Multi-tasking Mayhem (and an Organizational Giveaway!)
Published January 29, 2010I want to give a shout out to those of you joining us today by way of the Encouragement for Today devotion I have up over at Crosswalk.com and on our site at Proverbs 31.org. If you haven’t read it yet and watch to catch up with the rest of us, click here to do so. Don’t forget to come back and enter the giveaway!
Speaking of giveaway….let me tell you about it first. It is an organizational ‘basket-in-a-box’ centered around my book The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized. In addition to the book, it includes:
* A 13 pocket, expandable accordion file
*Some funky, swirly, colorful, large paper clips
*A magnetic ‘to-do’ list pad
*A set of fun file folders to organize your papers
* A way cool plastic “tall grass” holder for your desk top designed to hold pens, pencils, scissors, etc
*And two packets of premium flavored hot cocoa–one chocolate hazelnut and one cinnamon chocolate– to sip and savor while you read and organize 
Just click on the form below to leave a comment on this post and you’ll be entered in the drawing. The winner will be announced Monday. Now……
To multi-task or not to multi-task?
That is the question.
The answer?
Yes.
And no.
We women are experts at multi-tasking. We can be talking on the phone, French braiding hair, cooking supper, helping a child with homework and nursing a baby….all at once.
Men?
They can change a light bulb.
But don’t you dare ask them a question while they are in the middle of changing that light bulb because they’ll have to stop their twisting motion in order to answer you! 
(Okay….maybe I exaggerate just a little…)
A woman’s ability to multi-task can be both a blessing and a curse.
It can be beneficial during on those days we need to get more done in less time. And it can be detrimental when it detracts from something important that requires our focused attention.
For example….being on hold with the insurance company while sorting laundry?
Good.
Trying to paint your nails while a crying teen pours her heart out to you about a friend who hurt her?
Not so good.
Cleaning the bathroom while you supervise your toddler as he plays and splashes in the tub?
Good.
Typing away on the computer and checking email while your friend on the other end of the phone tells you her husband is divorcing her?
Not so good.
Yep, multi-tasking can be great! (And let’s see if any of you can beat one of my friend’s best records. One day I called her and discovered she was talking on the phone to me, bleaching her teeth, giving her son a spelling test and bouncing on the mini-tramp for exercise all at once!)
But multi-tasking is not wise when there are actual living, breathing people who need our attention. People with needs. And feelings.
At those times, perhaps we should fight that innate urge to multi-task.
And, on a grander scale, we must fight the urge to multi-task by taking on too many responsibilities outside of our four walls; by saying ‘yes’ to numerous commitments we really don’t feel called to but are afraid to say no to; by wearing too many hats at church, school or in the community in an attempt to be the 2010 version of Super Woman.
Nearly did me in a few years ago.
Then I heard a few statements that helped me to sort through my over-committed schedule and scrape off my too-full plate. They are:
- Beware of the barrenness of a busy life.
- Don’t take on more than you can pray for.
- If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.
The first comment I read in a book over 20 years ago, although I don’t remember which book! I actually have that phrase printed above the signature line of our checks as a constant reminder. The busy life isn’t full and rewarding. It is barren. Empty.
The second comment was spoken by my friend Becky Glenn at a Hearts at Home conference many years ago. So wise! If you can’t commit to praying for the all of the responsibilities, situations and people that will go with the new task at hand, then say no.
And the third I’ve heard many places and it really is a clever trick of the enemy. Bad? We good Bible study gals know more than to be bad? But busy? Yep! We fall for that one every time. The truth is, both bad and busy render us ineffective for service to Christ.
Well, cyber sister, how about you? Where do you rank on the multi-tasking scale?
Are you tempered and balanced, with enough white space on your calendar and in your day to keep you sane and connected with God and with those you love?
Or are you on activity overload, constantly playing catch-up as you run George Jetson-style on the busyness treadmill of life?
Or are you somewhere smack dab in between?
Does one of the three statements above jump out at you? Why?
Hop on and join the discussion today. By doing so, you will be entered in the drawing for the giveaway. However, if you are too busy to write out a comment, then simply say “I’m in!”. You’ll still be entered.
If that is all the time you have today…no problem! You are either too busy and you need to do some plate scraping yourself (don’t worry…I too am fixin’ to do a little plate scraping real soon)….or someone needs your attention right now, so you are being careful not to multi-task when you shouldn’t. Bravo!
Comments?
Plate-scraping Blessings,
421 Responses to Multi-tasking Mayhem (and an Organizational Giveaway!)
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Karen- This is the first time I’ve read your blog, and I try to read Encouragement for Today every day. I have been feeling overwhelmed with the cluttered condition of my house for months. I work a full-time job and am the breadwinner for our family, which includes my husband, my 13 year old son and 9 year old daughter. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last week and am having surgery on Monday Feb 1. I believe that God is reprioritizing my life right now, and that a peaceful home is going to be part of that. When I clicked from Encouragement for Today over to your blog, it was still dated the 27th, but had an announcement that you had this giveaway. I whispered to the Lord “I want that book…” I refreshed my page, and there was your new blog post with giveaway instructions! Praise the Lord! I thank God for Encouragement for Today and all the women at P31 – your daily messages have more often than not been exactly what I needed to hear on the day that I read them!
I’m in – over my head – plenty of white space on my calendar, but I don’t use it appropriately. Thanks for the devo today on Encouragement for Today! I’m gonna be looking at your website today!
I love Elizabeth George’s words on this issue: Don’t give away to others what you haven’t first given away at home. I read this as a young bride and have tried to apply this principle ever since. As our family has grown, I have “scraped off” nearly all extra activities in order to have time with my kids and husband—and I refuse to let the world or Satan make me feel guilty about it! “To everything there is a season”, and I know that one day I will have time to do all the volunteer stuff—but not while I have young children. Thanks for the encouragement today, Karen!
I found my self plate scraping a year ago myself. It’s funny, however, that this P31 devo and your posting come on the heels of having a professional organize speak at my Moms group meeting at church yesterday. Despite having less commitments in my life, there are definitely some areas I can better organize to make my time spent more efficient. I have had a good dose of motivation now! I love your bullet point about only taking on activities in which you can devote time to pray for that activity and the people in it. What a good unit of measure to try to use for future committments. In my newfound goal to organize I could sure use your giveaway!
Wow reading this really hit home for me. My husband and I recently seperated and trying to get my life organized is a challenge. How do I juggle it all? I have to know when bills are due, develop a real budget, look for a new place to live, etc. All of these things I never really had to do. I am never organized and I definitely find it hard to listen to God and find out what he wants for my life. I really could benefit a great deal from your book and I would love to receive the giveaway!! Thanks for the devotional and all that you do.
I’m in!
I’m busy taking care of a sick child, so I’ll just say I’m in!
Karen,
Boy does this one his my heart heavy today. I have been praying about this and asking God to show me the areas I am to “re-enter” in ministry. I recently have stepped away from leading worship in our small church to focus on a marriage that has been failing. It was the hardest thing to do, but it was necessary. Preparation for such ministry does involve time but it is something I love and have greatly missed. So things are improving and the questions have been asked of me as to when I will be returning and my husband has given me the release to go back with boundaries set. At the same time, I have been approached and asked by a wonderful woman in our church to pray about being her accountability partner. She feels God is impressing me upon her heart to be that person for her after praying herself for such a person for some time. I am currently involved in a 30 day commitment with another woman praying and seeking God with her as we join our hearts to wait on God. So all of these things are good, it is just a concern that they are going to fill my now empty plate and that it will become overflowing too quickly. I so enjoyed your article and want to guard the marriage and the healing that is happening, yet I need ( I think) to be involved with other women, to be challenged and more committed in my relationship with the Lord..Looking for some healthy and Godly advice…
I too am guilty of multi-tasking at inappropriate times. I’ll find myself talking to a friend or family member while reading things on the computer, only to find a few minutes later, I’m not really sure what they said. I know it can be a wonderful gift in the work world, but when it comes to personal relationships, we need to give the person, who is far more important, our undivided attention. God may need us to speak words of wisdom to them, or maybe we’re missing God’s wisdom being spoken to us through that person we aren’t fully listening to.
Karen – last summer the Lord began speaking to me about busyness and slowing down. I fought it for a while, but He led me to get some things off my plate. I was too busy to be effective in any area. I can’t begin tell you the sense of relief I have found since then. The words of Psalm 23:23 “he makes me lie down in green pastures,” hit close to home. “Makes” being the key word.
I enjoyed reading your devotional today. I feel that if I hadn’t removed some of the busyness in my life (though they were worthy things…leading Bible studies, etc.) it may have led to medical complications.
Blessings and Joy to you!
I suffer from trying to break the viscious cycle of years upon years of busyness. Even in high school, I was overwhelmed with obligations and responsibilities – total burnout. Since the birth of my daughter 14 months ago, I have changed my occupation from an overtime working teacher who went to every event possible to a stay-at-home mom who spends more time inside the four walls of my home than out. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy being home with my daughter and my husband, but I am just not used to not going! I am trying to find a balance between the two. Thank you for the encouragement and wisdom this morning.
Karen,
My husband & I are missionaries in Southern Brazil and I am always encouraged with the Proverbs 31 devotionals. We are coming to the end of a 5 year transition and move from the Northeast. So, lots of unpacking, sorting and organizing to do. We lived in the Northeast for almost 30 years. Trying to balance ministry responsibilities, adjusting to a new culture and making our “new” house a home is a challenge for me right now. Thank you for your advise and encouragement. Something that I try and remember is that things, dust and stuff do not last forever, but our time spent with people, sharing from The Word and praying together can impact someone for a lifetime.
I really enjoy reading your words of encouragement. I girl friend of mine sent me the link and I read them and get inspired by them. Thank you for sharing your words from the Lord. You talk about being organized and it is so easy to get caught in that trap. I have found myself to many times doing so much between but I need to do and what I want to do that sometimes God gets left out of the equation. He does seem to sit us right one way or the other. Sometimes it is health issues or sometimes it is just needing to make more time for family, they can all end up being the enemy instead of what God intends them to be for us. I will enjoy all of your words that the Lord lays on your heart for us to hear.
WOW….OMG…..I couldn’t even pray this morning. I told God I wanted to pray, needed to pray but I needed to hear Him speak to me so bad. I am a single mom of two as of last August. I have been running circles trying to be super mom. This message is what God wanted me hear. I think I need to litterally set a plate out and a scraper to keep me reminded that I need to clean some things off from to time.
Thank you for sharing. Man oh man I needed this today.
So funny this should be the topic of “discussion” today on P31 – I was just praying that the Lord would help me get more organized so I’m not constantly feeling so overloaded! I plan on spending some time reading through your blog today! THANKS!
In the last two years I have scraped everything off of my plate so that I could take a full time job to help with health insurance and family finances. In the last several months I have carefully added back two volunteer activities at church. (One is strictly on Sunday mornings and the other is once a month.) By the time I get home in the evenings I don’t have the energy to do much multi-tasking! Getting the bare esentials done is a challenge. I am a naturally organized person but I will take any advice I can get to streamline things better. Maybe it is your book I need!
Thanks for a refreshing devotion this morning! At the beginning of the school year, I did a major “plate scraping” but it is amazing how quickly the extra time can be filled up again. It is a constant battle for me. It is SUCH a great feeling to look at my calendar and see WHITE!! This week had lots of white but, as I sit here Friday morning, I think, “What in the world have I accomplished this week?” I’m a list maker and if there aren’t lots of completed items at the end of the week, I feel, well, empty. Maybe the list needs an overhaul — not just putting task related items but other items (prayer, study, etc). thoughts, suggestions for this busyaholic, to do list girl??
WOW — you described me to a T. On of the biggest blessings God has given me is a husband with a head for scheduling. It took me forever to realize it — I thought he was trying to be selfish & controlling. But now I realize his wisdom. He has a much better sense of what I can sanely accomplish that I do. I do so much better when I run my plans by him 1st. He is a marvelous plate-scaper! LOL He helps me prioritize my plans & avoid over-committing. I am learning so much from him!
I’m in!
Karen,
Thank you for your post today. I am way too busy with ministries- all good things, but not when they interfere with my family, my relationship with God, my peace of mind, etc. I have already started scraping off my plate. I know I need to further clean my plate. I do not like the anxiety that I feel with my responsibilities. Thanks for your encouragement again!!
It took a few minutes to find a way to blog – some of us aren’t so current w/the latest, greatest; however, I persevered because I wanted to thank you for today’s devotion I recevied through Provers 31. I worked many hours last week and need to remember WHO is most important. Of course, entry for a survival kit to help keep me organized was incentive as well. Thanks for your words of encouragement – blessings!
Your blog today is so refreshing and encouraging! The clutter of life continually overwhelms me! While I long for a simpler life, I seem to be completely incapable of accomplishing it. I’ve managed in the last couple years to cut way back on my scheduling, but I still never seem to make productive use of that freed-up time. I rarely manage to spend time with the Lord, my house needs a good decluttering, and my 7yo daughter often feels like she can’t get my attention because I’m engrossed in a book, or something on the computer. Today is the day to start taking positive steps! Thanks!
I’m in! I needed to be reminded of that!
Thanks.
The 1st Quote is from Socrates
Thanks for the valuable insight!
This is the second time this week that I am hearing a message on “busyness”. The first came from listening to Lifechurch.tv series on creating margin in our lives. Somehow I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I’m being exposed to this concept twice in one week! Thank you!
Karen, I love the idea of “if you aren’t going to be able to commit to praying for it, don’t do it.” This will serve as a great safe guard for me. I long to live a life of order and contentment. God is doing a huge work in me. It’s hard work to even do the simple things of life let alone ministry. Thank you for sharing how the Lord has directed you. I’m gleaning much from those who have gone before me.
Hi Karen,
I am a multi-tasker also, and a few years ago a statement, similar to what you heard, hit home for me; that busyness is from the devil. This really opened my thinking of what I was doing. I was a workaholic prior to having children and then I was a stay-at-home Mom(just like Kayla was commenting about). You feel like you have to do other things so you feel like you are accomplishing something and doing your Christian part of ministering, by volunteering. I would see other people who have various commitments and do well at all of them, so surely I can handle it. The problem is, that even though I am a multi-tasker, I can only focus on one “commitment” at a time and my family obligations were no longer the priority, and neither was God. Then I heard another statement; It’s okay to be a stay-at-home Mom and not commit to other things. God made everyone different and it’s okay if being a stay-at-home Mom is all I do. This is what my ministry is at this time. Now I have time for God, my house is in “order”, and I am there for my family and for my friends. I have had so much peace since I let those commitments go and I can see the difference in my husband and children too.
Just what i needed to read today. Karen I love reading your blog and hearing you speak at Hearts at Home, thank you for your ministry.
”don’t take on more than you can pray for.” dear karen, this phrase makes me think about all the many prayer requests from all the ladies in my 2 bible study groups. and all the many prayers i need tosay about my ownfamily, we have suffered many upsets these last few years. some days i want to pray but i can’t. God says keep asking, but itis difficult to pray over and over again and be patient for His answers. then i think of the Holy Spirit who ” interceeds for us with groanings when we have not the words.” i need help to organise my life, then maybe i can organise my mind and spirit. i need your book for motivation and inspiration. diane
Hi Karen,Today is the first day I have read your blog and I really needed to hear the words you spoke. Thanks for reminding us all that God doesnt want us to be too busy for Him and for the tasks He has orchestrated for us. Thanks
I am guilty as charged.
Your message really spoke to me–God’s message too! Yesterday at work it seemed like a messy mess of issues and problems to resolve right before it was time for me to go home. I was planning to take a vacation day today just for the purpose of getting away from it all and clear my mind. What a great message and reminder to know that I need sit and listen today! Happy Day!
In some ways, all three comments jump out at me, but not in a convicting way, but as an affirmation that my not-so-busy life right now is good. It’s a gift from God. After a stressful year of teaching last year, I took this year off and simply volunteer at the school. I’m so grateful for my husband encouraging me to do this! With this extra time, God’s shown me how I can be improving the functionality of our home: better, more consistent organization. So that’s why I’d love to be counted in for the give-away. What a blessing that will be to someone.
I have been there…running in circles constantly, but not going anywhere. Thank you for this reminder.
This post also brought to mind this quote from Jennifer Rothschild in her book, Lessons I Learned in the Dark,–”Running with endurance means not only resisting and repenting of sin, but also giving up things that can hinder our ability to run. Sometimes that means giving up a good thing, for even a good thing can become a weight if it isn’t the best thing.”
Thanks for the great post! — Becky
Hi Karen,
A few years ago I “hit the wall running” and have been battling depression ever since. I had “my to do” confused with “my who”. As a natural born people-pleaser, I had convinced myself that to be accepted I had to do, do, do. And not only that, my perfectionism insisted that I had to do it all exceptionally well. After 20+ years of doing it all by myself I finally came to the end of me. I had nothing left. I started making mistakes at work and letting people down after promising them the moon. I got forgetful. So I just worked harder thinking I had to up my game to keep my edge. All I ended up doing was making myself weary to the point I could barely function. I should add here that when I fell apart it was while working as the administrative assistant for my church. I would work 8 – 5 M – F, show up at all the evening activities, and was “on duty” every Sunday. Needless to say, my family soon became casualties of my busyness. And so did my spiritual self. I made it so people came to me because I was the “go to girl” at church. But, it eventually robbed me of my time to refuel and regenerate my soul. I couldn’t enjoy worship because people would come into the service to ask me for help with various needs. I learned the more you do the more is expected of you. I became my own worst enemy. Satan had me right where he wanted me. But I have come a long way in the last 2 years and am seeing the light. As you put it, I now have white spaces on my calendar. I just struggle with what to do with that time. I find that I waste it or don’t use it as wisely as I should. I am afraid that I will end up backsliding to the old me. Maybe I should just let those white spaces be unplanned and just roll with the flow of the day as it happens instead of thinking I need to plan them out. As you can see, I may have come a long way, but I am still in the process! I am so glad I stumbled upon you! Thank you for having this blog site and thank God for you! You are a blessing.
HI Karen,
I have heard you at “She Speaks”. Your devotional and blog spoke to me today. I have learned to put some “white space” in my calendar, but it really has to be a continual process for m or evaluting what I am doing and whether it is in line with God’s will for me now. Thank you foryour insights.
Thank you for this!!! Needed to be reminded……
Wearing so many “hats” often leaves me with my head spinning!!!
I am learning to be unbusy. Thanks for the devotional. Iam taking the three statements and posting them on an index card. No taking on more than you can pray for is a perfect measure of what is reasonable in God’s sight!
Yes, you hit the nail on the head when you said women are very good at doing a lot of jobs at the same time. I have gotten the thought in my head that if I’m not busy doing something that I’m a bad person. Where did that come from? I know where it came from. Satan….. And I fell for it. I have been trying to get that out of my mind for a very long time. I have fallen so far behind in my house work that I can’t seem to catch up. And the thought enters my head about the story of Martha in the bible. All I think about is having a clean house but it never seems to get clean. I have too many activities out of the house. My husband says I can’t say no. It is a very true statement. I pray that one day I will be able, with God’s help, to get my priorities in order. God first. Thank you so much for your help in this.
Karen,
What a GREAT devotion today and JUST what I needed to read! It was just yesterday that I said to a friend that I have resolved to the fact that things are just busy now and that is the way it is going to stay, such is the life of a mom. Your devotion this morning put things in perspective for me today. Yes, there are things that I need to do but I also need to pray about each commitment, each time I want to say yes. Is this really what God wants me to be doing? Lately God has really been placing on my heart to nurture my friendships with my girlfriends in person and not just via the computer. That takes time and effort and it means not always taking on one more responsibility but saying no so I have that time to connect and grow in the Lord with my sisters. Excited to be entered in the drawing!
God Bless and thanks again for writing and speaking about something all of us as women need to hear often.
In Him,
Brandee
Thank you.
Wow! How timely our God is! I am a tax preparer, so naturally, I am VERY busy this time of year. My husband has been at home with a work injury, and just a few days ago, emergency surgery.I love my work because I have opportunity to minister to people, but I have beeb stretched so thin with 2 teenagers and 5 year old and a sick husband AND working full time.Plus I’m a little ADD too so it is very difficult for me to stay on task and be organized. Wednesday at church I almost broke down…I asked for prayer for the Lord to give me strength in this time. I feel my body just can’t take much more emotionally and physically. When I received the devotion this morning, I just let it all out and asked the Lord to forgive me for “multi-tasking” The scripture and the words really ministered to me and reminded me that even though I was too busy for God, He was mindful of me by sending these words! Thank you for this ministry! PS I could REALLY use some help in the organization department!
Speaking straight to the heart of my needs today, thank you for your timely words. I recently began working full time from home and part time as children’s ministry leader at church, while planning my youngest daughter’s wedding and expecting the birth of our first grandchild. Did I say “timely?” Thank you for reminding me that I am God’s child first, wife and mother second. Then what is left over can get filled with other responsibilities.
Thanks for the blog – I just went thru your website, copied some of the helps, and read the other comments. KIM who responded at 9:12am described me to a tee. I never realized until she put it so well that I had made myself the “go-to-girl” at church. Kim, I’m still struggling too, with the white spaces. I’ve narrowed my outside commitments t0 four things – three are weekly and one is every other month. Continuing to say “No” is still difficult. Thanks, Karen, for your devo today and the website. And Thanks, Kim, for sharing!
Hi Karen,
Thank you for your devotion/blog. There are so many good women writers, books to read and blogs to follow but I know I can’t do it all. I appreciate your gift, too, and sign off now as I celebrate my birthday with girlfriends (chocolate involved this a.m.) and my family tonight (dinner and more chocolate involved).
Blessings to you, your family and your ministry,
Maria Z. in CT
I so needed this today. I’m definitely one who takes on too much at times and has trouble giving total focus at times. Thanks so much.
I do too much, and then feel like I don’t do any one thing well. Beware the barrenness of a busy life speaks volumes to me. Thanks for the encouragement today to prioritize.
Very timely!
I just had to “scrape off” Awannas AND Toddlers classes!
Why? God has blessed us with a medically fragile infant(we are a foster family). So, his appointments will fill our calendar quickly.
Thanks for being a blessing.
Lisa
A bible study leader gave me a great way remember what BUSY really stands for?
Burdened
Under
Satan’s
Yoke
That is the best way to keep us from being productive for our Lord! Thanks for the reminder that we serve God not our calendars.
A wonderful post at just the right time for me. I need to learn to organize my time and talents. Like you, I need to do some plate scraping. Thank you for sharing with us today.
This really hits home for me… I could not figure out why I would be sailing along thinking I was accomplishing all of the things that I should be and then, the crash and burn. God helped me to realize that His yoke is truly much easier. He wants me, not my busyness. I still have to remind myself to not jump into even the ‘good and Godly’ things but to really seek God in prayer to determine what I really should be doing for Him. He is so patient and merciful….
Wow! This post really came at an important time for me. I receive the devotionals daily, but rarely take the time to read them. This one really did hit home though. Thank you.
The Lord used you this morning to speak to me. Thanks for opening up and sharing how being too busy is sometimes just what Satan wants. That is a great truth. Thanks for encouraging me to take time to scrape my plate off some.
I loved your Proverbs 31 post today. I have been praying and praying for God to give me a way out of some of my busyness. I know He hears me and will clear out just the right things at just the right time! I am looking forward to His response! I want God to be in charge of my calendar every day! I pray “Pick me!” every morning before my feet hit the floor. Only when we are doing things in HIS will, will we be truly satisfied! Thanks for your encouragement today!
This really does hit home for me! For some reason I have in my head the more I can do, the better person I am. This is so not true! It’s the ‘quality’ of what we are doing and how we are serving God, not necessarily the ‘quantity’ of what we are doing. Thank you so much for sharing!
What a perfect message for the day. Especially after I just fell asleep in the parking lot here at work. I’m trying to do to many things and it’s definitely taking a toll. Thank you for speaking to my heart today. Ellen S.
Thank You Lord for reminding me i should never jump on a opportunity placed in front of me until i have consulted with you in prayer.
Muti tasking – the efficient woman – but is that what God called us to be?
Blessings
“Do not have more responsibilities then you have time to pray for.” (Yes I paraphrased) but Karen, thank you so much for this. I am trying to discern between what is good and what is best and you gave me more tools for my arsenal. Cannot wait to read your book and apply those tips to my every day life. Now to bring out my own spatula and start scraping away. Have a blessed and wonderful day!
This one hit me straight between the eyes (and heart)…. I’m a busyness addict. I seriously get nervous if I wake up in the morning and don’t have a plan of where the kids and I are going to “go” or what we’re going to “do” today!
Oh, my! How this spoke to me! When we get too busy and can’t find time for God and to pray for all our family and friends and the other things we need to pray for, sometimes God allows us to fall (physically, mentally, or physically) ill so that we have no choice but to be still. My time on the mission field in the former USSR ended after 7 years in just such a way. Now I know the value of quietness and solitude… if only I can FILL it with God so that I am not barren!
Guilty. My wise husband just this week encouraged (well, pretty much mandated) me to dispose of one of my commitments before agreeing to take on the next opportunity. Thanks, honey.
You’re right, you’re right, I know you’re right, but why is it so hard to do?! Praying about my plate-scraping.
Thanks, Karen.
Karen,
Your post really spoke to me. I am somewhere in between most of the time but I find that I have trouble saying no to outside requests. This is a real struggle for me. I love the line about “Don’t take on more than you can pray for”. I am going to try to utilize that in my life from now on.
Loved the devotional! So true for all of us. I’m trying hard to pray first before saying yes. I just hope I can keep it up.
Thanks for the reminder…especially the quote about the barrenness of a busy life…that wisdom also alleviates the guilt when we need to say “no”…
My friends tell me how they wish they were organized like me but I am so not organized in so many areas in my life. I want to be more organized in my walk with the Lord. Getting in the devotion here & there just does not satisfy me. I dont want to be a lukewarm christian.
I’m in.
I’m already exhausted and it’s not even 9am yet! So thankful it’s Friday. I have a full time, very demanding career… I’m in the office at 7:00am, home by 4:00am to take care of my 2 children who are 4yrs and 8 months old. My husband works nights…and weekends and we don’t have any family living near us. It’s a balancing act for sure. My biggest struggle- trying to spend daily, quality time with God and really be “available” to those close to me, like my family and church family. What you said about “people with needs and feelings who need our attention” really struck home for me. I feel like those closest to me, really don’t get the “best” from me, simply because my plate is so full. I keep praying “Lord if you would only open a door so that I didn’t have to work full time” But I know my Father knows exactly what I need even before I ask Him and He alone knows where He needs me the most.
I’ve been reading many of your post while I waited to post on this one after coming over from the Proverbs 31 email. I would definitely make use of this organizational give away. Thank you.
I have a tendency to multi-task, as we all do, but I need to be more intentional about paying attention to WHEN I do it – is this an appropriate time or not. Thanks for the post and calling attention to this issue.
Two years ago I took on a lot more responsibily at my job. The stress caused me to put relationships and other church related activities on hold. I found multi-tasking to take me to a new level or low I should really say. I found it so hard to stay focused on any one thing in my life regardess of the task. Not a good place to be in – I found I started to compartmentalize my job and my time with God – not bringing HIM with me but leaving HIM at home as I hit the ground running for the day. At the beginning of this new year my daughter challenged me to reading through the Bible in 90 days with her. I thought ‘how do I put yet one more thing on my plate and such a hugh portion? But when my daughter wants to go deeper with God I never say no. Soooo with all that being said it has brought me so close to the Creator and showed me so many of God’s servants who drew close to Him in time of need and they had huge responsiblities as well that it has been and is my saving grace. I look forward to my time with Him in the morning and I take Him with me every day. My relationships with people have been renewed and I find I pray for them more and more every day. It has settled me.
I love your statement about not taking on something new if I can’t pray for all the people and aspects of the new responsibility. That will stick with me forever!
Thank you for your post today – it helped calm my heart and bring to mind where God has brought me these past two years.
Kathy
I’m a multi-tasker. Funny thing is, I tend to lose my train of thought/motivation and burn out easily. I think I need to simplify.
Oops–that anonymous post above was mine. I hit “enter” too quick!
Wow! How your insight on multi-tasking rings true with me! A few years ago the stress and burden of multi-tasking and overload nearly did me in as well. They took their toll and surfaced through physical problems that my doctors and I could never find a medical cause for and truly I believe it was stress. I was overwhelmed and striving to accomplish way too many things to the best of my ability! It was a wake up call for sure and I’ve tried to make better decisions regarding commitments and making sure I have time to dedicate to my family. I’m still working on organizational strategies that can help fine-tune the day-to-day process…my sisters are truly gifted in this area, but I’m not!
Thanks for serving God in a ministry that touches the lives of so many women like me! God bless!
This was a great reminder for me. I find myself pulled in so many directions now that I sometimes go to bed at night and try to remember what I did during the day. Thanks for the encouragement to clean my plate and rest in the Lord. I’m going to work on that very thing this weekend.
Karen,
You have shared much wisdom in this post today. We were asked to fast the first 21 days of this year at our church, and God really laid on my heart to fast my “facebook” application time (games, etc.), as well as my ‘food’ fast. I was amazed at how much time I had that I thought I didn’t have. It is helping me to put some things in perspective in my life. I am also working on decluttering in our home, because it seems to suck the life right out of you, if you let it. I know that God wants my very best and not my leftovers, and I am working on that journey, but still have much to accomplish. Thank you again for sharing from your heart.
Donna
Five kids, volunteering at school and church and part time work…Even my kids use the word multitasking when we braid hair and brush teeth while practicing spelling words. Love the devotion today on Proverbs 31! Thanks for the insight and encouragement on a Friday that’s leading into a host of activities and commitments. I’ll be examining what needs to scraped…Any one spatula better than another?
I’m in.
Great Post Karen!
It came at just the right time.
But I agree with most of the other posts, that it is hard to do. I know I need to do this but I am stuggling with it.
Thank you for this today. (or should I say thank you God for this today)
That little grass organizer thingy is adorable!
Wonderful things to ponder! This is something the Lord’s been speaking with me about lately. Confirmation…..
Wow! Did you write that directly to me about me? I struggle with saying no and find myself running here and there until I run myself out…out of energy, patience, time, money, smiles, and many other things. Thanks for your insight…it is my prayer to scrape my plate!
I read Encouragement for Today as much as i can … I have several I receive in my inbox … today’s really hit … i’m feeling overwhelmed and all that jazz … i’m so not organized anymore if I ever was!?! Thank you for this … it is so time to do that scraping of the plate and let Him put back only what needs to.
The “Beware of the barrenness of a busy life” really struck with me … ‘specially looking at 22.5 yrs of marriage, most of that spent “surviving” – keeping a roof over us, a car going, food at the table, etc, … and has included many mission trips together and separatly, serving in different ministries & church … and now wondering where the time went for finding out why we never had kids “naturally” … and adopting seems too much now at 44 & 45 along with fostering, again because of our financial situation… Yet, i’m working thru this with GOd, and even as I typed, He reminded me how full my life has been — being able to help feed Katrina victims for 5+weeks at a hotel, going to Ukraine & Trinidad on mission trips with ministry and church; volunteer when other could not because of their children (LATE eves or EARLY mornings! and whole weekends at a time). Able to run to the hospital or home after hearing of something tragic or GREAT that happened to friends & family… not that we could not have with children of our own, but would have hindered us possibly…
Anyway, I need to get to my “plate scraping” ….! Thank you!
Blessings!
What a great post, this is my first time visiting your blog. I discovered it through my daily devo from Proverbs 31! I was just praying about whether or not I should take on a new job and how it would effect my husband. We recently got married and I am slowly learning how to keep my home organized. I discovered a quote on time management that said “dont prioritize your schedule, instead schedule your priorities.” God bless!
God “hit me over the head” with this yesterday. Confirmation that I am on the right path
. Thanks!
Thanks for the reminder – multi-tasking is one of my talents, but sometimes I, too, lose my train of thought when I’m trying to do too much!!! Praying about accepting jobs/committments, etc., is one of my weaknesses.
I love the prayer at the end of the article. This is so true of my life many days. I’m going to copy this into my prayer/praise journal and pray that God will rescue me from my own business. Why do we so often leave out the one who can help us the most?
Thank you for sharing your experience! I too am a multi-tasker…trying to get it all done so that I can get the title Supermom of the year! I think alot of it is guilt driven…I am a single WAHM mom and I don’t want to be a bad mom. I’m working and praying on it though.
Right on! God’s been nudging me with increasing urgency within the past week to THINK, PRAY and DO something about this very thing! I love your catchy phrase: the barrenness of busyness – that is a powerful statement!
I’m TRULY taking to heart Becky Glenn’s reminder about prayer – that one really puts it all into perspective!
Thanks so much for being used so mightily by the Lord!
Karen,
A few years ago, I was the swirling mom with too many things and too little time. I knew it; my husband kept telling me it. THEN GOD…What I didn’t do for myself, He did for me. One by one He began removing things from my life until I was asking Him to please let me do something. (I discovered later, He was in the processing of preparing me for a new season).
So…it seems if we don’t do what we know to do, He may just step in for us!
Lynn
Don’t take on more than you can pray for.
I never heard that before! It totally makes sense, though, and I’m way guilty of doing it…definitely gives me something to think about!
Thanks for this word from the Lord. Sometimes it feels like I’m in a desert and can’t breathe with all the activities and demands pressing in on my life. I am encouraged to find your website. Press on in Him!
Seems like all I do is multitask. I feel I’m organized, but then I forget where it was put. When I do one thing and a time and then accomplish many things over a period of time I feel more was accomplished. I’d love to win this thanks.
Karen,
THANK YOU
Please pray for me to have a closer walk with Jesus and to get organized.
I would love to be in the giveaway! I always need organization. I, too, find myself wearing too many hats and God always tells me when to slow down – usually with physical symptoms.
I am in. I feel like busy is my middle name. I would love some help in how to organization a busy life.
Three years ago I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer – talk about an instant plate scraper! Sadly though it took that to make me see all the things I was doing and most of the stuff was for church. My theory was if church needed help then I’m sure God wanted me there.
I had to stop everything I was involved with and simply do battle with cancer. I am still fighting that battle but I am much stronger now and physically able to do anything so what did I do? I started helping in every area I could feeling like I needed to “repay” for all the time I had taken off. After burning out (and needing to start chemo again) I had to stop everything.
Now before I agree to do anything I take time to pray about it first. I am a people pleaser so saying “no” is very difficult for me. I keep reminding myself that my relationship with God is more important than anything I can “do”.
After reading your post I realized that I am still multi-tasking at home! I have the laundry going, supper getting started, kids needing help with homework and I somehow find time to check my email while remembering that the library books are due. Thank you for sharing with us the insight that God gave you.
I am at a time in my life when the busyness of younger days is behind me. I am retired and spend my days babysitting two of my granddaughters while their mother works. My BUSY life came to an end with a pastor who just did not like me and that is a long story better left for another time. Since that time I have not been involved at all. I have found a wonderful church with godly people. Now I think it is time I begin to get involved again. I will definitely keep in mind what you said today. During the years when I was raising my children I was so over busy I think I must have missed out on some wonderful times. Never again. Praise the Lord.
Karen,
Thank you for the message. George Jetson, that sums up my life. I have been denying it for a while but I am now convicted to make a change.
Thanks
I have a tendency to over-commit. Humm. Not so much for a “I want to feel better about myself”or because people will think better of me. No, I actually am a over-doer because I just because I don’t have the self discipline to say, “no” and it all usually sounds like so much fun!! In response to my delenma I had a friend tell me that her husband says, “when you say yes to one thing, you are saying no to another”. This has really helped me to decide what I willing be giving up to do something else.
As I have purposely created white space in my schedule to be able to spend QUALITY time with my kids, I have to protect it fiercely less I be caught volunteering for every “shiny object” that is presented to me.
Thanks Karen for your insight. This was exactly what I needed to here on this Friday “before my weekend” hits day.