Crock Pot Christianity

Today I was reading as post on my favorite blog. He used the line "the work of the Lord in our lives is more like a crock pot than a microwave".  When I read this line for the first time in the article I glanced over it without much thought in the whole scheme of the article. But when I went back and reread it over, it started to get my mind thinking. This line struck me in 2 ways that I want to share.

First, I believe this line is a good description of what not only the works of God should do to us but also the words of God. I find in my life that the Bible has more of a crock pot effect on me rather than the microwave effect. When I open the Bible and simmer over a passage or truth and let it sink into my life, it seems to have a greater impact. Yes, the Bible can have an instant impact when I read it for the first time in a long time, but a deeper and longer eternal impact seems to happen when it has time to sink deep and fill me up with the flavor of God and His words. I find to when I focus my devotions on a single passage for 20 minutes rather than read a whole set of verses in 20 minutes, the time is more meaningful and God speaks softly and clearer to me. Not to say that reading the Bible through is bad, I believe it has many benefits that I do not want to explore at this time, but when was the last time we sat and simmered over a single passage and let it resonate in our hearts and minds.

The idea of God's work in our lives is a crock pot reminded me of the smell of the crock pot when I get home from work and my beloved has made a beef roast in it all day. I love the sweet smelling aroma when there is something cooking and simmering in the crock pot. This reminds me of 2 verses, Gen. 8:21 when Noah's sacrifice is a sweet smell to God and gives Him glory. It also brought Paul's 2 Cor. 2:15 when Paul describes us as the aroma of Christ to God. This means our lives should be a sweet smelling life pleasing to God. A life that is like a crock pot, slow cooking pot of glory to the King. Yes, simple fast quick acts can bring praise to God and give Him glory, but I find that a life slowly building, simmer with spice's of praise added to the life can give God a life more pleasing and honoring to Him.

When was the last time we thought about the life of a lover of Jesus as a crock pot; simmering and building with great smelling praise and glory to God?

Joy in Your Spouse

Ephesians 5:25, 28 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself."

John Piper pointed out something to me today as I was reading his book "Desiring God" which I was not expecting. Now as I sit next to my beloved watching her favorite show (and a wedding episode to top it off, about finding joy in each other you find joy in life) I find this point to be true.

Piper says, " In other words, husbands should devote the same energy and time and creativity to making their wives happy that they devote naturally to making themselves happy. The result will be that doing this, they will make themselves happy. For he who loves his wife loves himself". In other words if I put all my effort into finding joy in my wife and giving her joy, my life will be joyful and I will be full of joy.

Now I am not saying I am good at this, I will be the first person to say I have a long way to go. But when the focus on my life and pouring it into the joy and life of my beloved, I find the greatest joy and life fulfillment in myself. And on that note I am being called to go pour more joy into my beloved and leave the screen.

Remember pour more joy and love into your spouse and you will find more joy and love in your life and in you.

"You are the Christ"

So this past week I have been studying big time for my New Testament survey exam. One of things I had to study was the outline of each of the 4 gospels and where different narratives, miracles, and discourses by Jesus are at. One of the narratives and teachings sections I had to know was Peter's confession from Matthew chapter 16.

As I have been pondering over this text throughout the week it got me thinking. In 16:15 Jesus ask the disciples "Who do you say that I am"? These were men who have spent a lot of time around him, listening to him, talking with him, watching him preform miracles and teach about the kingdom, Peter, the outspoken one of the group says, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God". What strikes me about this is Peter gets it right. He knows who Jesus is and His relationship to God the Father. I truly believe that Peter even has a good idea that he might be speaking to God in the flesh or at least something pretty darn close. But what also strikes me is what Peter does in just a few short verses later.

Starting in verse 21 of chapter 16, Jesus begins to predict His death to His disciples. Jesus says He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things and be killed. What does Peter do. Peter pulls Jesus aside and says, "This shall never happen to you" and Peter rebukes Jesus. Wow, this is the same man that a few verses ago got it right with Jesus and now wants to stand in the way of God in flesh.

2 things strike me about this section of verses from Matthew and the reactions of Peter. First, Peter did not fully understand who Jesus was and what He was doing. Peter had grown in His relationship with Jesus over the years and had an idea of who Jesus was but he had plenty of room to grow. This is a man that walked day to day with Jesus and he still had room to grow in his relationship with God. How much more room does that leave me to grow. That should tell me that if I find moments where I think my relationship with God is good and I know what He is doing, I should think again. I am still learning each day more about my Savior and I should desire to learn more each day about Him. It challenges me to grow in love with God more so I desire to know more about Him each day.

The second thing that this set of verses teaches and challenges me is that Peter wanted his kinda Savior. Peter wanted a savior he could control and put in the mind box of Peter. This one hit home even more. When do I find myself wanting to control God and tell Him what to do and how to act? When do I want to put God in my box and fit Him to my image? When do I want a Savior that will conquer my Roman problems instead of dying for me? I find myself more and more like Peter each day in that I want God to be my god in my image doing my bidding. And then Jesus is right, Satan has a bidding for me and I am not following God the right way and standing in the way, so to speak, of God's purposes for my life.

God is amazing, wonderful, perfect, holy, loving, and not even close for me to understand. I should desire to learn more about Him each day and understand who He is and NOT make Him into what I want but let Him be what I need. That is the point in all this rant, I need to realize God is there and I need to learn Him each day so I can understand He is there for what I need in His plan. I pray that I can learn from Peter.

Better Father

First, thank you everyone who prayed for me yesterday as I took my exam. It went ok. I know I got a questions or two wrong but God will decide if I am meant to pass or not. I will know the results in a few days. 

But, I was reminded today of an important truth and two important lessons for me as a father and son to the King. So I was around my 4 blessing from God today that I call my children. I was around them all day which is 9 hours more than normal. As the day wore on I started to realize I was becoming more fond of and being drawn to my youngest child, Elliana. I was enjoying her more than my other 3 children because she was listening to me better, she was joyful and in a much happier mood, and wanted to be around me. Where as my other 3 children were more irritable, not listening, and just down right full of themselves. Ellie today, I will admit was my favorite child. 

This first reminded me of my perfect Heavenly Father, who is not one to play favorites. Even when I am His child who is cranky and not filled with joy of life, my father still wants to hear from me, be around me, and is still willing to chase me down for a talk. My I am not in a mood to listen to my Father's Word, and obey what He is asking me to do, He still loves me and wants to talk and still be around me. This hit me around 6:30 when Ellie was sitting on my lap, No matter what child I am being to my Father, He is still loving, caring, and not playing favorites. Even when I spit in His face, He still loves me. Praise the LORD, for being a much better, holy, and loving father than I am.

Second, watching Ellie today asked me, am I joyful in life? Seeing her run around the house, play with her siblings, and just plain have some fun, she was filled with laughter and joy. Ellie got knocked over by her sister and started to cry, but after a few minutes she was right back playing with her sister and laughing. Things were being taken from her and she was getting picked on but she continued to be filled with joy.

She challenged me, am I filled with joy? Paul says, "rejoice in the Lord". Am I filled with as much joy in life which brings about forgiveness and love for others. I need to be more like my daughter.

Third, today, specially as I am sitting right now writing, I realized I need to be a better father. I need be a father more like my Heavenly Father in the mood of my youngest daughter. Watching her today forgive her siblings, be full of laughter, and no matter what emotions were around her be joyful and Jesus like, is the father I need to be. No matter what each of my kids are like and what moods they are in, I need to chase them down and love them no matter what. My perfect Father does not show favoritism and loves all of His children equally. I have been challenged to imitate Him more in the mood of my youngest child. 

The Prayer

So over the next few days my mind will be filled with New Testament study as I prepare for my first exam. But I received much encouragement tonight from a friend who said they read this, so I want to write things out in my life even as I am studying. Sundays excellent sermon in church was from the LORD's prayer from the book of Luke. This got me thinking what my prayers look like and even what a prayer from my life today would look like written down. So here it goes.

Perfect Father, thank You for who You are.
Thanks for the ways I saw you working today in my life even in this broken world.
Father your grace and mercy were evident everywhere today, so thank you for allowing me to see it
and I pray that you would open my eyes to see more tomorrow.

Father, your love is great
and thank you for loving me today even when I hurt you in my sin.
Thank you for allowing me to love others in a simple form like the way you love me
and I pray that you can give me more courage and patience tomorrow to love even more people through you

Father you know I stumble and fall a lot
so I pray that you will forgive me of the ways and hurts that I have committed to you.
thank you for the joy you have in me as you forgive me and purify me
and I pray to that I can find the joy in forgiveness of others.

Father, thank you for the ways that you provide for me in my needs even before I know them
and thank you for the ways you are already meeting my needs tomorrow.
I pray that you can provide in my life right now in my preparation for the test
and I thank you already for the way you will meet my needs on Thursday.

Father, I pray now that you will guard me as I study to learn more of you
and to retain my knowledge so I can give you more glory through this experience.
I also ask that you will calm my nerves so that I can focus this week on what is more important
and thank you for my wife who is caring for me this week as I study
and help me not to neglect her but give her the due time she needs

Father, thank you for this opportunity and chance to learn
Help me to praise and worship you even through the stress and challenge it is.
Thank you for being in control and running the show
I pray that you will help me to trust you more and more each day

Amen

Practical cont.

Before I begin, I would ask anyone who actually reads this to please pray for me on Thursday afternoon, I have my 1st Master's exam. And on that note, as I was studying today, God kindly reminded me that right now that is my ministry and that should come second to my wife, which has been a focus of my rants the last few days. I pray that today my wife realized that she will always come after God in my life but before everything else, even a hard test this week.

But I wanted to write today about another way practically that I can show my wife she is first to me in front of my ministry (even if my ministry right now is Lowes). Today's practical advice, which I also believe should be for every husband for their wife even those not in formal ministry, is to make sure she knows she is your greatest earthly treasure. I have been convinced that my great treasure chest of joy in life is my relationship with God. But as I open that treasure chest of pleasure in God, I have found a small jewelry box called my better half, my bride, my beauty, and my soul mate. I must treasure this jewelry box with all my life and she must know that she is this great treasure and prize. And I have discovered a few practical ways in letting her know.

First, I must affirm her ministry and service for God. I must take time to let her know that she is a great servant for God in her passion and calling for God. I must encourage her and support her in the areas she enjoys God. I must not make her feel like MY ministry is more important and that I am a better servant. Because that is a false and prideful way of making her feel not treasured. I must make sure she know that she is God's greatest gift to me and my ministry but also a gift in her own way in her service to God.

A second way I can let her know she is my greatest treasure is by taking time off just for her. She must see practically and visibly that she comes first. How this looks can vary. I have learned that it could be a special lunch one day or a time away from everything, even my ministry and reading, just for her. She must see her place and hear from my mouth that it is true. She must feel treasured by my time. I can buy her or praise her all the time but my time is the greatest way I can show her she is treasured.

And finally a third way to make sure she knows she is treasured is by diving into her world. I must get to know her. I must find her passions, desires, heart joys and heart aches, and I must know what burdens her. I must discover how she finds joy in Jesus and what drives her to serve God joyfully and not dutifully. Knowing all of this will help me better meet her needs on her terms. That is what will help her see she is treasured, meeting her on her terms and not on my terms. That is true love and a perfect way in making sure she is treasured.

These are just a few ways that I have found in making sure my love of my life knows she comes first next to any ministry or job. I will be the first to admit, I wrote all this but I have a long way to go to meet and do everything I just typed. I pray by the grace of God I can grow into the man I just wrote about.

Priority Practical

So my last post I talked about making sure my wife (and also kids even though they were not talked about) is put first in my life (she must be after God though) before my ministry as a Pastor. I quoted the Apostle Paul from Ephesians where I stated, "Husband are to love their wives AS Christ loves the church". But what does that mean practically? I mean it is nice to say and tell people I am doing but what does that actually look like?

I am going to try and give a few examples over the next few posts that I have learned from my life and that I hope to get better at each day as God convicts me. I also believe that my wife should come first not only when I am in the formal ministry but she must come first everyday even if I am roofing or working the retail world.

First, she must be a part of my ministry. I must keep her informed in what I am doing, how I am serving, and what God is doing. In the role of a Pastor I am not saying I must tell her every detail (sometimes there must be important info I cannot share) but I must keep her in the loop. My love of my life must know what I am doing for God and not be kept in the dark. She can learn from my experiences in life and get a better understanding of what God is doing through us and me in life and also she can see a new side of God from my interactions in life and ministry.

Another reason I need to keep her involved in what I am doing and how I am serving is she can have a different and sometimes better perspective. God has created men and women equal but different. This difference is very important, so as my wife can see what I am doing and how I am responding in the ministry and even in life, she can have a new perspective. She can challenge me to a different view. She can open me to a new response and when I am interacting with other women she will help me understand them better.

A third reasons for keeping her involved and in the know with what I are doing in ministry (but also life's works now) is it can inspire and strengthen her to serve better to. I have learned that my wife goes where I go. She finds her confidence when I am confident. She learns through me. All this to say when I am serving God and she knows it she to will be inspired to serve God. This means she can either serve God with me in some areas of my life or she can find her place to serve God. Keeping my wife in the know with what I am doing will help her understand where God can use her and help her find her place in serving God.

All this to say today that when my better half knows that she comes first in my life before my ministry (and even now at Lowes) she is going to be more in love with God and inspired to serve Him herself to. Inspire her to serve God, do not make her feel second rate behind the job.