Do you remember those old V8 commercials? You know, the ones where someone would partake in a snack that tasted great but offered little to no nutritional value and then they see someone enjoying a vegetable juice and they give themselves a dope-slap while exclaiming, "I could have had a V8!"
Sometimes I feel this way when it comes to missed opportunities with or for the Lord.
This past weekend our church had its 3rd Annual Ladies Retreat. What a wonderful time we had!! That's a post for another day.... We booked the date of the retreat and the hotel almost a year prior. In early fall we hired our speaker. We knew our theme by the beginning of November and from there the active planning and execution began.
Newsletter submissions were written. Bulletin inserts and flyers were made. Tickets were printed. Lists and outlines were drawn up detailing all that was to be done and by whom. All this happened while our team of four ladies worked, took care of their families, served on other ministries and celebrated Thanksgiving and the birth of our Savior, Jesus.
Sometimes I feel this way when it comes to missed opportunities with or for the Lord.
This past weekend our church had its 3rd Annual Ladies Retreat. What a wonderful time we had!! That's a post for another day.... We booked the date of the retreat and the hotel almost a year prior. In early fall we hired our speaker. We knew our theme by the beginning of November and from there the active planning and execution began.
Newsletter submissions were written. Bulletin inserts and flyers were made. Tickets were printed. Lists and outlines were drawn up detailing all that was to be done and by whom. All this happened while our team of four ladies worked, took care of their families, served on other ministries and celebrated Thanksgiving and the birth of our Savior, Jesus.
Once registration was closed in early January, more tasks were now able to be worked on. As the deadline moved ever closer, I started to feel the pressure. My mind kept rushing with thoughts; will everything get done? Will they like the food and will accommodate all of those with allergies/aversions/dietary restrictions? Will they enjoy the games? I wasn't able to contact everyone with one item or the other; will they be ok with it?.. and on and on the thoughts went. I began to lose sleep. My prayers were changing from praising the Lord for being the whole reason we do this to asking.. no, begging for things to go right. All the time I would tell myself that this was all in God's hands. I was saying it, but not fully trusting.
Finally the evening before the retreat as I was constructing a game board we were to use it finally hit me. I looked over the pile of items that were lined up ready to be packed in the car the next day and thought, "It's all done - or as done as it's going to get and it's good." God was in control. All of the stress and sleep deprivation did not make things come together more smoothly. They did not make things more productive. I had chosen to give into stress instead of rest in faith. I settled for worry instead of security.
I had a fizzy, stomach-churning, empty serving of anxiety instead of a generous helping of God given peace. Now that's a poor choice that deserves a dope-slap!
I was so busy trying to work it all out on my own that I wasn't giving it to the Father and resting in His ability. When I prayed I forgot to simply ask God to help me to rest in knowing it would be all He wanted it to be. I should have been still, told Him my concerns and know He would handle it. Sure, it takes hard work to put on a retreat; but not worry. (Have you ever read a verse instructing us to worry?.. No. The Bible says over 300 - "Worry not.")
Doh - I could have had a Rest-of-Faith!
Lesson learned - thank you Lord!!
