Last week when I took my kids to the water park, I was walking in the lazy river (this picture is not of our community water park, unfortunately). The lazy river is about 3 feet deep and has a current that flows to move the tubes everyone is required to use. I put the tube around myself and instead of floating, I walk - have to get some exercise somehow since the gym was vetoed for me. As I was walking down the lazy river, picking up trash and stray tubes, a thought for a blog post came to mind, so I hit the next exit and grabbed my bag to find a pen and paper. How many people would jump out of their tube on the lazy river on a hot, sunny day to run back to their chair to jot down a few notes for a blog entry? I know, I'm strange!My husband returned from a Work & Witness (short term missions) trip to Big Lake, Alaska last Wednesday afternoon and his short term service encouraged me to think about life. Our lives as Christians are 24/7 Work & Witness projects. No matter where we are or what we are doing we should look for opportunities to serve others regardless of their faith. Acts of service could be as simple as picking up litter on the sidewalk or holding a door for someone or they may require more thought, sacrifice and effort. We need a constant open line of communication with our Savior, Jesus Christ through Bible reading and prayer so we are alerted to His will for each moment of each day.
Are you floating down the river of life just looking at the scenery and enjoying the ride or are you looking for ways to serve and love those you come in contact with each day? As my brother, David, told me one day, he walks around with his eyes open. We should all strive to do likewise.
Remember, we may not receive a reward on earth, but keep living, loving and serving during your time as a stranger on this earth and prepare for eternity with Jesus in the home we were created for... All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. ~ Hebrews 11:13
45 comments:
i do walk around through life - but not with my eyes open like I should. I am working at that - just like tubing, it is hard to back track so we need to keep our eyes open as we go forward! Good post Robin!
Sometimes I get tunnel vision and only see what is directly in front of me and forget to look around, but I'm striving to see what Jesus sees and act as HE would act...
Living on a camp ground is much like walking through a lazy river with a tube around you!! There is always a piece of trash to pick up or some sticks or phone books to be delivered or an opportunity to serve one of the elderly citizens on our grounds. It's a great place to serve, and keeping our eyes open for opportunities is a great way to serve. God keeps His notes, when we turn our head away so we don't see the trash or the wounded, He makes a note. However, when we stop and clean up His world, or assist those in need...He also makes notes. We just need to do everything for Him as though He were watching!! We'd be more apt to give it our best whole-heartedly if we thought He was watching. And He is. Like your thoughts behind this post, Robin!
Hi Robin, This is a great post. I am not counting on receiving a reward here on earth - which is really just as well. It's all about perspective - the eternal perspective is what matters. But here is a thought (probably because I'm going away on vacation for 11 days) sometimes we need to see the world from a "lazy" position to give us the time and energy to serve. If it weren't for the respite you had in the lazy river, you may never had this thought come to you with such clarity. Does that make sense? Be blessed.
Carol - It is easy to turn our heads or close our eyes to the needs around us or to focus on ourselves. It seems to me that Jesus focused on God and HIS will rather than HIS own wants - I have so far to go because I tend to get caught up in what I want to do... sometimes I want to serve and other times I don't... know what I mean...
Yes you are right HE is watching... and HE knows the motive of our hearts...
Life Adapted - You are right about the lazy time giving us time to contemplate because had I been chasing my son at the moment I probably wouldn't have been thinking about what God wants from us. I think we need times of service and times of refreshing, but like I've heard we need to be depleted so we can be recharged.
Enjoy your vacation and time away from the daily grind! May God use this time to fill you to overflowing with more of HIM so you can continue sharing HIS love with those you come in contact with each day!
Excellent observation and thoughts, Robin! Thanks for sharing this with us. :)
You are awesome!
Love, Linda oxo
Thanks Linda - its always nice to see you in person and in the comments section :) You actually saw me writing in my notebook info for this blog entry as you were floating down the river - cool :) I was sitting in a chair by the exit near the waterfall.
I thought so! (I mean after I read this, that is)...I remember you doing that. :)
Keep up the good work!
Love, Linda oxo
Linda - I thought you'd remember it once I mentioned it because we had a bit of a conversation while you fought the current to stand still :)
Hey new post... you need a new post... no pressure :)
Sometimes I'm more alert to trying to serve and please the Lord than others. I'm glad I'm always on His mind even if I'm not as good to remember Him.
Queen - I think we all have that problem, but good thing HE doesn't.
I'm having some blogger troubles tonight - I tried to change my template on my Scripture blog and ended up losing much of my formatting and my ability to customize and add new posts. I added posts through September 21st I believe tonight...so I'm hoping I can figure out what the problem is before then. I try to update my Scripture blog and my Quotes blogs daily.
If anyone knows anyone who can help me - please leave a comment. Thanks!
I can make add posts and make some changes by logging onto blogger, but I can't customize directly from the Scripture page like I can the other blogs....
Any ideas...
Thanks!
The search function on my Memorize this/Scripture blog is also gone.
I found out that the search function at the top is called the Nav Bar and I emailed someone at blogger help group who told me what line of code to delete to get the Nav Bar back and it worked! Yippie! I'm having some other issues, but at least a few have been resolved.
Hi Robin :)
Did you get it all figured out?
I missed seeing you and your kids this week. :(
New post...gotta work on that :)
Love, Linda oxo
Hi Linda - we went yesterday, but YOU weren't there (boo hoo). Your son was there and when I heard his voice I thought it was your husband speaking. Man they sure grow up don't they.
I was planning to go tonight, but my kids are playing with friends instead...
Oh well...it was ICE WATER yesterday (ok I'm exaggerating, but you get the point). It was really windy too. I thought we were going to get a storm, but it passed. We still had a great time.
I don't have the whole blog change over figured out, but at least I've gotten back the things I need to comply with bloggers guidelines. Did you check it out? - www.scripture2liveby@blogspot.com
Linda, did you ever finish reading Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas? The first group I was in did, but the second group didn't. I posted about it at my reading room blog this afternoon.
Not only am I strange, but I'm raising strange children too :) Tonight my daughter and I went to the water park while my son played at a friend's house. My daughter picks up on what ever "mission" I set out for and joins me as if its her mission too. All the more reason to be careful as parents to make sure the missions we choose are ones we want our children joining in on as well.
If I'm helping with something at church my kids are right there too. If I'm shoveling snow for the neighbors (not this week of course) my kids are in on it too. If I'm delivering cookies or cakes to neighbors guess where my kids are... If I get an attitude that isn't right guess what my kids do... ughhh. Pray that I become more like Christ each day so my kids see Jesus in me and not a bad attitude or whatever. What a task we have as parents...
Thanks for your comment about inviting homeless people to eat with us. The angel thing, I have thought about that. It reminded of someone whom, I believe was an angel unaware.
Moms - guess the inviting strangers in makes you strange too...but in my opinion (if it counts for anything) that's a good thing. This isn't our home so we are foreigners passing through.
You know the exciting thing is that there are so many amazing things about this earth that God has created so many interesting things to see and places to go and its marred by sin - its not as beautiful as it once was... One day all us strangers will be united with our Creator in the most amazing place ever... Wow!
I would do the same thing..lol! We are both strange ones then!
Mel - We need more strange people :)
Hi Robin :)
I can't find your other blog :(
I'll keep looking. :)
No, I never finished the book that you asked me about.
Have a great night!
Love, Linda oxo
I found it. :)
Hi Linda - hope your weekend has been good.
Try to finish the book - its good, but challenging...
Which blog were you looking for? You have this one and the other three are noted on the sidebar in this blog.
Hope to see you this week at the ice water park :) haha
Just now getting to read this, but it is perfect timing. This morning in my quiet time I had prayed for a variety of things, and I stopped and asked, "Lord, how do you want me to pray for Rob and the children?" The answer was so clear.
"Ask me how I want you to love them today?"
Isn't that what it is all about? Not ask me how clean your house needs to be or how to make money or how to finish a to do list but simply how to love. Isn't that when we are the most like Jesus?
Excellent post!!!
Thanks for your comment Jerri - I needed to read it!
I love the question - "Ask me how I want you to love them today?" - Beautiful! I need that every day!
Very similar to the teaching in Sacred Influence (see Robin's reading Room) - We are to look at our husbands as God's sons and determine how God would want us to love His sons that we have committed to in marriage. Of course that would apply to the children HE blessed our marriages with too.
Hi Robin! We missed seeing you at the "ice" park! We left an hour earlier than usual, it was cold. :O
p.s. I love the pic of you on the swing. :)
We were too cold to go to the ice park, but may try again today. This weather is so weird. I can't believe we can open the windows now. Usually in August we are complaining about the unbearable heat and humidity. I heard its supposed to get hot again - I sure hope so.
If we go to the water park, I may just let the kids play and try to spend some time reading. I finished that book I was telling you about the other day and posted about it at my reading room blog.
Hope you have a great week, Linda and I hope to see you at the ice park :) haha
Oh we are going to the fair tomorrow - cheapo day. Did hubby tell you?
Oh the ONLY reason I want it to get hot again is so the kids can get some more enjoyment out of the waterpark. Personally I prefer this heavenly weather we are having now.
Robin, you are not crazy. Actually you sound like me. Pen and paper are good friends, aren't they?
Good question. I'm sometimes floating and sometimes serving, depending on the day. Great challenge.
You know your gift shows everytime you post. You have the gift of service. Your heart comes alive when you are able to help someone. Glad to know God is using you as He has so beautifully created you to be: a servant of His love!
Have a great day and stay healthy!
Tiffany
Robin, I hear ya about the "hotness". :D I prefer winter weather, but when you pay for season passes, you want to be able to use them, eh? But I think I'd still prefer the cooler weather. It's such a Blessing! :)
p.s. You looked fabulous tonight! I love the way your hair looks! :)
double p.s. Could you tell your husband that I apologize for not asking him about his trip? I was too caught up with everything to think to ask. I do hope though that it was a great trip for him. :)
That's a good challenge and reminder for us all! Thanks for posting that.
Tiffany - Your comment brought much encouragement my way! Thank you very much! You are appreciated!
Linda
I prefer spring (real spring not what we usually get early summer) and autumn, but appreciate all the the seasons for the most part.
I wish I could remember how my hair looked - can't remember it looking fabulous. You are too kind!!!!
He had a wonderful trip! If you are interested he and the whole team will be speaking on Sunday morning at church. Service starts at 10:45.
I plan to go to the water park tomorrow that is if there are no thunderstorms.
Thanks Faith! Glad to hear everything is going great for you, your husband and the babies! God is in control.
Great message, Robin. I agree with you and it encourages me to walk about with eyes open, like your brother said. Wow! Thanks for the witness.
PS You are not weird. Ideas for blog posts pop into my head at strange times too.
Tammy - glad to hear that you have ideas for blog posts at odd times too.
I do want to walk around with my eyes open - sometimes I get to busy and find myself squinting...
Well hi Robin!
Thanks for the note on my blog! I'm not familiar with Randy Alcorn's fiction books, but I'll be sure to check them out. I actually have a stack of books waiting to read. I thought I'd knock a few out this summer, but after my husband's cancer surgery I just sat with him in the evenings and watched ballgames...a million ballgames! :) But that's what he does to relax, and whether the Texas Rangers win or lose, he is an everlasting fan.
I'm bookmarking your blog and will be checking in on you.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Beck,
Thanks for stopping in - love the company :)
If you are interested in Randy Alcorn's books I have mentioned several of them on my blog (Robin's Reading Room). Also I have a link to Randy's blog and website on my blog as well. He has great ministries through his books both fiction and non-fiction. His message of having an eternal perspective and talking about heaven can be found in everything he writes. He has some beautiful fictional writing on heaven that gives me fresh perspective. If you want a recommendation of what to add to your list first let me know. Oh, I can't contain myself - Safely Home is an incredible book, but then again so are Lord Foulgrin's Letters and The Ishbane Conspiracy. Oh but wait I greatly enjoyed everyone of his fictional books and they all have incredible messages about spiritual warfar, heaven and more.
We've actually been on 16 or 18 mission trips. I've lost count. They ranged from 1 week to 5 months. We and our 4 kids lived in a village in Central Mexico with no running water, an outhouse, a community kitchen for 16 people and electricity that only worked if you stood on your head just right. Ha! Those were some of the best times of our lives! May was our first opportunity to be in Africa. We have a planning meeting Wednesday for 2009. Our church has 29 trips to choose from this year...all over the world!
I'm adding your book suggestions to my ongoing list. How fun!
Hi Beck,
That is incredible! I'm so glad you are able and willing to go on mission trips! How neat it would be to take the whole family. What an incredible learning experience on so many levels!
I just posted very, very briefly about my husband's trip and some other trips that have happened recently through my local church's missions group.
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