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Christian Time Blocking

The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Psalm 33:10-11

 

Do you ever feel like your plans are thwarted by interruptions?

Lately, organizers and time management experts have been touting “Time Blocking.” Time blocking is a scheduling technique with which you focus on one and only one project at a time.

A woman who’s time blocking might set aside two hours to work on a certain project. During that time she’ll refuse to read emails, answer texts, look at social media, or touch any other projects. It’s anti-multitasking (a concept I don’t espouse) and pro-batching (a concept I wholeheartedly embrace). Time blocking is supposed to increase your productivity by eliminating distractions (and obstructing new spiritual clutter!).

As a project-oriented person, I love the concept of time blocking! But would Jesus?

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The Me I Want to Win

 “He has only human strength, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

II Chronicles 32:8

 

Recently I came upon my youngest, Oliver, playing a game of Klask by himself. (If you’re unfamiliar with Klask, think of it as a small air hockey or fuse ball table.) There he was, sitting on the side of the game table, with one hand playing each side.

 

“Look, Mom!” he called out. “I’m playing against myself, and the Me that I want to win is winning!”

I laughed and thought, Of course you are! Your little hands are in control, and you can swing the points to any side you choose. Then I was brought up short by my own thought.

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Why I’m Cutting Back on Social Media

Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

Psalm 37:7-9

 

Since I started this ministry back in 2011, I know that I’ve been doing social media all wrong.

I made a “business page” on Facebook because I heard that you weren’t supposed to use a personal page for a sole proprietor business (or ministry, in this case). Wrong! I eventually had to make a personal page just so I could use the existing business page, which is confusing to some who want to “friend” me.

And I post the “wrong” things on Facebook, including doing a terrible job of sharing other people’s stuff. In fact, according to social media folks, I do a terrible job of sharing my own stuff. I absolutely know they’re right.

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Beyond the Packing List

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

Genesis 43:11-14

 

I loved reading these verses in Genesis 43 this week, as I plan for a vacation. How appropriate!  These verses describe Jacob (Israel) telling his sons how to prepare for a dangerous trip to Egypt.

And why did these verses resonate with me so much? Because they are my trip-organizing philosophy in a Bible passage. This is what Jacob is basically advising:

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The Myth of the Gentle and Quiet Spirit

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

1 Peter 3:3-4

 

As I write this, it’s pouring down rain on the construction site/trash pit that is my lawn.

It’s a very, very long story, but let’s just say that the “simple” covered deck project we commissioned, the one that we believed would be completed in 5 to 7 days, is about 30% completed—and well into Week 4.

My heart is not feeling gentle or quiet—it’s way too cluttered with anxious thoughts.

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The Art of Being Real

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:1

 

I love organizing, and I love Jesus even more. But I hope that you don’t read any of my stuff and think, Well, Little Miss Organized certainly has it all together.

I really don’t have it all together. In all of my writing and speaking, I try to be super transparent, letting you know that I struggle with intentionally living for Christ just as much as the next person, if not more. I need His grace.

But it sure can be tempting to try to impress… 

Here are a few true confessions:

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Leaning on Spiderwebs

What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web.

They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.

Job 8:14-15

 

After reading Job 8, I decided to do an object lesson with my kids. (Fellow moms, grandmas, Sunday School teachers, try this one out this Halloween! You can make every holiday—even  Halloween—about Jesus!)

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Then I Will.

Read it! Psalm 61

Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

(vs. 8)

Think it through

Two weeks ago we decided to love the law. Last week we decided to obey it. Now let’s acknowledge that we can’t do either on our own.

True confession: I am bad at group projects. In school, I always wanted to be the group leader so I could do the work as it should be done (ahem, perfectionist), and get the A.

You know the old saying about how there is no “I” in “team”?  

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I Will Remember.

 

Read it! Psalm 77

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.

(vs 11&12)

Think it through

This morning, I lost one of my kids again.

If you have kids, you know this feeling. You call out a name, but the only sound you hear is the hum of the refrigerator. You start walking from room to room, still calling for them, then you’re jogging, checking out closets and the basement. The house feels empty; your heart fills fear.

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Need To Know Basis

For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.

Philippians 2:13 (HCSB)

 

Lately I’ve been getting pretty frustrated with TV shows and movies that feature characters who are being left in the dark about what’s going on around them. “I can’t tell you that now,” their fellow characters say. “You’re on a need-to-know basis.” Or, “I can’t explain now, we don’t have time. We’ve got to go!”

As my husband will attest, I often look up from my crochet project and yell, “Just tell them already!”

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