Lisa Hetzel

Did you ever play the game “knock knock”? One person says “knock, knock.” The other says, “Who’s there”? In our own lives, Jesus knocks and waits for our response.

In Revelation 3:20, John says that the Son of God tells us, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

In my life, God has made Himself known through incredible circumstances and opportunities. Do you want to have a more intimate relationship with Jesus? Do you want to know that He hears you and answers your prayers when you knock?

Check out my friends’ newly released book, Six Prayers God Always Answers. Jennifer Schuchmann and Mark Herringshaw reveal very simple ways to realize God’s constant presence. Click on the book for more information.

There’s something to be said for sitting face to face when you are in a conversation. I remember doing this automatically when my husband and I were dating.  Then, when our son was born, we couldn’t take our eyes off of him. Giving your complete attention to someone says more than any Hallmark music card. 

I don’t think that I do this nearly enough.  Certainly, I could use more “face time” with my own family.

Can you even imagine when we see God face to face? 

I did it again. I overbooked myself and there’s no way out. Yuck!

Early this Spring, I started signing up for all kinds of projects. Once again, I  began saying “yes” to all kinds of exciting projects.  “Sure I will,” I’d respond.  “That would be so much fun,” I said as I registered.  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”  Our family calendar looks a little like one of those football playbooks. The boxes are crammed with  arrows and numbers.  Arrows are written to indicate rescheduled events. Post-it notes surround the crowded little boxes like a frame. 

Somehow I buried myself in a vacation filled with deadlines. Dr. Phil would probably ask right now, “How’s that working for ya?”

Not so great. It’s vacation and I’m still watching the clock, grabbing the phone on the first ring and carrying a calendar.  My desk is strewn with vacation bible school materials, drafts for the weekly newspaper columns, jeans which need to go to the tailor’s, my son’s Six Flag’s Ticket and the manual for the refrigerator that arrived today. 

Maybe I need to observe our nine year old for awhile.  He’s in his room, watching “Drake and Josh” and eating the rest of the sourcream potato chips from lunch. His dog is curled up beside him, resting comfortably.  Not a worry. Not a care. Life is lived in the present. When he’s tired, he sleeps. When he’s hungry, he eats. 

Hmmm.

Maybe he’s on to something. 

I’m painfully reminded of the story of Martha and Mary.  In Luke 10: 38-42, Jesus’ visit is told.  Martha is so busy that scripture says “She was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.”  When she went to Jesus to complain (How often do I do this?), Jesus told her, “Only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”  (NIV)

So, do I just stop running errands and taking care of chores? No, but do I overbook myself and others so that there is no time to enjoy life, rest, reflect and do I dare say, get bored?

What if I just tried to empty my calendar a little bit this week?  What if I started carving out unscheduled time? And maybe, just maybe, I could learn to take life one thing at a time.

What about you?  How do you balance it all?  What do you do when you are overbooked?

Did you ever watch the movie, “The Wizard of Oz” Listed as one of my all time favorites, it came to my mind this morning. I found myself whispering Dorothy’s classic line, “There’s no place like home”