Busy – Your Daily Encouragement

Monday Meditation

seeking first God’s kingdom

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. —Galatians 6:9

I met with a friend last week, that I hadn’t seen for a few years and it was so good to get caught up. One of the things he mentioned to me was the amount of work he is doing to cover for co-workers who regularly miss work. As he described it, I imagined him on a non-stop treadmill. Even if he picked up an extra shift, there was always more to do. Then he told me this crazy example of a no-show at his work place.

One of his co-workers called in sick on a Friday. And that would have been the end of the story, but this same person posted pictures of himself with friends on the slopes, skiing, later that same day.

Oops.

Apparently his boss saw the post too, because on Monday morning this boss printed and pinned large photos of this ski trip on the employee bulletin board for the whole crew to see.

Oh, and his boss denied his day of sick pay.

And while we live in a crazy moment of history, we truly have never had more options for spending our time than we do today. Travel, recreation, jobs—there are 1,001 things we can pour our energy into. And no doubt social media has added to the sense that we could be doing more (more activities, more experiences for my kids, more, more, more).

So, whether its work related, family related, or just filling up my free time with more, it is easy to become exhausted and feel overwhelmed by life. And when that happens, often what is most important is left undone.

If you want to succeed in what is most important, it will take some thoughtfulness to let go of the good and reallocate your time to what is most important.

The apostle Paul wrote a letter to a group of people who started following Jesus, but then were distracted from the simplicity of living out his purposes. Because it is easy to lose sight of what is most important, Paul wrote this encouraging reminder to them. He said:

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. —Galatians 6:7–10

Allow me to break this down: While we see all kinds of examples of how to spend our time, Paul says, don’t be misled: you will reap what you sow. This is a timeless principle that God has woven into creation.

If what you plant now are seeds to merely satisfy the sinful nature, all you will harvest is corruption and death. But, if you plant seeds to love and please God Himself, you will reap a harvest of everlasting life from Him.

And with all of the options available for spending our time, let’s not get tired of doing what is good, because at just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing—if we don’t give up.

So, whenever we have the opportunity, let’s please God by doing good to everyone—starting with those closest to you in God’s family.

Your takeaway: It’s Monday, and this is a good time to think through your week. Start by looking at your schedule, then ask God, “What is there in my schedule that may be good, that I should set aside for what is most important?”

Allow him to speak to your heart. Then make the change.

Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.

Image by Ralf Kunze from Pixabay

The Place Where Everything Changes

Don’t miss this…

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. —Luke 10:38-40

Have you ever been so busy that you missed something significant—right in front of you? I was with a group of friends traveling to India and we had missed a connecting domestic flight in the country. Our luggage made it, but we didn’t.

By the time we got another flight and caught up to our luggage (and the fact that I had been up for about 32 hours), I was completely out of it. And I was on a mission to find our luggage that had been there unattended for hours!

When we exited the passenger-only area, there was a very large, cheering crowd of people waiting outside the airport. The crowd was not only cheering, but jumping up to look over each other at the people coming out of the airport. I wondered who we were traveling with!

I found out later that a Bollywood star was on our flight (Bollywood is India’s equivalent of Hollywood in the US). It was then that I remembered seeing the flight attendants paying special attention to a single row of seats on the plane just ahead of me—which I didn’t think much about in the moment—and I missed the opportunity to meet them!

Luke tells us that Jesus went to the house of Mary and Martha. Think of this: Jesus. Is. In. Their. Home.

And while Mary sat at his feet, listening to him teach, Luke tells us that Martha was distracted by her duties. In the original language, this word distracted carries the idea that she was overburdened, anxious.

Sounds a lot like us. Distracted. Overburdened. Anxious. Martha is so stressed and upset with her sister that she starts giving orders to Jesus:

“Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” —Luke 10:40

“Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
Luke 10:40

Martha is so stressed that she’s making demands of Jesus!

I’m sure Martha was thinking “I’m doing this for the right reasons. I’m serving Jesus!” But, the truth is she was stressed out and overwhelmed by what she thought was important, demanding that Jesus get on the same page.

Wow.

Why is Martha overwhelmed? Her own expectations. Then Luke gives us Jesus’ response to her demand:

“But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41–42

Jesus says “Martha, you are stressed-out about things that are unnecessary! Instead of being concerned about the non-essential, be concerned for what is essential. Mary has discovered it. She is sitting at my feet, learning from me. Join her. Spend time learning from me.”

While Martha is stressed, Mary is at rest.

This is where peace is found. This is where hope is found. This is where reality is defined: at the feet of Jesus. Everything changes at the feet of Jesus.

While Martha is stressed, Mary is at rest.

Maybe you’re like me? I’ve been distracted and anxious several times already this year.

Would you join me for a moment—right now—just to take a breath? Then, push away from whatever you’re doing to consider Jesus’ words. But instead of Martha’s name, put your own name here. Today, in your distracted-overwhelmed day, Jesus is saying:

“My dear _________, you are worried and upset over many things! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. That is knowing and walking with me. When we spend time together, you will experience my peace. And it is something that will be with you forever.”

Now is a good time to take a moment to thank him for his ongoing presence, his peace and his power to live His life through you.

And, why not join us at CenterPoint this weekend? We will worship, and sit at his feet as we continue our teaching series in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. And it all starts at 10AM, PST here in Tacoma. You can find directions here.

Or, you can join us online at our FB page.

And, in those moments to come—when you are stressed and overwhelmed—remember Everything changes at the feet of Jesus.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Are You In A Rush?

…again?

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him. —Psalm 37:7

I am not good at waiting. I regularly look for quicker ways to get something done. In fact, if I’m driving somewhere, and the car in front of me is barely driving the speed limit, I’m usually looking for a way to get around it. It’s just the way I roll.

But hurry leads to worry. King David writes to remind us of the importance of patience.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.

Earlier in this song he writes:

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 37:3-4

Here seems to be the root cause of my anxiety and stress: the desires of my heart.

I can read this Psalm and think, “Yes, Father! Give me the desires of my heart! Here is the grocery list of things I need to get done. Would you fast-track these so I can cross them off my list…now…this moment? In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

But here is what I’ve discovered: Not everything that God puts on my heart needs to be accomplished or realized today. The goals he has given me may be from him, but the timing is in his hands.

So, while you’re waiting for the fulfillment of a goal, today: trust. Trust Him. Do good and live in the security that he provides. And as you wait, don’t miss the opportunities he is putting right in front of you. David writes:

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Don’t miss this: it is when we delight in him that our heart’s desires are realized. As I wait and trust, he re-focuses life and makes his desires mine. This is the place of peace.

So, instead of being stressed about what is not being realized today, be still.

Be still.

Be still in God’s presence. The good news is that you don’t have to wait until next Sunday in church to do this. He is with you now, whether you’re at home, at work, on vacation, even if you’re reading this while you’re on a flight at 30,000 feet—wherever you are.

Take the time to be still, recognizing his presence with you.

Then wait patiently for his timing. Someone has once said, “God is seldom early, but he is never late.” It’s true—his timing is perfect.

I’ve noticed that when I’m hurriedly driving somewhere, it’s usually not until I pass a police car that I become grateful that the slower person in front of me kept me from a speeding ticket.

Who—or what—is “driving in front of you” today? Take a moment to be still. Rest in the recognition that he is here and release to him your cares and goals for today. He knows all about them. And, he knows what you need and when you need it.

But for now, delight yourself in him. Chill. Relax. Be still.

Image by abdulla binmassam from Pixabay