Do You Have A Commitment Problem?

It's been a few weeks now... since I decided to get back to writing my weekly blog. This is my first one since then. Can anyone say fail? Seriously. I didn't even do it the week I decided to do it! WHY?! Why does this happen?! I'm sure no one out there can understand this predicament ;).

Have you decided to do something that you weren't already doing? In other words, have you had the thought to: work out consistently, eat better, eat less, get up early to pray, spend more time with your spouse, your kids, focusing on the things that matter, work less, etc, etc, etc. It just seems like we all have said many of these things. These things that we just can't seem to get right. Or better yet, things that we honestly want to do, decide to do, but don't do.

There are many books about this, many suggestions, from people much wiser than me. And I'm obviously not someone who has mastered this myself. In my defense, I keep my "commitments". I really do. At least I think I do. But some things apparently aren't commitments to me. Like writing this blog regularly. But why? Why isn't this a big enough deal to be a commitment? Or do I (we) justify the things we don't do by saying they never were commitments. Hmmmm. Much to think about.

And I've been thinking about it as we approach 2013. What "commitments" am I going to make? How about you? Will you keep them? Careful....this is important.

Jesus said we should let our yes be yes, and our no be no. Seems obvious, but it's important to look at. Over history, oaths made to God were super serious. It was basically like saying "I'm going to do this...but to really prove I'm serious, I'm going to tell God I'm going to do this." This is at least how my simple mind sees it. But when Jesus came, which changed a lot of things, he said just back up what you say. Essentially "God is here now, so just do what you say you'll do. That's how you're supposed to live."

So what do we...do? Maybe in the weeks ahead, or even today as you read this, begin to realize that what we commit to doing, we should do. I mean really do it. But that's if we say we'll do it. I know I'm spinning in circles a little here, but maybe we shouldn't say we're going to do so many things. Glance up at the list from earlier. Don't do all of those things! At least, not all at once. Or whatever your personal list is...cut it in half! Pick one or two adjustments/changes/things and do them. Be who Jesus wants you to be. Be someone who keeps their word. Then when those changes become habits/routine, move on to something else.

Btw, I'm not saying don't do anything, because that way you can't break your word. Nice try. There are plenty of teachings in the Bible about all of the things we should be doing, like prayer, eating well, spending time with family, reading our Bible, working hard, etc. And sometimes we need to step out in faith and make a commitment that will be hard to keep. You should do that. But then do everything you can to keep that commitment. Ask God for help. Don't give up. Find accountability before you commit. Don't pretend like there are 25 hours in a day. Be reasonable, while still pushing yourself. Do it.

Above all else, keep your integrity in these matters. Value what you say to yourself, to others, to God.

Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.

See you next week.

Time with God

I'm currently sitting in the Contemporary Resort at Disney World. I have a Coke (shock) and I'm typing on my iPad as monorails pass by. Is this life crazy or what? It most definitely is. I can't believe I get to be here. Think about it: I'm at a worship conference with some fabulous worship leaders and pastors. And it's at Disney World. Does it get any better?

But it's not even about that. Let me clarify what I mean. Vacations are fun and everyone enjoys going away a few days. Whether it's Disney or camping in the woods, we all enjoy it. But it's the time with God I'm enjoying. Now I'm not getting all super spiritual in some unrealistic way with you, or building myself up. Trust me...I've been having fun just doing stuff too! But back home, my worship is always paired with responsibility; my Bible times followed shortly by a meeting; my times of reflection constantly interrupted. When I'm here, I have no weight on my shoulders. No one stopping me to chat or interrupting prayer with a meeting. I've been sitting here for 50 min 'alone'...there are people all around me, but none talking to me! That never happens back home. I can get some time here and there of course, but not 3 days of this. Or even 3 hours.

So now to you. Do you get these times? I know all of us can't go away on work to something like this. And three days is crazy hard to find alone. But what about two hours? Or one?  No phone. No interruptions. No one around. God wants to spend time with you. Just you. I have to remember this all the time, and it's one of the things God is reminding me of this week. He loves my family and He loves watching me love them. He loves my job and He loves watching me work hard and do my best. He loves being worshipped and seeing His children sing together on the weekends.

But He loves me too. Just Brian. And just like I love one-on-one time with my son Caden and my son Chase, He loves one-on-one time with me. The problem is my life doesn't always fit in the alone time necessary to just be me and Him. It would be like bringing my friend Junior to the lunch my dad and I had at Portillo's two weeks ago. My dad likes Junior a lot, and would love to hang out with him. But don't you think he would be a little sad if that's all he ever got? Or what of I had brought my iPad and worked most of the lunch. "Hey dad, this person really needs me. Just keep eating."

I'm getting convicted right now. You know why? Because I told God I'd spend some time with Him and here I am writing a blog. No joke. And some not planned big ending. Just hit me now. Gotta go.

The Amazing, Tremendous, Life-Changing....Calendar

I enjoy writing a blog. It's fun to share what God is doing in my life with the hope of encouraging others. But I find I only write them every few months. Why not more often? I don't really know. When I was reminded of my inconsistency recently, I realized that blogging needed to become part of something precious to me. My calendar.

Recently I've begun to schedule everything I do. Not just dinners out or meetings, but everything. I do block scheduling and it's been incredibly helpful. I don't know about you, but seeing something does way more for me than trying to remember. And blocking out time becomes like doing a budget. Dave Ramsey always says that doing a budget is "telling your money where to go, not wondering where it went." I guess the same principle applies here. I don't want to wonder where my time went. I want to look at my day and know where my minutes will be spent.

It's amazing to see what happens when you focus on your time.  For me, my daily disciplines become enjoyable, important matters don't get missed, and the things I "want" to do, like blogging, begin to happen. Regularly. You don't have great days, you have great weeks. And you accomplish much, much more.

If this sounds appealing, or like it could help you, give it a shot. Like budgeting, it takes time to plan this much. A lot of time when you start. And you will adjust things for a number of weeks. But the results will bring about WAY more than you're doing now. It is worth it!

Last thought...if you're really going to do this, put in some buffer time for unexpected tasks and conversations. I started off with very little buffer and got discouraged. Now my schedule breathes and fits my personality and job.

This wasn't a deep blog, but something that can help you accomplish more each week, especially the disciplines of Bible study, prayer, serving at church and time with your family. Not to mention getting everything done at work...at least everything you planned to do :).