It seems that the most valuable thing we have is our time.  Each day we only have 24 hours.  We know that a certain number of those hours will hopefully be spent sleeping, eating and attending to the basic needs of our body.  I have learned to appreciate my time more and more, and when people take time out of their day for others.

So often we get wrapped up in ourselves, the things that our family needs, and the demands of our career that we forget to take time for others.  (I’m totally guilty of this by the way.)  All around us are family members, friends, church members and others who could truly use a few moments of our time.  Our time provides a blessing to others which in turn provides a blessing to us.

A few weeks ago Jon Acuff wrote a post about priorities and what we are doing with our days.  He recounted an exercise he did with a friend in deconstructing their lives.  They took turns saying something they would miss if they lost it and examining why they would be sad about the loss.  The exercise helps get to the core of your life by peeling back the layers.

For example, if we lost our house it would be a sad thing for sure.  My wife and I designed and had this house built.  Both of our children were babies in this house and we already have so many special memories.  But it is just a house and it is the people inside the house that make it special.  Losing the house would be sad but it’s not the end of the world.

If I were to lose my job in ministry that would be sad as well.  I love the work that I am blessed to do!  But my role as a minister is just a title and much of the work I do is a result of my walk as a Christian.  I would no doubt pick up and figure out something else to do that fits within my goals for life and family.

When we peel back the layers of life, we can compare the way we spend our time with the things we consider to be the most important.  Life can be adjusted.  It might mean big changes.  It might mean doing some scary things.  But in the end we can be a great blessing to many by sharing our time!

An example…

Last night at church we had our Monday Night for the Master program.  We have been doing this program for a few years as an opportunity for our members to get together and be involved in some good works.  Last year I almost gave up on the program and considered asking our church leaders for their permission to shut it down.  This year we have had some of the best attendance and participation we have ever had.  Think of the blessings that would be missed out on if we had shut it down.

The event last night was one of the best we have ever had.  We had a huge and excited group of workers.  We had a team assembling tracts that will be sent around the world, another team writing cards and the quilting group continued their great work of making quilts for a local women’s shelter.  We also had a singing group that went to sing with residents at a local retirement home.  It was a super special night and all those who took some time out of their schedule to participate were a blessing to their fellow workers, the people at the retirement home, and unknown and countless people in our community and around the world.  Our time is truly a blessing to share!

How will you spend your time?

Some of my favorite blogs are about people who are doing amazing things with their time.  I have been following a husband and wife who are traveling the world for a year with their 8, 5, 3 and 1 year old children.  This past summer I vicariously followed along as our friend Suzanne and her children spent the summer helping at an orphanage in China. There is an endless amount of inspiration and encouragement in the stories that people are sharing through their blogs.  My wife and I look to their example for inspiration and encouragement as we try to maintain lives that are a blessing to each other, our children and to those around us.

So we come to a question – How will you spend your time?  There are any number of distractions that waste our most valuable resource.  Have you peeled back the layers of your life to see what is truly important?  Are you using your most precious resource in a way that fits with your priorities?  If you are, keep up the great work!  If you are not, today is the best day to make some changes!  Leave some work undone, watch a little less TV, sleep a little less, do what you can to regain a bit of time and then give it away to the one thing that drives you as a person.  It will be a blessing!

God’s Blessings

Examples of God’s rich blessings can be seen throughout the Bible and in our lives today.  One great example can be found in Genesis 21 with the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah.  You’ll recall that both Abraham and Sarah were well past the age of having children.  So much so that Sarah laughed at the Lord when He promised that she would have a son.  Yet God followed through on His unbelievable promise and does today in our lives as well.  Spend some of that time we have been talking about studying God’s word with your family >>> Week 14 – Faith of Abraham – Part 11

Sharing your time isn’t the only good thing I can think of.  It also helps me A LOT when you share my posts with the buttons below.  Your share helps me harness the power of social media in sharing my message.  With your help, I can build my audience and share a positive and encouraging message about being an involved Dad and parent.  A huge THANK YOU if you click one of the share buttons below!