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November 8, 2007
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Totally Present for Today with a Vision for Tomorrow, by Michele Howe
On any given day, women will be caught daydreaming of tomorrow. Not
that dreaming is a bad exercise; sometimes the most winning plans have
been hatched during these mental "blue sky" wanderings. However, the
kind of musing that hinders, rather than helps, is different. This
troublesome visitor incites disappointment, frustration, and
impatience. It never allows for the beauty of current life to hold
sway. It has a covetous spirit of wishing for something else.
Society places a weighty amount of pressure on women to succeed on many
levels -- this involves both personal and family success as well as
social and professional success. Today, many Christian women
necessarily fill multiple roles, each one vying for her attention and
interest. If she's smart, she'll recognize that today's
responsibilities do not define her life as a whole. Life can change in
an instant, and often does. This realization, coupled with trust that
God is at work in her life (Philippians 2:13), helps a woman embrace
the moment without becoming discouraged that the current circumstances
are unchangeable (Romans 8:28).
There is something to be said for getting into the rhythm of your days.
Viewing all of life as worthwhile, with its seemingly few and far
between glamorous moments along with its more mundane ones, grounds us
in reality and prepares us for the future. Everything we do in the next
twenty-four hours prepares us in some measure for the road ahead.
Whether we long for greatness in some obscure professional field or
simply hanker to excel at gardening, matters little. Our focus, our
intent, must be on giving our all and living in the moment of today,
using the opportunities that God gives us, in whatever direction we
turn our attention.
Sadly, countless women spend precious time wandering mentally into
tomorrow's unknowns -- both the worries and the wishes. This feeds
their feelings of discontent and eventually overrides their good sense.
That's why Jesus warned us, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its
own" (Matthew 6:34 TNIV). It is not that setting goals and pressing
ahead toward growth, improvement and God's intentions for us are wrong
(Philippians 3:12-14). But, we can get so pre-occupied with the future
-- by worry and by wishing -- that we lose sight of today's good and
the opportunities God provides for us to grow, achieve, and change.
Yes, today's difficulties can take a toll. Still, armed with the right
outlook, women can use hardships as stepping-stones toward future
opportunity and success (Philippians 4:13). It's all in the viewpoint
and the end goal. Learning to take everything in its turn enables women
to invest in this day's work while eyeing hopeful possibilities and
God's opportunities. Author David Ireland reminds us that as we seek to
live fully on this given day, "... the destination seems nearer and the
view is more picturesque." It is possible to be totally present in the
now and still have a vision for tomorrow. It is!
The enemies of being totally present in the day and having a vision for
tomorrow, along with some spiritual counter-measures:
Armed with the right outlook, women can use today's hardships as
stepping-stones!
* Exhaustion -- spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical: take care
to daily balance work and rest, seeking God's renewing presence.
* Purposelessness -- spiritual, personal and profession: dream big
and then make practical plans always seeking to honor God.
* Unreasonable expectations -- worrying about uncontrollable
outcomes: be satisfied with doing the best you can and trust God to
be at work in your life.
* Shortsighted Perspectives -- feeling alone and helpless: with God,
today's shortfall isn't the last or final word.
* Selfishness -- wishing for something else: discipline yourself to
look beyond your own wants/needs/desires and think of the way God
has blessed you and can use you to bless others.
---------
(c) 2007 Michele Howe <jhowe@toast.net>.
RELATED LINKS:
* Burden, Vision, and Passion
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200501/20050109_burden.html
* Lift Up Your Eyes
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200609/20060928_liftyoureyes.html
* Dreamers
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200006/20000607_dreamers.html
* Syndicated Writers of America
http://www.buystory.com/authors/index.php?id=13"
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200711/20071108_present.html
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