busy days

It is sometimes overwhelming to think about all the things we are trying to accomplish. I know I have a running list, a calendar on the fridge, a calendar on my phone, one in my purse and one on my desk at work. There is also a work calendar at my place of employment with school wide events, a church calendar, my kids’ school calendars and after school activities. The list goes on and on. We have chores that need to be done, people to care for and all the activities that fill our days. We have so much going on at times, that we become overwhelmed, exhausted and maybe even resentful of these many things. I may feel like I have left more to do at the end of the day than I actually accomplished. I don’t think I am the only one. I am sure we all have those moments. I realize that we can fill our calendars to overflowing so much so that the important things of life get overlooked. I heard someone today talking about scheduling ‘quality time’ with a loved one. Quality time. Isn’t all time, quality? God made time and therefore, anything he made is quality. How we spend our time may not be of quality. I am thinking that all we do should be for the glory of God.  I Corinthians 10:31 says:

Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.

That means whatever we are doing should be done all for His glory. I am not always grateful for those chores and activities that feel like they are wasting my time. But, I should be grateful and glorifying God for that house that needs a repair or that floor that needs sweeping. I should be thanking God for those that made that mess in the first place. While cleaning up a mess may not seem like it glorifies God, our attitude doing it should be most important. We should be glorifying God in the middle of all things. Our lives, our heart and our mouths should be pouring forth praise to the Creator who made all things and has blessed us with these things. The custodian at my school reminds me of this often. I may walk through the cafeteria after the breakfast time and I will hear her singing praises and magnifying God as she sweeps and mops that floor as she does every day. She is always ready to praise.

If those things we are busying ourselves with are taking away time from the most important, then maybe we need to re-evaluate our priorities. Maybe we have to put aside and de-clutter our busy-ness. Have we put so much busy activity into our calendars that we neglect the important things of God? Have we neglected our time with Him, with the body of Christ, with precious loved ones?  God did create time and He knows the limits of time. We all know this too well. Time with God is the most precious. It is time that should be marked off first and foremost. Time to spend in His presence, time to pray and read His word. That should be most valued as the time best spent. Time with the body of Christ, in fellowship and corporate worship, learning of Him should also be of high priority. There are not many things that should interfere with time with God’s body. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are part of that body and need to value our time with one another. “Forsake not the assembling of ourselves together.”

Hebrews 10:25

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We need one another for strength, and fellowship. This is how we support one another, check on one another and join together in the intimate worship of our Savior. Fellowship with the body should be a high priority.

Time with family should also be high on the list. Family, unfortunately, sometimes falls to the bottom of our list. Marriages and relationships greatly suffer from neglect. God ordained the family as a reflection of His love for us and it needs to be given the utmost respect and priority as this truly does glorify God. Family units are meant to reflect the love of God. When we are not invested in our marriages, children, and family, we are failing to reflect the love God has for us. This is a true failure on the part of Christians. We need to place a higher value on family relationships. It isn’t about what we give or buy. It is about the care and love invested into one another.

All we do, rather great or small, is meant to be done for the glory of God. What activities are you doing? Do any not glorify God?  Does your attitude while doing those little things reflect the love you have for God and the wonderful blessings He has bestowed upon you? I know I have to remember, even in the small things that may seem menial or just time consuming, we are still a reflection of the love of God. As I tie a shoe, again; sweep up that mess one more time; or just listen to a friend, all those little things add up to faithfulness in glorifying God when done from a heart that loves and wants to reflect God.  We can remember that even though it may just seem like another delay or another thing to do, our heart will reflect what is in it. God knows our hearts and He knows that we are doing many of these things because we love those around us, we are trying to make things better for them, teach them, love them, and sometimes, just get through the next hurdle. God knows it all. He loves us and He cares for us too.

Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

God will give us the strength when we are weak or give us a chance to rest. We need to call on Him, spend time with Him and always keep our time with Him as most precious. May we all take a moment to reflect on the goodness of God and the many blessings that may fill our days because we are so blessed to partake in each activity of our day. Each moment we are alive is a gift from God.