Chores and Work – Are they a bain or a blessing?

July 13, 2018July 12, 2018 | lindamowles

No one likes chores. No one likes duties that are not thought of as fun and chores, almost by definition, are not fun.

Talk to any child raised on a farm and they will tell you of chores and hard work, even before going to school for the day! (We remember the Little House on the Prairie television series showing farm life in bygone days.)

Learning how to work is simply something that must be done. Confucius said: “The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty as the son who neglects them.”

The Jewish Tamud, Kiddushin 29a, outlines the responsibilities of a Jewish father to his son. The father was obligated to circumcise his son, to redeem him if he is the firstborn, to teach him Torah, to find him a wife, and to teach him a trade.

The parent was to teach the child a trade, thereby enabling the child to become a productive member of society who was able to support himself as an adult and, prayerfully, have a wife and children to propagate the family line. All of this was in question though if the child could not be employed in a trade so that he could earn a wage to accomplish these goals.

Clearly, working was seen as an important part of one’s life. Indeed, Paul wrote some very stern words:

“For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”

2 Thessalonians 3:10

Scripture says that God worked when He created the universe.

“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

Genesis 2:2-3

Then, shortly after these two verses, we read that Adam was to work in the garden.

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

Genesis 2:15

Tended flower garden in back yard — A tended flower garden

What was Adam’s job? How did he “work it”?

“Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.”

Genesis 2:19

Adam had the incredible job of naming all the animals and birds.

Of course, we know that sin entered the world while Adam and Eve were in the garden and our first parents were expelled therefrom. At that point, work was no longer merely tending the plants and animals. Rather, it became exceedingly difficult.

“And to Adam he [God] said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.””

Genesis 3:17-19

So, perhaps our angst about work is the continuation of the rebellion that began in the Garden. Perhaps our resentment for having to work is simply a modern description of an ancient condition – perhaps it is nothing other than sin, disobedience to God, rejecting God’s plan and inserting ourselves into God’s place so that we believe we are the master of our own universe.

How do we see these things correctly? Solomon noted:

“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil–this is the gift of God.”

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Matthew Henry said of this verse:

Life is God’s gift, and he has appointed us the number of the days of our life (Job 14:5); let us therefore spend those days in serving the Lord our God with joyfulness and gladness of heart. We must not do the business of our calling as a drudgery, and make ourselves slaves to it, but we must rejoice in our labour, not grasp at more business than we can go through without perplexity and disquiet but take a pleasure in the calling wherein God has put us, and go on in the business of it with cheerfulness.

So why do we have such difficulty with chores and work? Why is “work” almost a forbidden dirty word in our culture today?

Perhaps we need to confess our sin, our rebellion, our rejection of God’s order and realign our vision to be consistent with God’s viewpoint. Work is something that we must have to thrive, both from a financial standpoint but also from a psychological and emotional standpoint. We need to accomplish things during our day, and those things are especially blessed if they are in line with God’s directives for us.

Father, forgive me when I have seen work as drudgery or as something to run away from. Enable me to see my life’s work through your eyes, as a means of glorifying You and of spreading the Good News of the Gospel of Your Son to those around me.

ADVENTURES IN TILLAMOOK COUNTY

April 5, 2017 | lindamowles

On one of our trips out West, we drove up the Oregon coast and found that there is much to see and do in Tillamook County. For example, you can take a tour and taste incredibly delicious cheese at the Tillamook Cheese factory.

Oregon 2009 456 (C) — Tillamook Cheese factory – tour and taste testing of marvelous cheeses awaits. Be sure you are hungry — enjoy!

A marvelous sampling of their cheeses prompts purchases of the goodies, as well as investigation into the stores at home where we can acquire the cheese without traveling across the country! In fact, I would love to enjoy God’s creation right now by having some Tillamook cheese!

A real treat awaits the traveler because the Oregon coastline itself provides beautiful images of the ocean with the waves breaking upon rocky shoreline.

Oregon lighthouse 2009 422 — Oregon coastline shows waves pummeling the shore.

Another place to visit in Tillamook County is the Cape Meares State Park which boasts the Cape Meares Lighthouse. A wide asphalt trail goes from the parking area, through the forest, into the clearing with the lighthouse directly ahead.

USED Oregon 2009 417 Cape Meares Lighthouse Ore — A stroll through the woods, down the paved trail, heads straight to the lighthouse at the coast.

The lighthouse is 38 feet tall, not exactly stellar height for a lighthouse. In fact, it is the shortest lighthouse in Oregon. But, it sits at the coastline on the top of a cliff making its effective height 223 feet above sea level. So despite its own short stature, when the light was operating, it could be seen for 21 miles.

USED Cape Meares Lighthouse short - not height but placement Oregon 2009 424 — The lighthouse exhibits all her 38 feet in stature!

Beside from being an interesting place to visit, what does Tillamook County, Oregon have to do with me? Or with you?

I think it provides us with an illustration and/or lesson for our life and our Christian walk, especially when we focus on Ephesians 2:8-10.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

The lighthouse was built for a purpose – it was to warn mariners that they were approaching the shoreline and it was dangerous to come too close. It was to provide navigational assistance, and it saved lives as a result of its light shining far out over the water.

USED Lighthouse lamp Oregon 2009 419 (C) — Its purpose was to provide light to the mariner in a time when GPS did not exist.

Notably, it did all this while being only 38 feet tall. Its effective height did not come from itself, rather it came from the terrain on which it was placed – the cliff was high and from that vantage point, the little lighthouse could be seen for 21 miles.

Paul says that we have been saved through grace by faith alone. We had nothing to do with securing our salvation from sin; Jesus Christ did that atoning work on the cross for us. And, we did nothing to deserve the atonement that He provided. It was a gift of grace – not based on our work, our reputation, our finances, our stature in the community, our anything.

The reason for this gift is stated in verse 10 – we were created by God in Christ for good works that God had prepared for us to do long before we were born.

God is sovereign. He is in control of our world and all that is in it. His will, His purpose, will be accomplished and mankind cannot thwart it. In Concise Theology, J. I. Packer says:

“The assertion of God’s absolute sovereignty in creation, providence, and grace is basic to biblical belief and biblical praise.” [Sovereignty, God Reigns at page 33.]

One of the best descriptions of God’s sovereignty came from a pagan king after a lesson God provided to him.

“At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?“”

Daniel 4:34-35 ESV

The little lighthouse had a job to do and it was able to do it because of strength that was not its own – it was based upon the strength of the mountain on which it was built. We were created by God and saved from our sin by Jesus Christ so that we could do the work that God preordained for us to do all for His glory and His purposes through the power of the Holy Spirit.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5 ESV

We have no strength in our own self to do anything of eternal, lasting value for God. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to do God’s work in the world.

Am I serving His purpose, the good work that God had preordained for me to do? Am I working for the Lord through my own power and for my own reputation or am I relying on Him and the Holy Spirit to work through me for the glory of God? Am I refusing to shine because I am only of modest stature, or am I willing to shine my brightest for my Lord and let the Holy Spirit magnify the light so that it shines where He wants it to go?

Father, I give You honor and glory for Your sovereign love and mercy, grace and power that was shown by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. I pray that You would give power to these words and that they would accomplish that which You desire, through Christ Jesus I pray.

PERSEVERANT PUZZLING

September 6, 2016September 5, 2016 | lindamowles

I love puzzles – word puzzles like Word Search, Word Brain, crossword puzzles, even Sudoku and Mahjong. I practiced law for 30 years so I had any number of legal puzzles to unravel and “solve” on behalf of my clients. I love the challenge of a puzzle and I love the feeling that you get when you successfully solve it. But I don’t do jigsaw puzzles.

One Christmas I gave each of the grandchildren a 30+ piece jigsaw puzzle that was made from a picture of them. My granddaughter started it and then walked away, so I thought I would finish it. As I was trying to figure out where the pieces went, my second eldest grandson (then about 8 years old) walked past … walked past mind you, not studied it or pondered, just walked past! Almost without a stop he said:

“What are you doing, Grammy?”

“Trying to put this puzzle together.”

“Oh, here you go.”

And with that, he twisted and turned the remaining pieces into the picture and off he went.

Long before I realized I was seriously jigsaw puzzle challenged, I purchased a 3D Jigsaw Puzzle of Notre Dame Cathedral. I think it was on sale for 95% off or something ridiculous – you know, a bargain you can’t refuse! But, when I got home and looked at the box, I realized that it was a puzzle with 950+ pieces and I had no idea how to make it 3D. So, I did what any puzzle challenged person would do, I put it on a closet shelf and forgot about it.

Fast forward to 10 days ago. The puzzle genius that solved the puzzle years ago found the 3D puzzle on the closet shelf.

“Look what I found. Can I put this together, Grammy?”

I almost said “No” since his family would be moving in a couple of weeks and I certainly did not want this thing to be partially finished when they left the house. But, being rather indulgent when it comes to the grandchildren (sometimes), I gave him permission, figuring that I could vacuum up the pieces that fell and chuck the whole thing later.

The next morning, after he had opened the box, he came to us and said:

“It appears that I seriously underestimated how much space 950 puzzle pieces would take!”

All the tables, TV tables, boxes and any flat surface in the room had puzzle pieces on them. Not to mention the floor, until I pointed out that the dogs in the house might enjoy nibbling on a stray piece!

I checked on the status of Notre Dame’s construction a couple of times and was very impressed with how he was doing.

IMG_20160830_2013085_rewind — 3D puzzle in its infancy.

The number of tables had been reduced, but there were still quite a number of pieces in differing levels of completeness, and there were a host of single pieces strewn around, but overall, I was surprised at how far he had come.

IMG_20160830_2013296_rewind — Puzzle pieces in various states of completion.

But with school, band, homework, etc., I still didn’t think he would finish it even though he was exerting a good effort in the cause.

The day after these pictures were taken, and just 4 days before they were going to move, this is what he brought downstairs.

IMG_20160831_221051 — The completed 3D Puzzle of Notre Dam Cathedral, on a board in the living room.

The completed 3-dimensional Notre Dame Cathedral! I was stunned!

Needless to say, the entire family joined in the celebration of a job well done. (Even Snickers was looking at it in admiration – or perhaps wondering what the cathedral would look like if she had eaten a couple of pieces, not really sure about her expression!)

It was as if we could not get enough pictures of the work. Phones, ipods, kindles … all were emitting binding flashes as the cameras were working overtime to record this epic achievement.

In less than 10 days he had finished the 950+ piece 3D puzzle. Granted, each member of the family had put their fingers in it, you know the kind of assistance that is almost irrelevant in the grand scheme … “Here’s a piece that looks like that one!” and then you walk away glad that you could “help” him accomplish his goal. But, it was his work that sat before us on the table!

IMG_20160831_2212582_rewind — The puzzle’s Cathedral view from the top!

The look of accomplishment and achievement that radiated from his face was palpable, as the family congratulated him on achieving a goal that Grammy had dismissed as impossible and had put on a closet shelf.

IMG_20160831_221359 — The puzzle genius who persevered and constructed the Notre Dame Cathedral 3D puzzle.

Perseverant puzzling. Facing a task that is big and tricky, and sticking with it until it is conquered; being unwilling to call it quits even if the job is huge.

Now I don’t intend this post to be arrogant bragging about my grandson, nor does it reflect my brilliance in purchasing this 3D puzzle in the first place. No, I think this is a sort of illustration of what Jesus was talking about relating to the perseverance that we need in our life as we walk with the Lord.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Luke 9:23

Jesus is saying that there is a cost to discipleship. We must consider what the cost is and then determine whether we are willing to pay that cost and then we are to persevere through the fight that will ultimately come. See Luke 14:27-28, 33.

Jesus reminds us to be perseverant when He said:

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

Matthew 24:16

Each puzzle piece was specifically designed to go in a specific place, and if any piece was missing the puzzle would not be as sturdy or complete. In like manner, each of us, as Christians, has a job to do in Christ’s kingdom, and it will require us to persevere as we do it. No one else has our exact job – we are called to do it and the Body of Christ will not function quite as well if we ignore our job and think someone else will handle it. And, the one who ignores her job misses out on the tremendous blessing that comes from being a faithful servant fulfilling the mission given to her by her Master.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9

Living the Christian life is difficult because it requires us to be holy, to be separated to God, to be obedient to our Lord. It requires us to be counter-cultural as we march to a very different drummer than the world follows. It requires that we persevere despite the challenges and difficulties.

My grandson illustrated perseverance in his completion of the 3D puzzle. I realize that he enjoys a challenge and that it was fun for him, but it was also hard work and took time that he could otherwise have used in different endeavors.

That is similar to our walk with the Lord. It is enjoyable because we are with the King of Kings and Lord of Lord who also happens to be our Heavenly Father. But it also is hard work to reach out to others, to spend time preparing their meals or to create the children’s studies. It is hard work to love those who dislike us, to reject the way of anger and to embrace the attitude of love in difficult situations.

The way of perseverance is difficult, but the rewards are worth the effort.

Father, may I persevere in my Christian walk. May I do that which you have called me to do. I ask that You would bless those with whom I come in contact, so that You will be glorified.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO WITH MENTORING?

May 24, 2016 | lindamowles

Mentor. Life coach. Guide.

All these, and more, are terms we hear in our culture today reflecting the need for persons to come alongside younger, more inexperienced, people so that they can be taught and encouraged to persevere in their chosen endeavors.

According to Merriam-Webster, a mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person; a trusted counselor or guide, a tutor or coach. The term comes from literature of ancient Greece. In The Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus had an infant son when he went to war, and he was gone 20 years. During that time, his son, Telemachus, was supervised and taught by an old and trusted friend named Mentor. Thus, today, we use the word mentor to describe anyone who is a positive, guiding influence in another, usually younger, person’s life.

Mentoring is discussed in Scripture as a way of life for the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Titus chapter 2, Paul is advising the church about personal relationships within the church, i.e., mentoring:

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Titus 2:3-5.

In thinking about what mentoring is, I realized that there is much more to it than meets the eye. Yes, there certainly is an aspect of teaching to it, but there is also gentle guidance, attentive listening, and there is attention to the example that I am setting for others. Indeed, mentoring is more “watch me and do as I do” not just “do what I tell you to do”.

So, what are some of the things that we can teach others? Here are a few ideas. I am confident that there are a host of other things, so please give some additional ideas for those who read this post.

At the office (C) — At the office working on the keyboard, just like you do, Dad!

The value of mental exercise and work. When there is a puzzle about something, work it out … stay with it and keep thinking about it until you come up with a solution. If there truly is no solution, then identify the way around the roadblock so that you can continue on toward the goal that you have set.

JDD playing keyboard — Making music and feeling happy with the sounds!

The value of music and of expressing yourself in ways other than speech. Let music speak to you if you are emotionally drained, and let music reflect your feelings when you are elated!

Evans Day 041 — Investigate and ruminate on what you see!

The value of being inquisitive and of exploring the world around us. Think about something new every day.

Go cart with grandpa — Grandfather and grandson having fun together on the go-cart track!

The value of play. Take time to do something fun and if you can share the fun with others, that is even better. Also, take time to be alone and play, read, take part in some hobby, think about your goals and aspirations, learn who you are in the solitude of quiet time.

The value of relationships within the family. Cherish the older generation and listen to the stories they can share about the relatives who no longer are with us, and about you when you were young!

graduation from kindergarten — Kindergarten graduation emphasizes the importance of learning and of doing well in school.

The value of an education. College is not for everyone, but learning most definitely is! Never stop learning and always cherish the opportunity to enlarge your mind without losing your focus! Keep up on the news. Read fiction for fun and non-fiction for fun and to expand your outlook and perspective. Study and learn daily, even if you are not “in school” – there are always lessons to be learned if we keep our spirits attentive!

Garden - Monticello — The vegetable garden at Monticello, Virginia. Beautiful and well maintained, and thus it is productive!

Plant something, even if it is only a few flowers in a pot. Watch God work in His nature as they grow and bloom, providing food and beauty for you. [But, don’t forget to water it! J ]

The value of setting a goal and working hard to reach it. Once you have identified the goal, then go after it, even if it is a tough climb!

Falling off the rock, with the risk managed by the rope!

The value of taking risks, while being responsible in how you do it. Be prepared to fail, but try to minimize the damage if failure does occur. And, remember that failure does not have to be permanent, unless you let it define who you are; it might just be a setback from God which is designed to redirect your focus to get you on the path that He has ordained for you.

Cannon at Jamestown — One of the cannons on the battlefield at Jamestown, Virginia.

The value of restraining your anger and providing a peaceful resolution to difficulties.

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 14:29

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 19:11

The Holy Bible, God’s Word to us for our edification, training and instruction in righteousness.

The value of honoring the Word of God. Read God’s Word every day, think about it and learn it. Study it and learn it so that it is not just in your head but also in your heart.

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

A child once told his father that he knew what the Bible was:

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

Church with steeple stands as a reminder throughout the week that worship occurs here. “Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.” I Chronicles 16:29.

The value of sharing your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Invite others to church with you. Take your children to Sunday School and church and attend with them, don’t just drop them off for a free babysitter! We cannot give anyone else salvation; that is a work of God through the Holy Spirit. But, we can testify to others about who Jesus Christ is and about our relationship with Him as our Savior.

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Romans 10:8-11.

Mentoring – a Scriptural activity that is worth our time and attention.

Father, I pray that you would lead me as I contemplate mentoring. I read your Word that this should be done, and I pray that you would guide me as I reach out and seek to honor your Word. Forgive me when I have ignored your prompting to do this in the past, and give me strength and wisdom to move forward in Your strength through the Holy Spirit, for Your honor and glory alone.

POWER FOR FRUIT BEARING

May 17, 2016 | lindamowles

Earlier this spring, I wrote about a Wisteria vine that follows a fence at the corner of our street. This year it was full and the vine produced prolifically.

Wisteria blooming vine — Wisteria fine on the fence and growing up and onto the neighboring tree and telephone pole.

The mass of flowers hides the source of the plant’s power – the vine stem itself.

Wisteria blooming vine close up — Wisteria vine stem at ground level, providing nourishment for the plant.

The vine is strong, solid, and firmly embedded in the ground. From its roots, the entire plant derives its strength and nourishment, enabling it to bloom and give its flower for all to enjoy.

As Christians, we too are to produce fruit for our Lord. In order for us to do this, we must be firmly grafted to the Vine. Jesus used the vine and branches analogy when He said:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:1-5

The wisteria branches need the vine stem for their strength and nourishment. Likewise, we have strength for our life in Christ as long as we “abide” in Jesus, when we are attached to our Lord through the Holy Spirit’s power. When we are depending on the Vine for our strength, direction, words, actions, then we will be able to bear fruit for Him.

In his sermon entitled The Secret Of Power In Prayer delivered on the Lord’s Day Morning, January 8, 1888, at The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Pastor C. H. Spurgeon talked about an individual who exclaimed “I have something to do!” without regard to being in the Vine.

“’I have something to do,’ cries one.

Certainly you have, but not apart from Jesus. The branch has to bear fruit. But if the branch imagines that it is going to produce a cluster, or even a grape out of itself alone, it is utterly mistaken. The fruit of the branch must come forth of the stem. Your work for Christ must be Christ’s work in you or else it will be good for nothing.

I pray you, see to this. Your Sunday school teaching, your preaching or whatever you do, must be done in Christ Jesus. Not by your natural talent can you win souls, nor by plans of your own inventing can you save men. Beware of homemade schemes. Do for Jesus what Jesus bids you do. Remember that our work for Christ, as we call it, must be Christ’s work first if it is to be accepted of Him. Abide in Him as to your fruit-bearing. Yes, abide in Him as to your very life.”

[Sermon #2002 Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit 1 Volume 34 www.spurgeongems.org.]

The flowers cannot bloom and grow without the stem’s strength. If they are cut off from the vine’s stem, they will die in time. So too, if we work for the Lord in our own strength and power, using “homemade schemes” or using our talents without regard to the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be ineffective because, apart from Jesus, we can do nothing for Him. John 15:5. We may be good people, and we may even do nice things for others, but there will be no spiritual fruit because only God through the Holy Spirit can produce that fruit.

As Spurgeon says it: our work “must be Christ’s work first if it is to be accepted of Him. Abide in Him as to your fruit-bearing. Yes, abide in Him as to your very life.”

I pray that this rendition of the hymn “Abide with Me,” played by Eric Wyse on Reflections – 60 Songs of Devotion, will focus your mind and heart on our Lord and His grace that has been given to you through His Spirit.

Father, forgive me when I have run ahead and done things for You when You did not tell me to do so. Forgive me when I have relied on my own strength, talent or power to “work for You”. May I rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and for strength as I live my live for Your honor and glory alone.