It's Important

​Love you all, praying for you. 
 
I just love God’s Word.  It reveals excellence.  Have you ever heard a quote and noticed something…  It’s not true!  Or it leads you in a direction, that is unwise?  It suggests a false conclusion, and if you are not careful, it could plant something within you that could harm you?   Someone once said, “If a cluttered desk reveals a cluttered mind, what does an empty desk reveal?”  Clever play on words, just misleading, not a quote to base your life on.  That is not something to aspire to, a cluttered desk, or a cluttered mind.  And no, an empty desk does not reveal an empty mind, but a sound one...  One that understands the difference between the wise, and the sluggard, the effective, and the ineffective, the efficient and the unproductive.  When I was young, I had access to an executive who had international responsibility.  He was highly effective, in demand as a public speaker, and mentor – because His life demonstrated excellence in everything He did.  I noticed something when entering his office suite at the company’s headquarters.  What I noticed immediately was that His office and that of his secretary was spotless, at all times, whether they were there or not.  His large mahogany desk was clutter-free, and so was hers.  The only thing on it – if they were in their office, was the project they were working on.  And after hours when no one was there – it looked like an office furniture showroom.  He only worked on what was in front of him, finished it, put it away, and then took out his sole focus next.  One of the most effective and well-respected individuals I knew.  This was just an observation, but confirmed through a conversation I had one time with his long-time executive assistant, who explained to me what He did, and why, and that He expected the same from her.  It was one of the lessons God used in my life to teach me.  Today, if you come to my office, you’ll see nothing on my desk, but my laptop, and Bose Speaker…  It’s ready for the next thing God tells me to do.  Someone said, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”  That’s not in the Bible, but may be true.  God’s word does say, He is a God of order, and He has ordained order for things.  Have you ever taken a vacation in the mountains or the dessert, and come across a big hammer, or a huge coffee mug that said “The Big Guy” on it? From God just leaving his tools laying around – from creating the world?  Never.   If you drive east of Columbus – in the middle of nowhere, you will see an office building reaching into the sky.  Five or more stories if I remember, in the exact replica of a Longaberger Basket – five stories of office building with windows inserted within the weave with the handle stretching above it as high as the building itself is tall.  It gets your attention, unique, kinda weird.  It’s what I would imagine the size of God’s tools would be… if He left one laying around – but I’ve never seen one.  God always cleans up after himself.  It’s part of the character of excellence.  Your room, your house, your car, your office, reflect your life.  Rarely do people live in chaos in one area, but faithfulness and excellence in the rest.  It’s hard to rise above your Achilles heel.  It’s always revealing.  What’s the secret to an ordered life?  Daily, just a few minutes, finish this thing completely - before going onto the next thing.   Put it away, before you do anything else, it only takes a minute, but a habit.  Why bother?  Because what God has entrusted you with, reflects Him, and reflects you.   Why can’t people rise above that Achilles heel in their life?  Because they believe it doesn’t matter, when it really does.  If you don’t value something, you won’t do it.  God says the wise man treasures his possessions.  That doesn’t mean the wise are materialistic, it just means they’re faithful.  They know who the owner is, and they want to honor Him.  Praying that you will be faithful, and make whatever daily changes are necessary.  “Habits prevail where motivation fails.”  Not in the Bible, but very true.  If you have the habits of excellence, you are free to pursue what God has for you today, uncluttered, unhindered, unrestricted.  Just faithful!
 
Love you all,
dad