Starting with the Edge Pieces...

Okay, so I'm reading in Genesis. Now wait, don't think I'm going to try reading the Bible from cover to cover. I think I would give up too soon for sure!!

Instead, I used the gift certificate I received for my birthday to buy a 365 day devotion that was totally Bible based; rather than what I usually gravitate toward. I usually like to get stuff by Max Lucado or Beth Moore or Randy Alcorn or... And, don't get me wrong, those writers are AWESOME! I just felt God reminding me that the "edge pieces" were His Word-not other popular people's opinion of His Word.

But that felt overwhelming. Why does doing the right thing the way it should be done always feel overwhelming? More on that later.

So, I persevered through the feeling of being overwhelmed and looked for a solution. And that's when I found a simple devotional book that presents scripture and then asks riveting questions.

I read the creation story. I was enjoying the whole thing until my heart stumbled upon this phrase: "God rested". I suddenly realized that I had never comprehended the idea of GOD, the ONE who knows all, created all, present now, present in the past, present in the forever future...resting. I still can't wrap my little pea-sized brain around God resting. Setting a forever example for us workaholics and do-do addicted people, He rested. What does the picture of God resting look like? I shouldn't be so surprised that I can't imagine this: it's taken me years to learn to rest. For years, I would try to rest only to find myself anxiously thinking about what I SHOULD be doing instead of resting. I felt guilty for resting.

God rests. God works and God rests. The edges are coming together....

Now, if I could just NOT feel overwhelmed about a little exercise here and there.....

Asking the wrong question...

I've been begging for an answer about something.

I want to be a good steward of how I spend the time that God has given me. Derek and I have learned the blessings of being good stewards of how we spend His money. There are BIG blessings in realizing that it's all His and we just need to be good managers.

I want to offer my best to the Lord. I want to spend what time I have the way He wants it spent, doing what He's created me to do, for the results that He has purposed.

Some say I take this too seriously and...true...that is my tendency. But today, as a New Year dawns, I'm thinking maybe we don't give this enough thought. I think many of us resolve to recreate our lives in January; but wake up and see where the day takes us the other eleven months of the year. I hear a lot of people saying things like, "I just don't know where the time's going."

So, yes, I want live "on purpose" for the Lord.

This verse in Ephesians 5: 16-17 motivates my drive for answers:

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

So, back to this morning's prayers. I prayed specifically, "Lord, show me how everything will fit. What things do I keep? What things do I say 'goodbye' to? Aspect? Finished in Five? Your gift of New Harvest has been wonderful; I know THAT'S a keeper; but what about the puny amount of the remainder of my time? How shall that be spent? Because I know you don't want me to bury it in the ground with mindless TV."

I asked in the car. I asked over coffee with dear friends. I asked while I did laundry.

But, once again, because I gave Him my time and undivided attention this morning, He could reward me with an answer. And because of how I'm wired, He answered with a picture.

I saw a picture of a 1000 piece puzzle all laid out on a table. There were a few center pieces that had been pieced together; but, otherwise, the pieces were all still scattered.

And, as I looked at the puzzle pieces, He said, "You're asking the wrong question, dear one. You need to put the edges together first before I can help you with the center."

My reply? "What are the edges?"

And He said, "The number one edge piece involves devoted time reading My Word. Second, you need to be spending time exercising to stay healthy. Next, you need to concentrate even more on the foundations of your family: your marraige. Once those 'edge pieces' are together, THEN we can talk about what should go inside."

OUCH!

I just seem to be filled with really weak excuses lately about why I'm not spending daily time reading the Bible and daily time exercising. And I'm a WRECK by the time Derek returns home from work. Just one hour per day protected for these things would do it, right? I could read for 30 minutes and walk (with Derek?) for 30 minutes. But I don't. Instead, I feel overwhelmed and over scheduled and entitled to a "break".

I think I hear Him telling me I'm taking a break from the wrong things. I'm taking a break from looking for...and connecting...my "edge pieces". After all, those are the things that will hold everything else together, right?

What are your "edge pieces"? Are you ignoring them, too? Is this why New Year's Resolutions have become so popular? And, at the same time so pathetic? Are we all trying to put together the insides of our puzzles without sorting through and attaching the edges first?