Simply put......

I would say I'm a simple guy. The older I get, the more I tend to like the simple life. That does not mean, by the way, that life is simple. However, I find myself enjoying things that 10 years ago I would have taken for granted. Does that sound like you?

A cup of coffee, watching the cows graze, and seeing Kadie play with the kids all remind me that there is such a thing as being too busy. After slowing down and taking the time to think a little deeper on things, I have come to a realization. How we approach the things we don't like to do, affects the way we approach the things we like to do. (Deeper than a post hole, I know.) I am 100% guilty of this deep, yet simple concept. The way I see it, if I try to "get by" with a less than stellar effort in the mundane tasks or the things I really don't want to do, I set the bar for the amount of effort I will give to the things I love to do. In other words, my effort becomes a pattern. One that is hard to break. If I allow myself to slide here, I WILL slide there. I will not be the Christian, husband, father, son, brother, or friend that I should be. I will be a mediocre teacher, farmer, and all around human being. We are creatures of habit. We often return to what is "comfortable" or easy. In turn, we rob ourselves of the joy that God has in store for us in the good times. Colossians 3:23 says, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." In Jeremy's words (laymen's terms), whatever you're doing, get after it like you would in doing something directly for God. If we are honest with ourselves, everything we do should be God-centered. That means we approach everything, even the stuff we don't like to do, with a sense of devotion to giving God our best.

Does this plague you at times like it does me? If the answer is yes, there is hope, but there is also work to be done. I want to challenge you, as I challenge myself, to give God all you have in the things you like to do and in the things that you're not so fond of doing. I believe if you do this, you will find that God will open your heart to a joy in the things you enjoy that you have not yet realized.

See you at the dinner table,

Jeremy

Heavenly Father,

God, I come to thanking you for the abundance of blessings that you bestow upon each of us. You are truly a gracious God. Lord we ask for your forgiveness for getting ourselves bogged down in situations on this earth. Lord, we have failed to honor you in the things that are frankly not our favorite things to do. We realize that you call us to glorify you in ALL that we do. Lord, help us to find the love for you in our hearts that will drive us to serving You in All things. We also realize that as a result of our failures, we have failed to realize joy in its fullness. Lord, we humble ask that You help us to devote every moment, every decision, and every task to your service. In Jesus name, Amen.