Making Time For What's Important

One of the most difficult things for many of us is to find enough time. Do you have time to do all you want to? Or all you need to? Or all you wish you had the time for? Or all you should do? Don’t like that word, should. We are all in the same predicament. God has only given us 24 hours in a day. No more, no less.

You can even break it down further and say, you have one thousand four hundred and forty minutes in each day. Does that help? Didn’t think so, it didn’t for me either. I won’t take it down to the number of seconds because with me, in most cases at the end of the day I’m asking myself, where did the time go.

Even this week as we were working around the place with a couple of family & friends, one of them said to me, “you are one more day closer to not being done.” It was funny at the time but so much the reality of what might be.

Here is the other side of the coin. We all have time to do the things we love to do. A fellow, who is really excited about his new car, has the time to wash it almost daily. The lady who loves to knit, like those I talk to at the Knit & Chat of Macassa, always can make time for knitting. I guess it has something to do with priorities.

Yes, it all depends on priorities and what we value the most. Take a few minutes and make a list of what are your priorities. Then make a list of what you value the most. What do you spend time on, or what do you like doing that brings a smile to your face and excitement in your heart? No, go ahead, I’ll wait.

Got your list? Good. Now, pick your number one item. The one that is most important to you. Go through the list, putting them in order of importance. Yes, this takes more time but I can wait. Done? Good. Oh, one final question. Where is God on your list?

Something to think about

Rob

QUIET!

Over the years I have grown to appreciate it when it is very quiet.  Remembering a person I knew that used to scare the birds away in the early morning. He would get up out of bed and yell as hard as he could, “QUIET”, just to scare the birds away.  It worked for a little while each day. 

While here the other night, I happened to hear a bird singing away at 2:23am. I know, checked the clock. No hint of sunlight for another four hours but this bird wanted to sing.  I was alone at the time so I ventured outside just to listen to him, or her, in the quietness of the morning. What a delight for me. Some would think I was crazy. Okay a lot of people would think I had lost it. But to me, it was so beautiful. I eventually went back to bed and fell back to sleep only to be woken by a couple of Mockingbirds. It was another wonderful way to greet the morning light.

All else was quiet. Not a sound from traffic, nothing. Just this wonderful peace that was broken by the singing of the bird and then other birds. As they greeted the morning, I joined them. It was another wonderful moment. I believe that quietness broken by God’s creation is amazing.  Quietness broken by manmade noise, that’s another story. You never want to be woken at 5 am by a person taking off on his Harley with no mufflers. At least that’s my opinion.  

Silence is wonderful as I thought about the email post that I received that talked about a person praying to God and asking God to say something to him. God sent the singing of the bird and the person didn’t hear God in that song. I do, you do and we thank God we to have a song in our heart.

Are you listening for the voice of God?

Something to think about.

Rob

Only One Question

It’s was a very long week with being sick and all. It's good that I have so many clocks to remind me of the passing of every fifteen minutes. But then again, before I knew it, the week was over and now we move forward into another week.  Hopefully without the cold & flu. That is one thing we don’t want to carry around for too long.
Maybe it was God's way of getting me to slow down a little.  Well, I did. But it did not stop me from thinking, and it didn’t stop the work need to prepare to speak on the Good Samaritan. Wonderful story and a life changing directive from Jesus. That is if you really are interested in growing in your faith. And of course it applies to today.
Now, after the sermon has faded from most peoples minds, it doesn't from mine. Sort of sits there and haunts me just like this cold. I sit here wondering about what more could it have said to me. Opening my bible, I found it when I read the first verse of this passage over once more. If you look in Luke 10:25 you will discover something like this, "a fellow stood up in the gathering of people and asked Jesus a question." Just as I remember the lecture hall at university. And then it struck me. If I had the chance, what would I ask Jesus?

I know, some would ask about the creation of the world, or what’s your Dad like, or did it really take only six days? Maybe even ask, how many stars are there in all the heavens? I can see the scientists in all of us wanting to know similar things. Or the doctors asking about DNA or healing or even where is the fountain of youth? There might even be one or two, ask about our future.
I thought about this for a while and put up many questions. You can do this as well. Take a few days to ask yourself what you would ask Jesus if you had the chance. No, really.  Really think about it. When you have your question, ask Him. And this is the best part. He does have all the answers.
I asked mine tonight. His answer made me smile and lower my head in humility.
Oh, you want to know what I asked?
“Jesus, do you really love me in spite of who I am?”
He answered. Holding his arms and nail scared hands out as wide as He could, He said, “I love you this much”. Just as He had done it on the cross.
Something to think about.
Rob