Breathing Room Week 1

Mariginisthespacebetweenthestuffthatmakesthestuffworthwhile. Margin is the space between the stuff that makes the stuff worthwhile. Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. Psalm 39:4 (NLT) We cannot manage time; we can only manage ourselves within the boundaries of time we have been given. The quickest way for something important to lose it's significance, is to eliminate the space around it. Margin is the distance between where we are and our limits. Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)  3 Roadblocks to Living with Margin Our culture celebrates BUSYNESS. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) "Speed is the single greatest threat to a healthy life." – Brady Boyd (From his book, Addicted to Busy) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)  A BUSY life does not equate a FULL life.  We mistake MOVEMENT for forward PROGRESS Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.  In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalm 127:1-2 (NIV) Be still, and know that I am God... Psalm 46:10 (NIV) We are doing TOO MUCH So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Ephesians 5:15-17(NLT) Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:15-17(NLT) The tension between "Be careful" and "Make the most of every opportunity" is managed in the margin. 3 Ways to Develop a Life-style of Margin Be intentional with your time. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12(NIV) Start Uncomplicating your life. I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don't complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple—in marriage, grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things—your daily routines of shopping, and so on.  1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (MSG) Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (MSG) For every thing you give your time to, something else is being sacrificed. Make time with Jesus your priority  As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. Luke 10:38-42 (NIV) But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Luke 10:38-42 (NIV) "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42 (NIV) The easiest way to discover margin, is to spend TIME with the One who created TIME.