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Monday, July 14, 2008

Full and good!

What a beautiful morning! My heart feels full and good this morning! The Lord woke me early (or was that Levi?) and I got extra time with the Lord! I love that! It's 10:00am and our house is clean, little ones have done"school", DJ is mowing, Ashley is practicing on the piano, and I am typing on the computer. This is not normal here! But the Lord is good and can do the impossible! We have just today started a new schedule as we look forward to starting school. So the next 4 weeks are a trial run. The school time on the schedule is now being used for whatever the children want to do. Swimming, reading, piano, violin, mowing, playing, or whatever. Lord willing, we can keep this up and get it perfected before we start school!
I'm reading in Philippians and there were some things that really stood out to me. About being a servant and humbling oneself. Also about labouring = to work hard. Couldn't we even say to work really hard? I believe that Paul is working really hard for the Lord. He is not just coasting through life seeing what he can get. He's for the Lord unto death! He knows that death would be better because then he'll be with Christ! Well, I was convicted because of my pride. I really want to be a good help meet to my husband but I can't do it with my prideful attitude. Jesus made himself a servant and humbled himself and was obedient even to the death of the cross. Yesterday at church one of the young men shared about running over their dog and seeing him suffer. It made him think about God's pain in seeing Jesus suffer and the literal suffering of Jesus. I love it when the Lord makes us remember His death so vividly. I was reminded not that long ago about everything Jesus went through for me when I studied about how people were crucified. If you haven't researched that I highly recommend it. You will never again be able to doubt the LOVE of God! And sinning should become very unappealing to you! So Jesus was obedient even unto the death of the cross. I asked myself, "Who am I to not humble myself?" So keep me accountable! I see a long road in front of me.
I also want to be a hard worker for the Lord. For me, this means to be the best help meet and mother I can be. To deny myself daily. To share Jesus with anyone and everyone! To be obedient to the Bible and the Holy Spirit. I have told the Lord that I will obey His promptings no matter how hard it seems and He has been faithful to take me out of my comfort zone! Do all things without murmurings. Feel free to add abundantly to this list! What is your view of labouring for the Lord? Does Jesus think that you are a good and faithful servant to Him? Don't be caught coasting on this joyride of life!

5 comments:

JeremyNSunny said...

Mmmmm.... Wonderful thinking. A sermon Jeremy gave lately talks about going the second mile. It talks about people who go the first mile and then stop, people who want the accolades of having gone the second mile - except they forgot to go the first mile first, the people who go the first, second, and third mile - to their and everyone else's detriment, and then the people who go the first mile and then the second mile, as the Lord commanded.

My trick isn't that I need to be working for the Lord, but that I have to constantly evaluate where I'm at *today*, making sure I'm doing my first and second miles with a happy heart, not trying to do more than I've been called to do, and not neglecting my first mile just so I can go my second mile....

I appreciate that not only are the Lord's mercies new every day, but that His love is steadfast ... the sure foundation supporting and motivating me to WANT to keep serving Him today, tomorrow, and forever. :)

Great thoughts. I'm happy to have heard about a pleasant, well-oiled day in your home. We had a day like that once, too. LOL!! ;)

Hugs, sf

Joanne said...

Jenny, you said:
I have told the Lord that I will obey His promptings no matter how hard it seems and He has been faithful to take me out of my comfort zone!

And to that I say "amen"! I always find that when I pray earnestly for the Lord to use me as He sees fit, He always answers my prayers ... AND always takes me out of my 'comfort zone'. Praise God, what a great way to grow!

In Christ,
Joanne

bekah rehm said...

Hello Again Mrs. Trask!=)

I was SO..... inspired, and challenged when I opened up your blog the other day, and saw this post! I was not able to comment at the time, but made a mental note to come back later, and pondered your post as I went about the day! I must honestly say that far to often lately a lot of my days have not been full, and good, but someone who I was talking to about how I've been struggling spiritually lately challenged me to in the midst of my discouragement serve Jesus with everything I have, and to rise above my struggles by finding joy, and contentment in serving (working hard for) Jesus! And because I love Him not because it will earn me something! One of your comments that really challenged me was would Jesus call me a good, and faithful servant, or am I just coasting through the joy ride of life?! I want to be called a good, and faithful servant, and I want to be a REALLY hard worker for the Lord! For me this means honoring my parents, being a good example to my younger siblings, being a servant by helping mom out, seeking the Lord daily in His word, and following his instructions in His word! Thank-you Mrs. Trask for the challenge to really ponder if I'm working hard for Jesus, and to truly take up my cross and follow Him with all my heart! Thank-you for sharing with others what He has been doing in your life that it in a like manner might minister to others! Also to the other people on this post who commented thank-you for commenting! I enjoyed reading over, and thinking through the comments as well!

Love In Christ,
Bekah

Jenny Trask said...

Hello Bekah!
I hope that you read this because I couldn't find an email address for you!~ You are so refreshing to me! To be so young and full of zeal for the Lord. Everyone goes through the ups and downs but if you come out of it with a stronger relationship with the Lord then it was all worth it. When I experience downs it's usually because I've taken my eyes off of the Lord and put them on myself. It's so easy to do. What a miserable time! When my focus changes so does my attitude. When I focus on the Lord my heart is full of thanksgiving to Him. And when I am obedient I am filled with joy, knowing that I am doing His will!
Comment back and give me your email address. I won't post it. We REALLY want to come out soon but I don't want to be a burden with the wedding coming up. When is that again? Are you excited? Your trip to the Ulmers looked really fun. I'm glad you got to do that! Hope to hear from you soon!

Jacob said...

> Yesterday at church one of the young men shared about running over their dog and seeing him suffer.

I was particularly moved to see how deeply that cut them. (Those guys are my brothers, you know.) And his heart was in the right place at that time. Praise the Lord that He could use such a painful thing for our good.

> If you haven't researched that I highly recommend it.

I haven't researched crucifixion personally, but I've heard a lot from friends who apparently have. It's probably good to know what "crucify" means. When the Bible was written, people understood it clearly. Nowadays, since it's not practiced, it's become sort of a rosy fairy-tale-like concept-- which it not at all fitting.

> Don't be caught coasting on this joyride of life!

Interesting you should say that. At a recent Bible study, we read in Luke 17 about the days of Noah and Lot and the Lord's return. Everything was "business as usual." Or so they thought...

Thanks for sharing. Keep it up!
Peace. --Jacob