To-Do Lists

How long is your to-do list? Does it seem to get longer as your day gets shorter? What is on your list? Now, what would happen if those things didn't get done? Are we talking life-altering, game-changing effects? If you are anything like me, you put way to much value on "things" that we have decided have to get done, over what we would profess to be the really important things, like time with your spouse, and children.

Do you ever get to the end of the day exhausted (like there is any other way, right?) and feel like you didn't accomplish much of anything? Busy is no longer a distraction for most people. No, for most people, busy has become a place of residence. You know the place, we all know the place. Busy is the place you need to be, have to be, instead of the place you wanted or said you should be. We all say we want love, peace, and joy, but somehow they have become places we will get to someday, and have become the very things we need to sacrifice now in order to get there. Does this make any sense?

If we want love, peace, and joy, then we would be best to pursue them, right? So where are they you ask? Right where they have always been, and they are there for the claiming. You heard me right, and one just needs to do one thing to get them: sacrifice. AH HA!! There is a catch...of course there is. There is always a part we must do in order to claim a promise in Scripture, but it is not a catch, it is a condition that we need to meet, in order to claim this promise.

Jesus calls everyone to follow Him. Most people view this invitation and reflect about what it looks like, in respect to the Spiritual aspect of their lives. The calling is for our whole person, not some, or part of us, but for all of us. Unfortunately, when it comes down to following Jesus - it becomes all about scheduling, and not sacrifice. Where does He fit? How do I get there my way?

We all would like to experience the fullness of Jesus' promises in all of our lives, and not just in some areas, right? Then we need to make fullness of our lives available to Him. Sacrificing some things of yours for things of His. It might look like giving up time with some buddies or deserved relaxing down time so you can go to Bible study, or spend a little time reading His Word instead of reading the paper. Whatever it looks like, there is one thing I guarantee is true:

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

Experiencing the fullness of Jesus requires giving Him the fullness of you. So when it comes down to your to-do list it then it is all about who you will sacrifice for: WHO-much over the HOW-much....just sayin'

In His grip,
Pastor Pat