Comments on: Are You Available?

By: Julia Bettencourt

Julia Bettencourt — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 16:17:28 +0000

Great reminders to be available with your time for what God has planned. I haven’t read the book, but such a great topic that we all need. I used to struggle with this more, but have learned to be a little more relaxed where scheduling is concerned. At times though I still want things to fit into my little slots, but I am trying.

By: Mary Geisen

Mary Geisen — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 23:12:32 +0000

I love this reminder to make room for margin in my life. I seem to need this often. I have not read the book but it sounds like it is one to add to my list.

By: Jean Wise

Jean Wise — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 12:09:10 +0000

This is so me and something I struggle with all the time. My to-do list looms with more importance than people – hate to even write that. I am praying to learn to be more present and to listen and love those God places before me. I am learning to pay attention and see, actually see, what I often miss. The gospel this week is the Good Samaritan story and once again it hit me right in the face how I am the priest and Levite too often in my interactions.

By: Alice V Walters

Alice V Walters — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 16:00:41 +0000

Dear Lisa, looks like there are plenty Sisters in Christ you struggle with THE SCHEDULE. After reading “The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity” by Matthew Kelly this spring, I intentionally began to leave holes in that document of determination. Don’t you know the Lord just loves it when His kids make time for Him and each other? Thanks and blessings for your transparency and exhortation!

By: Linda Stoll

Linda Stoll — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 21:39:19 +0000

i love the whole concept of margin … and Swenson’s book is a superb one, isn’t it.

seems like the older i get the longer things take to get around to. and it doesn’t seem to bother me like it used to back in the day where every hour was scheduled within an inch of its life …

By: Martha J Orlando

Martha J Orlando — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 14:18:21 +0000

Yes, I have daily routines, Lisa, but honestly, I try NOT to overschedule anything in my life. Maybe it’s that I’m retired, or I just like an unhurried, leisurely pace, but I do feel in this rhythm that I am much more available to God than I was in previous years. It’s a great feeling!
Blessings!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 20:39:22 +0000

Oh, yes…my to-do list is overly ambitious too. I never thought about the busyness interfering with my availability for God’s call. thank you for opening my eyes. I don’t want God to get a busy signal when He calls! 🙂

By: Barbara Harper

Barbara Harper — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 20:20:14 +0000

I wrestle with this, too, Lisa. Especially when I’ve asked Him for guidance in planning my day, I can get irritated with the unexpected – even though that might be an answer to my prayer. It helped me to some extent to realize that the healing of the woman with an issue of blood was an interruption to the healing of Jairus’s daughter. Jesus was on His way to Jairus’s house when the woman touched the hem of His garment. He took it all in stride and handled it patiently. No word on whether Jairus did! 🙂 I thought once it would be interesting to do a study (maybe a future blog post) on how often in the Bible someone was interrupted with a need or request. Then I realized the whole earthly ministry of Jesus was that way. Even back in Abraham’s day, when the three strangers appeared before the destruction of Sodom — so much was involved in inviting them to stay and eat! My own interruptions or unexpected requests are minor by comparison. Yet I still have to battle wrong attitudes.

By: Pam Ecrement

Pam Ecrement — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 13:15:42 +0000

I read this whole post saying “yep” to all you wrote about the challenges described, but I was also smiling a bit as I am aware that during the five years I have not been retired the Lord has gradually loosened me from this challenge more than at any time. It’s not that I have less to do or that I want to do. (Don’t we all have those VHS tapes to convert????) It has more to do with what He spoke to me when He began to nudge me toward retirement and it was exactly this issue. He made clear that He wanted more time with me. Really, Lord? Wow!

What I discovered was the luxury of unhurried times in my red chair for quiet times with Him with no limit on how long I was there, but even now if I have an early morning appointment that gets set aside until afternoon which never seems to be as good.

When I have let go of my “to do” and asked Him first each day to guide the day, I discover I am more productive than any other day. I read and write more. I have nearly finished the “early pics of my parents and their parents” Creative Memories album that has been waiting since my parents died in 1995 and I have been available to listen to others when He led, make goodies for neighbors, and a host of other things. Over and over I learn I am not a human “doing,” but a human “being.” In our new church of 3+ years since retiring from a large church staff, I am not slated for regular service so I can be available where and when needed that others who are regularly committed cannot be. I don’t think I could have been persuaded to live this way earlier in my life, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world now and I boundary my time each week to be available to Him. What a rich blessing it has been as a result!

By: Rebecca Hastings

Rebecca Hastings — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 13:04:06 +0000

This is such a struggle. Especially in the summer when kids are home! I love routine and structure, but life doesn’t always happen in structure. Finding the balance is a daily choice.