The Disorder Disorder

Disorder Defined: unpredictability and it is the opposite of law and order.

If unpredictability is a resident in our lives, it effects everything. When discussing thermodynamics, we come across a little known law, commonly called the law of entropy.  Sounds creepy. But the law of entropy is basically this: everything in the world is progressing toward a state of disorder, chaos or breakdown.  If you just look around you can see that there must be some merit to this theory. Ice melting, food rotting, the aging process, etc
The law goes on to state that entropy is always increasing or staying steady, but never decreasing. YIKES!!

So we can see that we've got a fight on our hands. I've done some of my own research into disorder.  And the interesting thing about disorder is that, when you begin to get rid of disorder (or create order), you somehow, find even more disorder.  And depending on how long you had the disorder, you adapt your lifestyle to fit the disorder and stop considering it disorder.

Disorder can come in all shapes and sizes.  For some it is a shopping disorder, eating disorder, tv watching disorder, etc.  For others, it is an organizational disorder (too much or too little), a time management disorder, a procrastination disorder, or an  I don't have any disorder-in fact I am perfect disorder.

Either way, disorder is not God's plan for our life.  In fact, in 1 Corinthians 14:40 we are instructed to do everything decently and in order.  Then we can read in Jeremiah 29:11, that God tells us that He knows the thoughts that He thinks toward us, thoughts of peace, and not of evil. To give us a future filled with hope. When disorder has taken over your life, like an over grown weed in a garden, there is no room for peace.  And the longer it is allowed to grow, the more room there is for hopelessness.  

So what do we do once we spot a disorder weed trying to grow in our garden, or we look with exasperation at the disorder weeds already full grown in our once idealic garden?

Cry out to God.  David said in my distress I cried out to the Lord, He heard my voice from His temple and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.  Be honest and straight forward. "God, You said to do things decently and in order, and I can see some areas of my life that I did not do that.  Have mercy on me!! Help me get things in order and be gracious to me in the meantime. I can't do it alone and I need you to help me as only You can! Thank You for Your help! In Jesus Name."

Then create an action plan.  What steps will you take to create order? Don't base this plan on what you need to get in order to do.  Base your action plan on what you have now and what you can do now. 

Lastly, Take the first step!! After that it will get easier.  But that first step creates momentum, and momentum can carry you a long way.

I am certain that God, who began a good work in you, will continue His work until it is finally finished...Phil 1:6

I Just Don't Feel Like It

In 2010 I need things to be different. My life is good. I am happy. Yet, deep down inside I know that I have not lived up to my full potential. Personally, I rather hate the status quo. If you linger too long with the status quo, you will invariably, end up behind, or at least not where you should be.

I've noticed in my life at one point or another, when things are good, and I've accomplished enough to not feel guilty, I settle in. I become comfortable. Comfortable is a killer of dreams and possibility.

We all have moments, if not days when we just don't feel like it. I think sometimes when I "just don't feel like it" it is because I am ok with things the way they are. We often say we want change. But if, in fact, we really wanted change, wouldn't we just change? Our desire to change has to be great enough to move us to action.

We are not alone in our efforts. Paul writing to the Philipian church tells us "For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure".

So today, my prayer is "Thank You, Lord, that you are working in me, not only to do, but also to want to do, what pleases you"!

Dealing With Disappointment

I am continuing to go down the list of hindrances to motivation and excuses.

I had developed quite a bit of forward momentum from Day 1.  Since then I have been getting a massive amount of things accomplished. I already settled into my new chore schedule, whittled away my to-do list, drank a liter of water a day, and turned the world upside at work.  Then today, like a freight train, disappointment hit.  It involved something I had poured my heart and soul into, and it didn't turn out the way that I desired, or planned.  And God understands how disappointment feels to us.  He said "hope deferred makes the heart sick (Prov 13:12)".
However, I let this disappointment began to affect my disposition.  Once I allowed it to do that, motivation flew like a wild bird out of the window.
All of this forward momentum I had created and all of the tall buildings I leaped in a single bound, got to my head. I somehow thought I had the Midas touch or something.  That quickly I had forgotten, that it is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.  I had forgotten my prayer about God working in me both to do and want to do what pleases Him.  I had accomplished what I did because of Him, and if I  but trust in Him, give this matter to Him entirely, He can bring success in that too.
I breathed a little bit more. 
Regardless of what the disappointment or delay is, it can have the same text book effect.  It kills motivation.
We must stop the train of disappointment, thoroughly inspect the cargo, and not allow delivery of the tainted goods.
Paul said this to the Corinthians "therefore we do not lose heart...for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor 4:16-18)".

My Reading List

One of my goals this year is to read at least two books per month for myself.  I have finished "Is Your To Do List About to Do You In?".  It was okay.  It pointed out the obvious...that I need to cut back some things in my schedule.  I am also rereading a favorite of mine.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am always talking about the dreams God gave us and praying for my friends and loved ones that He helps them come to pass in thier lives. For some I have seen with my own eyes some of those dreams to come to pass. I know some of them, as big as the world is, so is their dream. As for myself, I am walking out some of those dreams even now. But I know there is more.

I said all that to say this. Regardless of where you are in life, there is always room to go to the next level. Room to see that next dream on the list come to pass. If you wonder what the next level is, if you see the next level not far off, or if you just need to know how to get there...Here is a great tool:

"Renew, Refocus and Recover! A Road Trip To the Life You Deserve." Get two copies and keep one for yourself and give one to a sister, friend, colleague, or even your mother for Mother's Day.

It is time to stop dreaming in life and start living the life you dream.

A friend was kind enough to give me a copy as a gift, and telling her thank you hasn't been enough. I have read, and frequently refer back to those now bent pages. I use the highlighter, ink and tear stained pages as a reference. Because until I have everything I dream of, I refuse to settle for second best ever again. This book has renewed my tenacity and helped me streamline my efforts to achieve what God has put in my heart.

The beauty of this book is that unlike some self-help books, you don't have have to be broke, busted and disgusted to get something out of it. The message of the book meets you where you are at and can be applied to any situation you are facing.

Buy it today.  Renew, Refocus and Recover- by Raquel R. Robinson

By the way, I realize that there are those who are always recommending the next bestselling book. I am not one of those people nor do I follow the advice of those people. Furthermore, when I read a book, I need it to change my life or at a minimum be worth the time that I set aside to read it.
Those of us who can recall anything from our economics class, recall "opportunity costs". If it is not worth my time, I will not read it. I am confident this will be worth your time.


To check out some of the other books on my reading list this year, look on the left side of this blog.

Dealing With Grief

Today, I am aching.

From the inside out. 

I hurt in a way that I am just not used to hurting.  Yet, I am thankful and humbled that I have had 31 years with one of the most amazing women on the planet.  I could say that she changed my life, but really she helped to shape it.  She was like a rudder on my ship, and her strength and fortitude helped me stay the course. 
She survived the Great Depression, war, divorce, racism, sexism and raising three children as a single mother. 

But she didn't just survive, she lived. 

In my thirty one years, I've never seen her bitter   She never complained that life was not fair.  She squared her shoulders, bowed her knees, and embraced us tenderly.  Her ninety five years were marked with dertermination, sacrifice, joy and love. 
She was also an entreprenuer.  She owned and operated a very successful dry cleaners in the heart of a thriving community, in a time when women were not afforded such opportunities. 
Even in her last years, she was full of spunk, and tenacity.  Her wit was just as quick as it ever was, and her eyes still shined brightly.
She was well loved and will be celebrated by many.

So, yes, my heart is heavy, but I am not overcome.  Her legacy goes on and all of the things she built with wisdom, remain until this day.  She also knew Jesus, and I am comforted as I remember that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  I know she is in that great cloud of witnesses, cheering me on as I run this race that is set before me.

Moving Right Along

WOW!!!
It has been very long since I last blogged.  But I have lots of good news to report.
I am moving right along through my reading list, I even read a couple of extra books that weren't on the list.
My home is a happier place.  We also started having family game/movie night. 

And my fat jeans are once again, my fat jeans!!

I must admit, in the beginning some of these things seemed sooooo tedious. but now it seems like I have acquired some discipline and formed new habits.  But I still have 9 mos to go.

Laziness

Laziness. Hmm. Seems simple enough. Or so I thought.

I like to work and enjoy starting new projects.  The worse thing anyone could've called me is lazy.  And if they had, I wouldn't have believed them.

Then, the light came on.  Laziness isn't not wanting to do work (that is part of it). Biblical laziness is starting and not finishing. OUCH!!!

Guilty as charged.

Let me show you what I mean:

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.(Proverbs 20:4)

The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. (Proverbs 22:13)

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. (Proverbs 12:27)

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord...So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.  (Matthew 25:25-27 (New International Version)

You see, in all of these examples, the sluggard (lazy person), did something. But they had excuses that kept them from finishing what they started. 

When I read these verses, I could easily recall all of the things I began but had yet to complete. 

But just like with anything else, we can go to God and ask for forgiveness and help to do better.

So I prayed "Lord, forgive me for being lazy. Help me not to make excuses, but rather to be the finisher that you created me to be in Christ. Thank You!"

It is just that simple. Then He will give you wisdom and whatever else you need to be a finisher.

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Hebrews 6:11-13 (New International Version)