It’s Monday.  Today I woke up with a long list of “to do’s” for the week.  I’ve got laundry piled up, a house that seriously needs some attending to; I’ve got bills to pay, groceries to shop for, a dog that needs to be taken to a groomers; we’re right in the middle of a bathroom reno, I’ve got lessons to plan for school, windows to wash, meals to plan and cook…  You get the idea!

And then our Pastor had the audacity on Sunday to add to my long list of “to do’s” by giving us “homework”.  (He’s really into practical application when he preaches his Sunday morning sermons.)  “Wake up every day for the next 40 days and live out Romans 12:1-2.”

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:1-2

For the next 40 days, before I even set my foot on the floor (after a restful night’s slumber), I am to offer my body as a living sacrifice etc. etc. etc.  Easy-peasy.

Or is it?

I woke up this morning, (after a mostly sleepless night) and immediately thought about all the things on my “to do” list and I loudly groaned.  Instead of jumping out of my bed excited by “being all I could be for God”, I was already lamenting how I would get everything on my to-do list done.  Best of intentions went scurrying right out the door, just like the dust bunnies under my bed.  Sadly, I realized that today when I woke up I thought more about getting my laundry done than saying “good morning” to my Savior.  It was more important for me to check my emails than check what God had to say to me in the scriptures.  I spent more time this morning talking to my dog than talking to God.

I haven’t even thought today about how I might bless another’s life this week.  I’m more concerned about getting my vacuuming done.  Ack!

So, I’ve modified my “to do” list.  I’m going to spend some time asking God to prioritize my week.  Chances are His priorities will differ greatly from mine and well…I’m okay with that!

“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

^5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

^9-11Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.”  (Philippians 2:1-11 The Message)

Now if I could just stick with the plan for more than a week.  Forty days seems pretty daunting…*sigh*