Surrender Your Time

I’ve always considered myself a very practical person. I make to-do lists and keep a master calendar of everyone’s appointments, etc. All of this to help me stay on the treadmill of life. This was even more essential when I had four children at home whose lives often went in different directions.

When I was first married and even before I had children, I had a revelation about my planning habits. One of those “this must be from God because I can’t possibly being doing that” moments. The revelation...I was finding my security in my plan instead of in God. Ouch! What a wake-up call. Did this mean I should never plan out my days or weeks? I knew that wasn’t true. Somehow I had to let God help me change my attitude towards those plans. If they got changed or I didn’t know what was coming up that day or week, I needed to learn to be okay with that and find peace in knowing that God knew what each step of every day would look like for me.

Along came four children and even though my attitude toward planning had changed, I was a typical homeschooling mom with more things to do than hours in my day. Or so it felt. There was always a list of priorities and activities that need to be accomplished or completed. In those days, the idea of a “quiet time” with God was something that happened in the shower or as your head hit the pillow at night. The sense of deadlines looming on the horizon moving ever closer as we try to keep up with everything can rob us of our peace.

During that time, two things helped put a brake to my treadmill routine. I remember hearing how we should be evangelizing and bemoaning the fact that my world was full of Christians so how could I possibly evangelize. Then I heard a message about divine interruptions and a light bulb went on. How many times had I planned out my day and then I would get a call from someone who needed a favor? Or run into someone in a store and end up encouraging them in the produce aisle? Divine interruptions! Now I had a name for these little detours that I could have resented for messing up my plans or learn to welcome as part of God’s plan.

The second thing is a “thought for the day” that I will never forget. It was on a little calendar that I had on my bathroom counter. I turned it over one September morning and it said

“There’s enough time in each day to do God’s will.”

No light bulb this time. More like a hammer on the head! Why was I so worried about what I was going to accomplish today or getting through my to-do list? If my plans were God’s will for me that day, they would get done. What a relief! I didn’t have to worry about if I had enough hours in the day. Instead I needed to surrender my plans, my time to the Lord and let Him have control of all of it.

So, now I plan and schedule sometimes wondering how it will all work out, but there is a peace knowing that today is not in my hands. It’s in His and I willingly surrender to the One who knows what I need to do today. Writing included.

**********

Elaine is Secretary/Treasurer of Mile High Scribes, the ACFW South Denver Chapter. With 3 children home from college this summer, her time management skills are being put to the test once again. She is spending a large percentage of the summer on road trips to Canada, Arizona and taking children back to college.

Faithful with Time

“See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.” Colossians 4:17 niv

Have you ever wished for a longer day? Then we’d be able to get to all those unfinished tasks we constantly push off for various reasons. Some may not be very glamorous or rewarding. Others may be tedious and boring. Sometimes we get into the middle of a project and find we don’t know how to finish it. For many of us, other demands on our time allow these tasks to remain undone.

This may be what happened to Archippus in the Scripture above, prompting Paul to encourage him to complete the work that he had been given from God. While the pace of society in Paul’s time was probably a much slower one than we face today, Archippus still needed to learn how to be faithful with his time in order to complete his task.

Many of you have probably read or heard about “Tyranny of the Urgent” by Charles E. Hummel. In that little booklet, the author uses Christ’s example of being faithful with the time God had given Him on earth. At the end of His life, in His prayer in John 17, Jesus makes this statement in verse 4 (The Message): “I glorified you on earth By completing down to the last detail What you assigned me to do.”

How did Jesus do this when He was only in active ministry for three years? There were still sick people, for example. He hadn’t healed everyone. In fact, there were times that He went away from what was expected of Him to minister somewhere else. How did He know where He was needed and when? How did He know what tasks He needed to perform and which to leave undone?

We see the secret in Mark 1:35–38, where Jesus spent time praying about His ministry and then waited for His Father’s instructions. When Peter found Him later, Peter told Him of all those who were waiting for healing. But Jesus responded that they were to go to another village to minister. It was because of this time spent with the Father He was able to resist the urgent demands on His time and do what God wanted Him to do.

As we follow Christ’s example, keep in mind three things.

I. Evaluate your activities

In Colossians 4:5, Paul encourages his readers to “make the most of every opportunity.” We need to evaluate our activities and determine which are the best ones, the ones we need to focus on. Others may be good and valuable, but maybe they don’t promote “making the most of every opportunity” the Lord has for us. Determine which of our activities need to be put aside so we can concentrate on exactly what the Lord has for us to do.

Paul again encourages his readers in Ephesians 5:15–16: So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! (The Message) We are to be careful how we walk, being wise, redeeming the time (Psalm 90:12), or making the most of the twenty-four hours God has given us. God knew what He was doing when He made twenty-four hours in a day. And He made our bodies to need proper nourishment, exercise, and rest. Are we truly making the most of every minute the Lord has allowed us?

Identify the time-wasters in each day. What can be eliminated in order to accomplish the goals God has given us?

II. Prioritize activities

After evaluating our activities, then we must prayerfully decide what our priorities are. When we know what our priorities are, then we can determine where our activities fit and the importance to place on each one, the amount of time we need to spend on each goal.

Paul tackles prioritizing in Ephesians 5 and 6.

5:18–21 — First priority is a right relationship God. Like Martha in Luke 10, we need to learn the one thing that is needful. Mary had chosen the best thing, sitting at the feet of Jesus, learning to know her Savior. I’ve found that the more time I spend seeking God and growing in my relationship with Him, the more time I have to accomplish the tasks He has given me to do.

5:22–6:4 - Second priority is our families. This includes husband, parents, and children, as well as all the activities that go along with them. I also include my own personal well-being in that, since if I am not exercising, eating right, and getting sufficient rest, I eventually let my family down.

6:5–9 — Third priority is work. This means various things to us depending on our situation in life. For me, it means editing, writing, speaking, and conference work. Learning to juggle these is an ongoing process.

III. Budget activities

We have our goals after prioritizing our activities. We have identified the time-wasters. Now it’s time to budget the time to accomplish the goals and get to work doing what needs to be done.

“Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table” (Proverbs 14:23 The Message). I am guilty of talking about all the things I’m going to do, but then not applying myself to get them done. So this is when I must determine what I’m going to do about the time-wasters in my life.

This isn’t accomplished overnight. Take it in small increments and work on changing one thing at a time. Take time to plan your day after prayer and quietly listening for God’s leading.

Start with a monthly calendar and block out required activities (job, school, commuting, shopping, etc.). Determine one high-priority item that needs more time budgeted for it. Then decide what activity or activities need to be cut back in order to accomplish the high-priority one.

Don’t make too many major changes at once, or you will get bogged down. Take it a step at time. Once you’ve succeeded with one goal, move on to another high-priority item and concentrate on that.

Remember to allow some uncommitted time each week to allow for unexpected demands. Plan for interruptions and changes in plans. They will happen no matter how well we plan. Be flexible!!

Take time each day to plan for the next day; take time each week to plan for the next week; take time each month to plan for the next month. I like to take time on or around my birthday to look back on the past year to see if I’ve accomplished the goals I had and then to determine new goals or reestablish the same goals for the next year. Of course, it helps that my birthday is on New Year’s Eve. J

Finally, determine to stick to it, even if you fail. Get back up and start over. Don’t give up. That’s what being faithful means. Perfection is not in the definition. Put aside any perfectionistic tendencies you may have.

“In all labor there is profit.” I hope one day to hear my Savior say, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” I want to be able to say as Christ and Paul said, “I have finished the course. I have done all that the Father asked me to do.”

Time Has Its Own Mind

Time flies. At least it seems to when I'm under a deadline. When I'm having fun, it just dances. When I'm bored, it crawls. It doesn't stop when I'm stressed, it just hurries faster. And it doesn't slow down when I'm having a wonderfully deep conversation with a friend that I don't want to end. It ticks on by and the next thing you know one of my teen boys is calling asking when I'm going to come home and feed them.

Time has its own mind and rhythm--and you want me to tell you how to manage it?

Someday when I'm home, just hubby and me in a quiet house, time will be easier to manage. I'll have a set writing schedule and my creative juices will be pumping, ready to pour onto the page at exactly 10:43 each morning. I will have won my life-long battle with time.

That's the dream.

After taking a personality test the other day, however, I suspect I'll still find time unmanageable. But I'm not ready for my bubble to be popped on this one, so let's pretend it might get easier for me as I mature. After all, there needs to be some reward for surviving my crazy, loud life with four teenagers and a revolving door of their friends pouring in and out. There's really only one constant in my day as I try to manage them. I can absolutely rely on knowing that I will be asked 133 times when I'm cooking and what it will be. Other than that, there is little continuity.

But dreams of scheduled writing times and whines about my lack thereof aren't offering you much take-home. I'm often told, "I don't know how you do all you do." I must be accomplishing SOMETHING. I think mostly I'm just snowing people--looking more poised and efficient than I am, but I do have a few tricks up my sleeve--after all a gal with absolutely no concept of time still has to live in it. She just has to find her own way of doing so.

While I can't do detailed schedules (they make me break out in a sweat), I do have big picture plans. I need some quiet time in my recliner before I start my day--unless I've forgotten to blog for ACFW, then I postpone the tea and quiet meditation and instead fling a prayer to God that I can figure out something to write while barreling to my computer with a growling stomach and caffeine headache coming on.

The calendar next to my computer keeps my deadlines in the forefront of my mind--at least when I look at it and remember what it says. And my mouse pad is actually paper, where I keep a running list of what I must get done in my "work" world. I'm not a list person, but since I've hit my mid-forties my brain needs a little help.

When I am up against a big deadline I protect time (still not able to manage it). I resist the urge to head out to Starbucks with a friend or to watch the latest chick-flick with my daughter. (At least most of the time.) I block out the amount of time it takes to write the project and add at least an afternoon for all the time I'll spend sweating, feeling inadequate, and begging God to help me believe that I can actually write. Sometimes I add a whole day for this. I don't mean to, but that's how it turns out--which means the next day I HAVE to dig in and write harder 'cause I'm out of time. This actually works pretty well. Other than remembering to write for this particular blog, I'm very rarely late on a writing deadline.

The other thing that helps me get my work done is laundry. Really. The washing machine is right next to my office, so if I sort laundry for the six of us and start writing, it's the perfect set-up. Every time the dryer buzzes I get a break from sitting at the computer so I can rush to the couch and lay all those T-shirts neatly across its arm. Then I write away. The goal is that both the writing deadline will be met and the laundry washed by seven the next evening. Then I can fold laundry for two hours giving me an excuse to watch a Jane Austen flick. I warn my boys for hours in advance of that moment that the TV is MINE. And I have a built in reward for keeping my bottom in my office chair and getting the deadline met.

Between a busy season of life, a dominant right brain, and a personality that feels stifled when it gets too scheduled, I never try to manage my time. I try to live in it, roll with it, and play with it. I work hard and fast in it when I claim a space of it for my writing. And I pray like crazy. I figure if God called me to write while everything else is going crazy in my life, then He can make my fingers fly across the keyboard. And He often does.

For me time management is more of a passion than a schedule. I believe in what I'm doing, so I grab the opportunities to do my thing and work like a mad woman for that space of time I claimed between homeschooling and supper--or everyone else's bedtime and morning.

I know some of you wonderful left-brained people whose personality tests have letters in it like S, T, or J are now breathing too quickly and getting a stomachache. You'll be okay, really. I may not have the world's greatest advice, but next time I see you I'll enfold you in a great big hug and we'll both feel better.

A writer, speaker, and homeschooling mother of four, Paula Moldenhauer is passionate about God’s grace and intimacy with Jesus. Her website, Soul Scents, offers a free weekly devotional, and you can visit her blog at GraceReign. Paula serves as president of HIS Writers, the north Denver ACFW chapter. A devoted Pride and Prejudice fan, she loves good conversation, peppermint ice cream, and walking barefoot. Her greatest desire is to be close enough to Jesus to live His fragrance.

Time Management

LOL Okay, just to make sure everyone understands why I'm laughing at this month's topic . . .

I make the schedule of who will blog when each month. And with the officers of the three chapters, we decided what the topic of the month would be back in January. So . . . this month had an extra Friday. That was last Friday, July 2. And I assigned myself to introduce the topic and get the ball rolling.

Only . . . I didn't.

And now it's after 11:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.

This is rather ironic. I've studied time management, taught time management, given advice on time management. Others tell me how organized I am. And my bent to toward being that. But . . . life has a way of intervening, as I'm sure you've all realized by now.

Last week when I was thinking about how to kick-off this subject, I had just come off an all-nighter Wednesday night, trying to finish a project that had to be on the editor's desk Friday. In order to meet that deadline, I had to have it to the nearest UPS Store by 6:00 p.m. Thursday. I made it . . . with two minutes to spare!

Friday, I thought about this post several times as I cleaned my very-neglected house before my sister and her family and my hubby arrived for the weekend. Housecleaning is at the bottom of my list of things to-do. And yes, I'm a list maker. Once again, as I dealt with several layers of dust, I thought about getting someone in a couple of times a month to clean. Supposedly that would free me from the cleaning marathons I usually find myself in. Only I'm one of those people who would feel obligated to clean before the cleaner comes. Sigh. Not very time effective then!

So now you know my struggle with time management. I'll be back Friday with a little more serious post . . . maybe. In the meantime, I'll work on that to-do list!

Have a wonderful, productive week!

A Novel in 16 Weeks? Here’s how.

The topic this month is Time Management? How appropriate that I would remember it’s my day to blog twenty-five minutes before midnight. This is what I do. It’s how I roll. I serve an eleventh-hour God, and I am made in His image. Although, I doubt He waits until the last minute due to procrastination or forgetfulness.
Okay, enough of the excuses. Ironically, I’ve given talks on this very subject. I’ll give you a mini-lesson here on how to set up a goal sheet so you can finish your project on time.
You can use either the spreadsheet program on your computer or you can use paper. I caution, however, that if you use the antiquated spiral notebook, use a pencil, because you will inevitably be erasing. I like the computer because I can add or delete rows or change tasks as needed.
I’ll tell you how I set up my goals sheet, but feel free to change it for your own needs. Just keep it simple, or it will be more trouble than it’s worth.
All you need is two columns:

Week

Done X

Don’t worry about specific dates. Just know that you must accomplish whatever you’ve written down for the week. Please stop reading for a moment and access my goal planning sheet here. If that link doesn’t work, please email me and I’ll send it to you. This sheet will show you the guidelines I use for writing a novel in sixteen weeks.
And now, my disclaimer. This is my ideal goal sheet. Not every novel (or non-fiction work for that matter) is created equal. Each one is unique and needs more or less work in certain areas than other novels do. Goals get changed, rearranged, omitted, added. It becomes a living, breathing partner in the writing process. But I’m here to tell ya, my goal sheet comes in mighty handy when I’m faced with a four-month contract.
As you read my sheet, let me explain some of the tools I use. You may have other plotting tools. Or none. Whatever works for you.

• Skeleton – This is Randy Ingermanson’s brainchild.
• GMC – From a book by Debra Dixon. If you don’t have this book, and you’ve never learned about Goal, Motivation, and Conflict, order it today!
• SOP – Seat of the Pants. It helps me to write the first few chapters without plotting first to get a feel of the characters. I may not use these chapters in the final draft, but they’re important to get me into the rhythm of the story.
• ALL IN ONE – My term for a spreadsheet notebook I’ve created. It has several sheets to help me keep track and plot my story. I’ve discussed much of it on my blog.  Click on any of the four lessons titled, “Organize Yourself as a Writer.” You will note that the goal setting sheet is different from the one I’m showing you today. I started out using that one, but as I said. This sheet lives and breathes. It’s evolved for me, but if you prefer the one on the blog, that’s fine too.
• Highlight – This is from a class I took with Margie Lawson who presented the EDITS System. You can buy her lecture packet that includes this and other wonderful tools on her website. 
• Put aside – A story, like fine wine, needs to breathe. Around Week 12, I try to not look at it for as long as I can get away with and still meet my deadline. When I come back to it, I put on my critiquing glasses (not real ones, so don’t ask me where I bought them <grin>) and read objectively. The longer I let the story sit, the easier it is to pretend I’m just another reader.

Before I hear –  “But Kathy, this takes all the fun and spontaneity out of writing.” – let me remind you that this is a business.  If you are pursuing writing for profit, you must take the necessary steps to be successful. A goal planning sheet is one of those steps. And it’s not painful. I’ve done most of the work for you. Now, you can take this sheet and make it your own.
That is . . . if you can find the time.
***************
Kathleen E. Kovach is an award winning author, leader of the local critique group JOY Writers, and the Rocky Mountain Zone Director for American Christian Fiction Writers. A mom and grandmother, she lives in northeast Colorado with her husband of over three decades. Visit her online: www.craftcinema.blogspot.com, www.kathleenekovach.blogspot.com, www.KathleenEKovach.com.