Friday, Are You Here Yet?

Two and a half years ago, we returned from living overseas and we were burned out, angry, and discouraged. We took a year to recover, to grow, to read books and be refreshed and to try to figure out what in the world we were going to do next. We spent hours in prayer, asking God to guide us and to show us what He had for us and how we could impact people for Him. We desired to be His light and salt in the world and we wanted to honor Him with our lives and our work. We sought His wisdom as we slowly dipped our toes in the pool of involvement at church and in the community.

If you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know that 2010 was a banner year for us. We started a company, published a book, and purchased a rental house. I took over the leadership role on the missions committee at our church and we stayed busy planning a Financial Freedom dinner and four-week follow-up course. We got my entire family together (all 15 of us) for the first time in 10 years to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary and Peter and I were shocked to find that 10 years of wedded bliss had passed for us as well.

With 2010 being such a big year, we had no idea what 2011 was going to hold. Well, let me tell you, in the words of Professor Hinkle (Frosty the Snowman, anyone?), we have been...

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!

I've been trying to remember the last time we had a night with nothing going on - nothing scheduled or planned. No company, no projects, no heading out to help someone. I'm coming up blank. And you know what? 99% of the time, we don't mind. We really don't. But right now we're so tired, as I told Peter on Monday morning, Friday night never looked so good. And we're about to get even busier - more church involvement, more electrical jobs, more house renovation.

I'm trying to keep in mind that we asked for God to use us and to open doors for us to share His love, but on Sunday morning, I woke up and admitted to Peter that I'm tired of people. Hey, I'm just being honest here. I'm not a people-person by nature - it's something I have to work on. Even more so now that I'm working with the public. {ah hem} However, I was recently reminded that along with all the other commands in the Bible for helping and loving and assisting and sharing, God also says:

Be still, and know that I am God {Psalm 46:10a}

In the midst of our hectic schedule and running around, I don't want to forget to be still before the Lord. To spend time in prayer and communion with Him and to remember that above all else, our time is to be spent on things that have eternal significance. I want to make sure that all the things (as good as they may be) that are taking up our days are ultimately honoring God and that we are pointing people to Christ through all that we say and do - at our jobs, with our friends, at church, and even in our online interactions.

In addition to making sure that we take time to be still before the Lord, the following verse is also a timely reminder. If we are busy to the point that I find myself voicing that I'm tired of people (you know, the ones I'm supposed to be sharing Christ's love with?), then I think it's about time for us to listen to the words of the author of Ecclesiastes:

So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people to do in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them. {Ecc. 8:15}

Hard work is good for us, and it's a part of this thing that we call life - no complaints about that. However, I've been to the point of burnout before and I don't want to find myself there again - so it's time for a little fun (which my sweet hubby has been planning for us). Friday is our 11th wedding anniversary, and I've already got a post written to go up on the morning of the 17th, so make sure you come back and check that out. In the meantime, if you don't see me around here (except on Friday for the regular Thankfulness List), you know what's going on: we're either running around like chickens with our heads cut off, or at least staying busy enough to keep us on the edge of crazy.

Have a great week, and remember to take time to be still and to have some fun!