Ahhhh, how crazy is life! I'm only five days late doing my favorites. But better to do them than not at all right?! I've been pondering what to do this week and considering that I always feel compelled to choose something I'm not particularily fond of on a regular basis. It would be easy to do Favorites for something I really LOVE, but what would be challenging about that? So, here I again torn about whether to do something I LOVE or something I need to LOVE MORE!
After much deliberation I've again chosen something challenging rather than obvious. I think I will grow more as a person if I can reflect more on the things I don't normally appreciate. I want to start by confessing that I've seem to be under attack from the dark one (I won't capitalize his name b/c I feel it gives him more power than he actually possess but you know who I mean!). As soon as I started spending more time with Christ, the word, reflecting on the path God has chosen for me and trying to adjust my attitude, the dark one steps in and tries to steal the thunder. I've been feeling DETACHED. I pour out my feelings about my children, my home, my heart and then he interrupts by taking away my ZEAL and my ZEST.
The other day I was sitting in the front room with my kiddos and I thoughts, "okay, we should do a project." Then as quickly as I thought those words I thought, "Oh, I don't want to get up and get it all together." So, I didn't. What?! What is that about. Something that would be best for my kids, fun for us, work for me of course, but rewarding none-the-less, and I let it pass right by like I never had the thought.
I suppose this opens the door to a quick look at SIN and then the EFFECTS of SIN in our lives.
What is SIN?
Simply stated, "The nature of sin is any evil action or evil motive that is in opposition to God. Sin is displacing God from His rightful place." Sin begins with idolatry and self-centeredness.
At the blog: Confident Christianity MJ States the following about Sin: (http://confidentchristianity.blogspot.com/search/label/Sin)
Sin will always have a self-centered view of life.
Sin also leaves people with an inability to love according to God’s desire.
Sin often times becomes an enslavement of bondage.
http://www.confidentchristianity.com/
What are the EFFECTS of Sin on our Lives?
I found this little synopsis as a quick look at how sin affects us with biblical references.
First, sin separates a person from a being of absolute purity, God (Isaiah 59:1-2). No one can live a fulfilling life and enjoy true happiness as long as he is separated form his creator.
Second, sin saddens. The prodigal son was in a state of depression until he "came to himself" and was reunited with his father (Luke 15:1ff).
Third, sin scars. Even when a person knows he has been forgiven of his sin, he may continue to carry the burden of his sin. Long after his conversion, Paul still referred to himself as the "chief of sinners" (I Timothy 1:15).
Fourth, sin sours. Carrying the burden of sin can often cause a person to become negative and overly critical of others.
Fifth, sin sickens. Sin, along with its consequences and feelings of guilt, can produce heart problems, ulcers, and emotional difficulties.
Sixth, sin sears. When sin is left uncorrected it allows the heart to become hardened. Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus concerning those persons who were "past feeling" (Ephesians 4:19).
This article was adapted from "The Bible and Mental Health," by Wayne Jackson.
But lets be clear, it isn't just about behavior modification. If I could just DO things differently. It is about Heart Transformation. Many religions out there tell you that if you could just get it all RIGHT, you'll be good, worthy, holy. I argue that this is a lie from Satan. It is about renewing your heart and your mind. Our mindset cannot change until our treasure is Christ alone. (The Christ of the Holy Bible)
Satan slithers in and promises us things that he can never deliver. I know you might think this is a big jump from not doing projects with my kids to Sin and Satan. But it truly is an example of Satan slithering into my life and slowing me down, distracting me from what I ought to be doing as a TITUS 2 Woman of faith and holding me back. Ugh...the thought of it makes me sick to my stomach.
So, I'm sure you ask yourself, what are your FAVORITES? after that long "thing" up above.
Well, here we go....wait for it...DOING PROJECTS WITH MY KIDS.
It isn't that I don't naturally love doing the projects, it is that I do not like cleaning it all up. So I let the cleaning it up keep me from doing it at all. TOTALLY CRAZY.
So here we go...
DOING PROJECTS WITH MY KIDS
1.Watching their faces light up when they make something new and uniquely theirs
2.The fun of seeing them explore new textures, colors, and experiences
3.Spending time getting to know each one of them and their preferences
4.Seeing them encourage one another
5.Hearing them laugh and giggle while they learn
6. Guiding them through the process of learning something new
7.Watching them finally understand something we've been working on for a while
8.Seeing the world through their eyes as the door opens to something new
9.Imparting God's word in their hearts through play
10.Hanging up completed and crazy artwork
11.Hearing them tell daddy all about it when he gets home
12.The pride they and security they have in their heart
That is it for now. I suppose I could have more but I like to stop once I have to think too hard for an answer!
I ask you to pray for me as I am trying to release the laziness I feel and engage. I need to think of them more, myself less, and pursue Christ!
"Sin takes you farther than you are willing to go, keeps you longer than you are willing to stay and has a price higher than you are willing to pay"-CS Lewis
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