A Place For The God-Hungry

I have been on Facebook for about a year.  What I absolutely love about Facebook is the opportunity to re-connect with friends from the past.  In the past few months, I have had the opportunity to communicate with Frank, Gary, Debbie, John, Bob, Debbie, Rick, and today — Stan.  I haven’t seen most of these people in decades.  Yet, re-connecting with these people is a special gift because we share a common history and a common memory.  We were a part of a small Christian school in Dallas.

I have been thinking this week about how short life really is.  When I was in junior high school, some days would seem like weeks.  In some ways, time passes so slowly when you are young.  Now?  Now time moves quickly.  Oh, I don’t feel old or even refer to myself as being old.  Yet, I remember passing a mirror not long ago almost startled by the man staring at me.  Yes, it was me inside this man’s body.  But inside?  "I’m still the boy." 

Today, I realize just how valuable time really is.

1.  I don’t have time to waste on things that don’t matter.  I have plenty of time for the things that count.

2.  I don’t have time to get moody, self-centered, and irritable.  I do have time to love my wife and children.

3.  I don’t have time to wallow in the past over what might have
been.  I do have time to focus on what God wants to do in my life today.

4.  I don’t have time to play self-importance games (Whom do you
know?  What kind of house do you live in?  What have your kids
accomplished?  What are you driving?).  I do have time to build up others
and forget myself.

5.  I don’t have time to coddle worldly, immature Christians whose idea
of church is getting their way.  I have plenty of time to love fellow
Christians who may have various opinions.

6.  I don’t have time to be a peacemonger (doing whatever it takes to keep others from getting upset).  I do have time to be a peacemaker (loving people no matter what).

7.  I don’t have time to play it safe and never risk the possibility of discomfort.  I
do have time to trust God who has promised to never leave
me or forsake me.

8.  I don’t have time to whine and blame others for being
obstacles.  I do have time to take responsibility for my own actions and
behavior.

9.  I don’t have time to complain and focus on the negative.  I do
have time to speak a word of hope to people who are overwhelmed by
heartache.

10. I don’t have time to settle for the mediocre.  I do have time to be passionate about what matters most to God.

I would love to hear your response to this.  Is this a familiar theme in your own life?