I had not ever had a “Word of the Year” before, when the Lord spoke to me RESTORATION in 2013, then followed it up with a million and one “God Moments”.
Click on the word Restoration above, when I re read it, it gave me tears and chills.
Our Father in Heaven is so incredible to speak to us in such tangible ways. I was asking Him in to Restore what the locusts had eaten at my house and in my marriage in 2012. I was asking Him to restore my joy, to heal my heart.
He did.
He still is.
I feel my Word of the Year for 2014 is BALANCE. As the Lord has blessed our home in various areas, we have gotten busy.
And you know what I think about busy:
Burdened
Under
Satan’s
Yoke
So my commitment to 2014 is to filter everything through Christ Jesus and His word, and His desire to be Number ONE in my life. To stop and PRAY about each commitment before it goes on the calendar.
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3)
My second commitment is to put my husband and his needs next, followed by my precious children. This means that I will not always be staying up late at night to create a blog post for you all. This is tough for me to say and do, because I am a pleaser and by nature want to do my best, both feet in. I have worked hard to have blogs set into January, ready to go, because I worked ahead knowing the Holidays were going to be crazy.
But here is the deal….
No one made me blog 5 days a week for the past 3 1/2 years, but I have done it: driven by my need to give it my all.
I am plain burned out, and I think I need to admit that to you and to me. So, sometimes if you come and there is no post, just know I am choosing to snuggle up with Dale on the couch, make a t-shirt scarf, play a game with the kids, or just read a book for fun.
I also am going to have to find BALANCE in my Photography business as it grows. I want to limit myself to 2 appts. a week, no appointments wedding weekends, and once again put into place, a waiting list for any appointments beyond my set limit.
The pleaser in me wants to fit everyone in anytime they ask, but in putting my life back into its proper order, it will just not be possible. I know God will bless this commitment, even if it means some people chose another photographer. I am ready to be ok with that. I release it.
I also want to be careful not to over do next October-November. We call this the Christmas Card RUSH. I was working all morning, all nap time, AND staying up until 2 in the morning trying to get sessions done because there were simply not enough daylight hours.
Paxton got to the point where when I was heading outside he would ask, “You leaving a long time mommy? You got lots of photo shessions today, Mommy or just one?”
The others would ask, “Mommy, can I watch you edit so I can be with you?”
Yikes.
Time, no matter how much I beg, does NOT multiply.
For years I kept asking God to multiply my “Pie”, my time allotted each and every day.
A slice to hubby, a slice to kids, a slice to cooking, a slice to Facebook, a slice to blog, a slice to edit, a slice to a hurting friend, a slice to quiet time….wait, there are only crumbs left well before my list is done!
My family is my world, and I want to show them that by giving them my biggest, best piece of pie, not the crumbs. They are starving for me!
I want to seek them out while they are still seeking me back. Avery goes to school next year, these moments of me being a stay at home mom are passing quickly through the hour-glass, and I can’t help but feel jealous of the time I give other places.
So, can you commit with me to find BALANCE in 2014?
Anytime you add something, it means another area must give up!
Seems simple enough, but it was news to me!!!!!
Can we commit to limit busyness, so we can have family time around the table each evening, curl up with our spouse on the couch after a long day, read a book, or knit a scarf?
Commit to communing with God, no longer rushing from thing to thing, wondering where the time goes?
I want to find Balance in 2014.
My battle is not against the people who ask me for my time, but against the devil himself….
1 Peter 5:8 (AMP), it says:
“Be well-balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring (in fierce hunger), seeking someone to seize upon and devour.”
“Do you ever feel your life is out of control—out of balance? As a child of God, we must take time from our busyness to set our priorities in order. Life is a gift and should be lived well.
We all have emergencies where we burn the candle at both ends, but this should not be the norm or soon there will be no candle left to burn.
That candle is the spirit within us that inspires us and propels us into forward motion.“For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness”(Psalm 18:28).
The darkness refers to our confusion, hesitation, frustration, or anything that would put out the light within us, as life has been known to do. Finding balance in life applies to all age groups, as the principles remain the same. It is essential to keep the most important things on the top of the list and to allow proper time for these things so one does not burn out, become frazzled or haggard.”
More about Christian women finding balance here: http://christianity.about.com/od/womensresources/a/KW-Work-life-Balance.htm
May God bless you with a fresh start and a fresh perspective on your “Pie” of time each day in 2014….
Let’s keep each other accountable!
Hugs, T
4 little Fergusons 