RFW: Boxes

Continuing on with my Resolutions for Women (you can read more about that here), I was intrigued when today's chapter was titled "Boxes."  Let me give you a snippet of the wisdom which can be found in this short lesson.

"These boxes...are symbolic of activities of one's life, the various undertakings into which we must invest our time, talent, and energy.  Our tendency is to try keeping them just this way--equally filled with identical amounts of ourselves and our effort.  This, we think, is what balance looks like."  (page 91)

That is exactly how I picture balance!

"But in reality, this is the picture of a woman overworked, frustrated, and exhausted.  A life out of balance."  (page 91)

Umm...Excuse me?

"The way that we achieve balance...is to consider prayerfully God's priorities for us in this current season of life and then rearrange the boxes accordingly--pushing some of them into the background, bringing others to the front.  Into these primary boxes we place the best of ourselves and our effort, while perhaps totally emptying some of the others--at least temporarily--not because they're of any less overall significance but because they're not where we need to be allocating the best of our abilities and attention for the time being." (page 91)

I don't know about you, but the simplicity of this wisdom totally floored me.  I found myself continually shaking my head in agreement as I read. "Yes, this sounds like me....yes....yes....that's me too."

If you have a tendency to spread yourself too thinly, in what kind of state does this typically tend to leave you at the end of the day or the start of a new week?

Worn out, ill tempered, and stressed out.  I am the world's worst for taking on too much.  I've only recently learned to say "no."  During the bible study I am in, I have decided to give up Facebook which is freed up a great deal of my time.  I am still worn out, ill tempered, and stressed out--but it obviously gave me one less "priority" (and I use the term loosely).  Basically, I have realized that I have made unnecessary priorities.    So, my days are slowly getting better.  However, on those days when I spread myself too thinly, it begins my day/week off on the wrong foot.  Unfortunately, I tend to take it out on the people I love most. So, to be fair, I guess you could say it begins their day/week off on the wrong foot too.

Label each box with one of the different responsibilities of your life.  (Add  more if you need to.)  Color in each one according to the level of time and effort you invest.  Compare them and prayerfully consider if your priorities reflect God's intentions for you in this season of your life.

I'll make a list here rather than make boxes.  I'll list the amount of time and effort by percentages, so you'll get the idea.

1.  Family - 40%
2. Church, Growing Spiritually - 15%
3. Work - 30%
4. Learning Sign Language - 7% 
5. Other - 5% (cleaning,shopping, etc)
6.  Blogging - 3%

Wow, Lord.  As I evaluate this list, I almost feel disappointed by the fact that only about 15% of my time is spent going to church or growing spiritually.  This number seems more on the "just enough" side than anything else.  I've always felt as if I pushed my family on the back burner.  As you can see, I have taken off a few semesters from school, which is why school wasn't a box of its own for the list above.  I know that postponing school has been good for my family commitments, and I pray Lord that one day I'll be able to add school back to my priority list.  For now, the majority of my waking hours are spent with my family--and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Another huge time commitment for me is work.  I am so blessed to finally have a job that when I clock out for the day, I can leave work at work.  My new job has been so great for me.  I am loving my new department and work environment.  I am loving working four 10-hr days.  I am loving that my day off, Wednesdays, I have the entire day to myself so I can clean our house or do whatever needs to be done.  I really believe that this change in work environment has been a huge mood booster for me. 

My newest box is teaching myself to sign fluently.  I'm practicing every free moment I get, actually.  For those of you I've asked to pray about this--please continue to do so.

Surprisingly, I do believe that my current priorities reflect God's intentions for me in this season of my life.  I feel that I could (and should) spend more time growing spiritually.  At this time, I believe I am in a season of growth--spiritually and personally.  There will always be room for improvement, but I am content where I am right now with the "things" I am allowing to take precedence in my life.  I am being more intentional about spending my time wisely.  I prayerfully continue to seek Your guidance Lord to direct my steps.  Where I would typically spread myself too thin, Lord, I ask you to humbly remind me of this commitment so that I make better decisions regarding my time, talent, and energy. 

Amen.


 

Love Month: Days 17-22

I give up!  I can't keep up with my own idea to share the things I'm loving, the ways I have felt love, nor the ways I've shown love on a daily basis.  I will say that I'm loving life. Period.  I'm loving my boys and husband.  I'm really (surprisingly) loving my new job.  I'm loving my bible study.  I've shown love by handing out several cards over the course of the month.  I've had conversations with others that let them know I cared for them.  I've texted and made phone calls to let people know I love them.  Life is good.

Life is Great.  Lord, you have blessed me abundantly!

Love Month: Day 13, 14, 15, 16

I've had a crazy week.  I started my new job which is both exciting and overwhelming.  Here is a quick run down of things I am loving:

• I'm loving my new department.  I miss my former co-workers terribly, but I am really digging the new atmosphere of customer service.  It is so laid back!  I'm much more relaxed than a few years ago.
• I'm loving that I can sit at my desk between phone calls, surf the web, read the bible, anything!  I have quite a bit of down time, but we can spend that time any way we want as long as we are quietly sitting at our desks! 
• I'm loving that I have taken a sudden interest in learning sign language again.  I use to be fairly fluent.  I'm determined to learn how to sign a song for our next sing/praise service at church.  I am asking God to show me which song to choose.
• I'm loving that I am still on a spiritual high from last nights church service!  I love when music can minister to so many people.  Our alter was full of people praying from the beginning to the ending of service.  It was an A-Mazing time of worship and praise!

Ways I've shown love over the past few days:

• Giving Kyle a Valentines card!
• Text Messages to my friends who are going through a rough time as they accept the death of another life taken too quickly. 
• Phone Calls
• Giving compliments to others just to see them smile!

Ways I've received Love over the past few days:

• Kyle giving me a hug and kiss for no reason
• Kade asking me if I was here (home) on special assignment!  Ha!  And, my saying "Yes, to smother you with hugs and kisses!"
• Encouraging text messages from my friends wishing me well on my new job.
• Compliments from my co-workers welcoming me to my new working environment.

This month has is CrAzY busy for me =)  I'm loving, too, that you're hanging in there with me!  Thank you for your patience!

Elaine

Love Month: Day 10, 11, and 12

Wow, I thought this posting every day in February would be easy!  Ha!  I've really dropped the ball on this one, Folks!

Things I'm loving:

On Friday, My sweet Kade turned THREE!!!

Sorry about the beginning.  If you didn't notice, my camera was upside down! 

On Saturday:  We made our one and only trip to Chucky Cheese.  (Let me ask you all, did you know that when you leave CC that you have to "check out?"  Well, in our defense this was our first visit and we DID NOT know.  It apparently set off utter chaos, but that's another post.)

On Sunday:  We had lunch today at my in-laws to celebrate my and Kade's birthday.  We celebrated with the best chicken pie on EARTH!  My mother-in-law, Mary Jane, can cook!!!  She may be one of the best cooks I know. 

Ways I've shown love:

On Friday, I bought Kade a Thomas the Train cake.  He mentioned it once, and I lucked up and found one.  Okay, Okay, okay...it may be the smallest cake ever!  But after my birthday a few weeks ago, we all were just kind of caked-out.

On Saturday:  Did I mention we went to Chucky Cheese!?!  That takes some a lot of love people!  Whew!  It wore me out! 

On Sunday:  I bought some clothes for Kade from a friend at church.  Her price seemed rather low to me for all the clothes she gave us.  So, I gave her more.  Slightly less than doubled her asking price--but in my opinion it was a fairer price than what she suggested =)  And, God just told me too...

Ways I've received Loved:

On Friday:  My birthday boy was smothered with love on his special day.  He had several visits from family and friends, as well as phone calls and text messages.  We also Facetime'd with his Aunt Lisa and cousin, Dawson, who sang one of the best renditions of "Happy Birthday" I've ever heard.  They are such good sports!  Seeing all the love my kids get from the people we care about makes my heart swell with joy.

On Saturday:  My mom asked me for some advice.  It made me feel so valued as a woman that she was willing to talk to me about something so personal.  Our relationship has been rocky at times, but it finally feels as if we have a connection that both of us sought.    (It may have helped too that I talked Kyle into helping my dad go pick up a load of wood his co-worker had given my parents.  It was soooo cold outside, and since Kyle went to help my dad, my mom got to stay home.  So, I guess Kyle preformed a bigger act of Love on Saturday!  (For the record, my mom would have gone.  She isn't a girly-girl who is afraid of hard work or getting her hands dirty.  Actually, I think she was willing to go anyway.  But since the boys and I showed up with breakfast, I gave her the perfect excuse to stay home!)

On Sunday:  My mother-in-law even made cream corn for my birthday dinner.  She knows how much I love it.  As if my dinner couldn't be in better, she made the biggest banana pudding known to man!  We actually came home with an entire banana pudding which wasn't eaten.  (I'll be bringing it to Bible Study tomorrow night!)  Her hospitality didn't go un-noticed nor unappreciated.  (Thank you MJ for making my birthday dinner so special.  I love you all so much, and I am so thankful to have you, Melvin, Nathan, Lisa, David, Dawson, and Alex in my life!)

***********
Tomorrow, I begin a new journey where I work.  I really desire your prayers for a smooth transition into my new department. 

Love Day: Day 9

Today I have been a posting machine!  Ha!  I have posted 2 entries on my Sermon Notes page.

• Some Things the Lord Wants to Resurrect 
• The Key to Praying Power 

I also posted a new entry for on the Resolution for Women page. 

• I'd Like a Word With You

So, be sure you check them out =)  Now it's time for my Day of Love, so I'll keep it short and sweet.

I love that every time we drive past our church Kade says, "Bye church!  See you Sunday!  I love you!"  It doesn't matter what day of the week it is, he always says "Sunday."  It seriously may be my most favorite thing EVER.

I also love how Kohen can already count to seven!  Every day when we go up or down our stairs, we count each set of stairs.  Hearing Him say "six" is so precious.  (Too bad he thinks "Ta-dah" comes after seven.  I'm going to need to work on that!)

What are you loving?

RFW: I'd Like a Word With You (with Resolution)

Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long since I worked on my Resolutions for Women.  I completed the first three resolutions last year when the movie Courageous came out.  I'm picking up here with my fourth resolution.


The fourth resolution is spending time in God's word.  You can read more about becoming Faithfully His by clicking Divine Appointments and Faith vs. Faithfulness.  "I'd Like a Word With You" is all about bible reading and  how oftentimes we treat it as a chore rather than a delight.  Priscilla Shirer tells us, "It's easy for us to begin feeling this way about His Word unless we realize that being faithfully His is rooted in the kind of relationship we have with it.  He has given us His word to learn from and enjoy.  To refresh us.  To call out the desire for relationship with Him that He's planted deep within our souls.  To speak to our hearts.  To show us who He is."  (page 79)

My favorite part of the chapter was the list of bible verses listed to keep yourself "grounded in who you are, whose you are, and what this glorious, eternal, triumphant fact means to  you." (page 81)  Each verse wasn't quoted directly, but was referenced so you can declare it in first person.  Here a few of my favorites:

• I will not use my tongue to speak cursings, but rather I will speak life-giving blessings to everyone I meet and in every situation I face (James 3:8-10)
• I do not look with disdain upon my weaknesses.  I see them as opportunities for God to display His powerful strength and grace through me.  (2 Corinthians 12:10)
• I have the mind of Christ; therefore I act in a way that is consistent with His actions.  (1 Corinthians 2:16)
• I will not give the enemy an opportunity or foothold in my life (Ephesians 4:27)
• I rejoice in the Lord whether my circumstances are good or bad (Philippians 4:4)
• I only allow my mind to entertain what is honorable, right, pure, lovely, noble, excellent, and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)
• I am a necessary and useful part of the body of Christ.  I will use my spiritual gifts to edify others (1 Corinthians 12:7)
• I am a brand-new person.  My old sin nature has passed away and everything has become new (2 Corinthians 5:17)

....and actually this is just a partial list of my favorites.

"Today God invites you to live a life marked by faithfulness.  By His Spirit and with the guidance and encouragement of His Word, this is an attainable goal for you.  No matter what your past has held, this resolution can mark a new beginning.  Read the resolution prayerfully and sign your name when you are ready." (page 85)

By signing my name

I will live as a woman answerable to God and faithfully committed to His Word.

This is a resolution I make of myself to my family and my Lord.

February 9, 2012

Elaine M. Killian

Church Notes from the Past: The Key to Praying Power

The Key to Praying Power

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

(Isaiah 28:9-11)

Prayer is power! It’s what it takes to begin your walk of faith.

1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

(Luke 18:1-8)

Somethings to notice about the scripture:

Vs. 1 –“faint” means to lose heart

Vs. 4-5—unjust judge refused to avenge widow’s adversary

Vs. 7—God (just of all judges) wants to hear your prayers

Key to Getting Results in Prayer:

Pray persistently to God. God answers prayers, but some prayers He will not answer immediately.

Persistent prayer:

• keeps you and me in God’s presence.
• God wants to have a personal, intimate relationship with you.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:

and he shall hear my voice.

(Psalm 55:17)

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day

and night unto him, though he bear long with them.

(Luke 18:7)

• Prepares you to hear from God.
• Teaches you to depend on God as your only source.
• Helps you define your request.
• We should pray about all decisions if we are pursuing or seeking God.
• He will always answer "Yes," "No," or "Wait."
• As you pray, your request will be redefined to be what God wants in our life rather than what we want.
• Will prove your Faith to a Holy God

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;

knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

(Luke 11:9)

**Notes from the sermon given by Preacher Dale Faulkenbury titled “The Key to Praying Power” given on 11/9/11.