Spending May "Off the Grid"

In March I decided to say goodbye to the world of Facebook...

...it was the best decision I made all year! It was so refreshing to spend the freed up time I had to really invest in my own family right in this house. After a few weeks I wanted more! So I said goodbye to two more time consumers...television and telephone. Then midway through the month I gave e-mail the boot aside from time sensitive/business related items. It is sobering to realize how much of my time was being used on things that were in contrast with the goals we are trying to accomplish in our home.

For the first week or so I found it was simple to just replace those things with other equally meaningless time fillers around the house. After a week of not accomplishing what I thought we could I really looked into how I am using my time (OUR time as the kiddos are always on board with me, or course). Discipline is difficult to develop after years of just wandering to and fro with out a strong sense of purpose for how we are to spend our daily life. Up until now I would come up with a list of grand ideas that look so appealing...and then go waste my time rather than focusing on the goal. I could go on and on about that, but I won't because that was then and this is now!

Here is what I accomplished in May during my break from electronic distractions:

*Removed 45 boxes of misc. junk from the house ( how we love our "stuff")
*Had a rummage sale with a friend and cleared out most of that misc. junk
*Hauled 2 loads of remaining stuff to the arcaid
*Hauled 2 loads of true junk to the dump
*Cleaned all of the kitchen cupboards out and organized
*Painted the kitchen cabinets
*Hung 3 shelves in the kitchen
*Sorted through all of our books and got them ALL into one place on the shelf :)
*Went through everyone's closets to sort out clothes that don't fit
*Worked in the yard
*Finished up our school year
*Taught Everett how to start the mower and mow/bag
*Read an entire book
*Cooked
*Cleaned
*Washed clothes
*Washed dishes
*Read books with the kids
*Kept up on our devotions
*Tried new meals
*Baked biscuits from scratch


I realize that these are just regular accomplishments for some people, but for me it is a major breakthrough. Nobody is going to do the planning for me, nobody is going to drag me out of my seat to get things done. Just me.

Now- that is where the trouble comes in.

If I rely on me....we are all going to be in a world of hurt. I will fail every time. In my fleshly state I will serve myself first...constantly focusing on making sure I get "me time" and fixating on what I "deserve". On what I think I deserve, that is. For what I really deserve is eternal punishment for my sinful behavior as I have fallen so very short of God's glory.

In comes Jesus!! Thank God!

Even though I have given my life to Jesus, I still try time and again to "do it all" on my own. Silly, silly me. What I know in my head, I fail to act upon. Using my time wisely this month has given me fresh insight and I am grateful for God's wisdom and instructions on how to live our lives:

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD." Jer 17:5 (NIV)

"He who trusts in himself is a fool..." Prov 28:26 (NIV)

So now, putting my trust in God, I will put one foot ahead of the other and with His help use each minute of the time I have for His glory! I'm so grateful for my month away from the madness and look forward to doing it again every May!