Sunday we were challenged to find out what God has to teach us about managing our time. Take the time challenge and spend Monday and Tuesday of this week analyzing what you do with your time. Take a few moments each day to read the following verses and meditate on what God desires of you in spending your time. Share your thoughts with the rest of us as we grow together!
Monday – Psalm 90:12
Tuesday – Psalm 118:24
Wednesday – Hebrews 3:13
Thursday – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Friday – Colossians 4:5-6
Saturday – 2 Corinthians 6:2
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Psalm 90:12 is a prayer up to God for assistance in helping us deal/learn with our time. If you read the beginning of the Psalm the psalmist (supposedly written by Moses), makes a statement that alludes to God creating time itself (v2). He then makes a statement about God’s view of time as if a thousand years were but a day (v4). It is nothing to Him to speak of the past few thousands years. He has always been. So when we take that into consideration about our 70 to 80 years or so of life, it is so brief and brief would be an understatement! We have the hope of eternity set before us, but our time here on earth, with our family, friends and others is so short. Wouldn’t we want to make it count and matter for God? Wouldn’t we want to spend our time doing things that will last well beyond our years? (see verse 17). As I review my activities today in light of that, it certainly gives me much more to think about, much more to consider, much more to pray over, may I be a steward that is found faithful by God, may we all.
Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom."
I believe that this is referring to the fact that the time we spend on Earth will go by much faster than we think. We need to sieze every moment and make every day, hour, minute, and second count. Time is valuable and we need to use it for eternal purposes. As I have gotten older I like to think that I have gained some wisdom. I cannot capture the moments that I have wasted. I pray that God gives me the ability to gain a heart of wisdom and uses me as He see fits to spread the word of the Lord.
I read that over a life time every person will come into contact with 10,000 people. God has provided us with the audience and has provided us with the ability. It is up to us to use what God has given us to make a difference in someone's life. It would be awful if I look back many years from now and think "I should have" or "I could have".
Wouldn't it be better to say
"I did".
Psalm 118:24. I have to be honest it was with a heavy heart that as I watched my wife and oldest daughter leave this morning for school and my other two remained with me for another hour before I went off to drop them off at school as well. It is tiring the day to day activities of life. I have often asked, "can't today be different Lord? Can't I just do something else for a little while?" And then this verse comes back up, this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. It is different today. Last night was different. After dinner instead of getting right back to work, I went for a bike ride with one of my daughters. We stopped after riding awhile and I watched her as she smiled and breathed heavily from the ride. I thought, look at how beautiful she is, thank you God. A simple reminder of last night suddenly impacted my heart and this truly is the day the Lord has made. Work has not gone away and avoiding it would be a mistake. After the bike ride I did go back to work last night, but my daughter's smile, which God created, was imprinted on my mind. And now this heavy heart will search out the smiles today that God has created, for there are many, let us rejoice for the heart has been set free.
" This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."
There is great beauty and joy in every day that the Lord has made. Sometimes we seem to be in such a rush or routine that we don't appreciate all that the Lord has given us. I wish I could tell you that every day is a day that I am so excited about living but I have days that I don't look forward to.
I am slowly refocusing this negative attitude into a more positive approach. I am trying to be less of a workaholic and spend more quality time with my family. They need me and I need them. While writing this a clear message was sent to me.
The Lord is in all of us. If I spend more time with my wife and children I am spending more time with the Lord. When they are happy and smiling the Lord is smiling as well.
Thank you God for every day that You have provided us. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Praise God.
Hebrews 3:13 - Having grown up going to church and now of course being very involved withing the body of Christ, I've often heard many say that we have no idea what will happen tomorrow, that is so true, the Bible states that a few times. I don't need to be threatened by others of this fact, for it is a fact. This could possibly be my last day on earth, that isn't morbid, I guess we could look at it that way, but it is more reality than it is morbid. So what is reality? Reality is I think about myself way too much, I mean why else would I pass up on the opportunity to encourage someone today? Because I'm thinking too much about myself. Is that what I want my day consumed with? Worrying about my finances, worrying about my time for rest, worrying about whether or not someone is going to help me, worrying about certain pains my body has to deal with, worrying about whether or not I'll be ready for something I need to have for the future. In other words worrying about myself, staying focused on my internal needs as opposed to the eternal needs of others. Hebrews 3:13 challenges us this very day to encourage others, to give them hope today. I love the scene in Return of the King when Aragorn says to Elrond "I give hope to men. I keep none for myself." Give your today to others and you'll be surprised what God gives you.
Hebrews 3:13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Reach out to believers and nonbelievers. Reach out to and demonstrate the passion that you have in your faith. Lend a hand to those who need it. Everyone has the ability to make a difference. Become a difference maker.
New Heights would not exist if Crossroads had not belived that Haverhill was a location that needed a church which could make a difference in people's lives. They moved forward and lives have been changed because of their encouragement, support, and faith. A year ago Crossroads took action. They continue to exhort us, support us, and pray for us every day.
If you have been thinking about reaching out to someone don't wait for tommorrow do it "Today".
My life was changed because the members of Crossroads believed in New Heights and provided a place were I was able to come back to Jesus Christ. Without Crossroads action I may not have come back to Jesus and been Baptized in His name.
By reaching out you may help someone receive the ultimate gift of eternal life.
Love God and Love People.
God Bless
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 "Everthing Has Its Time"
I must confess that when I read this the words set to music by the Byrds kept playing in my head.
Everything that we encounter in life has a purpose and a right time. Whether it is something that we really love to do or something that causes us hardship there is a purpose to every event and emotion that we experience.
When we go through a hardship our faith is being put to the test. We can feel sorry for ourselves and allow our faith to waiver or we can grab onto our faith a little tighter and know that God is with us and will always be with us in good times and in bad. Which is a better path to choose?
Sometimes I know exactly what is being shown to me when I experience difficulty; while other times I don't understand why I am in a certain situation. I do know that when I pray to God for answers that I will be given direction that will help lead me down the proper path.
Pray to God. God hears your prayers and will respond. Make the time for prayer. Make praying a priority. With God in your life nothing is impossible.
God Bless
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 "A time for every purpose under heaven..." All of these things outlined are so real, I could think of specific examples for each one in my life. It is amazing and incomprehensible knowing that God is orchestrating so many things at once and not one second goes by without Him knowing, He has a time for everything. That rocks...
Colossians 4:5-6 Sunday we talked about redeeming the time more from how God wants us to use it from a personal standpoint, now these verses talk about redeeming the time for external sources, namely others. Once again God wants us focused on Him so we can properly focus on others. Our speech can only be with true grace if we better know the grace given to us, our speech can only be seasoned with salt if we continue to learn and listen to the One in whose image we are to take on. Managing my time effectively for God means so much to others, so much.
Anyone who participated in the Walk Across the Room small group learned that by walking across the room and striking up a conversation with someone can change their life.
Some have heard me tell this story about my first experience walking across the room , but I thought it was worth sharing again.
A co-worker who I hadn't seen in a while and I were talking about what was going on in our lives. I told him about going back to church and my relationship with Jesus. He thought that was great and was very happy for me as long as I wasn't one of those "Born Again Christians". He explained that his sister in law was a born again Christian and was always in his face about what he was doing wrong in life and how he and his wife needed to improve their lives by listening to her. (obviously she hadn't seen the Walk Across the Room series)
I explained that I was indeed a born again Christian but was not as he called it "an in your face" Christian. I explained that most Christians are not "in your face" people. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about what a born again Christian is. I think I changed this misconception for him.
When we first started talking I was nervous that I wouldn't know what to say or that I would say the wrong thing. The Lord provided me with the right words and helped me speak with grace, seasoned with just the right amount of salt. I was put in that place at that time so that I could reach out to my friend and help give him an opportunity to find a relationship with Jesus. Whenever I see my friend and we have the opportunity to talk I make sure that my faith is brought up during our conversation.
I took the time to reach out to my friend, the seeds are being planted over time, and in time these seeds may blossom into a relationship between my friend and the Lord.
I believe that this was time well spent.
God Bless
2 Corinthians 6:2 For He says " In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.
The Lord is always here for us, He provides for us and offers us eternal life.
The time to honor the Lord is now and forever.
Praise God
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