Time management?
The blog is going to start out one way and go another. It's not like that's never happened before but as they say, forewarned is fore-armed.
I ended last week and started this one with the intention that I was going to better manage my time. It was the best of intentions, I assure you, so that I could focus more on the things I thought were important and I'm still wondering why I couldn't hear the laughter that must have been peeling through the heavens at that silly notion.
But then, things like this happen when you invite the God who created the universe into your life. Your ideas and His may tend to clash sometimes and He's not afraid to use those opportunities to set you straight. I don't say that tongue in cheek. I mean that. I'm blessed that God has time for me and a plan for me. I just wasn't on the same path He was and now I am.
I'm tired kids. I mean that. I've had about 7 hours sleep in the last two days. The things that required my attention this week weren't even on the horizon last week. They're taken care of though and the things that were important I focused on with God's help. I actually found some time to get some things accomplished around the house too.
But more than that, the focus shifted to things I'm not doing that I need to. I can only pray about these things at the moment and I am. My problems it turns out were not the fault of others but of my own sin. Recognizing and confessing that has helped. What the resolution will be is something only God can know. I just know I'm willing to follow His plan. Whatever that might be.
Here's where the story starts to change, but both will tie in at the end. I think.
I planted 500 corn seeds, give or take, in the spring. I made a row, planted them the appropriate distance apart, and covered them up. We watered them regularly. I didn't fertilize but everything else grew. The corn was knee high at the 4th of July. It looked great. And then, it quit growing. We got no corn. Not all of the seeds germinated. Those that did, well, they didn't produce. The stalks are puny, almost stunted. From other accounts I've heard second hand, we're not alone. A lot of other people have the same problem I do. Same thing with pumpkins. The vines grew, but no fruit.
Sometimes I get frustrated with life because it seems the more I do to help, the further behind it makes me. It's the whole "No good deed goes unpunished." thing. Sometimes that's true, I think. Sometimes it just feels like it because with each good deed we do in Jesus' name, we plant seeds or water what someone else planted. I believe that, too. However, all the planting and watering in the world, all the best intention, and all the plans in the world don't guarantee results.
My plan was to harvest one ear from each stalk and share. There isn't one to eat, let alone share. It was my plan but not God's.
Obedience to God's word is important to me and both of these stories remind me that what our successes may look like and what God has in mind may not always be in concert. God did use this homework assignment and my lesson from last week to open my eyes, though. I need to do better. I will do better with His help.
The way up from here may be down. I've spoken to the Lord about what I think the problem is and this time I asked HIm what to do about it. I'm sure that an answer will come. Some parts to that already have in that I'm open to new ways of thinking about things. And I'm aware too that my plan and God's aren't always going to be the same. Having a will to bow to His instead of my own helps, too.
God is good all the time and I'm so thankful He's still involved in my life. I haven't shared a lot about that lately and I thought today's two stories might be a good way to do that.
Have a blessed day! Two more days and my middle boy is a married man and starts his own adventure into life. I'm so excited and happy for them. Maybe in a couple of years, God willing, they'll bless our family with the first grandchild and a new adventure will begin.
I ended last week and started this one with the intention that I was going to better manage my time. It was the best of intentions, I assure you, so that I could focus more on the things I thought were important and I'm still wondering why I couldn't hear the laughter that must have been peeling through the heavens at that silly notion.
But then, things like this happen when you invite the God who created the universe into your life. Your ideas and His may tend to clash sometimes and He's not afraid to use those opportunities to set you straight. I don't say that tongue in cheek. I mean that. I'm blessed that God has time for me and a plan for me. I just wasn't on the same path He was and now I am.
I'm tired kids. I mean that. I've had about 7 hours sleep in the last two days. The things that required my attention this week weren't even on the horizon last week. They're taken care of though and the things that were important I focused on with God's help. I actually found some time to get some things accomplished around the house too.
But more than that, the focus shifted to things I'm not doing that I need to. I can only pray about these things at the moment and I am. My problems it turns out were not the fault of others but of my own sin. Recognizing and confessing that has helped. What the resolution will be is something only God can know. I just know I'm willing to follow His plan. Whatever that might be.
Here's where the story starts to change, but both will tie in at the end. I think.
I planted 500 corn seeds, give or take, in the spring. I made a row, planted them the appropriate distance apart, and covered them up. We watered them regularly. I didn't fertilize but everything else grew. The corn was knee high at the 4th of July. It looked great. And then, it quit growing. We got no corn. Not all of the seeds germinated. Those that did, well, they didn't produce. The stalks are puny, almost stunted. From other accounts I've heard second hand, we're not alone. A lot of other people have the same problem I do. Same thing with pumpkins. The vines grew, but no fruit.
Sometimes I get frustrated with life because it seems the more I do to help, the further behind it makes me. It's the whole "No good deed goes unpunished." thing. Sometimes that's true, I think. Sometimes it just feels like it because with each good deed we do in Jesus' name, we plant seeds or water what someone else planted. I believe that, too. However, all the planting and watering in the world, all the best intention, and all the plans in the world don't guarantee results.
My plan was to harvest one ear from each stalk and share. There isn't one to eat, let alone share. It was my plan but not God's.
Obedience to God's word is important to me and both of these stories remind me that what our successes may look like and what God has in mind may not always be in concert. God did use this homework assignment and my lesson from last week to open my eyes, though. I need to do better. I will do better with His help.
The way up from here may be down. I've spoken to the Lord about what I think the problem is and this time I asked HIm what to do about it. I'm sure that an answer will come. Some parts to that already have in that I'm open to new ways of thinking about things. And I'm aware too that my plan and God's aren't always going to be the same. Having a will to bow to His instead of my own helps, too.
God is good all the time and I'm so thankful He's still involved in my life. I haven't shared a lot about that lately and I thought today's two stories might be a good way to do that.
Have a blessed day! Two more days and my middle boy is a married man and starts his own adventure into life. I'm so excited and happy for them. Maybe in a couple of years, God willing, they'll bless our family with the first grandchild and a new adventure will begin.
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