when i give up the gods of "i'm in control" & "my time is my own"

My sister very graciously took Claire for the whole day today (the kids don't have school) so that I could do stuff around the house to get ready for vacation. (We're leaving tomorrow for a few days up the coast, and it's been a busy week and I have a ton of stuff to do.)

In the meantime, Bob called a plumber to come check out a mysterious water sound we've had in the house for a few days.  So the plumber arrived awhile ago, and it turns out a joint in one of the pipes under the house was soldered improperly at some point in the history of our old house, and is leaking.

There is a little lake under our house.

He will fix the joint and the water will absorb into the dirt, so it's not a huge deal.  But all the water to the house is turned off, and he is working in a few different rooms, and so I'm kind of hiding in the computer room.

Watching the clock tick away and GETTING NOTHING DONE.

Most of the things I need to do today (cleaning and laundry) involve water.

A few minutes ago I really just wanted to scream, but then I decided not to, because really, I'm being an idiot.

I know you all know exactly what I'm talking about, because we are all women, and all women are busy and need more time, and I don't know about you, but I am really, really selfish about those chunks of free time I get.  When Claire still napped THAT NAP TIME WAS SACRED and I would not answer the phone or let anything interrupt that time for me to "accomplish things". 

And if my sister takes Claire for the day, THAT IS MY TIME AND NO ONE CAN MESS IT UP. EVERYBODY MUST FALL INTO LINE WITH MY PLANS BECAUSE THESE ARE MY PLANS AND THEY MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE TIME FRAME AND MANNER WHICH I HAVE ENVISIONED AND ORDAINED. I HAVE SPOKEN.

I'm totally off on my thinking in this area.  Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”

As it so happens, my friend Charity, who is in the Tuesday evening small group I attend, just recommended a book to me called Shopping for Time.  I rushed right home Tuesday night and ordered it from Amazon, and it arrived yesterday. I have it on top of the pile of things I'm going to take on vacation.

I need and want some good, solid Biblical advice about "planning, evaluating, strategizing, and making wise choices concerning my time and priorities."

Here is what the Table of Contents looks like:

It's not a long book, because, the authors reasoned, if you are pressed for time, you don't have time to read a long book about time management.

Anyway, I'm going to read it and then report back here to you and tell you what I learn.  (I may end up reading it all today, because my options without water, sitting here in my new craft room studio apartment with the cats, are limited.) (Happily, I do have some good root beer and a broccoli salad with chicken for lunch. So I'm good for food.)

In the meantime, I'm thinking about this from Kristin Chesemore, one of the authors of the book . . . it's a post on the most excellent and valuable blog she co-writes with her mother and sisters called Girl Talk.

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Unspeakable Peace by Kristin Chesemore

“In all your ways acknowledge him.” Proverbs 3:6

It’s a familiar verse. One we are often quick to quote and slow to apply. And yet, if obeyed, it can produce peace in your soul and mine during busy seasons. Charles Bridges’ provides fresh insight into this little verse. Consider his comments carefully:

"Take one step at a time, every step under Divine warrant and direction. Ever plan for yourself in simple dependence on God. It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day without his counsel. He loves to be consulted...Consider no circumstances too clear to need his direction. In all thy ways, small as well as great; in all thy concerns, personal or relative, temporal or eternal, let him be supreme. Who of us has not found the unspeakable 'peace' of bringing to God matters too minute or individual to be entrusted to the most confidential ear?"

Proverbs 3:6 is our go-to verse when we’re faced with a big decision. We are often quick to acknowledge the Lord and seek His guidance in extraordinary situations. However, we assume we can “carry on…the ordinary matters of the day without his counsel.” God calls this self-idolatry and pride.

How often I live as if I don’t need God in order to clean my bathroom, or discipline the boys, or get dinner on the table—as if I am sufficient in and of my self to handle most things!  My lack of dependence upon God is pronounced in these “ordinary matters.”

And yet, as Mr. Bridges points out, “God loves to be consulted…no circumstance [is] too clear to need his direction!” He wants us to bring to him all our little decisions, our minor frustrations, our small dilemmas. He doesn’t just tolerate our questions—God LOVES to be consulted! Hasn’t he commanded us to acknowledge Him in all our ways?

A season of busyness may tempt you to anxiety, but as Christians, we are truly meant to experience peace in our souls each and every day. This precious, “unspeakable peace,” comes when we bring to God all of the ordinary matters of our day. 

So what were you going to do next? Before you get up from your computer, pause, read this verse and quote again, and acknowledge Him. Unspeakable peace can be yours for the rest of the day.

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I loved that post! I wish I could tattoo it on my arm.

ps The photos don't have anything to do with what I'm talking about. It's just a cute pair of shoes I found at TJ Maxx yesterday for $7.00 and was excited to show you. :) And I think posts are more interesting with photos.

I have always, always wanted a pair of tennis shoes with little purple flowers on them. I just didn't know that until I saw them.