just like any other frazzled stay at home [or work at home] mom out there, i seriously struggle with getting all of my tasks done each day. laundry, cooking, cleaning, errand running, catching up on grey’s anatomy. after so many days, it all blurs together & i feel washed out & tired. but still frantic & frazzled. do you know what i mean?
top all of that off with shop orders, blog posts, adding craft swap hosting into the mix [do i really think i'm superwoman??]. most days i feel like my plate is not only too full, it’s so heavy that i can’t even carry it!
but i know that i have SO much to be grateful for — that i actually have a house to clean, plenty of clothing choices to launder, money to spend at the post office + grocery store & a television to watch grey’s on. but nevertheless, i always find myself wishing for just a few more hours in my day!
since moving to okinawa, i was lucky enough to be invited by a friend to a women’s bible study on tuesday nights. i won’t lie — most tuesdays roll around & i give myself every excuse in the book about how i don’t have time to go. but i somehow coerce myself to pack amelia in her carseat with a handful of fruit snacks & a coffee for me as we make our way across town in rush hour traffic to a small community of women who are just as “out of time” as i am, but who also make the commitment each week to meet together to study the word, pray for each other & fill the void that living far away from family can cause.
i am so blessed by this group of women who listen to my woes as i cry into my coffee cup each week [oh, this over emotional body i was blessed with!], who text me during the week to catch up & who smile + laugh at my weird jokes.
before the holidays, we studied the book ‘a modern girl’s guide to bible study‘ — in it were tips & advice on how to successfully & efficiently study the bible independently. it has been a fantastic tool to use & i’ve been so blessed [again!] by how much i am learning from the Bible now that i know it’s more than just reading as many verses in the shortest book i can find just to say i read a bible book.
by breaking each book, each chapter even, down into several weeks [!!!] of deep study & interpretation, i’ve learned so much more about God & what his plans are for me.
[photo via weheartit.com]
as often as i can [because let's be honest, i am not perfect & don't open my bible every day like i should], i sit at the table / in bed / at my desk / in the car while amelia sleeps & i open my Bible to the last place i left off. i read 4-5 verses, pray & then really dig in to those verses –
what is the meaning behind them?
why are these words so important that they were included in the Bible?
what can i glean from this small passage as an application to my life?
in addition to reading + reflecting, i also research. what other books in the Bible cross reference to this verse? i may pick out a key word & find where else it is mentioned in the Bible & read stories from other passages…. it’s like following a trail of breadcrumbs that God has left just for me to find Him.
there are still so many days when i totally feel lost for time.
but on those days when i’ve spent even a scant thirty minutes in the word, learning what God has stored up for me or realizing what He has specifically blessed my heart with by a scripture passage; those are the days when i am most fruitful in my work as a wife, a mother, a friend, even a small business owner.
on those days when i quench my thirst for Him by putting aside anything else for just a small portion of time with my beat up, dog-eared, ‘don’t know where half of page 459 went’ Bible, i find myself able to accomplish even more — as if i have somehow added an hour or two to my day. no…. as if somehow God has added an hour or two to my day. it’s His omnipotent presence pouring out blessings upon me as He says “well done good & faithful servant.”
‘His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge
of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!‘
– Matthew 25:21 [emphasis added]
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post. I totally relate. Sometimes you finally get everything you need done and yet you realize your bible is just sitting waiting for you. Even as a pastor I find it hard to get into the Word separate from my sermon prep. I really enjoyed reading your post about this. And I love that you have a group of women who you can cry with, I think that is so important. I miss having those friends close by.
i’m so glad i’m not the only one who struggles. i don’t know why i make reading my bible the last thing on my list when it should always be at the top!
you are so not alone. I just bought this a year with God and coffee…I think it will really help me be focused in the morning. But its so hard for me to try to think about getting up before my kids when they get up soooooooooo early. I feel like I just need to let go. I’m not in the season of life that is the amazing neat and clean house organized house. Even one of my most favorite bloggers “house of smith”, posted the other day about what her house really looks like when they are not doing a shoot. We are just not in that season of life you know! If I let go of that and enjoy the other stuff, do what needs to be done for my kids we’ll all be so much happier. Last night I went to bed with dishes in the sick and toys in the playroom out. I felt so good, oddly enough
oh i know that season so well!!! cleaning is definitely at the very bottom of my list most days
i try to do a quick “15 minute clean” everyday to break up an entire sweep of the house which would take me so long!! it’s helped & also knowing that if i DON’T do it one day, there is always tomorrow 
April, this post is great! I’m glad you are in a group of women that encourage each other in the word and through the week. I enjoy getting into the word as well. I work 4 days a week and I read The Daily Bread at work on my last break of the day. Not long, but it gets me into the word. I do find other days to read as well. It’s a busy life but we need to take time to read God’s word and heed it. It’s truly a blessing in our busy lives and we can encourage other people as well, along life’s way. Hugs!
that’s awesome becky! one of the tips the book we read recommended was keeping to a schedule & reading at the same time everyday [just like you do on your break!]. as hard as i tried, that totally didn’t work out for me, but i do try to dig in when i can!