The Practice of the Presence of God is a Christian classic. The book is a collection of letters, notes, and accounts of conversations of Brother Lawrence, a lay brother in the Discalced Carmelites in Paris. He lived from 1611 to 1691; the book was published after Brother Lawrence's death.
Brother Lawrence found the secret to working joyfully as a servant. "Though he disliked kitchen work, he served as cook for in his community for thirty years," so says the back cover of this little book.
What was Brother Lawrence's secret? The inside cover of the book says, "He discovered the powerful secret of sensing the continual presence of God in even 'the little things' of everyday life." Listen to one of Brother Lawrence's comments: "I turn the cake that is frying in the pan for love of Him; and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before Him who has given me grace to work."(Italics mine)
I admit that I don't always "turn the cake that is frying" for love of Him. In fact, sometimes I get tired of having to cook day in and day out. But I think Brother Lawrence got it right; whatever we do with an awareness of God gives joy to our work. I have begun praying that I would walk with awareness with God every day. As I cook, I try to thank Him for a stove to cook on, running water, electricity, and a plethora of modern coveniences.
The King of the universe stooping down to bathe smelly, dirty feet exemplifies servanthood. How can we think any kind of work or service is beneath us? In John 4:34 Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work." Jesus' "work" took Him to the cross. And how could Jesus accomplish His Father's will? Through love for Him and constantly being in His Father's presence.
Yes, Brother Lawrence found the secret to working joyfully as a servant. He followed Christ's example.
As we begin a new year, I pray we would "practice the presence of God" so our our work becomes a joyful service to God!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A Year of Joy
The birth, death, & resurrection of Christ made it possible for us to become part of God's family. As we celebrate Jesus' birth, let's reflect on the blessings God gives us through family and friends. Most of all, let's praise God for our precious Savior!
I hope you enjoy these pictures of our family. Just copy this link.
http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d544d324f444d784d7a513d0d0a&blogview=true
Merry Christmas!
I hope you enjoy these pictures of our family. Just copy this link.
http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d544d324f444d784d7a513d0d0a&blogview=true
Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Christmas Hope
Time zoomed by these last few weeks. I last posted on December 7. Somewhere I lost two weeks in the midst of Chrismas shopping, parties, and special times with grandkids. But it's been a joyful time!
Instead of doing part two of The Irony of Work, I'm compelled to focus on the magnificent hope we have because of Christmas. I left yesterday's church service with my head in the clouds - the clouds of heaven.
Christmas season hits some people like a hammer blow, leaving them bruised and battered. Illness, loss of a job, family disputes, or the death of a loved one can rob us of our Christmas hope.
Today let's walk above our circumstances. Read this slowly and let the hope sink into your heart.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away,, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.2 Cor 4:16-18
Our troubles may seem neither light nor momentary unless viewed in the context of eternity. Jesus coming to earth as a baby, dying on a cross for our sins and then rising again confirms the reality that our troubles are light and momentary.
The pain we feel, the suffering we experience now will someday be gone. This is our Christmas hope:
And I heard a loud voice saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live wth them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev 21:3-4
When painful circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, let's turn our thoughts to the eternal glory God has in store for us and the joy we'll experience when God wipes away all our tears.
Father, we praise you that Jesus came as a baby to die for our sins so that we could be forever reconciled to you. Help us focus on our eternal future with you as we celebrate his birth this week.
I pray for all of those who are living through painful times this week. Please comfort them and give them your peace.
In Jesus' precious name,
Amen
Instead of doing part two of The Irony of Work, I'm compelled to focus on the magnificent hope we have because of Christmas. I left yesterday's church service with my head in the clouds - the clouds of heaven.
Christmas season hits some people like a hammer blow, leaving them bruised and battered. Illness, loss of a job, family disputes, or the death of a loved one can rob us of our Christmas hope.
Today let's walk above our circumstances. Read this slowly and let the hope sink into your heart.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away,, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.2 Cor 4:16-18
Our troubles may seem neither light nor momentary unless viewed in the context of eternity. Jesus coming to earth as a baby, dying on a cross for our sins and then rising again confirms the reality that our troubles are light and momentary.
The pain we feel, the suffering we experience now will someday be gone. This is our Christmas hope:
And I heard a loud voice saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live wth them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev 21:3-4
When painful circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, let's turn our thoughts to the eternal glory God has in store for us and the joy we'll experience when God wipes away all our tears.
Father, we praise you that Jesus came as a baby to die for our sins so that we could be forever reconciled to you. Help us focus on our eternal future with you as we celebrate his birth this week.
I pray for all of those who are living through painful times this week. Please comfort them and give them your peace.
In Jesus' precious name,
Amen
Sunday, December 6, 2009
The Irony of Work
Often work is seen as a necessary drudgery, something to endure until the weekend. However, God created work and calls it good. In Genesis 1:28 God told Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:31 says that God saw all that he made and it was good.
God has meaningful work for us too. We often fail to realize the remarkable privilege of working hand-in-hand with the Creator of the Universe. Paul tells the Corinthians to "always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Cor 15:58b) Paul also tells them in 1 Corinthians 3:9 that they are God's fellow workers.
Many people in America live for weekends, vacations, and free time. Compounding this is the emphasis on self in our country: self-esteem, self-fulfillment, and self-image. This leads to self-absorption which is a miserable way to live.
The fulfillment, esteem, and feeling good about yourself is found not in weekends or vacations, but in work, the very thing God commanded us to do from the beginning. Our attitude determines whether our work fulfills us. Ephesians 6:7 says to serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. When we view work as service to the Lord, we elevate even menial tasks to important work.
We have a neighbor named Fred, a spry 94 year old wonder. He's in charge of an exercise classes three days a week where he sets up chairs and starts the DVD. He also works at his church by picking up trash on the grounds. Fred always has a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone. He looks and acts like 74 instead of 94. His servant spirit encourages everyone around him, including me.
Our pastor is preaching through Matthew. The last couple of Sundays he talked about being a servant as the way to greatness. Jesus, of course, is the ultimate servant and our example to follow. Jesus knows the joy of serving, and He wants that same joy for us.
What keeps coming up in conjunction with the word "work" is the word "serve." Could it be this is the key to enjoying our work, no matter what it is? Being a servant also takes care of the self-absorption that consumes so many people in our society.
What keeps us from living in a constant state of servanthood? Join me next time as we explore answers to this question.
God has meaningful work for us too. We often fail to realize the remarkable privilege of working hand-in-hand with the Creator of the Universe. Paul tells the Corinthians to "always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Cor 15:58b) Paul also tells them in 1 Corinthians 3:9 that they are God's fellow workers.
Many people in America live for weekends, vacations, and free time. Compounding this is the emphasis on self in our country: self-esteem, self-fulfillment, and self-image. This leads to self-absorption which is a miserable way to live.
The fulfillment, esteem, and feeling good about yourself is found not in weekends or vacations, but in work, the very thing God commanded us to do from the beginning. Our attitude determines whether our work fulfills us. Ephesians 6:7 says to serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. When we view work as service to the Lord, we elevate even menial tasks to important work.
We have a neighbor named Fred, a spry 94 year old wonder. He's in charge of an exercise classes three days a week where he sets up chairs and starts the DVD. He also works at his church by picking up trash on the grounds. Fred always has a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone. He looks and acts like 74 instead of 94. His servant spirit encourages everyone around him, including me.
Our pastor is preaching through Matthew. The last couple of Sundays he talked about being a servant as the way to greatness. Jesus, of course, is the ultimate servant and our example to follow. Jesus knows the joy of serving, and He wants that same joy for us.
What keeps coming up in conjunction with the word "work" is the word "serve." Could it be this is the key to enjoying our work, no matter what it is? Being a servant also takes care of the self-absorption that consumes so many people in our society.
What keeps us from living in a constant state of servanthood? Join me next time as we explore answers to this question.
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