down
at, 31 days 'til Christmas, will you panic? By establishing a plan
now, you can enjoy all 111 days and relax during the entire holiday
celebration. Summer is a time of, spontinaity, Fall brings routine.
This can be good, if we use routine wisely, instead of being stressed by
it. We all have calendars that look full, especially if you have
children still at home, and if you work, and if you volunteer, and if
you have a life, period. By pre-planning your day, week, and month, you
can lower your stress level. I start by looking at the big picture,
what do I need, or desire, to accomplish between now and the holidays? I
know I want to wash the outside of the windows and clean the furniture.
I need to finish making and purchasing birthday and Christmas gifts.
Apples will be ready to make sauce in a few weeks. We are going to
Shreveport at Thanksgiving and I want to take the pictures I have been
sorting for my daughter, as well as Christmas gifts with. The curtains
need to be washed after windows being open for the summer. This is the
big picture, projects that are not weekly or everyday routine, so which
Month should I plan to do each one. What are the activities that I need
to accomplish each week is next in my planning. Every week I know I
need to type worship and the prayer list, once a month is the addition
of the bulletin which includes planning the menu for Cafe' Calvary. I
also have a Sunday School lesson to prepare each week, and in the Fall
is the addition of my Ladies Bible Study prep. By knowing my regular
activities, I can easily look at the extras and see where to plug them
in. This week I know I need to finish up Christmas and Birthday gifts
to take with when I go to Oklahoma next week. We also have a visitation
to attend Thursday evening and an event to work on Friday evening. Add
to that one less day in the week for routine and I will only plan on
one big task this week. There is a 1/4 bushel roma tomatoes in my
kitchen to be dried and along with my other prep for Oklahoma, I will
not pursue any of the other "biggies" on my list. Start this short,
busy week by listing what you hope, and need to accomplish this Fall.
We will make it to a restful holiday season together.
Word for Today, Sit: As you know, I am not a
sitter. I have a tendency to be more Martha of Bethany (ok, Stewart),
than Mary. That is why I take the time to read God's Word before I get
out of bed. I am called to care for my home and husband, but if I
neglect my soul, I am not good for anything. So, I established a good
routine for me, put a load of laundry in the washer, reheat the cup of
tea
my hubby made for me before he left,
pick up the Bible he left next to the cup of tea (we read the same one
in the morning as a way of drawing us closer), crawl back in the bed and
read. I have started my responsibilities for the day and then am not
distracted as I spend my needed time with my Father. I love to get lost
in His word and don't want to put it down. It is a time of fellowship
and communication. I may read verses that have been turned into a song I
know, and I sing the full song before I read further, a verse may speak
something to me that reminds me of something else I have read and I
need to look that up and then contemplate it. It is possible to spend
time most days in real fellowship with my Creator. There is a little
story I love titled, My Heart-Christ's Home by Robert Munger. It is
about a man that meets with the Savior every morning, they enjoy sweet
fellowship by the fire. The man grows, but as time goes by he gets busy
and doesn't stop by the fire every morning. One morning he happens to
notice the fire burning in the hearth in the room where he always met
with Jesus, so he steps in and finds Jesus sitting in the chair where He
always sat. When the man expresses his surprise, Jesus explains that
He has still been there every morning waiting. As you begin your Fall
routine, kids off to school, regular work hours again, full schedules of
activities, homework, etc., or an empty house for the first time,
establish a routine for meeting time alone with your Heavenly Father.
You will find the sacrifice of your time is nothing compared to the
sacrifice He made for you. "Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be
fainthearted." "Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still."
"Be still, and know that I am God."
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