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.

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The clarity of obedience…

“Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:23-24)

DISOBEDIENCE greatly increases confusion. But OBEDIENCE brings clarity — and takes our lives out of the abstract and the hypothetical — and brings it into the REAL – and we begin to see who we really are — the free, Christ-like ones we were meant to be.

“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25)

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.

Kingdom stuff…

Find a way to do Kingdom stuff every day (sharing the Gospel, praying with people, interceding for the lost people in your life, etc.). It will bring Joy to the heart of Jesus! Even little things are significant…

“His Master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master’s happiness!'” (Matthew 25:23)

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!

Hunger…

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;” (John 6:51)

What are you most hungry for? Where are your hungers and desires taking you? Whatever we are most hungry for will define our lives (You are what you eat!).  Hunger is as hunger does. Whatever we make time for in our lives is a good litmus test of what our true hungers and desires are.  I remember years ago thinking about prayer and fasting, and God told me that the day I wanted Him more than I wanted food, I would fast.

“It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” (Matthew 4:4)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

Now is the time to press in for more of Him. No other food will sustain us in these days.

Brushstrokes…

The mind is a canvas. And it takes discernment (and patient practice) to know who is painting on it… us, or the culture or the enemy or God. Not all thoughts we have are from us (and many of our own thoughts are…uh..not that helpful). We cannot afford to be passive as we meander through our brains. We have to be aware and disciplined, and to know the difference between the stuff in our heads and the Word of God:

“…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 10:5)

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!!!

Never give up!

I was driving the other day and really wanted to hear from God.  I said to Him “God please speak to me!”  And immediately my eyes landed on this mural and I felt the Presence of God.

My dear brothers and sisters, don’t step back from the good PROMISES God has given you.  If you never quit, you never will lose!  Because in the fullness of time, He will fulfill what He has promised you!

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)