Observations of Time

We view time so differently throughout the many contexts of our life.  Differently for so many reasons.  There are so many possibilities that influence the way we view time at any given year, day, or even moment of our lives.

Reflections on time gone by:

The way we feel about time when we look back on memories of the past is that it seems like it has gone by faster and faster the longer we live.  Is it because we have compiled so many memories?  Is it because we have filled our time with more and more distractions as the years have gone by?  When I asked my nine year old son what he thought about time, he said, "The last quarter of the year goes by faster than the first three quarters.  I think this is because there is so much more going on."  

The way we feel about time when we are faced with a crisis if often very different.  Twice in her life, one of my daughters has had an ambulance called on her for fear that she may have had a seizure.  The first time was when she was two and I was with her.  She had said from out of nowhere that she wanted Daddy and as I laid her down to change her diaper, she became unresponsive.  I remember calling her name to see if I could get her to respond and then immediately running to the nearby bedroom to get the phone.  I remember the fear I had when I returned while dialing 911 and she was still unresponsive.  I also remember telling the operator that I thought my two-year-old had had a seizure because at that point she was responsive again which helped me to realize what had probably happened.  I know rationally that this all happened very quickly, maybe in two minutes tops.  But when I reflected on it, it felt like so much longer.  I once again experienced the feeling of time going slowly when trying to get to my daughter's school after being notified that an ambulance had been called for her.  Thankfully, it did not turn out to be anything serious in either situation.

A testimony before a Senate subcommittee in 1965 predicted that by 1985, Americans would be working twenty-two hours less and retiring at age thirty-eight because of how much faster work could be accomplished through the use of new technologies.  Instead, by 1985 the average work week had increased from forty-one hours to forty-seven.  We instead became a society that demanded more stuff and that meant that the more you worked, the more money you were able to make in the new materialistic society.  We became a society that abuses the gift of time.  For many, how we prioritize our time, tends to get turned around.  Focusing first on advancing our positions, making more money, and spending it in a variety of ways that we believe fulfill our needs.

Reflections on time as God might view it:

I believe that time to God (if it exists as something to Him at all) is very different than our views of it. He is the beginning and the end.  

I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8  


This makes me believe that time is not necessarily linear to God.  I think this is why it is possible for Him to be all-knowing, knowing about everything that has or that will happen in our lives but also to be able to intercede on our behalf when we have asked and it is within His will (the best plan, even if we don't understand why in these moments).

Present in the Moment

Aaah....the great struggle to be present in the moment.  To truly live in the now.  Some purposely avoid living in the moment because it is painful.  Others believe that the future will be better and so they keep dreaming about tomorrow.  Think of how many times in your life you just wanted to know so badly how it all would turn out.  More times than you can count, I'm sure.  But we're not in our heavenly home yet.  It's not time yet to know how it all turned out.  We're in the thick of the battle. Moment by moment, decision by decision.  

I imagine our lives as a road map far more complicated than any real road map.  But the only parts you see at any given time are each based on all the possible decisions we could make at any given moment.  One of these roads is the one that God would have us choose.  The one that is in line with His will if we choose to be in relationship with Him and allow Him to guide us in our decision.  We may choose His way or we may choose another.  I believe that when we choose a road other than the one He would have us choose, new roads arise with our next decision and the awesomeness of our God is that these new roads always include His road.  He never leaves us.  He is always making a way for us that is good.  Not necessarily easy or only full of happy moments but one that is purposeful, without regrets, brave, meaningful and joy filled no matter what the world throws our way.

Be present.  See in each moment the roads before you and always seek to find the one that God would have you choose.  We all have moments that we choose the wrong roads.  I know that daily I take several side streets that were not God's way.  In my life I have also taken far too many of the wrong main roads and even highways too.  But no matter how much I've made a mess of things and no matter how much the enemy wants me to think I'm stuck in a traffic jam that I can't get out of (that feeling of hopelessness); God makes a way.  Wherever you are on your road map...find God's road.  Find peace there.  Find purpose there.  Find joy there.  Find unconditional love there.

Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Brandon Heath's No Turning Back
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_TGh9-iabM

Patience with Persistence...and always Prayer

I have had some moments over the last year that have left me with lingering feelings about what God would have done in my life.  These moments rush in with a sense of urgency and leave me feeling so grateful that God would entrust me to carry out His will.  I immediately want to throw caution to the wind and act on these feelings but often find roadblocks along the way.  

I have learned the importance of patience and continued trust in God, and more recently, the importance of persistence.  These roadblocks do not necessarily mean that those moments were not of God.  The enemy is constantly at work and would hate to have God's will fulfilled through me.  So I must press on and continue to pray and hear the voice of truth above all the other voices.  

I have also learned that I cannot just sit back and wait for what God spoke to me to fall in my lap.  I must act on it as He directs me to.  Once again, it's gotten hard to keep my priority focused on the Lord....so...I think it's time for peanut butter and jelly prayer (see my previous post Peanut Butter and Jelly, August 24, 2014)!  

This post brought a great song to my mind.  Here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pv5wVS7yzk

The Choice

We all make mistakes.  Some of those mistakes have bigger ramifications than others.  When the regret rolls in and the pain, shame, and feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness start to cloud our view; we have two roads to choose between.  The story of Jesus, His journey to the cross and His relationship with two of His disciples exemplifies this choice.  

Peter and Judas were both his devoted followers and friends.  But Judas had a part to play in God's will so that we all may be eternally saved and live a joyful life.  He betrayed Jesus and sent Him into the hands of those who would torture and kill Him.  Peter also betrays Jesus.  To avoid the same fate as Jesus, he denies ever knowing him.  After Jesus' death, they are both overwhelmed with regret for the choices they made.  But they make two very different choices, one turns toward God and the other away.  Peter allows himself to be forgiven and be used powerfully by God throughout his life.  Judas stays focused on himself and on what he has done.  The darkness continues to grow as he chooses to walk further away from God and he ultimately takes his own life.

I see in their stories how great God's love is.  No matter how bad we screw up, God is always there hoping that we will take the road that Peter did.  He loved Peter and Judas just as much as He loves us, as a parent loves each of their children.  He forgave Peter and used him in amazing ways and He would have forgiven Judas too and used him in amazing ways.  

For every weakness we have, God's spirit is strong.  For every regret we carry, God is merciful to forgive.  When the way is unclear, turn to Him, He is waiting to do amazing things with you.

Staying Connected

I've been feeling a sense of restlessness for the last few weeks and it's been hard to discern why.  I've realized that the difficulty with my ability to discern is most likely caused by my letting the craziness of December get me away from prioritizing my alone time with God.  I hadn't had enough time in relationship with Him and I started to feel the downward spiral from living life more in tune with God to living life out of tune and on my own.  When I started to realize this, I got angry about Christmas.  I seem to have the hardest time staying close to God as the world is supposedly preparing to celebrate the gift of Christ to the world.  There are many contributing factors.  Including that by December I have been back at work for a few months at this point and am not as fresh, the weather is colder and the daylight shorter, and all the added stuff to do.

The fact that I was desiring growth and change but not staying connected to the one who can show me how to make this happen, ended up spelling internal chaos for me instead (and as a result some external too...sorry family!).

I've never been much of a fan of the new year, but in connecting it to renewal with God and giving him each day and moment of 2015, I'm feeling like it's my Christmas.  I will be praying for continued trust and faith but in conjunction with prioritized time in relationship with God.  I believe He will renew me and give me the love, patience, wisdom, trust, and persistence I need to live life in a way that requires faith but leads to greatness for God.