I love the line from the delightful children’s book by George MacDonald, “At the Back of the North Wind.” He says, “For our Selves will always do pretty well if we don’t pay them too much attention.” What true words. It is the same principle Jesus gave us in Mark 8:35: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”
When we focus on ourselves--our own problems, sicknesses, and how to make ourselves happy we end up self-serving. This invariably pulls us down into the slough of self-pity and delusion. It is an eternal principle that when you forget about yourself and pour out your life for others you become fulfilled. You are happier and more relaxed, peaceful, hopeful, and content.
“But what about ME? you cry. Of course, we have to care for ourselves--spiritually, mentally, and physically. That’s basic. But we don’t tune all our thinking on ourselves.
I’ll never forgot a moment in my life years ago. My children were all little and I had just come home from purchasing the groceries. As I walked over the threshold of my home, I felt the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking strongly to my heart, “Nancy, how can I reveal to you the needs of others if you are always thinking of yourself?” I have never forgotten those words. From then on I learned to give much more room in my mind and heart for others.
Will we be forgotten when we pour out our lives for others? No, the opposite. God makes sure that our “self” as George MacDonald puts it, will be blessed and comforted. God pours into those who pour out (Proverbs 11:24, 25 and 2 Corinthians 9:6).
Mothering is a liberating ministry into this eternal principle. Not on the odd occasion, but 24/7 we forget self as we pour out our hearts for our children—nurturing them, teaching them, training them, caring for them, cooking for them, praying for them, and often agonizing over them.
Let’s embrace this eternal principle and live in the fullness of the joy and life God intends for us. We teach our children to be joyful; we need to adhere to it ourselves.
J Jesus first
O Others second
Y Yourself last
Be blessed,
Nancy Campbell
May you have such a lovely day as you are honored and blessed by your family. Make no mistake about it. You have the most high-powered career in the nation! It is not the most high-paid career in the nation, but it is the most influential.
We discovered in the post below, “Above the Normal,” that David wanted to build a home for God that was exceedingly magnificent. When Solomon begins to build the house, he uses more adjectives. He states that he is going to build a house that will be “GREAT and WONDERFUL” (1 Chronicles 22:9). We are either building a normal marriage or a GREAT marriage. We are either building a normal family, or a GREAT family.
Yesterday we talked about building a magnificent home for God. But there’s more! Do you notice that the Bible constantly uses adjectives? Nothing about God is average and therefore the Bible needs adjectives to describe God’s plan for us.
King David had a passionate vision to build a house for the Lord His God. It wasn’t a little vision, but a huge vision. He used some amazing adjectives as he described the house he wanted to build. In 1 Chronicles 22:5 he confesses: “The house that is to be builded for the LORD must be EXCEEDINGLY MAGNIFICENT, of fame and glory throughout all countries.”
What’s your heart attitude today? Upset and brooding because things aren’t going your way? I believe it is important to cultivate a “turning attitude.” It’s not enough to turn once to God. It is a daily, hourly, and moment by moment turning our hearts to Him. Hosea 12:6 says: “Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgement, and wait on thy God continually.”
Amen. Let's be women of truth. Let's be women of strength. Let's not be intimidated by the lies of the enemy.
Do you really believe what God says? Do I? God’s words are eternal. He doesn’t give us a different set of plans for each generation, but His plans work for all generations. Even in 2018! In fact, no generation is exempt from God’s plans and purposes. Every generation is without excuse.
A mother’s job description is enormous. I don’t think there is another career in the nation that imbibes so many profiles. In Chapter 15 in my book, “The Power of Motherhood,” I list just on 100 different profiles and I know I haven’t exhausted the list.
It is amazing that many blogging mothers share about how motherhood is “so hard.” They talk about how it’s necessary to get away from their children.
How is your soul today? Downcast? Reveling in self-pity? Or even dead? I have answer for you. It’s God’s living Word.
HERE IS THE FULL POEM Would you like to read the full poem that I mentioned in my post below?
Today I received an email from a dear friend who works as a missionary up in the mountains with the native people of Panama. She lives alone and his given her life to these people. She doesn't even come home on furlough.
If you love your children, you will want the best for them. You will want things to go well with them.
Are we allowed to be indignant? Or is that not Christlike? Well, we read an instance where Jesus was very indignant.
Colin and I were out walking this morning. The school bus passed us on the road. But it was only 6.30 am. Because it's now spring, it was light, but in the winter time it is pitch dark at this time. And often they don't return until 4.30 pm or later when it is dark again. My heart grieved.
Can you believe it? When I studied the Greek words for food, mealtimes, and tables in the New Testament, I found 31 different words! God certainly loves the subject of eating. Many of these words give the picture of eating together with others. Jesus loved to eat with others.
Did you know that feeding is more than food? Yes, that’s huge, but there’s even more. And yes, I’m still sharing a little more of God’s heart about this subject. And I certainly won’t exhaust it in this post either.