Intentional Women

I don't know about you (especially those of you with kids), but I have often felt that my day just completely gets away from me. I'm not talking about those rare days when TR is sick or especially fussy, or I have something out of the ordinary going on. I'm talking about the normal days--when you get to 9PM and realize that you meant to do the dishes, put in some laundry, and at least wipe out the bathroom sink, but nothing got done.

Just in the past two weeks, with the help of my husband and Mark Driscoll, I've learned that it's extremely important to be intentional.

"What does that mean?" you might ask.

Well, it means that I need to be deliberate about my life. I need a schedule, and I need it for everything from cleaning, to meals, to date nights, to reading, to playing with my son, to time spent working on the church website, to getting together with other women.

I will admit a certain degree of stubbornness (which is really pride/self-righteousness: my way is better than yours), when my husband suggested that I do this. I didn't want to get tied down to something, I didn't want to go through the process, and I think there was even some good old Genesis 3:16 desire for (against) my husband. Obviously there was a lot of grace applied in the situation, mostly from my husband towards me.

We sat down together (that's key) and he patiently (also key) worked with me to get a list together of all the things I need and want to accomplish in a given month, how much time they take, and how often they should be done. Then I set about figuring out how I'd like those things to fit into my days. Know this well: I was completely overwhelmed. Written out there on the paper it looked like a lot and there was no way I was ever going to get it all done! But once it all got put in the calendar, I realized I had a decent amount of free time and quite a bit of flexibility.

So now my days are pretty ordered, and I have a set plan. That doesn't mean things don't change--for instance, TR's nap isn't always going to be an hour and a half--but it does mean that I can see better how I can move things around when life doesn't go according to plan. And at the end of the day, I can avoid that "day-got-away-from-me" feeling because I know where all the time went.

If you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed out (one end of the spectrum), or random and unproductive (the other), or really anywhere in between, I think you could benefit greatly from becoming an intentional woman. I know I have.

cool September nights

My mom was an amazing quilter/knitter/crocheter and always had some project going. When we were kids, almost every night during the warm months, my dad would take the four of us outside for a game of Everywhere Tag, a game of our own invention, while Mom would sit inside with her quilting and an opera (usually Gilbert & Sullivan's The Gondoliers) spinning on the record player. Mom had to cover all the windows of the house with quilts, all of which she had made, so that no light leaked outside to ruin our game. In the winter months, Mom moved her quilt from the living room to her bedroom, while we took over the house for a game of Whiffle-Ball Tag. I don't know how many gifts Mom was able to make during these evenings, but they were numerous.

I look back at those times and think that my parents were really wise. They were wise to see that Mom needed some time of peace and quiet. They were wise to see that Dad needed some time by himself with his kids. They were wise to see that we needed to shout and play with each other peaceably. They were wise to find appropriate outlets for all of these needs.

On this cool September night, I can picture myself running around outside with a flashlight in chase of my dad and my brothers and sister, while echoes of "Buon Giorno, Signorine" float out the window. I'm thankful to God for wise parents who deliberately worked together for these memories.

It's not ten minutes later since I first finished this, but from the house behind ours I hear screaming, violent, shrieking--a father, a mother, a child. Sin has made captives of us all. But for God's grace, I am that child. But for God's grace, I will be that mother. I cannot imagine the pain. They are suffering. Yet, we, in our way, suffered, too. John Piper says, "Therefore, God ordains suffering to help us release our hold on worldly hopes and put our 'hope in God' (1 Pet. 1:21). The fiery trials are appointed to consume the earthly dependencies and leave only the refined gold of 'genuine faith' (1 Pet. 1:7)." It was true for us. I pray it will be true for the family in the house behind ours. And I pray it will be true for yours.

Kitchen Fellowship

It is 10:05 pm and I am very much awake. Ordinarily I would have been in bed five minutes ago but tonight I am a little too wound up for that. I'm wound up from having a fun evening in the kitchen with three very good friends who I consider to be God's very gracious gift to me in ministry. I love spending time with these women.

In celebration of Debbie's birthday we got together and made dinner using recipes from the church cookbook. While we were doing that, we also made sticky buns to serve our families in the morning. The sticky bun recipe is one where you prepare the dough in stages, shaping the buns at the end of the evening and letting them rise overnight. So, in between making appetizers, salad and the main course we made sticky buns. Are you hungry yet?

For appetizers we made Tia's "Simple Ratatouille" and served it with crusty bread. We also made Christina's "Stuffed Mushrooms". Both were very, very good. Then we put together Becky's "Strawberry Spinach Salad". That recipe is definitely a keeper. Lisa taught us how to make pesto using fresh basil, which of course we stirred into pasta and had pork roast on the side. For dessert we sang Happy Birthday to Debbie with Sheila's recipe for "Carrot Cake".

I wished we'd been able to take pictures of our time cutting, measuring, mixing, and cleaning, with us chattering all the while about this and that. We were making more than a meal, we were making connections, and we were making a memory.

I learned things tonight. I learned from each one of these gals something that will help me in my cooking, in my thinking, and in my life in general. To me this is mysterious. Something routine (cooking a meal when done on my own), became an "event" that was fun and fruitful just by sharing the experience with three others.

So I'm thinking maybe we miss out on the best part of fellowship when we do all the work before the company comes. I'm going to think about that some more. I'd be interested to know what you think. Have you experienced anything like this? Do you cook with friends, family, your husband, daughters, or your mother? What have you gleaned from "Kitchen Fellowship"?

Wash Me

"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin! Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:2, 7).

The Shorey home was without water for three days. Our water pipe leading from the house to the road had become brittle and broken. Because this happened on a weekend, what might have been possible to repair in two days stretched into a three day project. But just as the plumber promised, on Monday the backhoe arrived and the digging began. By Monday evening the dishwasher, washing machine and showers were all running in full force.

We didn't suffer. Inconvenienced, yes. But suffer? Hardly. We weren't without a store where we could buy bottled water, and we had access to a nearby shower, and we spent one night with friends. All in all we cannot complain. We know God was in it. Hopefully today when the bill arrives we won't complain either.

As we were doing life here the past three days it became obvious to me how dependent I am on water. Not just for drinking or cooking but for cleaning. Not just for the big cleaning jobs, or mountains of laundry or a pile of dishes. We are dependent on water for rinsing and washing our hands.

It was interesting to me how many times my hands were in need of washing. I hadn't realized how often I go to rinse my hands. Was it just because I didn't have running water that I was especially in "need" of it? Or had I been functioning unaware of how often my hands are dirty and thereby taken for granted the blessing to walk a few steps, turn on the faucet and experience the loveliness of washed hands. Throughout a day our hands become soiled, sticky, and stained and we hardly even notice because we can easily receive cleansing from fresh water and soap. What a blessing. Even now as I sit here typing I am aware of the fresh feeling of clean hands. Again, what a blessing.

God uses the analogy of washing to describe our need of His removal of our sins. How wonderful to have His cleansing always available to us. We do not need to wait for the day of atonement, or a confessional booth. We have God's cleansing, the blood of Christ, for every sin throughout every day. So whether we have fallen deeply into sin, or need once again to be cleansed from a prideful thought, or an angry word to our children, and impatient spirit toward a husband, or a demanding spirit toward God we can and we must, go quickly to find the needed cleansing for our souls.

There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day. And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away. (William Cowper)

Just as we often experience a need to wash our physical hands, may we become more and more aware of the stains on our spiritual hands and enjoy the blessing of cleansing from the fountain of forgiveness and grace.

Life

I haven't been very good at posting comments and keeping up with entries lately. Life happens. Nothing bad really. Just stuff that distracts from the routine. So, please be patient with me. Maybe tomorrow I'll post on the blessing of running water.
Until then, I hope you are all experiencing God's kindness and favor.
"Blessed Be The Name of the Lord"