Broad Paths and Twisted Ankles

How very appropriate that today's YouVersion reading plan directed me to Psalm 18.  David, having just returned from rescuing his wives and family; along with the rest of the city, from attackers, penned this psalm of praise to God for His provision.

I'm reading this, propped on the couch with my ankle wrapped from a mis-cue off an unseen step

yesterday evening.  epsom salts, lemongrass oil and Motrin are all on hand to help ease the swelling and stiffness this morning as I read verse 36...

"You provide a broad path for my feet,

so that my ankles do not give way...."

Timely, yes?

David knew that as he was pursing the enemy that had attacked and burned the city, then kidnapped the women and children, God had provided a clear, broad route to give David the ability to overtake the enemy and rescue the families that had been taken captive.  David and his men were many hours behind the route of the enemy, but sure paths allowed them to make up the time and reach the place where the enemy had camped.  David simply focused on following the path God set before him.

There was a broad path for me to walk, as I was making my way to the parking lot yesterday.  It was clear and straight, with nothing in the way.    The problem was that I was texting a reply as I made my way back to the parking lot.  And I was thinking about an earlier conversation that was going to need followup, and I was totally distracted.  I wasn't looking at the path.  I wasn't paying attention to the fact that this was an unfamiliar place. I was focused on what had taken the place of urgency in my mind; relaying this message, making the next call.  Until I took a misstep off a step I didn't expect to be there, and landed in the grass, twisting my ankle in the process.  Suddenly there was a new sense of urgency.  My ankle hurt! 

So, today, I'm reminding myself two things.  First, God has a path for me.  If I will be intentional to stay focused on where He is guiding me and not let myself be distracted by the busyness of the moment, my journey will go much smoother. 

And.  Watch where you're walking.  #donttextandwalk

For International Women's Day: For Such a Time as This

When I think about International Women's Day and those women I admire for putting their all on the line, my mind always goes back to Esther.  No, she didn't help earn me the right to vote, or drive a car, or work a job. But from a very young age, she gave me encouragement that, as a woman, God had a plan just as vital for me to follow for those around me, as He did for any other person; man or woman.

For such a time as this.

It has brought purpose to steps and paths and jobs and seasons without jobs, that otherwise would seem only wasted time, accomplishing little of value.

Esther was taken from her home with her cousin, who had raised her after the death of her parents, to be among those the king would survey to select his new queen.  She didn't volunteer.  She didn't fill out an application.  She didn't show up for auditions for the show "So You Think You Can Be Queen?"  She was taken; a beautiful, young Jewish girl and placed in the harem of the Persian king.

Yet, she didn't complain.  She didn't despair.  She didn't sulk.  She trusted that her steps were known to God, and she trusted the advice of the one who had taught her to trust Him.

We know the end of the story.  We know it was very much "For such a time as this" that she was there.  But Esther didn't know the rest of the story.  Until it was done.  I have taken much comfort in knowing that when my steps seem to be where I didn't choose to go and the tasks that have occupied my time are not what I would have chosen to do, that these still came as no surprise to God, so there must be a purpose to come.

And while the seasons of my life have never led to the salvation of a nation from destruction, I have had relationships that were life-changing and amazing opportunities that never would have happened had my path gone as I had wished.

Esther was the first woman I knew made an international difference.

She gave me courage to believe I could make a difference, too.  And so can you.  If the place you find yourself today isn't what you had hoped it would be.  Or if you are doing a job, or you lack a job, that causes you to doubt your purpose, take Esther's lead.  Don't complain, don't sulk and most of all, don't despair! Find your voice in the place where you are today. You don't know what the next steps, next week, next month may hold.  And as those days come, be that difference.  No one else can use your voice, your hands or your heart.

Today may be the day just before you are needed For Such a Time as This.

Aliens and Tenants

Even though these are the words God spoke to Moses regarding the possession of land, leading to the year of Jubilee, it wondered how much better our lives would be if we took the same perspective:

"The land must not be sold permanently because the land is mine and you are but aliens and tenants."

How much contentment might there be in remembering that it is all His. We're just enjoying it for a while.  And, while there is nothing wrong with having nice things, holding those things loosely gives a new-found freedom.  Enjoy what you have, but if the price of having something else, something more costs too much of your life, your heart, your love, your peace; let it go.  It's not worth such a price for something that is so temporary.

Those "Nevertheless" Folks

I'm sure everyone has those "nevertheless" folks in your life.  You know, the ones that ask you for advice, help, suggestions, and then do just the opposite.  I am following a chronological Bible reading plan for this year, it caught my attention that Moses dealt had those in his crowd, too.

They were told, 'Hey! Since you're grumbling so, God's going to send you some food.  It will show up in the morning.  Get just what you need for the day and don't keep it overnight.'

"Some of them paid no attention to Moses and kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots...."

SMH.

Give it a couple of days and now it's the day before the Sabbath.  Moses tells them, 'Look, gather enough for today and tomorrow because there isn't going to be any out here on the Sabbath.'

"Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none."


Nevertheless people exasperate me.  I have little patience or pity for those who won't take instruction. And my tendency is to shake my head and wipe my hands and walk away mumbling under my breath, "I told you so."

But Moses had compassion on these 'nevertheless' people.  Yes, he got angry.  Yes, he lost it a few times.  But he always came back to a place of compassion for them.  He prayed for them, he pleaded for them and he never walked away from his opportunity to lead them to follow God.

My challenge is to stop shaking my head and shake off my impatience. To pray for the 'nevertheless' folks that I know, to plead on their behalf.  And then, when given the opportunity, continue to lead them to what God has for their next steps.

Back to the Scratchpad

Wow.  Looking back it's been 3 years since I've attempted to blog, or post, or share, or whatever you call putting your thoughts down somewhere and letting other people read them. I've decided it would be better called a scratchpad.  Just some where to scribble down my thoughts, whether they are inspired by me, or Him, or the salsa that I ate last night.  I like having a scratchpad that I can look back at, read through again and decide if those thoughts represent something I need to act on, or just something I needed to say out loud, or in writing, and then continue on with my day.

And having them here will help clear off my desk from stacks like this:

Note pads scribbled with thoughts and ideas and other distractions that occur to me when I'm in the middle of doing something else!

So if no one else ever benefits from anything written here, at least I should end up with a cleaner desk. 

Here's to a better scratchpad.

Budgeting the Bible

Over the weekend I was reading Romans 12 and decided that my "budgeting" mode for the month of March, might just apply to my Bible study, too.  Well, not so much to budget how I study, but more, to budget how I apply it. 

As I read through verses 9 to the end of the chapter, Paul lists out a whole, long series of instructions:

"Love must be sincere."

"Hate what is evil, cling to what is good."

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love."

"Honor one another above yourselves."

"Never be lacking in zeal."....

And he goes on to list 17 more instructions.  This is just in half of one chapter! 

My thoughts as I read this was, I'm just glossing over this as I read.  I'm thinking, yes, those are all good things.  I need to be good.  But really, I need to do all of these.  Individually.  And not lose them in the fact that it's a long list.  So I'm going to (fully intending here, at least on day 1) take one a day and focus on it and look for opportunities to live out that point.  My hope being that if I can focus on one a day, that will help me remember, ongoing, to live that out when presented with the opportunity.  

So, I'm budgeting my Bible.  Today is Day 1: Love must be sincere. 

I'd love for you to join me if you'd like.  While I doubt I will blog every day, I will definitely tweet my "Budgeting Bible of the Day" so you will see there what point I'm on each day.

I want to be a doer of the Word, not a hearer, or a "glosser", only. 

I

Budgets, Lists & Life

So getting back into a blogging rhythm is taking a little longer than I thought.. but here's to hoping March will be more "budgeted" than February has been!  In my quest to make time to breathe, I am learning that old habits are easy to fall back into, and, let me just be honest, budgeting isn't one of my natural gifts.  Ok, it's not one of my gifts, it's not one of my priorities, nor is it something I even like.  And budgets don't apply to just money.  We budget our time, we budget our energy, and, yes, we budget our money, too.  Here's my issue:

Budgets have limits and I don't like limits.

Especially when I know that I have more to do than those limits will allow.  That's why I don't want to put it on paper.  There's no way.  It can't be done.  And writing those things down only makes it even more plain to see that I can't do all that I want to do.  So, I tend to make mini-budgets and daily to-do lists.  And leave the big picture stuff off the paper completely.  I like to live each day, doing all that must be done that day, and beyond that working on all the other "non-urgent" projects and duties as they present themselves.

Sometime back I watched David Allen's Do Lecture "The Mind is for Having Ideas Not Holding Them".     He lays out a template for staging idea, projects and getting all the stuff swirling in your brain OUT of your brain and ON a file, a to-do list, a calendar.  Whatever your mode of follow-up, put your ideas there.  First, it frees up your brain for new ideas and second, it gives you a systematic way to approach those unending projects that, for me, end up lost between today's urgent and next month's project, never to be accomplished.

I'm going to attempt to put some of this into practice this month.  And while much of what I have unending, the house, the yard, the laundry, doesn't ever get finished, there are many other projects that I have dabbled with for years that may benefit from a bit of budgeting.

 I will share how that goes.  Here's to teaching an old dog new tricks!