Thank You

🎵 For all that You've done, I will thank You
For all the You're going to do
For all that You've promised
And all that You are
Is all that has carried me through
Jesus, I thank You 🎶

Oh, may that be true of me!! I was convicted recently when my cousin returned home from a mission trip. We had gathered to pray over her trip before she left. When she came home, it was so sweet to see pictures and hear the stories of all that God had done. We ended the evening laughing, hanging out, and playing games as a family. Later that evening/next day I realized, while we had ooh-ed and aah-ed at all the Lord did - we didn’t thank Him.  

Only days before, I had received an answer to prayer over a topic that had been weighing on me for a long time. I was thrilled! I wanted to tell everyone and proclaim His goodness to friends, family, and anyone who would listen. God was faithful. He showed up. He blessed me and answered my prayer way beyond what I had ever expected. 

But did I go back and say, “Thank you??”

I want to be like the guy who was healed and came back to say thank you. (Luke 17.11-19) I want to be thankful for what God is GOING to do, but hasn’t yet. I want a heart bent towards thankfulness, not one just focused on things that need fixing. 

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and consistent involvement in my life – Jesus, I thank You.  

What's the Why

Recently, I’ve been processing a significant decision. As such, the little adult in me is getting a serious workout! Researching, meeting with several advisors, and finally consulting with an attorney have all been steps in this journey. But the more information I glean the more I’m learning or being reminded the importance of the WHY! 

Information by itself is just that – information. Without all the pieces or too many related pieces, information can become confusing. Information with an application can lead to action and a job completed. But the passion, discernment, power, and wisdom come from information with a WHY. The why is what distinguishes leaders from minions, owners from consumers, and inventors from shoppers. The why is what motivates us to keep going when the circumstances say to give up. 

As I’ve been reading contracts and fine print, attending sessions and consults, and discussing experiences and methods – it’s so easy to become swept up in the details. But what I’m realizing is that everything exemplified, stems from a why. I’m only seeing people’s EXPRESSION or reaction to the driving, underlying why. 

I’m going to borrow a simple story from my uncle for this. 

A mother went to her daughter’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. While in the kitchen preparing the meal, the daughter set the turkey in the sink and covered it with a large colander. The same trick she had seen her mother do all growing up. Looking up from chopping the mother asked, “Why did you do that?” “Because you always did,” replied the daughter without hesitation. The mother chuckled, “Yes, but that’s because we had a cat.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a cat. It seems silly to do things a certain way just because someone else has a cat. 😊 So it’s time to dig deeper and ask the whys. 

So rather than all the details…what is my why? What is their why? Do they line up? Do I have the freedom or flexibility to have my own expression of the why? 

Then pray for direction like there is no tomorrow!! 

Play time?

As a child, I learned to ask permission before going off to play. Once I reached the age of responsibility however, the initial response from my parentals was often the same. "Do you have the freedom?" That was code for, "Have you already completed all of the things you are supposed to do?" aka homework, chores, and such. I used to hate that question! It meant I needed to be responsible and think through my to-do list. 

Now I'm an adult making my own schedule and managing my own time. So theoretically I can "play" whenever I want - though the consequences for neglecting a responsibility might be greater. Overtime, this flexibility has led to free-time with a load of guilt over my head and reluctant productivity. Example: After a long day, I want to reward myself with a movie or YouTube hair tutorials. :) But I have a running mental list of to-dos. So I a) sit down in front of a screen with a cloud of guilt over me...I should be getting things done OR b) I begin to knock out my to-dos ...reluctantly and with great opportunity to work on my attitude 🙃 Neither of which seem like a healthy option. 

Guilt shouldn't be my motivator. A) It's not healthy and B) it's annoying. So it's time to restructure! 

• What are my available windows of time?
• What is on my to-do list? ....Probably should go ahead and write it down.
• Then it's a puzzle - which task fits into which time slot?
• Remember to give myself grace - things inevitably take longer than I think they will.
• Then get 'er done. 

I'm hoping this will equip me to manage my time more efficiently. It should help me be more emotionally prepared on the full days and allow me to truly rest or play when the time comes. 

Genesis 2:2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 

Guilty spurts of rest are not what God intended for me. Work hard - play hard!! When I do the work first, I have the freedom to embrace the gift of rest as God intended. 

Looks like my parents may have been onto something.  ☺️

Things I've learned from this new schedule:

1. Learn to be ok deviating from the plan - it's a guideline

   I was presented with a dinner invitation the other night. And I was torn between elevating the relationship or following my self imposed schedule.

2. Prioritize the schedule

  Sometimes there are simply not enough hours in the day... something needs to give. I don't want it to be the most important thing that falls off.

3. The art of timing and multitasking

  I'm currently typing/speaking this between coats of nail polish. Not the most efficient way to write, but it's a relatively efficient use of downtime while my fingers cure. 🙃 Perspective flip. 

4. When I'm diligent, I can accomplish exponentially more than I think I can!