More on Busyness

This morning I had a really good time with the Lord. I picked up a Bible study someone gave me and did the first lesson. I sat. I listened. Then, I picked up another little booklet. I actually read the whole thing because the message was right on target with what the Lord began yesterday.

The booklet is called "The Lord's Work Done in the Lord's Way". It's written by K.P. Yohannan and is available for free download by going to the GFA website here.

Yesterday I posted about busyness. I said I had worn busyness like a badge of honor. I would "brag" about my busyness.

The first Bible study I worked on this morning is by Beth Moore (surprise, surprise). It's called "Living Free". It's a workbook with 5 lessons for 6 weeks. I plan to do it by myself and enjoy the time with the Lord.

In the introduction of Beth's book, she talks about a woman who has contacted her and is struggling with an eating disorder. The woman struggles with being a perfectionist and, consequently, struggles with her body image but also in her relationship with God. She's never good enough. Beth reminded readers that we can never do enough. We can never earn favor or a right place with God.

Often times my own busyness comes from trying to please man. It comes from seeing the need and knowing I have the ability to meet it. It also comes from my need to show my worth.

I said earlier that I've "bragged" about busyness. While it wasn't my intention at the time, I look back at it and can see it clearly for what it was. I was trying to justify--my life, my choices, my worth.

We are supported missionaries. If I am not able to "show" everyone what I'm doing, how can they justify supporting us?

That's just one of the strongholds I'm taking captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:4). This new study by Beth will involve just that--identifying strongholds and using Scripture to take them captive to the obedience of Christ. Thinking I need to justify myself is a lie. It's not truth.

The booklet by K.P. also spoke directly to this. On page 29 K.P. talks about Ezekiel 44 and the two groups of people that are serving God--the Levites and the sons of Zadoc. The Levites are busy in the outer courts, serving the people. ** The sons of Zadoc ministered in the inner court, where they stood still and it was quiet. There was no busyness for the sons of Zadoc. Their service was to come into the holy of holies and minister to the Lord.

Brother K.P. challenges the reader by asking "which group are you in?"

So, which group? Way too often I could care less about being like the sons of Zadoc. I want to be with the people. I want to see others like me who are struggling, enjoy the laughter, look important, feel needed. I want to remain busy and feel useful.

I'm pretty sure the Lord is chiseling away at my heart right now. This is just way too much on the same topic coming all at the same time. He's up to something.

Bring in on, Lord! I really do want to be in love with You and doing nothing on my own.

**This is an especially good picture to me. I did the Beth Moore study on the Tabernacle and then taught it to the youth group. We built a replica of the tabernacle and then had an experiential worship service for adults. It is one of my most fond memories in youth ministry--because I grew immensely during that time.

There's so much more God showed me even this morning. So, if you like this topic, come back for more. If you don't, you might have to wait a little while to see something else!

Being Busy--is it a good thing?

Today's teaching at church was done by our youth pastor. He was teaching in Acts and talking about true community. He expressed his belief that busyness is in direct conflict with being able to build community.

I agree.

I think we lack relationships that are deep because we're too busy to spend the amount of time it takes to develop them. You can't see someone for an hour a week and expect to know them well.

But, the issue of busyness is a problem in general, not just when looking at community and relationships.

Several years ago I came to realize that I wore busyness like a badge of honor. I was proud of my busy schedule. It was as if I thought being busy meant I was important, doing good things, and being a more contributing members of society.

None of that could be farther from the truth. It wasn't an honor to be busy. It was a burden. Being busy means you have little time to relax and rest. God told us to rest. He even set it as an example for us by resting on day 7 of creation!

Being busy made me feel important. What a crock! Often times, we are incredibly busy because we are leading too many projects or are involved in a variety of activities. When I'm involved in too many things, I can't give proper attention to any of them! I can't develop true relationships with people in those various activities because I only have a limited amount of time to give them.

Not being busy means I have to say no. I'm not the greatest at this, but I'm learning. I have to remember that my saying no to one thing is like saying yes to another. Sometimes I say no to something because I want to say yes to being a better wife, spending more time with my kids, or investing in friendships I already have established.

My December was busy. Part of it was just the season...everyone wants to have a Christmas party--including me! We had school activities, family visiting, ministry functions, church events. It was all good stuff. I made sure to limit some things to make room for the busyness of the season. But, now that we're getting ready to start back into our "normal" routine, I'm trying to keep my calendar less cluttered.

I don't want to think of being busy as a badge of honor. I want to wear peace. I want to walk a little slower. I want to do a few things well instead of many things mediocre.

How do you view busyness? Has it been a problem for you?

Happy New Year! ...and a cool quote

It's officially 2010! Woohoo! I'm in a quiet house and just barely noticed the calendar change at the bottom of my computer screen while my neighbors went outside to hoop and holler and bang wooden spoons on pans. No joke!

I was listening to a GFA leader encourage us to pray and seek God when the commotion began.

In these first few minutes of the new year, I came across an article talking about "Planning an Intentional Devotion Life for 2010" and thought one particular paragraph was incredible.

You might remember the awesome Bible we have for our kids. I posted about it here. [Okay, I thought I had posted about our awesome kids Bible that we've read through three times and love to pieces, but apparently NOT. I cannot find the post that I thought I had written. So, just trust me that it's great and I'll write more about it soon.] Every story within the Bible takes it back to Jesus. We love it! Our kids love it. They have grown so much through our times of reading through that Bible together.

So, when I read this paragraph of this article, I just had to share it. Go read the whole article if you have a few minutes. If one of your goals for the new year has to do with spiritual growth (more prayer, read the Bible more, abide more, etc), it's a good article of encouragement.

This encouragement suggests what to look for as you read Scripture:

Look for Gospel patterns. As you read, realize that Jesus and the Gospel is The One Story of the Bible. Look for Gospel patterns, grace on display, as you read. Especially in the OT. Every story has Christ as the ultimate hero. For example, don't read the story of David and Goliath and leave your devotional time "ready to face your giants." Realize that you are Israel in the story, not David. You are weak, powerless, cowering before your enemies of sin, Satan, and death, and you need an anointed King to defeat your enemies and cause you to rise up in hope and courage. Jesus is the true and better David, and he is the point of the story of David and Goliath. Look for these patterns in everything you read and rejoice in what God has accomplished for you in Jesus. We don't have devotions and pray in order to avoid the guilt of not having devotions and not praying. We have devotions and pray to know Jesus and his Gospel, and revel in all that he is for us and all that he has won for us.
From: http://jrvassar.posterous.com/planning-an-intentional-devotional-life-for-2

This is something I've been learning a lot this year. I've known it for many years, but seeing it in each story as I read the stories to my kids this year (in that awesome Storybook Bible!) has helped me grow. It really is all about Jesus.

I plan to do my best to make 2010 all about Jesus in my life!