Do More Better by Tim Challies is an awesome quick read that definitely spoke my language! Challies is sharing about his own systems of organization for tasks, information, and scheduling. I was really encouraged because I’m already doing some of the things he suggests…but grateful for the refresher on WHY I do things that way…so that I have margin that allows me to connect with people and build relationships to the glory of God. Tasks are meaningless without that component. This book is a great quick read, but it leaves you with a lot to think about!
I highlighted several things while reading and have posted those notes below…
- It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. – Psalm 127:2 p. 6
- Productivity is effectively stewarding your gifts, talents, time, energy, and enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God. p. 16
- “The key to a productive and contented life is “planned neglect” –knowing what not to do and being content with saying no to truly good, sometimes fantastic, opportunities. This happens only when you realize how truly limited you are, that you must steward your little life, and that of all the best things to do one the planet, God wants you to do only a miniscule number.” – Randy Alcorn p. 40
- You haven’t begun to live a focused and productive life until you have said no to great opportunities that just do not fit your mission. p. 40
- Your system will ensure that you reserve moments of deliberate thoughtfulness where you will consider and plan how you can do good to others and in that way glorify God. p. 81
- “To live coram Deo (in the presence of God) is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.” – R.C. Sproul p. 83
- “Only God gets his to-do list done each day.” C.J. Mahaney, p. 91
- “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 the 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.” – C.S. Lewis, p. 94