Monthly Archives: February 2015

It Takes Maintenance

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“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics is at work around us. We see it in the fact that nothing improves naturally, but everything decays, falls apart, or wears out over time. Have you noticed that items of value—such as your car, your house (and everything in it), and your yard—take maintenance to continue performing reasonably well? Things of little or no value we dispose of: No maintenance required.

Even non-physical things decay and require upkeep as well. Consider your vocational skills, relationships with your wife, children, neighbors, brothers and sisters in Christ, and, most of all, your Lord.

Doing the required maintenance at best only prevents further degradation. What about improvements? Growth? Advancement? If we want our children to learn and grow, how are we setting the example?

How are you growing in vocational skills? What are you doing to become more valuable to your customers or employer? How much time and effort are you investing to deepen your relationships with your wife and children and especially with the Lord Jesus Christ?

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Steve

A Lazy Bum

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“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Being called “a lazy bum” or “couch potato” has quite a negative connotation, but I have to admit that’s what my flesh is drawn to. I find it takes a conscious choice and serious effort to be productive and active. I feel like I’m waging war against my flesh daily to do what I know must be done.

Sadly, I know I am not alone. Over the years, we have received many emails from moms who have lazy husbands. They usually weren’t complaining but seeking encouragement on how to be a helpmeet to a husband without nagging. I have come to wonder if laziness isn’t pandemic these days. Twenty years ago, I used to see far more men out early exercising before work than women. Nowadays the ratio seems to have flipped, and I see far more women out than men.

May we each examine ourselves. Are we lazy? Are we more inclined to sit around than tackle projects that need to be done or do something active with our family? Do we seek entertainment or do we seek challenges? My observation is that most people admire those who have the discipline to accomplish things, but do we realize that maybe they aren’t naturally like that? Maybe they are choosing to go against their flesh and do things that need to be done. Choice is a beautiful thing when we exercise the right one!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Steve

What’s the Purpose?

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Have you ever been at someone’s house and seen a magazine on the table about quilting or cooking? Did you excitedly pick it up and start reading it? No? Why not? Oh, right, because you had no interest in it. Of course! It’s true! We don’t spend time on things in which we have no interest or to which we have no heart attachment. We spend our voluntary time on those things that have a piece of our hearts.

Are you drawn to the news? Have you ever asked yourself why? It robs a husband of time with his wife, delays getting in bed, and will not build our peace of mind and joy. So, then, why waste one’s time on the news? Maybe one watches it to know how to pray. But, honestly, how many really pray about what they hear?

Why waste our time listening to those who make their living getting people all “hyped up”? Could there be a better use of our time? Have you ever considered the benefits of a 60-day news fast?

“For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret” (Ephesians 5:12).

Steve

Are You a Blessing or a Curse?

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What is a major measure of a man? Isn’t it a disciplined life? Boys don’t generally have the strength of character to do what they should without being nagged, but real men do.

We have a great deal of experience helping families achieve productive, peaceful homes. Would you believe we have found that the home often runs better when Dad isn’t around? Mom is usually able to maintain a schedule throughout the day, but when Dad arrives home, it falls apart. Bedtimes then vary, and that drives inconsistent wake-up times, chaotic days, and/or grouchy children.

We must set the example of a disciplined life for our families. Determine how much time you and your wife need for sleep, add a buffer to it, and make that your bedtime. Set the alarm clock, and don’t change it every night. When it goes off, get up. Then in six months evaluate the positive change in your family.

If you struggle with managing your time, there is help.

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Steve

Stress Busters – Part 3

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Stress is all around us. It mocks us when we try to do something on our computers, and it won’t work. It attacks us in difficult relationships. It pressures us when there seems to be too much to do. It confronts us when we face obstacles in life that appear unsolvable. What are we to do about all that stress?

Put Into Practice

In Part 2  we discussed the importance of God’s Word as we deal with stress. However, even if we read our Bibles eight hours a day, if we never practice anything we learn, stress could still be our taskmaster. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).  I can’t help but wonder if being a doer of the Word in regards to stress means being a woman of prayer. Here’s why I think that.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). If I were to put that first part in my own words, I might say, “Don’t let anything stress you. Instead lay those potentially stressful situations before the Lord in prayer!”

The antidote for stress is prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. Prayer is talking to God. Supplication is humbly asking Him for something. Thanksgiving is being grateful.

I had one goal for this week—to write the monthly Mom’s Corner—but here’s what happened. Monday we were preparing for a birthday. Two girls were gone helping a family who just had a baby, leaving me with a much larger portion of the preparation than I usually have. Tuesday I was catching up with e-mail because of Saturday’s Titus 2 prayer and fasting day. Wednesday and Thursday I had two very sick daughters with a stomach virus whom I was nursing while covering their part of the household work. That left Friday as the Mom’s Corner writing day. In the morning I had house cleaning to do, but the afternoon was available

Instead of sitting down at my computer when it was the right time and beginning the Mom’s Corner, I decided to quickly download an e-book Steve and I wanted to read together. When I went to download it, though, I couldn’t get it to work. As I spent more time fiddling with it, I began to feel stressed since I wasn’t moving on to my main goal of writing.

Danger of Avoiding Prayer

I will confess. I didn’t pray. I just kept pushing my efforts through while experiencing those stressful feelings. I wonder what would have happened if I had prayed. It might have gone like this: “Lord Jesus, You know that I really want to write the Mom’s Corner this afternoon, and I also would like to have this book ready for Steve and me to read tonight. I can’t get this book to download, and it is taking longer than I wanted it to take. Thank You, Jesus, for my computer. Thank You that I found the book as a free download. Would You please help me?”

I expect the Lord would have encouraged me to drop the book download and write the Mom’s Corner, going back to the download when the article was completed. After all, the Mom’s Corner was the priority. It is possible He might have directed me to the solution for the computer issue so I would have had the book available at bedtime when Steve and I read together for a little bit. At the least, I would have known that I was doing what He wanted me to do—praying. It would have made a difference in the way I experienced the stress. Instead, though, we often battle through the stress on our own, just like I did in this situation.

The Lord doesn’t want me to carry stress. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Do I really believe that? Do you? If I do, then I will give Him my cares through prayer.

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Did you ever wonder, when you come to that verse, how one prays without ceasing? We have discussed that as a family, and the more we learn about prayer, the more it appears the “praying without ceasing” is an attitude of prayer in everything. It is there when trying to download an e-book or write a Mom’s Corner. It is part of nursing sick loved ones. It undergirds decisions. It cries out for wisdom and grace when interacting with a grumbly, whining child.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). Does perfect peace sound like the opposite of stressed to you? It sure does to me. I love that picture of a mom whose heart has perfect peace. I can just see her now. The house is full of children running here and there. She is in the midst of trying to get dinner on the table. The baby begins crying, but she has a sweet smile on her face because her heart has perfect peace. I desire that in my life, and I am sure you do as well. Sadly, in that situation, too often I know I had the furrows of a frown on my face as I stoically accomplished what needed to be done.

We stay our minds on God by praying. We pray because we trust that He cares for us and wants our cares cast on Him. We believe His Word. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

I doubt I will get it right every time, but I sure do like smiles better than frowns, peace better than anxiety, and praying better than stressing. “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). Will you call on Him and experience the power that prayer has as a stress buster?