Isn't it great that we never need to stop learning about God? I find, though, that I need to be purposeful about dragging my mind back and back and back again to focus on God, Himself. It's so easy to get caught up in doing things FOR God... or for my family for God, or for the church for God, etc. Pretty soon, I'm about five steps from God, Who becomes the reason--somewhere--I guess--way down deep, but not my conscious reason for living. It's not enough to busy myself with the things of this world. I need to be conscious about God more and more in the moments of my day!
Turning 50 really is turning a corner. Suddenly, I realize that I'm probably a whole lot closer to Heaven than I am to earth. I'll be spending an eternity with God, so how much time am I investing now so that I'll enjoy Him to the fullest? I don't want my life to be so taken up with tasks for God that I forget to spend time with God or contemplating and enjoying God himself.
So, my recent Bible readings have been focused on Phillippians. In chapter 1, there's a beautiful prayer by Paul that I decided to dwell upon. And, while doing so, I dug out A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers by D. A. Carson, who investigates the Epistles to see what lessons Paul taught in his "school of prayer." I also made a new playlist, which I entitled "Joy." I combed my iTunes list (and even downloaded a few new songs) to put together songs that were rejoicing in either God or the life He has provided for us here, so that while I worked on Week 6 of Year 3 today, I might rejoice in the God Who loved me enough to give His life for me. It is He Who is waiting for me in Heaven... not that far from now. I am finding myself refreshed today as I take time to remember Jesus more through the day through these simple, but purposeful, disciplines.
Turning 50 really is turning a corner. Suddenly, I realize that I'm probably a whole lot closer to Heaven than I am to earth. I'll be spending an eternity with God, so how much time am I investing now so that I'll enjoy Him to the fullest? I don't want my life to be so taken up with tasks for God that I forget to spend time with God or contemplating and enjoying God himself.
So, my recent Bible readings have been focused on Phillippians. In chapter 1, there's a beautiful prayer by Paul that I decided to dwell upon. And, while doing so, I dug out A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers by D. A. Carson, who investigates the Epistles to see what lessons Paul taught in his "school of prayer." I also made a new playlist, which I entitled "Joy." I combed my iTunes list (and even downloaded a few new songs) to put together songs that were rejoicing in either God or the life He has provided for us here, so that while I worked on Week 6 of Year 3 today, I might rejoice in the God Who loved me enough to give His life for me. It is He Who is waiting for me in Heaven... not that far from now. I am finding myself refreshed today as I take time to remember Jesus more through the day through these simple, but purposeful, disciplines.Labels: encouragement, recommendation
Time. We all have the same amount, and there never seems to be enough. Why is that?
I'll be 50 in early April. (Scary thought... gives rise to all kinds of musings about what I've learned/accomplished in 50 years... but that's for another post...) When I was younger, I thought that I didn't have time enough because of the demands of my young family. Then I got busier, so I thought that it was the demands of homeschooling and parenting. It seemed that time was short and tasks were many. But, those days are done. Suddenly, it's not parenting that I fill my days with, and not homeschooling, either. From this vantagepoint, I am more aware of (and grateful for) the insight that my friend, Yvonne, shared recently that while we didn't have much leisure time in those intense years, the pressing needs of family and homeschooling were wonderful guardrails on the road of life. In entering this latter phase of my life (when the children are launched, and all I have to fill my days is the work of writing and helping to run a small company) I find myself far more tempted to selfishness and sin than I ever did in earlier years. Somehow, bearing children, caring for my home, and teaching my own children seemed more directly "of the Lord." To me, they were very clearly my role as a woman, wife, and mother. Writing and running a small company seem different. They seem... optional. I am much more tempted in this phase of my life, as the children are grown and there seems to be more room for choice in my life, to choose what pleases me and grumble if things don't go my way. Who would have thought that the busy, early years were God's kindness? He led me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake by hemming me in behind and before!
Lately, in realizing the new temptations of a new season, by God's grace I've been reading some good books that are helping me put down complaining and self-centered resentments and gladly enter into active, purposeful living so that I can, in this season of my life, do the things that God is leading me to do. I've found two tools most helpful:
1. Shopping for Time: How to do it All and NOT be Overwhelmed, by Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters, Nicole, Janelle, and Kristin is a small, approachable Godsend. It neatly lays out very practical steps by which a godly woman can live purposefully.
2. I've taken up my planner again. I had gotten away from keeping any kind of planning system, and so was living day to day without making lists that would enable me to fit in the things that were important, but not urgent. In my younger years, I learned this lesson: plan your work and then work your plan, but as the urgency went out of my days, and the choices multiplied, I found that it was easier to complain about how busy I was and make excuses than to plan in the things I really wanted to do for long-term goals. These are things like staying in touch with extended family, sending birthday cards, writing notes of encouragement, and (most dreaded) regular exercise. By God's grace, and with the help of my trusty planner, I am now finding it easier to do things that I've been wishing to do for months and years! Praise be to God!
These two small steps that are making a big difference as I seek to find my feet in the new season to which my Savior has led me. I'm wondering how many of us--no matter which busy season of our lives we find ourselves in--find it easier to complain and repine than to take up the challenge of living purposefully and selflessly, to the glory of God?
I'll be 50 in early April. (Scary thought... gives rise to all kinds of musings about what I've learned/accomplished in 50 years... but that's for another post...) When I was younger, I thought that I didn't have time enough because of the demands of my young family. Then I got busier, so I thought that it was the demands of homeschooling and parenting. It seemed that time was short and tasks were many. But, those days are done. Suddenly, it's not parenting that I fill my days with, and not homeschooling, either. From this vantagepoint, I am more aware of (and grateful for) the insight that my friend, Yvonne, shared recently that while we didn't have much leisure time in those intense years, the pressing needs of family and homeschooling were wonderful guardrails on the road of life. In entering this latter phase of my life (when the children are launched, and all I have to fill my days is the work of writing and helping to run a small company) I find myself far more tempted to selfishness and sin than I ever did in earlier years. Somehow, bearing children, caring for my home, and teaching my own children seemed more directly "of the Lord." To me, they were very clearly my role as a woman, wife, and mother. Writing and running a small company seem different. They seem... optional. I am much more tempted in this phase of my life, as the children are grown and there seems to be more room for choice in my life, to choose what pleases me and grumble if things don't go my way. Who would have thought that the busy, early years were God's kindness? He led me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake by hemming me in behind and before!
Lately, in realizing the new temptations of a new season, by God's grace I've been reading some good books that are helping me put down complaining and self-centered resentments and gladly enter into active, purposeful living so that I can, in this season of my life, do the things that God is leading me to do. I've found two tools most helpful:
1. Shopping for Time: How to do it All and NOT be Overwhelmed, by Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters, Nicole, Janelle, and Kristin is a small, approachable Godsend. It neatly lays out very practical steps by which a godly woman can live purposefully.2. I've taken up my planner again. I had gotten away from keeping any kind of planning system, and so was living day to day without making lists that would enable me to fit in the things that were important, but not urgent. In my younger years, I learned this lesson: plan your work and then work your plan, but as the urgency went out of my days, and the choices multiplied, I found that it was easier to complain about how busy I was and make excuses than to plan in the things I really wanted to do for long-term goals. These are things like staying in touch with extended family, sending birthday cards, writing notes of encouragement, and (most dreaded) regular exercise. By God's grace, and with the help of my trusty planner, I am now finding it easier to do things that I've been wishing to do for months and years! Praise be to God!
These two small steps that are making a big difference as I seek to find my feet in the new season to which my Savior has led me. I'm wondering how many of us--no matter which busy season of our lives we find ourselves in--find it easier to complain and repine than to take up the challenge of living purposefully and selflessly, to the glory of God?
Labels: encouragement, family, recommendation
Originally published in Distaff, December 2005
In keeping with our true status as vessels of clay, may I highly recommend for reading in your devotional times this gem? It happens to be written by my former Senior Pastor, CJ Mahaney, which only adds to my ability to strongly recommend it, since I know the man "up close and personal." Though he is one of the most gifted pastors of our times (I believe), he has worked very hard to school himself in humility for over thirty years. His book is both inspiring and practical.
In keeping with our true status as vessels of clay, may I highly recommend for reading in your devotional times this gem? It happens to be written by my former Senior Pastor, CJ Mahaney, which only adds to my ability to strongly recommend it, since I know the man "up close and personal." Though he is one of the most gifted pastors of our times (I believe), he has worked very hard to school himself in humility for over thirty years. His book is both inspiring and practical.
Labels: recommendation
