Monday, December 31, 2012

Having a plan.

What does it take to stop and think things through? Time it takes time, it is worth the investment! You need to slow down and develop a plan but that takes time! You ever feel as you start the day that you have no direction, no place to start overwhelmed with so much to do? Well the first thing we all need to learn on those days, we need to stop take time catch our breath and develop a plan!
It really will not take that much time, it is the time we waste trying to figure out if we have the time that causes the ongoing stresses and confusion in our lives. We need to take time, talk to God and ask Him to slow us down, clear our sight and give us solid vision and help us to set reasonable priorities and goals. Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. It takes being still and knowing God is in control that He is not the author of confusion that He has an order of things that will calm us and help us see clearly!

Friday, December 28, 2012

Time stand still!

We would all love for time to stand still, but are we willing too? It pays to stop for a while! We all want more time but what are we willing to do to get some? It takes something from us, a willingness to just stop for a moment and catch our breath.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 46, Be still and know that I am God, even our relationship with God requires a standing still and being quiet. If we truly want something bad enough what are we willing to invest?

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Caring for mom and building memories

As I watch my mom, who has Alzheimer's, I sit and wonder if she remembers. Sometimes a name comes out, sometimes she looks at me as though she remembers I am her son. That is what some folks and Doctors may call false hope a twinkle in time they may have.

I know my mom does not remember who I am, or that I am her son caring for her, but when she has one of those moments I don't take it as a false moment of hope. I savor the moment, at that time she is herself again and I take that as a gift.

My wife and I are caring for my mom who, for so many years cared me and my sisters. She was always there, though at times not to my comfort ha ha. My mom was a strong independent women afraid of nothing and no one. Now she is frightened to even have us roll her from side to side as we clean her.

This is very hard since I remember her as just the opposite, she was the one who cared for those in need, she was the one who took care of my grandparents till they passed. She was the one everyone called on in time of need.

She was not a perfect person at all, she had her flaws just like we all do, yet when it came to caring for others she was quite the opposite. So when I sit with her during the day I watch her expressions and wonder does she remember a bit, or is she struggling to figure it all out? I don't know, I do know this she is still mom.

I do know that she remembers even if it is a twinkling in time she has her moments and I try to take those moments in. Not at all as false hope she will get better, as I know she will not, but as a moment in time she has enjoyment and purpose. I see the peace in her face when she knows she is being cared for as she cared for others.

We need to worry less about what our folks do not remember and savor the times they do remember and keep a real sense of hope that they have a little something to hang on to! I do not understand this illness, as most do not, but I know I do better caring for her when I spend less time trying to figure it all out and just treat her as mom.

I have heard many stories and struggles folks have, all are different I know, no two people are the same and situations vary. But I do know this, at that twinkle of time they remember give them some good memories not reminders of the wrong they do or have done! If we can forget us for a moment, and give them a moment, memories can be made.

 Maybe, just maybe, we can come to a point in our lives that wondering what mom, dad, uncle, aunt, sister, etc. remembers is not as important as the memories! 

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Death not always loss

Death is not always a time of loss it should be a time to remind us we are alive and to do something with that! Take time to mourn, yet also as important, take time to live. There was a sister who was mourning her brother waiting on Jesus to come, she was caught up in her loss when she inquired of Jesus, if He had been there when they asked for Him, her brother would not have died. There was a reason Jesus did not come right away, He reminded her of her faith and encouraged her to live with these words. Your brother will rise again, amazing huh? Jesus reminded her that He was the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? Her answer was a resounding yes, she had lost her brother and it was good to mourn but it is as important to live if you have hope, find that hope in Jesus today!! John 11:1-27

Monday, December 24, 2012

The time is now to learn how to use time, take time for someone you normally would not!

One way how I have learned to take time and use it, is when I stop for those folks I would usually never stop for. Those folks society says are not worth it, the homeless, the ones that smell a little funny, the panhandler.
These folks need Jesus also, they are really no different, except they may not be saved, the only thing that truly separates us is salvation. They are no wore sinner then we, as we were saved by GRACE, so they need to be! They need to hear the gospel message, and we need to give that message. In Romans Paul writes; How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14, We need to be that voice, we need to take the time and truly reach out to a lost and dying world, a world that needs Jesus. We need to learn to use time by taking the time for that someone you normally would not take time for!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Time not a figment!

Have you ever wondered what that meant? I have many times as I have heard many quips and quotes. Time is just a figment of your imagination. Well it really is not, figment means to fabricate, and or make up something. Well God established time from the beginning out of His wanting to set things in order, to shape things up so to speak, it was established and given to us as real. It is what we do with time that makes it either very real or something we would like to imagine away. If we can make time, a figment of our imagination, we are wasting it! Time was given to us as a guideline, to set things in order. We have in all reality 24 hours in a day seems like a lot, but when we start thinking about it, we spend more time dwindling it down, thus the figment part! Still 24 hours whether we like it or not. We can enjoy the time given us if we spend less time dwelling on it and more time living it. Am I saying do not dream, not at all, just don't try and dream time away, it will not work. Instead utilize the time and add your dreams to it and see if you can achieve those dreams. We can imagine the time we would like to have helping people, or just take the time to do it! Genesis 1:1-31

Friday, December 21, 2012

Time investment!

The time we spend now for those who need a moment of our time is an investment well spent! In Luke we see Jesus walking with his followers when a man started calling out for him. Jesus son of David have mercy on me, but those with Jesus did not feel it necessary to take a moment for him. Jesus on the other hand stopped what He was doing in a time of busy commotion said bring him to Me! Jesus took time to hear the man's request for healing, the man just wanted to see, how long could that take? That is how it is for us sometimes, we don't see the needs because we do not take the time! We do not see the results because we won't make the investment of time that it may take. We have to stop and take time to put our money in the bank! Is it not just as important to stop invest a little time in someone? Just a thought! Luke 18:35-41

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Are we selfish?

As children we were taught not to be selfish, and we still as adults do not like it, yet when it comes to giving someone a moment of time we forget that! We deem selfishness as the refusal to share, but isn't that just what we do when we do not take time for someone? 
When we claim we do not have the time to call, write, or even take time to think or pray for someone, is that not a type of selfishness? Is that not a type of self centered?
We really need to take some time and think about this, the next time you feel you have no time who are you thinking more about, you or the person who needs your time.  Philippians 2:1-4

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Time do not waste it!

There is a subject that is almost always the topic of discussion and something we seem to have so little of yet waste so much of it! Can you guess what it is? Answer: TIME! Redeeming the time for the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16, We have to be made aware of the fact, when we spend time complaining, we have no time we are wasting time! Never thought of it that way huh? Take time to think about it and see if you can put a more positive spin on the time you think you do not have, is it wasted or redeemed?

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Time is too important to waste

From the latest sadness that has struck our families in many ways, we need to learn the value of time! The word of God says that we need to redeem the time for the days are evil, (Ephesians 5:16), redeeming the the time means that we need to put value on it, time! We need to stop and think our day through and take an honest look at our priorities.
We need not wait until a tragedy strikes, and have to look back at what we should have done or even could have done. We need to act now and set priorities that have us looking at the most important things life has to offer.
The Apostle Paul stated in Philippians that we are not to look out for our own interests we are to imitate Christ's example of selflessness. When we are able to do that to the best of our abilities we find that we are looking forward and never back.
We are stopping and taking the time to love those who are close, weather it be a hug, hand shake, phone call, whatever, we are redeeming the time. We are making others feel special because we are stopping from us and thinking of them.
Next to money time is the most wasted possessions we have, if we look at it as a possession! Time is something, just like money, we have so little of and need to do so much more with! Our value system needs to change. If you truly want to be a redeemer of time you will take the time when you hear or see someone who desperately needs your time. Remember what is important to others may not be to you, but it is when we show them how important they are that we are willing to stop a moment and give them the time they need, is what will make all the difference in the world!!
We miss so much when we do not take time! The next time we feel aggravated because our children are tugging on us in the middle of dinner, or changing the oil, or even when mom and dad call in the middle of a great movie. It is then we will see where our priorities lay, it is then we will either redeem the time or waste it and lose a golden opportunity to show someone we genuinely care!