Thursday, February 10, 2011

Accountability Update

Well time flies, doesn't it? I have had difficulty finding time to work on this. We have been busy getting ready to put our house on the market. Our goal at this time is to sell our house, buy some land and build a house. We had a lot of family over to help us clean a few weeks ago....it would have taken us months to do it ourselves! Thank you to everyone who helped!

The day after I posted the first message, I actually got up on time, worked out, and did all I said I was going to do! It felt great! I felt so much more productive and at ease. Since then, I have been working out a few days a week and trying to keep up with housework, though I must admit, not as much as I wanted to. With the basement under construction and the house kind of torn apart, keeping up has just not been feasible. And, you'll be happy to know, I haven't been stressing out about it! Its just the way it will be for a little while!

On another topic...
One of the ways I have been honoring my accountability to Christ is through daily devotionals. I came across one the other day that I'd like to share. It speaks to something I have been thinking about for a while now. It is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount:

               "...Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." Mt 5:16

We are the Body of Christ. We are His Hands and Feet. We bring Christ to others, partly through our good deeds. However, we can't just do good and expect others to know that God is responsible for our actions. They may think we are just do-gooders. We need (Jesus says must) to shine our light before others. How do we do this? I think of my daily grind and the limited interaction I get with others outside of my own family. How am I going to shine the light for Christ so that in my good deeds, He may be glorified? I definitely get stuck here. It is a work in progress....

3 comments:

  1. That is a dilemma isn't it? I've struggled with that most of my life too. Quoting scripture and going up and talking to people about their salvation is not my strong point. Keep praying about it... your prayers will be answered.

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  2. Glad you posted again Em. I had been checking back often :) Proud of you for your work outs. More disciplined than me. I haven't ran since the 5k in November and I had to train hard for that :)
    I have been praying for you a lot. One thing that I thought I could suggest that would help to keep Christ first and help you stay accountable with devotions is the Bible on CD (mp3). My dad has this and has listened/read through the bible more in the last few years that he has been a Christian than I have in my whole life! I know that I want it when I become a mom some day so I can do my house chores and still keep God's word in my mind throughout the day!
    Keep sharing your heart, when you do this, others are bound to see Christ in you. I have seen it in you more in the last year or so than before. Its being vulnerable and talking about the stuff that really matters! You are right though...it is definitely more than just doing good!

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  3. Hey Emily~
    I didn't see your update until tonight...relentlessly pursuing God has a way of shining in the darkness! Being set apart will honor Him and glorify Him, and no doubt when your focus is on pleasing the Lord, anything you do will reflect Him. I'm sending a link to you via email that may really encourage you. Miss you!
    Sending a hug from the farm~
    Kath

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