Monday, September 28, 2009

"To Do" Lists


A difficult day for writing to say the least. You know those days when you have enough things on your 'To Do' list to last all week...and you, oh so uncleverly, think that you can get them all done in one day? Well, today was one of those days for me. Why do I do this to myself? The morning got off to a bad start when my daughter, Riley, came into my room to let me know that she still wasn't feeling well. Her flu virus had migrated from respiratory system to stomach. Ugh! Another day home from school.

I had planned on posting a blog to my site this morning, and finishing my homework for my writing class, before heading to the doctor's office to have some stitches removed. Oh, and did I mention the gourmet dinner I had planned to whip up when I got home? That's right. A five-star recipe printed off from RecipeZaar (www.recipezaar.com): Chicken-Avocado Sandwich Wraps; complete with Caesar salad and mandarin orange jello. Laundry and a quick trip to both the grocery store and the library wouldn't be too difficult to fit in would they? Surely I could pack a few things in my suitcase, before Riley and I leave for College Days on Wednesday. Hopefully the stomach bug will be a thing of the distant past by then, because our plane tickets, rental car and hotel are already booked and paid for. Then the phone calls began.

Serving as meal coordinator of the south east region for our church, there was a need for a meal to be taken to a family later in the week. Uh-oh, I was going to be out of town when the meal was needed. Fortunately, there is a co-captain in my group! A couple phone calls later, and I realized I was neither going to finish my blog post nor my on-line class homework.

Later, as I rushed down the stairs to head out the door to my doctor's appointment, Riley asked me what time I had scheduled our chiropractic appointment for that afternoon. What chiropractic appointment? I made a quick phone call, scheduling our appointment for 5:15 that afternoon. So much for my gourmet meal...Maybe a frozen pizza would appease everyone. Not exactly what I had planned, but it would have to work in a pinch.

I let my mind drift back to my morning quiet time. Somewhere between my morning cup of coffee and the dinner pizza, I had lost my focus and was operating on autopilot. I re-opened my journal and read the verse I had copied this morning: "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song I will praise him." (Psalms 28:7; KJV) I was trying to accomplish my 'list' in my strength, not the Lord's. I was tense and ruffled, definitely not in a rejoicing mood. I couldn't honestly say that my song at the moment would be one of praise. Time to repent and get back on track.

It is so good to be reminded that our God is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy (Psalms 103:8). He is faithful to forgive us when we humble ourselves and confess our sin (1 John 1:9). A quick glance through the Psalms, and I was able to get a grip on where I should be focused. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, King David penned the following, "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning, for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee." (Psalms 143:8; KJV) Acknowledging Him in all my ways guarantees that He will direct my paths. My prayer today is to submit to His authority and allow Him to re-write my "To Do" list with His pen. How about you? Does anything on your list need to be re-written by your Heavenly Father?

2 comments:

  1. I have had the day you just described and I have to say I'm soooo feeling your pain! It's so hard to get all the little things in. I don't stress as much if I get my most important things done first. And, yes, I do pray that God will keep me on track!

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  2. I feel your pain. These things always happen at the TIME when there isn't any time for them. But like you say, we need to DO what he has for us to do not what we THINK he wants us to do. After all, it's all about HIM and the will of his kingdom. Great post Maria. :)

    Serving At The Master's Table,

    Robyn :)

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