Tagged: time

Jun 08

Summer

‘sez:

“This summer will be different,” she says, like she says at the beginning of every adult summer she’s ever lived. “I’m going to relax and not do a thing.” Then she gets out her planner and looks at the lovely blank pages, and begins to fill them in. “Hmm, I’ve got to squeeze in a trip to the homestead and the in-laws. I’ve also got to set aside time for that class I want to take. Oh, and let’s not forget our family vacation.” By the time she finished planning, the blank pages that represented her time of leisure were reduced to 3 days. This reality made her stop and reflect. Her view changed. She realized that at each moment she had the ability to live FREELY. From that time forward, her planner no longer dictated what time she could relax and pause. She began to Enjoy Each Moment.

amanda ∞

4 comments Posted in Altered Art, Art, Art Journal, Balance, Liberty
Dec 29

New Year's Resolution

New year resolutions, I am not one to set them, but have found myself pondering and praying about God’s directions for me. This fall I spent extremely too much time on the computer. I am sure I wasted days. This is not what God has prepared for me. Last spring, God began stripping responsibilities and duties from me to be available for His direction. Rather than praying and listening, I have been filling my “still time” with mindless computer time. Rather than playing games with my son or playing the piano, I have been pouring this beautiful gift of time down the drain. As a result, my family became less intimate this fall. As I sat staring at the computer screen, everyone else quickly learned to piddle away their time as well.  To guard this precious gift and to allow myself to live more fully as God directs, goals and disciplines must be set. I must choose to do these things.

  • I will not wander aimlessly on the internet.
  • I will not play computer games.
  • I will minimize Outlook so as not to be continually scanning for new emails.
  • I will continue to exercise regularly and will make an effort to add exercise time to my routine.
  • I will continue to focus on feeding my family nutritious food.
  • I will take my vitamins.
  • I will drink lots of water.
  • I will not drink alcohol.
  • I will monitor my coffee intake.
  • I will continue my daily Bible reading and will seek more time in God’s precious Word.
  • I will call, at minimum, one friend each week.
  • I will look for opportunities to be quiet with God throughout each day.
  • I will have conversations with each child individually each day.
  • I will frequently remind my husband to take me out.
  • I will pray for artistic inspiration.
  • I will do my best with household duties without comparing my life and choices to others.
  • I will be of good cheer.
  • I will give thanks.

I notice 3 distinct reasons for these goals as I list them. One is to guard my mind from becoming complacent; two, to keep my body (and my family) in good condition so that I am available; three, to build on relationships with family and friends and anyone God puts in my path. I do all of these things to develop a greater intimacy with my Father. Whenever one of these areas is lacking, I tend to loose touch with the One who created me.

So I suppose if I were to have a New Year’s Resolution, it would be: To let nothing hinder me in my passionate pursuit of a deeper relationship with my Father, not even myself.

amanda ∞

2 comments Posted in Art, Balance, Blogging, God's leading, God's Word, Health, Liberty, Music, Myself, Prayer, Relationships, Transformation, Worship