Nov 9
To enjoy the full benefit from pesky questions like the contentment question, we need to spread them over our lives like rich butter on warm, fresh bread: liberally. When we move the question around different parts our life, it helps us clarify where we need to work on our God-given responsibilities, and it helps us attend to subtle long term needs, rather than only concentrating on screeching and screaming short term pressures. Read more
Here is where to begin reading Daily Doses 11-20 in order.
Answering the contentment question honestly, particularly when the answer is, “No,” frees us to see the situation the way the Lord does—and that leads to the next question, the direction question: “What should I do to make [whatever] more satisfactory to the Lord?” The answer to THAT question opens up the world of stewardship action steps. Read more
If this were the best it would ever be, would I be content?
If you have asked yourself that question, do you feel a little beyond yourself, rather like you are outside of yourself and looking on? Is there a bit of a squirm in your inner self? Do you feel a wavering sense that part of you must say “No,” to be honest, but most of you wants to say, “Yeah, sure, whatever,” either because you know you should be content, or you don’t really want to face squarely the alternative? Read more
Simple, elegant solutions are some of my favorite things. I love when a time puzzle meshes perfectly. I get excited when one piece of paper can take the place of five. And a truly valuable tidbit that provides lifelong help is positively inspiring.
Of course, this meant I wanted an at-a-glance way to keep everything about myself, my home, and my family in front of me. I wanted an infographic thirty years ago. As is most often the case, the answer came from Scripture.
Proverbs 14: 1 says that “Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.” I was fairly sure that women were not the literal house builders in Middle Eastern culture. That meant something even more exciting: women were a significant factor in the complex organization called home. Read more
The discipline, diligence, and stewardship we demonstrate in our lives is more of a statement about our contentment with our designated priorities and our willingness to work through them than about us possessing any special talent or organizational flair.
When we find ourselves spinning our wheels in frustration with our lives, the quickest and easiest way to squirm away from that frustration, conviction, pressure, or dissatisfaction is to begin to daydream about “when” it will be gone. Tired of tests, five hundred page reading assignments, and endless oral presentations? Start wishing for the time when school will be done. Ready to collapse in a tearful heap on the floor because for the twenty-seventh day in a row you’ve changed hundreds of diapers, picked up thousands of blocks, served millions of peanut butter sandwiches, and managed to get dressed at the same time you were fixing supper? Start wishing for when the kids will be in school. Had it with unreasonable bosses who act like they own you twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week? Wish for retirement, a new job, or the golden opportunity to be your own boss. Read more
Priority Stewardship 