You are more than a to do list

Luke 10 tells the story of Mary and Martha.  Jesus visited these two sisters.  Mary sat at Jesus' feet all day long and just listened to His Word.  Martha went about playing hostess, cleaning house, and busying herself with the "things that needed to be done."

To be honest, if it were me, I would be like Martha, even though I desire to be Mary.  I am a get-the-job-done type person.  I am known for my reliability and ability to make and accomplish tasks.

Yet, I am more than a to do list.  It doesn't define who I am!  

You are not a to do list!  Even as I pondered on this subject on the drive home from work.  When I got home, I had dinner, did laundry, washed dishes, made sure my kids had homework and baths done, and graded papers.  All before I sat down to read my bible!  Yes, I'm a Martha!

But, it doesn't have to be!  Dear reader, you are more than what is required of you!  You are a daughter of the Most High!  You have a royal legacy and know the Maker of the rain!  Allow Him to calm the storm within you and raging around you.

Do you have unfinished laundry and toys lying all over your floor?  Is your bed not made?  Your paperwork incomplete?  Maybe, your to do list is not fully checked off?

I know mine isn't!  Life is about balance and I'm learning what's important:  God and my family... All other things come second, even as much as I may love them and love that feeling of accomplishment when I get something done.  

Allow God to set your balance.  He wants all of you, but He is a gracious God and a Gentleman.  Trust in His presence.

Pursue

My husband was very persistent when he was courting me.  He gave me random presents, paid for my haircut, and even stood outside a women's restroom one time when I was sick.  At one point,  I even told him that I didn't want to date him.   But, he was pursuing me.

Even before that, I focused on getting my college education.  I didn't date much.  I wanted to focus on college.  See, I was pursuing my dream to become a teacher.

Within this last year, I have pursued a quest in becoming a healthy version of me!  Today, I even ordered my Refit Instructor package!

But, what does it mean to truly pursue something?  The dictionary says that to pursue something means that you chase after something until you catch it!

The bible speaks of a heart that pursues.

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  1 Timonty 6:11-12

Do you pursue after these things mentioned in Timothy? Are you chasing after righteousness and godliness until you catch them. Until. You. Catch. Them.

The bible often uses the word "selah", which means "think about it".  

So, think about it.  Do you pursue after the things of God like you do the things of this world?  Your relationships? Your work? Your success in life?  It's okay if you don't always do this.  So many times, we excuse our behavior because we are embarrassed by our mistakes.  Yet, King David of the Bible was an adulterer, a man who acted crazy, and a man who sent another innocent man to his death.  Yet, David went on to become "a man after God's own heart" and the author of the most beautiful prayers and my personal favorite book, the book of Psalms.

So, no more excuses.  Pursue after God's righteousness and holiness.  I promise you won't be disappointed.  God never moves from us.  He is stable and unable to fail.  Seek Him until you catch Him.

Easy Happens Through Hard Work

Okay.  It's confession time.  I am an all or nothing kind of girl.  I don't do things half-heartedly.  I either give it all I've got or I don't do it.  It makes me very loyal.  It makes me very dependable, because I get the job done.  However, this all or nothing approach to life doesn't benefit my health.   Even a little exercise is better than none at all, right?

It's not easy.  Today, I did my workout in my classroom, after school, all by myself.  The same classroom in which it is posted, "We don't do easy. We make easy happen through learning and hard work."  

I've been doing this Refit workout since January; it was easy today.  But, I've been working at it.  I started with 2 songs and only a 10 minute workout.  Now, I'm to a 45 minute workout and considering becoming a Refit instructor.  

But, things don't come easy, naturally.  The bible speaks of a man name Jacob.  Jacob loved a girl named Rachel.  Jacob agreed to work for Laban (Rachel's father) for seven years, in order to earn her hand in marriage.  Seven years!!  Well, Laban, loving the free help that he received through Jacob, tricks him upon that seventh year into marrying Leah (Rachel's sister) instead! What does our lover boy, Jacob, do? He works ANOTHER seven years to get Rachel!  Now, that's hard work!

The same thing is true for Christians.  God says that the way to follow Him is narrow.

So, what do you want to make easy in your life?  Recently, my husband and I were told that we make marriage look easy.  But, that's not true either.  That happens through hard work, too.

You see, just like my all or nothing concept, some things are worth working for and worth fighting for.  What do you wish to fight for?  What's worth working for? What's worth letting go?  Make your decision and give it all you've got!

 

It takes about 4-6 weeks to get in a routine of something and create (or break) a habit.  

You can do (almost) anything for a year.

If you can do it for a year, it can become a lifestyle.