Monday, March 12, 2012

March Blog Chain


Welcome to the March edition of the Christian Writer's blog chain. If you have followed along with us we have different topics each month- this month topic Savor has proven to be educational as well as challenging. Please follow my fellow bloggers on the list on the right sidebar. Thank you for your continued support!



Savoring Time

In my youth, time was my enemy. It caused me to wait for this and that. The weekend seemed like an eternity away and Summer, well it never seemed to arrive. Time was the thing holding me back from my goal of a certain adventures, vacations, sleep overs and birthdays. As time continued forward, it seemed to gain momentum, the days seemed to end more quickly, weeks and months followed suit. The next thing I know, I'm attending my twentieth year class reunion. Where did it go? What changed?

Time is a relative constant within a blink of an eye, difference. I know I didn't blink that much! So if time didn't change, then I am the variable, I must have changed. But how? I've thought about this and the only reasonable explanation I can conceive is familiarity. I knew what to expect, but that really doesn’t explain the speed.

“The Lord remembers we are like flowers, here today and gone tomorrow” (Isaiah 40:6-8)

Isn't that the truth, at this speed, my time will be over. Many have tired to manipulate time in many ways, either by ignoring it or being trapped by it. Our memory of times past can be a blessing or a curse. 

Some people get trapped in bad memories, which destroy their future. Those who have received the Word of God and believe the truth of our lives, cast all their cares upon him. They have trusted the Lord to do all he said.

Those who ignore time are often caught up in self destruction. They wonder blindly thought their time refusing to believe for anything better. Time is consumed in bitterness, despair, anger towards God and other people. I lived this way for many years. My time was consumed in self indulgence. Once I came into this wonderful relationship, I discovered how much I didn't understand and how much time I wasted.

The Apostle Paul came into this same realization. Many times he mourned his past mistakes of persecuting the church. He testified about this in many letters he wrote to the churches, I believe as encouragement to those who mourned their ignorance of God and his ways.

“No, my dear brothers and sisters, I am not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God through Christ is calling us up to heaven” Philippians 3:13-14

I believe time is a great gift and a testament to the wisdom of God. In whatever time he allocated for each of us, we have a special purpose to give glory to God in the time and talents he has given. It is a shame to waste one moment- but to savor the gift.

“All my days are written in your book” Psalms 139:16

Today, time is no longer the dreaded enemy that caused me trouble in my youth, it's become an old friend. I race to keep pace to accomplish the things the Lord has for me to do- it's a focus, a goal something to be enjoyed.


34 comments:

Pegg Thomas said...

Our concept of time certainly does change as we age! Good thoughts here.

Traci B said...

Good post, Terrie. A great reminder not to waste my time today, especially since I'm trying to get an ebook launched before I go to bed tonight! Thanks for the encouragement to savor the time and use it wisely.

chris said...

Very nicely written Terrie! Our time is a treasure to be enjoyed... love this reminder!!

Victor Travison said...

I know when I see somebody from my past after years of absence, I'm surprised at the gray hair, added pounds, and multiple wrinkles. They never had those before!

I think we become so used to passing time, we don't realize we're gradually changing. I'm sure many of the friends I used to know are surprised at my gray hairs and older appearance as well. Your Scriptures were more than appropo.

Thanks for a great article.

~ VT

From Carols Quill said...

It's a constant battle to forget the past. I made soooo many mistakes. Paul gave us such a great example for living like Christ. Thank you for this reminder today. Well said.

Debra Gray-Elliott said...

Thank you so much for sharing this post. I enjoyed reading it very much..

Unknown said...

@Pegg-Thank you for your comment.I still don't understand why times seems to speed up as we get older. I was hoping you had learned the secret to slow it down...LOL

Unknown said...

@ TracyB- Praying for the success of your eBook! Thank you for your comment and encouragement. Time is a precious commodity.

Unknown said...

@Chris-Thank you for stopping by and blessings to you!

Unknown said...

@Victor-I still struggle with the image I see looking back at me in the mirror-a few grey hairs, little more chin and a new crop of wrinkles...LOL I still feel like I did 30 yrs ago..Blessings Bro

Unknown said...

@Carol- Thank you for you love and support! Memory is such a glory to God-That's where we treasure Him- but the ugliness of past sins sometimes overwhelms the sweetness of the wonderful things he has done. I was very encouraged by Paul's writing and I know that was straight from the Lord's mouth. He forgave us- wiped the slate clean- we have to honor him by forgiving our selves. That's one of the devil's strategies - is to keep us living in the rear view mirror! Blessings & Strength to overcome!

Unknown said...

@ Debra - thank you for stopping by and commenting! Blessings for your future endeavors

Tracy Krauss said...

I love the thought that 'all our days are written on His book'. thanks for the reminder to savor each moment.

SandiGrace said...

Hi Terrie,

Thank you for this thoughtful post. You said, "...we have a special purpose to give glory to God in the time and talents he has given."

You know, whenever I studied Jesus' parable of the ten talents, I don't think I ever applied it to our usage of time. While your post did not specifically make the connection; it did help me to (finally) do so.

Fear of failure is a great paralyzer, and therefore a great time-waster.

Good job. :)

Michael Johnson said...

Flat out solid post. I love your first line "In my youth, time was my enemy." This is so insightful.

Unknown said...

@SandiGrace- Thank you for stopping by and commenting! You know that I wasn't considering Jesus' sermon, but I am so glad that you made that connection! Praise God! I love the way He speaks to us even through other's thoughts and words. I am humbled and blessed at the same time>

Unknown said...

@Mike- Thank you for your encouragement. Time did seem to be an enemy, something that taught us patience I guess - LOL. Blessings Brother

Adam Collings said...

I can identify with this. The first twenty years of my life stretched out forever. The next ten went by in the blink of an eye. Then, somehow another 4 went past and I find myself wondering what happened. I suspect that the 30 mark is where it really hits you because that's when you realise that your perception of time is changing.

Thank you for this great reminder - especially the passage from Phillippians 3:13-14. We can waste so much time feeling guilt, shame, even embarrassment over the past - but God is not a God of the poast.

Jack Brown said...

what a super post
in a world full of time savers take time to savour time
biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig hug

Unknown said...

@Tracy- I think it's so cool that the Lord is so aware of our lives, so much so to know every twist and turn is noted. Just one more piece of evidence we are not alone. Thank you so for your loving thoughts.

Unknown said...

@Adam Amen and Thank you for stopping by and commenting. It is such a wonderful blessing to know that God not the accuser of our past, but the cheerleader of our future!

Unknown said...

@ Jackie Biiiiiiig hugs to you my brother and thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. Yes, savoring time and using it wisely for the glory of the Lord, should be our highest goal. Peace & many blessings :)

Christine L.Henderson said...

Savoring time -- not something I feel I can do right now. I've finally had my licensing approved by the state to work and I'm trying to do as much as I can to learn the ropes. Thus it makes for midnight writing now. Soon though I hope to catch on and can moderate more.

Unknown said...

Thank you Christine for taking a moment from your hectic schedule to comment. Congrats on receiving your license - I pray the Lord gives you peace and strength to accomplish the tasks at hand.

Debra Gray-Elliott said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog and your thoughtful comments.

Cindee Snider Re said...

To see time as a gift is such a beautiful blessing. To know that our days were written in His book before one of them came to be proffers peace! To savor each moment in our relationship with God is nothing short of absolutely priceless. Beautiful post, Terrie. :)

Kristena Tunstall said...

This was truly beautiful. It wrote something about time after my daughter died. Time can be looked at some many different ways. I loved how you put all of this in here.

MGalloway said...

Good post! It's interesting, too, how God can still make use of periods in our lives that we thought were "wasted time".

Unknown said...

@ Debra - It is my pleasure to support my fellow Christian writers- keep up the good work!

Unknown said...

@Kristena- Thank you for your thoughtful comment and taking time to visit. I've found especially during times of loss, we really tend to look at time as a precious commodity. I mourn your loss. May the Lord continue to heal your heart.

Unknown said...

@Cindee- Thank you for your beautiful comment-I am glad that it touched your heart. Blessings and peace!

Unknown said...

@Mike- I too find it amazing that the Lord uses our shortsightedness to bring glory to His name. He is the only one that turns ashes into beauty. Peace always

Deborah K. Anderson said...

Great post, Terrie. Puts things in perspective. Thank you.

Unknown said...

@Deborah thank you for stopping by and commenting. It brings joy to my heart to know the words I use blesses someone :)