Busy Like a 7-Page Page

We wear busyness as a badge of honor! "Oh! I'm so busy" is usually said as a way to tout our unseen significance trophy we carry around with us everywhere. It is as if the more busier we are, the more important we are!

I disagree.

In fact, if we are so busy that we have no time to rest at all, this is a sign that we are living a less than human life. Think about it. God worked. God rested. And God created us in His image. So...we too are able to reflect God's character when we work and when we rest. To exclude one or the other would be living a life less than God's plan for humanity, to live less than human.

With that in mind, I created a video meant to highlight the absurdity of our busyness. I run around trying to fit so much stuff into the same amount of time, as if I can actually do everything! I do this too much and I am ready to stop it!

This insanity is like trying to fit a 7-page Pre-Course writing assignment I wrote for one of my Doctorate of Ministry classes onto one page! Thus, we are busy like a 7-page page. I hope you enjoy my silliness.

My Plate

So...it took me eleven days to write anything in 2008. I have enjoyed the break from the normal routine. I got to enjoy platefuls of food with family and friends. This year I didn't eat as much as I have in the past! Even during Thanksgiving I think I only got one full plate and then snacked a little later on. Christmas was the same. This year was not the year where I couldn't fit something else on my plate if I tried.

I wish I actually had some sort of schedule plate to put things on so I would know that I cannot do anything else.

On Wednesday night I realized how much is going on right now, how much I have on my plate. I am training an LST team (maybe two at the same time); teaching Wednesday night class, Thursday devo, and Sunday class; creating the curriculum for our small groups each week; developing and meeting with a leadership team of students; leading a women's weekly small discipleship group; spending time being available for prayer on campus; leading a church small group discussion starting in February; preaching at least once a month; going through premarital counseling with one of our students; going through marital counseling with a couple at church; maintaining the church website and the campus ministry website; staying on top of two service assignments each month; raising funds for our LST trip this summer; spending better time with Tanya, Kayla, and Tyler; and trying to fit in hanging out with students when the opportunity comes.

I'm not sure if there is any more room on my plate...even for any garnish. I'm not sure what to do about all this just yet. I wait to see how things go.

Lord, help me to stay focused. Give me your energy. I cannot do this alone. May your presence sustain me.

Birthday time

Kayla turned two years old today. Tonight at devo we sang happy birthday to her. She didn't know what to do with the candle, but we were just practicing for tomorrow for her party. It is hard to believe that she is already two!! It really does go by fast.

This reminds me of how little time we have here on earth. We were born just yesterday!! With this little amount of time given us we need to glorify God. It won't be long until our chances are up. As long as it is called today...glorify Him.

Not enough time

I want to ask God for more time this week! There is just not enough of it.

Today was filled with conversation with students. All of them were good! They were conversations that needed to happen. A lot of ministry happened. I would like to think that God used these conversations for his glory. He probably did!

But, looking back on the day, I find myself wishing I could have gotten more things done! I did read the Bible. I continued preparing for class on Wednesday (on Jacob). I made some headway on our LST information meeting coming up on Wednesday. I thought about Thursday devo. I thought about what the Lord might want to say through me to a big group of teenagers on Sunday. I gave our intern some assignments, our secretary some paperwork, and our dog a trip to the vet. But, I feel like I didn't get anything done.

It is one of those things that I experience more than I like to admit. I am working on things that have an end, but most of the time they don't actually get completely finished until the day of or the day before. I don't like that!

It is easy for me to ask for more time. I hate to say this, but I won't get any more time. It is not going to happen. I will just keep using the time the Lord has given me. I continue to pray that He use it for His glory. May you be glorified as I offer myself to you and others. Please give me words to say at the appropriate time.