Got Margin?

A few years ago I heard a teaching on margin. Let’s picture a sheet of loose leaf paper. You know the column that you aren’t supposed to write in? Yes, the margin; it is what allows for rest and makes room for the unexpected happenings in our life whether it be financially, physically or spiritually. So many times, we tend to fill up the whole page leaving no room on the top, bottom or margin. We spend outside of our means, schedule things we have run out of time for and leave no place for God, family or rest. We may leave just enough space on the tattered corner of the page for ourselves, but is that all that our spiritual growth and maturity is worth? I can’t tell you how many times I have looked at that paper and thought just how much of a waste of space the margin seems to be. I never thought my high school English lesson could prove such a valid point in life.

Unfortunately, I tend to view rest like I do margin, and it is just recently that I have begun to realize its importance. God created everything in 6 days, and on the 7th day, He rested. Apparently, God understood the necessity. If God the Father needed rest, how much more do we?!? God has really been dealing with me alot on this issue. I tend to go and go, and then when something unexpected happens, I can’t understand why I come unglued! It’s because I have filled up my margin with busyness and things of the sort that I have no room to pencil in any additional notes. Margin allows room for blessings and growth and makes dealing with any curve balls a heck of alot easier!

Did you know that rest is an integral part of RESToration? When you restore something, you are bringing it back to a place of existence in a state that can be used again. Rest is a place of peace and freedom from anything that wearies, troubles or disturbs. Rest rejuvenates. Rest RESTores. It is intentional and purposeful. Let’s look at it from a different perspective.

I LOVE my ice cream truck. And while this may seem like an oxymoron for something that is consistently on the go, it was through “ice-creaming” that I realized just how fast everything else in life was. When you are driving an ice cream truck, you can’t go faster than 5mph. That’s hard for someone with a lead foot both in life and on the accelerator! Jeremy just laughs at me because it makes me so relaxed. So much for speeding through the neighborhood or just trying to get from point A to point B… If I did that, I would miss the opportunities that await. This business is about the journey and the stops in between. I LOVE that it makes me slow down and stop! It also makes the potential for profit so much greater! Just think, nothing can keep going and going. Eventually, the truck will run out of gas. Are you catching the metaphor here?

The same applies to our lives. Either you can stop or God will stop you, but eventually you WILL rest…after all, that is one of the commandments. We obey the others, so why not that one? Remember the Sabbath. REST. It is a vital part of us reaching our full potential. It is the gas in our tank.

Last night, we had our women’s ministry kickoff called BELOVED. Pastor Debbie shared from Deut. 33:12. Can you guess what the first line of that Scripture was? “Let the beloved of the Lord REST…”

OK, Lord! I hear you loud and clear. Can I get a shredder and a new piece of paper now? What does your margin look like?

I heart the FOG!

Sleep, eat, pee, sleep, eat, pee (mom will just mop it up again anyway)…now let’s add in play! That is all my little 5 week old pups do. They are so tiny, and they are starting to get into everything. I have caught them with Kadi’s underwear, my bra, Jeremy’s shoes, my slippers and anything else they are not supposed to have. The cute pups are contained in a bathroom, but as soon as you open a door, they dart past you. You put one back in and another gets out. Nonetheless, they are irresistible!

Yes, we have decided to keep one. His name is Beast. Jeremy caved. You’d think it would have been the other way around! He’s such a softy.

So, besides taking care of pups, we have been running ice cream routes in our spare time…I say that term loosely since I don’t technically think it exists. God has been so good! We have a few festivals and events coming up, but one was, no doubt, completely God’s favor! If you have ever heard of Third Monday Trade Days in McKinney, then you know it is one of the largest flea markets in Texas aside from Canton. Thousands upon thousands of people go through there! Anyway, there is usually a waiting list for vendor space. Just as the guy was getting ready to call me, along with all the other 80 vendors, Wednesday to let me know that they didn't have any spots available, he got a call. I know this because I called him right after. He told me what his intent was, but that he just had a soft serve ice cream vendor cancel because he couldn’t get the health permits in time for the event. I told him that I sold pre-packaged novelty ice cream and didn’t need a permit! He said that oddly enough, we may be able to work something out. I went met with him and we now have a booth for this month! Praise the Lord for favor. He can make a way where there is no way! What’s great is that he wanted to make sure we could turn the ice cream out fast because food vendor lines are always the longest, and last month’s ice cream guy ran out of inventory the 2nd day into the event. I assured him neither of those would be a problem! Now I just need a bistro set of sorts for the sitting area that he requested.

And that is just the latest blessing of God’s favor. (Don’t pinch me because I don’t want to wake up.) My dad calls it THE FOG..."the Favor of God". First, I got a raise effective July 1st! Then Jeremy began interviewing for a promotion which would be accompanied by a nice raise. All went well, and now we are just waiting on the official offer and effective date. Next, Brittany got a double raise and promotion at her job as well!!! Keep it coming, Lord! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Along with favor, God’s timing is everything. I love the “new to us” house that He blessed us with, and had I not been on craigslist when it was posted, I may have missed it! I was the first one to respond to the ad (followed by a long list of other people). We had been looking for a larger home for a while, and I am so glad that we didn’t settle just for the sake of finding something sooner. Never grow weary in well doing. Our diligence had paid off and God had SAVED the perfect home for us. God even knew the little things that were important to me without me ever asking. I LOVE living on the golf course. It is so relaxing to me, so comfortable, so home. There is still a lot to unpack, but we are making progress slowly, but surely. Wahoo! Party at the Tucker crib!

Bring on more of those "foggy" conditions!