Seasons of Life

 

One Too Many Things To Do

  Why is it so difficult to say no to people? Most of us want to be able to do everything and anything to be a help. I'm sure it is probably not a healthy motive but probably a common reason why most people take on too much responsibility. We enjoy being needed and involved especially when it is a cause or occasion that we like but too much of a good thing can some times be difficult to manage.

When we take on too much it can affect our outlook on everything. Personally I would sign up for everything so I usually ask my husband for his input before I make any decision. I sure wish I had done that early in our marriage because it would have eliminated so much stress in my own life. Unfortunately I believed then he was a "kill joy" so most of the time I would volunteer without his approval only to end up needing his assistance to help me accomplish the task. It's a wonder he didn't suffocate me in my sleep with all the added stress I'm sure I caused him. Instead he took care of the situation and always made my work look better. Now that's a good husband!

Everyone wants a life that is manageable and peaceful. It takes careful organizing and planning of our time. This is an area where I have always struggled and work on daily with the help of my husband who is more realistic of my accomplishments. God's plan for our life is not chaos and stress so let's pray for daily guidance and direction!

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3

 This picture was taken of the Jupiter Lighthouse in May 2010.

A Matter Of Perspective

This was written by one of my junior high teachers who is still in contact with me today thanks to facebook! She was one of my favorite teachers and now one of my favorite friends who I know takes time to pray for me and my family. I asked permission to use this on my devotional blog.

A Matter of Perspective! by Donna Sparks:

There is someone in my extended family for whom I have prayed regularly for years.  She is a Christ-follower…but seems not to be concerned about how others perceive her attitudes and behavior.

Realizing that it was not my place to correct or direct her, I prayed specifically about certain aspects of her character that I thought surely the Lord would want to work on to improve her image as a Christian.  Knowing that God knows more about her and can speak to her in ways that I cannot, I began to pray, “Lord, help her to see herself as you see her.”

I felt satisfied that I had hit upon the best approach to God on her behalf…until this morning during my prayer time.  I prayed as usual, “Lord, help her to see herself as you see her,” and then words came out of my mouth that I had never intended to pray—“and help me to see her as you see her.”  I literally jumped and almost said, “No, Lord, I meant to say…” But I stopped in awe of what had just happened…and conviction flooded my heart. The Holy Spirit had led me to pray in the way that I should have been praying all along.

God doesn’t need me to point out what’s wrong in the life of his children; Satan is already the champion accuser. Rather than focusing on the negative, I am beginning to look for things that God sees in this woman as praiseworthy, and then thank him for them, trusting him to continue to work in her life.  God needs me to see her as he sees her—his child under construction…just like me.

Donna Pharr Sparks refers to herself as “an expired English teacher,” because after becoming a stay-at-home mom ten years into her career, she allowed her certificate to expire.  She still loves using her writing skills and has been published in several magazines, including Family Circle and Woman’s Day.  A native of Chattanooga, Donna lives with her husband, Ray, in Murfreesboro, TN.  She enjoys working with children at her church and cherishes fun times with three of her four grandchildren. She has to settle for Skyping with the fourth one, who
                                         lives in Germany.