Years ago, I had a friend named Mark who shared a story about how to focus on one thing at a time. We met in a twelve-step program, so I'm sharing a lesson he learned from his sponsor.

One day Mark faced a very long to-do-list and he found himself so overwhelmed by the list that it immobilized him. He simply didn't know where to start--so he didn't. He phoned his sponsor to tell him of the many things that required his attention, expecting sympathy and confirmation that anyone with a list that long would be overwhelmed. But instead, he replied, "Wow! That's some list. What are you going to do first?"

And that is how it's done. No matter how many demands life places on you today, you are only capable of completing one thing at a time. Start with one thing or you most likely won't start at all. Ask God to order your steps today and prioritize your to-do-list.

When the weight of my own to-do-list presses down on me, I stop everything and kneel before God. It is there that I receive the ability to move forward, and leave my anxiety with Him. Did you know that it's possible to be productive and not feel pressured?

I encourage you to offer God the pressure of daily demands and in exchange, receive rest for your soul. And then, ask, "What shall I do first?"

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My Yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11" 28-30 NKJV)

note: Mark died several years ago due to health complications. He remained clean and sober and though he was in an environment where many sought "a higher power of their own understanding", only God Himself knows how many hearts Marc gently led to Christ.

Good morning! I just updated The Daily Dose and will have a new post up on my blog later today. I'm off to my day job! 

Be intentional about your day. Do what God puts in front of you and try not to worry over what comes next. Hmmm . . . that's a good blog topic!

Several years ago when my now-husband, then-boyfriend was drug addicted, he had a habit of lying even when it wasn't "necessary." I had a sponsor at the time whom I called regularly because my life was such a mess.

I called her one day to complain about "Mr. Rights" habitual lying and she said, "He's on drugs, of course he lies. You know this about him and yet you choose to be in a relationship with him. He's just being himself. What about you? You claim to be honest, but you've clearly invited a person who lies into your life, and you tolerate it. What does that say about you?"

Ouch . . . double ouch! I was furious, she was right. In case you're wondering why I would share something so harsh, it's because of a scripture I came across this morning:

Psalm 120:1-2

"In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He heard me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue."

It's easy to think of someone else, anyone but myself when I read this verse. But because I love you, I must tell you, I did not heal until I became willing to take an honest look at myself.  I was victimized as a child, no doubt about it. But in this case, I was the victim of my own choice.

I thank God everyday that He is merciful and desires for me to have victory over both scenarios. He desires the same for you. So if by chance today's post ruffled your feathers, know that I write to you in love and with the best intentions. My sponsor infuriated me on a regular basis, but know what? God used her to humble me and heal me on a deeper level than I ever thought possible. I want that and even more for you!

To make a wise decision we must first ask God for wisdom and then (here's the hard part) wait for it. Let's face it, we live in an "I want it NOW" world. If we pray for wisdom and refuse to wait, we can fall into the trap of making a decision we believe to be God's will, only to discover we acted impulsively. 'Been there, done that.

James 3: 17 describes the characteristics of the wisdom we need to make important decisions.

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."

After years of asking for wisdom and seeking the will of God, I am just realizing that James 3: 17 is our check-list for whether or not the decisions we make are rooted in wisdom from above:

1. pure- does not require anyone to sin
2. peaceable- steady calm inside our hearts
   
3. gentle- obedient to the Word of God (humble)
   
4. willing to yield- resist our own impulses and wait for instruction from God
   
5. full of mercy- not made from a place of offense, self-preservation, anger, or neglect of another
   
6. will produce good fruit- a healthy outcome glorifies God and ushers in His blessings
   
7. without partiality- when we refuse to consider wise counsel, we won't hear from God clearly
   
8. without hypocrisy- does not compromise Christian integrity

Simple, not always easy. I encourage you to read James 3: 17 the next time you have an important decision to make. And trust God with the outcome!

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear invovles torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18 NKJV)

I did it! I overcame my fear of elevators Friday night! Throughout the day I repeated out loud, "Perfect love casts out fear. Fear torments, and I refuse to be tormented! There's no room in my heart for fear. Christ lives inside my heart."

The fist elevator ride requiried a trip in a parking-garage elevator. In case you don't know, they're not air conditioned and very hot in the summer. No problem. We road up with a friend of ours and chatted on the way. Then came the biggie: sixty nine floors. Again, we chattted all the way up and were there in no time.

The miracle is that I didn't feel even marginally uncomfortable. And the view from the top . . . breath taking!!

Dinner was wonderful. Our friends are wonderful. The evening was wonderful! The next day I told my friend who still freaks out in small, closed in spaces, and she was amazed! We both wondered if there is a twelve-step program for people overcoming their fear of elevators. I think there is a program for everything these days.

Maybe in the fall (when it's cooler outside) I will talk her into spending a day riding elevators with me.

How about you? Got a fear you want to overcome? In Christ, you can and will overcome. Resolve in your heart to trust that He is with you and drives out fear.

Just a side-note: this is the first time I shared publically that I was about to do something that frightened me. I think my open confession coupled with the outward profession of the Word of God made the biggest difference. I encourage you to try it for yourself!