Same ol' Same ol'

Sometimes being a Domestic Goddess is seriously boring...at times super lame.  Since I have a tendency for having a not so positive mind I can get pretty bogged down in the day to day stuff.  It is so easy to forget how blessed you are and how much we have when we get into the "same old thing" attitude.

Romans 12:2 says:  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)

Which reminds us that really our daily life is formed by our thoughts.  Let's read chapter 12 so we can get some context on what this verse challenges us to do.

Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[c] Do not be conceited.
¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[d] says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^[e]

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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 When I read this I am convicted, because lately my attitude has been so sour and negative.  I keep thinking of escape routes and easy way outs...but listen to what Christ is telling us.

1. Renew your mind in Christ and you will know his will for you. (Romans 12:2)

2.  Christ has given you a gift-that gift is today and you must used whatever resource or talent God  has given you. (Romans 12:6)

3.   Don't get stuck in the same ol same ol. (Romans 11)

Lastly he gives us instructions on how to live a good Godly life.

You can't live life dependent on our feelings.  Being Joyful, patient, faithful are all choices.  It is a choice to use what God has blessed us with.  If you are a stay at home mom or a working woman or man you have resources that we would never use for God's glory.  

Let me challenge you:

I know how this feels...

Do you use Facebook to share God's love?  Are you kind to your neighbors? Do you volunteer or serve in your church? What are you good at and how can you use it to share the love of Christ?  How can you better your relationships with your spouse and children?  How can you better yourself? 

If your stuck or feeling stagnant, stop it.  Stop feeling and start doing.  When your mind feels negative then fill it with positive things.  Because if your reading this-most likely you have most everything you need and most everything you have ever wanted.  

Always,

M.

P.S. Your feelings called-they are tired of being your excuse

There is no substitute for Ranch Dressing

There are some things in life that just aren't worth it.  One of those things happen to be Fat Free Ranch Dressing.  My brother-in-law and I discovered that last night as we poured ranch dressing on our pizza and salad---it was disgusting.  Never again will I buy fat free ranch dressing, it is simply not worth the it.  My low calorie substitute was not even close to being comparable to the real thing.

Often we make decisions (conscious and subconsciously) to substitute what we know is good for something that is mediocre.

Do you find yourself speeding through things?  Do you find yourself irratated if your phone doesn't load up the Facebook app in 3 seconds?  In our microwave mentality we literally fly through our day. For social interaction we have Facebook, for our family we have 'quality time,' we eat at our desks, we have the 5 minute cookbook for dinners and we have tv on demand...do you get the picture?  We have substituted a full and abundant life for something less than.

Those things that I listed earlier are great and they are supposed to enhance our productivity and time.  But just like the fat free dressing, Facebook doesn't taste as good as having a coffee and conversation with a friend.  Or spending a Sunday with the family with no agenda other than to enjoy eachother's presence.

I'm telling you right now, if you buy into the Quality Time notion-your full of it and your family needs you.  You can't qualify time.  It is simply a measurement.  You can't measure laughter, love and the presence you bring to your family.  Your work isn't that important, there were always be a chores, there will always be ministry needs and there will always be something to distract you (satan will make sure of it).  For those of you who are 'martyrs,' ask someone for help with your work, your house, your ministry and spend some time with your family.  For those of you who are workaholics, your are being disobedient to God by not honoring your spouse and your family with your presence.

There is no substitute for your presence.

You can apply this to every aspect of your life.  Ask yourself this question: What have I been substituting for real wholesome things?  Whether it's social interaction, physical or mental  presence, unhealthy eating habits, vices or  relationships, we all fall to the microwave mentality. But remember shortcuts aren't always satisfying. 

And yet our society praises shortcuts.  Our society praises quality time, whirlwind affairs, quick money, the latest gadgets and the hottest bods.  They praise things that  are quick, easy substitutes promising an amazing end result.  So often their amazing end result is a 72 day marriage, or a stressed out dad or mom trying to give their kids every thing under the sun, or an unethical decision---because the end justifies the means right? 

The best things in life take time and presence.  This is your life, so show up.  Don't fast forward.  Don't substitute anything for what God has given you.  You are responsible for your life and responsibilities.  Oh, you can blame society and others for being less than.  But the truth is: it is a daily decision whether or not substitute things of this world for the things God has given you. What decision are you making today?

Always,

M.