At What Cost

This morning I read a phrase that caused me to do a little soul searching.

"...has following Jesus cost you anything?"

Honestly, at first, I read the question and went right on to the next sentence without really stopping to contemplate how I would answer. Then just three sentences later the author asked this question.

"Take a moment and jot down what following Jesus has cost you. How has following Jesus interfered with your life?"

The blank space on that page stared up at me begging to be filled, yet, I could not put any thoughts into words. Mostly this was due to the fact that no thoughts came to mind.  What cost? What price? What interference?

These are not questions that I would normally contemplate because I grew up in church. Church is what I do. The Bible is what I live by (as much as humanly possible). I am learning that this is my problem. I so often find myself  "doing church" because it's my routine and "living the Bible" because that is what I was taught and "living the Bible" in my own human power because I feel pretty confident in my own power.

I wonder, if I have this type of Christian life, how many others have the same lifestyle as I have? Yet, I digress. Like the old spiritual song, I need to say, "It's me. It's me. It's me, Oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer." My focus should be inward, not comparing my relationship with Christ to anything or anyone except Jesus himself. 

So, HAS following Jesus cost you anything? Has following Jesus interfered with your life? Are you giving up your own desires to conform your life to the desires that Jesus has for you?

Quotes from not a fan.  by Kyle Idleman

Another New Year's Resolution

We all make them and break them, the promises we make on the first day of the New Year. Yet, make them we do, and I am no different.

Yesterday, the first day of January, I announced my New Year's resolution to my husband. "This year I am going to get dressed - every day!"

His response was a puzzled and unimpressed, "OK?"

Yes, I am going to get dressed, everyday this year. Big deal, right? Well, actually, for me, it is. You see, I have been a Stay at Home Mom for 13 years now. I do not get dressed everyday to go to work outside of our home. Instead, I begin my work as soon as my feet hit the floor. I brush my teeth and begin my day. In my opinion, I often "do not have time to stop for a shower and I definitely do not have time to apply a little makeup and fix my hair". I can shower when the kids go to bed. Yes, I have become the sweatpants wearing mama that everyone tries to make over.

People, it's time for that make over!

My resolution is 2 parts. Shower and dress at the beginning of the day. Sweat pants are fine occasionally; after all, my husband finds me attractive in a casual yoga pants and tennis shoes with tousled hair. But I should not let this be my normal dress. It is true that I do not need to wear a power suit and heels but getting dressed helps me to minister to my family with more life and awareness. Getting dressed allows me the freedom to drop what I am doing when my husband comes home early for lunch. Getting dressed prepares me to take on my day and minister to the needs of my family, neighbors and friends.

Which brings me to the second part of my New Years Resolution.

I will get dressed spiritually, everyday. In Exodus28 we find God giving Moses very specific instructions as to the clothing that the priests would wear while ministering to the people of Israel. He delegated their clothing from the "bonnet" on their head down to the "britches" that they wore beneath their clothing. Have you ever wondered why all the detail? It was to set the priests apart from every body else, to sanctify them for the work of the office of the priesthood.

As a wife and mother, as a Christian woman, I too need to be "clothed" in a way that sets me apart and prepares me for the work I am called to do. On the outside, that means that I will be dressed for work, no power suits required just something appropriate for answering the door - you know, in case the UPS guy shows up or something. But on the inside, that means something different. Galatians 3:7 and Romans 13:14 admonish the disciples to "Put on Christ". While Colossians 3 gives us more of an idea of what that looks like. Here, we are told to "put on" various spiritual adornments. These include knowledge of Christ, mercy, compassion, humbleness, meekness, patience and forgiveness. These things can only be "put on" by a daily reading of the Word of God and by a daily submission and obedience to the things we learn there.

So in keeping with my New Years Resolution...it's time to "Get Dressed"



Dear Lord,
Thank you for the people that you will place in my life to minister to and be a blessing to. Help me to be dressed for success. Help my clothing to honor you and to keep me always prepared to be a blessing to others, especially my husband and family. Help me not to neglect my spiritual clothing. Help me to be spiritually dressed in the attributes of you. Allow me to wear your Holy Spirit today, so that others will see mercy and compassion, forgiveness and patience, humbleness and meekness. May I be beautiful in the eyes of my husband and beautiful to you, My Savior.

Of Mary and Martha

I was on our church campus one morning to work on yet another project. Just the week before I had redecorated my Sunday school room to prepare for the new season. Now there were props to create for the children's musical and supplies to gather for Sunday's lesson. Add to all this the fact that I am a mother of four, yes, I was very busy. My steps were a full on trot. My day had begun.

As I opened the door to the sanctuary, the quiet of the dimly lit building was broken by a faint voice. Until then, I was unaware that I was not the only person in the building. The sound was a quiet muffled sing song, almost a chant. The tune was unfamiliar and just as suddenly as it began, it ended. I was drawn to the sound. I waited for it to return. It did.

As I turned toward the front of our auditorium I saw it. A dear woman, kneeling before God, her arms outstretched - silent. For the next 25 minutes, projects were completed while she read from her open Bible, raised her hands to God and sang to Him.
"Adoration to you only Jesus."
"Jesus we love you."

I was Martha.
She was Mary.

I do not know how long she stayed there but I do know that my heart was stirred. Her simple act of worship reminded me of my need to spend time alone with my Savior - The Lover of my Soul - My Redeemer - My Strong Tower.


Matthew 10:38-42

Dear Jesus,
Today, I thank you for reminding me that you desire to spend time with me. Thank you that you are all I need. Thank you for hearing my prayers. Please, forgive me for being busy about your work without first kneeling at your feet to learn and worship.
Amen