Hello, I am Shelley Quinn 00:00:31.82\00:00:33.07 and welcome again to Issues and Answers. 00:00:33.08\00:00:35.25 I'm so glad you could be joining us today 00:00:35.26\00:00:37.53 and I think you'll be glad too, 00:00:37.54\00:00:39.18 particularly if you're having difficulty 00:00:39.19\00:00:42.18 prioritizing your life and keeping things all in order. 00:00:42.19\00:00:45.88 We're gonna be talking today about passions and priorities 00:00:45.89\00:00:49.78 and how to really manage your time better. 00:00:49.79\00:00:54.69 Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, 00:00:54.70\00:00:57.33 "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness 00:00:57.34\00:01:01.79 and all these things will be added unto you as well. 00:01:01.80\00:01:05.08 And our guest today knows this from personal experience, 00:01:05.09\00:01:09.07 I'm pleased to welcome back 00:01:09.08\00:01:10.85 Linda Schultz from Spokane, Washington. 00:01:11.05\00:01:13.19 And Linda, I thank you so much, 00:01:13.45\00:01:15.98 we've enjoyed the programs we've been doing with you. 00:01:15.99\00:01:18.42 Thank you. Well, now 00:01:18.43\00:01:19.81 let's kind of recap for those who are not familiar with you, 00:01:19.82\00:01:23.03 if they missed our first couple of programs. 00:01:23.04\00:01:25.62 You are the Vice President for a Ministry 00:01:25.87\00:01:28.39 by the name of Transforming Lives for Christ; 00:01:28.40\00:01:31.10 you're a pastor's wife. 00:01:31.11\00:01:32.41 The mother of two children, a nurse 00:01:32.42\00:01:35.29 and you at one point in your life 00:01:35.70\00:01:38.07 found yourself where it was like, 00:01:38.08\00:01:40.40 ah! Help Lord. 00:01:40.63\00:01:42.26 Tell us about what happened. 00:01:42.31\00:01:44.08 It was overload and essentially what has happened was, 00:01:44.67\00:01:47.92 I had allowed the expectations 00:01:50.40\00:01:52.49 of people to take more control of me, 00:01:52.50\00:01:55.03 then I had allowed my connection with Christ. 00:01:55.36\00:01:58.38 And so consequently what happened 00:01:58.39\00:02:00.47 is it became very imbalanced. Yes. 00:02:00.48\00:02:03.96 And when then happens, of course there is no strength 00:02:03.97\00:02:06.46 because where do we get our strength? 00:02:06.47\00:02:07.67 From Jesus. Amen. And so, 00:02:08.52\00:02:10.13 I was doing a lot of things on my own, 00:02:10.14\00:02:12.30 I was in on dangerous territory. 00:02:12.31\00:02:14.49 And it's dangerous because what happens is, 00:02:14.50\00:02:16.56 when you give there is no receiving, 00:02:16.57\00:02:18.89 because you're not in connection like you should be. 00:02:18.90\00:02:20.86 And you run dry and then anger, 00:02:20.87\00:02:24.05 resentment and depression set in and that's where I was at. 00:02:24.06\00:02:28.85 Now your husband being a pastor, 00:02:28.86\00:02:30.63 when you actually walked into him one day and said, 00:02:30.64\00:02:33.30 okay, this is it, I can't handle it anymore. 00:02:33.31\00:02:36.26 It's either me or the church, you've got to chose. Right. 00:02:36.27\00:02:39.46 And your wise husband looked at you and said, 00:02:39.47\00:02:41.82 if I could arrange for you to go 00:02:41.83\00:02:43.24 to a Christian counselor would you? And you said yes. 00:02:43.25\00:02:46.58 Right. Now, that counselor helped 00:02:47.27\00:02:48.87 turn your life around, tell us a little bit about that. 00:02:48.88\00:02:51.60 What he did was, he removed the busyness of life, 00:02:52.14\00:02:55.26 he had me remove that. 00:02:55.27\00:02:56.28 Because remember that wasn't busyness 00:02:56.29\00:02:58.35 that Christ had put into the life, 00:02:58.36\00:02:59.66 that's the busyness I had put in 00:02:59.67\00:03:01.17 or allowed to be put into my life. 00:03:01.18\00:03:03.69 Removed that and than we start from the ground up, 00:03:03.70\00:03:06.47 building a solid foundation. 00:03:06.48\00:03:08.35 And the solid foundation being built on Christ, our rock. 00:03:08.36\00:03:12.12 And that was beautiful and also along with that 00:03:12.40\00:03:16.45 not only in reconnecting with Jesus but also in resting, 00:03:16.46\00:03:19.68 resting in Jesus and resting physically also. 00:03:19.69\00:03:24.26 So, what would your first advice be to a person, 00:03:24.89\00:03:31.82 who is finding that their life is so fragmented? 00:03:31.83\00:03:35.06 That they don't know what they're gonna do or what, 00:03:37.12\00:03:39.63 where they're gonna put all of the responsibilities 00:03:40.39\00:03:42.82 in their life. 00:03:42.83\00:03:44.00 Probably one of the very first things you need to do is, 00:03:44.01\00:03:47.16 you have to reevaluate where you are in life. 00:03:47.17\00:03:49.78 And the only way I could do and the only way 00:03:49.79\00:03:52.26 I would recommend doing it. Is number one, 00:03:52.27\00:03:54.63 stepping back, another words, getting into the posture of rest 00:03:54.64\00:03:58.54 Steeping back from it and reconnecting with Jesus, 00:03:58.85\00:04:02.20 not expecting, not over expecting of yourself, 00:04:02.21\00:04:05.20 where you're gonna sit-down 00:04:05.21\00:04:06.18 and you're gonna spend an hour a day or whatever. 00:04:06.19\00:04:08.33 But stepping back in rest, 00:04:08.34\00:04:11.08 like I said physically and then opening the word, 00:04:11.09\00:04:14.54 spending small amounts of times, 00:04:14.55\00:04:16.34 getting good Christian literature that help support 00:04:16.35\00:04:19.61 and encourage and build you. 00:04:19.62\00:04:22.28 And then this learning to pray without ceasing which is, 00:04:22.29\00:04:26.60 when you're walking, when you're doing, 00:04:26.61\00:04:28.44 whatever you're doing throughout your life. 00:04:28.45\00:04:29.94 Connecting with Jesus, talk to him about it, 00:04:29.95\00:04:32.25 whatever it is. 00:04:32.26\00:04:33.23 It doesn't have to be that we have to come with a concern. 00:04:33.24\00:04:35.83 But we start connecting with him, 00:04:35.84\00:04:38.15 whether in just those small little things 00:04:38.16\00:04:40.64 that are occurring throughout our lives. 00:04:40.65\00:04:42.29 Because once we have that connection, 00:04:42.30\00:04:44.06 there is a greater desire to spend more time with Him. Amen. 00:04:44.07\00:04:47.02 And then that's where we start getting filled, 00:04:47.31\00:04:49.61 but it's a slow processes. 00:04:49.62\00:04:51.16 So, again don't expect too much of yourselves, 00:04:51.17\00:04:53.89 allow yourselves that time to grow and to be filled. 00:04:53.90\00:04:57.69 You know, something that impressed me 00:04:57.70\00:04:59.15 that you said earlier, 00:04:59.16\00:05:00.61 I think that was a program before that you had mentioned 00:05:00.62\00:05:03.29 when you were emptying your life of all of these busyness. 00:05:03.30\00:05:07.33 And now you were trying to refill your life 00:05:07.34\00:05:11.03 and make that connection. 00:05:11.04\00:05:12.32 When I ask you what was your first step? 00:05:12.36\00:05:14.00 I expected you to say, oh! 00:05:14.01\00:05:15.27 I spend hours in the Bible and hours in prayer, 00:05:15.28\00:05:18.06 reconnecting to the Lord. And what you said was, 00:05:18.07\00:05:20.76 I rested, I will took a walk, 00:05:20.77\00:05:23.66 I thank God for my blessings, I prayed. 00:05:23.67\00:05:26.88 And I think that many of us are very driven 00:05:26.89\00:05:31.97 to you know we think that, 00:05:31.98\00:05:34.18 we've got to constantly be doing something, 00:05:34.19\00:05:36.65 rather than learning to rely totally on God. 00:05:36.66\00:05:39.27 And to step into that rest, so that was a beautiful thing. 00:05:39.28\00:05:42.34 But how that God help you, you know we have there is, 00:05:42.35\00:05:47.30 there is priorities to life. And as you've learned, 00:05:47.31\00:05:50.62 keeping and maintaining that relationship 00:05:50.63\00:05:53.56 with Him is the top priority. 00:05:53.57\00:05:55.92 How did God teach you to gain those priorities back in life, 00:05:55.93\00:06:01.40 because many people they'll know what's important. 00:06:01.41\00:06:05.01 But all we have, we manage our life by, 00:06:05.02\00:06:07.97 its management by crisis. You know, 00:06:07.98\00:06:10.01 the things come up that demand our attention and we seem, 00:06:10.02\00:06:15.04 sometimes what we give to God, 00:06:15.05\00:06:16.66 is nothing but leftovers. How did you come up with this? 00:06:16.67\00:06:21.07 Well, it was really interesting because 00:06:21.43\00:06:23.30 as I connected with Him and as I spent my time with Him. 00:06:24.16\00:06:27.09 Again, it draws me to want to spend more time with Him. 00:06:27.10\00:06:30.98 So, my priorities started, I realized you know in John 00:06:30.99\00:06:34.72 when He calls us to come and to dyeing with Him, 00:06:34.73\00:06:37.30 He knocks at the door, He wants to come in. 00:06:37.31\00:06:39.08 I realized He was calling me to a relationship, 00:06:39.09\00:06:41.94 not just one in which I just talk to him. 00:06:41.95\00:06:45.03 But one in which He wanted to talk with me. Amen. 00:06:45.04\00:06:48.25 And so I lay out my day, I started learning that 00:06:48.26\00:06:51.48 as I lay out my day and I bring that day to Him with all, 00:06:51.49\00:06:55.33 its many things that I have on my played. 00:06:55.34\00:06:57.55 He helps me than to priorities and then 00:06:57.95\00:07:00.76 He promises me the strength to take care of the things, 00:07:00.77\00:07:04.00 He wants me to do that day. Amen. 00:07:04.01\00:07:06.20 Whatever that might be, 00:07:06.21\00:07:07.32 whether you're working in the home, 00:07:07.33\00:07:09.09 outside of the home or both. Amen. 00:07:09.10\00:07:11.77 And then how do you then move 00:07:11.78\00:07:13.99 from priority to priority throughout the day? 00:07:14.00\00:07:16.69 What's interesting is also that. 00:07:17.25\00:07:19.36 Isn't really what you know all of these that I went through 00:07:19.37\00:07:23.09 what I found was it's not about my priorities, 00:07:23.10\00:07:26.76 it's about my priority. Oh! That's good. 00:07:26.77\00:07:29.82 Always about my priority, 00:07:29.83\00:07:31.75 because if we'd listen to one another 00:07:31.76\00:07:33.99 as we're talking about our days. 00:07:34.00\00:07:36.03 It's about the things rather than the person, 00:07:36.04\00:07:40.12 who gives us this strength to do the things. 00:07:40.13\00:07:42.61 And so, I realize that my connection, my eyesight, 00:07:42.62\00:07:46.70 my whole focus was on things rather than on Jesus. 00:07:46.71\00:07:51.90 And one of the things. 00:07:52.32\00:07:53.44 Psalms 107, if you read Psalms 107 through 00:07:53.45\00:07:57.35 I found something very interesting there. 00:07:57.37\00:07:59.57 The children of Israel are crying out 00:07:59.58\00:08:01.83 in their despair to the Lord. 00:08:01.84\00:08:03.58 And this happens three times throughout that chapter, 00:08:03.59\00:08:06.56 each and every time Christ brings them back 00:08:06.57\00:08:09.31 to praise and thanksgiving. In all of those crisis, 00:08:09.32\00:08:14.39 He brings them back to praise and thanksgiving. 00:08:14.40\00:08:16.37 And Christ was calling me back to be pray, 00:08:16.38\00:08:19.68 to praise and thanksgiving for who He is. 00:08:19.69\00:08:22.82 But also for the blessings He does give me day by day. 00:08:22.83\00:08:26.02 And that, doing that really changes our reflection inside. 00:08:26.03\00:08:31.73 So, did you find as the Lord 00:08:32.00\00:08:34.02 was reordering your priorities, that He changed your passions? 00:08:34.03\00:08:37.72 Absolutely, and that was beautiful. 00:08:37.90\00:08:40.41 And when He changed my passions, it was a, 00:08:41.32\00:08:44.56 I should say it this way some of my passions were changed, 00:08:44.57\00:08:48.40 some of them were not changed but they regained new, 00:08:48.41\00:08:52.55 what I was gonna say? Vitality. Yes, 00:08:55.30\00:08:57.16 new vitality, because now behind that passion 00:08:57.17\00:09:01.11 comes Jesus strength, Jesus power. 00:09:01.12\00:09:04.12 And I am going thank you Lord and I have a sense 00:09:04.45\00:09:08.00 that that's exactly what God's wants me to do. 00:09:08.01\00:09:10.15 And you know when you're on the path with the Lord, 00:09:10.16\00:09:12.03 there is nothing more joyous. Absolutely. 00:09:12.04\00:09:14.72 And you know that, no matter what needs you, 00:09:14.73\00:09:17.30 He's there to help you walk through it around it or over it. 00:09:17.31\00:09:20.75 And that's how our days, 00:09:21.27\00:09:23.56 that's what he offers to us with our days. 00:09:23.57\00:09:25.66 You know, I have this place that, 00:09:26.44\00:09:30.14 it's for me if I don't start my day off with an hour in prayer. 00:09:31.23\00:09:35.92 Now, I pray all through the day, but if I don't comes sit 00:09:35.93\00:09:40.06 at his feet in the morning impress Him by myself. 00:09:40.07\00:09:43.33 This is not with my husband 00:09:43.34\00:09:44.82 or you know share devotional time. 00:09:44.83\00:09:47.08 If I don't do that and sit at his feet and listen, 00:09:47.09\00:09:50.51 than the rest of my day is just usually a little bit 00:09:50.93\00:09:55.20 up side down. Now, how do you, 00:09:55.21\00:09:57.67 how would you recommend someone 00:09:57.68\00:10:00.12 or has God led you in prioritizing your life? 00:10:00.13\00:10:02.96 Because I know right now, 00:10:02.97\00:10:03.94 I've got a few priorities out of order. 00:10:03.95\00:10:05.96 What do you feel is its God first no question; 00:10:05.97\00:10:10.51 do you think its self next before your family? 00:10:10.52\00:10:14.05 Well, you know we're told that if we don't love, 00:10:14.91\00:10:17.76 that we need to love Christ supremely. 00:10:17.77\00:10:19.92 But if we don't have a love for ourselves, 00:10:20.61\00:10:23.03 and I say that through the biblical approach 00:10:23.04\00:10:25.22 which is that love comes through what God creates us, 00:10:25.23\00:10:28.02 the value He is placed on us. 00:10:28.03\00:10:29.95 Then we can't give to someone else, so if we, 00:10:30.55\00:10:33.68 ourselves are not filled then we don't have 00:10:33.69\00:10:37.28 anything to give. 00:10:37.29\00:10:38.26 So, when we filled ourselves with Christ, 00:10:38.70\00:10:41.14 then at that point in time we, ourselves are renewed. 00:10:41.15\00:10:45.51 And we're able to give to someone else. 00:10:45.52\00:10:48.31 And would you agree that possibly, it's that healthy love 00:10:48.85\00:10:54.11 we're talking about a selfish love itself. No. 00:10:54.12\00:10:56.44 But that healthy love itself would be recognizing, 00:10:56.45\00:11:00.03 who you are in Christ? Yes. 00:11:00.04\00:11:02.32 And also that since you are the living temple of God 00:11:02.33\00:11:05.48 that you need to take care of your body. 00:11:05.49\00:11:07.25 Because that's one area I find that most people 00:11:07.26\00:11:11.26 who are really starve for time and we all are nowadays. 00:11:11.61\00:11:15.78 Its seems that taking care of ourselves physically, 00:11:15.79\00:11:20.17 eating properly, drinking plenty of water, 00:11:20.18\00:11:22.93 getting enough rest and even exercise 00:11:22.94\00:11:25.53 particularly is something that we can make a very low priority. 00:11:25.54\00:11:29.08 And God even spoke to you in your life 00:11:29.09\00:11:31.65 through kind of a threatening situation, didn't he? Yes, 00:11:31.66\00:11:35.65 yes my bone density test had came back, 00:11:35.66\00:11:38.51 come back and they were stating that 00:11:38.52\00:11:41.14 they were gonna need me to start on medication for it. 00:11:41.15\00:11:43.99 So, I was new, it's called Osteopenia, 00:11:44.93\00:11:47.92 it was first day just before we moved on to Osteo, 00:11:47.93\00:11:51.31 Osteoporosis. But interestingly enough, 00:11:53.01\00:11:55.61 so I had to get into an educate, I needed to get into either, 00:11:56.83\00:12:00.16 I need to go on medication 00:12:00.17\00:12:01.41 or need to get into an exercise program. 00:12:01.42\00:12:03.21 The beauty was, I start into an exercise program 00:12:03.22\00:12:07.24 and I've actually improved my bone density as a result. 00:12:07.25\00:12:10.31 Because it was weight-bearing. 00:12:10.32\00:12:11.50 And it was like, to me it was double fold I read, 00:12:11.93\00:12:15.16 reap the benefits of the exercise program. 00:12:15.17\00:12:16.93 And at the same time God said see this is what, 00:12:16.94\00:12:20.44 this is the reason why it so important for you, 00:12:20.45\00:12:22.96 your body is healthy, you feel better, 00:12:22.97\00:12:25.43 you're gonna live longer. 00:12:25.44\00:12:26.70 There is more time then to do the work that needs to be done. 00:12:26.71\00:12:30.56 And there is more time to enjoy life. 00:12:30.57\00:12:32.80 And do you find you have more energy, 00:12:32.81\00:12:34.70 because now you're exercising. Yes, absolutely much more energy 00:12:34.71\00:12:38.12 And I find that the same true, see with the exercise 00:12:38.56\00:12:41.88 it gives us more energy for our physical life. 00:12:41.89\00:12:44.72 With the connection with Christ, 00:12:44.73\00:12:46.15 it give us more energy for our spiritual life. Amen. 00:12:46.16\00:12:48.92 With the food that we take in, again our bodies are renewed. 00:12:49.36\00:12:53.33 So, that we can go out 00:12:53.34\00:12:54.45 and we can do what we need to do. 00:12:54.46\00:12:55.99 What we're doing when we, 00:12:56.00\00:12:57.45 when we do not pay attention to these different areas, 00:12:58.65\00:13:01.78 is we are tearing our bodies down. 00:13:01.79\00:13:03.59 And then they can't be used like God would have them to use. 00:13:03.60\00:13:07.66 So, the quality of life goes down 00:13:07.67\00:13:09.21 and so does the quantity of life. 00:13:09.22\00:13:11.09 And you know, when you were telling us your story earlier, 00:13:11.10\00:13:13.24 you're sharing your personal testimony. 00:13:13.25\00:13:15.44 It was obvious that, 00:13:15.45\00:13:17.44 you had your priorities out of wack completely, 00:13:17.45\00:13:20.79 because you weren't having that 00:13:20.80\00:13:22.51 personal connection with the Lord. Right. 00:13:22.52\00:13:24.09 And you really weren't taking care of yourselves, 00:13:24.10\00:13:25.91 because you were being so spent by others, 00:13:25.92\00:13:29.54 as you've said the unmanaged time. 00:13:29.55\00:13:32.26 Because, it wasn't under the control of the Lord. 00:13:32.27\00:13:34.66 It was being dominated by everyone else 00:13:34.67\00:13:37.12 and you were just finding yourself 00:13:37.13\00:13:39.73 completely empty at the end of the day. 00:13:39.74\00:13:41.88 Exactly. And at the beginning 00:13:42.27\00:13:43.39 of the day actually. Exactly. Right. 00:13:43.40\00:13:45.21 I didn't matter, you know I'd like to share something 00:13:45.22\00:13:47.93 because I think it, I think this particular quote 00:13:47.94\00:13:50.78 that I'm gonna share, tells, is an excellent example 00:13:50.79\00:13:54.20 of "Where We Are In Our Life." 00:13:54.21\00:13:55.94 Phil Callaway summarizes to dilemma in our lives, he says 00:13:56.02\00:14:00.64 we have bigger houses and smaller families, 00:14:00.65\00:14:03.17 more money and less time. 00:14:03.18\00:14:05.16 We buy more things and enjoy them less, 00:14:05.17\00:14:07.64 we've added years to our lives, 00:14:07.65\00:14:09.26 but drained the life from our years. 00:14:09.27\00:14:11.23 We talk too much, but when do we listen. 00:14:11.24\00:14:13.82 We've sacrific better for bigger, 00:14:13.83\00:14:16.16 peace for noise, E-mail for communication. 00:14:16.17\00:14:18.66 We have more hype, but less hope. 00:14:18.67\00:14:21.28 More conveniences, but less time. 00:14:21.29\00:14:23.64 More counselors and more problems. 00:14:23.65\00:14:26.18 We have wider roads and fewer carpools. 00:14:26.19\00:14:28.55 More information, but less knowledge. 00:14:28.56\00:14:30.64 More choices, but less wisdom. 00:14:30.65\00:14:33.18 Taller buildings and shorter fuses. 00:14:33.19\00:14:35.70 We drink too much; drive too fast, 00:14:35.71\00:14:37.62 laugh too little and sleep a whole lot less than we should. 00:14:37.63\00:14:40.94 We've doubled our incomes and tripled our divorce rates. 00:14:40.95\00:14:44.45 We've built beautiful houses 00:14:44.46\00:14:45.84 and turned them into broken homes. 00:14:45.85\00:14:48.15 We're stealing time from those who love us 00:14:48.16\00:14:50.40 and giving it to those who don't. 00:14:50.41\00:14:52.78 Our schedules are full, but our lives are empty. 00:14:52.79\00:14:56.78 Oh, wow! That is powerful. 00:14:56.79\00:14:58.68 It is very powerful. And accurate assessment of 00:14:58.69\00:15:01.62 what is going on in our world today. Completely. 00:15:01.63\00:15:04.99 So, in your life then as you were getting 00:15:05.00\00:15:09.10 rid off the busyness of life. And now, and we discussed 00:15:09.11\00:15:13.01 setting boundaries and having balance in our life. 00:15:13.02\00:15:17.10 And that came through understanding priorities. 00:15:17.11\00:15:20.50 So, it was God first. Yes. Them yourselves 00:15:20.51\00:15:24.32 in yourselves healthy again and then your family 00:15:24.33\00:15:27.36 I assumed before you church and work. Absolutely. 00:15:27.37\00:15:29.87 So, when you went to the Lord each morning 00:15:29.88\00:15:32.54 and as you lay the day on the altar, 00:15:32.55\00:15:34.12 coming before him and you're saying okay Lord. 00:15:34.13\00:15:36.05 Here are my plans for the day, you said in your word 00:15:36.06\00:15:38.59 commit your plans unto you and you cause them to succeed. 00:15:38.60\00:15:41.23 But Lord, are these your plans for my day. 00:15:41.24\00:15:44.09 Right. As you allowed Him to prioritize 00:15:44.10\00:15:48.68 the things you thought, you needed to get done. 00:15:48.69\00:15:51.17 Did you find God who was giving you assignments? 00:15:51.18\00:15:54.53 Yes, He will give an assignment, that's what interesting. 00:15:54.54\00:15:57.87 Some days what I found is, what I had on my plate 00:15:57.88\00:16:01.69 I didn't feel any necessary change 00:16:01.70\00:16:05.43 in what I've gotten down, my day kind of went routinely 00:16:05.44\00:16:07.93 like I would think and.. But other days 00:16:07.94\00:16:10.66 He would send people into my lives, 00:16:10.67\00:16:13.16 into my life that I had not, that were in need. 00:16:13.17\00:16:17.52 And what I found was very interesting is? 00:16:17.53\00:16:19.44 When you've gone through an experience, 00:16:19.45\00:16:21.77 God usually will send you people. Absolutely. 00:16:21.78\00:16:24.95 That also is going through what? This very similar experience, 00:16:24.96\00:16:29.03 so that you can be have encouragement. 00:16:29.04\00:16:31.73 And that I find, that's one of the blessings 00:16:31.74\00:16:34.91 of going through trail like that is knowing that He turns around 00:16:34.92\00:16:39.03 and He makes that ministry experience. 00:16:39.04\00:16:41.25 Exactly. And then we're able to give back 00:16:41.26\00:16:44.19 and when we give back we ourselves are strengthened. 00:16:44.20\00:16:47.07 And so, yes there were many times when I had people 00:16:47.08\00:16:50.67 they were totally unaware of the experience 00:16:50.68\00:16:52.57 I had gone through. And God would place them 00:16:52.58\00:16:55.09 in my life, because they were going through 00:16:55.10\00:16:57.21 a similar situation and they needed encouragement, 00:16:57.22\00:16:59.62 they needed pryer and they needed to know 00:16:59.63\00:17:02.02 that there was a rainbow at the end. 00:17:02.03\00:17:04.13 Exactly, and this is something that, 00:17:04.14\00:17:06.75 the Bible tell us that God comforts us 00:17:06.76\00:17:08.89 so that we can comfort 00:17:08.90\00:17:09.87 others with the same comforts. Yes, absolutely. 00:17:09.88\00:17:12.18 That He is giving to us in Second Corinthians chapter 1. 00:17:12.19\00:17:15.62 So, as now your passions begun to change, 00:17:15.63\00:17:18.68 because I know you're a passionate 00:17:18.69\00:17:19.84 about exercise. You get up everything, 00:17:19.85\00:17:22.42 the first thing every morning after your devotionals 00:17:22.43\00:17:24.58 you go out and you exercise. Well, three times a week 00:17:24.59\00:17:28.51 and then I' tried to do. Yes, at the weight bear 00:17:28.52\00:17:31.65 and then I try to do some on the treadmill 00:17:31.66\00:17:33.49 and I admit it's a struggle. Now, the ones that I, 00:17:33.50\00:17:37.41 I tend to know where my weakness is which is, 00:17:37.42\00:17:40.01 I know that it is better for me to schedule something. 00:17:40.02\00:17:43.78 So, I have a trainer that I go to 00:17:43.79\00:17:45.34 and I workout with that person. Because I know then 00:17:45.35\00:17:47.45 I'm responsible and I'm accountable and that's good. 00:17:47.46\00:17:50.43 So, I put that component in for myself. 00:17:50.44\00:17:53.05 But then I also have my own personal time 00:17:53.06\00:17:55.67 than I hit the treadmill. Usually at night I'm trying too, 00:17:55.68\00:17:58.08 but there is a struggle as we all know 00:17:58.09\00:18:00.39 where things get out of balance again. 00:18:00.40\00:18:02.21 And we have to go before the Lord say, 00:18:02.22\00:18:03.66 Lord I know I'm out of balance here, 00:18:03.67\00:18:06.19 help me find the time. Because you know, 00:18:06.20\00:18:08.68 it's important. That's the thing is when you see 00:18:08.69\00:18:10.78 the imbalance and you know it's not present. 00:18:10.79\00:18:12.71 You can go to the Lord and ask Him for it. 00:18:12.72\00:18:14.98 Yes. I still remember, that I have a friend of mine, 00:18:14.99\00:18:18.41 she says you know I had three little children 00:18:18.42\00:18:21.09 they were all preschool ages. And she says, 00:18:21.10\00:18:23.84 I'd there was no time for my devotion 00:18:23.85\00:18:27.11 and she says I went to the Lord and I said Lord 00:18:27.12\00:18:28.95 if you were awake me up an hour before I usually get up. 00:18:28.96\00:18:32.49 I will spend that time with you; do you know He was faithful? 00:18:32.50\00:18:36.12 Its' so amazing that you said that, 00:18:36.13\00:18:37.97 because I found that recently my schedule was becoming 00:18:37.98\00:18:41.36 so busy and I was cheating the Lord in the time 00:18:41.37\00:18:45.55 and I don't think cheating the Lord I was cheating myself. 00:18:45.56\00:18:48.13 Because and so I just told the Lord, 00:18:48.14\00:18:50.44 I need that time with you, I miss you, 00:18:50.45\00:18:53.08 I miss that intimacy of that hour of pressing into you. 00:18:53.09\00:18:56.82 So, I said Lord you have my permission 00:18:56.83\00:18:58.66 to get me up earlier and He's been getting me up at 4:30, 00:18:58.67\00:19:01.78 I mean it's just. And I'm not, usually one who awakes up 00:19:01.79\00:19:04.37 without the alarms, so He gets me up at 4:30 00:19:04.38\00:19:06.85 every morning. So, that I can really enjoy 00:19:06.86\00:19:08.82 that time with Him. Praise the Lord. 00:19:08.83\00:19:10.63 Amen, it makes a big difference. It does. 00:19:10.64\00:19:12.55 And sometimes people think, well you need to sleep 00:19:12.56\00:19:15.53 but He compensates somehow for that. Yes. 00:19:15.54\00:19:18.57 Now, in discovering these passions 00:19:18.58\00:19:22.84 or rediscovering your passions, what would you say to someone 00:19:22.85\00:19:27.37 and if we're looking at prioritizing things? 00:19:27.38\00:19:30.34 Who, you've got like, I have a list, 00:19:30.35\00:19:34.62 and I've got a list of many pages of priority projects. 00:19:34.63\00:19:40.39 It's like you know how they say you should do A's? 00:19:40.40\00:19:42.92 Right. I've got so many A's, I've got three pages 00:19:42.93\00:19:46.01 worth of A's that need to be done. 00:19:46.02\00:19:47.90 So, I know I'm over committed, but how do you, 00:19:47.91\00:19:52.10 if you don't have a deadline on some of those projects 00:19:52.11\00:19:55.25 in particular? What would you say to someone, 00:19:55.26\00:19:58.04 who, you know you've got all of these 00:19:58.05\00:19:59.63 important things to do. And yet since 00:19:59.64\00:20:02.53 they are not deadline, you've got all of these 00:20:02.54\00:20:04.34 little things coming up through the day. 00:20:04.35\00:20:05.83 How would you manage your time there? 00:20:05.84\00:20:08.95 Well, I always, first of all I know that 00:20:08.96\00:20:13.54 it is very, very difficult to make a call on lot things, 00:20:13.55\00:20:16.74 when you've got them in front of you. 00:20:16.75\00:20:19.08 But what I do is, I continually as I'm going along, 00:20:19.09\00:20:23.02 I having committed my day to the Lord, 00:20:23.03\00:20:26.29 I pick out what I, in the sermon and the wisdom 00:20:26.30\00:20:32.55 that he's giving me. As I'm looking at my schedule 00:20:32.56\00:20:34.28 I try to choose wisely what I know 00:20:34.29\00:20:36.68 that I should be doing. And then I ask Him Lord 00:20:36.69\00:20:39.86 if it's not or you want me to go to some place else let me know. 00:20:39.87\00:20:43.48 But I do the best I can to priorities 00:20:43.49\00:20:45.59 with what I have then having submitted to Him 00:20:45.60\00:20:48.45 and put my day and myself on the alter, 00:20:48.46\00:20:51.85 I call at the alter because it's where I dedicate 00:20:51.86\00:20:55.08 myself back to Jesus and surrender my whole life 00:20:55.09\00:20:58.32 saying it's all yours Lord. And then I walk forward 00:20:58.33\00:21:02.26 in faith knowing, He can close doors 00:21:02.27\00:21:05.01 and He can open doors. 00:21:05.02\00:21:06.13 And I leave that to each individual soul 00:21:07.09\00:21:09.11 because I know that God works 00:21:09.15\00:21:10.98 with each one of us differently. Because He's agenda 00:21:10.99\00:21:14.87 for each one of us is unique which I love. 00:21:14.88\00:21:17.42 And how do you keep the little, the Bible we called 00:21:17.43\00:21:20.15 it the little foxes that spoil the vines. 00:21:20.16\00:21:22.02 So, you're working, you have that important project, 00:21:22.03\00:21:24.38 but it really doesn't have a deadline. 00:21:24.39\00:21:26.13 And all of sudden all these little issues start coming up 00:21:26.14\00:21:29.10 and they've got I mean their little crisis 00:21:29.11\00:21:33.13 that need your attention, how do you protect that time 00:21:33.14\00:21:37.33 on the important projects so that you're not always 00:21:37.34\00:21:39.94 working with the little things that spoil? 00:21:39.95\00:21:42.01 Well, it's interesting because sometimes we don't need to go 00:21:42.02\00:21:46.15 where the emergencies are. Sometimes those needs to be 00:21:46.16\00:21:49.51 set aside and again there is where I would offer prepare 00:21:49.52\00:21:52.89 and say Lord you see what's happening here. 00:21:52.90\00:21:54.63 Is this important enough that I step aside 00:21:54.64\00:21:58.14 from where I am to go over to treat this. 00:21:58.15\00:22:02.23 Sometimes I think He will do that, 00:22:02.24\00:22:03.97 He'll say yes I need to hear. But again I would say, 00:22:03.98\00:22:07.55 we're not gonna know His voice if we are not connected. Amen. 00:22:07.56\00:22:11.22 So, we have to stay connected and if we hear His voice, 00:22:11.23\00:22:14.85 yes I need you hear, then we obey and we go. 00:22:14.86\00:22:19.26 If not we continue and we ask that the Lord provide 00:22:19.27\00:22:23.51 what is needed to address the situation. 00:22:23.52\00:22:26.40 And it could be that it's gonna be address latter by us 00:22:26.41\00:22:28.74 or it could be that somebody else 00:22:28.75\00:22:30.18 is to play a role in that. So, what, it sounds like 00:22:30.19\00:22:33.29 that you're saying Linda, is that throughout the day 00:22:33.30\00:22:36.49 you are really keeping your mind 00:22:36.50\00:22:38.49 steadfastly fixed on the Lord. Absolutely. 00:22:38.50\00:22:40.68 And you're trusting on Him to lead you, guide you, 00:22:40.69\00:22:43.26 and direct you. And as Isaiah 26 verse 3 says: 00:22:43.27\00:22:46.62 When your mind is steadfastly fixed on Him, you trust in Him. 00:22:46.63\00:22:49.50 He keeps you in that perfect peace. 00:22:49.89\00:22:51.90 Yes. So, as all of these things come up through the day, 00:22:52.01\00:22:56.14 you're not letting the chaos destroy 00:22:56.15\00:22:59.18 your peace, is that right? That's correct, 00:22:59.19\00:23:00.94 and that is such an important part. 00:23:00.95\00:23:03.06 Because that's what the world is chaos, 00:23:03.07\00:23:05.73 the world is chaos. And that's the last read 00:23:05.74\00:23:09.76 you know we were, we were broken world. Yes. 00:23:09.77\00:23:12.84 That's the last place we want to go to have, 00:23:12.85\00:23:17.01 to find our priorities. We don't want that interfering, 00:23:17.02\00:23:21.64 we want Christ to help us to understand 00:23:21.65\00:23:24.32 what He wants us to do with chaos 00:23:24.33\00:23:25.89 and what role do we play in that. 00:23:25.90\00:23:28.53 And that's where we do, we have to that 00:23:28.54\00:23:30.83 praying and ceasing that connection. 00:23:31.75\00:23:33.12 And I know what its' like, when I don't keep that connection. 00:23:33.16\00:23:37.34 I know what is like when I fall helpless and I realize 00:23:37.35\00:23:40.52 that I have a decision to make and I have no idea 00:23:40.53\00:23:43.10 where to go with that decision. Amen. Because I have not been 00:23:43.11\00:23:46.10 connected that day and it's interesting 00:23:46.11\00:23:47.88 it doesn't take, it's not something 00:23:47.89\00:23:51.05 that you can go without for 30 days and then I feel it, 00:23:51.06\00:23:55.04 if I haven't had it that day. Exactly. I know it that day. 00:23:55.05\00:23:57.67 Exactly, but now what would you say to maybe 00:23:57.68\00:24:00.49 someone who is listening to this program right now. 00:24:00.50\00:24:04.35 Who, when we talk about hearing the Lord's voice, 00:24:04.36\00:24:07.02 the still small voice of the Lord. 00:24:07.03\00:24:08.80 Where they were saying, you know, I don't know 00:24:08.81\00:24:11.11 that I trust myself enough to know if it's God's voice 00:24:11.12\00:24:14.59 or someone else's voice. How would you counsel 00:24:14.60\00:24:18.54 if say someone came to you and maybe 00:24:18.55\00:24:20.36 they're a new Christian and their life is just 00:24:20.37\00:24:23.24 out of order and you, they will coming to you, 00:24:23.25\00:24:26.64 how would you counsel with them to get started on prioritizing. 00:24:26.65\00:24:32.78 Probably the first thing I would do is, 00:24:32.79\00:24:34.77 I would bring them to Jesus and I would say number one. 00:24:34.78\00:24:39.83 I would want to pray for them, I would want to pray 00:24:39.84\00:24:42.58 that the peace that the Holy Spirit 00:24:42.59\00:24:44.71 and Jesus Christ can bring into their life would be present. 00:24:44.72\00:24:48.88 Because we're told in John 10:27: 00:24:48.89\00:24:52.64 "My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me" 00:24:52.65\00:24:55.51 and in Psalm it says: "I will instruct you 00:24:55.52\00:24:58.19 and teach you in the way which you should go; 00:24:58.20\00:25:00.26 I will guide you with my eye." Amen. 00:25:00.27\00:25:03.41 So, I would bring them first to Jesus, 00:25:03.42\00:25:05.89 Jesus who is, is the lover of our soul, 00:25:05.90\00:25:10.61 He comforts us, He provides the rest, 00:25:10.62\00:25:12.73 He give us the peace and then He give us direction. 00:25:12.74\00:25:16.54 I so appreciate then I know in Palms 143:10 00:25:16.55\00:25:19.94 the Palms it says: "Teach me you will, 00:25:19.95\00:25:21.96 lead me by your good spirit. Yes. 00:25:21.97\00:25:24.04 So, it's one of those things that getting up in the morning 00:25:24.05\00:25:26.57 and just going to the Lord and say 00:25:26.58\00:25:28.55 Lord my life's a mess, everything is out. That's right. 00:25:28.56\00:25:32.16 You know, all of my priorities are wrong. 00:25:32.17\00:25:34.32 Teach me your will, lead me by your spirit, 00:25:34.33\00:25:37.17 I'm wanting to be leave by Him. Right? And the beauty is, 00:25:37.18\00:25:40.75 he leads you, he leads you in His timing, 00:25:40.76\00:25:43.85 He understand your heart, 00:25:43.86\00:25:45.26 He understand how burden you are, 00:25:45.27\00:25:46.61 He understand how much you can take 00:25:46.62\00:25:48.48 and where you are going. And I guess the first thing 00:25:48.49\00:25:51.39 as you said in of our earlier programs. 00:25:51.40\00:25:54.16 The first thing if you find that your life is totally chaotic 00:25:54.17\00:25:59.66 and maybe you well over booked and over schedule. 00:25:59.67\00:26:03.51 The first thing to do is how the Lord led you 00:26:03.52\00:26:06.07 and that is to get rid of all the busyness in your life, 00:26:06.08\00:26:09.60 step back for awhile, maybe take week offer, 00:26:09.61\00:26:13.47 however long it takes to kind of empty of all these commitments 00:26:13.48\00:26:18.10 and schedules and then connect with Him, 00:26:18.11\00:26:21.54 get rested and then start adding back 00:26:21.55\00:26:25.96 what is other top priorities in your schedule. 00:26:25.97\00:26:28.96 That's correct, and it's the easiest way to put 00:26:28.97\00:26:33.62 organization and put prospective back into your life. 00:26:33.63\00:26:36.79 But we have to slow down stop and rest. 00:26:36.80\00:26:40.15 In fact I love this quote it says: 00:26:40.16\00:26:41.90 "Peace cannot be had in a searching, 00:26:41.91\00:26:43.44 but in the resting. Resting in Jesus and waiting for Him." 00:26:43.45\00:26:47.60 Amen. And explain for our listeners once again 00:26:47.61\00:26:52.14 what you mean, when you're talking 00:26:52.15\00:26:53.78 about resting in Jesus? I like to think of it 00:26:53.79\00:26:57.14 like my friend does, she says, I come to Jesus 00:26:57.15\00:26:59.84 and I can just sense myself with my head on His chest 00:26:59.85\00:27:03.59 and I'm just there beside Him. And she says you know the longer 00:27:03.60\00:27:07.92 I sit there beside Him, I realize she said 00:27:07.93\00:27:10.25 as I'm listening that His heartbeat and mine are one. 00:27:10.26\00:27:13.19 That's beautiful, that's really beautiful. 00:27:13.20\00:27:15.51 And it is, as we come to Jesus we don't have 00:27:15.52\00:27:18.18 to be full of words, He knows our heart, 00:27:18.19\00:27:20.68 we don't have to be full of our own even agenda, 00:27:20.69\00:27:23.90 we can just come to Him say Lord you understand 00:27:23.91\00:27:26.78 I don't even know how to verbalize it. 00:27:26.79\00:27:28.33 Amen. But you I know will take care of me, 00:27:28.34\00:27:31.82 you understand me and you'll direct me. 00:27:31.83\00:27:34.10 Amen, Linda thanks you so much. 00:27:34.11\00:27:36.00 I'm sorry our time is already gone, 00:27:36.01\00:27:37.75 but I do hope that you have enjoy this program 00:27:37.76\00:27:41.24 and maybe learned something about passions 00:27:41.25\00:27:44.03 and priorities and how to get them back in order. 00:27:44.04\00:27:46.52 Until next time, may the grace 00:27:46.53\00:27:49.01 of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father 00:27:49.02\00:27:51.24 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 00:27:51.25\00:27:53.45 be with you. Thank you. 00:27:53.46\00:27:55.01