Eat Your Frog First

I don't know what you most dislike doing, but I have a hard time getting motivated to exercise, especially lift weights. Having bad osteoporosis, my chiropractor says walking isn't enough. In order to build bone mass, I have to do weight bearing exercise. For years, I've used a doable program, by Miriam Nelson, Ph.D. "Strong Women Stay Young." It was first used on nursing home patients. Some of them were in wheelchairs. I lift wights twice a week. Nelson says you need to do it either two or three times a week for maximum benefit. More than that will not give your muscles time to heal the little tears. I have my own dumbbells and also leg weights. When I read the advice about eating your frog first this is what came to mind. 

EAT YOUR FROG FIRST!

What do you most dislike doing?

Put off as long as possible?

Don't procrastinate,

Save it for last,

Eat your spinach first,

Save your dessert for last,

Do your ick jobs first,

Get them behind you,

Enjoy the satisfaction,

Knowing there completed,

Do your yum jobs later,

Look forward to them,

Enjoy working on them,

In other words,

Eat your frog first.

Responsibility

What a bummer. I just lost my first draft of this. So here it goes again. For some time now, God has been teaching me about what he loves and hates. One of the character qualities he loves is responsibility, while its opposite laziness is detestable to him. Laziness as well as excuses concerning laziness are sin. So is procrastination.

For years instead of being led by the Good Shepherd, I was driven by the enemy. Our precious Savior isn't most concerned with speed, but with obedience, desiring believers develop an ever deepening relationship with him and learn to discern his voice from the voice of the enemy. We are to let the peace of God rule in our hearts and not rush into an action we don't have his peaceful knowing that it is the right course to pursue. 

We are not called to be human doings, even in getting out the gospel, but human beings, who have our priorities in order and know our Lord's seasons for our lives. There is a time to work and a time to rest. Without down times we burn out. That is why taking one day a week to cease from our everyday labor and fellowship with him and other believers is so important.

Also opening our day with prayer for wisdom concerning our daily activities and his anointing on them is most important. As we continue through the day, we need to seek guidance concerning the moment by moment decisions we have to make.

The eternal kingdom will be simple, lovely, pure and right. We are a three part being consisting of body, soul and spirit. Clutter in any one of the three indicates clutter or unresolved issues in all three of them. Clutter overwhelms, steals our peace, prevents us from hearing God's voice most accurately and being the most effective in all that we do. Excessive belongings or stuff which is never satisfying is usually a counterfeit for the truly satisfying relationships with our Master and other believers that God intended to fulfill us.   

Our Messiah is preparing us to rule and reign with him eternally. In order to merit such responsibility, we have to prove ourselves trustworthy while on earth. As  they are the truest indicator of the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, our actions really do speak louder than our words. God doesn't call just anyone his friend, but only those who are willing to do the work necessary to develop an ever deepening relationship with him.

RESPONSIBILITY

For years,

God has been showing me,

What he loves,

Also what he hates,

He detests laziness,

But loves responsibility,

God's kingdom is coming,

Soon it will be here,

Believers are being prepared,

To rule and reign,

With the King of kings,

There is no higher honor,

To be trusted with authority,

We need to act responsibly,

Obey God's commands,

Have our house in order,

Be cleaning out our clutter,

Simplifying our lives,

Developing relationships,

With him,

And set apart believers,

Not substituting stuff,

The unsatisfying counterfeit,

For the satisfying real thing,

Stop making excuses,

For our laziness,

Learn to discern his voice,

From the enemies,

Refuse to be driven,

But rather be led,

Knowing the seasons,

The time to work,

And the time to rest.