The idolatry of greatness & how it’s ruining your life.
I’m writing this post with my thumb. On my phone. While I watch the sixth episode of Leap Frog today.
(By the way, when people hear Emmy read, they assume I am a very impressive parent. But I’m here to tell you, about 95% of the credit for her reading skills goes to Leap Frog. Let’s keep it real, people.)
Anyway, the kids woke up at 5am today, so of course Nathan fell asleep on his lunch this afternoon. I mean he literally fell asleep on top of his peanut butter and honey sandwich. He then woke up in his high chair with some kind of bad dream, so here we are in the rocking chair, watching Leap Frog, while I type with my thumb.
Last week I think the whole world listened to Andy Stanley declare that deciding to attend any church other than a mega-church was selfish and therefore sinful. It was a ridiculous and unbiblical thing to say, and luckily I think the whole world also recognized that.
(He has since given an apology, so he clearly recognized his fault, too.)
Jon showed me the video a few days ago, and I shook my head in disbelief, because honestly. It was just a little absurd. Surely Christ is working and moving through churches of all sizes, pastors of all congregations. Surely size has little to no bearing on the eternal value of a church, & its effectiveness in sharing the gospel. Surely each part of the body is valuable and essential to the growth of Christ’s kingdom as a whole.
But Andy Stanley didn’t recognize or acknowledge the value there. No, instead, he glorified BIG and GREAT and PROGRESSIVE, and actually shamed small.
In the last few days, as his “sermon” has been on my mind, I’m realizing that I do the same thing.
There’s an epidemic running through this country. It’s subtle and quiet and often cleverly disguised as “The American Dream”.
It’s the idolatry of greatness. And to some extent, we’ve all bought into it.
We, as a culture, are obsessed with becoming great. We work hard to build up a name for ourselves, a “legacy” for our families, a semblance of fame and notoriety. Nothing less is good enough. Nothing less is worth anything at all.
At least that’s what we’re told.
And so, we work hard and stay busy and we ignore relationships and we distance ourselves from our families, all in the name of productivity and work ethic. We inflate our own egos as we surround ourselves with our own accomplishments, and we start thinking that everyone should be a little more like us.
We begin to look down our noses at the “smaller” things. The less notable things. And we start to shame them, even unintentionally.
We say ridiculous things like “If you don’t go to a mega church, you’re selfish.”
Honestly though, that one’s a little extreme. I think this mindset actually comes through more often in subtlety. In the kind of comments that make your question your contentment, like…
“Have you figured out what God has called you to? I’m not talking about your husband and your kids, what’s your REAL ministry?”
“You’re such a great __fill in the blank__. Have you ever considered pursuing that as a career? It would be a shame to keep that to yourself. I bet you would be really successful at that.“
Is there anything wrong with pursuing a ministry or a career? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Hear me now, there is nothing inherently wrong with pursuing a ministry or career that you are passionate about.
But I think there is a serious problem when we refuse to be satisfied with smallness. When we cannot find contentment unless we find greatness. When we are constantly after more and more and more.
This is where I find myself lately. I’m a mom and a wife, but sometimes those things seem small. I care for our home, but laundry and dishes just don’t feel very great. I work hard here on the blog, but the project list is never-ending and it is easy to end up always chasing after more.
Sometimes I think the American Dream can also be the root of discontent.
This totally works for capitalism, by the way. I’m a big fan of capitalism. People try to create better products at lower prices and everyone has a chance to compete, to build a business, to climb the ladder, to be successful. That’s kind of amazing, in the business world.
But the business world is where the American Dream belongs. Because when we pull the functional strategies of a capitalistic society into our faith & our families, we find ourselves in a very dangerous place.
We stop thanking God for enough and start wondering if there’s more.
We stop counting our blessings and start counting our followers.
We stop serving our families and start serving ourselves.
We make compromises and let our perspectives shift, and we find ourselves pursuing a greatness that is less about who God is and what He’s done, and all about who we are and what we’ve done.
It’s an empty pursuit.
The truth is that God does not call ANYONE to greatness. There is only One who is great, and His name is Jesus Christ.
The rest of us? We’re the saved ones. The rescued ones. The ones who have no business bragging about ourselves, our names, or our empires because ALL THE WORK IN THE WORLD COULD NOT SAVE US FROM HELL. There is only one who could do that and His name is Jesus Christ.
Greatness isn’t up for grabs.
No mega-church, no ministry, no career, no blog, no fame, NOTHING we can do can ever compare to what He’s done for us. Period.
And so what are we called to? What’s this “calling” that we hear so much about?
I think we are called to the exact opposite of greatness. I think we are called to small and faithful. Right where we are. Telling HIS story instead of writing our own. Rocking our babies and attending our small churches and serving Him by loving our families and our neighbors. Trusting Him to provide instead of pursuing comfort or fame.
There is peace here. In trusting the Great One and letting go of our addiction to busyness and productivity, there is peace. Real peace.
So I might not be accomplishing much, here in my rocking chair, watching Leap Frog and typing with one thumb. But maybe I need the reminder just as much as Andy Stanley.
Greatness is an idol. And a futile one at that. God doesn’t care about our accomplishments, our size, or our productivity. He cares for our hearts, our salvation, and that we truly understand the Gospel, which hinges on the saving work of Christ Jesus.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
So I’m going to rock, for now. Later I’ll get up and make dinner. I might even do the dishes afterward. I’ll live my small life and live it gratefully, knowing that nothing I can accomplish here will make any difference in eternity. The work has already been done on my behalf. And I’ll do my very best to make sure my kids understand the same thing.
Because there is nothing, not one single thing, wrong with small. Small churches, small lives, small moments… I think Jesus can be found in every single one.
Kayse Pratt serves Christian women as a writer + designer, creating home + life management resources that help those women plan their days around what matters most. She’s created the most unique planner on the market, helped over 400 women create custom home management plans, and works with hundreds of women each month inside her membership, teaching them how to plan their days around what matters most. When she’s not designing printables or writing essays, you’ll find Kayse homeschooling her kids, reading a cheesy novel with a giant cup of tea in hand, or watching an old show from the 90’s with her husband, who is her very best friend.
I was trapped in that quest for chasing greatness since when i was young..many years later i haven’t find that greatness..i want to think its God telling me to stop because even when i found this blog i was searching smallness in greatness..Praise be to God you wrote this to inspire many souls looking for greatness instead of smallness..Thank you!!
I really appreciate this! You e helped me today. Thanks!
This is good. Like REALLY good. Subscribing, sharing and pinning!
Thanks for speaking truth, friend.
For His glory!
“I think we are called to small and faithful. Right where we are. Telling HIS story instead of writing our own.
…
Greatness is an idol …”
Exactly what God said to me today. Thanks for the confirmation! And yes, greatness is such an awful idol that is never satisfied!
“I think we are called to small and faithful. Right where we are. Telling HIS story instead of writing our own.”
Exactly what God said to me today. Thanks for the confirmation!
” I think we are called to small and faithful. Right where we are. Telling HIS story instead of writing our own.”
Yes! Exactly what God has been speaking to me today. Thanks for the confirmation.
PREACH, sister! I actually caught myself telling my daughter that no, I couldn’t help her go to sleep tonight (Daddy would) because I had to go WORK. How often I forget my work IS my daughter! My work IS what I do for my family day in and day out. I’m a career counselor and a resume writer and a blogger, but my BIGGEST job is right here, sleeping just a room away.
Thank you for that reminder, Kayse!
I think this post is incredible!! This is so spot on. And I don’t even have kids, but I respect you Moms out there and how God is working through you. It reminds me of sermon’s I have heard on the widow’s mite. Sometimes what seems to onlookers as a inconsequential contribution to God is actually beautiful and meaningful to Him.
It also reminds me of this great devotional from Proverbs 31… http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/how-to-live-a-brave-and-beautiful-life/
I REALL ENKOYED YOUR ARTICLE I BUMPED INTO IT WHILE REACHING “IDOLATRY THEN AND NOW” I will keep your thoughts in my heart….Coni USA
Ooops!… I MEANT TO SAY RESEARCHING THE TOPIC OF IDOLATRY!
sOOO SORRY, IF IT CAUSED ANY CONFUSION…?
Thank you! I needed to read this!
Hi Kayse,
I just came across this post from March and here it is August 31st. You showed up in my Facebook feed on “Daughters of the King”.
I just became a subscriber after reading this post. I don’t even know if you will see this comment being it is from an older post, and that is okay too.
This post was right on schedule for my current week. I am a senior and very new blogger. Someone I consider my mentor, who is quite successful in the Blogging world asked the question of our group, what would be the Perfect Career? She, like you is much younger than myself and is humbly enjoying what many would call extreme Greatness.
I have not joined the group for an answer just yet. I am now 63 and have held many jobs or positions with companies over the years. I even went to college to explore my passions of design elements, many of which have proven very useful. But my Only Career has been centered around being the best wife, mother, and Christian woman I can be.
I loved this write of yours and am blessed by its content so much. One of my favorite scriptures is from Proverbs 30:7-9. I can relate to Agur so much and am ever greatful for enough! I know I have enough and sounds like you know the same.
Blessings,
Linda Darlene
I’m so glad you’re here. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!!!
Fantastic post! I can’t wait to share this everywhere. Thank you for writing 🙂
Blessings.
Lynn
Thank you so much!!
I really appreciate this post, Kayse. 🙂 My husband and I had a similar realization several months ago and we’ve made so many changes that have really changed our lives. With my blog, online store and all the “extras” I was pursuing, I had gotten stretched so thin that I had nothing left to give my family. We decided to “pull in the borders” of our lives so that my time, effort, energy and emotions are focused on God and my immediate family. The changes have been hard (no more Facebook, Instagram or other time-sucks), but not being worried about “greatness” has left me so much more focused and peaceful and engaged here in my home. When I’m online, I am reading amazing posts like this, rather than mindlessly scrolling through feeds or trying to grow a following. My world is smaller, now, like it was before the internet took over the world. It’s a beautiful feeling to realize that my own little chunk of this world is precious and important and “enough” without all that “greatness” that we get deceived into seeking.
That was very “centering” this morning. God bless your little thumb.
Love this so much. I needed to hear it. I have a nursing degree that I’m not using at the moment because I’m staying home with my son. It’s not glamorous and I often get questions about when I’m going to do “more” than just be a stay-at-home mom. But this is where my heart is, and this is my ministry.
Thank you for this. Although I didn’t see the original sermon that inspired you to write this post I have had similar thoughts weighing on my heart and mind lately. Your post has reminded me that my small world, my home and my son and a moment to pick up my Bible, are all I need. Thank you friend!
P.S.
I wrote this comment with one thumb whil rocking my son as he naps. 🙂
Good thoughts. I’ve often thought the American Dresm leads to an unhealthy degree of independence and isolation.
On the mega church thing, yes that was phrased a bit silly. It is worth noting, however, that small churches have demonized “mega-churches” for as long as I can remember and no one bats an eye. It would be nice if we could appreciate the GREAT works that God is doing, both large and small.
Just discovered your blog while looking for a planner. I have no idea who Andy Stanley is but this post really hit the spot today as my thoughts have been along these lines lately but wasn’t something I could put my finger on. I very much look forward to looking thru your blog. { I did find the links to join your Facebook group a little off-putting and contradictory to this post especially since you mentioned this directly “We stop counting our blessings and start counting our followers.” … Maybe this was one post that didn’t need links and solicitations built into the message? }
Hi! That’s such a good point. Unfortunately, I can’t turn that off specifically for this post! But the FB group is not about numbers at all – it’s a really amazing community of women, and I want everyone to know they are welcome! I started the group to get away from the numbers, and get back to conversations and relationships. 🙂 It’s been a good move!
…thank you for the greatness of wisdom you have shared in this thought. All the glory belongs to Him, and He sees what you do. Bless you for caring for your family.
I really appreciate your words of encouragement, Kayse. My husband pastors a very small church. He has to work another full-time job to support our family. Accepting the fact that God might have called him to always pastor a small church was hard for him for a long time! Andy Stanley’s initial comments were definitely hurtful, so I was glad he retracted a bit.
Similarly, I’ve had to wrestle with my own blogging platform. Bigger, bigger, bigger is the message we all have to battle. I often have to step back and ask myself what God has asked me to do. Is it to build a huge blogging business? At this point in my life, no, I don’t think it is. I only build discontentment in my heart when I compare myself to those who do feel called to work their blogs as a major source of income!
Great words for so many of us.
Wow…thank you so much for writing that. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not men.” Colossians 3:23
I just randomly found your blog and came across this article and I can’t tell you how much your words meant to me. Thank you for sharing your heart.
This calls to mind St Therese and her Little Way. In essence, we do all for love of God, every small thing can be an act of love to God.
Hi Kayse! Just ran across your post on Facebook. One of my friends shared it on her page. I must say I was very eager to read it. I’m so speechless! I am even having a hard time typing this! Lol! I’ve been going back and forth struggling with the whole idea of “greatness”. Never felt good about it but in a way I feel like I chased that idea. I too am a blogger and I have a YouTube channel and I find myself going through cycles of keeping up with my numbers and then not. Truth hurts but it’s so necessary! So thank you for this little reminder. Hope I make sense. Many blessings to you and your family. Can’t wait to read more of your posts!
I just found your blog through Pinterest this week. At dinner, I was confessing to my husband exactly the attitude you describe here. Thank you for articulating your thoughts so well and pointing us back to Christ.
Ahem, this small church pastors wife and mom-servant of two littles (and one big) thanks you for this article! You’re one smart lady. Now, if I could just come hug you in person… I would 🙂
Thank you!! I’m so glad this post encouraged you. 🙂 Keep doing that important work, momma!!
This article is very true – what honors God is faithful service, not what the world notices. If we are faithful in what he asks us to do, we will not necessarily know what the results are within our lifetime – but we are to be faithful and obedient, pleasing an audience of One, and leaving the results in his capable hands.
What looks big now may simply be froth – or worse, the product of a fevered ego. What looks small now may have results that ring down the corridors of time. Everyone knows about the ministry of Billy Graham (who did not seek greatness, but was used mightily of God in his humility), but few know the name of the evangelist at whose meeting Graham placed his trust in Christ. If you heard the name Mordecai Ham, you probably would not recognize it – but he was simply a faithful evangelist whose work touched many indirectly. He sought to honor God, not to be honored.
(I got here via Anne Kennedy’s blog)
Pam: I am deeply moved by your plight. I was once there, but instead of a pit, I imagined myself trapped in a dark dense forest. Only constant pleading in prayer got me out into the sunlight.
I am praying for you. Don’t give up. Jesus will pull you out of the pit. Concentrate on your family, and keep talking to Jesus. He cares for you and will give you strength.
Marion
Terrific article! As a husband and father let me say from the mountaintop, mother’s, you are amazing! Your sacrifices for your children mean more than the greatest career of all time, whatever that may be. I must say, my college degreed, very intelligent wife decided to be a stay at home mom. I’m so grateful she didn’t let the world or her christian friends influence her that she was wasting her life. She realizes it’s not her life, raising children is a great honor and sacrifice, you can’t get that time back, and she has no regrets. You see, our kids are older now, so we can look back, objectively, and say, yes, living on one average paycheck, doing without, loving and being there with and for our kids, being active in church, and completely depending on almighty God to give us the physical and mental strength to get through each day was worth it and we wouldn’t change a thing. I just really appreciate this article. Glory to God in the highest!
Kayse, you nailed it! Thank you for the reminder, it was drinking a cool glass of water. Often I try to remind myself of remaining content with my lot in life and that a heart filled with thankfulness and gratitude will also bring peace into me and my family’s world. It’s a huge relief knowing that Our Lord has graciously provided for our needs and that sometimes all it takes is a little bit of assessing what you have; family, home, job, schools for your kids, meals, the list goes on, to show the Lord is great and worthy to be praised, not any pursuit to an earthly meaning of greatness.
Again, thank you for your reminding words of encouragement.
John Nichols
Kayse, brilliant! I’m the pastor of a smaaaaall church (35-40 on a Sunday AM). You have zeroed in on the nucleus of the problem. Keep up the good work.
Beautifully said. While the message applies to all, women struggle with the “greatness” ideal b/c our worldly culture tells us that being merely “wife and mother” is denigrating. The movie “Its A Wonderful Life” has always helped me find meaning in little things. We can’t all be big war heroes like Harry Bailey. Some of us are just small town George Baileys. But our small boring lives might impact the world more than we ever realize. Embrace the smallness. The meek shall inherit the earth.
I love that movie!!! So true. 🙂
Yes yes yes yes YES!!! And I’ll add an AMEN, too! Have you read the book “Ordinary”? It totally helped me with this. I think this a very destructive view that is super prevalent in women’s ministries today, and it is destroying families (I’m a little passionate about it). It’s driving women away from their husbands and children in search of “But God wants me to dream big dreams and be GREAT” so I can’t stay home and take care of my family. Ugh! I attend a large church, but one that is correctly focused and driven…
This was SO SO good. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this perspective. I’ve always been a fan of small…from college to the number of friends to dogs! What a blessing and validation you gave me. Bigger isn’t always better and our super-size lives could use some downsizing. Thanks for speaking the truth.
love this so much. thank you for putting it into words –even with just one thumb!
also, amen on the Leap Frog. same here.
Right? Those little frogs teach so much…
Kayse Pratt, u r my new best friend.
Good thoughts. I remember from reading Bonhoeffer that he always found himself going back to Jeremiah 45: “Do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not.” That’s the attitude I want to adopt as well. More and more, I’d be content to live, work and die anonymously, and anything on top of that is “icing on the cake,” so to speak.
As for capitalistic values and the church, your words remind me of what the economist Wilhelm Röpke said in one of his books — that “to fashion all imaginable relations [e.g., church] on the principle of supply and demand and so to commercialize them… [is] an infallible way of destroying the free economy by a morally blind exaggeration of its principle” (A Humane Economy, Chapter III). It’s also an infallible way of destroying church, when it really ought to be a haven from the values of crass commercialism, including the amorphous ideal of greatness.
You make some excellent points. Another thing I think has birthed this “we’ve gotta find our purpose” culture is the excessive amount of free time we have. 100+ years ago, every minute of every day was focused on survival – planting crops, canning crops, making clothes, building shelter, etc. I doubt anyone before the year 1900 was sitting around contemplating their purpose. Their “purpose” was to get enough food stored up to make it through the next winter.
AMEN! After my oldest daughter turned 1 year old, I quit my job, and have worked off and on, mostly off through the years and would not trade them for anything this world has to offer. My gold is to get to Heaven. This world is not my home, I’m just passing through….
Lord Bless you Greatly as you continue your journey in life walking with The Lord!
Thank You & Thank You Again.
I haven’t heard of Andy Stanley, so I haven’t had the benefit of disagreeing with him personally, but I assume you passed along the message faithfully and rebutted it accurately. Even more than accurate, you touched this mama’s heart strings along the way. I, too love the mundane things of my homemaking day. And have a blog that is not going anywhere great any time soon. And I lead a tiny flock of ladies at Bible study on Tuesdays. TINY! And yet, we gather together and discuss the deep things of God, we dig into His Word and pull out truth for ourselves and celebrate Him together. And I will likely never be GREAT. But I truly, deep down in the most hidden part of me want to be faithful, steadfast, immovable.
Thanks for the encouragement of your words.
I left my job of 11 years as a musician last Fall to stay at home with our son. Last night, I was in tears telling my husband that if only I had X amount of time to practice, I could still audition for orchestras and that babies are the reason you don’t see a lot of successful women in orchestras as compared to men. Staying at home with my son has been a huge adjustment for me, but the right decision in so many ways. I really needed to read this today. It was a needed reminder to stop obsessing about myself and to focus on Christ. It is so easy to become self-absorbed and worship myself rather than our Creator. Thank you again. The Spirit used your words to convict me.
That was amazing, and exactly what I needed to hear in this season!
I very much appreciated your thoughts. It is the eternal gift of Jesus Christ that matters in this life. Nothing else! We can’t do what matters. By God’s grace we are able to be a part of what He can do for others.
This article is amazing, and oh so true. Thank you for sharing your talent with us!
Kayse, you’re totally on point here. This is the struggle so many of us have in this day and age. And yet, God’s Word is true and it says that we are small like dust, our impact is transient like the grass of the fields…He is great, His Words last forever. But because of His kindness, He shares His eternity with us.
When I look for my value through my work, I am disheartened and discontented. When I see my smallness next to His greatness, I don’t feel minimized, I feel sheltered.
I attend a small church. Talk about relationships! Talk about community!
I didn’t know about Andy Stanley’s Sermon (and today all the videos seem to be taken down by the church…that is VERY interesting), but I am so glad he inserted his foot into his mouth. If he hadn’t, we might not be having this conversation!
Keep preachin’ mama!
I find Mr. Stanley’s comment very rude and hurtful. I do believe GOD is calling everyone to GREATNESS. The difference is what God calls greatness is so different from what the world calls greatness. Or even what we think greatness is. We were made by GOD to fulfill his purpose. Everything we do for GOD is great. Like raising his little children in a Christian home. To helping out our neighbors. Plus I do believe God said when 2 or 3 are gathered together in his name he will be there. I rember reading something like that but dont rember where. But that would be a small church.so I still don’t understand his comment.
Thank you so much for writing this. It’s a topic that’s been on my mind for a while now. I’ve only scratched the surface of articulating my concerns in my recent post “Are Some of us Called to be Ordinary?” You’ve stirred up my thoughts again and inspired me to get back to “my writing table” and get writing. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that several of us bloggers are picking up on this topic and expressing concern. I believe God is moving to bring us back from the cliff of self-righteousness, even if it’s one blog at a time.
I’m impressed! All that with a thumb. ??
This hit me in all the right places. Yes and thank you!
I’ve been bothered by this subtle message for a while now. I mean, God doesn’t call us to happily ever afters and being the spiritual version of a rock star. Mostly I’ve been bothered because I’m not sure how to serve the readers of my blog, get out the message God has called me to share but to be honest, I really struggle with where the line is from sharing what God places on my heart and becoming caught up in marketing or making income or whatever. I don’t want to become “slick” for lack of a better word.
Thanks for sharing this post. You said what I’ve been feeling and unable to articulate for a while. 🙂
Kayse, this is exactly what I needed to hear today! It reminds me of that scripture where we are told not to despise the small things in our lives! Thank you for speaking from your heart to mine! What a blessing! 🙂
Thank you for this message… I’m struggling right now and just wish all that I read and already know could get me out of this dark pit I’m in. Counsellors – I have one… Medication for depression and anxiety – I’m on them. I’ve been a Christian for a long time and just feel so hopeless although I have good moments at times and then the pit. I need Jesus’ peace so that I can like myself enough to want to: eat better because it’s healthy for me to do that and not continue down the junk path road I’ve been on for years, to enjoy my hobbies that I once liked, to become joyful in my own right for my husband and two sons in their late twenties so that they can see me strong and not so hopeless. I like small because that’s the only place I can wrap my head around if I ever want to move out of this pit but the minute I compare myself, which happens on auto-pilot for me, I’m lost again even though I know that’s wrong to do. I need prayers to start where I’m at as I’ve been at this hopeless place so many times… Thank you…
I’ve been there too. I’m praying for you today!!!
Pam, I don’t know you but I know all too well your struggle. I have to make a daily effort to stay out of the pit. And even though I don’t know you, I know the One who does, and I will pray for you!
Clearly I’ve been in a bit of an ostrich hole lately. I had no idea Andy Stanley insinuated that, so I’ll have to read up on it. But your words–they are practically perfect in every way 🙂 I get super caught up in trying to grab the bigger, the better, and then I become completely dissatisfied with the gifts and blessings He’s bestowed that are for me and my little life. Thank you for this. It can never be said enough.
Excellent post! I had not heard the Andy Stanley comment, but I do sense that attitude in the church, even in myself at times. Thank you for the reminder that small is okay. Many of our small moments have great impact in eternity.
Wow. That video had me feeling a little sick to my stomach. I’m always disheartened when anything but the gospel (the amazing, jaw-dropping Good News) is preached from the pulpit. I mean, when you think about how much we could get from even just one short passage from the OT prophets, or how much we could draw out of a single parable from one of the gospels, it makes me marvel that we try to put our own thoughts before those of God! What hubris!!
More to the point of your blog post, I didn’t get the idea that he was idolizing greatness so much as idolizing friendships and peers for our children. I couldn’t listen to the last bit, because I honestly just couldn’t today, so maybe I missed something. Still, this was a blog post I’m glad I read, Kayse! I am off to meditate on the Good, True, and Beautiful, and ask God to reveal to me how I might be putting the best!ever! in front of what He actually values. 🙂 Thanks for more to chew on.
Thank you for your comment! You’re totally right, he was also addressing friendships & peer groups, I just think his (well thought out!) comments revealed that his mentality behind that was that those can’t be found in small places. In any case, it led me to this train of thought. And I fully agree with you – the gospel is SUCH good news, why are we ever hearing about anything else from our pulpits? I could talk about that all day, but I won’t. 😉 Happy Tuesday!!
Amen, amen, amen! You spoke right to my heart! Thanks so much…as I was reading I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 1:27. Bless you, sister. <3
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27
I think that verse is absolutely perfect for this topic. Thank you for sharing!! (And I love the title of your latest blog post. Lol! Off to read it!)
Thanks, Kayse! 🙂
Hey Kayse, thanks for sharing your heart, for hearing this sermon and immediately thinking of ways in which you’re guilty of the same faulty reasoning in other arenas. That is so challenging to me as a Jesus follower and so very biblical. You’re right to be indignant, but so many stopped there. You’re the only person I’ve read who turned that indignation into a drive to see your own issues for what they are too. That’s inspiring. For what it’s worth, Andy apologized this past week for what he said last week. Might be worth a listen. Either way, your ministry to me as I read tonight to unwind from my day and connect with God’s truth compelled me to tap out a response with my thumbs! Thank you so much!
Thank you!! I’ll go look for his apology – I saw the one on twitter, but it sounds like you’re talking about something he actually said? Maybe a video?
Great thoughts! You’ve had a couple lovely posts recently on this topic that have helped me think and process how I view my role as a mom/wife. Thanks!!
I was looking at my list of priorities recently and was thinking how saying, “Wife, Mom, Kingdom Work, Self, Home” is probably a poor way to say it. Isn’t that all “Kingdom Work”? I really just mean “Ministry Outside My Home” – I think I’ll start calling it something different! 🙂
Can you tell these topics have been on my mind and heart lately? Lol. Sometimes I worry I’m going to say the same thing too many times. But this is still heavy on my heart! And yes, it’s ALL Kingdom Work!
Absolutely struggled with this but needed to hear it, and will need to review it time and again. My daughter is a career wife and mom, and I feel so very blessed to see her love for her ministry in that place. Small can be very good as well as large, as long as your heart is where it should be, centered around his will for our life. Thank you for sharing such thought provoking ideas :0)