Normal is Not Working!

Thanks everyone for the anniversary wishes! We had a great time, although it was so weird not having the girls here. They had lots of fun swimming and spending the night at Grandma's house though and we had fun enjoying a dinner out by ourselves! =)

It was strange too, to go to church today by ourselves. But, today was another great message and one that probably all of us can relate to!

Today's message was about scheduling margin. Remember, margin is the amount available beyond what is necessary. Most of us feel like 24 hours is just not enough time in a day to get done what we need to. But, if God gave us 26 hours, would we find time then? We probably would just fill those extra hours with the same stuff that we already do, not do the things we wish we had more time for. Our urgency overwhelms the things we value most important. When we invest our time, we create margin.

Our pastor used the example of having your car out of alignment. When your car is in alignment, you can steer it down the road without much effort. But, when it is out of alignment, it takes both hands on the wheel to be able to keep it from veering off the road. When we are out of alignment with God, that's just another word for sin. We veer off the path He has for us. We steer right into the ditch and our culture assists in that and pulls us into marginless living. Margin is that thing that most of us don't have.

Ephesians 5:15-17 basically says to be careful how you live. If you aren't careful, you'll steer off the path. Our culture will drag you away to a meaningless life. Our natural default setting is not wise. Our pastor mentioned the book written by Andy Stanley, "The Best Question Ever", which I've read before. In that book, the best question ever is: What is the wise thing to do? Andy says if you will ask yourself that question before every decision you make, it will keep you from making some really bad choices. What do we do though, given that our natural default setting is usually not wise? We find the line and we go as far as we possibly can to it. But, the closer we are to the line, the easier it is to fall off. We live on the edge.

1 Corinthian 10:23 says that "everything is permissable". Not everything we can do is wise. We think if it's not wrong, it must be wise, but that's not true. You have to ask yourself this question: In light of whatever stage you're in, whatever is going on in your life, etc......is it wise? James says, life is but a vapor. Given that fact, how do we schedule our time wisely?

We must say NO to many good things to say YES to the best things. Just like the story of Martha that we looked at last week, sometimes the things that distract us aren't bad things, but they are the enemy of the BEST things. If the things you spend your time on overrule margin and your relationships suffer, then are those things wise for you/your family? If dance, sports, UIL (all good things) are overruling margin and causing your relationships to suffer, are they wise?

Romans 12:2 says to be transformed so that you can tell what's wise/good. It's weird today to live opposite of our culture, to not fall into that pattern of running around like crazy with not enough time in the day. Weird is okay though! The weirder you look in light of the world, the closer you are to God.

The "normal" is not working!!!!

Normal is:
marriage ending in divorce
kids being rebellious
schedules that cause you to be frazzled and overwhelmed

Normal is not working!! Live differently so you can live differently! When you ask someone how they are, what do they usually say? Busy! Busyness can rob your life. The church can even be a culprit in adding to the schedule of those who are committed and can rob them of margin. Sometimes even churches just add things to the schedule just to be busy.

Learn how to say NO!! We have a hard time saying it. There is one person who has control over your calendar and that person is YOU! Regardless of what you say is important to you, you will make time for what's most important. How you spend your time is a reflection of what is really important to you; it's a reflection of your heart. The average person spends 28 hours/week watching TV. That's more than a decade over a normal life span! Watching TV of course is not a bad thing, but is it wise?

What matters most to you that is missing from your schedule? Ask yourself this question:
I say ___________ is important, but is that missing from my schedule?

There are 2 things that we must have:

1. Intimate time with God. We need time with God for that realignment. We don't have time not to do that. It has to be a daily thing. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

2. Intentional times of rest. We need to rest to be revitalized. Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Your best requires adequate rest.

Is it wise to neglect that daily time with God? No. Is it wise to be obedient to Him? Yes. Apart from the gospel, this series is nothing more than self-help. We must live our life in line with the truth of the gospel. When you do that, you will have margin. The gospel is the realignment process for you. It's going from existing, to really living. If you have no margin, it may be that you've lost sight of the gospel. Step out in faith and claim what Jesus has already done for you! It changes you to live by the gospel. Financially, it makes you generous. Schedule-wise, you'll spend time with God. It's not about us being good or achieving.......we live as a response to the gratitude we have for what He did for us. The time we have is fleeting. But, when you live by the gospel, you will live the life that you were meant to live!!!!