Whew. . . blessings in disguise

Howdy!

A little southern speak there...sorry about that.

It's been a hectic day and I guess I've gone country. But it has been great "checking off" my chores list. Friday I was horizontal all day, so my 4 loads of laundry had to be done after church today. It was rough going, but everything is put away, the closet is clean, and the bed is made. Yay!

Now I'm baking a spice cake...typical, I know. Lots of baking this month so far....I am baking two more times this week, too! For parish group I'm making apple streusel bars, then some cookies for our SPED meeting Thursday....then teriyaki chicken for the weekend! Lots of fun times at the oven!

So I had a break from work this past week and we traveled to San Juan Island to stay at Roche Harbor. It was a great trip---TONS of snow along the way! We got there and the forecast called for snow....but is was clear the whole first day. The second day, however, brought many inches of snow--the most I had seen in almost 20 years! It was amazing! We saw a whole deer family eating clover together, bald eagles (both of us for the first time!), and many fat robins. :> Chirp!

So why is this post entitled "blessings in disguise?"

I am almost constantly sick. This is a pattern in my life that has been constant since I was but a tiny tot, so I am not complaining when I say this. Just stating a fact.

For some reason, any time I leave home to take a trip. . . .even overnight. . .I always get sick. Stomach, head, sinuses. . .something is going to pitch a fit and try to ruin the trip altogether.

At first, I thought, "Here I go again. . . I am going to ruin this vacation being sick." But then. . .we were there to rest. My husband was totally content in looking at the snow and wildlife. We didn't have anything fancy planned. . .and we had not packed for the blizzard that entrapped us. . .so we mostly sat around in our fire-lit cabin playing cards and enjoying the snow. It was also good to have time to discuss our recent house options since we don't often have time together during the week.

Now that we are back on the mainland, I am finally feeling better. Sometimes, God has to "make me sick" so that I take time to rest (hence healing my body from the weekly "beatings" it takes at work). God allowed me to be sick during our vacation so that I would have to rest. And on Friday when I had many chore-related plans, God allowed me to have a "no standing allowed" headache so that I would actually REST.

I have trouble giving myself a break, if you haven't already guessed. Between all of the things I love to do and my job, there isn't much time left over to REST. And God says--REST IS GOOD! DO IT! NOW! But often, I just don't listen. Because of my stubbornness, God often has to allow me to get sick to get rest.

At least this is how I view my life. I really need to try to rest more so I get sick less! ;) Preventative care! Vitamins and supplements clearly aren't all a person needs to stay in good health, and I know that the Lord is looking out for me and HE wants me to take good care of myself so I can keep going . . .with a happy spirit and attitude because I FEEL GREAT.

So thank You, Lord, for helping me get some rest during my break from work.

Back to enjoying my cake baking.

Who are you working for?

Col. 3: 22-24: "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

Who do you work for?

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This week was another very dramatic week at work. Without saying too much and lowering my standards of not slandering others to enhance my own sinful being, I feel that this is a topic I need to address to share with you the work Christ has done in me.

So who do I work for? Sometimes, I selfishly work for myself. I like lists. I like checking off things I've completed. I like to "get ahead" in my work. I hate when I feel slothful.

I also often find myself working for others. Deep within, we all want others to be happy with us. We are people pleasers by nature, myself certainly included. We want people to pat us on the back and say, "GOOD JOB!" I think some of this is because it is in our nature, as Christians, to wait for the end of a certain "good work" and hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." But should I desire to hear this from an earthly boss not unlike myself? Should I not be holding out to only desire to hear these things from MY SAVIOR? What can mortal man do to us or for us? Nothing as good as what the Savior can do.

In a tough spot on Thursday, I forsook my title as a child of God and really had a desire for an earthly person to gratify my need to receive acceptance, inclusion, righteousness, and overall "goodness."

This was wrong.

In the situation, I know for certain that my actions have aligned with the law of God. I know that when I stand before Him, I have done nothing wrong because I was obedient. I loved my students more than myself. I did not act unprofessionally or inappropriately. The Lord will not judge me as being a sinner because I loved others and was burdened for them. I did what I needed to do to please God and not man....so why did I want MAN to accept my actions as if he were the LORD? I cannot place heavenly expectations upon those who are not of the Lord...nor those who are of the family of God.

MY ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION IS NOT FROM MAN....NEITHER IS MY COMMISSION.

I have been so graciously reminded by the Lord that I do not have to seek acceptance from man. I do not have to account my actions to man.

I AM JUDGED BY ONE RIGHTEOUS GOD.

Why would I want anything any different? As we have all fallen short of the GLORY of God and sinned, I cannot expect a righteous act or decision to be made by someone of the world. No one, only God the Father in His great Triune Body, is righteous.

Since my ACCEPTANCE, INCLUSION, and COMMISSION are all from the Lord, I must remember to seek Him above all things, listening to Him when He tells me to speak, and being silent when I must be silent. I must remember that it is not to man that I will have to answer for my deeds...it is to the Lord.

I must strive on in this race to receive the prize in the end...I must persevere and not be discouraged by the world and the events that occur in my life.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-18:
"And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

God, I pray for the strength and compassion to NOT pay back wrong for wrong. I pray that You will cleanse my heart. I pray that you will help me to strive for the good of others before myself. Please do not let me be disheartened when the road less traveled becomes difficult, when the brambles catch my clothing, and when I scrape my knees upon Your earth when I fall.

Forgive me for desiring things that are not important or eternal. Thank You for Your promises....and that Your joy is renewed each morning.