I've Made My List and I've Checked it Twice

A line from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" song. Even Santa makes lists. I'm there! I admit it. Should have been there long before now when I forgot this or that at the grocery store or in the meal preparation for family or friend get-together. Oh, yes! I've been the one that prepared a lovely meal and then when the meal was over, realized I left a salad or another item in the refrigerator instead of serving it.

Yes, I make "to do" lists and I'm proud of it! I'm filled with a sense of accomplishment as I check off each "to do" item. Last week, my "to do's" included getting my home ready for the family coming in, getting the pantry and fridge stocked with food, getting my baking done, preparing all the dishes for the meals (I make a list of each item and check it off once it’s prepared), squeezing in my annual family photo -- even though we had to do it inside because outside it was pouring down rain.

There are a lot of "have to's" in my life. I have to pay bills. I have to respond to emails. I have to go to the grocery store. I have to put gas in my car. I have to wash my car. I have to clean my house. I have to eat. I have to pay taxes.

It’s interesting to look at my "have to" list, and the "get to" list. My "get to" list are the things I "get to" do spontaneously AND intentionally, because I CAN, and because I really want to do those things. I GET TO write a daily blog that often keeps me up late into the wee hours of the morning -- seeking God for "the word" that just might make the difference in someone's day. I get to be a living-out-loud Nana, Mom, daughter, and friend -- no hold-backs on living with passion and purpose. I get to be free of having to have the house in perfect order when the grandkids are here -- the messes are nothing compared to the freedom of doing the things that matter most. Spending time together TODAY -- in this sweet, present time -- time that we'll never have like this day again.

Then I wonder where does my time with God fall? Into the "have to" list or the "get to" list? Do I consider my time in the Bible as a “have to” or a “get to?” And what about my worship and praise to Him? Actually, I do pray for God to create in me a "get to" holy desire to spend time with Him, in His Word, worshipping Him and praising Him for all He means to me. I want it to be the item on my to-do list that becomes so non-negotiable that it comes before everything else in my life. I want my life to be filled with “get to” moments and not “have to” tasks because I can see them all through the lens of blessing and answered prayer.

Aren't we so glad that we're not on God's "have to" relationship list, but we are on His most precious "get to" relationship list. He considers us His most cherished and beloved possessions. He even LISTS us on the palm of His hands – we are unforgettable to Him. Shouldn't He be unforgettable to us?

“….yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” Isaiah 49:16

Let’s Meet Him at the Well

Every morning, I’m up and at ‘em by 5:30 am to look over the text of my blog one more time before I hit the “post” button. Not long after that, I send my morning “I love you” text messages to my children. I’m like clock-work with my daily deliveries – on FB, my blogger page and those text messages. I always feel like I’m “reporting for duty” each morning. And, then, it’s checking in with Heaven Central as, while it’s still dark outside, I make a cup of flavored coffee, settle into my favorite chair and, now, for the last few chilly mornings – put on my fireplace. I grab my lightweight blanket and reach for my journal and devotional. It’s my morning ritual -- my time with Him. Our time to be together.

I get to be with Jesus. What will He show me today? How will today’s walk and talk with Him affect me and those I’ve been called to encourage? I don’t want to miss a single thing in God’s Word that could make a significant difference in my day. I don’t want the distractions of the clock or my cell phone or the weight of daily assignments to pull my thoughts away from His. I’ve come to meet with Jesus -- to gather with Him for a momentary time at the “well” to take in His “living water”. It’s the same “living water” that He gave to the Samaritan woman. (John 4:4–42) That water He offered her would cause her to never thirst again. I also meet Him at the "well", and each day I am filled with joy, peace, comfort, hope, and strength. Then, like the Samaritan woman, I go and tell via my daily posts. I share with others about this Man Who not only promised her and me that He would be our everything, He also said "I am that living water. I am that Spirit. that Truth, that Way, that Life.” “Many Samaritans from that city believed in Him because of the woman's testimony.

This is the Jesus that prompts me each morning to share His Good News. I like to think that I’m like that Samaritan woman as I pass along His “living water” to others, too. In those priceless moments that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the town well where she came to draw water, Jesus opened her eyes and heart to a love as she had never known before. She had a revelation of Jesus – the one who ignited a fire in her soul to go tell the townspeople about Jesus. In our special moments with God, let’s ask Him to open our hearts so wide that we long to know His love like we've never known before. Let’s yearn for a deeper understanding of His character. Let’s wake up every day saying, “Good Morning Jesus,” and embrace the desire to spend time with Him, discovering His truths, and rejoicing in His promises.

And in those quiet moments as we read through the pages of our Bible, may we pray that our eyes are opened to see Him more clearly and hear Him more distinctly. And when He does, let’s respond with a wellspring of joy and gratitude that will cause us to "go and tell" about this Man who quenched our thirst and made our spirits soar!

Maybe You Could Use a Gap Year or Month or Day

I’ve been in Austin to see two of my sweet Canadian cousins. The extra perk is that they are staying at my kids’ home for a few days until they head out for Comfort, TX where Tynessa Neufeld will be attending Bible School.

Tynessa is taking a “gap” year to wholeheartedly pursue God and His Word. A “gap year” is typically when a student takes off a year to figure out what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Sometimes that gap year affords them the opportunity to explore the world or volunteer to help build water wells in third world countries or, in Tynessa’s case – to hone in on what God has planned for her future. Tynessa is three years in on her degree from the University of Manitoba, but along the way, she started asking “Where am I going? What will I be doing once I graduate? God, what IS your plan for my life?”

With so many questions about her future and a foolproof plan for her career future, she had an “aha” moment when she realized the answers can best be found in pursuing God and serving others. In fact, their first serving opportunity will be to Houston where the students will do their share in helping meet the needs there. I love her heart to be ON PURPOSE to get the answers for her future from HE Who knows everything about everything. The location is isolated and beautiful. I love that. Focus – void of the distractions of the world. Good for her and no doubt she will hear God’s voice -- loud and clear.

I, too, am in a “gap” year. I’m digging into the Word like the days when I was teaching full time which always gave me clear understanding for today’s decisions and tomorrow’s. We all need a “gap” time to clear our heads and hearts to hear directions from Heaven-Central! I sense that God may be waiting for many of us to admit to our dissatisfaction and lift our chins toward heaven and have guts enough to ask, “Are You asking more of me? Are You wanting me to pursue you more? Do You have plans for me that can only be known and found as I seek You with all my heart?”

If it is, then may God give peace and understanding to those of us who are unsettled. Over the course of the last six years, one of the things I believe God has consistently made clear to me is that He’d require more in my later years than less. Coasting was out of the question. If I wanted to be effective as a teacher and devoted follower of His, to bear more fruit so others see Him in me, I’d have to press in further, go deeper with Him in His Word, get bolder in love, service, and prayer. Those of us who are sensing an unsettled heart are expressing dependence on He Who GAVE His all for us. Unlike those with an "entitlement" mentality, our Lord was “titled” with God, Creator, Almighty, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, but He came to be one like us, without a title, to feel what we feel. He even took GAP times when He was found in the temple at age 12 and went home to learn more about His Father and pray and serve, and in His ministry years, He still needed to have GAP times when He’d steal away to a mountain to pray or to the Garden of Gethsemane to receive the strength He needed for what was up ahead.

We keep hearing the words “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. We must ask ourselves the questions: "Are we really praying anymore? Do we read our Bibles anymore? As hard as this is to accept, reading a blog post or a daily devotion doesn’t really qualify as reading the Bible. We’re getting push notifications on our phones for our daily Scripture readings, but is that really digging into and seeking God's face and reading and meditating on God's Word?

In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Paul refers to “the word of God which is at WORK within you.” Maybe it’s time for us to find some GAP moments, minutes, hours, days or even a year to seek Him and find Him. We won't have to look far. He's already there!

I Want My Life to be Filled With "I Get To" Moments

I am one to make "to do" lists.  And I'm filled with a sense of accomplishment as I check off each "to do" item.  Last week, my "to do's" included getting my home ready for the family coming in, getting the pantry and fridge stocked with food, getting my baking done, and getting my annual family photo taken.  I was able to check them all off.  

There are a lot of "have to's" in my life.  I have to pay bills.   I have to respond to emails.   I have to go to the grocery store.  I have to put gas in my car.   I have to clean my house.  I have to eat.  I have to wash my car.  I have to pay taxes.

It’s interesting to look at my "have to" list, and the "get to" list.  My "get to" list -- are the things I "get to" do spontaneously AND intentionally, because I CAN, and because  I really want to do those things.

I GET TO write a daily FB post that fills me with unabashed passion, that often keeps me up late into the wee hours of the morning -- seeking God for "the word" that just might make the difference in someone's day.   I GET TO run daily because it makes me feel alive and energized.  

I get to be a silly, wild and wanting-to-live-out-loud with my grandkids like, yesterday, playing hide-n-go-seek and skipping rocks on water, playing Apples-to-Apples and anything else to be a "rockin'" Nana!   I get to be free of having to have the house in perfect order when the grandkids are here -- the messes are nothing compared to the freedom of doing the things that matter most --

like have a sand-design competition -- and, yes, in Nana's house.  Spending time together TODAY -- in this sweet, present time -- time that we'll never have like this day again.  

Then I wonder where does my time with God fall?  Into the "have to"  list or the "get to" list?  Do I consider my time in the Word as a “have to” or a “get to?”  And what about my worship and praise to Him?    Actually, I do pray for God to create in me a "get to" holy desire to spend time with Him, in His Word, worshipping Him and praising Him for all He means to me.     I want it to be the item on my to-do list that becomes so non-negotiable that it comes before everything else in my life.   I want my life to be filled with “get to” moments and not “have to” tasks because I can see them all through the lens of blessing and answered prayer.

Aren't we so glad that we're not on God's "have to" relationship list, but we are His most precious "get to" relationship list.  He considers us His most cherished and beloved of all treasures.  Shouldn't we be living like that?