I'm sure everyone reading this will agree that we don't have anything spectacular going on in our lives. We aren't finding a cure for cancer, on the next flight to the moon or writing endless pages about how great our lives are. We are (or were) changing diapers, blowing noses, cleaning toilets, reading children's books, driving to school/church/play dates, grocery shopping. We are being supportive wives, washing laundry, doing endless homework. Some of us are working full time jobs on top of that! We are shaping lives, molding the next generation of husbands and wives. We are raising the future presidents of the United States, teachers, pastors, veterinarians, mothers, fathers, any career you can imagine.
No matter how boring our lives feel, they aren't boring at all! We are doing our greatest work while doing the things that seem the most unimportant. We have little eyes watching our every move. Even when we are doing nothing at all, we are doing something in their little eyes.
More importantly, God is watching. Are we busy about our Father's work?
Monday, October 27, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Preacher's kid
I've never had to make more spiritual decisions in my life as I have in the past 5 or so years.
Growing up as a preacher's kid meant I went to church every time the doors were open. Not because I wanted to. I didn't really get a choice. I was only allowed to miss church if vomiting or fever were present. Not that I'm complaining. I'm thankful for my Christian upbringing and Brad and I are doing many of the same things to our kids.
I didn't get to pick where I went to church. I didn't get to pick what I believed. I didn't feel forced or brainwashed but you know what I mean. I was a good child and did what I was told. =) I never had to make any of those decisions because I was always the preacher's kid or living under the preacher's roof.
Then the preacher moved to NC and left me in WV. I was nearly 25 and for the first time having to think for myself. I'm ashamed to say I had spent many a church service before then not paying much attention and I wasn't prepared. Let's be honest, I had heard it all before. Suddenly, I didn't know what I believed. Suddenly, I didn't know who I was anymore. I was no longer the preacher's daughter. For awhile I was ex-preacher's daughter (awkward!!!). After some time I became plain Elisabeth Palmer, member of Buffalo Baptist Church. I found myself listening to the new pastor's every word, thinking, "Do I believe that?" I remember calling dad more than once to ask him about something that had been said.
Not only that, I was also angry. (I hadn't planned to talk about this part until this very moment) Angry at God, angry at the people at church, angry at the new pastor. If it hadn't been for all these people, my kids might still be learning under the leadership of my dad. I looked forward to the day when he would baptize my kids. I loved the way they ran into church every service and hugged their grandparents and went to the office for a piece of candy. In a matter of days, all that was ripped out from under me, from under us. It was something I never thought would happen.
In time, I realized my parent's moving away was a very important step to me "growing up." It is easy to spend your life saying "because dad says so" about every thing. But when you have to come up with you own beliefs, that's when the rubber meets the road. Looking back, there are so many areas where I can see God's providence in my life and this is just one of them. Once I realized that, it was easy to let go of the anger I had and forgive everyone. Not that anyone really even needed forgiving!
Fast forward 5 years. Now we are in NC. Closer to my parents than we have been in several years but still far enough away that we have to continue making our own choices. =) Now we have to pick a new church. I like to think I have grown some spiritually and am better able to discern the truth. I still seek my parents' guidance from time to time. They are always there when I need them. And as I introduce myself to different people in the church, I always find myself including preacher's kid if we get to talk long enough. It's just hard to get away from that title!
Growing up as a preacher's kid meant I went to church every time the doors were open. Not because I wanted to. I didn't really get a choice. I was only allowed to miss church if vomiting or fever were present. Not that I'm complaining. I'm thankful for my Christian upbringing and Brad and I are doing many of the same things to our kids.
I didn't get to pick where I went to church. I didn't get to pick what I believed. I didn't feel forced or brainwashed but you know what I mean. I was a good child and did what I was told. =) I never had to make any of those decisions because I was always the preacher's kid or living under the preacher's roof.
Then the preacher moved to NC and left me in WV. I was nearly 25 and for the first time having to think for myself. I'm ashamed to say I had spent many a church service before then not paying much attention and I wasn't prepared. Let's be honest, I had heard it all before. Suddenly, I didn't know what I believed. Suddenly, I didn't know who I was anymore. I was no longer the preacher's daughter. For awhile I was ex-preacher's daughter (awkward!!!). After some time I became plain Elisabeth Palmer, member of Buffalo Baptist Church. I found myself listening to the new pastor's every word, thinking, "Do I believe that?" I remember calling dad more than once to ask him about something that had been said.
Not only that, I was also angry. (I hadn't planned to talk about this part until this very moment) Angry at God, angry at the people at church, angry at the new pastor. If it hadn't been for all these people, my kids might still be learning under the leadership of my dad. I looked forward to the day when he would baptize my kids. I loved the way they ran into church every service and hugged their grandparents and went to the office for a piece of candy. In a matter of days, all that was ripped out from under me, from under us. It was something I never thought would happen.
In time, I realized my parent's moving away was a very important step to me "growing up." It is easy to spend your life saying "because dad says so" about every thing. But when you have to come up with you own beliefs, that's when the rubber meets the road. Looking back, there are so many areas where I can see God's providence in my life and this is just one of them. Once I realized that, it was easy to let go of the anger I had and forgive everyone. Not that anyone really even needed forgiving!
Fast forward 5 years. Now we are in NC. Closer to my parents than we have been in several years but still far enough away that we have to continue making our own choices. =) Now we have to pick a new church. I like to think I have grown some spiritually and am better able to discern the truth. I still seek my parents' guidance from time to time. They are always there when I need them. And as I introduce myself to different people in the church, I always find myself including preacher's kid if we get to talk long enough. It's just hard to get away from that title!
Sunday, October 12, 2014
What defines you
While sweeping the kitchen floor earlier I started thinking of the things that define us. I'm not sure what made all this pop into my head but I'm saving it to use for a ladies meeting devotion in the future. So here I am-my family is away, I've been doing whatever I want and yet I am sweeping floors, loading the dishwasher, cleaning out the frig for trash day, etc. Why? Because that's who I am. Or is it? Take a minute and make a mental list of 5 things that define you.
Here are some things that I think could be on your list. A lot of them are on mine.
mother
maid
cook
accountant
wife
dog walker
teacher
grandma
pastor's wife
preacher's kid
The list could go on for days.
But are these really the things that should define us? None of the things listed are bad things but how does God define us? That is the real question!
This is what God's list of things that define you should look like:
Redeemed- Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
Forgiven- Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Accepted- Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Bought- 1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Child of God- Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Complete-Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Loved- Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Conquerors- Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Who's definitions do you like better? Next time you -or I- are getting all wrapped up in the things that define us on earth, take a minute to think of the things that define us to God.
Have anything to add to this devotion? Leave it in the comments!
Here are some things that I think could be on your list. A lot of them are on mine.
mother
maid
cook
accountant
wife
dog walker
teacher
grandma
pastor's wife
preacher's kid
The list could go on for days.
But are these really the things that should define us? None of the things listed are bad things but how does God define us? That is the real question!
This is what God's list of things that define you should look like:
Redeemed- Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
Forgiven- Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Accepted- Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Bought- 1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Child of God- Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Complete-Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Loved- Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Conquerors- Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Who's definitions do you like better? Next time you -or I- are getting all wrapped up in the things that define us on earth, take a minute to think of the things that define us to God.
Have anything to add to this devotion? Leave it in the comments!
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