August 2021

Tom and I were opposites in many ways.

For example, when Tom wasn’t teaching, he was the KING of doing nothing. He really, truly could do NOTHING for days on end. Tom was perfectly content with no agenda or schedule. Tom always said he didn’t do anything in moderation. He was right. When Tom rested, he was ALL in.

On the other hand, I am not good at rest. When I was little, I despised taking naps. Being the youngest of four in a family that was always on the move, I was convinced that while I was resting my siblings were having the time of their lives! Silly, right?

I like to be busy. I like to be doing something. I like to cram so much into every waking hour that I feel accomplished and exhausted when I go to sleep at night. Clearly, I’ve got a little bit of Martha in me. I think everything is up to me.

You see, while I am on the hamster wheel, multi-tasking and juggling too many things, the first thing that leaves my schedule is my quiet time with God. I begin to shorten prayers. I spend less time reading scripture and I fill my calendar up with a whole bunch of silly stuff. I get caught up in the news, the emails, the trend setters, and the busyness of today’s culture - 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

It isn’t good. It doesn’t give me an “edge” over the competition. It does NOT make me better or smarter or earn favor with anyone – especially not with God. It just makes me exhausted. I become further away from God, His provision, His blessings, His care, and His purpose for me.

I need to channel a little bit of Tom. He was really good at saying “no” to people and things outside of his God-given purpose and skills. Tom didn’t sit on boards, he rarely travelled internationally and Tom turned down a lot of teaching, speaking and preaching opportunities so that he had time for God, family and friends. Tom knew that saying “no” was better than engaging in things he didn’t do well, took him off focus, or didn’t allow him to flourish. Tom wasn’t about building a name or a vast network for himself, Tom was about consistently sharing God’s truth, shepherding God’s people and loving those around him.

Fifteen years or so ago Tom did a 4 week series entitled “Fundamentals of Faith” https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/audio-archives/2007/7/12/fundamentals-of-faith-part-1 The series is vintage Tom as he puts so many things into proper perspective. I hope you’ll take some time this month to listen to the series. I know you will enjoy it.

Tom knew how to prioritize, focus, AND rest. God gave us rest - Sabbath time - so that we didn’t get all crazy with our schedules, elevate our work or ourselves and fail to remember that all we have is from God. We were made to be dependent on Him.

If you are drowning in busyness, stress and burning the candle at both ends, maybe, just maybe, you have a bunch on your plate that isn’t yours to do. God promises to give us exactly enough time, talent, and energy for what He has called us to do.

Rest. Take a load off and breathe. It is not all up to you. He’s got this.