Summer days are rolling in so fast. Too fast.
It seems like only yesterday we took down the Christmas tree. Later that day we hummed Easter songs. And here we are already window-shopping for discounted bathing-suits. Time’s swooshing faster than I can collect memories.
Planned Summer
Over a month ago the women in our church geared up for the summer over teatime. Love the challenge given that day: Live By Design, Not By Default.
There’s so much wisdom in that challenge. It was high time for a different kind of summer this year. A well-designed summer.
As instructed by the leader that day, I eagerly charted my spiritual goals; I mapped out my summer projects; I listed areas of needed growth; I even carefully penciled in ways of relaxation.
Planning is great. Planning is Biblical. Planning keeps us focused, on point, accountable, and motivated. Planning helps us leverage time and resources.
If our summer is purposeless, we risk having less intentionality in memorizing Scripture, praying faithfully for others, lingering in the Word for pleasure and not out of obligation, investing in moments of laughter, using our God-bestowed talents.
So, let’s aim to live by design.
Let’s have summer days filled with purpose, summer days filled with godliness.
Planned Attitude
When I don’t eat, I get grumpy. When I’m behind my expectations, I turn into a fussing Martha.
Here I was on a midsummer night realizing that I was living my summer more by default, rather than by design. I had allowed day-to-day urgencies to bring about a sour-grape attitude in me.
Disappointment.
My three-word motto glued on the bathroom mirror (positive- encouraging- content) went down the drain.
It was easy to fuss about my frustrations over the mapped-out-summer-plan left on the back-burner in order to attend to unpredicted events.
Is it wrong to find comfort that I’m not the only one with a grumbling heart? Martha in Luke 10 encourages me greatly.
One day Jesus drops by into that humble Jewish home to visit Mary and Martha.
Martha drops it all to make the Master feel at home.
Mary is not mentioned as to how she welcomes the Master.
Martha is soon pulled away by the kitchen duty.
Mary is hanging on each word the Master says.
Martha is frustrated and interrupts the Master.
Martha wants the Master’s approval of her pity party.
Martha doesn’t confront Mary, but confronts the Master “…. don’t you care …”
Martha tells Jesus how to correct her sister.
The Master’s gentle answer: “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it…”
So glad Mary and Martha’s story is part of the Scripture. Not to chuckle at one sister, and praise the other. Simply to see how my Master would gently correct me as I mirror fussing Martha, and how He would cheer me on as I choose to sit as Mary did.
All these unplanned interruptions of life are nothing but opportunities to grow.
All the while I was making a plan, God was molding a heart. My heart.
Let’s keep in mind that “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9 And we should happily adjust our plans and our attitudes to the Master’s liking.
Let’s have a designed summer filled with God-signed days.
Read & Meditate: Luke 10:38-42 MSG
“As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand. The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”