Cleaning your "Life" Plate

A few weeks ago, an opportunity landed in my lap. A super, God-filled opportunity. I was excited, thrilled, and yet, wondering how I would fit this wonderful ministry possibility into an already filled plate.

I prayed. 

I am beginning to notice in my adult years, that either my sanguine personality lends itself to being unfocused, or I have a slight case of ADD. Or both. I am an enthusiastic person and when I see God at work, I want to jump in... even if I am already fully immersed in His work in other areas. Yes, I can be easily distracted. Yes, I can lose focus. But I like to say I am passionately unfocused.

So, what do I do with this new opportunity? My heart screams, "Yes!" My head fumbles for the word, "No." And my weary body has learned to just wait for the heart and the head to make their decision.

But God has been doing a work IN me... not just around me in the last few months. These last five months of my parents' going through cancer treatments, homeschooling my daughter, and my ministry blooming have taught me to make careful considerations of how to spend my time. Not all ministry opportunities are meant for me. Did I just say that? 

I made a list.

I made a list of all of my "non-negotiable" roles in my life. Christ-follower. Wife. Mom. Daughter. Sister. Minister. And so on. I am fortunate and blessed to have several of these. These roles are God-given and cannot be left unattended.

I then made another list. What are the activities that I have going on in my life right now? These may stem from a non-negotiable role or not. But the activities themselves... they are NEGOTIABLE. 

Then the final list. What are some new ways I see God is at work that interest me? This is where my super, God-filled opportunity was written down. Along with some other possibilities for involvement. 

I gasped.

I had no idea I was involved in so many current activities. I had to list everything... chauffeur to my sweet children, any team, committee, board, anything! Just writing and reading the list left my overwhelmed.

I prayed again.

Lord, help me to see the things you really want for me RIGHT NOW. Help me to ask the hard question of "Why am I doing this?" And enable me to answer honestly, even if it is, "Because I want to look like a good parent, wife, minister, etc." 

Lord, free me from filling my plate out of any reason other than obedience to you.

I was able to discern the activities that I needed to discontinue. I was able to see the possibilities of allowing others to help instead of doing things on my own. I confronted my pride and kicked it to the curb.

I gained focus.

Through relieving myself of some unnecessary activities, I could now turn to my list of potentials. The one that fell in my lap. 

I just knew that God had enabled me to clear my plate some to make room for this great opportunity. 

Not so. 

A God-filled possibility that I did not seek after falls in my lap and yet it is not meant for me to take? That's right. God meant for me to consider it, so that I would do some necessary heart evaluation. And instead of a filled plate, 

I have peace.

I want to encourage you to take a hard look at your "life plate." Perhaps God is asking you to do some heart evaluation. Are you stressed? Overwhelmed? What are you doing out of any reason other than obedience to God? I would love to help you by praying for you or coaching you through this! 

P.S. If you have not joined my ministry page on Facebook, this is your special invitation! Encouragement guaranteed. 

Living for ONE,

Kelli

Balancing Life Series: How Will You Spend It?

Today is the last installment of the Balancing Life Series. I have really enjoyed writing about life,  priorities,  time,  and how God is not limited by any of it! 

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I had an ah-ha moment last week as I was taking the Priority Challenge. I wrote down how I spent every thirty minute block of time and realized that it was so much like tracking my food/calorie intake. I was not aware of how much time I was giving to this or that until I actually wrote it down. 


Surprising. Enlightening. Humbling.


I wasn't aware that I spent 1 - 3 hours in the car every day. Wow. And though I can't change the fact that I live 13 minutes away from Ryan's school and 12 minutes away from my office the other direction, I desire to make better use of that time. If I with my kids, I want to use that precious time to check in with them or chat about their day. Seems like I am normally checked out or even scolding them for being late or unfocused.


I didn't realize that even though I start my day with God and my cup of coffee, reading my devotional and Scripture, I rarely have any other "devoted" time to spend with the Lord. And I am in ministry! I talk to Him throughout the day, but if I ever have extra time, it is usually spent watching TV, reading, or on social media. (Just being real.)


So, does my reality line up with my priorities? Let's just say I want to be a better steward of the gift of time that God has given me. Not to be legalistic or follow some rule book, but to honor God. And just like I try to make good choices about food, I want to make good choices regarding my time. 


My devotional today in Sarah Young's Jesus Calling says this, "When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today's agenda. If it isn't, release it into My care and go on about today's duties. When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life..."


It has been said that time is the one asset of which we all have the same amount. The difference is how we spend it.

There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth... Ecclesiastes 3:1

How will you spend your time? Remember God is not bound by time and He knows what is best for you. Ask Him...He will give you direction. If this series has been encouraging or helpful to you in any way, I would love to hear! Please comment below or if you are reading by email, click here.


Living for ONE,


Kelli


If you are on Facebook, and have not joined my ministry page, I would love to connect with you. Make sure to click like so that it will show up in your newsfeed. And if you like it share it with your friends! Kelli Wommack Ministry Page...This is my little nook on Facebook where I post Scripture everyday, meaningful posts some days, and meaningless statuses never. I am a cheerleader at heart and I want to encourage you in this journey of Living for ONE.

Balancing Life Series: Not Bound by Time

I look back at the last month and wonder how I did not go crazy. (All those who think I did, please do not correct me.) It is amazing to me how we managed to juggle everything. 

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In the midst of normal family duties, taking care of my mom during chemo and the aftereffects, continuing ministry, I had a writing deadline for a magazine. I was so excited about the opportunity, but freaked out that I was not going to finish not one, but FOUR articles for this magazine.


I sent in my first article on time. Done. I did my research for the other three that were not due for another couple of weeks. It's a good thing. Because right after that, life went full speed throttle. 


My deadline for the other three articles was quickly approaching. It was my mom's chemo week and I felt quite certain that while she was receiving chemotherapy, I could work on my articles on my laptop. Plan fail. She needed me. During her long day at the cancer center, I managed to open my laptop for 20 minutes max. 


My other attempts that week to finish the articles failed. I had to take my daughter to an out-of-town science fair. My laptop stayed in the car the entire time because I realized that I needed to be "present" for her. (Her team of three home schoolers ended up winning, by the way!) I spent the next day at the office trying to catch up on ministry and the laptop remained untouched. This was Thursday. My man's birthday. My deadline was Friday morning. 


Needless to say, I was a little frantic. I had my research and half-written, unedited articles, but nothing completed. And now, my mind was very preoccupied with other things. Important things. I sent the editor an email and asked to extend the deadline until the end of the day on Friday. I didn't hear from him. So at 10:30 pm, Thursday night I began to pray for God to supernaturally enlighten me. Seriously. I put my hands to the computer and prayed that my half-written work would be completed. The longer I attempted to type, the crazier my sentences got. I was exhausted...physically, emotionally, and spiritually. How could I possibly formulate thoughts that would make sense?


Still no answer from the editor about the extended few hours for the deadline. I finally gave up and went to bed. I knew that these articles were due in the morning. I dozed off, praying that God would help me. I know Him as the God Who Sees. I know Him as the God Who Provides. I know Him as the God Who Hears. 


3:30 am. I awaken. Wide awake. Yes! God woke me up so that I could go write. Yes! Except that in my heart, I did not feel like that was why God awakened me. To my surprise, and honestly my distress, I felt He was telling me to lay there awake and pray and rest. 


I questioned Him. "Do you know I am really awake, Lord, and that some of my best writing occurs at 3:30 am? Are you sure I can't get up and finish these articles that are due in FIVE hours?" But, as best as I can hear God at 3:30 am, I really felt like He said, "I will bless you for doing what I am calling you to do. Rest and pray." So, from 3:30 to 5:30 am, I prayed. I prayed for Mom. For Dad. For healing. For my family. For my extended family. For grace. For love. For mercy. For my friends who were suffering. For my church family. For missionaries. For my ministry. For my calling. For anything and anyone God brought to my mind during those hours. 


At 5:30 am, I fell asleep and I slept until 6:15 when I had to get up and start getting ready for the day. After a quick cup of coffee and a peanut butter slathered waffle, I sat down at the computer. I was ready to write.


I decided to check my email. And there it was. An email from the editor of the magazine. He told me not only to take until the end of the day on Friday, but to take the weekend to finish the articles. To say I was relieved was an understatement.  I was incredibly grateful for the extension. 


And then I read the time stamp on the editor's email.


3:30 am. 


In God's economy, time is never wasted. In fact, it is usually multiplied. He is not bound by time. He can actually make time abound.


He is faithful, friends.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; 

His mercies never come to an end; 

  they are new every morning; 

great is Your faithfulness. 

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, 

“therefore I will hope in Him.” 

I would love to know how God has blessed you lately. Maybe with extra energy? Time? Please share below or here if reading by email. We celebrate the faithfulness of God! 

Living for ONE,

Kelli


If you are joining this series on Balancing Life today, you might want to go back and read the previous articles.


A Balancing Act: Juggling Life


First Things First


Priorities vs. Reality

Balancing Life Series: Priorities vs. Reality

At the risk of sounding very corny, I have composed some lyrics today for our blog time together.  I have either had too much coffee or not enough. 


In memory of Whitney Houston (one of my faves growing up), I would like for you to sing my lyrics to the tune of "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?" If you don't know the song, well, you should. Anyway, sing along:

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Where does all the time go?
Can it find its way home
Back to my calendar
of a month that's flying by?
And If I really need it
Won't it always be there?
I look at my time
and I know that it is all, up to me












Still reading? Whew. Thanks to the few of you who continued after that. I am continuing the Balancing Life Series. If you missed the first two posts,  you can read them here:

• The Balancing Act: Juggling Life
• First Things First

Seriously, we wonder where our time goes. We pause at the end of the day and think, "What did I really do today?" If you are like me and find yourself having these discussions with yourself often, we might need some intervention.


You have heard the old adage, "You can identify someone's priorities by looking at their checkbook and their calendar." I believe there is some truth to that statement. How we spend our time or our money does indeed show what or who is important to us. But maybe what we want to be important to us doesn't really line up with what is showing up on the calendar or in the checkbook. Time for CHANGE.


I want to issue a PRIORITY CHALLENGE. Yes, I want us to take this next week starting today and ending with next Wednesday and really look at what's important to us. 
What are we going to do?

• Make a list of priorities -- what we really WANT to be important in our lives.
• Take a blank calendar and actually write in what you did in thirty minute blocks. Include everything - eating, sleeping, family time, working, shopping, cooking, reading, etc. Need a blank calendar? (Find one here.)
• I know many of us already have calendars with appointments and such on them - you can use them to remember things, but not to actually record for this week.

What I have found by doing this is that my reality (what I actually do with my time) does not line up with my priorities (how I want to use my time.) If I want my family to know that they are important to me, I need to use my time in a way that truly reflects that.

I know life is crazy. Trust me...mine is too. (just read my post about my life on a mine train.) But this challenge is to help us both. The worst that could happen is for 2012 to fly by and we wonder...where did all the time go? Let's not wonder anymore...let's figure it out!

If you are in on this challenge, then just comment, I'm in! We'll check back in next Wednesday and I might just give away a prize! (Like a CD with me singing my new time lyrics to Whitney Houston's music.) And if you are reading by email...I love you and you can comment here.

I believe God wants us to be good stewards and managers of everything He has given us - including our time. Living for ONE means using our time in a way that ultimately glorifies Him.

Living for ONE,

Kelli

linking with Courtney at Women Living Well