Friday October 7 2016  LIFE JOY AND CONTENTMENT

 

“THE DECISIONS WE MAKE DICTATE THE SCHEDULES WE KEEP.  THE SCHEDULES WE KEEP DETERMINE THE LIVES WE LIVE.” 

Quote by Lysa Turkheurst,  Christian speaker and author of “The Best Yes” as well as many other books.

I heard the above quote in a recent sermon I listened to at http://www.southlandchristian.org.  I have not read “The Best Yes”, so I am not familiar as to its topic.  The sentence just struck a chord in me.  It is a statement I have long believed to be true.

Decisions we make in life all have consequences, positive, negative, and sometimes unintended consequences.  What I have tried to put into practice before I make a decision is to intentionally think first; what could be the outcome, will it be good for me, is it necessary, and how will it affect my life in the tomorrows to come.

I look back at my life and realize at times the decisions I made, and schedules I chose to keep, were at times unattainable and somewhat obsessive.  Too many times I have put too much pressure on myself to live up to my decisions which dictated the schedules I tried to keep. (I’m certain my oldest sister could write a nice long chapter about that which would be very unflattering to me.) The quote by Lysa Turkheurst above is so true.  True because I know just how difficult different times of my life have been due to the unwise decisions I did make, which resulted in schedules that were overbooked, which certainly determined the frenzied life I lived.  And I just kept doing it.  And it was not good!

Age has given me a bit different slant on life now.  Yes, my decisions and schedules are still my decisions, but I am trying to take into consideration the life I do want to live.  When I am too busy it is sometimes the most important aspects of my life that suffer the most, such as spending quality time with God, my husband, children and grandchildren.  It is only myself that can make the decisions which allow more time in my life in order to determine the kind of life I desire to live.  Thus, that was one reason I cut back to writing my blogs only three days a week instead of the seven days a week I have done for the past couple of years.  The rest of my life is also feeling the cutbacks.  And I am better off because of my newer decisions.

Take a look at your life.  Give yourself an evaluation to see if you have too many items on your agenda which determines the hectic lifestyle you live.  And perhaps there is something which you are not doing that you should be doing.  Only you can make that assessment, only you can change your decisions which will dictate your schedule, thus affecting how you live your life as well as the quality of life you live.  Be open to change and be open to making new decisions if it means creating a better return on how you live.

 

LIFE, JOY, AND CONTENTMENT

Kathleen Martens

October 7, 2016

www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

Many decisions made in the past

Were not ones to easily last.

Over the years I have learned

That experience, is great value earned.

 

I have gleaned wisdom from others and books,

Some which I discarded; some which I took.

I ask God first, for His answer divine

And intentionally think, pondering for a time.

 

And the first decision I needed to make?

Was to accept Jesus as Savior; into my heart take.

And that decision, dictates the schedule I keep

As I pray to God daily and His values seek.

 

And the rest of my schedule I give to my Lord,

I live in His presence, His Holy Word my sword.

And because of the relationship I have with my King,

It determines all my decisions and the heart-songs I sing.

 

And it determines the very life that I live,

And how I see others, and how I give.

My schedule is lived each day with intent.

 It is only because of God I am so content.

 

I am a sinner, but I found a Savior so true!

It makes me different, but not better than you.

It helps me decide as to what schedule I keep

And it determines the kind of life I seek.

 

There are so many people; empty and in pain.

Regardless their decisions, their lives have no gain.

Perhaps a kind word is what they need to hear,

And that others who care, really are near.

 

Perhaps it is contentment and love they lack,

Maybe the schedules they keep are quite slack.

Perhaps with help they’ll receive new direction;

Knowledge that God offers life and affection.

 

God never runs out of life, joy, or contentment,

He pours out more, without resistance.

Dispense joy to others; He’ll pour it back on you,

With abundant contentment, and more life too.

 

Allow your decisions to open windows of love

So you can give to others what comes from above.

That which you so freely to others give

Will be the schedule that determines how you live.

 

Thank You God for excellent teachers such as Reverend Jon Weece (http://www.southlandchristian.org).

Thank You God for pouring out life, joy and contentment over me each day.

P.S.  The above blog and poem was inspired by a sermon preached by John Weece.  I listen to several of his sermons each day and have no idea which sermon title it is.  All I can suggest is that you might want to listen to them all!

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU