First things first

So, most people know that I'm an organized worker. My days consist of marking things off my list. It makes me feel like I've accomplished something. Although, these days, I don't have much choice. My memory isn't what it used to be and I'm not good at multitasking. I'm one of those "one thing at a time" folks.

But truth be told, I'm not near as organized at home as I am at work. Somehow the "I accomplished something" mentality isn't as important when I'm parked on the couch. I'm not proud of that, but I'm painfully aware of it.

I usually make a "to do" list at the end of each day, that way I have it ready first thing the next morning. Some days I get to mark everything off the list and sometimes not. And sometimes what seems important one day doesn't always seem as important the next day. On the days I don't get everything done, it goes right back on the list for the next day. We all have those days, but it feels REALLY good when I've crossed everything off the list by the end of the day!

Sometimes I feel like if I'm accomplishing something, that somehow proves that I'm worthy - that I've put another notch in my belt of successes. But what if GOD made my to do list? What would be top priority for Him if He was writing that list out for me each day?

I know MY list doesn't look anything like the list He would make for me! Actually, the thought kind of makes me ill...

So, what would HIS list look like for me? In Mark chapter 12, when asked which was the most important commandment, Jesus replied, “... And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Love God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind... God comes first. He should be the first person I talk to in the morning and the last person I talk to before I go to sleep. He should HEAR how much I love Him. His praises should come like second nature. Worship should roll off my tongue as easy as breathing.

Love others. I should treat others like God would treat them. My goal should be to see people through God's eyes. To love people like I love myself. I think that means in order to be kind, compassionate, and generous to my neighbor, I must first be these things to myself. Here comes the hardest part!

I understand "seeing people through God's eyes." I've talked about it before and I know how important it is. But it's much harder to see myself through God's eyes every day. I know there

are times when I look in the mirror and see a daughter of the King - a child of God - the result of God's love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy. But there are also times that mirror tells me something completely different.

I think once you understand the grandeur of God and the sovereignty He holds, it's easy to think about how insignificant you are. I am just a drop in the ocean that He created. And in a more connected way than I'd like to admit to, that leads me to not put Him first. What difference can little ole me make in this ocean of a world?

Which takes us full circle.

I can't love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind if I can't look in the mirror and see the person GOD created. The person God created can look at life through His eyes and with all the gifts He has bestowed upon me and completely understand love. The old me hung onto fear and shame, the person God created holds onto grace and mercy. I heard someone once say that grace is when God gives us things we don't deserve and mercy is God saving us from the things we DO deserve. So true!

Grace and mercy. Those two words make me who I am today. They are the reason He looks at me through unfiltered eyes and loves me anyway. And they are also the reason why I can look at others and love them anyway.

So, does my to do list look any different now? A little. But the biggest difference is the person writing it. The person holding the pen now sits up straighter, shoulders back. It's the only way she can keep her crown from slipping.

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?