One of the few Christian teachings I have been able to obey without question right from the very start is that of tithing: giving ten percent of income to the church in which I am a member.
When I went on maternity leave and we started living on one income, calculating our tithe became trickier, as my husband is self-employed. We decided to tithe on the amount he earned after taxes and materials (cost of business) were deducted.
During our recent time of financial hardship, I felt that God was challenging us to tithe on our gross income, before taxes etc, actually increasing our giving when it seemed we could least afford it. I ignored this prompting for some time, but God was persistent, and eventually I submitted.
Monday, 11 July 2011
Sunday, 10 July 2011
What if it’s true...? Part 5: God disciplines those he loves
God has been disciplining me. I have been through a month of spiritual lows, mixed with a few days of absolute grace, and the cause is my own stubbornness.
The outward problem seems so trivial, that I don’t feel that I can discuss it meaningfully with anyone. in person The problem, purely and simply, was that I could not, and would not, get out of bed at a time early enough to pray and worship before the family day began. Remember this post? And this one? Simple! my mind said. Go to bed earlier! Set the alarm! Try harder!
But during this month, God has revealed a heart problem that I never knew existed. He showed me that I loved my own comfort more than I loved him.
I have always thought of myself as a disciplined person; and because I have small children, I felt justified in staying in bed as long as possible so that I could “get my sleep”. So all these years that he has been calling, whispering, and nudging... I have not responded. I have literally turned over in bed and gone back to sleep, completely blind to my sin.
What finally opened my eyes, and softened my heart, was the wretchedness I felt this month, the daily forgiveness and grace the Lord gave me, and ultimately his voice in this post about idolatry. Since then, I have been working out my salvation in fear and trembling and early rising; may God give me the grace to continue.
Please take heart if you find yourself in circumstances that are outwardly similar. I am certainly not saying this sin is true of anyone else. God knows your heart, just as he knows mine. You and your time management, including sleep, waking, prayer, worship, etc, are completely between you and the Lord, and what the Lord requires of me is NOT a command for anyone else. Please do NOT blindly take upon yourself the correction that the Lord gave me, but rather take it in prayer to the Lord if you sense him speaking to you.
The outward problem seems so trivial, that I don’t feel that I can discuss it meaningfully with anyone. in person The problem, purely and simply, was that I could not, and would not, get out of bed at a time early enough to pray and worship before the family day began. Remember this post? And this one? Simple! my mind said. Go to bed earlier! Set the alarm! Try harder!
But during this month, God has revealed a heart problem that I never knew existed. He showed me that I loved my own comfort more than I loved him.
I have always thought of myself as a disciplined person; and because I have small children, I felt justified in staying in bed as long as possible so that I could “get my sleep”. So all these years that he has been calling, whispering, and nudging... I have not responded. I have literally turned over in bed and gone back to sleep, completely blind to my sin.
What finally opened my eyes, and softened my heart, was the wretchedness I felt this month, the daily forgiveness and grace the Lord gave me, and ultimately his voice in this post about idolatry. Since then, I have been working out my salvation in fear and trembling and early rising; may God give me the grace to continue.
Please take heart if you find yourself in circumstances that are outwardly similar. I am certainly not saying this sin is true of anyone else. God knows your heart, just as he knows mine. You and your time management, including sleep, waking, prayer, worship, etc, are completely between you and the Lord, and what the Lord requires of me is NOT a command for anyone else. Please do NOT blindly take upon yourself the correction that the Lord gave me, but rather take it in prayer to the Lord if you sense him speaking to you.
Friday, 8 July 2011
GEMS night
I really enjoy going to GEMS once a month. It is a ministry of Growing Families Australia, and designed to encourage and teach moms who have participated in any of the GFA courses.
I have not had the opportunity to participate in any of the GFA courses, but I have read and used the paperback -wise series at home for some years now, which is the secular version of the GFI materials.
I am therefore very interested in the material that is covered at GEMS, and the ladies have generously welcomed me and shared their wisdom for almost two years.
Topics we have covered so far this year are:
The presenter introduced the topic by reflecting on how often we mums look at and discipline outward (problematic) behaviour, without pausing to consider whether it is a symptom of a child who feels unloved. From there, she went on to cover 3 of the love languages in detail, with examples from her own family.
I have gained a lot of wisdom from this group, and I honour them for their generosity. Thank you, GEMS!
I have not had the opportunity to participate in any of the GFA courses, but I have read and used the paperback -wise series at home for some years now, which is the secular version of the GFI materials.
I am therefore very interested in the material that is covered at GEMS, and the ladies have generously welcomed me and shared their wisdom for almost two years.
Topics we have covered so far this year are:
- Understanding the Funnel
- Training Preschoolers
- Godly Submission (in marriage)
- Training K - 5th grade
- Love Languages of children
The presenter introduced the topic by reflecting on how often we mums look at and discipline outward (problematic) behaviour, without pausing to consider whether it is a symptom of a child who feels unloved. From there, she went on to cover 3 of the love languages in detail, with examples from her own family.
I have gained a lot of wisdom from this group, and I honour them for their generosity. Thank you, GEMS!
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Love languages in friendship
It has occurred to me recently, that Gary Chapman's 5 Love Languages
apply in female friendships, as well as in marriage and parenting.
It is very clear to me, at least, that where there is a community of women who are faced with a member who is suffering, that friends will attempt to help in different ways:
apply in female friendships, as well as in marriage and parenting.It is very clear to me, at least, that where there is a community of women who are faced with a member who is suffering, that friends will attempt to help in different ways:
Monday, 4 July 2011
What's in your pantry?
Seriously, I'm interested. :-)
My pantry is a collection of 4 upper and 3 lower kitchen cupboards. Small is a word that describes is perfectly. I also have a large pantry unit that I inherited when my parents renovated their kitchen, but unfortunately it does not fit in my kitchen, and so has been demoted to crockery storage.
So what food do I keep in my pantry? Well, my small grocery budget means that I drastically limit the type and quantity of canned and packet foods I store, so that I can use the money for fresh fruit & veg, dairy, and meat. Here is a sample of what I commonly have on hand in the pantry:
My pantry is a collection of 4 upper and 3 lower kitchen cupboards. Small is a word that describes is perfectly. I also have a large pantry unit that I inherited when my parents renovated their kitchen, but unfortunately it does not fit in my kitchen, and so has been demoted to crockery storage.
So what food do I keep in my pantry? Well, my small grocery budget means that I drastically limit the type and quantity of canned and packet foods I store, so that I can use the money for fresh fruit & veg, dairy, and meat. Here is a sample of what I commonly have on hand in the pantry:
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Kim Stanley Robinson: Mars trilogy
The first time I saw this trilogy, I was browsing a bookstore in search of new reading material, and I was immediately hooked, buying the trilogy after reading two pages of Red Mars. Robinson’s “what if” is simple: what if humankind colonised Mars? But he works out this thought in thorough detail across 3 hefty volumes.
A team of one hundred scientists, experts in their fields, are painstakingly selected to colonise Mars, with no expectation that they will ever return to Earth. In the process of travelling to and colonising Mars, Robinson includes many plot twists and changes in point of view, until one feels as if one is a member of the team experiencing and modifying this amazing new world.
Throughout the series, Robinson uses his knowledge of fields as diverse as geology, biology, psychology, politics, gerontology, hydrology, physics, solar astronomy, vulcanism, meteorology, and many more, to paint a totally believable picture of mankind expanding out from Earth.
This trilogy feels like history which hasn’t occurred yet; and that is IMHO the highest possible praise for a work of science fiction.
Enjoy!
Friday, 1 July 2011
Balancing blogging and real life
By nature, I am an introvert who loves to read, listen, question, think, and write. So I have found that blogging is a natural and delightful fit. I find myself constantly thinking of post ideas while doing housework or taking care of children; thinking about replies to comments and emails in my ‘free’ time; and researching ways to make the blog more entertaining, informative, and helpful, way past my bedtime.
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