Back to Work

"Back to work. It was a normal day in the office. Normal meaning that I sat and intended to pray and study and get some of my desk cleared and didn't do anything that I set out to do because of meetings and pressing ministry needs that arose."

Can you identify with my quote from last year? I am sure you can in one way or another. You had plans. You intended to get something done. You were going to make it happen. 

Then you got busy. 

It happens to all of us. We get distracted with the day and pressing things interrupt our best laid plans. This is okay every now and then. We need to be flexible. Stuff happens. The problem that we all know far too well is that this is a regular occurrence. It becomes the norm. 

So we live with our dreams and desires on the shelf we label "When I have time..." and there they sit collecting dust. 

Or not. 

Isn't it time for a change? Aren't you sick of living an unfulfilled life? I know I can't stand having dreams and desires that look like empty rooms in my house. (This expression comes from the fact that I really need to print some photos on canvas and metal and decorate the house I have lived in for a year and a half so it looks like someone lives there...too much info?) 

So how do we change it? Glad you asked. 

It starts with the priority. How valuable is that dream or desire? If the desire is to have a prayer and study time in the morning with the Lord before you start your day you better lose some sleep or go where you can't be interrupted. I recently fasted two hours of sleep every morning for ten days and gave that time to the Lord. It totally revived me. I had fresh prayers, my journal was filled with insights from the Lord and I just had better days. In fact I made breakfast for the family two mornings in a row. Not just cereal either, it was bacon and eggs and then Dutch Babies on another day. (If you don't know what Dutch Babies are you need to start living.) Sure I was tired but the benefit far outweighed the loss of sleep. 

Our priorities will drive our actions. This means saying no to things that would distract us. This also means strategic planning for what we want. I had a plan to wake up early. I am still waking up earlier than I was before my fast and putting the priority on giving God the first part of my day. It was like a reset for me. 

For you it may be a different time of day is when you set aside for your priorities. Maybe it is setting aside time to be distracted. What a thought! If e-mail is a distraction why not give yourself an hour just for e-mail and then discipline yourself to stay away for the rest of your day? It just might work. 

The staying power of all this is consistency. The commitment without consistency is not a real commitment at all. It is just a dusty whim on the shelf. Stay after it. If you get off then get back on. Don't beat yourself up but rather discipline yourself. There is a huge difference. On defeats and deflates you the other will propel you and pump you up. 

Take some time to dream this week and write down what you really want from life. Is it more time in the word and prayer? Is it more family time? Is it a more productive work day? Whatever it is, and it may be a lot of things, place numbers or values next to the items you listed in order of priority. Then ask God to help you with a plan of action. Look for the distractions and overcome them before you get distracted by them. Also you may want to involve a spouse or friend as an accountability partner to keep you focused. I know I need that in my life! 

This year let's not stay with the norm, let's grow to new heights!

Day 337 - Worst Case Scenario

"Before church I was able to sit at the table with the kids. I am a blessed dad."

Today these words jumped out at me because the worst case scenario happened. There was an active shooter less than a mile from our church and fourteen people are dead with seventeen wounded. Thankfully they found the shooters and they are no longer a threat. 

Our church opened its doors to the police and those who were working in the building where the shooting took place. It was an honor to serve these hurting people and encourage the brave men and women who were putting their lives on the line and running to the fight rather than away from it. One detective had a blood soaked shirt when he came in. Thankfully I had some shirt samples from past events and was able to bless him with a fresh shirt to wear. We also provided drinks and snacks for hundreds of people as they came on our campus. 

One chaplain that came left after several hours and as he said goodbye he shared that he was going to hug his children and grandchildren. On a day like today when it is the worst case scenario remember what is important. Loving God means loving people. Make sure you say "I love you" to those closest to you as much as you can. Serve others and preach the gospel in word and deed. 

Instead of asking any questions feel free to post your thoughts. Would you take a moment and pray for San Bernardino and for the families effected by this tragedy? 

Day 113 - Prayer Reminders

"I started the day early because Jess and I woke up around 4 am and I couldn't get back to sleep. I prayed and said “What would you say to me Lord?” “Get up.” Was His response. I sat for a moment and then got up and went out to listen but I think I did most of the talking. I think God just wanted me with Him and I needed to be reminded to spend time with Him."

This morning, a year later I woke up at 5 am. I thought about praying and also thought about how my days have been going. Rest and prayer are two things I need. I ended up choosing to go back to sleep and thought I could pray later. At the end of the day on my way home I realized that I had prayed throughout the day but not as I need to. 

For all of us we need to look at the example of Jesus. There were times he would turn aside to pray or go up to the mountain to pray. It boggles my mind that God in the flesh would need to converse with God the Father who is a Spirit. It makes sense when I look at the internal dialogue I went through this morning with myself over if I should pray or not. I was talking to myself. In a greater way I believe that Jesus, God in the flesh, was so committed to the human experience that He placed Himself in a position where He would have to pray and connect with the Father. We get a picture of this when in John 17, as Jesus is praying, He talks about the oneness He had with the Father. Now that Jesus is ascended He enjoys that oneness again. 

Jesus prayer for us is that we be one as His body but also that we be one with the Father. God in us and us in God. That can be amplified with our prayer life. As we connect and talk with God our hearts are changed by the time we spend with God. Even if we feel we did all the talking or if we simply listen and say nothing God is at work. Take some time to pray and really connect with God in prayer today (and every day). 

What are your prime times for prayer? How can we connect with God on a deeper level in our prayers?