December 30, 53 Days of 4 more years:
"Sand in the hourglass. There is only so much sand. Who gets it?" Max Lucado
Today let's talk about time. I think it is healthy at the end of the year to take a look back and a look forward. All of our evaluations for the past year and the future one depend on time. And time is a gift God gave us at creation. Think about that: our infinite God gave us a finite amount of time to spend… to decide…to choose. Yes, time is a gift. When God created day and night, the seasons and our bodies that age, He wove it all together with time (not the original plan in the Garden of Eden, but Eve and the serpent took care of that). So as human beings we have a birth day and a "going home" day. There are a set number of days, minutes and hours...like the sand…every day moves us closer to going home. We are just "passing through" this world to our real home in heaven. Rather than be sad or mourn or feel petulant about what we missed or don't have or how little time we have left, let's look at the sunrises to come. Look forward and upward, measuring our days with our Saviour and best friend. Only then does each day take on the beauty it was meant to have.
Let's get practical on this last Sunday of 2012. Why not? It is hymn day, rest day, game day… hum? And a great day to consider the following ideas to use our sand:
1. Make a list of our priorities (ours will all be different and unique just as we all individuals)
2. Figure out what our priorities are (this may take a little research… where? you guessed it, God's instruction book, the Bible)
3. Schedule our priorities in the order of importance and let God give you that wisdom
4. Plant those priorities deep in our minds and hearts (that's why they have to be God's choices for you personally)
5. Pray about the list and keep it flexible
6. Start out to tackle the priorities in a daily way (not being discouraged if we don't see instant results)
7. Be patient with ourselves (God is, and we should be kind to ourselves)
8. This one is great: We are all going to delegate some duties we think we have to do ourselves (I've got a few things on my list for some of you to do!)
9. We must learn to say "no" when it is appropriate or we are unsure if something is our job or not. (It is not a lame excuse to tell someone, "I need to pray about it first.")
10. We will not get overwhelmed, but take each day as it comes, covering the plan for the day with prayer and going to God first thing with our list for the day.
Remember: Each day is a gift from God and offers an opportunity to make a difference in our lives, our ministry and most importantly in someone else's life.
"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given you as well." Matthew 6:33
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Pray:
Jesus, take control of our lives in 2013. Help us to be practical as we take steps to make Your priorities our own. Keep us focused and remove discouragement from our paths. Keep us walking in step with You. Amen
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