Abundant life
25 Jan 2010 1 Comment
in Crafts, Random musings, Scripture Tags: Abundant, goal, life, plan, purpose, results
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 (KJV)
I think this verse really applies to our fast-paced modern lives. Time is stolen from us. Our purpose dies and our relationships are destroyed. As long as Satan can keep us on this treadmill, he can keep us so distracted that we never really realize what has happened til we look back and see how time has flown by.
Christ said that he came to give us life more abundantly. Of course, we can’t have abundant life without Christ but I think we have to go even further. We have to live each day on purpose. I have certainly been there where days blend into weeks into months and the time just flies by. We all assumed that it was because we were older. But this past month has proven that it’s not the case at all.
I have been very busy over the past month. Allowing the children to participate more in cooking, crafts and homemaking, tailoring activities to each child’s interests, planning special evenings with my husband and making all sorts of crafts. I’ve probably completed more projects over the past 3-4 weeks than I have the previous 3-4 years. With all this busyness, I would have thought that time would fly by. It hasn’t. It feels like Christmas was 6 months ago instead of just one month. It feels like I’ve packed so much living in such a short time.
So what’s been the difference in this past month and the previous years? Purpose. I know there are some days that we wish away, praying, “Lord just let me make it through the day.” By living with purpose, even if the days look very similar, they are still filled with fulfilling activities.
For example, crafts are such a fun activity for me. I really didn’t anticipate so many of the posts on this blog being about crafts. But it’s truthful. If I’m going to live with purpose, it’s going to include crafts. It’s so much a part of who I am. If the last sentence is accurate, why have I not completed more crafts in previous years? Because I had a purpose without a plan. An intention without a goal.
I can spend hours on crafting and never complete anything. I can move from activity to activity and have bags full of unfinished projects. Then you don’t want to look at the activities because you feel guilty for not following through. So you go for weeks or months not participating in the activities that you love. So now, I not only look at the projects that I want to start, but also those that I want to complete.
For example, I cut out a pair of sleep pants out of some soft flannel a couple of weeks ago. Probably wouldn’t take me an hour or so to complete. I suppose I’m avoiding it because I’m not as confident in garment construction as crochet or cross stitch. So this week, that will be one of the top priorities. By completing this soon, it won’t become a weight holding me back.
I’ve almost finished the Easter baskets. I have them pinned and ready to be topstitched around the top. I need to finish that so I can take the blue thread out of the sewing machine, leaving it available to make other things like James’ and Andrew’s birthday gifts. Those gifts will have to be made in the next two weeks.
So that gives me four projects to work on during early mornings and craft nights (we have two this week). I have a gray tote filled with small knitting and crochet projects like booties and dish cloths. Also I have a bag of fabric circles to make yo-yo’s. I work on these during nap time, in waiting rooms and in the evenings after supper. I love that I never have to have “idle hands.”
Now, I don’t want this to appear like work so I don’t want rigid goals without a fun result. It is thrilling to finish projects. But I also have a list of projects in my head that I want to begin. So my treat for finishing the projects that I want completed is the freedom to start another activity. I am itching to make 12 squares for a crochet sampler afghan. It is a set of squares that are mostly new to me and will expand my crocheting skills. I have some shimmery white yarn, pink yarn and lavender yarn. I’ll keep it for this baby if it’s a girl. If not, I’ll give it as a Christmas gift. So with changing my thought process, I’ve created purpose with goals and results. By denying myself the freedom to start the new project, I provide myself with motivation to complete the projects on my priority list.
So abundant life primarily comes with knowing Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Secondly, we need to be using the talents and gifts that God gave us to bless our families and the world around us. Time doesn’t fly by near as fast as it would otherwise. Give it a try.
