Angela Breidenbach is a multi-award-winning inspirational speaker, popular conference presenter, and author of the Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life and the new Kindle release of Creative Cooking for Colitis. Other works by Angela include compilation books and devotionals from Guideposts, Group, and articles in magazines, ezines, and newspapers. She connects missions to her work with Hope’s Promise Orphan Ministries and the Jadyn Fred Foundation. Angela serves as an assisting minister for her congregation in Missoula, Montana. Angela Breidenbach on the web: http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com, http://www.GodUsesBrokenVessels.com, and http://TheFaithGirls.com on Wednesdays each week. 

Visit her Christian Speakers Service page for speaker bookings.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by all of your commitments? How do you find time to follow your dream if the to-do list keeps getting longer and longer? Rising again isn’t impossible. Rising again takes intentional focus and the desire to make a list and work the list. But where do we start? What comes first?

April offers the opportunity to treat our lives as if we are buried with Christ to rise again victorious. Unfortunately, we forget God is the One who planned our futures and our hope. We take off into the day as if master of our own little universe. Then when nothing seems to go right, we sit back stunned at the messy results. What if we turn over all of our lives―not just the ethereal spiritual part―and bury our daily commitments with Christ so He can resurrect those with real purpose?

When the roots of our daily lives are planted directly in prayer, counsel, and wisdom, our productivity will blossom. Putting practical elements into practice sends out roots into the stream of God’s will. What does that look like?

Practical Actions
Daily prayer—Take the time to let the Holy Spirit work in your life and lead you into the most important action areas. “But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you” (Ps. 88:13).

Acknowledge God has power over the everyday moments, everyday choices, and everyday tasks. For some reason, we’ve separated our spiritual beings from our practical beings, as if God cares about only part of us. “. . . in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:6).

Write out thoughts in a list—Do this right after your prayer time so other distractions stay at bay. (Over eighty verses in the Bible give direction to write and remember what the Lord says.) Determine what has to be done next—What sticks out? Do the most urgent in order of urgency and then work on the others. If you have enough time to finish only three things, what are they? “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Ps. 32:8).

Talk through the list with trusted counselors—When in doubt remember that Proverbs offers excellent advice to turn to advisors so your plans will succeed. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Prov. 15:22).

Avoid distractions—Sitting at the feet of the Lord to listen stops excessive busy behavior. Say no when busy distractions don’t lead to your goals. “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’” (Luke 10:40).

An amazing phenomenon happens when we first take our schedules to the Lord. Productivity soars and never fails to bear fruit because we’re drawn directly into God’s will and the purpose He’s already established.

Take the challenge: Pray, acknowledge, list, determine, counsel, and avoid distractions. Following the path God knit into our DNA means turning our entire lives over to His care. Will you lift up your heart and your calendar, trusting the Lord to manage your commitments to rise again? Or will you stay buried in the overwhelming?

Homemade Gyros
A perfect, super healthy, super easy, low-fat recipe for an Easter brunch.

Mix all ingredients together well. Pat into long, thick hamburger-style patties. Spray frying pan lightly with pan spray. Cook until well-done. Cool enough to slice into thin strips. When sliced, the pieces will easily resemble gyro meat sliced off of a cone.

Pita bread (buy a soft brand like Jasmine or a specialty bakery for delicious results)
Hummus flavor of your choice
Diced cucumbers
Diced onion
Diced tomatoes
Feta cheese
Greek nonfat yogurt
Kalamata olives

Assemble: Warm pita bread. Spread with a light layer of hummus. Sprinkle on the pita one light layer each of cucumbers, onion, tomatoes, feta cheese. Place a layer of sliced gyro meat. Dab on Greek nonfat yogurt. Top with Kalamata olives.

Serve with baked crinkle French fries sprinkled with Greek spice, seasoned salt, and spritz at the last minute with lemon juice for an authentic Greek fry experience. Add extra pita, diced veggies, feta cheese, and Kalamata olives as a side dish.