Still Growing Home

Author: jlongwell@zirkel.us

  • Redeeming procrastination

    My ability to procrastinate is only outclassed by my ability to ignore the procrastination itself.  I have no guilt with either of these activities.  As I am sitting here writing this post, I look around my office and see that it is obscured with unfinished and incomplete, dusty, objects I hesitate to call sin.   God on the other hand disagrees with me, as I can see in the scriptures.  Ephesians 5:16 says, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil and Colosians 4:5 says, walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.  These verses are specifically speaking of our walk with the Lord in an evil time, so I may be taking liberality with the word, but God’s conviction on my heart to be faithful in the little things weighs pretty heavily. : (   My excuses carry concern only for myself, as God is so much bigger.

    One of my excuses is lazy.  I simply don’t put things away that will  be gotten back out within short periods of time. Procrastination has cluttered my desk and left me with the ability to find nothing! Another, I’m visual so if I can see things I remember them.  Again this has deepened the piles on my desk and left me searching for missing items. Another is fear.  Several years ago, I felt like we should try do a bicycle safety class with the police department in our town.  I did not act on this until much time had passed.  At that point when I talked to an officer there was absolutely no interest in doing it.  How sad that I was not faithful.  Children are better protected with bicycle safety.  Another is indecision.  Whether the debris of clutter has no home, or doesn’t belong to me, is not ample excuse for doing nothing.  God is a good decision maker : ))  And James says to ask Him for wisdom…..  I’m sure you can think of other excuses, that I have not mentioned.  This sin is deeply rooted and it’s past time for removal.  I’m glad God’s God, because yikes!  this is a pattern from childhood and I don’t even realize what’s happening until later.

    I scold my children for not standing where they are supposed to be, whether in school work, housework or lessons of life.  As soldiers of old, stood on the walls of the city, ready for battle, I want my children ready. Standing where they are placed, alert, and armoured.  And now here am I poorly positioned, unprepared, somewhat careless really.  Ask God to show you areas in your life that He wants to change, and be glorified in.  “God forgive me for this sin of procrastination.  For not being faithful, for not taking the little things seriously.  For believing I could build with such a poor foundation piece.  Open my eyes to see each false step, for quick repentance and turning around. Give me wisdom to deal with this mess I’ve created, and to train my children so they don’t fall into the same trap. Thank you Father”.

  • Sourcing His Presence Day by Day

    dscn5825
    I have been listening to some cd’s by Katie Souza.   Her conviction that everything starts, proceeds, and ends in Jesus, has stirred my heart.  She is sourcing His presence.  Over the last 3 years I have spent more and more time with Him, through the day.  But as we all know there is more!   Her walk with God is dynamic.  A women who calls me to come closer to her Saviour.   Have you read or listened to someone who stirred your heart for a deeper walk with Jesus?  She stirs my heart with conviction.  And also makes me fear failure.  Is it possible for me to live in Christ?  Will I fail to draw close?  Maybe from hardness of heart and lack of interest?  Will I be willing to spend more hours a day with Him or will I shirk, enjoying the pleasures of my home and family?

    Though the calling to come closer may not look the same for all of us, it is a calling on all of our lives.   God’s call for extreme fellowship, ultimately frees us to be all we can be. His calling with conviction, will also make our paths straight.  He will bring light for us to see, and strength to do.  (John 8:12, Ps 27:1)   In all of these things I’m more than a conqueror  Romans 8:37. Surely He has prepared my way to draw close and be sourced from Him.  I have seen irritations and offenses not affect me because I was walking close to Jesus.   I think of it like oil, and the pressures of life washed over me because I was in His presence.  Where do I begin, except sacrificing my time. Do you find it hard to focus more on Jesus?   How we say no to the temporal and yes to the eternal.  This is hard?  Yes, it is.  I am a doer, and I like to be moving.  Will you also begin to focus more on the Kings of Kings, and Lord of Lords, making Him preeminent. Please feel free to share your experiences with time in His presence.

  • Time waits for no man (or woman)

    Time waits for no man (or woman)

    How I do love to fill my time!  How about you?  Has your time been accounted faithful, or fruitless?  As I have been applying minimalism to my life I have seen God put his finger on two areas:  though candidly He probably has a lot more….

     The physical arena of projects.  This one is something I have dealt with consistently through the years.  I would finish all my projects and then fall off the band-wagon.  I enjoy a number of crafting projects, like spinning, weaving, crocheting, knitting, sewing, beading etc.   There is nothing inherently wrong with these, as many hobbies beautify our homes, or build quality in our lives.  What God is asking of me is to finish what I’ve started.  To be faithful with what is in my hand.  To be attentive and obedient when He says no.   I would finish all my projects and then fall off the band-wagon.  If this is an area that is hard for you, seek Him for the process, for the order and method.  Ask Him for wisdom and grace to finish.  Because I have picked up projects that God never intended I am not accomplishing projects that He did intend! This really saddened my heart, as I am now finishing something that was not His will.  I am always blessed when I finish a project, for actually FINISHING! and for being OBEDIENT, and for meeting the projects intended purpose.  : )  I hope you also will honour the Lord with your work.

    img_16581
    I felt like God said this was beautiful, and I was enjoying it, but it wasn’t His best.  Time misused.  Really the beginning of this article.

    What am I actually doing with my time?  This second area is harder for me to understand and therefore grow in.  Where is our time being wasted or misused.  We home-educate and I am teaching 4 children, at this time.  So that takes a lot of hours.  One of the issues I have found is magazines.  I get hobby magazines that I will look through even though I don’t need anything.  Depending on the size, this can take a half-an-hour or more.  A magazine from Carol Wright, now I’m looking for Christmas gifts for people….AUGHHH!!!   (I have started throwing those out) : ) What are areas in your life where you are making decisions, that ultimately are not the direction God wants you going?  It could be reading books that are not best, or looking at recipes, or not making homes for things.  Trips to town that could be consolidated, Pinterest, skimming the internet, or Facebook, whatever it is, God is a merciful and forgiving God!  He’s the God of new beginnings.

    He is also the God of 24 hours, which He created to be ENOUGH!  24 hours is His plan for you to do ALL you need to do.  I am overwhelmed with what doesn’t get done, and yet He says 24 hours is enough.   I need to spend time finding out what His plan is for the day, because His plan won’t overwhelm me into the next day….  Will you consider, “His Plan”?  Time waits for no man.  What would He have you lay down, for good, or for another day, that you planned for today?  There are many factors that keep us “busy”. Sometimes our children motivate by our own past experiences in childhood or guilt with not meeting needs.  Maybe our own selfishness is involved, whatever the factor, regular time in His presence will put these things into perspective, and you will have God’s vision for your day.  At the end of my life I don’t want to account to the Kings of Kings with excuses of why I couldn’t.  I want Him to say Well Done!

  • A life of all or nothing

    blue123
    I tend to be an all or nothing type of person, and it doesn’t lead to good convos or life relationships : /  People are rather startled by my talk.  And they don’t know what to think of my lifestyle.  So that all said.  What does God want in this life, I call mine?  How do I surrender and walk with a God who hates sin, but always love me.   Who sees what I can be when I’ve just offended the 10th person in a row…. I have forgiveness and redemption from Him.   Thank God for forgiveness, for redemption, and for the sanctification that is mine as I walk in obedience… Thank God that He never quits, never gives up and never holds a grudge…. I want to be like that.. Do I have a message with my all or nothing?  Well possibly God wants to hone. : ))   And yet He made me this way and He calls me beautiful!  Are there rough edges that He wants dealt with?  Of course!  But it’s His job as I walk in surrender…. It’s not my burden to reform myself, nor critique or grumble… Just bow my heart, repent and praise…  It’s His job to do a good work in me, and I SUBMIT!!   I surrender to my Father, who loves me, and has the best for me.  I surrender to my Father who never quits, whose never miserable over my failures, who never thinks I’m hopeless.  I am blessed, seated in heavenly places with my FATHER!  And I’m beginning to look like HIM!

  • A dual life

    20140921_165914
    and she lives two lives with a husband that she loves and a Saviour who loves her.  In confusion she runs to the Lord, but in day-to-day her husband may service.  Spread thin, she may bring confusion to the marriage, how to honour both, a man that refuses her Saviour, and a Saviour who gave her His all.  Thank God for wisdom.  Thank God for His great love that covers all.  She lives as a new creature, old things having passed away.  She has been redeemed through His blood.  Satan’s dominion is broken.  His ties are gone.  She has a new Lord, with which she can honour the man she has married.  A new Lord, with wisdom, to bless the man she has married.  A new Lord to turn to with confusion and stress of life.  The love of God has been shed abroad in her heart.  Who better to receive it than the man she has married.  She has become the women whose husband is sanctified because she walks in Christ.  Their children are holy because of her redemption.  How powerful this woman is with her walk companioning with Christ. She’s seated in heavenly places in Christ, a beautiful place of fellowship and divine intervention.  Oh woman, who are you?  Walk with God, run with God, not in pride or bitterness, but with joy and peace, submit yourself to your husband, joy in him, and bring him pleasure.   For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband?  I Corinthians 7:16   Begin to see who you are in the word.  And to walk it out day-to-day.   Easy?  NO!  God’s BEST!  YES!