Dirt under your fingernails? The practice of physical labor

He who is aching in every limb, worn out by the effort of a day of work, that is to say a day when he has been subject to matter, bears the reality of the universe in his flesh like a thorn.

The difficulty for him is to look and to love.

If he succeeds, he loves the Real.
- SIMONE WEIL

Can we use physical labor as a path to the heart of our Creator? As a way to know Jesus, to love Jesus?

Barbara Brown Taylor says in An Altar in the World, 

If all life is holy, then anything that sustains life has holy dimensions too.

The difference between washing windows and resting in God can be a simple decision: choose the work, and it becomes your spiritual practice.

. . . No task is too menial to serve as a path. If you are able to sustain other lives along with your own, then all the better.

May we use even our most menial tasks as holy offerings of love.

* * *

Is there a physical chore you hate to do?

How do you flip it mentally into a choice to bless others?

• April 2013: The practice of saying no
• March 2013: The practice of wearing skin
• February 2013: The practice of slowing down
• January 2013: The practice of waking up to God

The practice of wearing skin

Our bodies are where our souls live.

We're not always happy with our house. The floors creak more than they used to, the walls need repainting, the appliances are starting to go.

But if God is good—and he is—and if God is powerful—and he is—then he lives with us in the center of this broken-down house.

So let’s be fully present in our skin. Let’s practice wearing it well. 

* * *

How can you use your hands this week to be the hands of Jesus?

• February 2013: The practice of slowing down
• January 2013: The practice of waking up to God

The practice of slowing down

Talking around my kitchen table this morning. And linking up tonight around other kitchen tables for the Soli Deo Gloria party, because Jen is . . .

Inspiring women to just keep it real

Books I’m using this year for spiritual disciplines:

• An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor
• The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows by James Bryan Smith

The most important aspects of our lives cannot be rushed. We cannot love, think, eat, laugh or pray in a hurry.
JAMES BRYAN SMITH

Full disclosure to keep it real:

• I didn’t move the clutter or old newspapers off my kitchen counter for you, but I did pause the washer and dryer
• I didn’t put on any makeup or fix my hair (just got out of the shower actually), but I did put on a smidgeon of lip gloss because my mama always said a woman needs a little bit of color
• I didn’t tell you up front that I really don’t like making vlogs because of, well, a million reasons, but I did one despite all my reasons not to

* * *

What I saw in 1 Peter 1

When you sit with a chapter—the same words—over and over for a season, you start seeing the world through those words.

This video is of pictures during my time in 1 Peter 1 and of helps I used in memorizing them with this lovely group. We began August 19 and ended last week.

• When I walked on the beach, I learned verse 3 about “his great mercy.”
• When I attended church with the homeless, I heard verse 10 about “searching and inquiring.”
• And when I celebrated the life of my child in heaven, I read over and over verses 24-25, “All flesh is like grass . . . but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

* * *

We’ll start memorizing a new chapter in January 2013.

We’d love for you to join us then!

Stay alert – How to guard against temptation

We’re looking at a fourth trait of Peter’s faith this week in our Unshakeable Faith series at Do Not Depart:

Staying alert against temptation

It is my week to do the vlog. Grace, please. {smile}

* * *

Day 12 of . . .

The making of a memory – in which we attempt to recite John 1:1-14

Ever have one of those “This is a great idea!” moments?

On April 8, I envisioned our family memorizing John 1:1-14 as a team, sweetly rehearsing the verses together each evening.

The seven weeks would culminate in a beautiful and meaningful recitation video, an encouragement to other families to also memorize together.

You know how those moments usually end.

The nightly rehearsals lasted about...a night. And the “meaningful” video, well, we still haven’t made it.

But we did make this one!

[click here if you can't see the video]

If error-filled recall can give you hope to try this with your family, if seeing we sorta-kinda memorized a chunk of scripture together can encourage you, if understanding we did make a memory as we memorized can convince you it’s worthwhile, then you, too, can dream a “This is a great idea!” moment of your own.

* * *

…in which I attempt to recite Romans 8

I post this video with hesitation:

1. Because it’s a poor (and not totally accurate) recitation of Romans 8.
   I mess up. A lot.
2. Because even though it’s riddled with mistakes, I don’t want it to be a “Hey, look at me!” thing. Trust me, it produces more humility in me than pride.

But I post it anyway because I want you to know that even while memorizing scripture doesn’t come easily to me, I do it for the joy...

• The joy of filling my mouth with Spirit-inspired words
• The joy of filling my heart with God’s love letters to me
• The joy of filling my soul again and again, day or night, open or closed book, with Jesus—the Word Himself.

* * *

That’s why I’m starting John 1:1-14 on Sunday, and invite you to join in.

It’ll be good. Because He is.

We’re linking up posts about memorizations today at Do Not Depart.

2012: My year to...

Where were YOU on September 11, 2001?

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Psalm 27:14

* * *

Where were YOU on September 11, 2001?
What will you do on September 11, 2011 in tribute?

Dance of the Daughter

On Saturday night Jenna and I did something we weren’t particularly looking forward to:

Attend a tea party.

But since it was with mothers and daughters of our church and since everybody would be wearing hats (such an unusual thing for all of us) and since we had something to share, we went.

And I’m glad we did.

We chose to retell the story of the woman who bled for twelve years (Luke 8:43-48). She is the only woman recorded in scripture whom Jesus calls Daughter.

I sought to capture in words the facts of the story through the eyes of the woman, and Jenna chose to capture them in movements.

Below is a video (apologies for the poor quality of my camera) of what we came up with.

Here’s what I hope you get from it:

Because the woman was desperate for help, she took a chance on Jesus. In reaching out to touch him, she was healed.

And she discovered she was...we are...his daughter. 

I relate. You too?

 

Dance of the Daughter

For so long I have hurt.
Alone in my pain.
Shamed by my weakness.

Who can help me?
Why can’t anybody help me?

The crowd is thick today.
I should not be here.
I am not like these other women.
I do not belong.                      

But I see him. There he is!
He’s close. Is this my last chance for joy?

I need reach just a little closer…

And  I’m doing it!

Brushing my fingers—for just one glorious moment—along the tip of his clothes.

And I feel it.

His power. I feel the change.
Can this be? Am I healed???  

But he’s turning around. He knows.
He felt it too.
An unclean, crippled woman has touched him.

What have I done?
I have soiled the Holy One with my dirty hands.       

“Who touched me?” he’s asking.

Do I answer? Do I dare?
Good—his friends are blaming the crowd.
I am safe.

But...he’s asking again.

And looking at me.
He knows what I’ve done.

I’m trembling.
The crowd is staring.
I must find voice.
I’ll plead: “Jesus. Jesus.”

And he’s not mad at me!
He’s calling me: Thugater. Thugater.

Daughter?

Daughter? Me, Jesus? Daughter?
One acceptable to God, under His special care?

He’s smiling. Yes, daughter.
His daughter.

I laugh.
I sing.
I dance.
I DANCE! 

Jesus says, “Go in peace, Daughter.”

...

Daughters, go in peace.  ...  Will we?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Continuing my grace count to 1,000.

# 345—353

hats...bite-sized sandwiches...accessible AV friends...laughing with ladies...singing with friends...watching my daughter dance...being a daughter...knowing the Healer...going in peace

* * *

Want fruit with that joy?

“How sweet all at once it was for me to
be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!...

You drove them from me and took their place,
you who are sweeter than all pleasure…

O LORD my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation.”
      ~ The Confessions of St. Augustine

Fruitless joys.
The powerless ones.
The ones that waste your time and do nothing for anyone else.

What are they in your life?

They differ for each of us. Some may fruitlessly enjoy fantasizing of a fancy home or a romantic rendezvous. Others may spend hours on video games. Or mindlessly watching TV drivel night after night.

Those are the obvious ones.

The not-so-obvious may be other pleasures that aren’t bad in themselves, but are time-stealers from good things. Maybe too much time on the internet (even reading Christian blogs!). Or being an unnecessary perfectionist at your job. Or spending so much time on your kids that you forego the rest of your family and friends.

Fruitless joys.
Self-discipline can’t reign them in; they’re too strong. They do bring joy, after all, or you wouldn’t pursue them.

The only way to get rid of them is to replace them.
With fruitful joys.
Joys that can satisfy, filling you deep, causing you to worship God, giving him glory.

What do THOSE look like for you?

I’m still working on those sweet spots. I know holy joy is centered in Christ. And while that will include things like Bible reading and praying, it’s also far more than that.

God gives us many, many joys to delight in.

I continue my quest to discover them in my year of Depend and Delight.

Thus far I’m finding delight in the Lord by

• dancing with Jeff
• playing fetch with Kandie
• digging in the dirt
• watching American Idol with Jenna
• piling books in my Kindle
• counting God’s graces to 1000 
• shopping (shopping? who knew!) with Morgan
• singing praise in the cemetery

And

• remembering the Source of all lasting Joy by repeating verses like these:

* * *

Where are you finding joy in the Lord?

RELATED:

• Interesting words from D.A. Carson on what is fruit anyway?
• Two views on what to do with the fruit of money by James MacDonald and David Platt

Bible memory system—It works for us

Do you memorize Bible verses?

Here Jenna and I share about our favorite system for memorizing scriptures, Fighter Verses:

 
Fighter Verses equip you for your fight of faith. They are set up for learning one or two verses at a time, and are already printed and organized on individual cards in your choice of NIV or ESV.

You can learn more about the Fighter Verse program here from Hope in God or buy the binder with all 500 verses on cards here at Desiring God.

Everybody benefits when scripture is imprinted on hearts and minds. 

* * *

Do you have a system that works for you?

Related:

• My 20 favorite verses to memorize
• Just memorize a little
• First-letter memorizations