Focusing in...ward

I am a function of time. The amount of time that I have here on earth determines what I become...At least to a point.

In making an effort to gather up and organize my parcels of minutes, I have learned 2 new crafts, discovered four new areas of interest, a gazzillion cool web sites.

There is so much good to be done in this world, how can any physically functional person be bored or be bad? Even a person whose body is not working, will be able to find millions of ways to grow his/her mind.

Finding direction is easy. The world is a candy store of wonderment. Focusing on any one direction is harder.

A am developing a formula for focus. A developed explanation will follow in the next blog.

Personal Interests

1. Pray and ask God what He wants you to do.
2. Make a list of my top 10 favorite "personal" things to do, in order of favoritism.
3. Analyze how these top ten glorify God.
4. Cut out anything that is a waste of God's time.
5. Cut the top ten list to TOP TWO list.
6. Leave the remaining favorites to other people or for the future.
7. Pray and ask God if the list is right.

Okay, my top two are horseback riding and self expression (Note: I cleverly fit art and writing into one category)

How does horseback riding fit into glorifying God? Well, first, it is the way I keep my body (God's temple) healthy. I am 53 and can tote a hay bale with one arm. The fresh air, the interaction, the sites, the smells, the workout, the success all keep my mind and heart happy. Why? God make me that way. I did not choose to be interested in horses. My interest has been there forever. Besides, I can share my horses with someone who doesn't have horses and therefore bless them. My favorite Bible verse is
"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war." Revelation 19:11.
God likes horses enough to let them into heaven.

Art and writing are MUCH more complicated. Madeline L'Engle in her book Walking on Water does a much better job at explaining it than I ever could.

Later, I will write more about:

Interactive Interests
(See, I can sneak in more than 2 things if I make groups.)

1. Pray and ask God what He wants you to do.
2. Listen to the needs of others to see where you fit in.
3. Determine what gifts of yours can best be used and who needs the most help.

Blessings,
Jane

Spread too Thin

A month ago, my friend Beth gave me mini-lecture on "just say no". I have gotten spared to thin and have become less than "effective as possible" in everything.

She told me it is alright to "just say no" which I already knew. I searched the decision making part of my brain and found out that I really don't have a problem saying no to other people, I have trouble saying no to myself.

I love to learn new things, I love to teach, I love to create, I love to be with other people. It is sooooo easy to over commit.

Last night I found myself agreeing to do ONE MORE THING....But fortunately, I caught myself and said "not 'til after January".

So where is God in all of this? I have obviously been given the spirit of "revolving involving evolving" rather than one of "routine executer". I have been blessed with a life that has fed that spirit.

I have lived 10 lifetimes of events from hiking out of the Grand Canyon alone (I was flown down there in a helicopter) to running a church nursery.

Luke 12:48 ... From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

First a look at what I need to heed: Ecclesiastes 4:4 And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

I see something and I want it for myself. It could be a thing, an experience, whatever. This is part of my "drive". That drive is perpetrated by people asking me to do things. "Can you do such and such" flips my mind into "I would love to experience this". PLEASE NOTE: This is not a spirit of service!!!!!

Oh, how I need to heed having a spirit of service.....But would my focus would become apparent? So some of my "spared thinness" is because I am serving.

then 1 Chronicles 29:6-14 says The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.


Okay, so how do I focus?????? How do I do what I was meant to do? I don't have time to figure that out right now, I have too much other stuff to do.