"If Satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy."
These two quotes came to mind as I thought about what God taught me during the beginning of my summer here in Kodiak. About the first week and a half after I arrived, there were many times that I caught myself wanting to accomplish one task and quickly move on to the next. Those tangible things we can check off our list- I wanted to get stuff done! Well.. God had something much more important to show me. While, yes, those checklist things are important and necessary, how often do we get so wrapped up in our to-do's that we miss out on wonderful opportunities to share life with other people?! My mind is constantly running through the list of things that I want and need to get accomplished. BUT.. I felt God saying "Stop. Sit down. Enjoy this moment." I began to feel a peace about leaving those to-do's for a while and to spend time in the moments and opportunities that God was putting in front of me.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.." ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1
This means that there is a time to sit down and eat ice cream with friends,
A time to watch a new friend Yupik dance and learn about the Native culture she is so passionate about,
A time to sit by the ocean in complete awe of the Creator of the Universe,
There is a time for sharing and for listening,
A time to climb a mountain, go for a run, or go 4-wheeling through God's amazing world,
A time to play with little kids and pet a puppy,
There is time to invest in other people's lives,
A time to run and jump in the ocean on your birthday,
And a time to hang out with people doing absolutely nothing except enjoying one another's company.
Too often we allow precious moments and sweet opportunities to pass us by simply because we think we're too busy. We live in a fast-paced world, and yet God commands us.. "Be still, and know that I am God."
The things of this earth will pass away; our to-do lists won't matter any more; there will be no test to make sure we checked off all of the things we add to our ever growing list.. What WILL matter, are the people's lives we were involved in, who we showed Christ's love to. Our priorities become clear when we look at the amount of time we spend doing various things. Yes, there are - and always will be - things that must get done. Our to-do lists are never going to go away. But I, for one, don't want to miss any more opportunities to spend time with someone who may be lonely, to love on someone who is hurting, or to get to know someone God places in my path. My man-made to-do list can wait sometimes; God's open doors are calling.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.." ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1
This means that there is a time to sit down and eat ice cream with friends,
A time to watch a new friend Yupik dance and learn about the Native culture she is so passionate about,
A time to sit by the ocean in complete awe of the Creator of the Universe,
There is a time for sharing and for listening,
A time to climb a mountain, go for a run, or go 4-wheeling through God's amazing world,
A time to play with little kids and pet a puppy,
There is time to invest in other people's lives,
A time to run and jump in the ocean on your birthday,
And a time to hang out with people doing absolutely nothing except enjoying one another's company.
Too often we allow precious moments and sweet opportunities to pass us by simply because we think we're too busy. We live in a fast-paced world, and yet God commands us.. "Be still, and know that I am God."
The things of this earth will pass away; our to-do lists won't matter any more; there will be no test to make sure we checked off all of the things we add to our ever growing list.. What WILL matter, are the people's lives we were involved in, who we showed Christ's love to. Our priorities become clear when we look at the amount of time we spend doing various things. Yes, there are - and always will be - things that must get done. Our to-do lists are never going to go away. But I, for one, don't want to miss any more opportunities to spend time with someone who may be lonely, to love on someone who is hurting, or to get to know someone God places in my path. My man-made to-do list can wait sometimes; God's open doors are calling.
