Shopping for Time

Title: Shopping for Time: How to Do it All and NOT Be Overwhelmed

Author: Carolyn Mahaney and daughters

Publisher: Crossway Books, 2007

Pages: 94

Begun: January 24, 2009

Finished: February 8, 2009

Rating: *****

This book is a must! Carolyn and her daughters write this book in a very conversational-around-the-kitchen-table sort of way. They use the shopping metaphor of list making, planning, etc... to make their point about time. The theme verse for the book is Ephesians 5:15-16 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. The rest of the book is based on this principle. They encourage women to carefully evaluate the "stage" of life that they are in in order to make the best and godly decision for them in that stage. They lay out of a 5-step plan for being able to accomplish all that God has given us to do and not be living our lives stressed and frustrated.

Tip One--Rise Early--Join the 5am club.
An appeal to rise early in order to have time to start the day in the Word.

Tip Two--Sit Still--Sitting at Jesus' Feet
Learning to be a Mary in order to be an effective Martha.

Tip Three--Sit and Plan--Taking a Personal Retreat
Setting out a time to evaluate one’s stage in life and the priorities of that stage.

Tip Four--Consider People--Evaluating Relationships Carefully
Taking a close look at our friends and making sure we have all the types of friends we should have—those who mentor, those who need to be mentored, iron sharpeners, redemptive relationships (Tim’s word!) Very convicting chapter.

Tip Five--Plan to Depend--Being Productive in Daily Life
Learning to trust the Savior as sovereign.

In the chapter Plan to Depend they talk about “sovereign deliveries”. To bring this point home they quote C.S Lews:
“The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s “own” or “real” life. The truth is of course that what one calls interruptions are precisely one’s real life—the life God is sending one day by day: what one calls one’s “real life” is a phantom of one’s own imagination. This at least is what I see at moments of insight; but it’s hard to remember it all the time.”

One final quote at the very conclusion of the book:
“In the end, our highest goal each day is not flawless execution of our plans or increased productivity. It’s our relationship with God, walking in dependence upon him throughout the day. We should not be more consumed with the completion of our to-do list than pleasing and glorifying the Savior. Whether we’re sitting down to map out our day, simplifying our to-do list, or receiving an interruption as a “sovereign delivery,” we must, above all, plan to depend.”

In less than 100 pages the Mahaney ladies hit the nail on the head, and definitely step on toes. This is not an organizational book about how to succeed, but rather a look at Scripture and evaluating our demands based on Scripture. It has been a tremendous help to me. Getting up early has definitely made a difference, but the other areas of evaluation have been very convicting and helpful. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone as its principles are timeless and priceless.