Friday, January 9, 2009

The Mind of Christ

It's so irritating to lose my ear plugs! Stupid things. I forget what pants I was wearing the last time I was using them.

I have to use ear plugs when using our vacuum because it sounds sort of like Apollo 13 taking flight when you switch the power on. And I have sensitive ears from blaring music into my ears with mp3 players over the past few years, so I can't vacuum without them. Darn it to pieces.

So...I have put in applications at Best Buy and Books-a-Million. Hoping to hear back from them soon as they both had openings. I'm trusting that God is gonna take care of me getting hired and all that. I'm very nervous about being hired though, especially working with a cash register. I have all these fears of not being able to offer help, screwing up, etc, etc. I've never had a job before and it's going to be really stressful when I first start. I'm scared I won't be able to count money back to people quickly and smoothly enough and stuff like that. I sound like a valley girl.

But one thing that has been concerning me is the desire to have the mind of Christ. The attitude of a servant and to be humble and submissive, doing all things without complaining. Sometimes I simply lack holy desires all together. Some days I have no feelings or desires to love, and the only feelings I can sense are those that want to look out for myself, and please only myself. Whether in the flesh or in the Spirit, I don't want to be too critical, always wondering if what I am doing is coming from my own self effort or the Spirit. Deep (WAY deep) inside this body of death are the desires to be like my Jesus and to behave sensibly and mature in this world, making the best use of the time. It's so frustrating because I slip into that mindset for a while and then lose it. I don't want to be personally offended when people look down on me or mistreat me. I am a son of the Most High! I have a wonderful, eternal inheritance! I don't need others to like me and I don't need earthly wealth! I have everything in Christ! I'm not saying it's wrong to have others approve of me or to have earthly wealth, but I want my heart set on the Kingdom.

18 comments:

Jamie said...

Ummmmm, I think you ALREADY have the mind of Christ. The question is: Do you believe it?? Even when you don't FEEL like it???



Colossians 2 (New International Version)

Colossians 2
1I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ
6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature,[a] not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,[b] God made you[c] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.[d]

Love you, Matt!! We're excited for you!!

I'll have a Venti Mocha friggin' Latte...

lydia said...

Your confidence is in Christ! Blast your feelings - you are already confident and equipped to do all things through him who strenthens you!

Can't wait to hear about your new job!! You will get to be light to the world out there!!

Much love - oh and by the way, I think we have the same vacuum, sheesh!!

lydia said...

Gee Matt, I hope I didn't come of as insensitive to the fact that this is a big deal for you and your first job, of course all those normal thoughts and feelings will come - my heart is to encourage you in who you are and stand with you as you face your giants!!

Mattityahu said...

Hey, Mama Cat!! I know I do. I just wanna learn to LET that mind be in me. To put it on so-to-speak.

What is Venti???

Lydia,

Thank you, big sister!!!! You are so encouraging. You were not at all insensitive. Don't be silly. =P

I TRY to take care of my vacuum so it doesn't get loud, but no matter how much I clean it or how careful I am, it ends up sounding like an airshow.

jul said...

All I have to say is a man vacuuming is a beautiful thing.

Jamie said...

Tall, grande, venti...sizes of coffees. :)

I agree with, Jul. Man-servants are lovely. LOL. Matt, don't you DARE defend Ryan...

Hmmmm, I wrote a song called "Let"...I might have to post it.

Tight, squeaky hugs & kisses, Linus.

lydia said...

.....and he cleans it and takes care of it. Squeal! You will make some woman very happy one day -heehee!!

Nicole said...

Matt, I will pray for you and your search for a job! Father will lead you and guide, and that will be enough to not worry about things. Go with it, Father will be by your side! I think your heart is pure and I know Father see's you and is pleased by you!

Let me know how things go brother!

I am thinking about ya!

Love and Freedom, Nicole!

Mattityahu said...

Nicki,

Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement. I start to worry sometimes whether or not He will give me one of these jobs...But if He doesn't, maybe He wants something else for me.

Mattityahu said...

And yes, I feel so masculine and desirable when I vacuum the carpet. It's like one of those slow motion scenes in the chick-flicks where the guy is shirtless, chasing horses or something. Or was that Brenden Frasier in George of the Jungle?

Jamie said...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and a man vacuuming IS a beautiful thing. Jul nailed it.

Surveys say 95% of women would rather have a man vacuum for them than bring them flowers!! LOL! Cleaning toilets is good, too...

lydia said...

that shirtless man chasing horses ain't got anything on a man who lays down his life for his woman, I don't care how ripped he is unless of course he vacuums too :)

Jamie said...

Matt, you've got some beautiful wise women loving on you here...you sly fox! Aren't big sisters wonderful?? :P

Bino M. said...

Matthew, I tell you! If you didn't get that job that means you didn't have enough faith. Just muster up your faith! You will be able to CLAIM the job...

Just kidding :)

BTW, in the past 6 years of our marriage, my wife never did vacuum. It had been always my job and I always thought in every household it's husbands who does the vacuum. Am I wrong (jul and RJW)?

Jamie said...

I'm swooning over here!! You guys are KEEPERS!

Socoteanu said...

KFC was my first job. It was great.

You'll find the right thing in time.

My wife and I shared the vacuuming...until I got wise and hired a housekeeper to come once a week.

jul said...

Bino, for your wife's sake I am refusing to comment...

and a housekeeper once a week? That would not make a dent in my house! Maybe I have the messiest kids on earth haha. I should vacuum everday (so thankful for central vac) but that's also because of the dog hair...

Bino M. said...

Jul, Thanks! I get it... I am going to talk to her :)