How Important Is It?

Do you find yourself in a hurry to get things on your to do list, only to find more things have been added to this list?  We live in a world that is so busy that we miss the important things in life. What is worse we don't enjoy the life we've been given,  but we dread the day coming.  Our relationships suffer when we get busy and the tension in our necks swell up, our attitudes go from pleasant to destructive, and we find ourselves snapping at the innocent people in our lives; sometimes that is our children.
Why do we make things harder than they are?
A friend once taught me "what you put into something, is the same amount you get out of it."
If you don't read your bible, you aren't going to get anything from it. If you don't invest time with your children, but ignore them, you're ending up with great problems in their future and yours.
There was a time in my life that I was in such a hurry to get things done (sometimes I am still in this mindset) that I rushed and rushed some more only to find I was overwhelmed.
Then the day came when another friend suggested to me to ask myself "how important is it?" Now, this is a question I have to ask myself more than once a day. It helps me with my to list, order of importance list, and it helps me to decide how I react to someone else's actions. I use to enjoy fighting, arguing, being in strife with others, but it only left me feeling miserable. Once again, I asked myself "how important is it?" I stopped fighting and I stopped showing up for the fights. It wasn't worth my health, poor attitude or the break down of my relationship with others.
So if you find yourself discontent with your reactions to others actions, discontent with your life and you feel overwhelmed, or if you just want to change yourself; make a list of what is important and what isn't.
When you start to ask yourself "how important is its?" you just might find a little peace in your unmanageable life.

Philippians 4:8 (NKJ)
[ Meditate on These Things ] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy.


Philippians 4:10-12 (NKJ)
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

May you count your blessings along your way
~ Marjorie

The World and All It's Possessions

I had a chapter of my life close this past week. It may seem silly but it was a great experience I want to share with you. My car went to the junk yard and it was a sad day for me and this is why.  There was a time in my life that I didn't have anything that I owned. I had a job with no vehicle to get me back and forth but I had friends help me. I am grateful for them. I needed a vehicle of my own. You know how that feels don't you?  The problem I saw in this situation was that I didn't have any money and I had no collateral to put towards this car.
I began looking, I prayed over it and one day a car was provided. My son gave me a car that the engine would crank up and get me from point A to point B, but it didn't have lights, tags, and was a danger to drive. I wouldn't have paid $50 for the car.
I went to a used car lot and there was this Saturn that fit me like a glove. The salesman said he would look at the car my son gave me and see what he could do. I prayed over my need and whatever God wanted he could have. I surrendered my situation to Him. Oh, mind you, I kept pointing my finger to scripture and giving God's word back to Him in my prayers. I knew it was ultimately His decision whether I was going to have this car or not.
The next day I signed for the Saturn and I began making payments. This was a responsibility I wanted. The Lord says if we are faithful with the small stuff, he will make us rulers over many things. I kept this in mind each time I made a payment on the car. I was grateful to have something of my own, something I was responsible for, that I had to take care of or I would be the one to pay for it later.
 I drove it for approximately 3 years after paying it off. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19 (NIV)
Life lesson number one: pay a car off and continue to make payments to your savings account. I didn't do this and now I am in a new situation. HOWEVER, God is going to take care of this situation because I trust him to. I am back in his word and  believing in what he says about me and this situation.
Tears well up in my eyes when I think of my Saturn being crushed like a bug. I cry at the thought that I won't be driving it down the road anymore, or when I think of a memory I have in relation to my Saturn.
Funny thing happened. I went to look at vehicles the other day and I couldn't stay long. I was looking on the computer at some cars and I had to walk away because I started crying.
I know God wants to bless me with his Best and I felt like he did with the Saturn. I can't imagine having something better.
I think David says it best in 1 Chronicles 29:11
"Yours, LORD, is the greatness and  the power and the glory and the splendor and  the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all."
This says it all for me. I know God possesses EVERYTHING. The world says it possess everything, but who is the world? The world are the people in it, you and me. We think we can chase after life and obtain all the possessions in it and be happy. Maybe there is someone that owns a lot of possessions, but are they happy? What is happy? It is a state of mind. I am happy that I spent at least 4 years with my car. I am happy that I have friends that care enough about me to help me get from one place to another. I am happy to know that I was successful in taking care of something small, at least in my eyes.
Life lesson number two: Growing up isn't so bad.
I went into this situation with humility and I am coming out of this situation with so much more. I am thankful for the opportunity to grow up and take responsibility of God's possession. I was successful in keeping it in one piece (no accidents). I learned there are so many things that come with owning a car.
Have you ever seen the movie "28 Days" with Sandra Bullock? There is a man who is trying to take care of a plant and dog because if he can take care of them he is ready for a relationship.
The dog survives the plant dies, just in case you were wondering.
This is how I felt when I was walking through my chapter. If I could just take care of this one payment, this one possession, then I was ready for the next responsibility. My next responsibility and stability was a room, a home, a relationship, an animal.
I am on my road to recovery and life is getting better one day at a time. I can look back at my chapter and say with a smile "it was good, it was really good and I survived." I can also assure you that if you are trying to obtain things on your own, they will only last for a short time. I hope you choose to partner with God on your next adventure, your next chapter of life because when you do, you will get so much more from it.

May you have a blessed day
~Marjorie