Lisa Notes: Sacred or secular?

Sacred or secular?

It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do no common act.
~ A. W. TOZER, The Pursuit of God

Is there anything that is truly secular?
Anything that is not spiritual?
Anything that is not related to the Divine?

If a believer is living in the Kingdom,
is he ever off-duty as servant of the King?
Does he set aside his inheritance when he goes to bed at night?
Does he stop becoming a son when he goes to work in the morning?

If Christ lives in you, isn’t all of life sacred?

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24

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Kim · 699 weeks ago

This post reminded me of that feeling I had reading the Mitford series about a rector and his relationship with his community. I found myself wishing I were in his shoes, since he could bless people as he visited their houses or went to get his hair cut. Then I had that "Aha!" moment. I can do this same thing in my own shoes! As you mentioned, it's the motives behind our actions. I'm teaching a quilting class today. Secular, not spiritual. I will listen to the chatter as we sew, hear concerns and needs, ask questions, silently pray for them and ask to be led for how I can encourage, build faith, share wisdom. Spiritual. How cool is that!
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Kim · 699 weeks ago

... I should add that I think it's cool b/c we've been blessed with the opportunity to be spiritual in intention as we go through our physical world. Just like that pastor in the Mitford series. Not that I'm really cool! Sometimes I hit the Submit button before thinking how my comment might be read by others.

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

I like that, Kim. As I think through the things I did yesterday...clean the kitchen, wash clothes, etc., wonder how spiritual I was in my intention. I think there's room for improvement. :-)

And I do think you're pretty cool. :-)
My recent post Sacred or secular?

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Julie · 699 weeks ago

Aha! what a revelation. Love it. God is NEVER on hold and we should NEVER be on a break from reflecting...If it is true that there is NOTHING that touches us or occurs in our lives that has not passed or sifted through the fingers of God, then how true...every moment in our lives has a stamp or dusting of DIVINITY all over it. A thought for my day. Thank you for giving it to me dear Lisa. God uses you!!! HUGS! xo
My recent post Mirror Mirror...Reflections of light

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

Beautiful, Julie: everything in my life has "a dusting of divinity all over it." Would love to see a picture of that.

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barbarah 65p · 699 weeks ago

Thankfully this was a lesson that was drilled into me in college. I've never forgotten the principle though I do forget to apply it in everyday life often -- thanks for the reminders.

"Is he ever off-duty as servant of the King?" Love thinking about it that way.
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3 replies · active 699 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

How blessed to be realizing that since college days...

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barbarah 65p · 699 weeks ago

Well, unfortunately, I can't say I've had it down pat since then....that's just where I first heard the idea. Somehow we have to keep learning the same lessons over and over.

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Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

I hear you. ;-)

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flowingfaith 23p · 699 weeks ago

Lisa,
I love your new profile pic! I also love the Tozer quote & your thought-provoking questions! This reminded me of a Brother Lawrence quote "There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual walk with God." Blessings to you!
My recent post The Balancing Act of Faith

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

My daughter took the picture. She's into taking pictures of people these days, so why not mom? :-)

I thought of Brother Lawrence when I read the Tozer quote too. Love both his and Tozer's book and the thoughts they provoke!

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zenichka 87p · 699 weeks ago

YES. Sometimes it just takes time to realize that truth. God is EVERYWHERE. (And everything can be used for His purposes and His plans...)

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

Exactly. Whether we're aware or not, HE is always aware and always wanting us to depend on him. He can help us accomplish our work for his purpose. He's quite amazing!

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Hazel Moon · 699 weeks ago

To us as believers, we cannot separate the spiritual from the secular. The moment we do, we lose being able to enjoy all that is in God's world.

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

You're right, Hazel. And I don't want to lose any more than I already have.

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floyd · 699 weeks ago

Good point, we are on call until we pass from this earth. But, His burden is easy and His yoke is light.

For some reason I don't think my comments are always posting. When I pull up your site, my last comment is in the new box like it didn't post the last time???

Hope this one goes through...

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

Thankful your message came through, Floyd. Sometimes when I pull up a box it does that too--it automatically copies the last message I left... Who can explain these things? Certainly not me! ha.

I like how you phrase it: "we are all on call". In other situations, that might not be a good thing, but on call for Him is a great thing. Blessings to you.

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Lisa · 699 weeks ago

This is really good and exactly right - "If Christ lives in you, isn’t all of life sacred?" We are to do everything as unto the Lord. Great encouragement, Lisa!

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Brenda Maddox · 699 weeks ago

This really spoke to me Lisa. I love the verse. It changes my attitude if I am doing something that is an act of service (which I need to do more of). If I think I am doing it for the Lord then I don't need any other credit than that.
I wrote down the Tozer quote to remind myself. It reminded me of a quote that I have kept from Oswald Chambers, "The test of a man's religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life but what he does in the ordinary times when there is nothing tremendous or exciting on."

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

Love the Chambers quote, Brenda. I feel like I'm tested (and fail) the most in my ordinary moments. Those routine times can reveal whether or not we are patient, have endurance, are kind, etc.

And needing credit for what I do? I'm still trying to get past that. (Why didn't anybody notice that I cleaned around the washing machine today???)

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joanne norton · 699 weeks ago

My opinion... we are never off duty. We are always on Watch. It has become my lifestyle. Maybe too intense much of the time, but feel it's important to stay focused.

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Cris Ferreira · 699 weeks ago

Lisa great take on the "secular" word. I loved the quote and the verse and how you developed your idea. Excellent post.

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Frank · 699 weeks ago

Great Tozer quote! And you're right. Jesus doesn't stop being our King just because we feel like not being in his Kingdom.
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