“Verse of the Year”
by Shelly Burke, Editor, Nebraska
Do you ever get discouraged in your work, whatever it may
be?
I get discouraged as a mom when my kids have troubles, don’t
listen to what Tim and I say or are having a hard time.
I get discouraged as a “home manager” when (like today)
there is laundry to be done, the kitchen is a mess, and clutter threatens to
take over (if whatever smells funny in the refrigerator doesn’t take over
first!).
I get discouraged as a business owner when I’m behind on
updating files, my computer is sllloowwwww and the checks are not coming in
(but the bills, of course, are!).
I get discouraged as a child of God when I know I haven’t
acted as His child should.
As always, when discouraged, the best place to look for encouragement is the Bible. Colossians 3:23-24
has always been one of my favorites, and I decided to make it the “verse of the
year” personally, and I’ve challenged Nebraska
Family Times readers to do the same. Tracy, who does the graphic art for
the paper, laid out the verse so it can be cut out and hung on bulletin boards,
the refrigerator, or even your bathroom mirror—and I’ve put it all three
places!
Colossians 3:23-24 reads, “Whatever you do,
work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you
know that you will receive an inheritance for the Lord as your reward. It is
the Lord Christ you are serving.”
The verse always encourages me. I ask the Lord to guide me
in whatever I am doing and I pray every day that He will walk with me in
whatever I do—as a mom, home manager, business owner and most importantly,
child of God. I listen for His “still, small voice” to guide me, and I look to
His word for direction. I know that I
do not always follow and do His will and I imagine that there are many times He
is rolling His eyes at me and my actions.
But…I know that He is walking
with me and guiding me…I just need to listen. I know that He forgives me for not doing what He wants me to do, and
for doing what He does not want me to do.
I know that I am working for Him, and that kids’ actions,
the state of mess in my home, and the other frustrations are just part of
living here on earth. I can be sure that when I am working for Him, everything
will work out. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow…and maybe not while I live
on this earth. But when I believe in Him, believe that He sent His Son to
forgive my sins, the little discouragements in my life just do not seem
important. They are part of doing His work and serving Him. I will receive an
inheritance from Him—and eternal inheritance--and that is what matters.
And then I resolve to work with all my heart at being a mom,
home manager, women, business owner, and child of God, because in whatever I
do—even the seemingly insignificant tasks like cleaning the refrigerator—I am
serving the Lord.
Thank You, Lord, for
the encouragement that You give through Your Word. Please lead and guide me as
I strive to do Your will. Amen.
I’m also blogging at Home is Where the Mom Is.
Today’s post gives suggestions for “Instilling
Values in Your Kids.”
Below is the graphic of the verse of the year; cut it out and
put it where you’ll be able to see it when you are discouraged!
