It must be Friday. How do I know? What gave it away? Running behind on everything, half done tasks, watered down commitments, little mountains of clutter everywhere, turbulence! Blame it on Friday – five days into a too busy week. Freaky Friday! But I know that’s not it, not entirely. Sometimes I think busy is the symptom of something much deeper. Busy is easy. It gives me a way out of doing things I don’t want to do, but I struggle with the chaotic rule busyness has over my life. Someone wiser than me said, “When the map and terrain don’t agree, always believe the terrain.” I can’t remember when I heard that or even the context, but the map I’ve been following is deceptively representing the terrain in this picture. The terrain is real, it consists of all the important things that make up my life. God first, then family and friends, work, and after that, everything else. Clearly my map and the terrain don’t match. Time to download a new map.
In Sunday School class, taught by Scott Steiner, we are learning about inviting God to do an Extreme Makeover in our lives. The requirement? “just show up”. My next Map (list) will include committed time spent with God, not a watered down ‘when-I-can-fit-it-in’ hopeful, but time centered on Him. Romans 9:21 says “Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?” How will I know what my purpose is, if I don’t get to know the potter. It struck me while reading Daniel that he must have had really positive attitude. I want that! I don’t know if he was busy but he had to be under an overwhelming burden of stress. Daniel was standing firm against the king – because he knew in his heart he was doing the right thing. Daniel 6:10 says he went home to his upstairs room and three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God. Giving thanks – even in adversity – 3 times a day, in front of an open window. I want to be like Daniel. My three favorite words are integrity, discernment, and wisdom. I want to be busy – busy living a life of integrity. Heading for an Extreme Makeover!
Ask me how I’m doing. I will tell you the truth from a heart of integrity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlh6_5znn7U&feature=related
Because of Grace we Press On