Grumble...mumble...grumble

Sometimes living in community, or with other people is frustrating.
The dishes don’t get done.
The toilet bowl is dirty.
There are used cups or mugs left sitting.
The dish rack is overflowing.

A few weeks ago I was standing at the kitchen sink, silently scrubbing away at some mugs, when I thought, “I would gladly clean up my own home for my own family (non-existent children and husband implied).” 

Then God put a stop to my pity-me thought process. 

“If you’d happily serve a family then, why aren’t you happy to serve your housemates now?” God’s question wasn’t so much a slap on the wrist, as much as a reality check. I know I’m kidding myself if I believe I’ll feel a different way under different circumstances.

In the end I’ll still choose to clean. I’d rather see a tidy house.
In the end I will forgive. Or pray. Or work harder. I’ll still to the right thing.
But what my heart is feeling in that moment of doing it is what matters.

I can be ticked off and do the dishes.
Or I can be cheerful and do the dishes.

Others comment on my servant-heart because they only see my outward actions. Luckily, they don’t actually see what’s going on in my heart. Because sometimes it isn’t pretty. It isn’t servant-hearted. My heart screams “Why is it always me that has to pick up after others?” Or, “How come nobody else is organized enough to get this job done?” Instead of choosing to serve gladly, I grumble whole-heartedly throughout the entire process. 

If like me, you want to put an end to your internal grumblings there is good news. You can ask God to help. In asking Him to rid me of my grumbling attitude, I’ve had to do very little to get there. God’s been transforming my heart to joyfully serve, joyfully clean, and joyfully live with others in a unique community.

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If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:8

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9

Someday is Today

“Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”

I’ve decided I really like Thomas Jefferson for that suggestion alone. Sure he was also one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, and its third president. But his motivating statement, along with several similar ones in the Bible, is giving me a great boost for this New Year.

I’m re-reading Proverbs for the month of January, as a solid Biblical foundation for 2012. Conveniently, the Old Testament book has 31 chapters – one for every day!  Here’s what I got out of today’s reading in chapter 1: a Christ-centred life is one of discipline; not just in spending time with God, but in all areas of life. For me that includes being disciplined in how we respond to what happens in our life (anger vs. self-control), how and what we eat, exercise, sleep, spending money, loving other people…it’s kind of an endless list. As Christ followers, we must be consistent in seeking God’s direction so we know how to live righteously. 

The word righteously might bring to mind many spiritual ideas, or even those ‘holier than thou’ types. But I believe that God cares not just about the condition of our spirits, but also our mind and body (the concrete/physical aspects of us that exist on earth). So what are the things that I…you…we know we should be doing with our lives? What are those things that keep getting put off for tomorrow, or someday? 

Someday I’ll …
…go to bed earlier.
…wake up earlier.
…start eating better.
…get into shape.
…go to church.
…pray.
…clean the house so neighbours can come over.
…learn to cook.
…be more loving to others.
…get over my fear of ____.

You get the idea. We are really good at talking up the things we want to do with our lives, but when it comes to the actual doing of these things we fall short. So the challenge for myself and for you is how do we want to start 2012? Do we choose to repeat the similar struggles and stumbles of the previous year? Do we begin the next year of our lives feeling like there’s no room for improvement? I suggest we wake up January 1 with a fresh and positive outlook for what’s to come. We can start the New Year with thoughts, words and actions that will kick-start 2012 on the right path for what both we and God want as good and righteous lives, not just for someday, but for today.

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The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
 for attaining wisdom and discipline;
   for understanding words of insight;
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
   doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to the simple,
   knowledge and discretion to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
   and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,
   the sayings and riddles of the wise.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
   but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:1-7 (NIV)

Nobody's watching

I'm painting the two guest bedrooms we have at the YWAM Brisbane property. The rooms are used by guest speakers for DTSs (Discipleship Training Schools), former YWAMers passing through, or YWAMers' families. My parents just stayed in the rooms during their visit to Australia in May.

As hospitality ministry leader, I want people who walk into those rooms to feel relaxed, or like they've just walked into a comforting cottage. But right now, the rooms desperately need some freshening up: paint, window coverings, carpet. So that's been my goal for the past few weeks.

While painting a window frame I was struck by how shabby the last paint job was done. The wall colour, a yellowish-brown, covered much of the sides of the frame. I can see how it might be easy to just want to get the job done as quick as possible, especially when the room isn't your own.

But I'm now convinced that what you do when nobody's watching is the truest example of who you are. Of course cutting corners usually doesn't hurt anybody. But our Father in Heaven knows our intentions, and in fact our selfishness, when we choose the easy way out. Even if it's something as small as painting a room.

I've been thinking about this fact a lot lately, because it's very easy to go through my day and do whatever I want. My day-to-day tasks are really my own. The only ones who know how well I do my job are me, and God. So do I give each day 75%? Or what about 100%? Or even 110% of my effort each time I do something?

At the end of the day I want to know that God, above any other person, is pleased by my efforts. I want to hear Him say "well done good and faithful servant" for the big things and especially the little things that I do.

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...your Father, who sees what is done in secret... Matthew 6:6 (NIV)