Forgive me, I am slow in returning ... : )

No, there was not a problem with our travel plans. And no, there was not a problem with our return flight.

There is (however) a slight problem with my willingness to let go of my "island girl" mentality .... just yet. Can you blame me? Look at this picture of our final night!

For now, I will simply say .... God is faithful. And He delights in showing Himself to us in ways we can not even think or imagine.

Steady Plodding ... : )

It has been said, we grossly OVER-estimate the amount of spiritual growth that can occur in one year, and we grossly UNDER-estimate the amount of spiritual growth that can occur in three years.

Why is that? Could it be because we want everything RIGHT now? Or dare I say, when we don't get what we want WHEN we want it .... we lose interest?

Think of the last time you made a purchase which required delivery or installation. When you were asked when you needed the product, you may not have said it outloud but you thought it .... I need it immediately, if not sooner. Am I right? : )

Even our "fast" food has become NOT FAST ENOUGH.

And don't get me started on the ridiculous expectations we have when it comes to getting in shape physically. Why do we think the effects of YEARS of eating the wrong foods, and/or the effects of YEARS of neglecting to exercise, will be magically erased in just 30 days - - or less!

The truth is, the only way to achieve long-term success in ANYTHING is steady plodding. You must practice it over the long haul.

So, going back to our propensity to grossly OVER-estimate our spiritual growth in 1 year and grossly UNDER-estimate it over 3 years. If we're not commited for the long haul, and willing to commit ourselves to the disipline necessary to sustain us for the long haul, we will never make it to the 3rd year. We slip out the back of the church, and its over.

It's easy to get excited about something new. But discipline, determination, and hard work are required to stay commited for the long haul. That's when we see results/success.
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What spiritual disciplines are you currently practicing?

• Attending church.
• Prayer.
• Reading your Bible.
• Studying your Bible. (And becoming a doer of what you learn)
• Serving (or seeking to discover your SHAPE) in ministry?

Are you commited for the long-haul? Commit today to a life of steady plodding.

Regaining Proper Balance - Part 2

Once you have tracked and color-coded your calendar for about a month, you should be able to see which area may be in need of an adjustment. Keep in mind, your colors will not be even. Most of us have one area (color) that will be predominant but the other areas (colors) must be part of the mix. For example: If you're calendar is nearly (or completely) void of ...

• red (marriage) ... you may be feeling more like a room-mate than a wife these days. :)


• pink (home/parenting) ... you may have no clean towels, an empty frig, and hungry kids. : )


• green (work) ... you are probably fighting a losing battle with your desk, inbox, or project load. : )


• blue (leisure) ... you may be saying things like, "welcome to my world!" instead of showing compassion. : )


• yellow (worship/quiet time) ... you may not even remember how to show compassion. : )


• purple (ministry) ... you may have lost all desire to show compassion. : )

Once you have identified which areas may need to be adjusted in intensity ... If your like me, your natural response will be to turn all your attention to the area most neglected. Although this may be necessary from time to time, and a good short term fix ... it is NOT the most effective long term practice.

What is?

Join me tomorrow for more ...

Protection from Growing Weary

How do you love the unlovely? ... unto the Lord.

Ministry is messy, often misunderstood, rarely appreciated, and will take the wind right out of your sail if you try to do it unto men. So... how do you protect yourself from growing weary????

By (honestly) examining your service.

Is it ... unto men?

or

Is it ... unto the Lord?