Do You Have A Plan?

Let's pretend we are going on a trip.

What might be some of the first questions you ask before planning a trip and deciding what to pack?  

1.  What is your budget? 
Will you be counting each penny or do you have money to burn?  Will you need to find ways to save or can you splurge a little?

2. What type of trip will it be? 

Vacation or Business? Family, couple or friend? The purpose of the trip dictates what you take.  Clothes need to be professional for a work conference and you will want to have travel entertainment if you will have kids with you.

3. Where is it? 
What will the weather be? What is the terrain?  You wouldn't pack just shorts for a snowy, mountain ski trip or take a down jacket on an island beach getaway! Destination comes into account when planning your trip.  

4.  How will you be traveling? 

Car rides accommodate for more bags while airplanes means organizing those small ounce containers for security checks.  There is also bus when the budget is small and time isn't an issue or a train for the scenic route.  You may need small bills for tips or AAA for extra security, discounts and maps on a road trip.

5. Where are you staying? 
Do you have a friend close by with room to keep you?  Do you need to book a hotel or suite if the family is with you?  How many nights do you need?  What amenities are essential for your trek?

Those 5 questions are just the beginning of the planning process.

The irony of life is we don't often consider the equivalent of these questions when it comes to our spiritual life, something much more important than a trip.  

Navigating through life can be a challenge, especially when you understand we have an enemy.

Yes, Satan is real.

I am not sure he looks like many of the depicted caricatures circuiting, especially when you read scriptures that say he comes disguised as "an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).  Satan doesn't like us.  He didn't just get kicked out of heaven because he wanted to be God, he was upset that God created us.  He was in essence the jealous older sibling after mommy has a new baby.  He wanted and still wants to take us out.

God came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.  Jesus died and came back to life to conquer for us what we couldn't conquer ourselves, but we are still walking through the battlefield of life and we need to start engaging a little more so we come out alive.

Do you know the books of the Bible and their themes?
Are you memorizing scripture on a regular basis?
Do you have and are you following a reading plan of the Bible?
Have you read the Bible in its entirety?
Do you pray on a regular basis?
Have you examined cultural influences that help in understanding what God is communicating?
Do you know your weaknesses and are you protecting them with accountability through other believers and having scripture prepared to combat temptation?

I am not asking these questions to shame you if you can't positively answer these questions - instead, I want to bring home the point that we need a plan.

So why do the questions above matter? 

Knowing the books of the Bible and their themes helps you find what you need.

Memorizing scripture allows you to have it handy.

Reading the Bible isn't the same for everyone and in this digital age there are a million plans out there to read through the Bible so there is something for everyone, and reading the Bible consistently gives you that link to our Savior.

Reading the entire Bible takes about 80 hours but most plans do it over one to two years.  Reading the whole thing can be challenging, especially some passages, but it is a story and reading all of it is crucial to understanding the story and the purposes of Christ.

Prayer is our connection and communication with our God, and in war time soldiers need to have communication with their leader if they want to survive their enemy.  This is such a crucial tool in our belt.

The Bible wasn't written alongside the Declaration of Independence.  It is older than that and was written on soil on the other side of the world. The Bible wasn't written but often interpreted through Western culture and that is a mistake.  Many customs in the Middle East haven't changed much from the way they are today.  Context is also key in understanding what the Bible is all about.  Take the time to check it out.  Need some resources?  Let me know!  Happy to point you in the right direction.

Remember that enemy well he know humans really well, he's been roaming the earth for some time now.  We all have weaknesses and he knows how to prey on us, not to mention we are pretty good at self-sabotage.  Knowing ourselves, and our weaknesses, helps us to protect ourselves.  Having an accountability partner helps us to grow and keeps us honest about our journey.

Do you have a plan?  Where are you with each of these categories?  Can you up your game just a bit in each area?  If you don't have a plan, its time to get one!  

The Best Job A Mom Can Have

I've been working in ministry & non-profit since (and before) college.  I love helping people and being apart of what God is doing in people's lives.  It is very rewarding despite the lack of pay and monetary benefits.  

As my life changed and I added babies to the mix, my ability to be out in the community helping beyond my hours at the church became impossible.  I felt the desire to still be in ministry, but also knew if I neglected my family to do it, I was wrong.  God is clear that my family is the priority no matter how noble my efforts with teenagers, homeless or the broken-hearted may be.  

Being a mom hasn't made me irrelevant in the body of Christ.  It hasn't benched me from the game for a few years, instead, I have found the perfect ministry opportunity as I've looked for a way to serve God and keep my priorities in tact.  You ready for my big revelation? The best job I have available to me as a Christian, ministry minded mom is PRAYER! Prayer is often overlooked but as a Christian it is your most important tool.  

Don't believe me? Read a few of these verses and see if it doesn't change your mind: 

Psalm 118:21, Psalm 66:20, Ezra 8:23, Colossians 4:2, Hebrews 5:7, James 5:15, Psalm 120:1 Psalm 116:1, Daniel 10:12, I Chronicles 5:20 and Ephesians 6:18.  

Prayer can be an intimidating word because of its simplicity, or it gets used in a way that minimizes its role in our spiritual journey. Prayer is crucial because it goes before us and prepares the path or better yet, prepares us for the path. 

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Colossians 4:2 NLT

 Best of all, it's the perfect job for moms because we can do it anytime, anywhere! In my journey to prayer warrior, I have discovered some ways to make my prayers as a mom more effective so I'd like to share those with you. (Note: You don't have to be a mom to apply them.)

1. Set reminders

There were some people in my life going through a hard time that really needed prayer so I set a reminder everyday at a specific time to pray for those people.  Even if I get busy, I get an alert telling me to put my mind on things above.  Might as well you my smartphone for spiritual things.

2. War Room, sort of

I was inspired by the movie, "War Room" that came out this past year, but wasn't at liberty to empty my closet in order to have one, by one, I mean a dedicated spot for prayer.  Instead, I began to fill up the inside of my cabinet doors.  

If you come to my house you may open a pantry door or kitchen cabinet and find a photo of someone I want to pray for or a notecard with a scripture I want to meditate on. I can fill my house with prayer prompts without creating a cluttered environment.   As I go about my day, I am reminded through my own busyness path to focus on the Lord.  

3. Keep Those Photo Cards

I don't send Christmas cards, but Valentines instead. I use the Christmas cards I get to make my list of Valentines, but usually those cards still find their way to the trash after the holidays.  This year, I cut out the photos instead of blessing the trash can with them and added them to my cabinet collection.  If you sent me a photo card you can be assured you've been added to my list of prayer. 

4.  Write it down

I don't always journal, but I do pray.  I decided this year, as I prayed I'd note what leadings I got from God.  Sometimes what I get is just my stomach talking about food, but when I am seeking intently, I can hear from God and write it down so I don't forget. Now I have a reminder when I need to look back on what God has said. It also forces me to have some quiet, intentional time listening to God.

5. Pray a Day

One of the results of number four, is a new relationship God prompted me to pursue with a mom ahead of me in the mommy race. Her kids are grown and now we get together to talk and pray.  I can glean from her through her experience when I just need a little help.  This last week she brought a tool that has me in awe.  It's a piece of paper with thirty-one attributes with corresponding scriptures so I can pray each day for my kids in a new area of their character.  I love it! Targeted prayer is amazing and each day of every month I can pray for what the Bible calls my kids to be.  I have found this makes good prayers for my hubby and me as well.  Today, was loving.  But in the last week I've read passages and prayed for my kids to be things like peacemakers, generous and respectful to others.  Whether you use a list like mine or make your own, assign each day a prayer target.  Maybe the first of every month is missionaries, second, politicians, etc. until thirty-one categories are covered.  Maybe you use letters and pray for people in those letter ranges instead. Regardless of your method, planning your prayers makes just as much sense as planning your finances. You cover it all!  

Prayer is powerful! It's a noble calling and God needs his children to get in the game and fight with him in this spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12).

James 5:16b NLT

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

These years of diapers, the laundry avalanche, permissions slips and school projects can leave you lost and go by with a whirlwind, but they can count for something and it's your job to stand up and be counted.  We aren't always prepared for what's ahead but as Christians we know someone who is and He can help us, but we must stay connected despite the chaos.