As Fall arrives, Best Life is preparing for our 2013 conference topic, and this year we chose to focus on the times in our lives when God slams doors shut, when we retreat in frustration, depression, even anger, only to find out that sometimes within hours, weeks or months, we look back and realize that the door we were so bravely trying to push open, was never the door for us.

I don't know about you, but throughout the years, circumstances have come up where I was sure I was supposed to push through a door, but the more I pushed, the more I prayed, the more the door closed on me and seemed to lock tight.

When do we learn?  When do we learn to not cry and kick, complain and shout, and tell God He is wrong?  When do we trust Him that His ways are higher, that He is wiser, and that when He says, "This isn't the BEST for you," He knows what He's saying.

It's in those moments of looking back at my life, I see that not only did God protect me from something, but He opened up windows...windows of Great God-opportunities.  Things that I would have never known, experienced, or grown from, were placed in front of me by allowing God to close those doors...and open windows.

Are you discouraged today?  Have you been trying to get a job that you just can't get hired for, or perhaps you keep trying to find that perfect someone for you, only to date the wrong ones?  Maybe you wanted to retire, but it's not working out to leave the job now?  Or maybe that perfect school you were applying for, didn't accept your application.

Whatever it is, I'm here today to encorurage you to get up and keep trying.  Don't give in to defeat...God's ways are higher than ours....He'll open up windows of God-fabulous opportunities!  Just watch!

"Sure, I can meet you for lunch today. Oh, wait, how about tomorrow? No, that won't work either. How about I call you when I know my calendar is open?"

Sound familiar? Maybe it isn't for lunch but a doctor's appointment, a job interview or play date for your child. They all have one thing in common, procrastination. The act of putting things off to another time and I am an expert of this art.

I would like to blame my "skill" on being inherited from my dad, like my fat thighs, but it is a learned behavior and I learned from one of the best. He always joked that one day he would start a procrastinator's club but not today. 

Recently, I found myself on both sides of the procrastination door and didn't like the feelings I experienced. I felt as though I was on one side trying to pull the door open and on the other side, pushing to keep it closed. 

I have a job that I love, teaching basic computer skills to students, kindergarten through sixth grade. My official title is Elementary Computer Tech Aid and one of my duties is to administer assessment tests for math, reading, and language. I also maintain the 24 computers in my lab by making sure that everything is working properly and when it's not, report it to our tech specialist.  

The final day of the scheduled testing season had arrived with very few problems in the lab until that day. My first group of the day to test needed all 24 computers and one wasn't working. When I told our tech, he, basically, blew me off by saying to work around the one student and test him later. Unfortunately, this is a common response. I was tugging on the door, hoping to see an end to the many laters I have heard regarding repairs.  Evidently, my irritation showed because he followed me to my room and replaced the broken computer. Testing went smoothly the rest of the day. 

What didn't get any smoother was the anger I was feeling. I asked God to forgive me for my anger many, many times that day and everyday since without any relief. It wasn't until today that I realized that my sin wasn't just my anger but what I was angry about. The procrastination of our tech is something that I am very guilty of myself and the anger I felt was at myself. 

My wake up call was an email reminding me of a deadline for this article. I was putting off writing because "I was tired"; "I had other things to do"; "I couldn't think of what to say." The excuses went on and on. I was pushing the door closed. Then God spoke to my heart. Procrastination was exactly what I was to write about. 

After reading several articles that confirmed that I have a real chronic problem, I have discovered that people procrastinate for one of five reasons:

1. Indecision. Too many choices. James 1:8 NLT   "They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do."

2. Perfectionism. Ecclesiastes 11:4 NLT  "If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done."

3. Fear. Proverbs 29:25 NLT  "Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but to trust the LORD means safety."

4. Anger.  Philippians 4:6 NLT   "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

5. Laziness. Proverbs 13:4 NLT  "Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper." 

When you find yourself procrastinating, ask yourself why. What is going on that is keeping me from completing the task. Sort your projects by what needs to be done now, in a few days and what can wait indefinitely. Plan how you will approach the projects. And above all else, pray!

Philippians 4:13For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

-Mix together eggs, oil, yogurt, sugars, and vanilla.

-In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

-Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, along with the grated zucchini and chocolate chips.

-Pour batter into a greased loaf pan (9x4 ½) and sprinkle ½ T. of sugar on top of the batter before baking.

-Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the bread comes out clean.

*This recipe replaces a portion of the oil with low fat yogurt, and cleverly incorporates veggies into a tasty treat. For a variation to this recipe, replace the chocolate chips with walnuts or white chocolate, and add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter before baking. Try spreading low fat cream cheese on this bread as an alternative to butter.

*For pickier eaters, consider peeling the zucchini before grating it.

Photo by:  Josh Garland