I'm too busy!

““Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. You have six days each week for your ordinary work,”

Deuteronomy 5:12-13 NLT -- http://bible.com/116/deu.5.12-13.nlt

I do not know a single person who is not busy. We all complain about not having enough time in the day to get everything done. I am no different. My schedule this week has been jam packed with meetings, meetings, and meetings, grading, grading, grading, and then my regular daily duties. When we get together we try to out do each other describing our overloaded schedule. Many of us treat our busyness as an honor. Well, let me tell you....... It's not!

Eventually we have to say no, and mean it! 

God designed the week. He alone is responsible for the length of the day, the week, the month, and the years! It's kind of like spending money. If we make more money, we spend it. If we get more time, we waste it. Instead of asking for more time we need to say no AND we need to respectfully hold ourselves accountable to getting rest. We literally need a break. Sunday is a great day to engage in rest. If you trust the Lord, he will guide you to complete HIS agenda. If the task is not in Gods plan,  it's just not worth doing an God does not plan for our lives to be so busy we can't take time for him.

I need to constantly remember what my goal is. I need to hold myself to a higher standard. I need to get rest, set priorities, continue to focus on the Lord's plan and disregard the rest. The Lord is our priority. Nothing else matters.

Dear Lord, I love you and honor your wondeful name. You have given me such a wonderful life. I ask your forgiveness for filling it full of frivolous busyness. Help me take time to rest. Help me to remember what my life is really about. I praise you for always being there with me even though I don't take time for you like I should. Help me to be organized and to use my time to your glory and not mine! Amen!

Back to basics!

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 NLT)

Everything begins and ends with God. The Bible contains the  amazing story of God, our creator. I have a tendency to complicate life. I think we all do that, at times. I get so involved with daily life, I forget the simplest facts like , In the beginning..... , Jesus loves me, and for God so loved the world..... Those world stopping words are a lot more powerful than anything I can say or hear in the middle of a busy day at school. 

My life always gets so busy. Life gets exhausting, but God did not mean it to be that way. It's us, we are the ones responsible for going beyond his plan. I need to get back to the simple things of life....... God, nothing else matters. I need to concentrate on that one thing, God, my creator, my Heavenly Father. 

God deserves top billing in our complicated, hectic lives. God should not be placed at the end of a long day where he can be ignored when you're tired. He deserves more than a passing word as we wake. He needs to be the center of our universe. He need to be THE focus not A focus.

Dear Lord, forgive me for how I complicate my life, filling it with useless activities that drown you out of my life. Help me to filter those useless moments so I can truly be focused on your. Help me take time to relax in your arms instead of feeling rushed whenever we get together. I praise you that you can still love me despite these huge flaws. Thank you for your love, patience, and kindness.Amen!

Stop-----Breathe

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

Sometimes I feel like the world is traveling so fast it's going to spin me off into space at any moment. It seems like this time of year when we are supposed to radiate peace and goodwill to men, I am filled with an overwhelming schedule of busyness. Time flies by and I don't take the time to really celebrate the season. I don't like it and my attitude shows it. 

It's at points like this, I need to "Be still," and know GOD IS IN CONTROL. it's hard to do, but God has no desire for us to be exhausted, frazzled, and living a life spinning out of control. So let's STOP..........Take a deep breath...........and know that God is in control. The Lord of the universe is with us. Just like Jesus came down to live with us, so did the spirit of the one high God. Relax, focus on the peace of Jesus Christ and welcome the Holy Spirit to calm your life.

Praise the Lord for getting us to stop, reflect on your love, and enjoy the peace we desperately need. Thank you for my wonderful life. Help me keep you in the forefront and all else in the periphery. Keep my eyes upon you, Jesus. 

24 hours!

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10 NIV)

To say that God is amazing is an enormous understatement. I can share 53 years of his "amazingness". The plan to send his son, have him live a human life, suffer the humiliation of crucifixion, rise in three days, and the sending of the Holy Spirit, is truly amazing.

These verses spark more thoughts of amazement. Now that I am a follower of Christ I live with him 24 hours a day, even while I sleep.

Sleeping is so important to our healthy lives. Nearly 1/3 of our lives is spent there. How we live our waking life greatly affects how we sleep. I sleep like a baby. I read my devotions, write the first draft of this blog, pray, and sleep. I'm not anyone special except to say that I'm a child of God. I have restful nights because of my Lord. I have busy days just like everyone else. This weekend has been filled with a Football game, CMA meeting, family, church, and more. I was so tired yesterday. This morning I am rested and ready to go again. I don't stress about the next day, anymore. I don't worry about the sins of my life. I don't stress about schedules, conflicts, deadlines, or other lifetime trials. I rest easy in the arms of a savior that loves me with an infinite grace. I rest easy that my entire family is under the watchful eye and powerful hand of God.  I am together with Christ my entire life, even when I am resting from a busy day. Praise God for his 24 hour love!

Half an hour before all HELL breaks loose!

Revelation 8 (The Message)

 ¹ When the Lamb ripped off the seventh seal, Heaven fell quiet— complete silence for about half an hour. Blowing the Trumpets.

This verse is the precursor to, pardon the expression, all "Hell" breaking loose. I do mean that literally. The rest of Chapter 8 is a compilation of disasters. It is quite ironic that it starts with a half an hour of complete silence. There is time in my life that I BEG for a half hour of peace and quiet.  I pray for time to relax and enjoy complete silence. In our society, these moments of sheer peace and complete quiet are few and far between. They say that silence is golden and I know why. Silence is so precious and rare, it's as valuable as pure gold.

Stephanie and I have plans for a quiet weekend. We plan these little get-aways between athletic seasons and during the summer as a time of peace and quiet. Taking two or three days to reconnect with each other and God is critical. We often joke that these times are like the calm before the storm or the calm before all "hell" breaks loose. I can't wait. We are very fortunate to be able to plan these mini vacations. As  parents of an active family, I know how impossible it was for us to actually get away and enjoy some peace and quiet. My two older daughters have families that are very busy. They remind me of Steph and I. We didn't take time for ourselves when our kids were growing up. I wish we would have.

I encourage all of you to plan some quiet time. Plan some time away from the busyness of your daily lives. Take some time to spend in silence. I don't mean praying. This is time in addition to prayer time. This needs to be a time of complete silence. Let God speak to you in his still small voice if he desires. But, just completely and thoroughly absorb the silence. Feel the peace that is God and fill your heart with joy. I know how difficult this is to do. We must do it! Even if it's only for half an hour. Do it before everyone gets up or do it after everyone has gone to bed. Take a whole Saturday or a Sunday afternoon. You owe it to yourself to get some "Quiet Therapy".  Your physical, mental and spiritual well-being needs this time. Take the time before it's too late.

Dear Lord, We don't take time to enjoy your presence. Our lives are so busy and our priorities are elsewhere. Help us to enjoy some quiet time. Help us to focus our lives on you. Thank You Lord for your love. Amen!