Showing posts with label Time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Time. Show all posts

May God Remind Us that Our Days Are Numbered

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Monday, September 28, 2015 11:47 AM

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It’s another Monday morning and therefore the beginning of another week; it seems like last Monday was just yesterday. Time moves along so quickly…too quickly. Before we know it Christmas will be here and 2015 will be a memory. Just ask Denise Ford how many days until Christmas. And that means we will struggle with remembering to write 2016 instead of 2015. This frantic passing of time is not something new to our generation. King David was a busy man…
David was a king who was busy being constantly chased by his enemies. Reading his contributions to the Book of Psalms is like watching a Jason Bourne movie. It just seems like David never had time to rest and relax because he went from one fight to another; he went from the frying pan to the fire to the incinerator to the atomic bomb. It was a fast-paced, action-packed life on the run. He wrote,
“O LORD, make me know my end
            And what is the measure of my days;
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
            And my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!” (Psalm 39:4-5)
Among many things he is saying, “Life is short!”
  • Life is short so live it for something bigger than self…live every day for the glory of God.
  • Life is short so pour all the energy you can into today.
  • Life is short so hold those you love closely.
  • Life is short so get checking off those things on your bucket list.
  • Life is short so don’t put off what God wants you to do today.
  • Life is short so be the Good Samaritan in someone’s life today.
  • Life is short so don’t be afraid to tell others you love them.
Why are we waiting to live our lives tomorrow when God fully intends us to live them today? God doesn’t want any of us to get to the end of our lives and feel remorse and regret. And it’s never too late to get moving and do today what God wants us to do. Paul told us to stop living in the past and press on toward what God has called us to in the future (Philippians 3:13-14). What does God want you to do today that will please Him and serve someone else?
Grace & Peace,
Scott

Advent Conspiracy - Give More!

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Tuesday, November 18, 2014 5:25 PM

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Why are we amazed at generosity? One of the reasons we are so moved by generosity is because we are wired to be generous. God created us to be givers, and deep down we know that generosity is right. We are meant to live and interact with one another on a level of giving, not taking.
From last week article I don’t want you to think of me as Pastor Grinch who stole Christmas by encouraging you to rebel against the economic empire of more. I certainly don’t want to turn you into Scrooge. I want us to give but give differently. It is an absolute joy to give; giving is a blessing. I want us to enjoy giving because we’ve been made by God to be givers.
Our giving should reflect the indescribable gift we’ve been given by God. God gave us the gift of His Son.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1)
That is God’s artistic was of describing God. He is simply saying that Jesus was God. Before there was anything there was Jesus. This reminds us that Jesus is eternal.
“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3)
The stars are here because of Jesus; the trees are here because of Jesus; Fido and Flumpy are here because of Jesus; we are here because of Jesus.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
John is telling us that this incomprehensible and eternal Christ stepped out of heave and came here. He entered the story of our lives. You know what’s amazing about this? Jesus actually knew what He was doing. He knew what was going to happen. He knew the conclusion of His life. He knew He would end up on the cross. That is a gift that is so generous and so sacrificial that there is no other gift like it. This is the gift of presence.
If we are going to celebrate and honor Jesus this Christmas then we need to take our cue for giving from Him; we are going to need to follow His example. Our giving should reflect what God has given us. Here are just a couple of ideas:
First, we need to give specifically where people have need (Matthew 25:35-36, 40). If we want to love the way He loved then we need to give to the least of these which means to meet people’s real needs. Don’t give what we want, give what they need.
Second, give something personal (John 1:14). Think about it this way – God spoke this world into existence. To meet our deepest need, which is spiritual, He could have spoken, but He didn’t – HE SHOWED UP! The story of Christmas is that God came in close. Maybe this year we can give gifts that grow our relationships deeper. Giving this type of gift takes some thought. Here’s a kick-start for us: give the gift of presence, not presents. We have to think about it and we’re going to have to give our time.
Spend Less…Give More,
Scott

"I Just Don't Have the Time!"

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Monday, March 14, 2011 10:03 AM

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In the midst of a building program there is the danger of neglecting ministry. Deacon's meetings, renovation committee meetings, relocation committee meetings, future building plan committee meetings, budget and finance meetings, meetings with builders, and meetings with bankers consume our time. Meetings! Meetings!! And more meetings!!! These are essential and must have a place in our schedule, but if other priorities are neglected then something is wrong. Let me put it this way...Sunday is still on the calendar (every week!), shut-ins still need to be visited, people are still having surgery, suffering hasn't magically gone away, and God still longs for us to talk with Him through prayer.

We often say, "I just don't have the time!" I've used that excuse (and just maybe some reading this have as well), but we must realize that it is an incorrect statement from God's perspective. God has given us all the time we need to do His will. It is just a matter of prioitizing...or re-prioritizing.

Do you understand that Satan doesn't want us to have priorities that puts God first? He wants us to be busy about doing good things so that the best things get neglected. He wants us to get so wrapped up in the process of building (a good thing) so that we spend less time praying and devoting ourselves to God's Word (the best things). I believe it would put a smile on the devil's face if we got lost in planning where the babies, children, students and adults will meet for Sunday school all the while neglecting the very ones we want to put in those rooms.

Paul understood the tyranny of the adversary on our time when he wrote,

Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16).

Take note that he wrote, "making the best use of the time." I am trying to ask myself throughout each day as meetings arise and decisions need to be made, "Is this the best use of my time." Let me challenge you to do the same. It also helps me to remember the words of Solomon,

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Mice on the Wheel

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Tuesday, October 05, 2010 2:11 PM

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As the weather turns cooler the projects of fall loom big on the horizon. You know, thatching the lawn, raking leaves, gathering in the last of the produce from the garden, winterizing the boat, raking leaves again, shining up the shotgun, planting spring bulbs, cleaning the gutters, getting out the sweaters (this item is exciting for husbands because it means a whole new wardrobe without going to the mall), and raking the leaves once again.

Let's see, did I forget something...oh, yeah, I certainly did. What about all those projects at church? You know what I'm talking about...making sure the boiler is going to work this year, getting the gym set up and decorated for Homecoming, planning out the events for advent, ordering the gift baskets for the shut-ins, beginning rehearsal for the choir Christmas musical, and so much more!

As you can tell there is much to do and little time in which to get it all done. I am confident that come July 1, 2017 it will all be done and forgotten. So, it causes me to pause and ponder, "Is it all really worth it?" Does all our labor count for anything? Or are we like mice running on the proverbial wheel getting a lot of exercise, but really going nowhere? I think the answer to those questions and ones similar to them depend on our motivation--WHY am I doing what I'm doing? We can get super busy about events and we can expend great energy in getting things done, but if we are doing all this for the wrong reasons then it all amounts to dust and ashes (Paul called them wood, hay and straw [1 Corinthians 3:10-15]).

However, if we are expending energy to glorify God through worship that is God-exalting, discipleship that is cross-centered, fellowship that is grace-focused, and outreach that is world-impacting then I believe our work is what God intends it to be. So, as we go about our busy schedule keep in mind that nothing done for the glory of God is worthless, but efforts done for our own exaltation has no more substance than a soap bubble. And put in your heart what Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers:

...Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain! (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Grace & Peace,
Scott

The Best Use of My Time

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Monday, January 11, 2010 4:22 PM

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Don't live with regrets, live doing now what the Lord has called you to do. I have been known as a procrastinator at times, but in my defense I only put off the things I really don't want to do. Is that considered procrastination or hopeful living? By "hopeful living" I mean that if I put something off long enough I am hoping that it will either take care of itself or so much time will elapse that it doesn't matter if I do it or not. For example, mowing the lawn. I like yard work, to a certain degree. But if I procrastinate cutting the grass eventually it won't matter because winter will be here and nobody notices my yard in the winter. Ok, its not "hopeful living," its procrastination. No matter which way you cut it (no pun intended) putting off what God has called you to do is not good practice.

Paul wrote, "making the best use of the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16 ESV).

The world we live in claws for every minute of our day; some of that clawing is for good activities, but some, as Paul warns, are for no good at all. We live in days that are filled with evil and this is the motivation we need to get done what God has called us to do.

Think through this new year keeping in mind that it is a new opportunity God is giving you to do His will. What is He calling you to do? Write that down and being doing it today. Look at your relationships, look at your vocation, look at your whole life and see them as gifts. These are gifts of which you are a steward. Now make the best use of your time and just do it. Don't put off to tomorrow what God is calling you to do today!

Grace & Peace,
Scott
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