This past week I made an obvious, yet profound realization. Blogging was taking up too much of my time; more time than I could afford. Blogging was not only keeping me up late with the linky parties that go live just before bedtime, but it was cutting into my God time, the biggest uh-oh of all. If I claim to be a Christian blogger, but spend more time hopping around on social media, sending emails, and tweaking photos online than I do really getting into the Word, there’s something that needs to change. And it has.
Starting this week, I determined that I’d spend at least as much time reading scripture, praying, and worshiping than typing away at this sticky keypad. It’s felt good. I haven’t met the mark every single day, but I’ve given it a good try. And I’m improving. It’s the way my life should be, and the way it will stay. If I have to schedule every single post and work meticulously from a blog planner to make sure my time is funneled toward my primary priorities (God, family) then that’s alright. I actually love being organized anyway, so it’ll just make blogging even more fun. I feel lighter, more joyful, and just plain good when I’ve set aside time for dates with Jesus and I know he likes it too.
Summer Elizabeth and I had a mommy-baby picnic on Monday outside on the lawn. The neighbors dogs must’ve mistakenly received an invite too. Their sniffing around begging morsels of papaya and bread moved our picnic indoors real fast.
This Tuesday I spent about 3 hours organizing children’s gifts that my husband will take to a handful of indigenous communities later on this month. It’s incredible the generosity of Ticos, especially this time of year. In an afternoon we managed to match names to more than 300 gifts. Wow! I can hardly believe this is just the beginning. I can tell you this, Husband and the group he’s leading into San Vito are gonna have their work cut out for them.
One of my favorite advent calendar tasks this week was making a nativity. Although this print out laminate from wasn’t what I’d originally had in mind, I love it’s bright, bold colors and Summer Elizabeth can’t keep her hands off it. She has a fascination with hiding the paper dolls under the rug and then pulling them back out again. We tell her the story over and over again, so surely she’s picking up bits and pieces of the most important Christmas story of all. That’s what counts.
What’s been your favorite memory this week?
Linking with The Wiegands, Rags to Stitches, Christian Mommy Blogger
I have been experiencing the same thing recently. I had focused so much on getting everything together that my daily reads and talks with Jesus fell at the wayside. I’m making an effort to get back in to the groove of things. 🙂
That’s great, Ashley. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right? Praying you find a way to work Jesus time and the other things most important to you back into the front lines of your day. Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!
I so hear you and that is why I scheduled all of my posts for December and am planning and praying about a Blog Schedule for 2013. He is our priority and it can get downright deceptive when we let our time in the Word be squeezed out for anything else.
Awesome! I’ve got most of my December post scheduled too, and it feels so liberating! Usually I can’t come up with that much content ahead of time, but this time I have and I sure hope it keeps on happening this way. Thanks for stopping by, Dawn. Hope your schedule for 2013 works out great.
Hi Jelli: I’m linked up after you at Rags to Stitches & this is my first visit. So glad I’ve found you. I could not possibly agree more with you… we talk about e-ministry… but if we’re not with Jesus like we’re with online media, well, what then? Love your challenge. I’m working at it too.
glad to meet you,
lauren @ MERCY iNK
Nice to meet you too! I’ve visited your hops a couple of times, but am happy to find you here today. Thank you for your encouragement, Lauren. I hope you find a great way to incorporate more Christ into your days too. Happy weekend!
I love this friend!! I’ve been listening to worship music throughout the day too. At home, in the car. I feel like my days are much more peaceful when they start, continue and finish with Jesus as the focus! xoxo
PS Have a great weekend friend!
My family just got back from a morning full of errands. I plugged in some old school Newsboys and we bebopped all over town. You’re right, Alissa, it’s great to spend time focused on Jesus all day long! Thanks for stopping by today.
Good for you for prioritizing what’s important to you! It is way too easy to get lost in the day to day and lose sight of the spiritual. I find this post inspiring. (I realize the irony of what I’m saying, as I’m writing a comment on your blog!!)
I, too, must set my time with God as a priority. I have a bad habit of not being able to settle down for my devotion time until things in the house are situated. That means it gets shoved back and back and back and next thing I know it is time for bed.
I’m trying to set aside a certain desk to keep everything neat and tidy with my Bible and study book but things seem to pile up on it 🙁 Definitely something I need to work on.
Thanks for the Coffee Date !
That same thing, pushing back devo time, has happened to me more times than I can count. Lately, I’ve been making it a priority to start the morning off with some Bible reading, just so I know that at least I’ve got some under my belt in case the day runs away from me and I’m back at bedtime devotionals again. Hope your Bible study desk idea works out great for you. Thanks for visiting, Colletta.
I was just thinking about this today! It’s not so much blogging that takes up my time, I’ve just gotten into a weird slump where nothing is my priority.
I think I’m going to set my alarm for the first time tonight to wake up and have a little alone time to do my devotions and read the bible.
What a great idea! Hope it jump starts a whole new chapter in your devotional and blogging life. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts, Grace!