Busy!

It wasn't intended to be this way. It just happened. A confluence of events have come together to make for the busiest days I can ever remember at our house. Let me explain.

Months ago I agreed to help run VBS. August seemed so far away you know so no big deal. VBS is now here. And months ago Sherri and I agreed to host a foreign exchange student who arrives this week. The kids were still in school at the time and the next school year seemed very far away. We bought an old house for Jake in Maryville back in the spring that needed some work down the road. Down the road now means 'right now'. Dan decided on UNO for college months ago and now we need to get him ready to move out. The decision to redo Caleb's room to get ready for high school came early since the train motif had grown old- or should I say too young?

So what does all this mean? A perfect storm of crazyness for both Sherri and me. We spent hours and hours creating sets for VBS- laughing at our poor artists skills. When we got home we would tear apart Caleb's room- dismantling the bunk beds and taking out all the furniture and clothes and well, just the myriad of clutter that teenage boys pour into their rooms. We cleared Dan out of his room to make way for Mate (our exchange student) which resulted in another giant pile of stuff somewhere else. Thankfully Grandpa John has been helping fix up the Maryville house. All this as I make plans for a full week of travel for business next week. EEESCH!

When 'busy' is used in the Bible it's not usually a good thing. Like Martha is busy in the kitchen when Jesus is teaching. He tells her one thing is important and 'busy' isn't it. Ecclesiastes talks about busy people chasing after the wind- a clear indication that 'busy' is not really a productive activity. Jesus said in Luke 21, 'Don't be too busy with worldly things…the end might come when you are not ready'. No wonder then that 'busybody' isn't a term of affection.

The German origin of 'busy' means 'occupied'. God certainly gave us a planet full of shiny objects to occupy our time and attention. Yet He was pretty clear about what is to be our top 'occupation'. The Contemporary English Version of the Bible uses the word 'busy' in a favorite verse 1 Cor 15:58 where it says, 'Always keep busy working for the Lord'. Are we 'occupied' with, busy with, things of the Lord?

Sometimes it seems like 'busy' just surrounds us. Like Sherri and I, we can get into busy times without even trying. The same thing happened to Jesus. Take a look at Luke 5: 15 and 16 to see Jesus' response. 'News about Jesus kept spreading. Large crowds came to listen to him teach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus would often go to some place where he could be alone and pray'. I was going to use that as my excuse to get out of mattress frame construction last night but I knew Sherri wouldn't go for it.

All kidding aside- don't send God a busy signal when He is working in your life and heart. When you get busy, look for ways to occupy your time in prayer, praise and study away from the crowds and rush of life. That's not me speaking, it's Jesus' example. As the old hymn (Come Follow Me the Savior Spake) says, 'Take My example as your guide'! Gotta run, so much to do…have a great week occupied with Jesus!

Blest Regards,
kp