This morning held nothing unusual for me. …. Just another day, with my alarm clock sounding at 5:45 AM…. the familiar natures alarms outside, Mr. Woodpecker, a Robin’s call and a distant dog’s bark.... and the sounds of an 18-wheeler "jake-braking"on the highway, a mile away.  For those of you who like to be phrase 'droppers',  'jake-braking' is when a truck slows up by shifting to a lower gear.  Remember that one, you never know when it will come in handy! 

Taking  grasp of my senses,  first with one cautious eye opening, then the second….. clearing my dry throat… I guess that I am alive and need to get up.  

Well, there is definitely a Plus to all of this………. IT”S FRIDAY!

 

Out of bed, shower and shave..........shoving down a piece of toast..... while preparing lunches for the day.   Not unusable for me, is an active thought process, designing and laying out the tasks for the day ahead.  [I always say that some of my best thoughts come while shaving]  This morning however, I had a difficult time in focusing on the need to complete tasks started this week, still uncompleted,  as opposed to those I had wished to begin.    It's no wonder that God's Little Devotional Book waiting for me on my desk was ready to offer me some help.

 

Today it comes from the writings in LUKE 10:40-42, the Book of Instructions for Life, second addition.

 

"But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?  bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

 

Briefly translated:  Don't mistake activity for achievement.   Business does not equal productiveness.

 

In April 1973, the Park Center YMCA in Midland, Texas, asked for volunteers to help repair seventeen run-down homes in the city.  The effort was so successful had completed repairs on one home, the owner opened her front door and exclaimed, "It's just like Christmas in April."

The name stuck.

"Christmas in April" has not only made hundreds of homes more liveable in the West Texas oil town, but it also helped bring the city together.  Men and women, young and old, black, Hispanic, and white volunteers build community spirit as they scrape, caulk, plaster, paint, hammer, and roof together.  Said one volunteer, "It's a blessing to us as well as to those we help.  There's no better way to get to know someone than to sit up on a roof with him all day."   One year, 398 gallons of paint, 600 pounds of nails, 224 squares of roofing materials, 60 doors, and $10,000 of lumber were used to repair 84 homes.

Midlanders have learned how to be both busy and productive by pulling together to help others.  In most instances of our lives, work need not be left undone or goals sacrificed.  Priorities simply need to be realigned.

Our Prayer for today:

......... Dear Father, thank your for realigning my tasks, my life on a daily basis.   I have come to realize that I don't need to ask for help........ it is always there.   Also, thank you for reminding me that this is not a week ending, but a nearly a week beginning.   Amen

PS God, could you maybe give Mr. Woodpecker a hint that tomorrow is Saturday?  Thanks!

 

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