Author: Kim

With Thanksgiving

Published on by Kim

For everything created by God is good,
and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. (I Timothy 4:4-5)

Have you ever seen a child refuse absolutely to eat certain foods? Well, I was that child. It’s not pretty, is it?

Paul, in the verses above, is talking about eating and not eating certain foods, but how often do we scorn anything created by or designed by God? Our paths are designed by Him. We receive good and perfect gifts from His hand. How blessed we are!

This week, Americans traditionally think about and talk about things for which we are thankful. Most of the time we are thinking about the past — what we already have. That is so good, but let’s take that one step further.

Today may not be full of what we would have requested (if that were an option). How are we receiving that from God’s hand?

The plans we have had up until this moment have shattered. Is this a time for thanksgiving?

The simple phrase — “with thanksgiving” — is convicting for me, at least. How am I receiving each moment of life to come? Lord, give me the grace to receive them with thanksgiving.

Deep Breath

Published on by Kim1 Comment

You know those days where the so-much-to-do-so-little-time cliche is overwhelmingly true for you? When you are surrounded by fires and are spinning in circles, beating each blaze in turn? When you don’t even have a minute to think?

Our natural response to this is to go in swinging — do as much as we can as fast as we can and all at the same time. This is counter-productive. Our heart is in the right place, but our head isn’t driving.

Next time this happens, would you try something new?

Take a deep breath.

Take a deep breath and rapidly prioritize. I’m only talking about a minute here, no major planning. Just decide what needs to be done next and then next after that. Once you have a start on your priorities, start doing them. I’m all for plowing — but in a straight line! It works better than running in circles or a scatter-shot approach.

The deep breath gets you off on the right foot. Collect yourself a minute. So often we respond to others’ urgency or react emotionally before thinking things through. Remember, tension will work against you. Give yourself a few seconds to make sure you react wisely and think through your priorities well.

If you will focus on one thing at a time, knocking them off the list as you go, you will get more done faster. You will be thinking more clearly and be able to handle each item well. Once each thing is done, you have one less task to think about, and that relief will snowball the more you do.

DEEPBreath --Now Get it done!