Life in the Snooze Lane / Mrs Sylvia Wells

Mrs Sylvia Wells

Pastor's Wife

Parkside Baptist Church

Mesquite, TX

Life in the Snooze Lane

 

Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

How many of us set an alarm to wake up on time?  How many of us set more than one alarm?  How many of us do NOT set an alarm?  

We really enjoy having the snooze button.  After all, that nine more minutes of rest will help us make it through the day better, right? We may feel that the snooze button makes our lives easier.  It pampers us.  We don’t have to worry if we are going to over sleep; after all, it will let us know when to get up.

BUT... The snooze button is actually teaching us that it is okay to put things off.  It tells us to roll over and get comfortable again, putting off our responsibilities in life. It is teaching us to put things off until later.

So many times, we try to put things off. When was the last time you heard that something good was accomplished because we hit the snooze button?

We wake up in the morning only to hit the snooze button.  We try to grab that nine more minutes of sleep before the alarm goes off again. Why did we set the alarm at that time?  Did we set it with the plan of snoozing it?  Did we set it with the plan of getting up when it went off?

When we hit the snooze button too many times we end up getting up late; therefore…  ...not able to make a proper breakfast. ...not able to pack a proper lunch. ...running out the door with limited time. ...stressed to the max because we snoozed that extra 9 minutes one too many times ...God and I time gets skipped.

What can we get accomplished during the snoozing time? Have you ever timed a chore that you have?  Many times, we think...I don’t have time to do that, when in actuality it only takes two minutes to do that chore.  How long does it really take to ______________?  You fill in the blank.  

During the time that we were lying there waiting for the alarm to sound again, what could we have accomplished? …met with God …made the bed …put dishes away from dishwasher …made breakfast …packed a lunch

In our lives, we have the same goals and expectations as people of ALL ages.  Life itself cannot be lived in the SNOOZE lane.  Oh, wait...I need to hit the snooze button on that.  I am not ready to get up!

I am not ready to be married, but you ARE married.  WAKE UP.  Snooze button won't work! I am not ready to have a baby, but you ARE expecting in 2 weeks.  Snooze button won't work!

 I am not ready to be responsible for a child...he is four years old.  Snooze button won't work! I am not ready to sing that solo...you are on the schedule for Sunday morning.  Snooze button won’t work! I am not ready to be responsible for a husband…you have been married ten years. Snooze button won’t work! I am not ready to be responsible for a house…you signed the mortgage. Snooze button won’t work! I am not ready to be responsible for a car…you are 30 years old. Snooze button won’t work! I am not ready for the test in school…you knew about it three weeks ago. Snooze button won’t work! I am not ready for...whatever it may be.  Snooze button won’t work

You want your kids to go to school so you have peace and quiet in the house.  Then you take him/her to kindergarten and you cry all the way home.  It is like WAIT…I want to hit snooze on this. You can't wait for the baby to walk...then you are like WAIT...He is getting into everything. You can't wait for them to talk...then you are like WAIT....I wish they would be quiet! You can't wait for them to graduate...then we are like STOP (not ready for them to grow up).  I WANT TO HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON! You can't wait for them to be married...WAIT!  Wake me up–this is all a dream, right? While you are searching for the snooze button.

We are in the habit of hitting that snooze button when the alarm goes off–we think we can hit the snooze button on our life, too.  We get ourselves in the habit of waiting to the last minute or not even doing it at all.

We tell our children to clean their room and they sit down and play with the toys instead of cleaning the room...until they hear their name...then they run around and try to clean the room while you are coming up the stairs. The child hits the snooze button instead of cleaning the room.

You are in school or college with a book report due, but you put it off until the night before it is due.  Then you complain because you have to work so hard (STAY UP ALL NIGHT) to get it completed...yet you knew it was due two weeks ago.  You hit that SNOOZE button.  

We want to do things while our husband is at work...and we hit that SNOOZE button.  Then we wonder where time went.

Time is a wasting.  We all have the same amount of time in a day.  We have 24 hours in a day; 1,440 minutes in a day; 86,400 seconds in a day.

“Redeeming the Time” by Benjamin E. Mays I have only just a minute, Just sixty seconds in it; Forced upon me - can’t refuse it, Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it; I must suffer if I lose it, Give account if I abuse it; Just a tiny little minute, But eternity is in it

It is the same for each of us. What do you do with your time? Have you hit the snooze just waiting for the alarm to go off again? 


 You say, "How can I get off snooze lane?" You need to realize that you are a procrastinator and you put things off. 1. Do you fill your day with small, menial tasks that really accomplish nothing? 2. Do you sit at the computer to check on the social family and friends’ pages? 3. Do you start an important task only to let the smallest thing distract you from it? 4. Do you leave things on your to do list for a long time, even though you know it is important? 5.  Do you say “Yes” to helping someone else, while you have work to do of greater importance? 6. Do you wait until you are in the mood?

This is just some of the things that will keep us in the SNOOZE lane.  I am sure I can come up with more.

We use the excuse, “But that's just how I am...People are going to have to accept me for who I am.  I am just always late!”  You need to change that!

Let’s ask what happens when I snooze?

1.  Do you realize the stress and pressure that you put on yourself when you procrastinate or "snooze"? …College, if you are late too often, it equals an absence …Things do not get done …Responsibilities are not fulfilled …No wisdom from God because you didn't have time to meet with God …Hair not fixed - or maybe that would be your priority …Clothes not ironed …Husband not cared for …Kids not cared for …Forget your homework …Stressed the entire day because we snoozed …Because you are stressed you yell at the kids, at mom or at the husband

2. Do you realize our snoozing affects others? …Husband relies on you to iron clothes, make breakfast and coffee, pack a lunch.  If you snooze then he goes hungry or he runs late because he has to care for himself. So, then he is not a happy camper.

…Children rely on you, mom.  To wake them up, to make their breakfast, to pack their lunch, to pick out their clothes...depending on the age.  So, you snooze...this makes them late so they have to grab an on-the-go breakfast or do without.  Who knows what outfit they will pick out. They can only grab 2 slices of bread for lunch.  

…We think it is JUST us that is under stress when we are snoozing.  

In our life, we can SNOOZE more than just hitting the snooze button.  As I mentioned earlier - procrastination is the result of snoozing.

We allow life to happen around us without doing our part.

HOW CAN WE GET OFF THE SNOOZE LANE?

1. Write down your goals and put a time to be finished on it. 2. Break down the final goal into small parts. 

 3. Get a vision of what you want accomplished. 4. Stop making excuses for not getting things accomplished 5. Have accountability.  (As a wife...your husband should be your accountability.  The house looks like a disaster, but you have been home ALL day.  You took the time to check your social media, but not to clean the kitchen.)   6. Reward yourself when you have finished an accomplishment.  (Don't go out with your friends until you are done) 7. START.  In order to accomplish, you must first start.

The Light / Mrs Jennie Walter

Mrs Jennie Walter

Servant of the Lord!

Paparazzi Consultant

Maine

The Light

For several years in the Fall my family would take a vacation to a Christian campground about an hour from our home. We looked forward to our annual time together in the middle of the woods on a beautiful lake. Because we waited until after Labor Day we usually had the entire campground to ourselves. The director would close down the camp for the year after our vacation was done. Usually my parents and other family members would join us, too.

Our cabins were usually next door to each other, but the last time we went our cabin was a bit of a walk from where my parents were staying. This was no problem during the day. We quickly realized though that after dark this was a bit of a struggle. The middle of the Maine woods is very dark at night! No street lights. No light coming from all the empty cabins. And our little flashlights we had brought or had on our smart phones did not adequately show much on these trails in the woods with rocks, roots and stumps everywhere! At my next opportunity I went shopping at the local WalMart and bought the best flashlight I could find and took it back to camp. I was so pleased that evening when we walked to my parent’s cabin with how well I could see! The path was clearly lit and there was no more stumbling in the dark. My flashlight did not light up the forest, but it sufficiently lit up my path and I was able to walk through the dark with confidence.

The last nine months of my life have been a very dark forest. My husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the end of June last year. The next five months were a difficult time of seemingly endless doctors appointments, hospital stays, suffering and hospice care. He went to be with our Heavenly Father in November and I then entered the dark forest of grief. And now my children and I are moving to a new home out-of-state. We are leaving the only home they have known, the only church they have known and their friends of a lifetime. I am navigating through things I know very little about like paying bills, dealing with insurance companies, and going through the process of buying a home in another state. The world seems like a very dark place.

But Psalm 27:1 reminds me “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

The Bible also reassures me in Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

God’s Word and His presence have always been my light and what I have clung to, but in these past months I have needed a bigger flashlight. More of God’s Word. More time on my knees. More of my God in EVERY way. And He has proven Himself faithful time and time and time again.

My life seems very dark, but my Father continues to shine a light on my daily steps. Each day I awake knowing everything I need that day for me and my children will be provided and cared for. With His guiding hand I walk through the dark with confidence.

He is a good God. A great God! He will light our way until He leads us each home. He never needs to change the batteries on His flashlight. He fails not.

No matter what challenges you face in your life today, run to your Father for light and guidance. Though we wish we could see everything coming our way, all we need to see is the next steps in our life. He may not light up the whole forest, but He will light up your path!

Calling all Pastor's Wife's! / Mrs Vicky Mutchler

Mrs Vicky Mutchler

Pastor's Wife

Grand View Baptist Church

Beavercreek, OR

Pastor’s Wives

I don’t know about you but being a Pastor’s wife was not on my bucket list. As a teen I always promised God that I would do whatever He wanted me to do. I was saved at the age of 16 and was married to a pastor at the age of 19 and headed to our first church! There was little time to think about all that was in front of me for which I am thankful! I had only known one pastor’s wife. She was very quiet and shy- kept to herself. I knew that would never work for me!

The good thing is there is no PERFFECT PASTOR’S wife. Everyone gets to be themselves! (The self that God and the Holy spirit are constantly working on!)

I hear pastor’s wives say:

I’m just not out going. It’s hard for me to make friends. I’m just not a hospitable kind of gal.

WELL--- WORK ON IT!

The question I ask myself, “What do people in my church need me to be?”

F- Friendly. Introduce myself. Get to know them!

A—Available. Time to talk with me…. 5 undisturbed minutes!

I—Involved. Present in ministries, workdays, planning.

T—Teachable. Don’t pretend to know it all. Learning from those 2 years- 92 years old.

H—Hospitable. Open my home. Be someone that doesn’t lose my mind over someone dropping in.

As you can see…that spells FAITH. Your church will have more faith in the fact that Christ is shining through you!

Some play piano. Some sing. Some teach. Some do office work. Some home school. Some organize.

SOME DON’T! But we can all be used of Christ to meet the needs of others. Please! People in our churches are counting on us!

Confessions of a Control Freak / Mrs Cindy Harris

Mrs Cindy Harris

Wife / Mom / Grandma

Lafayette Bible Baptist Church

Wildwood, MO

Confessions of a Control Freak

I am a control freak. I guess I just grew up like that. Just let me do it myself. That way I will know it is the done the “right” way. (that would be MY way) I tried to let go but sometimes I just couldn’t. As an example, we homeschooled our 3 children for a couple of years when it was necessary. I’m afraid to say my children were probably a bit crazy with my system of organization and the structure that I kept for them. My rationale was that I wasn’t a trained teacher so it was my way of coping with what seemed like the overwhelming task of this new challenge. I’m sure my family could come up with many more examples of my controlling but suffice it to say, I can be a bit over-bearing at times.
Still my life seemed to be fairly trouble free. We moved to Northern Illinois in 1999 and the kids were put back in school. Whew! I can quit controlling, right? Not really. I struggled with lots of issues with having older children at home. Letting go of things that were out of my control, such as the demands of a large ministry on my family, that was fairly involved in many different ministries at church and school. I also got involved where I could. Ladies’ soul winning, working in a busy church nursery, and I even volunteered in the kitchen at the college we had at our church.
Then in January of 2004, when I was 43 years old, something life changing happened to me. I had gone to lunch with my husband and later that day 1/2 of my face and even inside my mouth went numb. My first instinct was that I had eaten something that maybe I was allergic to. When the numbness lingered into the next few days, I made an appointment with my primary care doctor. She is the sort of doctor, who when presented with a strange thing, will search until she knows what is wrong. She thought I had Bells Palsy at first but I had no facial dragging, so she was still unsure. I also had become rather dizzy along with the numbness. She wrote in my chart that day that dizziness wasn’t normal with Bells Palsy. After 2 weeks the numbness was still there, and the dizziness was beginning to really bother me. When I called her, hoping for some sort of medication to help me with the dizziness, she responded with an order for an MRI! Ugh! So I had that done right away and the very day I had it done she had the results. I had Multiple Sclerosis! They had found plaque on my brain.
For those unfamiliar with MS, it is an auto immune disease where your immune system goes haywire, attacking your central nervous system. Anything in or on your body that is controlled by that CNS could at ANYTIME stop working. There is usually NO WARNING! Well, you can imagine what this news did to this control freak! Things were suddenly very much out of my control! I had to start seeing a neurologist on a regular basis, learn to give myself injections, and also learn that there were now going to be some limitations on what I could and couldn’t do anymore.
I did finish out the school year in the college kitchen but after that I realized it was taking more and more energy to do that. Auto immune diseases usually do one thing... make you tired. Everything became an effort to do. I struggled with the fact that I needed a nap every day, then I couldn’t sleep well at night. Suddenly all control was taken away from me. I always had loved the verse Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me”. Suddenly that verse became very real to me. I am not doing anything in my own strength, but it is through Christ that I can do anything!!
What have I learned through this challenge in my life? 1. That Christ is what gives me the strength to do anything. 2. That having a husband who prays for you is the greatest blessing! My husband has had the patience of Job with me over the years and we are closer than ever now that we are “empty nesters”. He prays for me every day! 3. Don’t stop doing things that are right to do if you can possibly still do them. I still was a part of that ladies’ group, I still was a nursery worker, I still worked the altar each service. 4. Most importantly, I can trust Jesus!! If I can trust Him to take me to heaven, (you have done that, right?) then surely I can trust Him with my life here on earth. If you’re His then nothing can happen without his OK. Job 2:10b “What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”

Am I still a control freak? Yes sometimes I can still be that way. To my shame.I struggled writing this devotion. Maybe that is because once I send it out it is no longer in my control?!! I still have never had a relapse in my MS journey. That is HUGE! I’m now into my 14th year and although I am exhausted when I go to bed each night, I’ve not had a relapse. Our youth pastor preached a message Sun. and used a verse that really brought it all together for me. It was Philippians 1:12 “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.” I pray when my life is ended that this is what can be said of me. What about you?