Tag Archives: scripture

Tombstones, Life, and Ambitions: A New Year’s Post

It’s not about the numbers chiseled in concrete, it’s how you lived your life in the dash between. — Scotty McCreery, The Dash

Tombstones, life, and ambitions. This time of year, and this day in particular, people seem to think and act on these ideas more than usual.

Tombstones 

Anyone listening to the news or on social media could list numerous people who died this year.  Influential authors, singers, musicians, actors, politicians, theologians, missionaries. When news like this breaks, many are quick to bemoan the year — whether in jest or sincerity of hopelessness. “2016, what gives?” “Come on, 2016!” I haven’t spent the time to investigate the rumors of the GoFundMe set up to help Betty White survive 2016.

As if a calendar year could control who lives or dies.

I’m not trying to be insensitive.  On a personal note, this year death was — as always — very real in my life and the lives of my friends and family.  I went to more funerals than weddings this year. And there were even more that I was not able to attend.

Maybe this year-end reflection needs a new angle. Taking another look at 2016, perhaps a year so full of death is also a merciful reminder that life must end one day, and there is no way to tell how many years that dash on the tombstone will cover. It’s a merciful reminder, because left on my own, I would not remember to look to the end.

Life and Ambitions

While cheerily waving this year away, we greet 2017 with hope.  Hope that life goes on. Hope that life gets better.  Hope that we could change someone else’s life for the better. We set new ambitions.  How will we get better? How will we improve? Where will we make our impact?

What are your goals? I started setting mine this week and preparing to put them in practice (I won’t say what they are, but they might involve organization and simplicity… and the mortgage). For others who can be task oriented (like me… sometimes), the focus can be on do, do, do. The more I think about it, doing must go hand-and-hand with being.  As a result, with the new year approaching, I find a question growing more in my mind:

What kind of people ought you to be? 2 Peter 3:11

Just let that question ring into the silence and feel its impact.

What kind of people ought you to be?

Peter’s context here is the end of all time, not just 2016. Year-endings are a reminder of the greater ending to come, so this verse, to me, is also a poignant question for each New Year.

This rhetorical question is quickly answered within the same verse:

You ought to live holy and godly lives…

This is not a call to live a kind life or a good life, but to live a life sacred to God, in piety, or reverence and duty, towards him.  This is εὐσέβεια (yoo-seb’-i-ah), which has promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come (1 Timothy 4:8), and which has power inherent in it (2 Timothy 3:5).

So, part of my prayer for the new year is that I have the ambition to lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness. That I trust that God has given me everything pertaining to life and godliness.  That I don’t lose sight of the call to be holy because my LORD God is holy. That I don’t forget that by abiding in Him I can bear the fruit of godliness, and much of it.

In the words of Francis Chan,

The world is not moved by love or actions that are of human creation. And the church is not empowered to live differently from any other gathering of people without the Holy Spirit. But when believers live in the power of the Spirit, the evidence in their lives is supernatural. The church cannot help but be different, and the world cannot help but notice.

Happy New Year!

 

 

 

Prayers for My Home

A couple weeks ago I was going through some prayers a wonderful sister in Christ from my church wrote up for my house blessing when I bought my house.  They were good reminders of the purpose of my home and how it is to be used to glorify God and refresh both believers and unbelievers. As I thought of these Scriptures and prayers my friend wrote, I thought of more.  Hopefully, they are encouraging starter points for thinking about any single woman’s home, whether it’s a house, an apartment, or a dorm room.

Front Door: Leaving for Work. May she commit her plans and long hours to the LORD. May the strength of her work come from the LORD.

Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will be established. Prov. 16:3

Front Door: Pray that she will be a Gospel light in her neighborhood

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

Front Door: Pray that she would leave the house each day in assurance of the Lord’s Sovereignty in all things.

The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD. Prov. 16:33

Front Door: For God’s protection over the house and those that live there, that they would be kept from danger.

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

Living Room: For strength and wisdom as she exercises hospitality.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.1 Peter 4:8-11

Living Room: That she would rest in the sufficiency of Christ to meet her guests’ needs — both spiritual and physical

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6

Living Room: That it will be a place where others are encouraged and built up. Pray that she would be encouraged and edified through her company. Pray that God’s name would be glorified.

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. Hebrews 3:12-14

Put on then as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord as forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12-14

Living Room: That it will be filled with joy and laughter.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.     James 5:13

Dining Room: For likeminded friends to share life

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42

…so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. Romans 15:32

Dining Room: For this to be a place laughter and good company

This also, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? Ecclesiastes 2:25

Kitchen: To be a place of service and joy in the LORD

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Neh. 8:10

You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound. Psalm 4:7

Kitchen: For God’s provision of food

These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.  When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. Psalm 104:27-28

Kitchen: To be a place of service strengthened with joy. That she would see the results of her labor and that those she serves will be blessed.

And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.  Hebrews 13:16

 

Renter’s Room: Mutual Encouragement

Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Prov. 16:24

 

Master Bed Room: For her time in prayer and Scripture reading to refresh and strengthen her relationship with God

… my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help… Psalm 63:5-6

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

 

Master Bed Room: For protection during sleep. That she would retire without anxiety.

Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4

Yours is the day, yours also the night… Psalm 74:16

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm56:3

 

Master Bed Room: That she would have rest and refreshment

Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. Psalm 116:7

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

 

Master Bed Room: That she would wake in the morning with hope and strength.

She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong. Prov. 31:17

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come. Prov. 31:25

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

The LORD is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:22-25

 

Master Bed Room: As she gets ready each day to remember that God looks at the inward appearance. That she would remember that while beauty and youth are fleeting, that there is an imperishable beauty in a heart that trusts in the Lord.

But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 1 Peter 3:3

 

Office Area: As she works from home that she would do so with the right perspective

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 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. Col. 3:22-24

Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands! Ps. 90:17

 

Office Area : Planning lessons, planning schedules, and making financial decisions.  That she would have wisdom and discernment for the choices she must make.

… but those who plan peace have joy. Proverbs 12:20

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness… Matthew 6:33

 

 Guest & Media Room: For her heart to be glad to accept guests

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.  Romans 12:13

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:7

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. Luke 10:38

 

Guest & Media Room: As she rests and relaxes, that the entertainment would be uplifting and encouraging to her heart and mind.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8