Busy Being Busy

This summer, I officially maxed out on the schedule.  Without really mentioning my situation or giving details, I asked for prayer on my social media page, and I'm grateful for the prayers.  Since I didn't give details, I'm not sure what was assumed, but my situation was simple.  I have been so busy, my time with Father was getting cramped or minimized and that simply will not work in my life!  As I scrambled my schedule, and found myself regretful at the end of the day, I realized, anything that comes ahead of time with Father, can be and probably is, an idol. That can include my own order of priorities, even family and yes, even, ministry.

I'm not making an excuse to ignore our commitments, not at all, but I am here to tell you, we can get "over committed!"  This project of building a small learning village was quite an undertaking, to say the least.  Thinking, I would be all finished before canning season, was first and foremost, wrong . . . so I ended up dealing with contractors through canning season.  To make matters more interesting, I also bought a cow the end of June.  As blackberry season came in the midst of all the half finished projects, I developed a new product for the Land of Goshen . . .  Just as I kicked into high gear on so much going on, my old method of handling stress kicked in.

It's not often that I think I have too much to do.  Most of my life, my Daddy has commented that I have "too many irons in the fire," but I never felt that way.  As a matter of fact, when I mentioned to my daughters, I just had too many things going on, they both said, they'd never heard me say that, before.  At any rate, when my schedule gets cramped and I get spread too thin, my coping method is:  to find another project!  Add more to the schedule!  That's correct.  "Getting busier" is how I handle being overwhelmed.  This summer that put the fear of G-d, in me, literally!

After having a rather rough winter with the herd, I got busy being busy with the new project, Bethesda.  I knew what I was doing was led of YaH, but I was also filling some of my time with very unnecessary things.  Then the evenings became entrenched in more busy-ness that really accomplished very little.   The first thing I realized was, I had stopped making a daily "to do" list.  I'm not sure why, but I had . . .

The next thing I realized was my evening devotions were being crowded out as the phone was getting busier.  I realized it was all simply too much, when morning devotions began to feel like "going through the motions," to get on with the day.  I was spiritually parched and a feeling of forlorn engulfed me.  It scared me!  I found myself waking up in the night and crying out to YaH to please hang on to me.  I knew I had to complete something that had been relegated to a back burner, while I made myself busy being busy; and life was simply wrong.

I determined to get order back in my life and I knew my priorities needed to change before I asked YaH to order my steps.  How many times had I heard Him call me away from my "busy-ness" but thought to myself . . . in a few minutes.  Fear of YHWH began to set in.  He has to be first in my life, and that means, first.  Not after my latest idea, not after the next phone call, not after this homestead to which I've been blessed, and certainly not second to the ministry I have been called.

Busy being busy might be the most subtle way to fall away . . . So thankful for His mercy.

The Blessing and Power of Praying Friends

Last week, I posted a very simple statement to my social media site.  "Please pray for me.  Thank you."  I gave no details, no explanation, just typed the request and went on about carrying out the responsibility to which I'd agreed.  As I went about my work, I checked in from time to time and clicked "like" in acknowledgement of the comments, and ultimately gave a bit more information.

The issue was addressed in People of the Preservation, and even though I know that I know, the power was in The Word of YHWH; intercession before the throne by His saints, made a huge difference.  I'm not talking superstition or feelings here, but knowing someone is praying for you, is definitely a reality!  I'm frequently asked to pray for someone and I do that, knowing full well it isn't my words, but YHWH's power that makes the difference, yet He does bless our obedience.  That promise is repeated throughout His Word.

When a person in need or pain seeks an intercessor, they are in obedience.  Messiah said, where two touch in agreement . . . He also said to ask in His Name . . . and James tells us if any are sick, go before the elders.  The book of Acts is filled with mighty acts of the Apostles by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I knew He would hear my prayer and answer it, but at the time I received the news, I certainly didn't know how.  When I typed that simple statement, not only was I blessed, I was humbled and I am sure all those who responded and prayed were blessed for their compassionate obedience as well, or will be.  In reading the responses to my request, I found myself praying a prayer of thanksgiving for each of them.  As I write this, the old southern gospel song is playing in my head, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."

To be able to stand before a room full of teary eyed images of masculinity and stoicism and fulfill the wishes of the departed to bring laughter in celebration of her life, was nothing short of a miracle for me.  Although I was glad for Aunt Nina, my heart was breaking for her children, grandchildren, and the rest of us who will miss her greatly.  Knowing I'll never, in this life again, hear her say, "I love you," is a very sad fact for me; and even in acknowledging that in the service, not a tear fell from the eyes of this speaker.  That was her final wish and she'd put it in writing.

The victory in that accomplishment can only be attributed to the power of our Creator, through his Son who bore our grief.  

I pray the blessing I received that was truly powerful and overwhelming will be showered upon all those who interceded for me and spend time in their prayer closet interceding for others.  Amein.