Thursday, July 26, 2007

Job Description

There are a lot of things that could be in my job description: Taxi driver, baker, cleaning lady, laundry person, diaper changer, ice cream eater and a lot of other practical stuff. I get so wrapped up in keeping up with that stuff that I overlook the most important part of my job description.

We have two kids that are going to be baptized in August. Of course, we are really happy about the fact that they have chosen to follow Christ as any good Christian parent would be. Some kids seem to have a desire for Christ, the Bible and other spiritual things early and it comes naturally. That's been our experience with our oldest ones. But now we have a different experience. We have a daughter that flat out says she does not believe in God - A heart breaking statement to me. When asked why, she says it is because she doesn't want to die. I can understand that - who wants to die? We've explained to her that everyone must die and that if we trust Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins we'll get to be with Him forever. That has not swayed this young lady's opinion.

So what do we do? Mike is a PASTOR for crying out loud! And honestly I just want to be comforted by hearing her say the right words so I don't have to worry. Too bad that is faulty thinking. I know she will have to work through this. I don't want her to just tell us what we want to hear, I want her to genuinely believe. So I guess I should appreciate the honesty. My temptation is to say oh you do too and move on, but I know we need to openly communicate about this stuff.

I was reminded of something by the speaker at our Village Missions conference. Do you know how God spells success? It's F-A-I-T-H-F-U-L. My job is to be faithful to God and his calling on my life as a parent, wife, pastor's wife and child of God. The results are up to Him.

Now I know my kids are young and they probably don't fully comprehend everything that goes into Salvation yet. But it made me realize something. I spend way too much time worrying and working on the temporal things and way too little time (sometimes NO time) on my knees before the Lord on behalf of my kids and their salvation. And of course that is the most important thing I should be doing - I know that - so why don't I DO IT?

I know that no matter how much Christian stuff we do, God has to work in their hearts. And he's working on mine too and rebuking my screwed up priorities. It's humbling and scary to see the job God has given us to guide our kids spiritual lives. And maybe that is why I don't want to talk or pray about it because it is a lot easier to focus on laundry and getting to baseball practice.

Romans 9:16
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

3 comments:

Valorie said...

Thanks for that reminder, Michelle. I too forget to pray for my kid's salvation.

On a side note, how is Maren doing? I've been thinking about you all!

Anonymous said...

Michelle,

I have been following your blogging on and of for a few months now. I also am a VM pastor's wife, and I just wanted to let you know that I see myself in your writing. Thank you for being so transparent with your thoughts and feelings, so I can see my own thoughts and feelings through yours. I have 5 kids, and have the same problem with prayer as you - I have even complained to my husband that I don't have the time to pray like I should, so I do a lot of shorter prayers whenever something hits me throughout the day. Anyways, thanks!

SingerMamaMelody said...

Hey Michelle!

It was SO great to see you today at church! I wish we would've had more time to chat. But I'm really excited that I can now read your blog and catch up with you a bit that way. I will be praying for your daughter. May God tug on her heart and draw her close to Him!!!!! I can't imagine what it must be like to be working through that. Thank you for inspiring me to pray more for my daughter. I started praying for her even before we knew we were having her, and then once she was inside of me I began to pray even more. And now that she is outside of me I try to pray for her and also pray with her, even though she is only 1. She started saying "Amen" after we pray before meals...so cute.

I have to go, but I'll check in again soon...and hope to stay in touch more now!

Lots of love to you guys :)