Mind Your Own Busyness

Do busyness and worry go hand in hand? I think so. It seems like the more that I have to do, the more I worry--mainly, worry about completing projects on time, or sometimes worry about paying for projects (like projects around my house that I need to call a professional to do).

In our culture, busyness is often used as the measuring stick for self-importance. The busier you are, the more important you are, in our thinking. I fall into that trap from time to time. There have been occasions where I want, and really need, to take a vacation day, but I'm reluctant because I have too much to do at work. As if the office would totally shut down if I wasn't there.

In my ever-evolving quest to simplify my life, I'm trying to be more dilligent in starting each day by dedicating it to God, and verbally acknowledging my desire to walk by His schedule, not mine. I find that my day (and my stress level) is so much better when I trust that He will order my steps, and help me to accomplish whatever it is He wants me to for that day. Even if means that I don't get to cross anything off my own to-do list.

Note to Self

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. (Philippians 2:14-16)

I complain WAY too much, especially at work. When you are in the company with others who complain on a regular basis, it's easy to engage in complaining as well. I'm not excusing my behavior--on the contrary, in order to shine as a star in the universe, I need to work even harder to resist the temptation to join in the complaining.

I'm challenging myself today to be extra-aware of what I say, and how often I complain. Complaining is really a lack of gratitude. I want to focus on being grateful rather than complaining about things that are not going "my" way.

I'll let you know how it goes...

Little Things

Sometimes it's little things that get me the most excited. Here are a few from the past few days:

• My sweet boyfriend dropped by my office the other day and surprised me with beautiful lillies
• I paid $1.97 per gallon for gas! (Can't remember the last time I paid less than $2.00 a gallon for gas--which is sad)
• Fall (and fall weather) is finally here! Friday's projected high is 75, with a low of 51. Hallelujah!
• It's mid-week, two meetings at work are behind me, and I have just one more to go tomorrow (I HATE meetings!)
• I got to eat lunch with my family, including my two precious nieces, on Sunday

Don't you just love when God showers our lives with little blessings, that really mean a lot?

Sales vs Service

Yesterday morning I was having problems with my cell phone. It's a year and half old now, certainly due for an upgrade in the not-too-distant future. I took it to my cell service provider's store, hoping for a quick repair job but bracing myself for a long-winded sales pitch.

To my relief, the sales rep was able to fix my problem in a couple of minutes, free of charge. Best of all, not once did he attempt to get me to upgrade my phone and renew my contract. He gave me fast, friendly service and sent me on my way with a working phone without any money leaving my pocket.

Ironically, his lack of pushiness made me more interested in getting a new phone. I'd already psyched myself up into the very real possibility that I'd have to get a new one, and part of me was a little excited over the prospect of getting a new "toy". Most of me, however, was thankful to have more time to shop before upgrading; I'm sure that day is coming in the next few months, given the age of the phone.

I wonder how many people are turned off by pushy Christian attitudes. I'd be willing to bet that friendly service without a sales pitch ("You need to visit my church!") does more to bring others to Christ.

My Appetite

A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash. (Proverbs 15:14)

I'd like to think that I hunger for the truth, but many times I'm content to feed on trash, especially when it comes to what I watch on TV or what I read on the internet. It's tempting to sit down for a day-long television marathon or read all the celebrity gossip online and tell myself that it's just mindless entertainment, no harm done.

But eventually, whatever your mind feeds on catches up with you. Just as I can't feast on nothing but junk food and maintain a healthy body, likewise I can't have a steady diet of "trash" and expect my mind to remain pure and unaffected.

Changing my food diet is not just about eliminating junk food from my pantry, but replacing it with healthier alternatives. Similarly, I need to replace the junk in my entertainment world with the truth. I don't think this means I can only watch the religious TV channels; rather, it's being more discerning about what I watch, read, and expose my mind to on a daily basis. I find my mind to be in need of constant re-alignment with God's truth.

Fear Not

With today being the fifth anniversary of 9/11, there will no doubt be countless tributes on blogs and news sites alike. It's easy to let fears of terrorism and other enemies rob us of our joy and peace. Here's one of my favorite Psalms that reminds me that I'm in God's hands, which is the safest place to be.


Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

A Bold Approach

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:13-16, emphasis mine)

Although I enter God's throne room on a pretty consistent basis, I do not always approach boldly. Many times I creep up to the throne timidly, afraid to utter my requests.

Other times I ramble on and on with one prayer request after another, and as I leave the throne room I turn and casually mention one more over my shoulder, sort of an "Oh, if you have time for one more..." attitude. It's not that that last request doesn't mean much to me; in fact, many times it's at the forefront of my thoughts. But I am sometimes afraid to ask for it, because I feel like perhaps I'm being greedy or am not thankful for what I already have, like I'm a spoiled child unsatisified with all the Christmas gifts I've just received and am asking for more. I know that's not how God sees me, but Satan tries to convince me otherwise. It's his way of trying to shortcircuit my intimacy with God through prayer.

It is intriguing to me that God expects and actually wants us to have confidence in coming before Him in prayer. Of course, He already knows our deepest longings and desires anyway, but He still wants to hear them from us. He longs for that connection and intimacy that comes with sharing what's on our hearts.

I am learning to approach Him more boldly in my prayers. This week I realized that there are some deep desires that I have prayed off and on about for a long time now, but I have failed to commit to consistently praying for them. I've made a new resolve to boldly and daily lift up these desires in my prayers to God, not as an afterthought, but acknowleging them as the intense desires that they are.

Does that mean that God will answer those prayers in the way that I want? Not necessarily. But I do trust that He will reveal Himself to me in ways that He can only do through that increased intimacy that is developing.

Encouragement for Your Weekend

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (I Peter 1:3-7)