

 

Matthew 6:1-3 says:

1“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 4:11 - And that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

Proverbs 19:17 - Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.

Observations:
1. The Bible instructs us to work hard
2. We need to study(make it our ambition) to learn to (a) be quiet (b) do our own business and (c) work with our hands
3. Our reward is from God not people

Applications: We have to study and make it our ambition to lead a quiet life. For most of us, I don't think it comes naturally. Study means we put effort into it. We learn ways to be quiet. I do like facebook but I have noticed that it is good for pictures and updates to family and friends that we don't see often. It is good for quick prayer requests or to keep in touch with friends daily but should not supplement real contact.  I like facebook for praying for others and encouraging others with something cute that my son said, a Bible verse or some other encouragement about putting our minds on things which are good, just, noble, right and pure.

    In the quiet where I can't talk as much, I am learning that I don't need to have all the "answers" for all the suffering of the world. I am learning to bless and thank more. I am learning to listen to others and draw others out.  I am learning to work with my hands more rather than think, think, think and talk, talk, talk. I a learning that I don't have the "spiritual gift of fixing everyone" and I am not responsible for everything and everyone. I am learning to mind my own business.

Prayer:  Lord thank you for social network sites where we can meet Christians from around the world and do online studies. Thank you that we can send quick updates to family and friends in an instant. Lord, help me to use them wisely and still live a quiet life, do my own work and what you assigned me to do and not do my acts of caring for others before people. Let me continue to serve in secret knowing You see all. Let me knot get my identity in anything other than you. Thank you for guiding my family into our purpose: praising you, lifting you high and glorifying you.

Touch, Word of Comfort, Prayer

While at the park, a little boy loses his glasses. Then I hear my three year old saying to a boy much older than him "It is ok little buddy, you will find them." As I look in the direction of my son, I see his hand patting the other boy reassuring him that everything will be ok.

I see my three year old opens his arms and hands to help many people in need. While at Good News Club, he is the first one that gets up to get a new person a chair. No one needs to ask him to help others. He just has a heart to help. The teacher, other helpers nor I did not even think to offer a chair to the new people but my three year old son did.

He hugs people when they are sad. He invites people over to the house all the time. He has a heart of hospitality and comfort.  He prays often for the hungry and people in our city. When he sees the troubled children leaving middle school, he bows his head and prays. I am amazed over and over as to how God is working in his life. I did not teach him some of these things to do. He asked Jesus in his heart all by himself about a month after his 3rd Birthday. He was in the bathroom all by himself (I was in my bedroom next door). I overheard him praying. He said Dear Jesus I love you and I am sorry for pushing others, hitting others and pulling others. Please forgive me for the bad things I do. I want you." Then with loud, joyful praise I hear him yelling for me. Then he shouts with glee " I asked Jesus into my heart." He had seen a baptism service and was very curious. He asked me lots of questions. We were also doing a Christmas devotional that made him curious about being born again. Since that day, I have seen God work mightily in a believing heart. I too see why God says we must become like little children. Nehemiah's faith is strong. He can tell when my husband and I are not loving each other as well as we can and he starts praying out loud for us.

Children live openly. They usually don't hide things. They trust and believe the best. At church, he serves alongside three friends who pick up bulletins after church service. My son asks many times when he can go to "his job". He is so eager to serve others.

Scriptures:

Proverbs 31:20 - She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 - If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.  Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.

Proverbs 11:25 - A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Observations:

1.  Our arms and hands are to be open to the poor

2. We are refreshed by God through giving more

Application: 

Since I have become a stay at home Mom, I don't have any ongoing "defined" roles/work outside the home, but I am still learning to have my eyes and ears open to serve wherever I am. I definitely don't feel I am doing enough whereas when I had the role of small group leader, counselor, or teacher, I felt I was accomplishing more.  I guess I do have more time to just talk to people as I talk down the road. I really hear people now. In some ways, I have put my eyes too much on all the tasks I have to do in my own house rather than serve the Body of Christ and others around me. At other times, I believe I am serving others but in a more humble, quiet way. As you can see, I wrestle with whether I do enough.

Through studying Jesus and see my son's faith in action, it is becoming clearer and clearer that service is about feeding Jesus sheep. This does mean just meeting the needs of people such as food, clothing, shelter, money. However, it means much more.  People who are poor and need need a touch, word of comfort/blessing and prayer. My son always helps by providing what he has but the first thing he does is touch them on the shoulder or arm, prays and encourages them with a word. Nehemiah's name means comforted/consoled by God. I can see why God chose his name to be Nehemiah as it is His purpose for Nehemiah's life to bring comfort to God's people and to "rebuild the broken down walls in people's lives."

Jesus touched the leper before he healed him. He could have just healed him physically first but Jesus knew that the man ached for touch. Lepers were outcasts and lonely. The man may have not had human touch for years. Touch is powerful. It conveys compassion that goes beyond an act of serving with some money or food.

Words of comfort and blessing to a person reveals their innate worth. Proverbs 16:24 " Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 15: 23 "man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!"

I read this morning in My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers that "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends." Job 42:10.  If I am trying to make myself right with God, I am rebelling against the Atonement.  I am to cease from every effort and leave myself in Jesus' hands and then pour out the priestly work of intercession prayer. "The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer." Job was restored and healed after he prayed for his friends. The devotional ended with "Pray for your friends now; pray for those with whom you come in contact now."

The application for me is for my eyes and heart be opened to touching, offering words of comfort and praying for the poor and needy (physically and spiritually) that I come in contact with on a daily basis. I am very eager at times to just provide the physical needs and then get back to my work or life at home, but I believe my Lord is asking me to watch and pray. This morning before I started writing I couldn't get this song out of my head "Jesus paid it all"

Lyrics:  I hear the savior say "Thy strength indeed is small! Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in me thine all in all. Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain - He washed it white as snow. Lord, now indeed I find thy power and Thine alone, can change the lepers spots and melt the heart of snow."

Prayer: Lord thank you that my devotion and obedience is to you not to the needs of man. Out of what you have done for me and the joy and thankfulness that you give, I can share that joy and comfort with others. Open my eyes to see wonderful things from your Word that I can then go out and touch others with your comfort. May I intercede on behalf of others I come in contact with. Many times I would rather serve the need I think is in a person's life rather than pray and wait for your power to touch and give life giving words to a person. Thank you that it is not about what I do but about your power at work in me to see the person in need and touched them with your love.

Can I do it Wholeheartedly?

Many times I do things in the house grudgingly not because I am whole hearted about it. Yes there are times things just have to be done. Many times though if I can't get engage with my whole heart, it is better to do it later when I can do it with all my heart. This week, I have tried to tackle the whole house again at a time instead of sticking to my schedule. I actually get less done and feel I worked harder and more on the days that I try to tackle every room and every chore. On the days that I tackle everything, I feel my heart is divided and I am just going around picking up messes rather than keep a home of order and beauty. I also feel I miss out on time with my son/family/relationships when I am trying to get everything done in the house at once. I also wear myself out and have no energy left for my husband. The days I stick to a schedule, I actually can get more done and feel more relational. I think the days I stick to the schedule, I am actually working with all my heart unto the Lord rather than feeling I just have to get everything done.

Scriptures:
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Ephesians 6:7
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,

Observations:
1. we are to work with ALL of our heart engaged not just part of our heart on the work we do and part of our heart wishing we were doing something else
2. Again we are to work WHOLE heartedly meaning with our whole heart engaged
3. We are to do everything as if serving the Lord not to please people

Application:
In Yesterday's post, I wrote about working with our hands to create beauty in our home. In the past, I thought everyone else was creative. I labeled myself as "not creative". I enjoyed beauty and the arts (homemade gifts, museums, art books, poetry, written word) but I did not create or so I thought. I always like to write and journal. I didn't think I could paint, draw, or make a piece of art of any kind.

Becoming a Mommy has really made me think and act differently. I see how we are each wonderfully made by God. We each have hidden talents that we are to use for God's glory and to reflect His beauty. My son as soon as he could sit up wanted to hold a pencil or crayon. He was 9 months and already started drawing. I saw that God just made us for creating. My son, Nehemiah used a doodle pad at the age of 9 months too. When he turned one or before, we started using paint and shaving cream to create pictures. I started seeing how I enjoyed making a picture even if it did not look beautiful to myself or others. I sensed God was smiling at me for my first efforts.

As I continued to explore different forms of art (tape pictures, spray paint, finger paint, marble painting), I enjoyed working with my hands.  I wouldn't make any art pictures before because in school I never could make pictures as beautiful as others. I also did not do well in art class. I thought I had to do it as the teacher said or how everyone else was doing it. I did not enjoy art because I thought it had to look a certain way in order to gain the approval of others. Trying to create like everyone else also reduced my creativity in other areas of my life. I started to work hard as being an A student and succeed at what I was good at. I thought I would just buy art rather than work with my hands at art.  In doing this, my mind was not at rest.

The application for me is to find the hidden talents that I buried, dig them up and start using them for God's glory.

Application Questions:
1. What have you buried that God gave you to express beauty?
2. How did God make you "fearfully and wonderfully made"
3. How do you reflect God's glory?

Prayer:  Lord, I pray that you will lead me to my hidden talents that I buried in fear of trying to impress others rather than you. Please forgive me for working for others rather than you. Thank you that you made me fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank you that you make each of us unique

Working with our Hands Brings Beauty and Rest

I started reading The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. The book says we should not sit around dreaming of our "dream house". We should make our current home a place that reflects creativity, beauty and our tastes. My husband is the type that sees something in the garbage and sees the potential of beauty. I see it and it is just garbage. After eleven years of marriage and God showing me much about His creativity, I am seeing more beauty wherever i look. I use to just want to buy things in a store rather than make them. Now, I am wanting to make Scripture art of our favorite verses, decorate each room in our house to reflect a theme and to have our home a place of beauty, order, creativity and rest.  Working with our hands rather than just thinking about it helps us to find expression in creativity.

Scripture:
Proverbs 31:19 - In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

Observations:
1.  She works with her hands
2. She didn't use a machine to spin (before the spinning wheel)

Application:
I don't spin clothes or even sew or make clothes but I do like to write, use scriptures as art forms, make art with my son.  I definitely am a thinker and a philosopher. I would read and think any day over work with my hands. I worked as a lawyer for eight years before my son came. I am use to studying and working my brain. I always did house work but I must say I grumbled about it. I felt my mind was not engaged and I became restless. This last week, I worked my body hard, and I realized that my brain was more quiet.

God has instructed us in Psalm 131 not to concern ourselves with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
Psalm 131
My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.
² But I have calmed and quieted myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.
When we work with our hands, our minds many times are engaged on the task at hand. We are not idle. We therefore don't have time to concern ourselves with great matters or things too wonderful for me. This Proverbs 31 study has been helping me to focus on what my hands can make rather than what my mind is thinking.

When I work with my hands whether it is journaling, writing, creating a scripture art, cleaning my house, picking berries for jelly, pulling weeds, thinning vegetables or helping others, I have noticed that I sleep more deeply and my mind is more at rest. When my mind is at rest rather than restless, my home has a peace and beauty beyond any physical appearance.

Prayer: Lord, let my hands work hard rather than be idle. Thank you that you are a creative God and that we are made in your image. Thank you Lord that we are to reflect your glory. Lord, may I not think of things too great for me. I am sorry for the times I feel responsible for figuring out the problems in the world rather than reflecting your Kingdom here on earth.

³ Israel, put your hope in the Lord
    both now and forevermore.

Delight means something that gives great pleasure to. As a verb it means to give great pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment to; or please highly. I have been thinking about this word alot since Sunday when Pastor Blake Shipp gave a sermon about our true name - one whom God dwells and delights in.  I have thought about God rejoicing over me with singing. 

 I heard this song once that just spoke to my heart. It is called Amazed and the lyrics go like this:
"You dance over me while I am unaware
You sing all around But I never hear the sound
Lord I'm amazed by You, Lord I'm amazed by You, Lord I'm amazed by You
How You love me,How wide,How deep,How great, Is Your love for me"

In all my trying to bless others or be a blessing, I sometimes forgot that I am a blessing to God. Read more about this in my blog entry from May 25, 2012.

God is a blessing to me but how am I a blessing to Him? How does he delight in me. He just intrinsically takes pleasure in me for how he made me. The way I understand this is through being a mother.  I take pleasure in my son and am well pleased with him just for who he is. He brings me joy apart from what he does.  God also sees who we will be not just how we are behaving in a moment in time.

  My husband and I want my son to know he is a blessing so here are some of the ways we express this delight:

1. I give him more than he asks for or expects as surprises. This morning, he woke up wanting a cookie or a lollipop. He must have been dreaming about one. Now, I could have said "no we have to eat breakfast first." This morning, however, I wanted to do something out of the ordinary. I was tempted to just give him 1 cookie yet I remembered that the Lord gives us more than we can ask for or imagine. I wanted to surprise my son and so I gave him two cookies and a lollipop all before breakfast. My son's smile can light up a room. His dimples get so big, his face lights up and he gives me this smile that makes my heart melt. I just enjoy seeing him smile.

2. We pick themes from books and live them. For example, we have a wacky wednesday story by Dr. Seuss so some wednesdays we have wacky wednesday in our house.

3. We listen to his stories, we laugh at his jokes. We try to listen more and talk less.

4. We just watch and observe him. The eyes are good receivers.

5. My husband and son do "fast kisses".

6. We play baseball and hockey in our living room (we do away with rules like no balls in the house). Our living room is a room we live in and do things as a family.

7. We let him be who God created him to be rather than who we desire him to be.

8. We let him ask questions without fear that he is being disrespectful.

9. We take adventure walks

10. we go down the slides and climb the playsets with him

11. We sit on the floor and play board games, mold things out of playdough, play with dinosaurs

12. We take him to many new places so he can explore and see what he enjoys.

13. We do most things as a family - sit together in church, go on dates, have family meetings, family church singing and Bible reading. We do projects with him in the home instead of thinking he is too small.  He loves to be a part of our family and to help out.

I am going to continue to think upon how and why God delights in me and how I delight in my son.   I would love to hear your thoughts!

Early to Bed like my Grandma

All my friends know I am a night owl. I use to stay up until 1 or 2 every night. The many late nights of studying in college and law school reinforced my "night owl" traits. I thought 9 or 10 pm was the beginning of the evening.

Then in March of 2012 my husband started a new job that required him to leave the house by 6or 6:30 (earlier if he goes to the gym at Cornell). Since I am waking up ealier, I am getting tired by 9 p.m. Some nights I am tired by 8 p.m.

When I was younger, my Mom and I would walk to my Grandma's house and she would be in bed at 7 p.m. She did read for awhile before falling asleep. I remember thinking that I could never go to bed by 8 p.m.

I am learning that I like the morning hours. I seem to accomplish more when I am up by 6 a.m. I think better. I have a more regular schedule.

Yesterday, I jumped out of bed at 4:45 a.m. but didn't go to bed until 11 pm. I definitely worked hard all day picking strawberries and processing strawberries. Then I had a mess to clean up before going to bed. I am learning that some nights require me to stay up later but that God always strengthens me when I sing and rejoice in Him.

The Scripture in the Proverbs 31 study is Proverbs 31:18 "She sees that her trading is profitable (work is good) and her lamp does not go out at night."

Observations: (1) the work we do should be accomplished well (2) Sometimes we have to get up early and go to bed late to finish what is set before us. Sometimes the work can wait. I am learning to do the work instead of keeping it to do all at once. It is more manageable to do tasks with my son when they are broken up and routine.

Application: I am learning to do the work instead of keeping it to do all at once. It is more manageable to do tasks with my son when they are broken up and routine.  My friends now that I like to play and do a lot of fun stuff with my son. Lately, I have been doing more work as a lot of projects came up all at once. I am learning to have fun and play in the daily work and not just segregate work and play. We can play while we work. I am learning that I can sing while I work. I am learning that I can tickle my son and laugh while we work. I am learning we can play games while we work. I do like to work hard and play abundantly. I am learning to celebrate God in each moment. He is showing me how to put all things first.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that we can play while we work. Thank you that you are a God of joy. I pray that my days would reflect the fruit of your love and that I may be filled with joy. Lord, please forgive me for grumbling about work at times. Thank you for your strength.

This is the Day

Yesterday, I shared how one of the very first things I say in the morning after my son wakes up and I lie down with him is "Today is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." At the time of writing my blog entry, I did not know that the next days reading for the Proverbs 31 study was Psalm 118:24 which is  ^"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  I believe this is the best start of the day in acknowledging God gave us THIS DAY to rejoice and be glad in it.

Philippians chapter 4 is also all about rejoicing when you are in plenty or in need or when you are full or hungry (all circumstances). Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.


Observations from Psalm 118:24 and Philippians 4:13:
1. We are to rejoice and be glad each day but especially on the Sabbath
2. We can do the things God has put in our life to do because He strengthens us

Application:  The application I came away with is that each day I will rejoice.  Rejoicing to me is singing to God, laughing, enjoying people He has put in my life, celebrating, and enjoying His Creation. This week, I want to make Sunday the day set apart and made holy as the Lord's day extra special. I have been thinking for a couple of years on the Sabbath. I want it to be a day of joy and celebration. It is a day that I don't want to carry burdens, sorrow, schedules, work and other cares that go along with a normal week. Although I celebrate every day, I want Sunday to be extra special holy onto the Lord. One thing I was thinking is having Sundae Sundays, special music, dancing, games, celebrating with church family and friends, sharing testimonies, eating more on the Word and just sitting at Jesus' feet.

Prayer - Thank you that we can rejoice in you. Thank you that you strengthen us for each task and circumstance we are in. Thank you that you give us a rest from our daily work/chores. Thank you that our rest is found only in you not following rules and not just in giving up things. Thank you Lord that Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.