December 29, 2006 and December 29, 2017

Thank you for hanging in there as I offered again my December 2006 blogs.  I had fun looking back.  A New Year is only hours away.  A whole new year ahead of you.  Use it wisely.

THE GIFT OF TIME
Can you believe it? 2006 is almost over. A new year is about to begin. I have found out one thing -- time goes faster the older you get! But time is a fleeting moment. A fleeting moment that can change your life in an instant.

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25 - 34

THE GIFT OF TIME
We have received so many gifts in our lives and one of the most valuable is time. Do we really appreciate the time we have? Do we really have time?

During the week in June 2000, time and priorities came into focus.

Many years ago, we had a young man who spent numerous hours, at our home with our son. During the week, this young man lost his father. In an instant, his father's heart had stopped. In an instant, there was a new generation leading the family. 

During the week, our small town felt the impact of a tornado. There were blessings -- the tornado went enough north that it missed the town, the retirement homes and a mobile home park. Only slight physical injuries were received. You could follow the tornado because barns were destroyed, houses were damaged and trees were thrown in every direction. In an instant, lives were changed.

During the week, a young man and his wife were headed home after helping clean-up the tornado damage. They did not make it across the railroad track. This young man, paralyzed from an accident a few years back, would now have to recover and face the loss of a loved one. In an instant, a life was lost and a life was again tragically altered.

How many times do we take tomorrow for granted? How much time do we waste worrying what will happen tomorrow? How many times do we forget that an instant can decide whether we will see our loved ones again, watch our children grow or enjoy the wonder of grandchildren. Or walk in the woods. Or hear our favorite song. Or eat peanut butter fudge. Or laugh. Or cry. Or pray.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
Yes, you have to be prepared for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, but do you put tomorrow before today? How do you spend your time? Do you worry so much that you do not see the blessings that are here, NOW? Do you need to begin the New Year calling a family member or friend that you have not gotten along with lately? Do you need to spend more time with family and less watching TV or less computer time? (Of course that does not apply to the time you spend checking out my blog.) How do you spend your time?

LET US PRAY
Oh God, Time is a precious commodity. Teach me to use it wisely. Teach me to appreciate the time I have to pray. To laugh. To rest. You have given me time to ………………………………… Amen