Put Off Procrastination

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Holiday Hash

Holidays· Mindset

27 Nov

Fellow former procrastinators, I hope you enjoyed a blessed Thanksgiving!  We have so much to be grateful for as the Lord changes us into Christlikeness. 

I’m discovering a new thing to be grateful for – holiday hash.  It’s a recipe I would not choose to follow, but the ingredients are all here, the need is pressed upon us, we are hungry, and we must partake.

It is enabling and efficient to focus on one major thing at a time. During this season, I like to set aside other demands so we can focus on Christmas.  That way we can have a measure of relaxation in our celebration. That is not happening this year!

Sometimes we have to continue with a job even if it is inconvenient. Delay ceases to be an option. Action is required now.  That’s where we are.

After starting our office clean out we put off further work.  We’ve had both legitimate reasons (travel, sprained ankle) and feeble excuses (company for dinner, errands to run).  Christmas provides a handy and reasonable rationalization to delay again.  But we are keeping on!

We cleared the dining room table of a paper project, but now we have boxes of electronics and parts for the bathroom re-do in the dining room where we held a business meeting and a Bible study dinner. We have stacks of books in the living room along with an unneeded knee walker and boxes of give away stuff.  The stairs display piles of things to take up or down as we go.  Our daughter’s work has brought her here along with her gear.  My husband has work requirements and responsibility for cleaning out his parents’ house.  I have a new project underway.

In all this we will set up a Christmas tree. It’s a mess.  But it’s progress!

I may not get all the decorations up.  I may not be able to host a coffee, shop as I’d like, or attend some events.  I can pay that price – so I don’t have to keep on paying the price for years to come.  I’m inclined to moan about the time lost in September and October.  I’m inclined to complain about things being stirred up with bits of this and bits of that going on at the same time in the same space.  I’m inclined to pull my hair out in frustration and disappointment.  Instead, by His grace, I’m choosing to enjoy  progress and rejoice in the work the Lord is enabling us to do.

There will be days when we don’t move forward.  At some point we will call a halt to office clean out so we do focus on celebrating.  Meanwhile, I am happy with holiday hash.  Bit by bit we are tasting more of the freedom and function we will have in the future. 

What things must you deal with this holiday season that you wish you could leave off?  Can you ask the Lord to give you a perspective of progress and gratitude?

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2 Comments

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Comments

  1. Wendy says

    November 27, 2017 at 10:39 pm

    The title “Holiday Hash” is not what I was expecting but it is what I needed :). As a recovering perfectionist, I like things to be just so. I am reminded to press on amidst the “interruptions”.

    Reply
  2. Beth says

    December 10, 2017 at 3:49 am

    Great example, Wendy! Thanks! Whether or not we have other “big” projects going at the same time as Christmas, we all have interruptions to our plans. Yes, press on.

    Reply

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BETH STERNE
Welcome! It's great to have you here. I'm a follower of Christ and a learner of new ways. By His grace, I am gaining victory over procrastination. This is where I share struggles I face and lessons I'm learning. Join me and other sisters as we put off procrastination and put on peace.

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“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”

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Carole S.

“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”
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“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”
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"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."

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"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."
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Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise! It has
no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
... you have put off the old man with
his deeds, and have put on the new
man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who
created him.
Colossians 3:9-10

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