Finding Balance

It can be tough some days to know where to start.

The last 5 weeks have been busy and most mornings I hear the chirp of the alarm and click the snooze bar. During those 9 precious minutes I lay in the quiet and ask God "So, where do we start today?"

It can be overwhelming at times when there is so much, good and bad, coming at you all at once. In Church this past weekend I sat and said "God, my cup is running over with opportunities to expand. Which way should I go?"

There are opportunities that will help me expand my base. They don't pay money at the moment [in fact, they'll cost a good bit of money] but they will substantially increase my platform and help MANY people. So, God, do I go that way?

There is my speaking. That is really taking off and I'm being invited to speak a variety of places later this year. I'm also teaching webinars online for writing groups. I'm offering them at a VERY low rate because everyone is hit with the economy right now. I want the information out. I only allow 10 people per webinar. With the goal of 10 webinars per week that is 100 people I can mentor, encourage and bless. It is a wonderful ministry and I'm excited about it. [And people also tell me I'm very good at it.] I love it. So, God, do I go that way?

There is TheBalancedLife.com This website offers encouragement, money saving tips, and common-sense money management skills to people who are facing sudden and/or long term income loss. Not only that, it helps people who want to stop living paycheck to paycheck. I want to reach at least 2,000 people per month with this. I know what it was like for us 3 1/2 years ago when my husband was suddenly diagnosed with Cancer. He was our only source of income. We had 4 little girls [7, 5, 4, 2]. One we'd adopted only 6 months earlier...and she was special needs. I know the choking fear that squeezes your chest and rips tears our of your soul. So, God, do I go that way?

And I'm a writer. I write novels. Yes, the floor has dropped out of publishing but there are still books selling. I know I can do it, but writing a 55,000 word book takes time. Even when I can write 2k-3k words a day...that's not every day. I simply don't have the time. So, God, do I go that way?

And I'm a wife/mom/homeschooling mom/daughter/friend...

How do I find the balance?

As I turn my day over to God I feel peace. As I stop worrying about HOW and focus on DOING, things get done. As I seize opportunities and praise Him, instead of grumbling about all I have to do, the stress melts and I see the goodness of God.

And when I worry about where the money will come from, I remember that God rewards us when we faithfully obey. I simply have to walk in obedience and keep God FIRST [Which is why I spent time reading his word before posting this blog...even though it was late] everything else seems to work out.

Instead of asking God "So, God, do I do this?" I recognize the favor of God and do it with excellence. Somehow, my time begins to multiply. The money shows up. The energy is there. The kids cooperate.

And God is glorified.

Quit worrying. Start walking.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Common-sense money management is free at The Balanced Life website.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.