Busyness

My husband and I got in a discussion this past weekend about how far "out" into the country we would be willing to move. For example, according to our area, we already live out in the country. What that means around here is that we live on 5 acres and the nearest small town is 5 miles away. The nearest medium/large town is either 20 minutes south or 35 minutes west. Not what a lot of people would consider "living out in the country".

My thoughts were that, as a homeschooling family, it would be difficult to live out where there aren't a lot of people. Let's face it, the less people there are around you, the less likely you are to find at least ONE other family that shares your values and ideals. I have always had other homeschooling families as friends and for support and I think it would make it much more difficult to not have that.

I figured the kids wouldn't want to live too far out there either because they are used to their clubs and activities, etc. Our schedule is usually rather hectic, which is a good thing and a bad thing: I like the social interaction but all the driving makes me nuts.

My husband, on the other hand, wouldn't mind living on some secluded acreage in some relatively unpopulated area. He figures that after we all detoxed from the busyness, we would start to acclimate to the solitude and take the time to learn how to do things like gardening, hunting, hiking and the like. You know, the stuff we don't really have time for now.

Since we've had this conversation, I've been thinking a lot about it. Would it be better to keep up the activity load and just live closer to where all the "action" is, or would it be better to lighten the load and stay out in the country? Of course, God didn't leave me to figure this out alone. To help me along, today I received an email from a group called American Decency which included this story out about busyness (author unknown). Coincidence? I don't really think so.

Give it a read and then think about it for awhile. I think you'll agree with me that it is a pretty accurate picture of life today. Trying to keep up the silence and the prayer time is quite difficult when my mind is racing and my body is trying to keep up. That "out there" country life isn't looking so bad after all.
SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy)

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.

In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church."

"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth."

"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior."

"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:

"Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with their children."

"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."

"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly.."

"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."

"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."

"Invade their driving moments with billboards."

"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "

"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."

"Give them headaches too! "

"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere."

"That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas."

"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about His resurrection and power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."

"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."

"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences. "

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!"

"It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their God or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives..

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

Please pass this on, if you aren't too BUSY!

IF YOU LOVE JESUS, you know what to do...
[Taken from author unknown]

God Bless!