It Matters

Everything we do matters even if we sometimes feel that isn't true. It might feel like a mundane task isn't making a substantial difference or that our daily routine isn't having an impact. The truth is that even our smallest conversations or seemingly minimal objectives are part of the larger scope of our environment. The key for us is to make sure that we are doing what matters most. 

Can we recognize what needs our attention in this moment? Are we able to accurately assess where our focus should be and then take action for that specific need? This might lead to a change in daily schedule, unplanned quality time with family, an increased focus on community, conversations with a good friends, or a shift in day-to-day responsibilities. Some changes might last for a season of needed focus while others may be an immediate need on that day. 

The key to our effectiveness is in recognizing that need and then quickly taking action. When we start doing what matters most we will find greater personal satisfaction and fulfillment.

Names Matter

As I read through the Bible again this year, I found myself back in the book of 1 Chronicles today. I had settled in to be impacted by the power of God's Word and found myself in nine chapters of names and genealogy. I'll be honest and say that I didn't exactly read those chapters word for word. I know that any part of the Bible is important and that God can communicate through it. In fact, that's what I kept telling myself as I read (quickly) through each list of names. My primary thought however was that I didn't know these people. Most of them didn't have "lead roles" in the early history of the Bible and weren't taught in children's church, youth ministry or in many adult worship settings. Their names just didn't mean that much to me.

Of course their names meant something to someone when they were alive. They were important to their families and obviously important enough in the story of God to be mentioned. Each person played their part-both good and bad-in what God had done and was continuing to do. The brief mention of their name was an homage to their personal story and the contribution they made to where we are today. It may not matter much to us, but I know they matter to God.

It ended up being a more valuable lesson than I anticipated. What are the names of people around me that I don't even know? What part are they playing in the story that God is continuing to write? Am I willing to care enough to see their significance and acknowledge that our combined lives are part of God's larger tale? 

I need to remember this simple truth: every name matters because it represents a life that matters. 

Making Time

What are you making time for in your life? When you make certain decisions (to get married, have a family, accept a job, volunteer, follow Christ) there are responsibilities that along with those choices. With our limited resources of time and energy, we will only be able to invest in certain things. While choosing to act responsibly will limit the expendable time we have left, it is still ours to spend. The question all of us face is what we will do in those moments.

• Do we increase the depth of our current relationships? 
• Are we reading & learning as a leader? 
• Are we wasting time in efforts that bring no return results? 
• Are we finding pleasure in a hobby that keeps getting squeezed out of our daily schedule? 
• Do we volunteer and give part of that time back to others with no expectations in return?
• Are we finding time to rest and recover from the other parts of our week?
• Do we consistently make time for exercise?
• When are we devoting ourselves to our journey with God?

We will make time for the things that are important to us. Once we figure out what that is we might have to move our schedules around to make time for it all. We either go through the rescheduling or end up lamenting the lack of time we have for important things.

What Matters

What is really important? I find my focus wandering to the small details of far too many things. The urgency of these tasks in front of me can be overwhelming. My schedule can become repetitive as we get caught in the current of the stream of "got to keep pace." In the process it becomes easier to march forward checking off the same patterns of thought and behavior from week to week.

I believe this is one of the greatest traps of satan. He doesn't necessarily need us to wander off into horribly destructive lives of sin. He just whispers and urges us to stay so focused on keeping up with the same thing from week to week that we forget what really matters. We end up neglecting the motivation behind our lives and the excitement of following Christ. We ignore God's voice telling us to take risks and reduce it to a mere whisper that we can cover with the volume of our life of routine. 

Intently following the King is what matters. Placing our full confidence in living a life that is worthy of our calling is a grand adventure worth chasing after. It reorganizes our agenda and adds an element of risk and faith that makes this life exciting. When we lose sight of that we are no longer swept along in the speed-driven current of the Holy Spirit, but are instead sitting in kiddie pools of poorly disguised contentment. 

Fast moving water is refreshing and challenging. Small, shallow pools of still water fill up with stagnant filth as we become too timid to move.