Ever so often I would move the dust pan over to where he was in the room.
He would gently move the broom my way, letting cake crumbles grace the pan.
I looked up at the man holding the broom and almost lost my grip on the dust pan.
He was so beautiful in that moment.
That moment of pure servanthood.
He was washing feet as he stacked chairs and rearranged tables for people he had only met hours prior.
He really messes me up sometimes.
The way he moves.
The way he leads me into a room.
The way he shakes a stranger's
hand.
It's such a messy kind of love.
It always has been.
But somehow, God took His dustpan, swept us up and all our mess and did something beautiful.
Magnificent actually.
He broke my heart.
He messed me up.
He saw His child suffer.
I see now-all the suffering, all the guilt, all the shame, confusion & self discovery through raw pain was all leading up to moments like that one.
Moments where I look up and see the man who guides me in every way looking so full of humility.
My husband has broken me.
When I see him, I see Jesus.
I see all the things I aspire to be.
Being by him has shined light onto the darkest corners of my spirit, corners that collected some dirty stuff that I wouldn't let myself see on my own.
Things like impatience, selfishness, a sharp tongue...and the list could go on and on.
My husband did not complete me-he showed me the parts of me that Jesus needed to come in and reshape or destroy completely.
He loves me with the tenderness of the Son, but calls me out on my flesh like the Father.
A spouse who loves you will not let you remain where you are.
They will lift you up on their shoulders so you can see and touch how far you can actually go.
They will be your eyes when you are blinded by bitterness and your bridge -maker when you come across rough waters.
I have seen my husband stand on a stage and preach behind a pulpit, but he has never looked more like Jesus than today-washing feet, sweeping a floor, holding a door open in the rain for a stranger.
Stage lights make anyone look great, but washing feet?
That. Makes. God. Look. Beautiful.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Man Crush Monday.
#MCM
We all know what that hashtag represents; probably even if you're 65 years old and wonder what an Instagram is because the last time you checked it was only milligrams and kilograms.
Man crush monday.
Ahhh...the day we all let the social webbing of friends and associations know who we think is the most attractive man on our list.
For some it's a celebrity.
For some it's their nephew.
For some it's their spouse.
For some it's an underwear model.
For some it's their pitbull.
Whatever/whoever it is, most of the women I know participate in this charade.
Heck, even I do it.
But, what is your man crush monday saying about you?
Is it painting the picture of your character that you would want the Maker to see?
Is the innocent plastering of a half naked man on your Facebook wall screaming "Daughter of the King" or "Flirter with the prince of Lust"?
Sure sure, you're probably thinking, "Get off your high horse and shut up. Stop taking things so seriously and making everything such a big deal. It's just a picture."
Today I sat in the car with my husband and he told me it bothered him to see another man's wife post photos of someone other than her husband-as innocent as they might make it look.
Wow ladies-didn't expect that one did ya?
Men care.
They watch.
They see.
They feel and they observe.
If MY husband is bothered and views your Instagram man crush monday as public lust, what do you think your spouse thinks?
What do you think God thinks of your eyes glorifying a man's body (as even a single woman) for the world to see?
Would it be acceptable for your husband to post a photo of a woman other than you, making "socially acceptable" lustful comments about her?
I would hope not.
It wouldn't be so in my own marriage.
My husband is mine and I am his.
Just the thought of another woman crossing his mind in a lustful manner is painful.
Guard your heart.
Guard your mind.
Guard your marriage.
Guard your future marriage.
Setting up another man (distant celebrity or not) above your spouse is dangerous, ladies.
He may never speak a word to you as you continue to post how "yummy" your favorite movie star is week after week, but trust me-he's watching and he's hurting.
Protect your husband.
The only man aside from him that should be taking up space in your mind or your heart is Jesus.
Neither of them are fond of sharing their queen's attention.
If you're single-you have a future marriage to pray for and protect.
Cut it out.
"Crush" sounds innocent; masking something evil and dark with a cute persona.
Lust is not cute.
Take it from someone who once plastered photos of Ryan gosling all over her page-it's not okay.
It hurts.
Even if you do not agree with/respect my high horse/soap box point of view, respect your husband enough to make him your permanent #mcm or cut it out completely.
Don't let your sweet eye candy eventually make you sick.
Psalm 119:37 ESV
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
1 John 2:16 ESV
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Romans 8:6 ESV
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
James 1:14-15 ESV
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
We all know what that hashtag represents; probably even if you're 65 years old and wonder what an Instagram is because the last time you checked it was only milligrams and kilograms.
Man crush monday.
Ahhh...the day we all let the social webbing of friends and associations know who we think is the most attractive man on our list.
For some it's a celebrity.
For some it's their nephew.
For some it's their spouse.
For some it's an underwear model.
For some it's their pitbull.
Whatever/whoever it is, most of the women I know participate in this charade.
Heck, even I do it.
But, what is your man crush monday saying about you?
Is it painting the picture of your character that you would want the Maker to see?
Is the innocent plastering of a half naked man on your Facebook wall screaming "Daughter of the King" or "Flirter with the prince of Lust"?
Sure sure, you're probably thinking, "Get off your high horse and shut up. Stop taking things so seriously and making everything such a big deal. It's just a picture."
Today I sat in the car with my husband and he told me it bothered him to see another man's wife post photos of someone other than her husband-as innocent as they might make it look.
Wow ladies-didn't expect that one did ya?
Men care.
They watch.
They see.
They feel and they observe.
If MY husband is bothered and views your Instagram man crush monday as public lust, what do you think your spouse thinks?
What do you think God thinks of your eyes glorifying a man's body (as even a single woman) for the world to see?
Would it be acceptable for your husband to post a photo of a woman other than you, making "socially acceptable" lustful comments about her?
I would hope not.
It wouldn't be so in my own marriage.
My husband is mine and I am his.
Just the thought of another woman crossing his mind in a lustful manner is painful.
Guard your heart.
Guard your mind.
Guard your marriage.
Guard your future marriage.
Setting up another man (distant celebrity or not) above your spouse is dangerous, ladies.
He may never speak a word to you as you continue to post how "yummy" your favorite movie star is week after week, but trust me-he's watching and he's hurting.
Protect your husband.
The only man aside from him that should be taking up space in your mind or your heart is Jesus.
Neither of them are fond of sharing their queen's attention.
If you're single-you have a future marriage to pray for and protect.
Cut it out.
"Crush" sounds innocent; masking something evil and dark with a cute persona.
Lust is not cute.
Take it from someone who once plastered photos of Ryan gosling all over her page-it's not okay.
It hurts.
Even if you do not agree with/respect my high horse/soap box point of view, respect your husband enough to make him your permanent #mcm or cut it out completely.
Don't let your sweet eye candy eventually make you sick.
Psalm 119:37 ESV
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
1 John 2:16 ESV
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Romans 8:6 ESV
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
James 1:14-15 ESV
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
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