faithfulness

"It’s one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us." Oswald Chambers

I've been challenged to ask myself whether I taking to heart Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Is my focus directed towards gaining the approval of my Heavenly Father - and not my peers? Am I willing to do little jobs that no one will notice?   Am I serving my family and friends with a joyful heart? Am I truly thankful and content?

I don't think that I always see my 'everyday life' as something that brings glory to God. After all, I'm fairly sure that none of my personal 'mountaintop' experiences with God have involved laundry.  Every so often, caring for my family melts into a never ending list chores: cleaning up mess after mess, changing diaper after diaper, doing load after load after load (after load) of laundry...

My attitude about these responsibilities, glamorous or not, is important. I am doing what God has called me to do at this time in my life - caring for my young family. It may not seem important to many people. It may be considered "not working." (Ha!) But this is where I am. And I have been given a big responsibility that involves thousands of little responsibilities. I am building our home and our family, shaping the lives of my children by my attitudes, by my words and by my example. My faithfulness to my family and God is crucial. To my children. To their faith.  Because my faithfulness brings Him glory. And that is all I am called to do.

"It’s one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us." Oswald Chambers

I've been challenged to ask myself whether I taking to heart Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Is my focus directed towards gaining the approval of my Heavenly Father - and not my peers? Am I willing to do little jobs that no one will notice?   Am I serving my family and friends with a joyful heart? Am I truly thankful and content?

I don't think that I always see my 'everyday life' as something that brings glory to God. After all, I'm fairly sure that none of my personal 'mountaintop' experiences with God have involved laundry.  Every so often, caring for my family melts into a never ending list chores: cleaning up mess after mess, changing diaper after diaper, doing load after load after load (after load) of laundry...

My attitude about these responsibilities, glamorous or not, is important. I am doing what God has called me to do at this time in my life - caring for my young family. It may not seem important to many people. It may be considered "not working." (Ha!) But this is where I am. And I have been given a big responsibility that involves thousands of little responsibilities. I am building our home and our family, shaping the lives of my children by my attitudes, by my words and by my example. My faithfulness to my family and God is crucial. To my children. To their faith.  Because my faithfulness brings Him glory. And that is all I am called to do.

Comments

[april]

Thanks for the encouragement. We are pretty busy people for "not working" ya know?? :)

[Christee]

Great post! I think I need to read this one every day!

[EveryChapter]

So true! Diapers and dealing with tantrums, and the whining, oh the whining...all with a cheeerful heart for the glory of God. Funny how it really IS easier to lean on God in times of crisis than during the humdrum tiresome bits of life...this on is good for your subject too Phil 2:14-16 You have to go look it up- it's better when you actually read it in the book. :)

[Mel @ A Box of Chocolates]

Beautiful and oh so true message! Thanks for the reminder that all that we do, no matter how small we think of it, is important to Him especially when we are doing it all to His glory. What wonderful message!