Time Managing Me

Managing time. How good are you at it? Do you get all the things you set out to do? How do you prioritise your time??

A lot seems to be happening round me at the moment. It's all keeping me busy so I am not complaining. After all I am a focused person. I like setting goals and targets and attaining them. But somehow I am feeling very overwhelmed by this 'busyness'. I have missed a few deadlines. I am not happy about this. I am running behind schedule on a few things. Even less happy! This is all making me feel guilty. It is not as if I have been idling away my time. Save for Jane Eyre on Sunday's tv, I have not even glanced at the box all week. Not that I watch telly all that much anyway! So how can I manage my time?

The greatest investment God has given us is time. He gives us all in equal proportion. How we spend it, determines our destiny to a large extent. What I want to know right now is this - am I managing time or is time managing me?

But why fret anyway? All I need do is ask the Holy Spirit to counsel me and help me in this. God, our Father liberally dispenses wisdom if we ask. I will ask Him for wisdom in managing my time. He does not want me rushed off my little feet. He will show me what to do. Outline a plan even. But I must listen too. With His experience in creating the world in 6 days and resting on the 7th, who is better qualified to manage my diary.

Happy Endings

Last night, I watched the concluding part of a BBC TV production, Jane Eyre. I thoroughly enjoyed the dramatisation of this old time classic by Charlotte Bronte. I watched with interest and absorbed the customes people wore, the houses they lived in, the servants the rich had, and such like. No doubt, customs in the 19th century contrast sharply to our modern way of living.

Mr Rochester in the story, wanted to marry Jane Eyre. However he could not marry her because he had a living wife, a lunatic, tucked away in an attic, hidden from the world. Because of the deep love between Rochester and Jane, he proposed that he and Jane, go away to the Mediteranean and live like brother and sister. He said he would not live in sin with her by pretending to be married. Living in sin? What's that today?

The story twists and turn. There is excitement in some bits and gloom in others. However, the story ends happily nonetheless. The attic lunatic died and Jane and Rochester eventually married and fulfilled their dreams.

Happy endings! If only life was always like that. But as Christians, whatever the case, we can find peace and joy in our Father. He knows the end from the beginning, so in that we can choose to be happy!

How Long Does It Take To Form A Habit?

This week I decided to make a new change to my morning weekday routine. I decided I would wake up just fifteen minutes earlier to spend time with God and God alone. In the past, my morning devotion with Him had been during my hour journey whilst driving to work. This week, it dawned on me that giving God FIRST place, FIRST thing in the morning was an excellent way to start the day. I couldn't think of a better way. Reasoning dictated that if God is never busy for me, why should I be busy for Him? What difference after all would a mere fifteen minutes less sleep make?

So far, it's Thursday and I have been doing splendidly since starting this habit on Monday. I somehow feel more energised. I also believe I have an extra spring in my step. I feel more confident, protected even, before I sit in my car! I still give God my attention whilst driving to work. But it's like these fifteen minutes are adding more value to that time too.

Some say it takes 21 days to form a habit for good. Whether it takes 21, 30 or 100 days, I ask God to give me the strength to carry on. I want to continue this habit, this routine. It is a good one. Let's face it, it would be oh so easy to just turn off the alarm, simply roll over and sleep those 15 minutes. And I would be a hyprocrite to say I haven't thought of doing that every morning that alarm has gone off. But my friend, what would I gain? Do I feel tired for the 'cut' in my sleep? No. So it seems I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

21, 30 or 100 days God is going to take me through this. He is after all my strength.

Man Does Not Live By Bread Alone!

Those chocolates I had my eyes on yesterday....guess what? Yes, they're gone. Finished! Devoured! Eaten! The rate at which they were dwindling down yesterday, comes at no surprise. And yes today, there are no birthdays, so no cakes. I don't have too much of a problem with that really. And yes, my colleague is munching at his crisps right about now, but frankly I don't fancy any. In fact I have not even given those crisps as much as a side glance compared to the longing in my popping eyes yesterday. I know he is eating them cause I can hear the rustle of the packet and the 'munch munch' as he happily eats away.

The enemy can't tempt me with food today. I am not hungry. Besides, I can get anything I desire at any time I wish. Satan has left me for a season as he did with Jesus in the wilderness.

But I had a fantastic time at the evening mid-week service yesterday. I basked in His presence. I did not want it to end. In His presence I had no time to think of food. My spirit and soul were fed. Indeed man cannot live by bread alone.

I'm Hungry

The pastor at my church declared a day's fast for us today. Fast started at midnight and ends after our mid-week service today. It is nearly 15:45 at this time of writing. I have probably another five hours to go before I can safely tuck into the delights and pleasures of food.

The mere mention of food just seems so amplified, meanwhile. I gazed at my colleague not too long ago happily eating his crisps. I looked at those crisps like something I had never seen before. Yet, I go literally months without indulging in them. Today, I could eat several packets given the chance. And guess what? Yes it's another colleague's birthday today. And he has brought in cakes to share. I am just so happy he is in another department. I have avoided that area like the plague. And you wouldn't believe what else! Another colleague got back from his holiday today in LA, laden (in my humble opinion) with Belgian chocolates. Well one box of chocolates looks 'laden' when you are hungry. Now, if there is any chocolates I would happily eat, it would be Belgian. I dared to take a look at the box a minute ago. Not much left. Oh please leave one or two for me to indulge tomorrow dearest colleagues.

Crucifying flesh. Concentrating on spiritual matters and not carnal desires. That's what we do when we fast. And the enemy so loves to tempt us when we do. I will plod on however. I will not be tempted. So get behind me satan.