TIME

DO YOU HAVE TIME?

Solomon says in the book of Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything. (Eccl. 3:1-8) I don’t know 

 if you have ever meditated upon the word “time” and its meaning, but it is a fascinating subject.

 Time is a precious resource. 

We usually think of money as a resource…but time? We either formally or informally budget our money, but how about time?

There is much discussion about income equality, justice equality, and racial equality. Has anyone ever

 mentioned time equality?

  No, because that is a resource that everyone has an equal amount of…we each have 24 hours each day.

“Life is like a coin, you can spend it anyway you want, but you can only spend it once” someone has said. This is true with each 24 hour day we have been given.

I try never to say that I don’t have time to do this or that. I have 24 hours…the same as everyone: rich or poor, smart or not so smart, educated or uneducated…we all have the same! So, what I try to say when I do not do something is, “I chose not to take the time to do that”. That is an honest answer when asked, “Why didn’t you do that?”

What we do with our 24 hours allotted to us is determined by our priorities! We ALWAYS have time to do what we ­­want to do. This is convicting to me when I look back on a day and realize I have squandered part, or even most, of the 24 hours allotted to me for that day. 

Each day is a gift from God…that’s why it is called “the present”.

LOG TIME ... NO POST....

TIME

It has been a long TIME since I have written anything here.

It's not that I did not have TIME.

I had the TIME!

I didn't take the TIME!

I have had 24 hours for each day since I last wrote here.

How did I use the TIME?

I try never to say,"I don't have TIME to do this or that".

The TIME is there! 

24 hours!

I just did not take the TIME to do this or that.

I guess it just depends upon priorities.

How I spend my TIME reveals what my priorities were

or are!

I plan to spend more TIME writing in this blog even if

I am the only one reading it.

But

right now it is TIME for me to go to bed

almost 10 PM.

I plan to write more about TIME in TIME to come. If it is a priority I'll take the

TIME.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

ON A COOL AUTUMN DAY IN ALASKA

The leaves on the birch trees were green when we arrived in Alaska 

just  about a week and a half ago.

Much has happened...much of it planned....by someone.

like our grand daughter, Teressa's wedding.

What an answer to prayer....

she married a strong, committed believer in Christ!

Other things have happened also...like the green birch leaves

turning a bright gold in just a few days.

They are beautiful against the bright blue sky

with new snow capping the mountain tops in the background. 

Autumn lasts only a week or two in Alaska.

It's the joy of spending time with family and friends we see far too seldom 

and creates memories that last and last.

However,

there is a certain sadness I feel today...perhaps not sadness but maybe seriousness.

The wind has been blowing for the first time in a few days.

The golden birch leaves are falling like snowflakes...covering the ground.

Sad.

The trees are getting bare...preparing for a long cold winter.

As I watch each leaf fall, there is a certain sadness...its beautiful life on the tree is over.

News have come to me that three friends have died this week...

like fallen golden leaves.

And I have read that Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel has also died...

as has Tom Clancy, the novelist....and others.

And I am in the process of reading C.S. Lewis' book "A Grief Observed."

It has set a certain feeling in me that is hard to articulate, but real.

You might call it sadness, but it's not really that...

just a realization that the golden leaves of autumn that are so beautiful...even beautiful as they fall.

And they must fall before new life can be realized.

So, much is happening, actually all planned even though not by us, but by Someone.

Someone who has created it all, holds it all together, and has an eternal plan.

And we can trust Him in the spring, summer, autumn and winter of life.

And that brings peace.

 

 

 

THIS WAS SENT TO ME BY A FRIEND OF THE PERSON WHO HONORED THE MEN SERVING THEIR COUNTRY. IT IS A STORY THAT EXEMPLIFIES CHRIST-LIKE COMPASSION AND IS SO FITTING FOR VETERAN'S DAY!


I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch
would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks.
I'll wait till we get to base.'

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied,
wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later
with a dinner plate from first class.

'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.
A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me
twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base.
It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.' Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

THE LITTLE THINGS

THE LITTLE THINGS

               Not many of us live a life that is full of thrilling, exciting events!  And even those who go from one adventure to another find that after a while, even that becomes commonplace and mundane. Just a few days ago I was reminded that very important, God sent, and even life changing events many times start with common, ordinary, and seemingly run-of-the-mill experiences.

               My regular Bible reading had brought me to I Samuel chapter 9.  It tells about a rather wealthy man by the name of Kish.  One day Kish’s donkeys broke out of their pen and wandered off.  Any of us raised on the farm know that when livestock get out of the fence, the first thing that needs to be done is to find them. They need to be brought back before something happens to them or they ruin some neighbor’s crops, fences or even worse. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take a servant with you and go look for the donkeys.”

               After searching unsuccessfully Saul said, “Let’s go home.”  But the servant said, “Let’s find the prophet who lives around here.”  The day before they found him, the prophet Samuel got a message from the Lord.  He said, “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from Benjamin.  Anoint him to be leader of my people Israel.”  Notice the Lord said, “I will send you a man.”  How did the Lord do that?  By allowing (causing?) the donkeys to get loose!  I am sure that Kish, his son Saul, or the servant had no idea that God had arranged for the donkeys to get out!  But God had an agenda!  He ALWAYS does!

               Saul obeyed. I thought to myself, “What if Saul had not obeyed?” Actually, since God was working this out in order for Samuel to meet Saul.  Saul had no choice!  God was at work and Saul’s obedience led to a startling event that he could never imagine in his wildest dreams…to be anointed King of Israel.

               Through a series of “coincidental” events such as: 1) the servant suggesting they find the prophet, 2) they “happened” to meet some girls who knew what road to take to find the prophet; 3) Samuel “happened” to be walking on that same road toward them; 4) Samuel knew Saul was the man as soon as he saw him.

               So, the mundane daily requirements of life many times lead us to untold blessings and opportunities.  As with Saul, it might begin with a disappointing inconvenience or an interruption of a schedule and regular routine. But God is working on the other end of the story!  Who knows what thrilling things He has for those who obey in the “little” things? 

               I am reminded of the Lord talking to Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4:10 as he was doing some small things to begin the temple. The Lord said, “Do not despise these small beginnings…”!

Note: This was written the first part of November, 2012. It is to be published in InterAct Ministries InterCom edited by Judy Richardson.

Christmas thoughts

I just saw this in a message I got from someone and it struck a note in my mind and I pass it on.


C. S. Lewis described the meaning of the incarnation of Christ on a radio address this way: “Lying at your feet is your dog. Imagine for the moment that your dog, and every dog, is in deep distress. Some of us love dogs very much. If it would help all the dogs in the world to become like men, would you be willing to become a dog? Would you put down your human nature, leave your loved ones, your job, hobbies, art and literature and music, and choose instead of the intimate communion with your beloved, the poor substitute of looking into your beloved’s face and wagging your tail unable to smile or speak. Christ, by becoming man, limited the thing which to Him was the most precious thing in the world, His unhampered, unhindered communion with the Father.”

The Display of His Splendor

"The display of His splendor" is a phrase tucked away in the Old Testament book of Isaiah.
(Chapter 61:3) This phrase has held my attention once again. Here are some thoughts "for what it's worth"

God wants to make Himself known. He does this through Israel, through what He has made, through His Church,and through those He has redeemed.

It is obvious in the context,that His chosen people, Israel, is what is referred to in Isaiah 61:3. He says He is going to "bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor."

God displayed His splendor through Israel throughout the Old Testament. He displayed His splendor through the incarnation of His Son, Jesus, the Christ. He displayed His splendor to modern day Israel by preserving this little nation when all were against her. (Google "Miracles in the 1967 Israeli war"). And this whole passage in Isaiah tells about the future display of His splendor through His chosen ones.

The 19th Psalm says "The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies declare the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." Creation displays His splendor.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul when speaking of the Church says in Ephesians 3:10 " His intent was that now through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." He displays His splendor through His Bride, the Church. His splendor is revealed to humans, angels, demons, and possibly other creatures.

He displays His splendor through His redeemed ones...all who have placed their trust in Him. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." The word "workmanship" is translated from the word "poiema" in the greek language...it has the idea of poem. Think of it this way, "We are God's masterpiece..." We are to display His splendor.

Not only do we display His splendor now , but will continue to do this through eternity. Ephesians 1:7 says that "in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus." He will point to us, sinners saved through His love and by His grace, and display His splendor in that way...forever.

HE MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN IN SO MANY WAYS BY MAKING A DISPLAY OF HIS SPLENDOR.