![\"coffee-cup-and-computer.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/theyoungpages.com\/jodis_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/02\/coffee-cup-and-computer.thumbnail.jpg\")
I have *no idea* where this\u00a0week went. \u00a0My in-laws are arriving tomorrow night from England, we are having a birthday\/dedication party *at our house* on Sunday, and I have a to-do list a mile long. \u00a0(I should tell you, because you are probably concerned that I am taking the time to blog about this, that today has been a *much* better day, and my to-do list is a lot shorter now, so I am pausing to reflect on what I have learned from all this. )<\/p>\n
I knew all week that I would have today\u00a0– *really* have today because my step-mom has the big girls all day so I can get things done – to clean, shop, do laundry, tie up some loose ends on eBay, and generally scurry around being productive, but I told myself I would *not* leave all of that for today. \u00a0Can I tell you, honestly and truly, what I have spent most of my ‘free’ time on this week? \u00a0Playing on the internet. \u00a0\u00a0Yes, I’m going to call it playing. \u00a0True, some of it has been constructive: I’ve worked some eBay listings and revived my blog. \u00a0Some of it was edifying: I’ve been spending some time here<\/a> and a little here<\/a>. \u00a0Some of it was even for Trevor, who wanted my suggestions for a theme for his new blog<\/a>. \u00a0I could probably build a pretty convincing case for how usefully I spend my time online, but I know (and more importantly, God knows) that *most* of it has been pure leisure. Entertainment. \u00a0Playing.<\/p>\n ‘Well,\u00a0what’s\u00a0wrong\u00a0with\u00a0that?’\u00a0\u00a0you\u00a0might\u00a0ask.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes, I convince myself absolutely nothing. \u00a0My babies are fed and clothed and happily playing\/sleeping\/eating lunch, I’ve managed to plan dinner\/empty the dishwasher\/do a load of laundry… why shouldn’t I have some ‘Me time’? \u00a0\u00a0Well, here’s why. First of all, Ephesians 5 <\/a>says this: “15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” \u00a0Hmmm… the best<\/em> use of my time? \u00a0As with so many things in the Christian walk, this is not a question of “Am I allowed to do this?” \u00a0but rather a question of, “Is this the best thing for me to be doing right now? \u00a0the most pleasing to the Lord?” \u00a0I don’t believe it is a sin for me to spend time on the internet, getting to know other moms and developing relationships and learning about\u00a0how\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0better mom,\u00a0but\u00a0there\u00a0sure\u00a0are\u00a0better<\/em>\u00a0ways\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0spend\u00a0my\u00a0time\u00a0(especially\u00a0when\u00a0my\u00a0home\u00a0is\u00a0messy\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0two-year-old\u00a0is\u00a0holding\u00a0a\u00a0book\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0saying\u00a0very\u00a0urgently,\u00a0“Mommy-read-to-ME,\u00a0read-to-ME,\u00a0read-to-MEEE”).<\/p>\n Even more than that, this passage struck me this week at my Bible study on Thursday morning (if there were a website for that, I’d be linking to it left and right!)<\/p>\n “13 If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly<\/em>; 14 then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (italics mine)<\/p>\n This heart attitude should be present not only in regard to the sabbath, but every day and in everything we do. \u00a0And here’s the clincher: \u00a0I *know* it’s true. \u00a0When\u00a0I\u00a0(occasionally manage to) put\u00a0down\u00a0my\u00a0own\u00a0desires\u00a0and\u00a0focus\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0things\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0and\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0work\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0has\u00a0for\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0do,\u00a0it really does bring about the result God says it will (delighting in Him). \u00a0On the days when I wake up and start my day off in prayer and in His word, I continue to seek after the Lord and use my time well throughout the day. \u00a0But Now\u00a0of\u00a0course,\u00a0the\u00a0flip\u00a0side\u00a0to\u00a0this\u00a0is\u00a0that\u00a0God has created good things for us to enjoy. \u00a0I believe that relationships (yes, even online ones) are a gift from God to be enjoyed and used to His glory, but when anything, *anything*, starts to take His\u00a0rightful place in my heart, it is time to put that thing back in its place.<\/p>\n Now,\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0to-do\u00a0list…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have *no idea* where this\u00a0week went. \u00a0My in-laws are arriving tomorrow night from England, we are having a birthday\/dedication party *at our house* on Sunday, and I have a to-do list a mile long. \u00a0(I should tell you, because … Continue reading some<\/strike> a lot of<\/strike> most days I wake up, and the very first thing I want to do is get my computer on. \u00a0On those days, my longing for leisure time has become an idol in my heart. \u00a0Ugh. \u00a0Conviction\u00a0is\u00a0just\u00a0no\u00a0fun\u00a0sometimes.<\/p>\n