Sunday, September 21, 2008

Not So Short But Sweet (Real Sweet)

So, this past Friday and Saturday, the hubs and I worked at our new house from what we in the South call "from can to can't" (only it sounds more like 'cain to cain't' when we say it). While hubs spent most of the day on the tractor (yes, we have a tractor - it is TN, what did you expect?), yours truly spent my time loading 2x4's, blocks (cinder, not lego), rocks (think Gibraltar), raking gravel and spreading mulch. Does anything sound amiss to you? Yeah, he got the sweet end of the deal. I have to say that my lower back protests every time I stand up or sit down and is in definite need of a trip to the chiropractor. Needless to say, I am walking with a little hitch in my 'git along'. A girl shouldn't lift 80 lb bags of mulch (18 bags to be exact) all by herself even if she IS trying to make hay while the sun shines. We did make a lot of progress even though I might be crippled for life. Sometimes ya gotta take it in the chin (back) for the greater good of the family (IE. we did all this stuff to keep from having to pay someone else to do it - we're cheap like that, but hard workers nonetheless).

The weather in East TN this weekend has been absolutely beautiful (the football? not so pretty, but that is another post entirely). Even with all the hard, back-breaking work we did, we were not miserably hot, because there was a constant breeze and the Lord saw fit to clear away the humidity. Saturday evening, while I was waiting on hubs to put his tractor away and lock the house up, I sat in the garage and prayed over the house. Probably not the prayers you would expect, but I prayed for everything concerning that house. One thing I said during the prayer was "God, let everything we do in this house or associated with this house bring you glory". When I said that, it was as if God turned on a light for me. It was as if He highlighted those words for me and I kept saying "Bring You Glory" over and over again and each time I said it, I had a new understanding of what they meant. I have asked many, many times for my actions or words to bring Him glory, but this time He really made it clear to me that bringing Him glory is my one true calling.

As I prayed there in that garage, an old idea became a new realization. When I do everything to bring Him glory, the pressure is lifted from me. If I am living, breathing, acting, doing, speaking, and loving for God's glory, then every heavy load I carry is placed on His shoulders (and they are the only shoulders that can bear up under all the weight). When I live for His glory, the focus is placed on Him -- I have done my part and the rest is up to Him. My goal in everything I do should be to place Him in the spotlight. Oh, I may fail by the world's standards, but my purpose in Him is to bring Him glory. Even in the small, everyday, mundane things of life, my calling is to bring Him glory....it's the purest purpose of every Christ-follower.....His glory.

Some of you are reading this and thinking, is she just figuring this out? Maybe. It is something that I have known in my head for years, but I think I might have really gotten it this time...sitting in an unfinished garage of all places. It is one thing to know something in your head, and a completely different thing to know it in your heart. Some things are learned with our human understanding and some things are simply God-taught. This is a God-teaching moment for me.

The phrase "for His glory" keeps running through my mind and I keep saying it and praying it over and over. Have I failed at bringing Him glory before? Yes. Will I fail at it in the future? Yes, but at least now I have a firm grasp on the concept and hopefully, I have reminded you today of what you already knew.....your purpose in everything you do or say is to bring Him glory. Take a few minutes and say to the Lord, "For Your glory" over and over and see if it impacts your day today......I bet it will ;-).



1 Chronicles 16:29
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

14 comments:

Greg P. said...

"For your glory God".

We may have all heard it before, but, that doesn't mean that we all practice it enough. Thanks for the simple reminder. It's called practicing what we preach and I have to do it more.

Eddie said...

Good Word! Unfortunately, many of us have head knowledge of many things, but moving it that final 18 inches from our head to our heart is what is tough. Sounds like a "God moment" to me and I'm loving it. Being a parent youself,means you know how your Dad feels when one of his precious children draws closer to our Lord. Another good thing about drawing closer to the Lord, is you didn't leave the rest of us, you caused us to want to draw closer also. Loving you, Dad

Teresa said...

Awesome word! For His glory!!! That is what we were created for..to bring Him glory!

You were right..sweet post...not so sweet football..(maybe we should write that post together...)

Blessings!
Teresa
ps: we have a tractor too...in west tn:)


for His glory...for His glory...for His glory...

Fran said...

This is why I love ya! Take the simple, but so profound, and make it real in daily living.

I'm living "for His glory" today!

Hugs,
Fran

Unknown said...

"It is one thing to know something in your head, and a completely different thing to know it in your heart. Some things are learned with our human understanding and some things are simply God-taught."

AMEN!

I'm Tara. said...

You are so smart, and part of that is because you KEEP learning things you already know. No point in knowing everything all at once, right? :) I'm with ya, friend.

Sarah Markley said...

great post, bethanne. i hope your back feels better.

and we don't have a tractor. for the record. =)

Mommyluann said...

the weather was great. Can't wait to see the house!

Heidi Zawisza said...

Now I understand your facebook status....You are so cool...you know that right??
And yes, that was black polish.....LUV it!!
You probably think you CAIN'T wear black polish...but you should try it, I bet you CAIN!!!!

Amanda said...

Watch out!! You might just start to SEE HIS GLORY while you are Bringing HIM glory. When you do, you will want more and more and more!! I'm all over the freedom that comes from simply glorifying HIM!!

Anonymous said...

I loved your post, today...so true. So sorry to have to admit that I may have even gotten a bigger blessing when I went to read the comment posted by your dad. I was so humbled by how pleased your earthly father is with your love of your heavenly father. I am sitting at work in tears so prayerful that my (many) children will grow to have such a love and such a close relationship with their heavenly father that I will be blessed in the same way as your father. I love you dearly...and miss you dearly. I guess for now, we'll just have to share our understanding looks from across the room in SS.--Angela

ocean mommy said...

These three words totally change my attitude/perspective when I say them. Thanks for reminding me to SAY them more. :)

Have a great day,
steph.

Super B's Mom said...

You have no idea how much I needed to read this today...

Stacey said...

Amen. I need that everyday.