Perfection

I think it is funny that I am called a perfectionist. I admit I like to see things done correctly and in a logical order. I do not think that makes me a perfectionist. I do not keep everything in perfect order. My house is a creative jumble. I like to have things readily accessible. I am messy, but I work hard to have a perfected product in the end.

I know that my idea of correct and in order is just my opinion. It is my way of doing things and when the matter concerns me or my work, I guess I want it to be done my way. Another word that might be more appropriate is selfish or self pleasing. But is it? Is it selfish to expect others to do a job right so that you won't need to redo what they attempted to do?

I will give you an example. We recently purchased a new dishwasher because our old one just couldn't do anything right. :o) I am happy to have my new servant working for me, but I know that it is important to rinse the dishes and scrub off stuck on foods before loading them into the dishwasher. (We didn't get an expensive pot-scrubber type machine.) I don't mind doing the extra step so that I can know the dishes are really clean.

However, I have allowed others to load the dishwasher a few times, and they have even put dishes away without that first important cleaning step. When I reach for a pot, pan, utensil or dish that has not had that extra care given, I am faced with dried on food and even flecks of food sprayed all over the inside of the dish washer. I then must rewash before using the utensil. UGH and ARGGG!

I know my helpers mean well, but their help really wasn't much help. The question I ask myself is, am I a perfectionist? Am I selfish? Or am I right? I have yet to bring up the issue with the family, but when I do, I may hear the accusation of perfection coming my way. I may find them retreating into their non-helpful mode again. To have clean dishes or dishes with clean food stuck to them is the question. I may be selfish but I prefer clean dishes!

Perfection. Is it a matter of taste?

Perfect Holy Father, You alone are Perfection. I fall far short of Your mark, and yet, part of You lives within me! I like to know that the final product will be perfect. Thank You for perfecting me over and over again! Thank You for overlooking my imperfections knowing that when all is said and done Your perfection will be what is seen. Help me to do my work with excellence. Help me to forgive others imperfections just as You have forgiven me. Perfect me, O Lord! Wash me white as snow!

Crying Truth

I woke up this morning feeling as if I wanted to cry. I am not sure why, but I think it might be part of what I am studying for Bible Study. The belt of truth is essential for all spiritual warfare. One of the questions being asked is, "Am I fully honest with God, myself and others?"

That question has made me search my heart. I've had to go deeper and deeper, because though I may hide things from others, I do work at being honest with myself before God. To be honest, however, there are times when I try to cover my true feelings and motives from myself and God. I am sure it is not intentional, but it is also not beneficial.

If I am to tell myself the truth, I must admit that hiding is something I do when I know, or think I am wrong. When I know I have crossed the line it does no good to try to cover over my sin. There can be no healing or forgiveness unless it is brought to God and confessed. Running away before knowing the truth and letting God shine His light in and through me is tiring and useless. When we go to God we will know the truth and it will set us free.

So what are my tears for today? Today my tears are for the truth that one of the desires of my heart has been lost. I have tears for the fears that hold me back from doing what needs to be done. Now that the tears have been shed, and I have agreed with God that I have been keeping these hidden from Him, I can rest in His knowing, loving and healing presence.

Being fully honest with God is being in the center of His heart. It is the safe place to be. Hiding places are where the shadows lie. The only safe hiding place is within the light of Truth in Christ. It is in this hideout that we are safe from the enemy's attacks.

You are the One True God, Father. You are my hiding place and in You I can be secure in even the most difficult truths. Sometimes I try to run away from Your truth only to find myself in a battle much bigger than the battle with the truth. Thank You for being patient with me while I open my heart to the truth. Search me O God, and know my heart. Open my eyes to the truth within myself and the Truth of You!

Creative Cooking

Our household is in the middle of a "tighten your belt" season. We are committed to limiting our spending. As chief cook, it is my job to make dinner for the family. With the budget small and the pantry shrinking, it is time for creative cooking.

The best part of creative cooking for me is waiting on God. He always seems to have a recipe that uses what little I have, and He makes it stretch and grow so that we are filled. We may not be eating steak or those really nice meals that we all crave, but we are filled and blessed!

God has not changed. Throughout scripture He gave to those who were in need when it seemed the need was too great. He provided oil when there was not enough. He provided a ram for Abraham, tax money for His disciples, and best of all a Savior for our eternal salvation. When I cannot depend on myself, or when I don't see the meals hidden in my pantry, He provides, He reveals.

Father, You are GOOD! We have not gone without because You are our Provider. You create miracles by making what we have go farther than we expect. You supply all our needs! Without You I would overlook the blessings hidden in the cupboard. Without You I would not trust that we are blessed and have enough. Thank You for being enough for us. Thank You for taking care of Your children! We love You, Lord!

Stand Firm

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the Devil." Eph. 6:10-11(NASB)

This verse was my memory verse for last week. As I facilitate a Bible Study class on The Invisible War by Chip Ingram, I am taking time to think through the truths about the battle against the enemy. Re-memorizing this verse in a new version made me more aware of my own stance when fighting the enemy.

Do I resist Satan by freezing and trying to become invisible by not moving? Do I think of standing firm as a soldier standing at attention? I am becoming aware that to be ready for the attacks of my spiritual enemy I must keep aware, being watchful but not being preoccupied, of his movements. My stance should be one where I am keeping a close watch on my Commanders' signals, ready to move where He guides. Ready to obey.

When I was a Girl Scout our motto was Be Prepared. When my husband taught Royal Rangers their motto was Ready, ready for anything. Ready to work, play, serve, obey, worship live, etc. Both seem to be great mottoes for our spiritual battles.

We must prepare ourselves by knowing who we war against. We must be ready with our weapons and not turn away from the fight. Our God has prepared us for this battle by giving us all we need to succeed. He has won the victory and we can be assured that He will bring us through the battle.

Almighty God and Father, You are mighty and strong, the Victor over the enemy! I am weak when You are strong! I admit that I am sometimes frightened by the battle and the underhanded ways of our foe. I want to be a good soldier, but I often cower when I should trust You to give me all I need to win. Thank You for preparing me and for providing me with the weapons that are powerful and effective! Thank You for teaching me Your ways of spiritual warfare. I stand firm in Your strength and the power of Your might!

Money

Money is an exchange medium. Paper, metal, or whatever is valuable to the people involved can be used as an exchange. Money holds value because of the precious treasure it has ultimately been used for as exchange.

Many years ago, Patrick and I sat with a salesman in our dining room. When he finished his pitch, he thanked us for letting him come. He said that he counted it a privilege that we would give him a part of our lives. WOW! That statement has made a deep impression on me over the years. From his simple yet profound statement I realized that the exchange of our time equals the exchange of our lives. Our precious and treasured life.

One of the ways we exchange our time and life is at our jobs for a pay check. That money is then exchanged for valuable goods we need to sustain our lives and to help others live better lives. The truth is now evident to me that the money I spend is my life and sometimes others lives. For example, my husband works to provide for our family. He has exchanged his life for the money it takes to do that.

I can choose to throw away my life on petty items, poor food choices, useless entertainment, and unnecessary clothing, or use my life (my money) to build a life glorifying to God. It is so easy to spend my life on that which is foolish. It is a hard decision to daily place my life (my money) under the authority, wisdom and love of God.

Living God, you have asked us to choose life! You want to give us life abundantly! You are a living God who dwells within me. I fall so easily into the trap of squandering my life away by the misuse of my money. I want to do better! I want to give You glory through spending my life for You. Thank You for opening my eyes. Thank You for teaching me and giving me the opportunity to repent. I choose life! I choose You, Lord!

Weary

I have tried all day to think of something inspirational to write here. Nothing has come, and so I began asking, "Why?" I do not feel empty in the sense of not being with Jesus, nor do I sense a drifting from my source of inspiration, (God). It has been a long week full of people and driving and I am weary.

I am an introvert. That does not mean that I shy away from people, although when I was young I did have a reputation for being stuck up because I was too shy to talk to others. I have learned that being an introvert is simply a designation describing how I get energized. I am energized by time alone. I am drained when with people. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being with people when I've had plenty of alone time.

This week has been filled with many people draining my energy and very little time to rejuvenate. I am out of balance!

Being out of balance makes me vulnerable to the schemes of the enemy. Temptations are harder for me to resist. Doubts about my self, depression, irritability, and overindulging in sweets are the most prominent ways in which the enemy attacks me. I have seen that this week. I am aware of his tactics and I am resisting, sometimes not so completely, but I know I win through Christ!

This weekend I will take time to get into right balance. I will be alone with God and let Him fill me! Next week will be better, I hope!

God, You are my hiding place. You hide me under Your wings and shelter me from storms. There are times like this week that I struggle with going deeper in You. I need more than those few minutes alone with You. Thank You for protecting me from the enemy, making his ways known, and being more than enough so that I could get through this week of battle. Thank You for making me the way I am. Thank You that I need You to be refreshed! I need You. I want You. I ask You to restore me with Your resurrection power!

Light My fire

Last night after dinner, Patrick and I continued to celebrate our anniversary with reading our vows to each other as we do every year. We then drove home and decided to do something new. We dug out the extra fireworks from the Fourth of July and lit them! It was fun!

Lighting the fireworks took preparation and effort from both of us. We needed a bucket of water and a working lighter. Then trying to light them with the wind blowing was a bit tricky. When the fuse finally took, it wasn't long before we enjoyed the sparkles, crackles and whistles!

It was much like marriage. Preparations are made for the ceremony and every couple can benefit from the preparation for the uniting of their two lives. Discussing the tough issues is not always fun, but necessary. It is best to get a good start on those talks before the vows are said. In every marriage each person needs to be willing to light the spark of romance and love. We also need to make sure we are prepared to douse out the flames of arguments before they get out of control. Preparing for the party is only part of what engagements are about.

There is plenty of opposition to lighting the spark of love each day. Yes, every day the choice must be made to light the fire of love between spouses. Just like the wind last night, the world and the enemy can swiftly make that decision difficult if not impossible! Busyness, irritations, selfishness, and much more can whip up the winds of adversity that fight the flame, and your best efforts. Last night Patrick and I had to huddle together to get most of the fuses lit. We even had to get a new lighter at one point. It is important to do what you need to, and don't give up! The rewards are ready to be enjoyed.

The display of light, color and snaps and pops last night brought cheers and delighted the neighborhood! We had fun! It was worth the effort to push through and make it all happen. The lesson to learn is that marriage can be a fireworks display of delight or a fizzled out disappointment depending on the effort and commitment of both husband and wife. I think God planned it that way!

Creator God, You are the author of marriage. You make a miracle in uniting us together as one flesh in marriage. We can never make it work without You! Thank You for giving us the tools to make it work. Help us to choose wisely each day. Help us to love one another and show us the fireworks!