Margin....

Margin...so you have any...you need it in all areas....No margin--NO dreaming! Our Sunday School lesson was on stress and managing it and you can't talk about that without mentioning margin! I won't rehash the whole thing but I wanted to share a few key points that I took from it that I can relate to so many areas of my life!!
* Focus on the moment--TODAY I am going to be obedient....TODAY I am going to do whatever it is you need to work on...reading your Bible, praying, being patient with your kids, being a better friend....whatever it is---one day at a time...It takes putting something into practice to make it a habit...I am on day 139 of reading the Bible...I have never made it more than a week maybe 2 in a row!! (Thanks Trish for your obedience to God!)
*Start each day by giving it to God...
* Less IS more! Too much of anything can ruin something that is good! We live in such a materialistic world...seems I am always hearing...if only I had THAT car, or if only I had a BIGGER house, if only my husband made that much money, if only my kids were.....and on and on....NONE of those things bring happiness!!! $$$$$money can't buy: happiness, peace of mind, health, eternal security, a good night's sleep, time......I would so rather have all of these things than a bigger house or a newer car....God wants us to be good with what he gives us....I think that means debt management....if you have crazy debt and owe on homes, cars, credit cards, Christmas, etc....you DO NOT have peace of mind--you have STRESS! God wants us to have so much more than that!!!
*If you are walking with the Lord, the world will try to fill your calendar--stress...go here, be there....Satan will get you with business....Satan is in charge of the world for now and he will do whatever he can to get you to not go to church, not read your Bible, not pray, not make time for things that will help you grow closer to God! God wants us to love him and grow in a great relationship with Him! Going to church is one of the ways to do that....oh, how it pleases satan each Sunday when you don't make it, or each time you chose the TV or another book over His book or time in prayer......

With no margin, you become self absorbed...it has become all about you! You can't give of yourself and you become selfish instead of selfless....You come before God and sometimes everyone else! By pushing to the limit--being busy every minute--we think we are living life to the fullest. That is a lie! Say no and don't feel guilty for it! Margin allows us to gain control....that is the truth!

2 last notes that I wrote were about worry and people that God places in your life. **God is at work behind the scenes....he has people he will place in your life. I have seen this one recently. Trish--the one who does:
....well, I met her at a b-day party of another friend in Nashville...met her once and now she is this amazing light in my life! God knew what he was doing and he knew that day I think it was in 2006 exactly why she was being placed in my life....and I thought we were just driving up for a fun family day!

**God knows how many days you will have (I keep telling myself that as we head to Tornado Alley!) Ecc. 3:2 A time to be born...a time to die....
Job 14:5 You have decided the length of our lives....

So as I opened, I will close....if you have no margin you will forget how to dream! Financial margin, time margin.....make it a priority...don't forgot God wants us to enjoy all of this...not stress over it!