Bringing My heart Back to Him

(I will be unplugging this week in observance of Holy Week. I look forward to seeing what everyone has been up to next week. This is my prayer for this week.)

Man a Nothing

O LORD,

I am a shell full of dust,

but animated with an invisible rational soul

and made anew by an unseen power of grace;

Yet I am no rare object of valuable price,

but one that has nothing and is nothing,

although chosen of thee from eternity,

given to Christ, and born again;

I am deeply convinced

of the evil and misery of a sinful state,

of the vanity of creatures,

but also of the sufficiency of Christ.

When thou wouldst guide me I control myself,

When thou wouldst be sovereign I rule myself.

When thou wouldst take care of me I suffice myself.

When I should depend on thy providings I supply myself,

When I should submit to thy providence I follow my will,

When I should study, love, honour, trust thee, I serve myself;

I fault and correct thy laws to suit myself,

Instead of thee I look to a man's approbation,

and am by nature an idolator.

Lord, it is my chief design to bring my heart back to thee.

Convince me that I cannot be 

my own God, or make myself happy,

nor my own Christ to restore my joy,

nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me.

Help me to see that grace does this by providential affliction,

for when my credit is good thou dost cast me lower,

when riches are my idol thou dost wing them away,

when pleasure is my all thou dost turn it into bitterness.

Take away my roving eye, curious ear, 

greedy appetite, lustful heart;

show me that none of these things

can heal a wounded conscience,

or support a tottering frame

or uphold a departing spirit.

Then take me to the cross and leave me there. 

~From The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions

Good Help Is Hard To Find

I'm unplugging today.

But its not my fault.

You see, I suddenly realized that there is no toilet paper in the house (again) and it occurred to me that my Personal Shopper has not been good about keeping our shelves stocked. I am going to have to have a talk with her.

Not only that, but the Chef has not made a single edible meal this week, and the Housekeeper is MIA. Honestly, I think it just so rude. I mean, she hasn't even called.

The Driver has let the gas tank get three-quarters empty and I am afraid the gas light indicator may start to blink at me very soon.

My Personal Trainer hasn't been motivating me like I need to be motivated. It really isn't fair. I wish watching those aerobics shows on cable would count for something.

The Tutor has been doing a decent job with the children, but yesterday while I was preparing for a light lunch with Charity, (we ate in the Conservatory and then we sipped coffee in the sitting room), she called for a "Reading Day". I am definitely going to talk with her on this. For heavens sake, we are talking about the education of my children!

The Gardner told me that the leaves in yard would be taken care of, as well as the grass seed for the coming spring. But she has refused to schedule a specific date or time. She just keeps telling me that it's a busy time of year.

Certainly her time isn't any more precious than mine!

To top it all off, the Dog Trainer was a no-show yesterday and the puppy had several accidents on the carpet. I should have just hired Cesar like I had wanted to in the first place, but no, I second guessed myself and look at where it's got me.

Oh y'all! I just can't get over it...with the staff all missing, I will have to do all this work MYSELF.

So that is why I must unplug today. Isn't it just awful?

Good help is so hard to find.