January 4, 2016

The Glorious Return of Mondays...


Happy New Year, my friends!

Here we are... our first Monday of the year! 



We're now faced head on with the glorious tedious return of real life.

I wrote a post on this last year and my thoughts are still the same... I woke up early. (Check.) I spent some time in prayer and in the Word. (Check.)  I did a little journaling and dream/vision casting for the coming year with the house empty and hushed. (Check.) I even began hauling out the boxes and piling up the remnants of Christmas strung through out the house, while doing both a load of laundry and of dishes. Plus... I made myself workout before sitting in this chair, staring at this screen. (Check. Check. Check.)

Instead of writing the same post... well, I'm gonna take the lazy way out and just add what I wrote last year below because, Mondays --am I right? 

And also this: While it may sound like I'm nailing today by reading the list above, I should be real and tell you that it is now almost 2:30p.m. - and I am still not showered, post workout... and the only other thing I left off the list was my time spent Voxing all the friends this morning... so - well, maybe I AM nailing it after all.

If you remember, I shared last week that my OneWord for 2016 is Change and it is already showing up around here. 

One of the ways I suspect it will show up, literally around here on the blog is quite possibly probably a little less posting.  My Honey and I are headed back to school, taking a year long course online for pastors and leadership and from what (little) I remember about school, it seems to me that it, in itself, can be quite bossy.  Still - you know me and I can't quit you guys... I love you too much and I always have stuff to say and the Lord has assured me that He enjoys this little corner of the internet, too! So I'm thinking instead of 3-4 posts per week, we'll cut back to 2-3... (but He is the boss so it may be more like 1-2...) 

Less is more, as they say... here's hoping 'they' are right!


And now, for your reading pleasure... the continuation reposting of:


Aaah... the Glorious, Tedious Return of Mondays

in the Real (post-holiday vacation) World!


This is the day that the Lord has made... sure - but it's also the day when Real Life hits us hard and reminds us that this New Year is here and unfolding already and we once again must (re)learn to juggle All The Things and pay attention to those Bossy Lists of Things To Do again!

For most of my adult life, this day - this Monday, has meant the glorious return of an empty house after the holidays and the vacations have all come and gone... the hubs and the girlie go back to work and school and I have quiet time... as in - pure, blissful silence.  (This is the Monday that I was always oh so thankful for school teachers... bless it.)

While I am not in that season anymore, and I am getting used to a quieter, emptier house for most of all of the days... this Monday still comes at me strong, with all kinds of Bossy vying for my attention!

My calendar and day planner are already bossing me around today and I am filled with thoughts of nailing it on so many new fronts that I am tired before I ever let my feet hit the floor and stretch up tall to standing!

But it's the New Year and not even a week into it, so most of the goals set at midnight four days ago are still in front of me... I can still choose them.  Let's be honest though... by the end of the week, some of the drive may be fading!

But today... on this day... in the quiet that feels tedious more than it does glorious, I press on and hit the gym first thing... (Check.)
I run a few errands on the way back home (Check.) and then I sit here to write this (Check.) and facebook and email and instagram distract me and I feel like I am running late... my day is already off schedule...  

It's January 4th, and I am already behind!

You too? Please tell me I am not alone...  

With a brand new year, empty calendars, and clean slates - the New Year can hold so much hope.  I find I cram in way too much to change at once. I set myself up to fail... to falter... to give in to fear and just back away from it all.

I entertain I-can't-do-it's and it's-too-hard's already!

Change is not quick... it is rarely fast and complete. The things that I want to change are slow going and take longevity and a longing for...
I have to really want to want them in order to be willing to put the time and effort in to chasing after change.
So, do I?  These things that I am already letting boss me around -do I really want to want them? Is this change that I am wanting... or change that I wish I wanted? Are these changes that I alone desire, or are they changes that He is longing for for me? These are important questions that I tend to forget to ask!
But this is where I must start, so I step slowly away from this screen, from all the screens... from all the masks and try-hard tactics, and I go and sit awhile with the One who knows me best... with the One who has a plan for me this year, this day and oh how He longs to tell me what the plan is.  He longs to tell you, too!

He doesn't desire or delight in leaving us in the dark! 

No... something about His Light has come --something about Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and I remember...

This.  This is where I start... this is the change I want.

Before all the Bossy bosses me around, I want to sit with the One who made me and let Him bless me and call me Beloved.  I need to hear His voice sing over me and feel His love wash me clean and pull me close. I need to fill up, to be mindful of His presence before I can be mindful of anything else.

Otherwise... otherwise I am going through motions, checking things off of my lists but never quite feeling like I am accomplishing enough!
No - I need to be reminded daily that I am enough... because He is enough.  Sometimes I need to be reminded that He is enough, period.  

As I sit with Him and breathe Him in, it takes just a moment to feel the tension ease up and the pressure dissipate. 

Suddenly, I invite Him in and allow Him to prioritize my plans and reorder my day.  Sometimes it will look drastically different than what I had envisioned, but sometimes it will look exactly the same. Some days I will find glorious quiet... and others, the silence feels like less of a gift. 

But in all days, I will seek Him first and offer up my every day... asking Him to help me to number them a'right.

Grace to ease back in to the Bossy and all the things that need your attention... I offer you a little Grace to return to routine, yes! But also this: let's not forget to make room for Rest... even (or especially) after the holidays are all wrapped up and put away.

Let's breathe in deep... ask Him to be present with us in all of our doing, so we can remember that it's not what we DO... it's who are ARE... and who we are, ...well, in Himwe are always enough!  
(Check!)



P.S.  I'm linking up with these lovely writers:

The Community over at #SmallWonders

Laura Boggess over at #ChasingtheBlueFlower


Kelly Balarie for #RaRaLinkUp


Holly Barrett over at #TestimonyTuesday
Holly Barrett

16 comments :

  1. "January 4th and I'm already behind." Ha! I can totally relate! I felt like that ALL day today. I'm behind in my Bible reading, my laundry, my writing, my house cleaning, my workouts, . . . Is it too early to push the reset button already?

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    1. GZlad to know I was/am not alone! ;) Thank goodness Grace hits that reset every morning! Amen?

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  2. Happy New Year, Beloved. How brave of you to head back to school. I'll be praying for so much wonderful fruit from that. I think you are nailing it just right--relationship has to be a top priority, right? Sending love and gratitude for you, my friend.

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    1. Thanks so much, Laura! We will be needing the prayers, I am sure! Going back to school will take time and focus and energy and it seems that starting a church takes all of those things as well!? ;) And Amen - relationship is always top priority... mine with Him, and then with others... sending love and gratitude right back, my friend! xoxo

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  3. God is indeed enough! So much THIS:"Before all the Bossy bosses me around, I want to sit with the One who made me and let Him bless me and call me Beloved. I need to hear His voice sing over me and feel His love wash me clean and pull me close. I need to fill up, to be mindful of His presence before I can be mindful of anything else." We will miss you when you post less but totally understand. God is indeed bossy like that. God knows what we need. I actually think it is fun that you are going to learn together as a couple. Love you friend! I have missed you!

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    1. I know... the very idea of not posting as much makes me a little sad, but I know He will give me the grace to follow. You know me. I will ALWAYS find something to say and do not feel at all that I am supposed to stop doing this blog thing... just maybe allow myself a little more flexibility in keeping such a strict schedule! ;) Apparently, He's less bossy than I am as far as my blog posts go!

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  4. Ahhh!! So much to dwell on here! The theme for our lives is to return to our God, always! I love the idea of reposting a former post..it reminds me of how although things do change our habits and checklists don't until we return to our God! I love,too, your word, CHANGE, and all the changes God is guiding you toward..to equip you with what He wants of you..But your very profound questions--DISCERNMENT--are key in all we do! I love these:? Is this change that I am wanting... or change that I wish I wanted? Are these changes that I alone desire, or are they changes that He is longing for for me? I will add these to my discernment questions as I am hearing a new call that will really stretch me in ways I resist!!! But, I seek His will!! Blessings Karillee! You're such a light for all of us!

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    1. OOooh - praying for you, my friend! Can't ait to hear of the CHANGE and new direction He is leading you to! I know it will be a great year for us both!

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  5. Seek Him First. Word First. Guess what my oneword2016 is? Discipline. You know why? Because I get too sidetracked - too busy - too pathetic to do those two things. And, I love Brennan. Have his entire library of books.

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    1. Ouch... Discipline? I mean - don't get me wrong... that's a GREAT Word... but I will complain less about mine now that I know yours! ;) Of course, we know it takes discipline to actually change so looks like we will be side by side again this year because change happens when you are consistent in your discipline... see? You just can't get away from me! ;)

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  6. Best wishes on your new adventure! And together with your husband - what a treasure! This Monday I must admit, I relished the quiet of the home as everyone headed off to school and work! Gathering my thoughts and being quiet enough to relish in Him! I'm so glad we were neighbors at RaRa :-) I was blessed today by your words!

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    1. Thanks so much Lori! So glad that Monday held that glorious quiet for you... I still get it, but I remember needing it so much more after a house full during the holidays! Happy New Year! Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  7. I love your word--change isn't easy and I'm proud of your for being brave and going back to school! Yeah, school! I love that you aren't afraid to do brave and that you plan in advance (something I'm trying to get better at so that I can be more intentional :) ).

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    1. Yeah, School! I may need you to cheerlead me on from time to time, my friend! But I do love that I get to do it with My Honey... and that it will be all about the Kingdom (and no new math required!) ;) Praying for you as this New Year unfolds!

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  8. Blessings for all the changes coming your way! Happy New Year :)

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

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