Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Appointment (02/09/12)
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TITLE: Got Time? | Previous Challenge Entry
By annie keys
02/16/12 -
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One of my concerns has been in maintaining a consistent time for daily Bible study and prayer. No matter how I try to establish a routine for time spent with God, the scheduling is never permanent. Knowing that an everyday time for devotion and conversation with my Lord is vital for a victorious Christian life; this inability to organize is frustrating me. Determined to make time for God, I prayed that He would show me how to accomplish my goal.
Today, I realized that I had a conflict between the dentist and my hairdresser. Knowing that both were important, I wrestled with what appointment I should postpone. Do I put off the dentist and keep my hair appointment or do I let my hair go and keep the time set aside for filling that sensitive tooth? Obviously, the tooth wins. But, since I really need a haircut, I go ahead and re-schedule my appointment for later in the day. This mop has simply GOT to be trimmed; I look like a ragamuffin on steroids.
Looking at my tightly scheduled day, I again prayed that God would show me how to make time for Bible study and prayer in the daily stress of life. When schedules are this tight, there has to be some way to re-arrange and plan more efficiently. Perhaps it isn’t time that I struggle with; perhaps it is simply planning.
As part of my renewed commitment to seek God, I had written “God with Bible” in the margin of my day planner. So far, I’ve not found a slot to fit this planned time for communication with the Lord IN my day, but when I slow down for lunch, maybe I could do my devotions then.
Or, even more time thrifty, I could carry my Bible on the front seat of my car, already marked and open. When I pause at street lights for a red stop, I can read the scriptures for today. I’m a fast reader, I should be able to get at least three of four verses read before the light changes.
Prayer could also be slipped into my busy schedule without much effort. As long as I didn’t close my eyes, I could pray as I drove. Hmmm, in fact, I could pray while I walk, ride the elevator, grocery shop; making time for prayer isn’t going to be as difficult as I’d thought. Nice.
This new awareness to plan to use my extra, otherwise wasted, moments for time with God is going to work. By days end, feeling that I’d finally gotten a handle on how to work God into my busy day, I turned the lights out and went to bed, exhausted. Success was, obviously, possible, but perhaps required more planning than I’d anticipated.
Once again, I’m sitting at the breakfast table, day planner in hand, trying to organize my time. I liked the success I’d had with “pray as I go”, but the stop light Bible reading just wasn’t working out for me. I need more time in the Word than this “stop n’grab it”. Suddenly, God spoke to my heart; honestly, His voice was so clear that I jumped and almost spilled my juice! “Make an appointment for me.”
Stunned, I put my pen down, shut my day planner and whispered, “Whaaaat?” God’s voice continued to speak into my heart, “Would you get your hair cut while you were at the dentist? Yet, you pray and read your Bible while you are busy doing something else. Open your appointment schedule and write my name in one of the spaces. Determine to never cancel my appointment. If something comes up, reschedule, but don’t cancel.”
The answer was so easy, I guess I’ve just been too busy to see it. When I seek to make God part of my life, I must plan to actively include him in my day. The things that are important to me, I plan for them. I schedule appointments for my Dr., Dentist, hair dresser, and lunch with my friends. It only makes sense that I would actively plan an appointment with my Lord. I’m a very organized person. I plan for the things that are important to me.
(750 words fiction based on fact)
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Write out the word doctor instead of abbreviating it unless it's part of the name like Dr. Smith. Also don't capitalize doctor or dentist unless it is a substitute for a name.
I think you did a great job writing on topic. I liked your message too. The ending brought the story full circle.
You have written so beautifully what many of us can relate to; I like that you don't scold, but find a solution! It seems so simple and yet I missed it, (but then my middle name is 'organised chaos'!). Well done.
Thank you for this and its clear message you conveyed.
God Bless~
I call it "getting up on my Daddy's lap"
Very nicely written! Thanks for the encouragement.
You might find it interesting that this piece exposed some of my most annoying faults. Given the choice between hair and teeth I'd choose hair in a heartbeat. I was shocked when the MC gave teeth a higher priortiy. Then I realized the shocking perception was mine.
I was grateful the MC gave up the stop light Bible reading plan. This is the sort of fire by trial God continually uses against (on? toward?) me. I grow insane, chanting from inside my car, "Remember, slow to anger. Patience is a virtue. Don't honk. She'll notice the light. Any second now, she'll notice the light. Is she--reading!"
Okay, so I'm off to pray, for myself, and to make my own appointment with God.
horrid little torture chambers! I don't drive so I don't do the red light stop but my best idea was reading God's word as soon as I sat up in bed each morning. Problem there was I always needed the loo - and that HAD to take priority! You know there's no easy answer to this dilemma is there? Anyhow, thanks for writing this. I now know I'm not alone!