Dec. 2006 Balancing Tips: Do You Have Time for Everything But Jesus?
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**MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CROSS YOUR HEART PUBLICATIONS!**
Balancing Tips: Helping You Balance Your Life According to God's Plan
December 2006 Newsletter From Cross Your Heart Publications
~Crossing your life with God's plan~
In this issue:
- Do You Have Time for Everything But Jesus?
- Related Scripture
- Links and Resources
- Upcoming Releases
- Contact Information, Copyright Notice, Disclaimers, and Unsubscribe Instructions
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Do You Have Time for Everything But Jesus?
The holidays are a busy time! If you’re like me, you probably have lists and lists of tasks that need to be completed over the next month. Are you running here and there, buying this gift, volunteering for that group, deciding what to make for the family Christmas dinner, attending parties for work and Girl Scouts and who knows what else? Are you accomplishing a lot, checking items off your to-do list? Do you even have time to breathe?
Stop for a moment and ask yourself an important question: Am I spending time with Jesus?
As Jesus tells Martha in Luke 10:38-42, “only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Being the perfect hostess, Martha busily prepares a meal for Jesus, her honored guest. Sounds like a worthwhile task if ever there was one, right? Preparing a meal for the Lord!
Of course Martha would get angry with her sister Mary for not helping -- it doesn’t seem fair, does it? Martha runs around, making sure Jesus has a nice meal, while Mary just sits around! How dare she not help in the kitchen? I think we can all understand Martha’s reaction when she says to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
But Mary is not merely “sitting around” -- she is at Jesus’ feet, enraptured by Him, listening to her Lord whole-heartedly and lovingly, with no distractions.
Jesus tells us it is better to spend time with Him than to overwhelm ourselves with busy tasks -- even when we are accomplishing important work for God’s glory. Prayer needs to be our first priority; in that way, and only that way, can we deepen our relationship with our Lord and Savior.
True, we may need to get a lot done -- especially during the holidays! But we also need to realize that we will ultimately be more productive if we set aside time for a personal relationship with Christ.
Nothing should be more important than spending time with Jesus. When we do spend that time -- through prayer, Bible study, worship, fellowship, serving others -- guess what happens? All else falls into place in our lives!
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Related Scripture
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
- Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
- Luke 5:16 (NIV)
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" “Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
- Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
- Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall…
- Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…
- Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
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Links and Resources
http://www.christianitytoday.com/workplace/articles/issue9-toobusyforgod.html
http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/ToobusyforGod.htm
http://www.homeword.com/Freebies/Files/Are_You_Too_Busy_For_God.pdf
http://www.homeword.com/Freebies/Files/10_Tips_Help_Get_Ready_Holiday.pdf
http://www.homeword.com/Freebies/Files/Creative_Worship_Ideas1.doc
http://ww2.intouch.org/site/c.7nKFISNvEqG/b.1035139/k.DDB/4_Essentials_to_Experiencing_Peace.htm
http://stress.about.com/od/managetimeorganize/f/time_management.htm
http://www.thebusywoman.com/time-management/index.php
http://www.bizymoms.com/index.html
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Upcoming Releases
http://www.CrossYourHeartPublications.com
Look for these Cross Your Heart Publications releases over the next five-to-six months:
- ORDER NOW: "The Walk" by Michelle Kunkle: $10.00.
~All proceeds benefit Harrold Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greensburg PA.~
Take a conversational walk with God through the first five books of the Bible. Learn how understanding the beginning can help you grow closer to God today.
Produced by Legacy Inspirations together with Cross Your Heart Publications, The DeskTop, and The Gallery Dessert, http://www.legacyinspirations.com.
- "Simply Balanced: How Seeming Bible Contradictions Teach Balance in Life" by Christina Downs: $12.95.
Discover how what at first appear to be Biblical contradictions actually contain practical advice on how to live a harmonious life in a disharmonious, imbalanced, often contradictory world. This book will help you balance your life and grow closer to God by identifying key points in Scripture that you may have previously thought contradicted one another -- for example, "don't worry… yet be prepared" and "humble yourself… yet speak boldly." Expected publication date: Tentatively March 2007. Early release ebook available in January, $9.99 (order by 1/31/07 and receive both the ebook and print book for one price of $12.95!).
- "You've Been Out of Work How Long? Finding a Job and Emotional/Spiritual Support After Extended Time Out of the Workforce" by Christina Downs.
This ebook will help you on two levels: (1) by providing job-search ideas unique to someone who has been out of work for a long period of time, and (2) by helping you obtain emotional and spiritual support from family and friends who may have trouble understanding what you are going through. Support in both areas -- finding a job and seeking emotional and spiritual support -- will help provide you with balance in life.
- Also check our site over the coming months for additional print books and ebooks on spiritual, family, professional, and life balance topics by various Christian professionals.
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Contact Information, Copyright Notice, Disclaimers, and Unsubscribe Instructions
Contact information:
Cross Your Heart Publications
Crossing your life with God's plan
P.O. Box 206
Loyalhanna, PA 15661
Phone: 724-787-6756
Email: Chrdowns@aol.com
http://www.CrossYourHeartPublications.com
Member of Legacy Inspirations: http://www.legacyinspirations.com
Member of PMA, The Independent Book Publishers Association: http://www.pma-online.org
Member of MidAtlantic Book Publishers Association: http://www.midatlanticbookpublishers.com
Please forward this newsletter to others you believe would be interested. If they would like to subscribe, they should send an email to Chrdowns@aol.com with "Balancing Tips, Please Subscribe Me" in the subject line. Thank you.
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We hope you have found this issue useful in helping you balance your life! If you have any suggestions for improvements, please email Chris at Chrdowns@aol.com. Thank you, and God bless you.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liabilities:
These files were prepared by Cross Your Heart Publications. Cross Your Heart Publications, including all representatives speaking on behalf of this company:
- Makes no warranty or representation of warranty, express or implied, with respect to using any information disclosed in these files.
- Has made every attempt not to infringe on or interfere with anyone's privately owned rights, including any party's intellectual property.
- Assumes no responsibility for any damages or other liability whatsoever (including any consequential damages) resulting from using these files or any information disclosed in these files.
Further, Cross Your Heart Publications employees have no professional counseling, psychiatric, or legal training and make no claim to be experts in these areas. Staff members provide emotional and spiritual advice on a general basis, based on personal knowledge and Biblical and other research.
Copyright 2006 Christina M. Downs, Cross Your Heart Publications
http://www.CrossYourHeartPublications.com
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