Are You Wasting Time?

As we reach the end of another year and we start thinking about making those resolutions, let's think about wasting time. When I consider that I have lived 27,209 days or 3887 weeks, I wonder how many of those days I have wasted.

Are you wasting time worrying about the nonsense around you? What if we just focused on the positive things in life and ignored the negative things? It's so easy to waste time on things that are really none of our business. "Not my pig; not my farm...", is something our family says. And, we just let those who are involved work out their own problems.

Surely none of us waste time on the web or texting on our IPhones. How many minutes have been wasted doing that rather than spending precious time talking face to face with our loved ones? Do we spend more time on our personal desires leaving no time for communicating with God either by prayer or reading His word?

Do you waste time thinking about everything you don't have rather than being thankful for the things you do have? Maybe we should appreciate what we do have rather than waste time wanting what someone else has.

A lot of us waste time worrying about mistakes we have made. Those mistakes of the past can't be changed but they can remind us not to make the same one.
I'm sure none of us waste time trying to impress others. When we learn that we don't have to be perfect; that not everyone is going to like us and that's okay, we don't have to waste time worrying about what other people think. As long as the way we live pleases God, we shouldn't worry about what others think.

Ben Franklin once said, " Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of."

Life is too short to be wasted. It has taken me many years to learn this but as I get older, I realize the time I have wasted could have been better spent on much better things. Don't let that happen to you..........

"How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog—now you see it; soon it is gone. " James 4:14 TLB

Let There Be Peace on Earth

" Dear brothers, don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry." James 1:19 TLB

Sy Miller and Jill Jackson were a husband and wife songwriting team. In 1955 they wrote a song about their dream of peace for the world and how they believed each one of us could help create it.

As I hear some people talking during this Christmas season, I wonder just how much peace there is in our homes on Christmas. Peace on earth must begin in our homes. ... Consider what it would be like during the Christmas holidays if the memories created were only of laughter and good times. Too many times, there is ill will among family members and it festers when everyone is together celebrating the holidays.

I have heard the old saying "Never discuss politics or religion with your family." And, in a lot of families, those two subjects seem to be the main topics of conversation during the holidays. Or, in some cases, there are hurt feelings from some perceived mistreatment that happened way back when.

"Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. " 2 Timothy 2:23 NIV

As we gather around the Christmas tree with family, perhaps we should make our New Years resolutions early this year and include the resolve to love our siblings, parents and grandparents with the love of the One who came on Christmas to bring peace to our world.

"Don’t quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible." Romans 12:18 TLB

Catchin' up at Thanksgiving

One of the nice things about Thanksgiving with family is catching up on the little things that have happened throughout the year. Oh, we talk on the phone or we see each other from time to time but there are always those little "feel good" stories that are shared during the holidays that make such an impression.

So, it was this past Thanksgiving when we had the pleasure of being with our young cousin. We don't get to see him very often. He is such an intelligent child; deep t...hinker and mature beyond his years. He has been through a lot for a 4th grader, having lost his mother in an accident when he was very young. His grandparents were raising him when his grandmother passed very suddenly. He has adjusted extremely well in spite of all the losses in his life. It seems the young man loves pets. He has dogs and cats in his home and yet , he takes time to go to the humane society and talk to and pet the animals there. A couple of years ago when his birthday rolled around, he made it known that he had plenty of toys and would much rather anyone who was going to buy him a gift would instead give something to the humane society to help the animals there. Again, this last birthday, a pick up load of things plus a van load were taken to the human society in honor of his birthday.

Isn't this what Thanksgiving and Christmas is all about? Being thankful for what we have and wanting to help others less fortunate?

Perhaps instead of giving gifts to family and friends who most generally have everything they want or need; at least anything we could afford to give them, we would help those who are less fortunate whether it be an animal at the humane society or an individual who is in need.

So proud of my cousin and his unselfishness even though he did make me feel just a bit guilty.

"For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give—large or small—will be used to measure what is given back to you.” Luke 6:38 (TLB)