How do you stay organized?  Do you have a great planner that keeps you in line?  Or something more detailed?  Me?  I’m organizationally challenged  and I believe that  Post-it® notes are the only thing between me and complete organizational doom.

 Post-it ® notes are a personal favorite of mine.  I have so much respect for the Post it ® that I’m even putting the little trademark r beside it.  I’m also doing this because I don’t want a letter from the 3M people telling me to take down my Post it ® blog.  Companies with trademarks get really persnickety when you mention there product in a generic fashion and without the trademark thingie and since the Post-it® is truly an original unlike the Kleenex ® tissue (which is the way it must be written according to the brand police, but that’s another post for another day).

 First, let me lead off by stating - I do not like the imitation sticky notes, like I said the Post-it®  is an original.  Those sticky notes are just not the  the same.  Now, I have quite a few and I do enjoy them on ocassion,  but I can’t depend on them the way I depend on a Post-it ® note. 

 Here’s a sampling of my current stock - I also have the full-size magnetic list which is a personal favorite, but not in the picture..

 These little notes are my answer to keeping order in my life. I keep notes to myself stuck to my computer, to do list stuck to my desk, nail appointment info stuck in my calendar, addresses stuck in my purse, and just general things stuck around the office (home and work).

 The official 3M history of the Post-it® notes attributes the idea of using sticky glue on strips of paper to Art Fry - Art was singing in the church choir when the idea came to him.   I love that this is the official 3M story and they use the words ‘church choir.’  Not something you hear much in this politically correct world we live in.  Go 3M! 

These little notes help me out in so many ways. The color and the shapes bring a little fun into my life and onto my desk.  It makes my to-do list more fun to write, not that I’m going to actually do all the stuff on the list, but  it’s much more fun to not do the stuff on a  hot pink note.  

Post-it® notes end up on my steering wheel with cryptic messages like:

cof crm (buy coffee creamer)

tx! (pay taxes)

dntl appt (make a dentist appointment)

 These little notes are a dream comes true for the organizationally challenged.  There’s so much you can do with them:

•  Identify desk piles by color coded  Post-it® notes.  Pink -  file. Orange - read later. Yellow - pass it on. Purple - working on. 
•  Keep important phone numbers handy - Post-it® note on the computer screen.
•  Reminders to yourself - Post it® stuck on your collar and you’ll notice it when you look in the mirror or someone in the grocery line asks “what’s that for?” Either way works.

 Post-it® notes are also a part of my spiritual life — yes, you read that right — my spiritual life. I use them in my Bible and I write verses on Post-it® notes and I stick them where I need them.  Some are stuck inside my desk drawer - open it and find:

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11)  

Look above my keyboard:

So then neither he who plants anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.  (1 Corinth. 3:7)

 Look on the desk:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (2 Corinth 4:7)

 Here’s a favorite that is posted by my monitor:

Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up.  (James 4:10)

Post-it® notes keep me organized and God-focused - that’s a whole lot  of work for some little scraps of paper with a bit of sticky.

 So, I want to hear your ideas for staying organized and God - focused - how do you do it?  What works for you? 

 Click that comment button and start sharing!

Do you ever wonder? I do, all the time. I wonder about all kinds of things. I wonder why I can’t grow an azalea worth a flip – come on, it’s an azalea bush. It seems every house in Alabama has a great azalea bush, except mine. My azalea bushes are spindly and homely looking with only a few pitiful blooms. We won’t even discuss my attempt at pruning.

I wonder why it takes so darn long to cook anything really good – like a roast. I wonder why honeysuckles only bloom for such a short time – and weeds grow year ‘round. I wonder why if I’m in a running late (which is more often than it should be) I end up trailing a school bus or get behind Pa Kettle taking the tractor out for a spin.

I wonder why no matter how much I read the map and believe I know where I’m going, I will always have to turn around – at least once. I wonder why vacations seem to start so slow (we have five whole days) and end so fast (where did the time go?)

There’s so much I wonder about. I wonder why I didn’t appreciate being in my twenties as much as I should – looking back I realize I looked pretty good and had so much going for me. Now, I’m in my forties and I am appreciating the heck out of them.

I wonder why being a mom is so hard, and I still love doing it – most of the time. I wonder why it seems like only a couple of years ago my girls were playing dress-up in the living room, but it’s been over ten years since those days. Today one is married and the other is 15.

I wonder why I find time to read books, follow multiple TV shows, and open hundreds of emails but I struggle to find time to spend with the Lord. I wonder why I forget – so quickly – how wonderful it is to just spend time reading God’s Word. I think I may have an answer for this one – priority. I chose what is important to me and if I don’t make time with the Lord important in my life then I don’t find time for it.

I picked up a Bible study by Kelly Minter, No Other Gods and I’ve loved it. I’m not doing it with a group – I’m just working through it on my own, but what a blessing it has been to me. How easily we fall into placing idols in our lives – and I think the most eye-opening piece for me (and so much of this study has been eye-opening and heart –wrenching) is that idols are not always BAD things like drugs, alcohol, adultery, and all that other bad stuff that is floating around in our world. Sometimes an idol is a good thing like church work, family, husband, friends, work and other noble and worthy actions.

I’ve known this concept for years, but somehow this study encouraged me to dig into God’s word about idols and not to just dismiss the whole concept because I know that I know that I know I shouldn’t have idols in my life. And back to my wondering mind….

I wonder why I have idols in my life – not the bad idols but the good stuff idols, that people at they are impressed with. Is that why I do it? I don’t know, but I do know that I’m learning to look to the Lord for my direction and not to people. I’m learning to consider what His will is for my life instead of what will make people happy. I’m so glad that I serve a Grace giving God. I’m clinging to this verse:

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists
the proud,
But
gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6

Grace – He gives grace to the humble. That’s where I want to be – among the humble. That doesn’t mean I can’t laugh and have a blast or that I have to stand around with my head hanging low, nope not at all. I’m just looking to the Lord for my direction and focusing on Him. I’m serving the Most High and that’s humbling. I’m honored and astounded that the Most High would want to use me – this frazzled, faulty, mistake making mess of a woman – but for some reason He sees something in me that I don’t. I wonder why?

I know He sees something in you, too. I encourage you to spend time with Him today and ask Him where He wants your focus. Look to Him for your direction. Look to Him for the path you should take. And most of all, sisters, look to the Lord to know when to say NO and to step down. Ask yourself this question — for whose glory am I serving?

Keep looking to Him for the direction — He will make your paths straight.

Hanging out with girlfriends is therapy for me (without the whole “make an appointment” thing). If I’m in really bad shape, a weekend with the girlfriends is better than a carton of Smoky Mountain Fudge ice cream (and if you knew my ice cream addiction, you’d really understand this reference).

As most of you know I’m writing a book about girlfriends. You’d think since I’m writing about girlfriends, I’m always hanging with girlfriends and doing girlfriend stuff, but, nope, not so much. I struggle to find girlfriend time between planning a wedding, taking care of the new puppy, raising a teenager, working a job (in addition to the one I have at home), loving my husband, and writing a book. Oh, then there’s my church stuff – co-leading Bible study, planning the fall retreat and the trip to the Smoky Mountains (and it’s just a coincidence that I happen to like the fudge ice cream…) Whew. I’m making myself tired.

There’s a lot going on in my world, but the Lord is gracious and allows me to the strength to handle all of it – but I don’t do it all at the same time. I’ve given up on housecleaning — I never loved housework, okay, I confess, I HATE housework. I don’t want to clean anything, ever. I only do it because I love a clean house; I just wish someone else would clean it for me. I’ve also given up striving for Mom of the Year….and yes, I know that this was probably the year I would at least get nominated. I’ve given up hobbies like reading for fun and sleeping – I really miss the reading, but I’ve always thought sleeping is a waste of time.

Giving up some things helps me get through the day – and the knowledge that in five weeks the wedding will be over and the puppy will be gone. (A puppy is a lot like a toddler, but without the benefit of diapers – use your imagination). Of course, in five weeks Charity will be married and moved out – so life will calm down enormously and I’ll be really sad that she’s gone, but happy that she’s happy (how’s that for playing both sides of the fence?)

I love being busy – and I really love writing this book. I love the time I spend in prayer getting ready to write. I love what the Lord is teaching me through these busy days –wedding, puppy training, and writing. I love that He is a gracious and forgiving God. I’m awestruck that He continues to bless me even when I make a mess of everything. I’m learning that He’s in control of this thing I call ‘My Life.’ I’m learning that I have to let go and He will take care of it all. I’m learning that I can only serve one God – and I’m choosing (it’s a continuous process) to serve the Lord, my God.

But back to girlfriend time….that’s where we started, right? I miss girlfriend time and I’m looking forward to spending time with girlfriends in the very near future! I know that the Lord is using this time to strengthen me to be a better friend. I just need your prayers – and I could probably use a little more sleep.