I'm always looking for good reading material. Last year while in the states someone gave me a copy of Radical by David Platt. It sat on my shelf until about three months ago when I started reading it. I can say truthfully that me gustó mucho. One of the best books that I have read in a long time. Mostly because it really made me think about a lot of things. What's most important in life? Do my day to day actions line up with my beliefs?If I believe that the one and only God of the Bible is the answer to all of the pain and lonliness and suffering in this world, why am I not actively and daily seeking people to share that good news with.
If I believe that this same God wants me to help meet the physical needs of those around me, why don't I use my resources more wisely so that I can help more people.
What do I teach my children? Not with words or sermons, but with my actions. They are watching every move I make. What do they see me spend my money on? How do they see me spend my time? How much of my time is spent on things that really matter not at all in light of eternity. How often do they see me reaching out to the hurting and lost?
I forced Jon to read the book too. We balance each other well. He is a realist and brings me back to earth when I have flown off into the sky. I must admit that my mind had already gone to places like the jungles of Brazil....how will the kids handle eating large spiders over a fire as we learn the language of the unreached amazonean tribe so that we can share our God with them? I'm back now, and I realize that God hasn't called us there...yet. But he has called us to be faithful with what he has given us and to always live in a way that others will be drawn to him.
So as a first step we are focusing on our finances. Where do we spend our money? What are we placing importance on simply with the things we purchase? How many shoes do we need? More accurately for us, how many books (me) and movies (Jon) do we need around the house? What about birthdays and holidays? I have been saying for the last 8 years on so that Christmas was going to be a low key affair. It never fails that I get sucked in to the temptation and fun of buying way too much. Things that a month later are forgotten or lost. I want our family to be content with less. And so we are evaluating how we spend, and making some institutional decisions that will change the way we live. My hope is that we will grow a little closer to living what we believe.
Love this post! These are totally things that I have been pondering lately too :) You're amazing, keep on sharing your heart!
ReplyDeleteDo people in Brazil eat large spiders cooked over a fire? If you do feel called to them, you could come and practice by toasting a few cicadas over the fire pit in our back yard. Seriously though, good thoughts. Sounds like a good read.
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ReplyDeletelol just kidding=)
Same here, I catch myself doing this too. Although for me it's a "thought "tangent at night that I let myself get into then in the morning I wake up and am like, "What was I thinking!" I think there's a balance between what we want to do for God and what He wants us to do for the Kingdom. We can't do things and ask God to join in, we need to first find where He is already working and join Him in it. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your strength and lean not on your own understanding. In ALL (emphasis mine) your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. This is my favorite verse. Thanks for the encouragement =)
Heather I.
See Gill, that's how my mind works. It jumps straight to spider eating in Brazil without even knowing if that is what they eat there. Also I would love to sit in your backyard with you....I was quite jealous that Jon was able to visit you all. sigh, maybe soon...
ReplyDeleteLOL...eating spiders. You crack me up, Tree. = )
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, great post. I've been praying about the upcoming Christmas season too. We just had three birthdays, and the loot from that alone is a little convicting.
Books are my weakness too--and I live within walking distance of the library! *sigh*
Oh to have a good library. There are two public libraries on the island, and they are both and hour away. They also have a limited supply of books. I guess we have traded beautiful beaches and snorkeling for libraries.
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