Thursday, July 18, 2013

Choices

My summer has being flying by as they seem to do. As I age, I feel as though they go faster and faster. The past few weeks, have been filled with important and time worthy things. Our kids got their wisdom teeth removed and needed help after surgery. Then one of them got a double infection and needed some extra appointments and care. We also had a camp at church, which I helped with and then we brought Maggie home. During this time I sensed something was missing. I didn't know what it was. It was hard to put a finger on. I wasn't sure if I was tired, so I took naps, still didn't feel right. Then I thought, maybe I am not eating enough because of caring for others. No, that wasn't it. Then I thought maybe I just had to get used to my kids being home more and not in school right now. Still not it. Then while taking a walk with Maggie, I looked at the spot I often sat and talked to God at. It is a small hill that looks out over our property and I enjoy the sunsets. It had been weeks since I did that. Then later that evening, I looked at "my chair". You know, the spot you curl up in and get caught up in the pages and lose all track of time. And it all came together. I had chosen the past few weeks to put off time with God. Yes, I prayed throughout the day and I read quick things here and there, but I mean a time with God. My heart ached for it and I missed it. I remember when I sat in my chair and opened my bible it was as if I was home. That feeling went away. I found what was missing. I get encouraged and renewed strength when I read scripture. No wonder I was tired. I was running on my own time. I also listened to my iPod for the first in weeks and took in the words. A song that kept coming to mind, played. It is one from years ago by Robin Mark. It is called: "When Its All Said and Done". If you are not familiar with the song, it asks the listener several questions. Some are: when your life is over what do you have to show for it? Did you live a life for truth and did you do your best to live a life for Christ? All our treasures mean nothing in the end, only what we did for love's reward will stand the test of time. God takes sinners and makes them saints. Heaven is our true home.

We also had our wheat harvested this week and it reminded me of the times in scripture things are compared to the wheat/grain being sifted. What is left, is of value, the chaff blows away.




Where am I going with all this? Well, I have prayed about what to write and I have two thoughts going through my mind, that I hope will challenge or encourage you. They are this. What type choices do I and you make each day? What are we choosing and why? In a matter of weeks, Satan had me so busy doing good things, I didn't realize how quickly I was not focusing on God. I was busy. Busy with stuff that mattered some, but some of it was just stuff. When my life is over I will need to answer for the way I spent my time. I am grateful that the Holy Spirit kept nudging me, till I realized what I was doing. I can have a full calendar with things that look great to people, but if God was looking at the list, would He be impressed? I can't do enough things to impress God, but I can feel at peace and not out of sorts when the things I am doing are His will for my life. I find His will by reading His Word and spending time in prayer. I see how people think they don't have time for God, but some day, they and I will need to answer for what we did with all the time we had. Some people think when they get older that is when they will give back to God. Or when life slows down then they will spend more time doing the things they know they should be doing now. But here is the part they are missing, how much time do I have? Some people have 20 years some 90 years. No one but God knows the amount of time you have. That was the part I kept thinking about after the song. When it is all said and done, what really matters and what have I done with it?

The wheat reminds me my deeds will be sifted. I want my time to have meant something. I want good things to come out of this time I have been given. I don't want them to all blow away like chaff. I am not perfect, nor would I try to be. But I think there are times we come to cross-roads in life and we need to every now and then stop and ask ourselves, "what does God want me doing at this season of my life". Maybe the answer is to keep on keepin on. Sometimes though, He has changes in mind and we need to be open to that. Sometimes we work hard at something with very little earthly return for our time. But we need to remember some day, we will stand before God and answer for what we have done. Yes, we are to take vacations and take breaks. Yes, He helped me get my puppy. Yes, I needed to take care of my family. But you know what, I spent hours watching movies and TV, when I could have and should have snuck away for some quiet time with Him. He gave me the options, and for weeks, I didn't chose Him, I chose stuff. We all makes choices each and every day. I am grateful to serve a God who understands and forgives us when we stray or avoid time with Him. He welcomes us with open arms. What type of choices are you making this week, ones that will stand the test of time or ones that will blow like the chaff of wheat?

2 comments:

  1. Very good devotional! Thank you for your thoughts, they are the words I needed to hear this week from God! Thank you for letting Him use you in this way!

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    1. Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. He lays on my heart what to write because He knows who will be reading them and when. I am glad they helped you this week and all praise goes to Him!

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