Quality Time or Quantity Time

Ah the great debate between quality time and quantity time. Is it better to have a lot of devoted time to a person or project or is it the quality of time that is greater? In pondering this I have discovered that both are true and they both demand commitment. Of course individual situations often dictate whether it is quantity or quality. Even for myself it is hard to determine which I prefer. With our lifestyle so busy and unpredictable having family time is sometimes a difficult task. I have discovered that I want both quality and quantity. I want the five minute talks and the quick little e-mails but I also long for the extended moments when nothing is said but we are all in the same room together, breathing the same air, knowing everyone is close. Our relationship with God is like that. God desires our day to day devotion time be it long or short. The fact that we designate some time to Him each day is pleasing to Him and yet He longs for those times when we retreat to a hidden place for an extended amount of time and just focus on being in His presence, breathing His air and knowing He is close. "Remember the Sabbath day" isn't legalism, it's a commitment. I don't have to be legalistic to devote quality or quantity time to God, I just have to do it.

Outside

Yesterday I painted some of the outdoor white trim on my house. I do not enjoy being outside so painting the outdoor trim was not pleasant. I do like to paint but only inside. Generally speaking I enjoy any kind of painting but for some reason painting outside took most of the fun out of the job. I know most people look for a reason to be outside and even enjoy it but this was not my idea of a good time. I love projects and I am not afraid of a challenge but they are all inside. As I painted, wishing that the sun would stop glaring in my face, I thought about how we all have to do things we don't like to do. Life isn't always fun, easy or comfortable. I'm different, I know that. I feel at home in an airport and I feel my best eating food I have never had before. Yet being outside in the sun irritates me. God knew just what I needed yesterday. He was stretching me, taking me outside of my comfort zone, making me go "outside". It's good for us to do things we don't want to do. I guess it's called growing up.

In the Trash!

I was reading in Hebrews this morning and my eye seemed stuck on this one verse, " So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God."(Hebrews 3:12 Message)
I kept reading the part that says "unbelief lying around" and began imagining "unbelief" as if it were old socks, dirty dishes, or newspapers lying around my house. You know... the stuff no one wants to pick up and take care of. I could visualize the dishes, socks, and newspapers but what about "unbelief"? And yet it is true, we leave it lying around in our mind and in our heart. Sometimes the worst thing we do is pick it up only to speak our "unbelief" and lay it inside of someone else's heart and mind. Lets make it a point today to pick up our junk. I don't want to get tripped up and I certainly don't want to trip someone else up. Lets put "unbelief" where it belongs...in the trash!

Pulled in a million directions

I was feeling pulled in several directions. I am sure you know the feeling, someone wants your attention while the phone is ringing and another person is tugging at your sleeve. By the end of the day you want to collapse but there are several more projects that demand attention and before you know it it's after midnight...again. Since I am not a night person "after midnight" is not nice. That is just how I felt last night and I was visualizing those feelings and saw myself being pulled left and right back and forth. I could see my arms and legs being stretched further and further and feeling like I just might split in two or maybe three pieces. Then I knew that God had an answer for me. I could feel God drawing me toward Him but instead of feeling pulled in yet another direction I felt embraced and whole. I need to remember this, the next time I feel overwhelmed by so many of life's demands, I need to take a moment and draw close to the One who keeps me all together.

Failure

I am no stranger to failure. It seems we are all destined to fail at some point (or points) in our life. I have one failure that I have to face day after day. Several weeks ago I decided to repaint my bathtub. This didn't seem like a terribly hard thing to do. I read the box and thought, "Oh I could do that easily." I set aside the day to do the work and as the box instructed, I scrubbed and sanded, rinsed and dried the tub until I had prepped the surface and it was ready to paint. Taking my premixed spray cans I sprayed and sprayed. With every layer the tub looked better and better. Now only 2 short months later the tub is pealing and bubbling all over looking worse and worse with patches of peeled paint over top of a nasty looking tub. Failure screams at me every time I take a bath and clean the tub. I had been so sure I could do this job.
Today, as I finished my bath, I couldn't help but think that this tub fiasco is much like other events in life. Often even after much hard work the result is failure. For many these failures define them. However what should define us is the courage to try again and to not give in to the voices of defeat. I'm not going to let a bathtub dictate to me how I feel or convince me of failure. This tub won't win...if I have to I can take a sledge hammer to it and take it out. Then we'll see who wins.

Best Bed and Breakfast in the World

Last night we stayed in a lovely Bed and Breakfast in Millersburg Ohio. You can take a peek at their rooms on this site http://www.thebarninn.com/ . We had the privilege to stay in the room called Memory Lane. It is much more beautiful than the photo shows. The room is spacious and the bed was oh so soft. It also includes an inviting fireplace and comfy sofa and recliner. The remodeled barn is filled with beautiful antique furniture and the decor is rich and inviting. When we arrived, we were greeted by Loretta, the warm and friendly hostess. She showed us all around and explained the yummy treats that were available. There were chocolate chip cookies and some kind of flaky berry jumble bars, all homemade. I had one of the jumble bars and it was melt in your mouth good. What can I say about breakfast. It was all fresh homemade goodness paired with the new found friends from all over the country. If you ever have a chance to go to Millersburg, make sure you stay at the Barn Inn. You will love it.

Why Do I Live

Some one asked me the other day, why do I live? The question wasn't something philosophical but an honest, soul searching, gut wrenching question. One that begged an answer that gave true validity to that person's life. Surprising to me was the fact that, throughout the years, I have been asked that same question by several others. Why do I live? Why do you live? For me the answer is simple. I live because I am dead, you see I died to myself years ago (yes, it is true that old self often wants to resurrect itself, nevertheless I am determined that it is dead). Like the Apostle Paul I can say, "The life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Why do I live? I live for Him. I don't have to understand how valuable I am, I just have to know that I am valuable. I don't have to have a reason to live, just a determination to live, knowing that my life has worth and it is important because someone greater than I choose to give me worth. The Bible tells me that there is no greater love that that which is shown when a man gives his life for a friend. Jesus Christ gave his life for you and I. The price He paid indicates our value. Oh yes there are places to go and things to do, but they don't determine the value of one's life. You have value because you are loved. My reason for living isn't wrapped up in what I can do or what I have done but rather in who I am and who loves me. So if you also wonder why you live, meditate on Jesus' love for you instead of meditating on your failures and lack of abilities. Think about God's goodness instead of the vanity of life. The reason I live? It is to return the love to the one who loves me most. That sure takes the pressure off from my day!