The Decision Decision

Ephesians 5:15-18 continues to give us great truths for time management and life choices.

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead by filled with the Spirit.

We must make the decision that makes the decisions.

Drunkenness is not the sin in this verse.  Debauchery is.  Debauchery is extreme indulgence that leads to a loss of control.  Drunkenness causes debauchery.  Debauchery should be avoided, therefore, drunkenness should be avoided.  That is the principle.

We can choose choices but we cannot choose our consequences.  So in life we must make a decision that makes our decisions.  We must choose convictions so choices are made before they are made.

Per this Biblical example…I do not drink alcohol because if I drink alcohol I get drunk, always.  When I get drunk, I debauch.  I do not want to debauch so I do not get drunk, therefore, I do not drink.  My conviction…my decision that makes the decisions.

Making calendar choices is no different.

An example…my family participates in the life of the church I pastor through serving and participating.  When life gets busy, we do not bail on church.  We look elsewhere first.  Not because it is my job, but because it is my joy. 

The decision makes the decisions…not just on the calendar…but in the heart. 
Where your treasure is, there your heart is also.

So what do you treasure?
1.  What do you always make time for?
2.  Where and what do you most often bail on in busy times?

3.  Do those choices honestly honor your convictions?

Chaos and Calendars

Christmas is chaotic for most of us.  As I discussed in the last blog chaos is the result of confusing “get to” and “got to.”  Chaos is an emotion as often as it is a reality. 

In Ephesians 5:15-17 we are taught some great Biblical principles for life when it comes to time.

1.     Live intentionally not reactively
Be very careful then how you live (or another translation is walk.)  Not as unwise but as wise.  Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
A person who is careful about how they live is intentional about how they live.  When we live reactively we make poor choices.  Living intentionally means thinking about what is ahead and not just what is now. 

2.     Look honestly not deceptively.
Therefore do not be foolish.
A fool is person who knows better and acts anyway.  We must come to grips with the fact that the heart is deceptive above all things.  Your heart and your emotions will get you into a world of chaos in a heartbeat.  Living by our heart feels right though.  We must learn to see ourselves honestly and not deceptively.  I will have another blog in the series to address the honest view of oneself in relationship to time management.  Do not deceive yourself into thinking you are making the best choice because it feels good, often the best choices feel difficult.

3.     Understanding prevents underestimating.
understand what the Lord’s will is.
This is an odd wording in Greek.  It is the command, “Understand!”  Understanding is not something you can really command of someone.  Telling my child “understand!” does not make them understand…communication and time makes them understand.  We understand because we intend to…because we purpose to.  Choose to understand. When we understand we do not underestimate.  In relationship to time we stop underestimating the time something takes and we stop underestimating the value of our time.  This last truth is a big one for leaders, parents, and others in places of responsibility.  Sometimes your time is valuable to others not because they need you there but because your being there says what they are doing is valuable.  Show up!

The last principle I draw from this passage is the principle that really pulls it all together.  That will be the next blog.

Are you living by intention or by reaction?
Are you looking at yourself honestly or deceptively?
Are you striving to understand or are you okay with underestimating?

Chaos and Christmas

Chaos is the life that ensues when we confuse "get to" and "got to."

This is a season of the year when we get to do some wonderful things. The problem is that we live in a culture where the things we get to do are often treated with disdain because we have got to do them.

Don't let yourself fall into this mental and emotional trap. It is a joy killer.

The majority of your chaos is of your own choosing.

We choose to have kids in extra curricular activities, to shop for Christmas, to have the job we have, etc. it's our chooses that cause our chaos.

Chaos cannot be controlled but it can be prevented.

The issue in making wise decisions is not simply what you decide but when you decide it. Are you making the right choices at the right times.


Read Ephesians 5:15-18. Great passage on time and how we use it. I will blog some more this month to dive further into choices and chaos in relation to time, money, relationships, and decisions.

Things Given and Thanks Given

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.  Luke 12:48

The more things you are given the more thanks that must be given. 

The problem is that psychology, the way our minds naturally work, works against this.  It is simple really.  The more we have the less we realize how much we have.  The less you have the more aware you are of what you have. 

How do we cause the things given and thanks given match?

Two Mindsets Necessary for Gratitude:
1.  See what you have, not what you do not have.

2.  See what others do not have, not what they do have.

Choose to see what you have.  We can all right a list of what we do not have, but can you write what you do have.  Choose to live focused on what you have been blessed with instead of what you are hoping to be blessed with.

Choose to see what others do not have.  Seeing what others have is basically coveting.  That is outlawed in the Big 10, so stop it. Quit looking at what they have and see what they do not have.  Instead of seeing some one’s financial provision, see their spiritual poverty.  Quit looking for what others have that you don’t.

Foster a gratitude attitude by making sure that things given lead to thanks given.

G Thanks Challenge Catch Up

My wife has been very helpful around the church recently with some things that were needed.  I have tried to express my gratitude to her by saying it and showing it.  I also did a project at the house.  It needed to be done but Wendy has been working on organizing and it was a closet that needed to some attention.  I hope she knows I appreciate her hard work to keep things organized and I want to help her with it.

A waitress at a restaurant.  A good tip and G Thanks card.  (No tip...no card...btw.  Don't say thank you in ways that are not sincere.)

The man that loads trucks at Home Depot.  No tips allowed but a thank you can go along way.  A sincere one at least.

Keep finding people to say thank you to.  Share with them the love of Christ.