Recently, our toilet seat broke. It doesn't matter how or why it broke. There was a large crack across one side. In case you have not had the experience of sitting on a broken toilet seat, it can be unpleasant. Two uneven pieces of wood when sat upon may not be so bad. UNTIL....one tries to rise from said seat. We will leave it at an uncomfortable pinching occurs. OUCH!
It only takes a time (OK, or possibly 2, duh!) of being pinched before arrangements start to be made to fix the problem. I will confirm that for a short time, tape of the duct variety did come into play. Surprise? (not really if you know us well!)
I will confess that some of my thought processes do occur while in that same room said toilet is located. I started to ponder the paths of my procrastination and the lengths I will sometimes go to avoid dealing with life.
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Lessons from my toilet seat:
(THAT could be a new blog or book title! - not sure anyone would want to read it!)
It doesn't always matter how or why something isn't working. If it is not working enough, fix it or stop complaining.
When life becomes uncomfortable, change it or live with it. It is frequently a choice. Sometimes between the lesser of two evils, but still a choice.
There may be a temporary solution to the problem. Temporary solutions are not usually long-term fixes.
Sometimes we need to get in a bit of a pinch before an issue becomes a big enough priority to DO something about it.
Many times things that we think will take TOO long to deal with? In reality, take mere minutes in proportion to how long we would worry about it by NOT dealing with it.
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Drum roll please?!?!?!?!
One of the first things I did today? Buy a new toilet seat. Already installed. Problem solved.
Showing posts with label procrastination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label procrastination. Show all posts
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Less Later
I've already 'fessed up numerous times about being a procrastinator. Probably more than you like or need to read about. However, I'm guessing I'm not the only one (did a song just run through your head?) I digress. WHICH is probably a LOT of my problem(s)?!?!?!? There are times my mind feels like a hamster wheel. Spinning. and spinning. Getting nowhere.
New Year/January always seems to be worse for me. I think it is because I am more aware that I thought some things would be different by now. Honestly, they are. Change just comes so slowly sometimes that it is hard to notice when you're in it everyday. While change seems slow, days seem to fly by. It's already almost the middle of January. I have been in accounting and payroll for many years now so I think that plays a factor too. There is much to be done at work and always, seemingly, at home.
In both places, home and work, I've been trying to make myself follow the "touch it once and be done" rule. Trying would be a key word in that sentence. This means, especially in regards to my nemesis of paper, get it, take care of it and be done (meaning file DON'T pile). If you have been to my office or my house, you would know that this is a real struggle for me. I like to collect quotes and little tidbits of info that others may or may not appreciate. I think I'll find a use for something LATER (see where this is heading?) so I hold on to it which leads to piles.
I even catch myself often saying I'll take care of/do that LATER. (insert maniacal scream here) WHEN exactly IS later?
So. I know what I need to do. I need to do it. NOW. Quite honestly, we are not promised later. Maybe that will become my motivation. As Scarlet O'Hara says at the end of Gone With the Wind, "tomorrow is another day." It is. Today is another day too. The tomorrow I thought about yesterday. My later. Your later. Want to join me on less laters? More nows?
Matthew 6:34 (NIV) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Proverbs 27:1 (NIV) Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
New Year/January always seems to be worse for me. I think it is because I am more aware that I thought some things would be different by now. Honestly, they are. Change just comes so slowly sometimes that it is hard to notice when you're in it everyday. While change seems slow, days seem to fly by. It's already almost the middle of January. I have been in accounting and payroll for many years now so I think that plays a factor too. There is much to be done at work and always, seemingly, at home.
In both places, home and work, I've been trying to make myself follow the "touch it once and be done" rule. Trying would be a key word in that sentence. This means, especially in regards to my nemesis of paper, get it, take care of it and be done (meaning file DON'T pile). If you have been to my office or my house, you would know that this is a real struggle for me. I like to collect quotes and little tidbits of info that others may or may not appreciate. I think I'll find a use for something LATER (see where this is heading?) so I hold on to it which leads to piles.
I even catch myself often saying I'll take care of/do that LATER. (insert maniacal scream here) WHEN exactly IS later?
So. I know what I need to do. I need to do it. NOW. Quite honestly, we are not promised later. Maybe that will become my motivation. As Scarlet O'Hara says at the end of Gone With the Wind, "tomorrow is another day." It is. Today is another day too. The tomorrow I thought about yesterday. My later. Your later. Want to join me on less laters? More nows?
Matthew 6:34 (NIV) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Proverbs 27:1 (NIV) Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Tuesday, September 01, 2015
Good Intentions
Things I would like to do (in no particular order just off the top of my head): Learn to play an instrument, piano?, Organize our house, Write what's in my head without feeling like I'm going crazy, Take time for devotions, Spend more time with my nieces and nephews, Encourage people, Enjoy life, Live in the moment.
Sounds easy, right? "Like" to do, so why not just do it? We all have a to-do list, goals, dreams, intentions. Call it whatever you like.
The dictionary definition of an intention is: the thing that you plan to do or achieve : an aim or purpose
Basically, an intention is something we mean to do. It may or may not happen, but we plan on doing it.
We can make lots of plans, but until we actually take some steps to DO something it remains an intention. As a recovering procrastinating perfectionist, intentions could be my downfall. I will hesitate to try something or put it off because I may not do it well or to the standards I have in my head.
For example: I can want to play the piano, but if I never learn to read music or take a lesson my days of tickling the ivories probably will not happen. I could start to doubt and question myself before I even start so I don't start.
Apparently, the saying goes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Hell isn't merely paved with good intentions; it's walled and roofed with them. Yes, and furnished too. - Aldous Huxley
Sounds easy, right? "Like" to do, so why not just do it? We all have a to-do list, goals, dreams, intentions. Call it whatever you like.
The dictionary definition of an intention is: the thing that you plan to do or achieve : an aim or purpose
Basically, an intention is something we mean to do. It may or may not happen, but we plan on doing it.
We can make lots of plans, but until we actually take some steps to DO something it remains an intention. As a recovering procrastinating perfectionist, intentions could be my downfall. I will hesitate to try something or put it off because I may not do it well or to the standards I have in my head.
For example: I can want to play the piano, but if I never learn to read music or take a lesson my days of tickling the ivories probably will not happen. I could start to doubt and question myself before I even start so I don't start.
Apparently, the saying goes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Hell isn't merely paved with good intentions; it's walled and roofed with them. Yes, and furnished too. - Aldous Huxley
While looking up some info to write this, the word intentional also came up. Since one of the intentions I have is to take time for devotions, I have some work to do! I will have to be more intentional about my intentions!
Philippians 3:12 (NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Colossians 2:2 (NIV) My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
Tick Tock - Time to think about time
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| Clock is based on a painting by Salvadore Dali | Salvadore Dali clocks and melting clocks. |
"Tomorrow's just your future yesterday" Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson theme song
This thought has been on my mind for awhile now. However, I hate to mention time because as a procrastinator.....there never seems to be enough of it. It is frustrating because it makes me realize I do not always use my time effectively.
I used to say I would "make" time to do something. Who am I kidding? We can't "make" time. We all have the same 168 hours/week limit. 8,760 hours (525,600 minutes) in a year. That sounds like so many. Then you factor in sleep, eating, everyday stuff and those hours and years just seem to dwindle.
I finally realize I need to "take" time to do the important things...even the mundane, boring things I don't necessarily enjoy doing. I think I am going to start thinking of time like money $$cha ching. It is something that needs to be budgeted. This gives a whole new meaning to "spending time" with someone. ;) However, there is one big difference between time and money. We can earn more money. We cannot earn more time. Time is valuable. I need to learn to spend it more wisely.
I made an Excel sheet with 168 boxes: 1 for each hour of the day. I would have broken it down into smaller chunks of time, but I wanted to have room to write. On a good week, I remember to keep track. At the end of the week, I review. I try to set schedules for things I have to do every week (prayer group, family time, refill pill boxes, trash, dishes, laundry, etc) Sometimes I do better than others. Sometimes I suffer from calendar creep. Those little boxes just keep filling up with events and appointments and if I'm not careful....there is something in every box of the week.
I think one of my biggest reasons for writing this now is that I want to get to the end of my life with no regrets. No I wish I would haves. When I was a kid, it seemed like I had forever to wait until the "big" birthdays: 10 - double digits, 13 - teenager, 16 - license and drive, 18 - adult (uh, yeah), 29 - uh oh almost 30, 20's and 30's - get married and have kids, 40's - seeing the top of "the hill".....we all know what comes next. What the end will be. We may not know how, but we know how life ends up.
While looking for quotes, I was thinking Time is the great equalizer. The one that kept popping up though was Death is the great equalizer. Both are right.
Ecclesiastes 3 (NLT)
A Time for Everything
3 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet
God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted
eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole
scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
Season of Love - Rent
English writer and novelist Arnold Bennet (1867-1931): “Time is the inexplicable raw material of everything. With it, all is possible; without it, nothing. The supply of time is truly a daily miracle; an affair genuinely astonishing when one examines it. You wake up in the morning with your purse magically filled up with 24 hours of the unmanufactured tissue of the universe of your life! It is yours. It is the most precious of possessions. No one can take it from you. It cannot be stolen. And no one receives either more or less than you receive. In the realm of time there is no aristocracy of wealth, and no aristocracy of intellect. Genius is never rewarded by even an extra hour or a day. And there is no punishment. Waste your infinitely precious commodity as much as you will, and the supply will never be withheld from you. Moreover, you cannot draw on the future and it’s impossible to get into debt! You can only waste the passing moment. You cannot waste tomorrow; it is kept for you. You cannot waste the next hour; it is kept for you. I have said the affair was a miracle. Is it not? You have to live on this 24 hours of daily time. Out of it you have to spend health, pleasure, money, content, respect, and the evolution of your immortal soul. Its right use and its most effective use, is a matter of the highest urgency and of the most thrilling actuality. It all depends on you! Your happiness, the elusive prize that you are all clutching for, my friends, depends on your use of time.”
Sunday, July 07, 2013
Wandering.....Wondering.....and wondering as I wander
I guess I have been doing Facebook updates instead of writing long, wandering posts. When I'm really honest with myself, I know it is because Facebook is a procrastinator's dream come true....and worst nightmare. The internet in general is a place where time can be wasted so easily...clicking from one link to another and realizing I don't even remember where I really started from....or sometimes even why!
On a good day, I "reward" myself with computer time for accomplishing some tasks. On a bad day (that day I don't even feel like getting out of bed), I just start clicking away....aimlessly.....wandering about the internet...keeping myself busy, but not productive. I've noticed that the days I wander are the days I feel I have wandered the farthest from a God that wants to love me better even than I try to love myself.
Wandering, maybe like Hansel and Gretal. I've left a trail of crumbs. My Bible reading time, my prayer time, my "be quiet so God can reach me" time. Crumbs of time instead of an actual good indication of where I've been and where I need to go.
Some of why I wander (I think) is because over the past year, I have had doubts raised to me by others in my life. Not enough doubt to actually make me question my journey, but enough doubt that I wonder more than I used to. I look for ways to explain how I feel about believing in God while attempting to listen why somebody else does not. I think about the relationship that I wander away from....it is not God that moved. I wonder why I let it take so long to be honest with myself about my feelings and questions because I don't have all the answers to ease others doubts.
I wander in a world that seems to be more concerned about pleasing everybody....and I struggle with not judging because I'm trying to understand other people's struggles and situations....that cause them to wonder and wander and sometimes feel unloved by people that claim they serve a loving God. AND why do bad things happen to good people?!?!?! I don't have answers. I know where to get them. When I finally stop wandering, I get answers when I need them.....the answers just don't always look or sound like I think they should!
As I type, I realize that the answers I'm sometimes given are not for me to decipher. I just need to say them (or write them) and let God do the work of growing the seed He gave me to plant.
The wandering and wondering continue..........
Matthew 18:11-13 (NLT) Parable of the Lost Sheep
12 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away!
1 Chronicles 16:11-12 (NLT)
11 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.
12 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
On a good day, I "reward" myself with computer time for accomplishing some tasks. On a bad day (that day I don't even feel like getting out of bed), I just start clicking away....aimlessly.....wandering about the internet...keeping myself busy, but not productive. I've noticed that the days I wander are the days I feel I have wandered the farthest from a God that wants to love me better even than I try to love myself.
Wandering, maybe like Hansel and Gretal. I've left a trail of crumbs. My Bible reading time, my prayer time, my "be quiet so God can reach me" time. Crumbs of time instead of an actual good indication of where I've been and where I need to go.
Some of why I wander (I think) is because over the past year, I have had doubts raised to me by others in my life. Not enough doubt to actually make me question my journey, but enough doubt that I wonder more than I used to. I look for ways to explain how I feel about believing in God while attempting to listen why somebody else does not. I think about the relationship that I wander away from....it is not God that moved. I wonder why I let it take so long to be honest with myself about my feelings and questions because I don't have all the answers to ease others doubts.
I wander in a world that seems to be more concerned about pleasing everybody....and I struggle with not judging because I'm trying to understand other people's struggles and situations....that cause them to wonder and wander and sometimes feel unloved by people that claim they serve a loving God. AND why do bad things happen to good people?!?!?! I don't have answers. I know where to get them. When I finally stop wandering, I get answers when I need them.....the answers just don't always look or sound like I think they should!
As I type, I realize that the answers I'm sometimes given are not for me to decipher. I just need to say them (or write them) and let God do the work of growing the seed He gave me to plant.
The wandering and wondering continue..........
Matthew 18:11-13 (NLT) Parable of the Lost Sheep
12 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away!
1 Chronicles 16:11-12 (NLT)
11 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.
12 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
Thursday, May 03, 2012
D. O. T. - D. O. N. T.
I believe I have already admitted to being a procrastinator. If not, I am a procrastinator with a capital P. Recently, I found myself matching socks. A somewhat worthy job.....BUT not as much as getting our taxes done! :( When overwhelmed, I can find ALL kinds of busy work.....and accomplish little.
I make "to-do" lists that have way too many items on for one day and then feel bummed I didn't get them all done. I very rarely ever feel like I have a "done" list.
So, today it hit me. I am looking at too much of the big picture. Normally, a good thing....but when faced with getting little to nothing done? Not so good. I get so overwhelmed and frustrated when I look at ALL I need to get done....or should be doing....I freeze up. Time flies. I watch TV/play on the computer. Time for bed (actually WAAAAYYY past time for bed).
I think I have a solution, I hope. I'm going to start trying D.O.T. Do One Thing. I'm going to do the most immediately needed "to do" thing first. If it is a BIG project, that takes all day to complete....so be it. I'll still make a "to-do" (or in my case "doo-doo" list) so I don't forget the overall things that need to get done. I drive myself nuts otherwise trying to remember what I wanted to accomplish. BUT I only need to pick ONE THING from that list.....and then:
D.O.N.T. Do One Next Thing, repeat the cycle....over and over until I am feeling at least a bit more caught up.
If you are also a procrastinator princess or prince, take heart:
Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I make "to-do" lists that have way too many items on for one day and then feel bummed I didn't get them all done. I very rarely ever feel like I have a "done" list.
So, today it hit me. I am looking at too much of the big picture. Normally, a good thing....but when faced with getting little to nothing done? Not so good. I get so overwhelmed and frustrated when I look at ALL I need to get done....or should be doing....I freeze up. Time flies. I watch TV/play on the computer. Time for bed (actually WAAAAYYY past time for bed).
I think I have a solution, I hope. I'm going to start trying D.O.T. Do One Thing. I'm going to do the most immediately needed "to do" thing first. If it is a BIG project, that takes all day to complete....so be it. I'll still make a "to-do" (or in my case "doo-doo" list) so I don't forget the overall things that need to get done. I drive myself nuts otherwise trying to remember what I wanted to accomplish. BUT I only need to pick ONE THING from that list.....and then:
D.O.N.T. Do One Next Thing, repeat the cycle....over and over until I am feeling at least a bit more caught up.
If you are also a procrastinator princess or prince, take heart:
Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Procrastination to Destination
Procrastination, putting off....call it what you want, I am the princess of it. I joke about it, but right now it's not hitting me in a ha ha funny way. I can try and say that it is because I work better "under pressure", but in reality it is just stalling.
I looked up the definition of procrastination at www.webster.com to put off intentionally and habitually; to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.
Both of these fit, however, I am noticing 2 things....intentionally (doing it on purpose) and habitually (a habit can be broken!).
I do know this: I can easily go help someone else with the very thing that I avoid in my own life. I also know that procrastination has cost me over the years in both $$ and wasted time. Some days are better than others. On the bad days, I'm letting procrastination keep me from where I need to be.
John 6:20-21 (NLT) 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” 21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
I find it interesting that this takes place while Jesus is walking on water. The disciples invited him into the boat and then they got to where they were going....their destination.
The way to get to any destination is to start with one step and keep going. Inviting God into our mess that He already knows about anyway....is one step.
I looked up the definition of procrastination at www.webster.com to put off intentionally and habitually; to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.
Both of these fit, however, I am noticing 2 things....intentionally (doing it on purpose) and habitually (a habit can be broken!).
I do know this: I can easily go help someone else with the very thing that I avoid in my own life. I also know that procrastination has cost me over the years in both $$ and wasted time. Some days are better than others. On the bad days, I'm letting procrastination keep me from where I need to be.
John 6:20-21 (NLT) 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” 21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
I find it interesting that this takes place while Jesus is walking on water. The disciples invited him into the boat and then they got to where they were going....their destination.
The way to get to any destination is to start with one step and keep going. Inviting God into our mess that He already knows about anyway....is one step.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Gethsemane - Place of surrender
OK, honestly, I should have written about this around Good Friday time, but as I've warned you before: I procrastinate....and I didn't think of this until today when the word surrender came up yet again!
I'm also thinking of Easter a little differently this year. You know how at Christmas you kind of promise yourself to keep that giving spirit going into the new year or to really be "in the moment"? And then right around January 2 or 3 when everybody heads back to school and time gets short, you stop having that Christmas feeling. (If not, maybe it's just me!) ;) I would like to think of Easter that way this year. Not just a one day/weekend thing, but reminding myself throughout the coming weeks that Jesus rose from the dead and we serve a risen, living King!
While I was thinking about surrender, I got to thinking about Jesus in Gethsemane. He went there to pray before the mob came to get him. He knew what was coming. He'd been preparing for it for about 33 years. He took some of his buddies, presumably to keep watch and maybe even pray for him...yeah, they fell asleep....not once, but three times! Meanwhile, Jesus is going through some serious agony.
Matthew 26:36-46 (NIV) 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Even Jesus had to surrender his will and let God's will be done. I take comfort in these verses. It shows a very human side to Jesus. He felt troubled and overwhelmed with sorrow. Mark 14:33 says in part he was deeply distressed. He asked for the burden to be taken away, but asked that God's will be done. If it is possible, take it away. "Not as I will, but as you will" "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" If it is not possible, unless I do it "May your will be done". Jesus surrendered His own will so we would have the right to choose to surrender to God as well. Jesus knows how hard that is.
He knows the overwhelmed troubled feelings. Given a choice, we'd probably all ask for our paths to be a little (or maybe a lot!) smoother. However, knowing Jesus came out victorious should give us comfort that even as Jesus hung on the cross, God was waiting for him to come home. Same as He is for us....waiting....and watching us grow in the process.
Praying for Easter blessings that continue on throughout the year. May you feel God's arms around you when you're at your worst...and God's arms raised in victory when you're at your best! May you feel valuable because Jesus has paid the ultimate price for you. Easter blessings!
I'm also thinking of Easter a little differently this year. You know how at Christmas you kind of promise yourself to keep that giving spirit going into the new year or to really be "in the moment"? And then right around January 2 or 3 when everybody heads back to school and time gets short, you stop having that Christmas feeling. (If not, maybe it's just me!) ;) I would like to think of Easter that way this year. Not just a one day/weekend thing, but reminding myself throughout the coming weeks that Jesus rose from the dead and we serve a risen, living King!
While I was thinking about surrender, I got to thinking about Jesus in Gethsemane. He went there to pray before the mob came to get him. He knew what was coming. He'd been preparing for it for about 33 years. He took some of his buddies, presumably to keep watch and maybe even pray for him...yeah, they fell asleep....not once, but three times! Meanwhile, Jesus is going through some serious agony.
Matthew 26:36-46 (NIV) 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Even Jesus had to surrender his will and let God's will be done. I take comfort in these verses. It shows a very human side to Jesus. He felt troubled and overwhelmed with sorrow. Mark 14:33 says in part he was deeply distressed. He asked for the burden to be taken away, but asked that God's will be done. If it is possible, take it away. "Not as I will, but as you will" "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" If it is not possible, unless I do it "May your will be done". Jesus surrendered His own will so we would have the right to choose to surrender to God as well. Jesus knows how hard that is.
He knows the overwhelmed troubled feelings. Given a choice, we'd probably all ask for our paths to be a little (or maybe a lot!) smoother. However, knowing Jesus came out victorious should give us comfort that even as Jesus hung on the cross, God was waiting for him to come home. Same as He is for us....waiting....and watching us grow in the process.
Praying for Easter blessings that continue on throughout the year. May you feel God's arms around you when you're at your worst...and God's arms raised in victory when you're at your best! May you feel valuable because Jesus has paid the ultimate price for you. Easter blessings!
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