On Track

In life it is so important to set goals.  Paul said in writing to the Philipian church, "It's not that I have already reached the goal or have already completed the course." (Phil 3:12)  When we set goals, we establish a unit of measurment with which to gauge our success.  So often we compare ourselves to others or some standard set by people who don't even know us.  When we fall short of these standards or realize that they aren't for us, feelings of failure can creep in. God tells us that it is unwise to compare ourselves to any one else. In the God's Word translation Paul puts it like this: "How can we brag about things that no one can evaluate?  Instead we will only brag about what God has given us to do..."(II Cor 10:12-13). The truth of the matter is that everyone has their own race or course to run.  It is unique and individual to who we are and what God has planned for us.

So we are to set down with God and ourselves and clearly mark the goals for our lives.  Write the vision and make it plain (Hab 2:2-3)

No one is ever too young for this.  As a child, my mother sat us down and set goals with us.  Reasonable, attainable goals.  And in reaching them, we developed a sense of accomplishment and confidence to keep on growing and improving.

You should set goals with specific parameters defined.  Short term, long term. lifelong and seasonal goals.  Personal, professional, spiritual, physical, social and financial goals.  Be clear and be reasonable, but mix it with faith. After all, the just shall live by faith (Heb 10:38).

Preparations

The word prepare is used in the King James version of the Bible around 81 times. In other translations, even more than that.  That gives us a good indication that God is into preparation, to say the least.  When I think of preparing in the Bible, a few favorite scriptures come to mind.  2 Tim 4:2-"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season." Implied in that is that conditions may not always be favorable to preach, therefor we must prepare.  Prov 9:2 referring to Wisdom (personified), explains that "She has prepared her meat..." Moreover, Prov 31 describes in detail a virtuous woman who is preparing for every scenario of life, and her preparations even effect how others view her husband. My absolute favorite is John the Baptist.  His assignment on Earth was to prepare the hearts of men for the coming of Jesus in the body.  Our assignment as born-again believers is also to carry on the work of preparing the way for the Lord's return.  

Now on to natural preparations.

Looking over my list of things to do by 35, I listed a few physical goals.  In order to achieve them, I must prepare properly.  

Well, I have started jogging/walking at least 3 times per week.  Things have been going well, I have improved both speed and distance. 

I will be starting a marathon training at a local facility, if they have room.

The most interesting thing I find about training is that I really enjoy it.  When I am out there pounding the pavement and breathing in fresh air, I feel so alive and strong.  Longevity is very important to me, and I feel like this is a good step toward that.

Life Lists

When I began this blog, it was about reaching some goals I had set for the year.  Since then, I have accomplished those things and more.  For some time now I have had a list of things to do by a certain age.  Right now I am working on my 35 list.  S I have added a version of this list to the blog.  I encourage you to create one of your own.



I was talking to a group of friends about this list and things that we would like to do, and one of them said "Why wait? Do it if you're going to do it."  I don't know if they understand exactly what impact that statement had on me.  But it couldn't be more true. If I am going to do it, why wait?
That caused me to look into some other areas of my life and I realized where I unnecessarily postponed many things.Yup, that dirty little word...procrastinating. 

In light of this, I will be making some changes to the blog. 1) It won't be limited to just accomplishing goals for a year. 2) I will be inviting guest bloggers to share their insight as well, and lastly  3) I will be adding video

Down Time

Wow! If ever a lesson was 31 years late, it is the one I learned this week.

Make time to rest.

Unfortunately relaxing, though it should be the easiest thing in the world to do, is a foreign concept for me.  I feel if there is time, surely there is something productive I could be doing.  I am a very driven person who is self motivated. So all I need is a little opportunity to push myself beyond the limits.  I always feel as though I could be more productive or take something good or even great to the next level.  Are these negative qualities? NO!! Not in and of themselves.  Together with wisdom, someone possessing these qualities could turn the world upside down.

And the deception is that "if I push myslef a little harder, or deny myself this pleasure, I could get so much more done".  But it is actually the opposite.  It actually hurts your effectiveness, and decreases your productivity. 

In Psalm 103:14 the psalmist proclaims "He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust."  Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that yes, there is little that mankind cannot accomplish if we set our minds to it, but yet and still we are frail creatures, fully dependant upon an Omnipotent God. And this same Omnipotent God, worked 6 days then rested.  Not because He needed rest, but as a loving Father, set an example for us.  
As parents, entrepreneurs, wives, and all of the other hats we wear, we often don't see that it is even possible to take a break, let alone for an entire day. At least not without the roof caving in, or the world falling apart. 

But we can either approach rest proactively, or re-actively.

If you schedule down time, yes things may for a moment get out of hand, but if you are recovering from stress related illness, things will get even more out of hand.  And maybe your reputation as supermom will be injured but your reputation as a mom who loves her family and herself enough to plan for longevity will remain in tact.

Now let's talk about this race. Yes life is like a race; not a sprint but a marathon.  Endurance is key. And endurance cannot be achieved without scheduled down time. We cannot be what I call firecrackers, we start out with a bang-then fizzle out or burn out, unable to be lit again.

Last but not least, learning to schedule downtime can be passed down to your children like being a workaholic was passed down to me.

So kick back and relax. Go for a walk, or just watch the sun rise.
Enjoy your salvation. It will also make your home a happier place.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Cor 4:7

Excuses Are a Funny Thing...

When I first thought of doing this, I could only think of one or two excuses.  Then as I went along, it seemed, that every time I overcame one, there was a new one staring me in the face.  And really, I shouldn't say new. In fact, there were the same old excuses I'd used for years.They were with me for so long, that they seemed to be a part of me...

A few old acquaintances

Stopped by for tea.

A few close buddies,

to spend time with me.

It seemed, as it were,

they whispered and poked,

they prodded and jabbed,

pulled the old rope a dope!

Yes they pulled a fast 

one over on me

and all I did

was invite them to tea!

They wore a new guise

not their old garb indeed.

And you cant grow new fruit

using an old seed.

I stood to my feet,

though I staggered a bit...

a left hook then right

T.K.O, baby! That's it!!.

But I hit 'em low

and I hit 'em hard

their shiny veneers

broke into shards.

Right in the mouth 

Yeah, I got 'em good!!

"Try that again!

Oh I wish you would".

It's lights out for excuses in my life.  The process of writing this blog has begun a process in me, that is exposing to me all of the excuses I've used as crutches, wubbies, binkies, you name it. But I am done.

I am so glad for this new year and my new beginning. And that no matter how many times I fall short of what I should be, God's mercy is there to welcome me with open arms.  I am careful not to take that mercy for granted or abuse it, but I have surely needed it a time or two :-)

  Yet this I call to mind

       and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
       for his compassions ( mercies) never fail.

  They are new every morning;
       great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23 (New International Version)

 

 

Once I get the Money...

 People often say that they cannot do this or do that because they have no money.  Many Americans say, "If I ever get the money, I will do this or that."

But the truth is, if they aren't making preparations, they will never do it.  Mark Hankins said it best, when he said it this way, "Use what you have to secure what you lack."  He was using the story of Blind Bartimaeus to illustrate, that Blind Bartimaeus may not have had a way to get to Jesus, or even eyes to see when He was passing by, but he had faith, ears and a mouth.  So when he heard Jesus passing by, he cried out to Him for help.  And He got a whole lot more than that.  Jesus said "If we have faith as a mustard seed we would say...and it would..." (Lk 17:6) Our words have power. If you don't like what you are seeing, change what you are saying.  And if money is the only thing standing between you and realizing your dream, then look for free ways to get started, and believe God for the money. There are so many promises in the Bible regarding financial provision and us praying according the will of God, Him hearing us, and granting our request (I Jn 5:14-15)So dig into His Word, find the promises, be someone He can trust, ask, and recieve.

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