This past weekend our family went out of town and stayed overnight in a hotel room. Since we've cancelled our cable tv several months ago, it is always a novelty to turn on the hotel room tv and see what's on. Well, we took in a program that profiled a couple who owned several de-scented skunks. They had rescued/purchased them from a fur farm and then, spared no expense to ensure these skunks had a good life. The woman even stated, "If I need a new pair of tennis shoes and one of my skunks is sick and needs medicine, I just go barefoot for a while." Clearly, the skunks are Priority One for these people. In the final scene of this show, the man hugged the skunks to his chest and said, "People are not going to understand our love for these beautiful creatures and that's okay."
I didn't know whether to laugh (like my kids did) or cry. Later, in the car, we talked about it a little. Romans 1:25 came up. "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen."
We had a little fun "barbecuing" these folks for their skunk-fetish. I thought about it later though. I do the same thing. Okay, maybe not with skunks. However, just about every day, I choose to worship God's creation in some fashion rather than God, the Creator. I don't even realize it. Mostly, I worship myself and my needs and my wants and desires. They surely take precedent over others on a daily basis.
These folks were thrilled with their skunks and prized them above all things. What do I get excited about? What thrills my heart? Is it God and His Son Jesus? Or is it some poor earthly substitute?
Living coram Deo -- before God's face -- today, asking Him to cleanse my heart so that I prize Him above all things?? It's a question I too rarely ask myself.
Just something to think about.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
No Pain, No Gain
No one likes to be corrected. I experienced this the other day when my husband gently brought something to my attention that needed to be corrected. It's a sin I struggle with and actually, something that had taken root in my life and I wasn't even fully aware of it. The pain I felt as we talked it over was intense. I was so fully entrenched in this sinful behavior that I struggled to find the words to justify it and to rationalize why I had to be that way. Honestly, I felt that the essence of my being was undergoing a battle siege. It was incredibly hard to separate it (the sin) out of who I am. I guess because for years I told myself that I was entitled to feel that way due to "X, Y & Z". I don't know. When you believe something for so long, it guides your actions. Well, it (this sin) guided my actions and my speech the other day and truly revealed my heart. My husband graciously talked with me about it and gradually, through my tears, and with the Holy Spirit's power, I repented and uprooted the huge weed that was growing in my heart. I want you to know, it was painful and it took a while. It didn't go easily. The soil around this weed was hard and dry and unforgiving. It's gone and thank the Lord. I suppose like those fluffy white dandelion heads though, it could have left seeds behind that will try to implant themselves in the newly-roughed-up soil. So, although I am forgiven, I need Jesus and His perfect gardening skills to help me live before our Father every day in humility and love so the soil of my heart stays tender and pure.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Bad Karma
Yesterday I heard a someone on the radio explain the Hindu religious concept of "karma". He talked about things I'd never thought about before. This speaker went on to mention that in India the reason not many in society reach out to help the vast number of beggars is that they believe they are reaping their just, negative rewards. Through reincarnation, the beggars are living and paying for the evil they've done in their prior lives. Just so, anyone who is wealthy and privileged is reaping the good they've done in past lives. (It's like there is some perverse fairness to this thinking.) Truly, there is no compelling reason to help the poor if they are responsible for their own poverty because of evil choices made in a past life. Sadly, the fabric of karma is woven so deeply in this society that hopelessness must be the prevailing emotion for the poor. Apparently, all are not created equal.
It's something to think about. . . when I come across someone having a bad day, remind me never to flippantly say, "Oh, it's just bad karma."
It's something to think about. . . when I come across someone having a bad day, remind me never to flippantly say, "Oh, it's just bad karma."
Friday, March 4, 2011
Old Habits Die Hard
Actually, maybe I should title this "Old Sins Die Hard". Let's call it what it is. Yesterday was miserable. Before my husband left for work, after not sleeping well, I chose to badger him with my list of "unmet needs". Little nit-picky areas of household life that were unfulfilled. Terribly mundane necessities of running our home; intuitions of overdue jobs. Well, it really doesn't matter what the issue was. What matters is my sinful heart had a field day as I gloried in describing my fears and then, followed him around the house repeating myself like the father goose in Charlotte's Web. Finally, he'd had enough and we had words. Thankfully, we stopped ourselves and we prayed and asked each other's forgiveness. Still, the damage was done and we were left to ponder the morning all day long. I sent my husband to work dealing with the after-shocks of the little earthquake I'd created. Not a good thing.
Later in the day, when he came home. He came in the door, tenatively, looking very tired. I could tell he didn't know which Shelley he would find when he came home. Our welcome home kiss was very "grandmotherly"; more of a little peck than a kiss. Later, we were able to sit on the couch with a cup of mint tea to talk and pray some more. The air cleared like after a huge storm. It was beautiful.
Marriage is very hard work. We'll be married 22 years in May but because we are two sinners trying to exalt our own kingdoms every day, there's a lot of conflict.
Lord, I am praying today that I will be aware of my old habits/sins and remember that Christ died for me so that I no longer "live for myself". And, I no longer view my husband "from a worldly point of view". We are "new creations; the old has gone; the new has come!" (2 Corinthtians 5:14-17) Help me to live like it today. --Amen
Good book recommendation: What Did You Expect? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage Paul David Tripp (get it now, read it now, re-read it!!!)
Later in the day, when he came home. He came in the door, tenatively, looking very tired. I could tell he didn't know which Shelley he would find when he came home. Our welcome home kiss was very "grandmotherly"; more of a little peck than a kiss. Later, we were able to sit on the couch with a cup of mint tea to talk and pray some more. The air cleared like after a huge storm. It was beautiful.
Marriage is very hard work. We'll be married 22 years in May but because we are two sinners trying to exalt our own kingdoms every day, there's a lot of conflict.
Lord, I am praying today that I will be aware of my old habits/sins and remember that Christ died for me so that I no longer "live for myself". And, I no longer view my husband "from a worldly point of view". We are "new creations; the old has gone; the new has come!" (2 Corinthtians 5:14-17) Help me to live like it today. --Amen
Good book recommendation: What Did You Expect? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage Paul David Tripp (get it now, read it now, re-read it!!!)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
St. Patrick and the Providence of the Irish
Hi friends and family! As you know, I love to write and just don't do it often enough but maybe this blog will force me to write more. And, that would be a good thing since I am "teaching" a writing class right now to six amazing home educated children who have developed into diligent writers themselves.
So, first let me explain the choice of "Coram Deo Musings" for my blog title. Coram Deo is Latin for "living before the face of God" and it carries with it that intentional aspect of remembering just who created me and breathed spiritual life into my dead body. I don't own my life and I like to muse on that fact and hopefully remember that God graciously allows me to live before Him as His servant.
Now, St. Patrick and the Providence of the Irish. Honestly, it wasn't the "luck" of the Irish that brought Patrick, a Christian missionary to Ireland. No, it was God and the first time he brought Patrick to Ireland, he was a very unwilling participant. Patrick (called "Sucaat" - warlike) at the time, was a young, strong-willed adolescent who had the privilege to have Christian parents. (This is even before the Roman Catholic church was in Ireland.) Undoubtedly, Patrick heard the Gospel from an early age but he rejected it. One day, Patrick was taken captive by pirates and sold as a slave. He eventually was forced to become a shepherd and probably spent many lonely days out on the moors tending the sheep. He found himself repenting of his sins and asking Christ to forgive him. Several years late, he was able to escape on a ship headed back home to Brittania (England). One might be tempted to enjoy the warmth and comfort of family and friends and the familiar things so long missed. Not Patrick. After a time, he felt God calling him to go back to Ireland. He had, after all, learned the language and his heart was burdened for the salvation of the pagan peoples there.
And, so, he went back and loved the people of Ireland sacrificially, working among them until his death. It wasn't luck at all that drew him there; it was God's providence.
The facts of this story are a paraphrase of a bulletin insert by Christian Communicators Worldwide (Jim Eliff's ministry). I am not trying to copy their fine work but I am simply trying to spread the word about our brother, St. Patrick and remind us to live coram Deo.
In a few days, I'll post a creative writing piece I did on this story and I'll be posting the "musings" of my writing students as well. I hope you enjoy it!
So, first let me explain the choice of "Coram Deo Musings" for my blog title. Coram Deo is Latin for "living before the face of God" and it carries with it that intentional aspect of remembering just who created me and breathed spiritual life into my dead body. I don't own my life and I like to muse on that fact and hopefully remember that God graciously allows me to live before Him as His servant.
Now, St. Patrick and the Providence of the Irish. Honestly, it wasn't the "luck" of the Irish that brought Patrick, a Christian missionary to Ireland. No, it was God and the first time he brought Patrick to Ireland, he was a very unwilling participant. Patrick (called "Sucaat" - warlike) at the time, was a young, strong-willed adolescent who had the privilege to have Christian parents. (This is even before the Roman Catholic church was in Ireland.) Undoubtedly, Patrick heard the Gospel from an early age but he rejected it. One day, Patrick was taken captive by pirates and sold as a slave. He eventually was forced to become a shepherd and probably spent many lonely days out on the moors tending the sheep. He found himself repenting of his sins and asking Christ to forgive him. Several years late, he was able to escape on a ship headed back home to Brittania (England). One might be tempted to enjoy the warmth and comfort of family and friends and the familiar things so long missed. Not Patrick. After a time, he felt God calling him to go back to Ireland. He had, after all, learned the language and his heart was burdened for the salvation of the pagan peoples there.
And, so, he went back and loved the people of Ireland sacrificially, working among them until his death. It wasn't luck at all that drew him there; it was God's providence.
The facts of this story are a paraphrase of a bulletin insert by Christian Communicators Worldwide (Jim Eliff's ministry). I am not trying to copy their fine work but I am simply trying to spread the word about our brother, St. Patrick and remind us to live coram Deo.
In a few days, I'll post a creative writing piece I did on this story and I'll be posting the "musings" of my writing students as well. I hope you enjoy it!
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