Tasks

The list for today is long, as it seems to be most every day.

What I want to do.
What I need to get done.
What I should do.

And then there are the things I maybe should leave space for…

While it is important to pray for the people in our lives, it is also important to pray for the tasks before us: that we can focus and give a good effort and that the tasks we are tackling have a good impact.

We cannot always guarantee an outcome that is commensurate with our effort. I do believe that is God’s business. We need to be about planting the seeds and setting the stage.

May the things we do aid in creating the setting that helps hearts be receptive.

If not you, than who?

I haven’t always valued the opportunity and privilege of interceding for others in prayer. In my younger years, it was kind of hit or miss. As I get older, my prayer times are more regular and even more frequent. There are so many situations and people to pray for.

Let me ask you, do you know who prays for you? Can you name a person or two who regularly carries you and your life to God and asks Him for His blessing? What a special thing. The older we get, I might say the less people there are to offer prayer. Often a parent or grandparent prayers for their children and grandchildren. But we are in that upper generation. It is now more important than ever.

I have really been working through my prayer list in the evening and in the morning. I start with my immediate family circle, then I pray for all the siblings/spouses and children, then I take it out to the cousins. I also pray for close friends and neighbors and others I know of who are traveling through illness or grief. Sometimes I just go state-by-state and I usually add in the people I know in other countries. Sometimes God brings people into my view and I know it is so I remember them in prayer and to reach out with some encouragement.

If you don’t pray regularly, I encourage you to start today by praying for that inner circle of your favorite people. Ask God to bless their mental, spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial health. Or simply name them and ask God to meet their needs as He is the one who knows them all. As you place these people into God’s loving arms, you can be confident He will meet their needs. And, don’t hesitate to call or message them with. “I prayed for you today!” Or even ask them, “Is there anything I can pray for you this week?”

Better late than…

A sleepless night and a day booked all the way through and, here we are. But it is a good reminder to me that not everything must happen like clockwork and that life happens.

And, thankfully, God accepts our offerings — our prayers and our devotion at any point in life.

Sometimes we are waylaid and bound up. Maybe we are distracted or lost. Maybe we are otherwise occupied — we might even be doing very important things.

There are times we have made some plans for God — we expect Him to show up in a certain way. Surely He is absolutely there, wherever it is, but we have an expectation on the “how” He is supposed to be present. He isn’t ever late. He isn’t never waylaid or bound up. He’s not distracted or lost or otherwise occupied —

But, sometimes He does not show up in the way we wan’t Him to.

Lord, let me trust in the how, when, and where that you choose for my situations. It may never looked how I imagined but it can be even more beautiful if I let You work things out in Your time and Your way. Let me completely trust You with my days. Amen.

All of a sudden…

my age is sneaking up on me.

I am discovering more aches and pains and limitations. Of course, we all have some level of limitation — that’s the way of it. But when you are not able to do what you once could, that can be discouraging.

The amazing thing is that God uses each of us despite our limitations. And sometimes, His work can be done because of our limitations!

Imagine that!

You might also be looking at some limitations that are revealing themselves. Some might be able to be fixed — like my cataract. Some issues may not be able to be fixed but they can be held at bay with medication. Or maybe a change in diet. Some of these things are things we have to live — and die — with so we might as well learn how to adjust. And ask God to show us His Kingdom perspective.

What are those important things that need to be shared? Most likely you are in your second half of life — or possibly your last quarter. Some of us may be in our last year of life and we have no idea.

How are we living with our limitations? Do those limitations open up new avenues for God to work in and through our lives?

Knock, knock

I never really know what is on the other side of the door. I can try to peek out from a curtain window or I can look through the peephole if there is one.

Might it be flowers? Bad news? An opportunity to assist? Am I needed?

There are so many ways a day can go. If you can start your day by being the one to “ask, seek, and knock” you might find that you are in a better position to adjust to the needs of the day.

Approaching God and recognizing His gifts of forgiveness and grace puts our heart in a good space. Offering our prayers and intercessions is a beautiful way to start the day.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”. Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

Taking the time

I am sure there is just a slight bit of difference between the “taking the time” and “making the time” — maybe it is all the same.

While we all have 24 hours every day, these hours are often chopped up in so many different ways that it is hard to have two identical days. At least, for me, that is the case. The general week looks the same, but the day to day is full of so many interesting things to do. And I love the flexibility to respond to last minute opportunities. Of course, some days have more margin in them than others. And some seasons of life have more margin than others. And, still yet, sometimes I am in a better mental space or physical space than other times. All of these factor in for when I am able to take/make/carve out the time.

There are always things on the front burner and on the back burner, I just need to remember to turn off the burners and tuck some things away until I can work through them.

I encourage you to commit your plans and your day to the Lord. Ask Him to direct your steps. May we have a calendar that allows us the opportunity to respond to the needs of others while still taking time to care for our own needs.

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV

Little Steps and Big Goals

Do you know how how many steps it takes to get to the big goal? A lot. In fact, if you stop to think about it for too long, it might discourage you. But, that might be because your big goal is taking center stage.

I am all about having a goal and going after it, but I think it is really important to consider what we do each day towards that goal. The little steps add up and they matter.

But why?

They establish a habit and a habit establishes a rhythm.

And with a rhythm there is momentum. I find that even if I skip a beat, the overall movement is there and easy to step back into it.

I like a big chunk of focused time for projects and there is definitely a time for that approach. But I have come to understand that my daily habits set my path more than I realized.

Are your little steps — or daily habits — nurturing your physical health or taking away from it?

Are they building up your relationships or tearing them down?

Are they deepening your connection with God or taking away from it?

Instead of being overwhelmed by a big goal and how you might not be achieving it, think about one step you can take today towards that goal today.

If you head that direction step-by-step, you will eventually find you are there! Don’t dismiss those “little” steps!

Lord, help me to be mindful of my little steps and where they are pointing my feet for this journey. Guide me as I decide my path. And when I stumble, because I surely will, steady me in your Word and way!

Compassion

It is much easier for me to think about forgiving others when I have taken stock of my own sins. I have plenty of them. Some have been traveling companions throughout my life.

I have a little stockpile of regrets and I imagine others might, too. How do I want my regrets received when I verbalize them? And how might I respond when others speak of their own regrets? We have all done things we shouldn’t have and we have all left things undone.

I don’t have to look very far to know that showing grace, mercy, and compassion to those who are sitting with regret. Sometimes the stories are difficult to hear. Sometimes there is no earthly resolution. But, there is the peace that God can give.

Confession is good for the soul. Our own regret can deepen our compassion for others. God longs for us to come to Him in confession. And we can offer to others the forgiveness and comfort we have received from Him.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

Background noise

I have been a little more sensitive to noise lately. I wore headphones when I flew earlier this month. They were not total noise cancelling headphones but, wow, they sure dulled the roar of the plane. It was amazing the difference when I had them on.

What kind of background “noise” is going on in your mind and soul as you move through a day? Is it helpful? Kind? True? Sometimes the rumblings are anything but positive. And it is important to root those out and replace them. Sometimes they are one liners that were tossed your way during your childhood, maybe they were words from someone you trusted, or maybe they are thoughts you have about a circumstance.

Sometimes we are so used to hearing background noise that we don’t even realize its there. But it can shape our day, our week, and even our life.

Below are some Scripture verses you might consider inserting into the “noise” of your day. Turn up the volume on these! They are powerful and worth pondering. You can doodle them, embroider them, write them out and put them in places around your living space. They probably all have a song written based on them. Surround yourself with good news — good words. And share those with others, too!

Be willing to investigate some of the background noise you have been listening to. Chances are they are not good, helpful, kind or true.

Have some other favorites to share? I would love to see them!

John 16:33 (ESV)
“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 34:4–5, 8 (ESV)
I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Regrets

Oohhhh. I have a few. Do you?

In the past, if I had a sleepless night, I have run through all of the regrets I have.

What a waste of energy. I feel like that is a perfect way for my day to get derailed. And, God is certainly not behind that.

In some situations, there aren’t “do overs” and sometimes our miss “takes” have some serious consequences. Sometimes we have done things simply out of ignorance. Other times, we have done things out of rebellion. Sometime we have deliberately done things or deliberately not done things without truly understanding the ramifications. Have you ever done something even when you were “old enough to know better?” Yea, me too.

How do you deal with your regrets?

Here is what I try to do:

a) realize and admit to the misstep, mistake, sin — whatever it is.
b) recognize that there may be some damage that cannot be reversed
c) if I was doing the best I knew at the time, accept that
d) ask for forgiveness from God and, if possible, from the others who were impacted
e) forgive myself
f) bring it back to God when I am stuck at any one of these steps

As humans, we make mistakes, missteps, and we sin. Sometimes we do this out of ignorance and sometimes it is very deliberate. And there are times that the aftermath of our decisions has some devastating consequences. We are sinners and we are living and working with other sinners. It can be ugly out there. It can be ugly in my heart.

But, God — He takes all of it. He can work through all of it. He can handle all of it. He can forgive all of it. He can redeem all of it.

God can.

Let Him do what only He can do. It won’t make everything rosy and perfect. But, He will bring it together in a message of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and redemption — over time.