Teach me to number my days...

 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,  making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.      -Ephesians 5:15-16   New International Version (NIV) 

Today has been quite a different day than I expected.  My son is currently receiving treatment at the hospital for his vasculitis.  My better half is there with him.  I was supposed to go down there this afternoon, bring them lunch and spend time with the two of them..  However, everything changed when one of my children wouldn't cooperate this morning.  This left me to deal with said uncooperative child for the remainder of the afternoon.   

As it turns out, once all the errands requested of my wife were completed, my child settled down and apologized.   I accepted, forgave and we headed home.  Since we got back, I've been working on some things I haven't had time to work on in quite some time due to work, football, church and other commitments. For example, I'm working on my first Sunday School lesson when I begin teaching a young marrieds class on August 14th.  I also decided to update the blog for the first time in quite some time.  Look for the "my story" page with my testimony on it to be updated very soon.  I also needed to turn my attention to some other things that my wife normally deals with.  For example, dinner, laundry, cleaning, home improvement, etc.  The picture below depicts the choices and plans I had for my new found time this afternoon.

From bottom right, going counter-clockwise: (1) Bible, Basics of Biblical Greek
Love Dare; (2) Laundry, RE brand Chair and drill; (3) Putter and golf balls

We ALL are busy people.  We ALL have choices to make with our time, and now that I'm 33, I realize that my time, not my money, is my most valuable resource entrusted to me by my Heavenly Father.  So how does one go about choosing how to spend time?  The verse from Ephesians, Paul challenges the church of Ephesus to live as wise, not unwise.  This means we have to be very diligent about how we spend our precious minutes and seconds.  As much as I love golf, and as much as I believe God put that passion for golf in me so that He may use me in that arena to glorify Him, I knew from my experience, I needed to put Him first.  So what did I do?  Typing this blog was one of the first things.   Before that, I got dinner in the crock-pot and laundry finished up.  Working on my lesson is next and then finishing my long overdue testimony will be next.   After that, I will fold the laundry, put the chair together you see in the picture and then serve dinner.  If there is time after that, I may practice my putting inside or go outside and chip if the weather permits.  But what I'm doing is putting what God desires for me first, and then letting everything else fall in line.

Its not just in the New Testament that scripture talks about managing time.  Moses authored Psalm 90 and in it delivers a very valuable perspective.  We are only here for a certain amount of time.  We will never get that time back.  As much as my old self and my selfish nature would rather play golf, I knew that God would bless me if I put His priorities first, everything else will fall in line.   Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."  I'm so grateful that God got my attention 4 years ago and that I have placed my trust in Christ.  Since then I've been made a New Creation (II Cor 5:17).  Because of that, I have gained wisdom and reading Psalm 90 now makes sense to me...So what does Moses say in Psalm 90:12?


Teach us to number our days,  that we may gain a heart of wisdom.


So I say to you, how are you going to spend your time today?

Having faith

Yesterday, I met with two colleagues at work.  About two dozen of us in my department are currently studying About My Father's Business by Regi Campbell.  This book talks about how to effectively share your faith in the workplace or in work-like settings.  The first meeting of our group was last Thursday. During this discussion I was convicted of the sin of spiritual pride.  See, I have a story to tell about what trusting in Christ has done for me.  However, I have not told my story to many people, especially to those at my work.  Yet I work for a place that is very supportive in this type of endeavor and still had fear (False Evidence Appearing Real).  I mean, what would they think about me?  I also was fearful that because of where I came from (until I came to Christ, my lifestyle was very counter-culture to where I work) I could lose my job...how silly of me....God wants us to celebrate and glorify Him.  When we hold onto our stories for ourselves, we are being selfish and prideful, not to mention we aren't putting our complete faith in what He can do.


I found this cartoon in a google search:

This fit perfectly to where I was.  You can find this and others at http://www.jesuseveryday.com/cartoons.htm

Back to my story though, In faith, I approached two people in my group and we got together and I shared my testimony of how I came to believe and therefore, trust in, my Savior Jesus Christ.  Not only did my colleagues not run off, nor did they laugh at me, nor did they breathe fire out and burn me up right there, but also they embraced me, celebrated what God has done! Now I have two great friends, that are not just colleagues, but brothers and sisters in Christ.  How cool is that?!  


I encourage you today to share your story with someone.  When you feel the Holy Spirit move you to share, be obedient.  You'll be surprised what God does when you stop trying to make the outcome the way you want it, and start to trust Him for the results. My prayer is that we as Believers can move beyond the "You of little faith" nickname and become more faithful and obedient to what God calls us to do.  Remember, God will always do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.  Sometimes we cannot see the outcome or understand how it could even work out well.  Despite that we need to step forward in faith and courage, remembering that Fear is of the evil one and God told us "Do not fear" 365 times in the Bible.  


God bless all of you today!