I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the challenge I gave you last week was more difficult than you expected. (If you are scratching your head wondering "what challenge?" you may not have noticed this is part 3 of a series. Go back two entries, and begin with part 1)
The challenge was two-fold. 1) To write down where your time goes in an average day. 2) To take an honest look at your approach to planning. Whether you wrote it down or just walked your day(s) with more of an awareness, I'm guessing you learned a lot. As I admitted last week, I sure did.
So what did you learn? Did you discover that your unstructured approach to planning has you simply responding to whatever, or whomever, is screaming the loudest. Or did you discover that your structured approach to planning has you scheduling your response to whatever, or whomever, is screaming the loudest NEXT year. Quit laughing, I'm guessing most of us know (all too well) the frustration that comes from living both of the above extremes.
So how does the "unstructured" woman find balance? The same way the "structured" woman finds balance. She learns...
Let me begin by saying, God knew we would struggle in this area and has given us many examples throughout His Word. The one I have chosen is one that most deeply touches my heart as a woman, it is the story of sisters, Martha and Mary. (Luke 10:38-42)
Do you remember the story? Martha was the sister that opened her home up to Jesus. May I point out, that Martha opened her home to Jesus because she could. Because she was prepared. Preparation is NOT a bad thing. However, Martha became so distracted by her "busyness" that she nearly missed out on the "necessary" part. And not only that, she was ticked at her sister, Mary, because she was not distracted.
Can't you just hear her in the kitchen banging the pots and pans together, hoping someone would come in ask her what was wrong. When no one came, and when she could take it no more, she marched in there and unloaded her frustration "busyness" on Jesus. She said, I am doing all the work, and here sits my sister!!!! Lord, make her help me!
His response, (I believe with a smile on His face, because she had to be such a site) "Martha, Martha, you are bothered and worried, about many things. But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen well, and it will not be taken from her"
I am so thankful that God has given us examples of women, like us, in His Word. I must admit, I can easily get distracted, and bothered, by many things. And if I do not spend sufficient time sitting at His feet - I (like Martha) am fully capable of becoming out of balance, distracted by good things and missing the better things.
Today, we will again take out our planners. This time we will commit it to God. Asking Him to show us any good things that have become distractions. Asking Him to show us anything that is keeping us from choosing (like Mary) well.
When's the last time you put all distractions aside and sat at the feet of Jesus? Begin again today.
Father God, you know us better than we know ourselves. As we sit and listen to Your voice each day, we learn to trust Your heart. May we settle for nothing less than Your best. That is when we discover how to live a life of purpose, and to live life on purpose. Amen.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Jane, Stop This Crazy Thing! Part 2
There's one, there's another, and another... They're easy to spot. Especially if you have been one! Been "one" what? A woman running on the "busyness" treadmill, and going nowhere!
She'll be the one looking a bit tattered and torn. The spring in her step and the sparkle in her eyes are gone. And the load (she once carried with ease) she now drags behind her. But the tell-tale sign is - when her eyes glaze over, the one's closest to her will RUN FOR THE HILLS!
In Part 1, we have already admitted (if we are honest) we have ALL been there. In Part 2, we will examine ourselves to see if we are headed in that direction again, or perhaps already there.
I was recently challenged to write down how I spent my time during an average day. Sounded easy enough, or so I thought. What I expected to take a only a few minutes ended up taking a few weeks. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever been asked to do. But one of the most enlightening.
When I sat down and tried to compartmentalize how I spent my time each day into neat little segments, I realized it was an impossible task. In frustration, I began to write - - I simply respond to whatever is screaming the loudest!
Over the next few weeks, I took an honest look at how I got so out of balance. As a woman that works from home, I have flexiblity in my schedule. With that flexibility, and because you are known to have flexiblity, it is sometimes tempting to take on things that need to be done simply because you can. Needless to say, this is not a wise way to go about your day. And needless to say, that is what led me to the dangerous treadmill of "busyness" that had gotten me so out of balance.
Had I not been asked to give an account of how I was spending my time each day, I might have continued in the pattern of distraction by the things screaming the loudest. And missed out on hearing the things most necessary, the things spoken in the still, small, voice.
I will end today by giving you the same challenge I was given. Write down how you spend your time each day. Where is your time going? Spend some time this week (honestly) identifying how you go about planning your days.
Join me next week for Part 3, as we look at some examples given to us in God's Word on the "Yes but, How?" to live life on purpose.
She'll be the one looking a bit tattered and torn. The spring in her step and the sparkle in her eyes are gone. And the load (she once carried with ease) she now drags behind her. But the tell-tale sign is - when her eyes glaze over, the one's closest to her will RUN FOR THE HILLS!
In Part 1, we have already admitted (if we are honest) we have ALL been there. In Part 2, we will examine ourselves to see if we are headed in that direction again, or perhaps already there.
I was recently challenged to write down how I spent my time during an average day. Sounded easy enough, or so I thought. What I expected to take a only a few minutes ended up taking a few weeks. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever been asked to do. But one of the most enlightening.
When I sat down and tried to compartmentalize how I spent my time each day into neat little segments, I realized it was an impossible task. In frustration, I began to write - - I simply respond to whatever is screaming the loudest!
Over the next few weeks, I took an honest look at how I got so out of balance. As a woman that works from home, I have flexiblity in my schedule. With that flexibility, and because you are known to have flexiblity, it is sometimes tempting to take on things that need to be done simply because you can. Needless to say, this is not a wise way to go about your day. And needless to say, that is what led me to the dangerous treadmill of "busyness" that had gotten me so out of balance.
Had I not been asked to give an account of how I was spending my time each day, I might have continued in the pattern of distraction by the things screaming the loudest. And missed out on hearing the things most necessary, the things spoken in the still, small, voice.
I will end today by giving you the same challenge I was given. Write down how you spend your time each day. Where is your time going? Spend some time this week (honestly) identifying how you go about planning your days.
Join me next week for Part 3, as we look at some examples given to us in God's Word on the "Yes but, How?" to live life on purpose.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Jane, Stop This Crazy Thing! Part 1
Have you ever had a week when your schedule was so full that you wondered how you had the time to sleep? Maybe like me, there are times when you would say your gravestone will probably read "Here lies busy!"
In our busy American culture it is quite easy to be busy! If we are not careful we can find ourselves jumping on the treadmill of activity day, after day, after day, after day... Mindlessly, we set out running here, running there, running everywhere, but going nowhere.
Busy, busy, busy!
That's what we do.
That's who we are.
That's how we are perceived.
Honestly, don't we sometimes wear our "busyness" like a badge of honor. As we wipe the sweat from our brows, we say "I'm so busy" and we win the respect of our peers. And so the cycle continues, we jump back on the treadmill of activity and run, run, run, until finally - - we cry out for help (much like George Jetson on the futuristic cartoon) saying... "Jane, stop this crazy thing!"
Is it time for you to get off the treadmill of activity?
Are you weary of running in place?
There is a better way, dear one.
Join me next week for continued encouragement on how to break the cycle of busyness.
Father God, our culture says busy is good. But we know that YOU are good. So we are turning our hearts toward You and crying out for help in breaking the cycle of busyness. Help us Father to get off the treadmill that leads nowhere, but exhaustion. We ask this in accordance with Your Word, and in Your Son Jesus' name. Amen.
In our busy American culture it is quite easy to be busy! If we are not careful we can find ourselves jumping on the treadmill of activity day, after day, after day, after day... Mindlessly, we set out running here, running there, running everywhere, but going nowhere.
Busy, busy, busy!
That's what we do.
That's who we are.
That's how we are perceived.
Honestly, don't we sometimes wear our "busyness" like a badge of honor. As we wipe the sweat from our brows, we say "I'm so busy" and we win the respect of our peers. And so the cycle continues, we jump back on the treadmill of activity and run, run, run, until finally - - we cry out for help (much like George Jetson on the futuristic cartoon) saying... "Jane, stop this crazy thing!"
Is it time for you to get off the treadmill of activity?
Are you weary of running in place?
There is a better way, dear one.
Join me next week for continued encouragement on how to break the cycle of busyness.
Father God, our culture says busy is good. But we know that YOU are good. So we are turning our hearts toward You and crying out for help in breaking the cycle of busyness. Help us Father to get off the treadmill that leads nowhere, but exhaustion. We ask this in accordance with Your Word, and in Your Son Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Retreat, A Treat Indeed.
Every April the women in my home church set aside one weekend for the sole purpose of "retreating" together. It has become a spring highlight for many of our women (including myself) and a date that we gladly save from year to year.
What is retreat? Webster's defines it as: an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable to a place of privacy or safety.
From this definition we see three important elements of retreat.
- Retreat Requires Action - it's an intentional, strategic move
- Retreat Has a Specific Purpose - to ensure victory in battle
- Retreat Has a Specific Location - private & safe
You may be thinking... I'm not in battle. Oh but yes... As a Christian, dear one, you certainly are. And every good soldier learns the value of a strategic retreat.
When is the last time you deliberately set aside the time for restoration, replenishment, and refreshment. Have you ever?
The God of the Universe is calling you to retreat with Him. Will you accept His invitation?
Determine today, that you will do whatever is necessary, to finish well.
- If you are not connected with a local church - get connected.
- If you are not sure if your local church offers an annual retreat - ask.
- If your local church offers an annual retreat - go. You won't regret it!
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