Taking Stock

So here's an awkward start to a Tuesday: Spill the Beans is missing.

(If you are my mom or sister, please sit down and use a brown paper bag if necessary.)

Here's the scoop. We've done 88 consecutive episodes of the podcast without taking a break. We've even taken all our equipment on vacation with us so we could record on the road. And we love our little podcast. We have so much fun bantering back and forth each week and allowing you to listen in if you'd like.

But in the last few weeks, we've been trying to figure out where God is taking us next in the ministries we pursue. Have you ever been there? Lots of good things happening, but you reach a point where you have to step back, take a deep breath, and evaluate everything you're doing to make sure you're making the best use of your time and resources?

It's a great lesson I learned from Lynne when I worked at the station. Every year, when it was time to make plans for the next year's worth of shows, Lynne stepped back and looked at every part of our scheduling. Were all of our regular guests still a great fit? Were all of our standing shows still structured well? She would evaluate, pray, and listen to the Lord's leading to see if anything needed to change. Even if it seemed to be going well and she enjoyed it, she wanted to make sure she was offering what God wanted her to offer.

And that's what we want, too.

As we look ahead to a new season of leading Bible studies, opening our home for hospitality, writing, speaking, podcasting, and more, we want to make sure the breakdown of our time is the best breakdown it can be. If we need to scale back or let go of something, we want to be willing to do it.

So this week, in the time we would normally have recorded the podcast, we made lists and curled up to pray about the future.

We don't think God is asking us to give up the podcast. We aren't sure if He's asking us to continue on a weekly basis or maybe do it every other week instead. We're listening and asking for His wisdom and direction.

So if you came here hoping to hear an episode of Spill the Beans this week, I fear we have let you down. But we hope you understand our hearts and realize that we're trying to step back, take stop, and be the best stewards of our time and resources that we can be.

(It's the first day of a new month, and for some of you, the first day of a new schedule season. Maybe it's a good time for you to take stock, too? Look through your schedule and see if you're doing the best you can with the time and resources you have! If so, carry on! If not, don't be afraid to try a new routine to see what God might do!)