This morning I am wondering if I tend to be a "Mary". I'm not referring to Mary as in Mary and Martha of the famed Bible story (see Luke 10:38-42). I'm referring to the Nursery rhyme Mary,Mary, quite contrary sort of Mary.
Last night at supper, my husband and I started rattling off our four-year-old daughter's catch phrases.
Phrases she'll regularly throw into a conversation as random and out of place as a pull-string doll.
Phrases like: "I want Mommy"
"I'm hun-gry" or "I want cereal"
"I don't want to"
"I don't like that"
She really is a sweet girl. But she can be a bit contrary at times. So when she is being contrary, Dan and I have taken to calling her "Mary" - as in the Nursery rhyme: Mary, Mary, quite contrary)
Do I do that? Do I ever tell God "I don't want to" or "I don't like that" ?
I'm pretty sure I do. And unfortunately, I probably even use my 4-year old whine voice to match.
I'd like to be more like Mary of Mary and Martha. Sitting still and peaceful at the foot of Jesus. Worshipping Him. Delighting in His presence and not worrying about all my tasks for the day.
I think I could be, too.............. except ............ I don't want to ;)
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Easy-to-assemble Altar
Recently, a friend helped me assemble two dressers for my newly decorated Master bedroom.
I am SO thankful for her help! If you've never assembled a big piece of furniture-in-a-box........well, you just don't know what you're missing!
Guess what God pointed out to me in Exodus chapter 20 this morning? Directions for an Easy-to-Assemble Altar.
The passage is Exodus 20:24-26.
God had just given Moses the 10 Commandments in verses 1-17. Normally I stop after verse 17, "I just read the 10 commandments. Done - and - done."
But this morning, I kept reading and in verses 24-26 God gives instruction for building an altar .....
"Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause My Name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. And do not go up to my altar on steps, lest your nakendness be exposed on it."
1) Not to go all Joel Osteen on you, but I think a large part of this passage is about receiving God's Blessings. Notice God says, "Wherever I cause my Name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you." To me, that read like, "Find yourself in the center of My will, and I will bless you. In fact, Britt, sit tight. Don't get up. Relax. Rest in My will and I will come to you, and bless you." Rather passive on my part, isn't it?
2) This isn't out of Websters, just out of my head. But to me, an "altar" represents the place of interaction between a deity and worshipers. And in this passage, God is saying that His altar will be a place of burnt (sin) offerings AND fellowship offerings. God wants me as I am. He wants my confession of sin and my praise. I can bring it ALL to Him in one place.
3) God sure made it easy for the Israelites to build an altar. It's like God said, "Just heap up a pile of dirt and call it good." And if the Israelites felt they needed to jazz it up a bit, like other cultures? God said, "O-kay. If you must make it 'fancy', go ahead and use stones - but don't work too hard at it. Don't use a tool and don't build it so high you have to use steps."
I don't want to neglect the importance of God saying not to use a tool because "you will defile it", or "do not go up to My altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it". I get it that these references deal with our unworthiness of a HOLY GOD. The stone HE made is perfect how it is. Our nakedness represents our sinfulness (Adam and Eve had to clothe themselves after the whole "apple" incident.)
However, I think it is equally important to note how easy God made it for the Israelites - sinful and unworthy as they were - to build an altar. A place of communion with a Holy God.
I wonder how often I make it difficult to build an altar? I think I have to spend time and energy (I'm guessing it's harder to quarry stone than dig dirt) and my own gifts and talents and acts of service (tools) to try and get closer to God (altar with steps) before He will hear me. I don't have to "try harder" to be heard by God. He hears and communes with me where I am at. Here on this earth.
Praise God for His easy to assemble altar! Praise God for all His blessings in my life.
Interactive:
Agree / Disagree with my assesment of the passage? Something I missed or am totally off the mark on?
I am SO thankful for her help! If you've never assembled a big piece of furniture-in-a-box........well, you just don't know what you're missing!
Guess what God pointed out to me in Exodus chapter 20 this morning? Directions for an Easy-to-Assemble Altar.
The passage is Exodus 20:24-26.
God had just given Moses the 10 Commandments in verses 1-17. Normally I stop after verse 17, "I just read the 10 commandments. Done - and - done."
But this morning, I kept reading and in verses 24-26 God gives instruction for building an altar .....
"Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause My Name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. And do not go up to my altar on steps, lest your nakendness be exposed on it."
1) Not to go all Joel Osteen on you, but I think a large part of this passage is about receiving God's Blessings. Notice God says, "Wherever I cause my Name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you." To me, that read like, "Find yourself in the center of My will, and I will bless you. In fact, Britt, sit tight. Don't get up. Relax. Rest in My will and I will come to you, and bless you." Rather passive on my part, isn't it?
2) This isn't out of Websters, just out of my head. But to me, an "altar" represents the place of interaction between a deity and worshipers. And in this passage, God is saying that His altar will be a place of burnt (sin) offerings AND fellowship offerings. God wants me as I am. He wants my confession of sin and my praise. I can bring it ALL to Him in one place.
3) God sure made it easy for the Israelites to build an altar. It's like God said, "Just heap up a pile of dirt and call it good." And if the Israelites felt they needed to jazz it up a bit, like other cultures? God said, "O-kay. If you must make it 'fancy', go ahead and use stones - but don't work too hard at it. Don't use a tool and don't build it so high you have to use steps."
I don't want to neglect the importance of God saying not to use a tool because "you will defile it", or "do not go up to My altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it". I get it that these references deal with our unworthiness of a HOLY GOD. The stone HE made is perfect how it is. Our nakedness represents our sinfulness (Adam and Eve had to clothe themselves after the whole "apple" incident.)
However, I think it is equally important to note how easy God made it for the Israelites - sinful and unworthy as they were - to build an altar. A place of communion with a Holy God.
I wonder how often I make it difficult to build an altar? I think I have to spend time and energy (I'm guessing it's harder to quarry stone than dig dirt) and my own gifts and talents and acts of service (tools) to try and get closer to God (altar with steps) before He will hear me. I don't have to "try harder" to be heard by God. He hears and communes with me where I am at. Here on this earth.
Praise God for His easy to assemble altar! Praise God for all His blessings in my life.
Interactive:
Agree / Disagree with my assesment of the passage? Something I missed or am totally off the mark on?
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Random Lysol Thoughts
Yesterday, as I Lysol-wiped my kitchen counters; a random thought link ran through my head.
And since I have no better blog post ideas and I'm a day late - I'll share it with you :)
Several years ago, while I was pregnant with my firstborn, a woman co-worker shared the following with me:
"When my babies were born, I put Lysol in the air humidifiers and when people came over to visit those first weeks, I just held my baby up to the screen door so they could see them. I didn't want any germs making my babies sick"
I. kid. you. not.
As I remembered this random conversation, God planted a thought in my head:
"Do we, as Christians, over Lysol-wipe our lives?"
Am I so worried about being contaminated by heathens, that I don't interact with them?
Is it safer to give money than time?
Heaven forbid I invite a non-Christian to hang out. Or worse - go with them to their social function! There might be germs, for heavens' sake!
On second thought,
For heaven's sake, perhaps I'll go ahead and hang out with heathens.................
I'll just pack a few Lysol wipes in my purse to be safe ;)
PS - The lysol woman was really nice and not nearly as wacky as that story makes her. She admitted how crazy she had been as a young mom.
And since I have no better blog post ideas and I'm a day late - I'll share it with you :)
Several years ago, while I was pregnant with my firstborn, a woman co-worker shared the following with me:
"When my babies were born, I put Lysol in the air humidifiers and when people came over to visit those first weeks, I just held my baby up to the screen door so they could see them. I didn't want any germs making my babies sick"
I. kid. you. not.
As I remembered this random conversation, God planted a thought in my head:
"Do we, as Christians, over Lysol-wipe our lives?"
Am I so worried about being contaminated by heathens, that I don't interact with them?
Is it safer to give money than time?
Heaven forbid I invite a non-Christian to hang out. Or worse - go with them to their social function! There might be germs, for heavens' sake!
On second thought,
For heaven's sake, perhaps I'll go ahead and hang out with heathens.................
I'll just pack a few Lysol wipes in my purse to be safe ;)
PS - The lysol woman was really nice and not nearly as wacky as that story makes her. She admitted how crazy she had been as a young mom.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Mind Games
As an expert in the field (I ran 1/5 of a mile yesterday), I've got to tell you running is all about mind games.
In my long and prolific "running" carrer, I've encountered at least 2 mind game scenarios.
(sidenote: I feel compelled to use " " whenever using the word "running" in reference to me)
1) A mile is not a mile.
My track is a sidewalk loop around a grassy playground area directly across the street. I was sure it was the size of a 1/4 mile track. My loving & supportive husband drove the car around the loop to verify mileage. He assures me it's only a 1/5 mile track.
My optimism of ever running the entire mile plummeted. In my ignorant bliss, I had convinced myself I could eventually run four laps. Now I would have to run five laps.
"But that one more lap is gonna kill me", I assured my husband upon receiving the devistating news.
Sure it is the same distance. Same mile - but different laps. There is a huge difference between 4 and 5.
2) Distance is not measured in miles, or even laps - but in mailboxes and sidewalk cracks
After resigning myself to five laps, I got started yesterday. Walked the first lap. Then "ran" the second. (The entire second lap, thank you very much). Walked third. 1/2 walked-1/2 ran fourth. Walked fifth.
Let me describe that second lap for you.......
Started off strong: "I can do this. This isn't so bad. I can make just one lap"
1/4 way through lap: "Ok, keep up the steady breathing..... Don't lose the steady breathing....."
1/2 way through lap: "Only 1/2 way??? This loop has got to be a 1/4 mile, Dan."
3/4 way through lap: "oxygen.... lungs burning..... breathe.... keep......going......gotta make.....1 ....lap"
3/4 and 4 steps: "make it to......that mailbox.......breathe in....out.... next mailbox....Lungs on fire...."
Lat 20 yards: "need air....breathe....next sidewalk crack.....next crack....next crack...my chest is exploding
......next crack.....almost there...."
Anyhoo - is there a point? Other than pointing out how pathetically out of shape I am?
Yes.
* A 5 lap mile initially seemed soooo much longer than a 4 lap mile. But it's the same distance.
* When I was "running" that last 1/2 of a 1/5 mile, I could not focus on the end goal. I would have died.
I had to break it down into smaller (much-much smaller) goals.
Spiritual Applications?
1) Am I gonna quit running the race simply because it all of a sudden seems soooo much harder/longer until the end? (Satan whispering in my ear: 5 laps; not 4 - ha!) My racing length of days has already been predetermined by my Maker/Father in heaven.
The number of laps around the sun I have left doesn't matter. What matters is that I go the distance of my pre-ordained life.
Finish the race. (or, in my case - the lap) I didn't want to, but I was motivated to post I at least made it 1 lap! Finish strong.
2) Set smaller increment goals. Do I want Jesus to tell me someday, "Well done, good and faithful servant"? You bet. When I am an elderly woman, do I want to be known as a "pillar of the assembly"? Of course. But I'm not elderly yet, and fortunately (no thanks to those last 20 yards) am not dead. In the meantime, I am a work in progress. Perhaps I should set more attainable goals than "pillar of the assembly". Maybe like regular Bible study attender, or faithful prayer warrior, or gentle word sayer, or good works doer.
I'm sure God has lots to teach me using "running". At least I hope so. Because I'm not "running" for the sheer joy of it! :)
Interactive:
Any runners out there? Has God taught you anything through running?
In my long and prolific "running" carrer, I've encountered at least 2 mind game scenarios.
(sidenote: I feel compelled to use " " whenever using the word "running" in reference to me)
1) A mile is not a mile.
My track is a sidewalk loop around a grassy playground area directly across the street. I was sure it was the size of a 1/4 mile track. My loving & supportive husband drove the car around the loop to verify mileage. He assures me it's only a 1/5 mile track.
My optimism of ever running the entire mile plummeted. In my ignorant bliss, I had convinced myself I could eventually run four laps. Now I would have to run five laps.
"But that one more lap is gonna kill me", I assured my husband upon receiving the devistating news.
Sure it is the same distance. Same mile - but different laps. There is a huge difference between 4 and 5.
2) Distance is not measured in miles, or even laps - but in mailboxes and sidewalk cracks
After resigning myself to five laps, I got started yesterday. Walked the first lap. Then "ran" the second. (The entire second lap, thank you very much). Walked third. 1/2 walked-1/2 ran fourth. Walked fifth.
Let me describe that second lap for you.......
Started off strong: "I can do this. This isn't so bad. I can make just one lap"
1/4 way through lap: "Ok, keep up the steady breathing..... Don't lose the steady breathing....."
1/2 way through lap: "Only 1/2 way??? This loop has got to be a 1/4 mile, Dan."
3/4 way through lap: "oxygen.... lungs burning..... breathe.... keep......going......gotta make.....1 ....lap"
3/4 and 4 steps: "make it to......that mailbox.......breathe in....out.... next mailbox....Lungs on fire...."
Lat 20 yards: "need air....breathe....next sidewalk crack.....next crack....next crack...my chest is exploding
......next crack.....almost there...."
Anyhoo - is there a point? Other than pointing out how pathetically out of shape I am?
Yes.
* A 5 lap mile initially seemed soooo much longer than a 4 lap mile. But it's the same distance.
* When I was "running" that last 1/2 of a 1/5 mile, I could not focus on the end goal. I would have died.
I had to break it down into smaller (much-much smaller) goals.
Spiritual Applications?
1) Am I gonna quit running the race simply because it all of a sudden seems soooo much harder/longer until the end? (Satan whispering in my ear: 5 laps; not 4 - ha!) My racing length of days has already been predetermined by my Maker/Father in heaven.
The number of laps around the sun I have left doesn't matter. What matters is that I go the distance of my pre-ordained life.
Finish the race. (or, in my case - the lap) I didn't want to, but I was motivated to post I at least made it 1 lap! Finish strong.
2) Set smaller increment goals. Do I want Jesus to tell me someday, "Well done, good and faithful servant"? You bet. When I am an elderly woman, do I want to be known as a "pillar of the assembly"? Of course. But I'm not elderly yet, and fortunately (no thanks to those last 20 yards) am not dead. In the meantime, I am a work in progress. Perhaps I should set more attainable goals than "pillar of the assembly". Maybe like regular Bible study attender, or faithful prayer warrior, or gentle word sayer, or good works doer.
I'm sure God has lots to teach me using "running". At least I hope so. Because I'm not "running" for the sheer joy of it! :)
Interactive:
Any runners out there? Has God taught you anything through running?
Monday, April 26, 2010
Running Strong
Starting this morning, my husband, Dan, and I are back on the exercise wagon.
Neither one of us enjoys getting up early. Far from it.
Neither one of us loves to exercise.
(Yah, yah - Dan ran a marathon last year. It was a temporary lapse in judgement)
However, you know what we both do enjoy?
Fitting into our clothes and being healthy.
So this morning we set our alarms for 6:00 ....... and we finally rolled out of bed by 6:40. (pathetic, I know)
Our schedule is M,W,F Dan runs (2-4 miles) while Britt does Pilates video. (Today I did one 10 minute session. Perhaps next week I will challenge myself with two 10-minute sessions)
Tue-Thur Dan will do situps/pushups while Britt runs.
Wait. What?!?
Haven't I previously posted my detestment of running on this very blog?
Why yes. Yes I have.
God has a sense of humor.
More and more I realize that when I say "I will never........" God chuckles and says "Yes you will."
It is not about what "I" can't or won't do.
It is all about what GOD wants and wills me to do.
I might think I don't have it in me to do/say/write something. But that is just crazy talk.
The Spirit of the Living GOD is in me! If God wills me to do/say/write something, I don't need power.
HE has already given me His.
I'm sure I could still call myself a good Christian without ever running in my life. But my life might last a bit longer if my heart and lungs are stronger. Hence the running.
Neither one of us enjoys getting up early. Far from it.
Neither one of us loves to exercise.
(Yah, yah - Dan ran a marathon last year. It was a temporary lapse in judgement)
However, you know what we both do enjoy?
Fitting into our clothes and being healthy.
So this morning we set our alarms for 6:00 ....... and we finally rolled out of bed by 6:40. (pathetic, I know)
Our schedule is M,W,F Dan runs (2-4 miles) while Britt does Pilates video. (Today I did one 10 minute session. Perhaps next week I will challenge myself with two 10-minute sessions)
Tue-Thur Dan will do situps/pushups while Britt runs.
Wait. What?!?
Haven't I previously posted my detestment of running on this very blog?
Why yes. Yes I have.
God has a sense of humor.
More and more I realize that when I say "I will never........" God chuckles and says "Yes you will."
It is not about what "I" can't or won't do.
It is all about what GOD wants and wills me to do.
I might think I don't have it in me to do/say/write something. But that is just crazy talk.
The Spirit of the Living GOD is in me! If God wills me to do/say/write something, I don't need power.
HE has already given me His.
I'm sure I could still call myself a good Christian without ever running in my life. But my life might last a bit longer if my heart and lungs are stronger. Hence the running.
Here is to running strong. Physically and spiritually.
Clarification: When I say that on Tue-Thur Britt runs,
I meant I'll be walk-running one mile.....at least at first :)
Friday, April 23, 2010
Friday Word Fun
Huh- I guess my theme the past couple days has been "words".
Perhaps a subconcious probing to get back on track with my writing.
Anyhoo - I digress.
Please read the following:
You have got to be freakin' kidding me! That is awesome! No way, dude. That is just crazy!
Now I ask you; how do these words work their way into our everyday, common-speak?
There have been others, of course: "cool", "bees-knees", "foxy". (please note that at least 2 of the afore mentioned examples were waaaay before my time :)
Really no insight from my end. Just wondering out loud.
Have a Happy Friday and a great weekend!
Any other words or phrases you think have been overused in our pop-culture over the years?
Perhaps a subconcious probing to get back on track with my writing.
Anyhoo - I digress.
Please read the following:
You have got to be freakin' kidding me! That is awesome! No way, dude. That is just crazy!
Now I ask you; how do these words work their way into our everyday, common-speak?
There have been others, of course: "cool", "bees-knees", "foxy". (please note that at least 2 of the afore mentioned examples were waaaay before my time :)
Really no insight from my end. Just wondering out loud.
Have a Happy Friday and a great weekend!
Any other words or phrases you think have been overused in our pop-culture over the years?
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