Time is money!

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…”
(Luke 16:10)

“I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”
(John 3:12)

It seems the Lord was showing me that these verses can refer to how we manage and steward and understand TIME. He gives us TIME in this temporal world and watches to see how we will use it. And if we do well (according to His idea of “well”), then He is ready to entrust us with heavenly, eternal things!

Sometimes, when we experience God’s tangible Presence, Eternity invades our temporal reality and TIME seems to disappear, as it is overwhelmed and displaced by His eternal, infinite Glory. And as we experience Him like this, everything in our lives begins to be transformed. But if we want to experience this infusion, we need to approach and esteem temporal TIME rightly — by spending a lot of it on Him, being willing to lavish Him with one of the few types of CURRENCY that really impresses Him — our TIME.

Busy or Productive?

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last…” (John 15:16)

From Heaven’s point of view, there’s a big difference between being busy and being productive. It’s good occasionally to take an inventory of how we’re spending our time, energy, and resources, so that we can avoid being overwhelmed by the trivial and mere distractions — and so that our lives will be truly, eternally fruitful.

Uh…really live!

YES, LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH YOURSELF! (Ran into this sign at a car dealership today) We need to stop living our lives through books and movies for awhile — and unplug from electronica, entertainment, social media, etc. for awhile — and go on some real adventures with the Holy Spirit!  It’s not complicated — just get away from the noise of the world long enough to be able to hear what God is saying to you.  And then go do whatever He says!

A God-centered Gospel for Valentine’s Day!

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
(Ephesians 4:30)

To avoid sin only because of its self-destructive
consequences is to create a me-centered Gospel.
The main reason we should not sin
is because it grieves the heart of God.

And a wonderful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day
would be to walk in the Grace He has given us (1 Corinthians 10:13)
and resist temptation because we love Jesus so much!

The power of worship!

I was reading ROMANS CHAPTER 1 the other day. I was reminded that the greatest, most impacting decision we will ever make is “Whom will I worship?” No other decision we can make is as important or life-changing. Every other thing we think and say and do is merely a SYMPTOM of Whom or what we have decided to worship. That one decision sets in motion all other decisions, and reverberates into all the aspects of our lives — and changes forever who we are and who we will be in eternity.

I am not saying that we cannot resist God’s grace — I believe we can. (“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.” 2 Cor. 6:1) But once we choose to worship and follow Jesus and are born again, I believe there is a wind of grace at our backs, always helping us to move forward, always making the right choice easier (not always EASY, but EASIER) than the wrong choice. And that is what I am talking about.

His gravity, not ours.

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”
(Romans 11:36)

Jesus, help us to break free from our own gravity today
(all our inner monologues, desires, plans, distractions
and self-absorption) and to revolve around You.

 

Shine!

“You are the LIGHT of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a LAMP and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your LIGHT SHINE before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

HAPPY NEW DAY, MY FELLOW SHINY ONES!!!

Where is your treasure?

“For he [Abraham] was looking forward to the City with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:10)

Abraham enjoyed many blessings and accomplished many great things while being “present” and living on this planet. But he never allowed these blessings or activities to beguile him or divert his attention from his true destiny. He knew that this place was not his home.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'” (Revelation 21:1-4)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your TREASURE is, there your HEART will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

May the fruit of our lives matter in eternity.
CARPE AETERNITAS!!!

 

Gratitude and clarity…

Expressing gratitude…