I have for a while now wanted to share my thoughts on our youth website but not really known how without filling up the front page. This is my next idea. I don't have enough thoughts to write every day so my hope is that others will join in. My other hope is that people will respond to what is written. We only see each other once or twice a week and usually there is so much going on that we miss talking with each other.
This post is called Busy Busy. It seems like the summer and this school year has gone by faster than any year I can remember. I blink and a week flies by. Something that God has been challenging me to do is have a balanced life. What this means to me is that it isn't good enough to just do ministry well or be a good dad or husband. God is showing me that He wants me to be successful in all parts of life. So far after 30 years I have found this to be completely impossible and I haven't seen many examples of people who do this well. Even as I write this my daughter interrupts me with a picture she wants me to look at (I'm being a bad dad). I have met successful people who have failed marriages. I've met successful people who neglect their kids because of their work. I've met family people who have no time for anything outside of their family because they have no time.
Usually people do well in a few things but very poorly in one or two things. If people are doing well with work they may be doing poor at home or with their health or with their spiritual life. When we become busy in life, one part of our life always suffers, usually our health or spirituality.
The areas of my life that I try to keep a tab on are
- Personal Spiritual life: Am I daily talking with God, knowing his plans for me and praying constantly for those He has put around me? Am I living a life worthy of being called a son of God?
- Work/School: Different for me than others but am I reaching goals, doing well, am I worth the money?
- Family: Am I spending quality time with my wife and kids? Am I a good role model? Is my wife happy? Are my kids happy?
- Community: Am I a voice in the community some how? Do I contribute to helping those around me or am I too busy with my own life? Would anyone in my neighbourhood miss me if I was gone?
-Justice: Am I in any way fighting injustice? (social, political, environmental)
-Health: Am I a model of health? Am I an example to follow in what I eat and activities I do?
Am I missing something? I'm sure I am.
The verse God has led me to for the youth this year but also for myself is Matt 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Jesus is talking about material things. The truth for me is that a lot of the time I get trapped seeking material things and get sidetracked in life. I've been trying to live this verse out in my life and I am finding victory. It is impossible to live a balanced life. God desires to make my life balanced when I seek him and his glory. When I seek to bring God glory with my life, God says "yes, I want him to succeed". I'm finding my stress level very low. I'm finding time to write in a blog. I'm finding that I am having victory in all areas of my life when for 30 years I did not.
And even though I am busy in life, God is telling me which things are important and what can wait. He is freeing me up for ministry and life. Doug
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