“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep…Then God said, ‘Let there be…’” When God began to create the heavens and earth and all that was therein, it began as chaos.  But He didn’t leave it chaotic.  His Spirit hovered over it, and by His Word, he spoke light, time, skies, seas, land, and every living thing.  He brought order not TO the chaos but FROM the chaos.  Then, He continued to build layer upon layer.  The earth, which came from chaos, was instructed to bring forth plants.  Lights to rule day and night were set in the firmament--order that set days and seasons into motion.  The earth and the waters were told to abound with living creatures, and the grand finaley, man, was formed from the dust of the ground.  Creation was the ultimate illustration of order, which sprung, in part, from chaos.

Nothing. Then chaos. Then wonder. 

It can’t get much worse…or much better…than that, and it’s much the same when God begins a work in our lives. 

There’s nothing, no awareness of gifts and talents, no vision or purpose. Then a plan begins to form, an inkling of direction, a promise is given, and all hell breaks loose. Chaos reigns. If anything, it seems more impossible than when there was nothing.  Things appear bleak and hopeless, but the Spirit hovers and the Word speaks; things shift.  The vision isn’t yet fulfilled, the goal not yet met, but the shifting and stirring indicates something is on the horizon.  Momentum gathers, and beauty emerges. Layer upon layer, step by step, things began to unfold.  What seems disconnected from the plan, what seems meaningless becomes the nurturing place for the greater part until, finally, the masterpiece unfolds, the vision is tangible, the goal is attained. 

Tip: Chaos is part of creation. Never does a plan unfold in entirety, a work of art start with the details, or the fulfillment of a dream come without difficulties.  Hang on through the chaos and keep focused and full of faith through the unlovely until the lovely can emerge. 
*Do you have an unfulfilled dream?  What steps will eventually lead you there?  School for a career? Budgeting for debt management? Demolition to remodel?
*Do you have overwhelming clutter?  Create the chaos by taking everything out of the space, clearing out the unused, then sorting and returning it to the space in an organized fashion.
*Are you dealing with disappointment and frustration?  What are you telling yourself about the apparent chaos?  What truth can you cling to instead?  Press through the discouragement; beauty lies ahead. 

  Because I tend to forget, I make lists.  Because I tend to misplace sticky notes, I write in one college-ruled notebook.  This is my time management system.  Every morning, I jot down all the things I need to get done.  I flip back to the day before and include items that were not completed.  I look at the calendar and make note of any appointments.  I write down reminders, including things I need to tell family members when they get home from school/work. If I'm going to the store that day, my shopping list is put in the notebook. At the store, if I grab ingredients for some unexpected menu item, I write it down.  It's all there in one place. 

 Though things like the added menu item may be scrawled to the side of my grocery list, my morning "To Do Today" is orderly.  It has a little line to the side, and when I complete the task, I mark it off.  Some days, I add those typically unwritten things to my list just so I can see I accomplished A LOT! (laundry, dishes...you know, the standard, in-between-everything-else-I-have-to-do stuff)

Because I am an IDEAS lover, I do keep a separate notebook for those things I want to do one day (but today's not the day). Sometimes, items from that list make it over to the "To Do Today" journal. 

Tip:  There are many options for time management.  One friend uses google calendars and all her family accesses it online. Another friend of mine uses an elaborate binder system.  I once tried a folder system with a folder for each month and a calendar stapled to the front of the folder.  This worked for someone else, but I prefer a simpler method of organization.  What works for you?