Hi, my name is Kelly and this is my blog. I used to write some thoughts here on occasion…and yes, I still love all of you and I have a million thoughts in my head to blog about and just any day now I am going to sit down and tell you all about it…..
Here is the biggest thing on my mind right now. It is going to snow tomorrow!! Ever since the calendar flipped over to the month of December, I have been checking the 10 day forecast faithfully for the smallest sign of a snowflake. I love snow! Actually, I do love snow, but I also REALLY love watching for snow….anticipating snow. It probably isn’t going to snow much, but I am like a little kid thinking about it. I may sleep with a spoon under my pillow and with my PJs on backwards. Oooooh!! This just in…my Weather Bug alert system just informed me that we are under a Snow Advisory. LOVE IT!
The other thing on my mind is, of course, Christmas. I also love Christmas, but sometimes I think it kind of stinks being a grown-up at Christmas. As I shared with you a couple of years ago, the whole crazy thing can make me overwhelmingly tired. Yet, this year, I am trying once again to be very intentional about how I spend my time, my money and my energy. One of the things that keeps me focused is the knowledge that my girls are watching me. Do I want them to see me stressing out about the celebration of our Savior’s birth? I don’t think so!
One of my favorite books about finding the balance between “being” and “doing” is Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. If you have ever been in a bible study small group with me or attended a sunday school class that I taught, you have heard me mention this book time and time again. This book, while not about Christmas at all, speaks to the very heart of our struggle at Christmas time: how to find time for quiet intimacy with our Lord, while still getting the things done that need to get done. I know, I know, part of the struggle is figuring out what REALLY needs to get done, but there are indeed some tasks that do actually need to be accomplished. In light of that tension, how do we manage our days in a way that honors God?
My friend, Cindy, sent out this excerpt from the book the other day. What a great plan for finding balance this Christmas season!
The Practical Power of “One Thing”
An excerpt from “Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World”
By Joanna Weaver
The one thing that Jesus said was needed in Martha’s life was fellowship with Him—and that’s true for us, too. But the principle of “one thing” can also have smaller, practical implications that can help when life feels overwhelming. Here are some ways to practice one-thing thinking when your wagon feels overloaded.
- Invite Jesus to rule and reign. Each morning before you get out of bed, invite the Lord to come take the throne of your life, to be your “one thing.” Present your day to Him and ask Him for wisdom and guidance.
- Ask God to reveal the next step. As you go through your day, keep asking the Lord, “What is the one thing I need to do next?” Don’t let the big picture overwhelm you. Just take the next step as He reveals it—wash one dish, make one phone call, put on your jogging clothes. Then take the next step…and the next.
- Have faith that what needs to get done will get done. Since you have dedicated your day to the Lord, trust that He’ll show you the one thing or many things that must be done. Do what you can do in the time allotted. Then trust that what wasn’t accomplished was either unnecessary or is being taken care of by God.
- Be open to the Spirit’s leading. You may find your day interrupted by divine appointments. Instead of resisting interruptions, flow with the one thing as God brings it across your path. You’ll be amused at the joy and freedom that comes from surrendering your agenda and cooperating with His.
Once again, you have inspired me, dear friend!! As I always do, I got a bit saddened on this last day of bible study, knowing that I won’t have any spiritual readings pulling me to them for the next few weeks. I saw your blog and, since I have bought every book you have ever recommended/mentioned/ever even thought about 😉 , I decided to pull out the Mary/Martha book you mentioned above. It’s been on my to-read list for a very long time. I have a copy of Cindy’s excerpt that I keep in my bible (from when someone else sent it out a year or so ago) and find that the guidance is really quite helpful. I especially find #2 to be of great assistance as I can get so overwhelmed with what needs to be done!! Asking God to show me what is important for me to accomplish next has allowed me to be more efficient and more importantly, more peaceful as I go through my day. Most importantly though, it has reminded me to talk to God throughout my day, rather than just morning or evening. I love that God cares about the little stuff in my life as well as the big!!