It's only Tuesday?!?

This week already feels like it's been 5 days long and it's only Tuesday. Work was busy as usual and the daily office politics and Legislative Session activities had me depleted in short order. I'm not unhappy, just tired. I feel like I'm on a treadmill. Some days I'm performing well, at other times I'm simply not all together. Even when I'm down, I mustn't forget that I'm truly blessed.

I missed Men's Bible Study for the second week in a row and I'm feeling pretty down about it tonight. I ended up taking care of some things at work after hours and although I could have gotten to church, it was already 6:45 and my kids hadn't eaten yet, my wife was stressed out and I elected to stay home instead of rushing to get to the class. What will my group think? What will the pastor think? Am I not putting God first? All kind of doubt and negative questions and thoughts came rushing in. I know it's not God talking this way to me. It's my flesh and the enemy teaming up, trying to break my spirit down.

Have you ever felt this way; knowing you're blessed in your mind, but you're grieving to some extent in your soul? This could be due to not living God's best plan for your life. Whether it be laziness at work, not spending time with your family or just settling for a mediocre existence, something just isn't right. I struggle with this almost daily.

Often I go through periods of working hard, making a difference and feeling fulfilled. And then there are times (more than I care to admit), where I'm just going through the motions. I'm so reactive and overwhelmed that I end up not accomplishing anything- or very little in comparison to the times when I'm progressing. This is a genuine struggle.

There are certain issues I face in life; anger with my children when they don't do what's right, laziness at work and not managing my resources as well as possible. This could include money, time and abilities. Basically, I know I need to be a good steward with everything I've been given. However, I'm more of a 1 talent guy than a 5 or 10 talent servant. That scares me. If you're honest about every area of your life, it might scare you, too. Are you investing everything you have for the kingdom?

Matthew 25:14-30 (New International Version)

14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Good Night