time well spent

What counts as time well spent? 
Does it have to be something profound? Does it have to be intentional? What makes something count for eternity?

Christmas break is a good time to test myself and my use of time. I heard a statement once that the true test of a man is what he does when he has nothing to do. Ouch.
When you have "nothing to do," what do you do? Read? Play video games? Facebook?
I'm pondering what it means to spend my time well, to redeem the time as Paul describes it in Ephesians. If I have 24 hours in a day, 7 days a week, for (Lord willing) approximately 70 years...that's really not that much time.
So what's a good use of time?
Something I won't regret tomorrow. Something that I won't regret when I'm 50 years old. Something that counts for eternity.
There are only a few things that count for eternity. God. The Word of God. People.
Time really well spent is time pursuing my relationship with God and my relationship with the people He has put in my life.
My mom likes to say that quality time is both quality and quantity. Sometimes it is short, but purposeful and deep. Other times...it's just time! Time laughing together. Time chatting over coffee. Time discussing Scripture. Time singing around the piano. Time playing Legos. Time crocheting. Time rubbing shoulders. Time listening. Time crying.
Times like these are what deepen relationships with my family and friends.
Time with God is vitally important as well. Time talking to Him. Time reading His Word. Time memorizing His Word. Time sitting still and knowing that He is God. Time singing to Him. Time serving His people.
This is time well spent.
Over Christmas break, I am going to try to spend my time well. I sure won't spend every moment  wisely, but my goal is to look back with fondness, having made memories that will last a lifetime and deepening relationships that will last forever.

Day 7: 5 Things you couldn't possibly live without!

1. MY GOD - He is my LIFE, my very breath! Without Him, I would curl up and die or explode into a ball of fire!  He is my Savior, my best Friend, my Comforter, my EVERYTHING! I cannot overemphasize that HE is my GOD and I couldn't possibly live without HIM!
2. The Word of GOD- The Bible. Through this living book, I can KNOW God!  I can see what He is like, what He has promised, what His plan is for my life, what I am to do when I am discouraged, hurting or joyful...without it, I would have no direction, hope or satisfaction! It is the delight of my soul.
3. My family - is the BEST! I have godly parents whose goal in life is to honor God, love and serve one another, and raise us with a vision to do the same! I am in the small minority in having an amazing family like that! I have one older sister, three younger sisters, and two little brothers--who are all my best friends:) I love everyone in my family for their individuality, their personal desire for God, and the way they make my life so fun!!!! I can't imagine life without them:)
4. Food - I really couldn't  live without this:) But I'm also really thankful that God made it so yummy, especially coffee, chocolate, peanut butter, berries, pomegranates, grapefruit, buttery rolls, delicious salads with blue cheese dressing...God made life so enjoyable!
5. My brothers and sisters in Christ - every where I go, I can find believers and it's like a family reunion!  I love it! I can feel at home anywhere because the church is universal and the love of Christ is so powerful!
6. (yes, I'm cheating and adding another...) Water. I would die if I didn't have it, but it's so delicious and pure and satisfying. No other drink satisfies my thirst, and I can never drink enough of it! I'm so thankful that God made something so necessary to our bodies, so refreshing!

For My Father On His Birthday

Dearest Daddy~

I thank God again and again for giving you to me as my father. You are a wonderful example to me in so many ways. You love God with an passion and devotion that is evident. You love His Word to such a degree that I am ashamed of my own luke-warmness. You pursue excellence and urge us all to do the same.

I am so thankful for your leadership in our family. In the past few years, you have truly become our priest, prophet, protector and provider. You are to me a counselor, friend, and protector, and I cannot imagine life without your humor and “weirdocities”:)

Thank you for your faithful prayers for me, and your constant support and encouragement in all that I attempt to do.


“For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” 1 Thess. 2:11-12

I Love You!

Your daughter,

Sophie

So much to be thankful for....

Thanksgiving is two days away!  Unbelievable! The year 2010 is almost coming to a close.
I know that we should not be thankful ONLY at Thanksgiving, but I am thankful for the reminder:) It is one of those things I often forget.
So at these time of year, I make it a point to INTENTIONALLY and PURPOSEFULLY remember what I have to be thankful for.

• My God and Heavenly Father--Who He is: His Essence and Attributes, What He has done, What He is doing, and What He will do in the future!
• My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ-Who is God and yet came in the form of a servant, in the likeness of man, with the sole purpose of redeeming those who would believe in His perfect life, His miracles, His words, His sacrificial death, His magnificent resurrection, His ascension to the Right hand of God, His Intercession on my behalf before God, and His Imminent resurrection of the believing dead and snatching up of the believers who are alive and remain
• A 100% guaranteed eternal life with my God!
• The Helper, the Holy Spirit- Whom the Father sent to comfort, illumine, protect, remind, strengthen, empower and encourage me, Who helps me in my weakness when I do not know what to pray for as I ought
• The Word of God--His VERY WORDS--which is my guidebook, treasure, and song; in which every word is profitable, and it gives me all I need to life and godliness; it is a fountain deep, in which I could dive forever and never reach the bottom; a lamp to my feet, showing me where I err, and a light to my path, showing me where to go;  it is a living and powerful sword, piercing into the very center of who I am, showing me the truth of my sin, and yet my position in Christ: justified; it never returns void, accomplishes what it pleases, and prospers in the thing for which it was sent; it will never pass away; it is Truth, by which I can know Christ and be found in Him; it is my joy and my heart's delight
• The Creation of God- which bears witness to a perfect, holy, creative God Who desired a universe that reflected His majesty to bring glory to His name; for the heavens--full of stars, planets, galaxies, solar systems; for the sky--full of clouds, sending forth rain and snow, lightning and thunder; for the beauty of the earth--the trees, flowers, mountains, grasses, valleys, rivers, oceans, waterfalls, volcanos, caves, and deep water trenches; for the creatures--of every shape and size--insects, elephants, birds, bats, spiders, butterflies, dogs, cats, penguins, lizards, frogs, beavers, hedgehogs, moles, giraffe, deer, mice, eagles, ants, fish, dolphins, whales, squids, and starfish;  for the men made in His image--who speak in thousands of tongues, look completely different from one another but have His image in common, and who have this creation clearly manifest to them, so that they are without excuse.
• My parents --who love God with all their heart soul and mind, and teach His words to their children diligently, while they sit in their house, when they walk by the way, when they lie down and when they rise up; who desire that their children be rooted and grounded in the ways of the Lord, so that when they are old, they will not depart from it
• My four sisters--all of whom are dear treasures and pillars in the house of God; who are all walking the narrow way, seeking to become women of virtue and excellence, being conformed to the image of His Son.
• My two little brothers--for the joy and humor they bring to my life!  For their deep thoughts and tender hearts; for their desire to serve God with their lives and "tell people about Jesus;"  for their delight in small things that escape my notice
• My extended family--who love God and are such a delight to be with; for our many times of laughter, sharing, and happiness
• My friends--of whom there are so many who encourage and rebuke me, laugh and cry with me, trust me enough to share their hearts and their sincerity in listening to and praying for me
• My church family-who, for the past six years, have been so supportive and encouraging; from whom I have learned so much and cherish them all
• My warm house--where I know I am always at home
• Bountiful food--of which there is always enough
• Clean, fresh water--because I know so many don't have it
• Plenty of clothes--more than I need
• Good health--I cannot take this for granted when so many are sick and struggle with lifelong diseases
• Opportunites to serve and bless others that I may reflect to them Christ, my Savior
• Freedom and prosperity in this country--which so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ do not have; 
• For the heritage of faith that was the foundation of this country; for those who have sacrificed everything that I might live in this freedom; for those brave men and women who were willing to travel to a foreign land so that they and their posterity might be free to worship as they please, which is why I can publicly post this blog and say, without fear, that I am a follower of Jesus Christ, bound to live and die in for Him, no matter what happens.  

And if some day, I am not able to have the "temporal things" on this list, I will still be grateful, "for I know whom I believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day."

I KNOW that He is Faithful, and I will always have something to be thankful for.

Not "Normal"

My brain and heart are full of things to say this morning.  I want to wax eloquent on so many issues...but I decided on this one.

Last night my dad took my 13-year-old sister and I on a daddy daughter since my mom and younger siblings are visiting our grandparents. We went to a mall and ate supper at Panera bread. 
Do you ever feel like you stand out? Do you ever get this lightning bolt feeling that you are not normal?  I did last night.
Not that I haven't felt this before, but I haven't been to the mall in awhile:)  All over there were clusters of teenagers and middle schoolers, dressed in things that I blushed to even see and would never wear, and behaving in a way that shocked me. Not that I've never seen such things before, of course I have! I live in a fallen world, and though my parents protect us from as much of the wicked out there as possible, I am still exposed to people and the way people act and dress. 
Should I be ashamed of this?  Should I cower and cringe and say, "Oh, I guess that's just how the world is, and I must be too sheltered"?  Should I be ashamed that sin still shocks me and I abhor it? 
No! And I am not ashamed!  What breaks my heart is that these young people don't know any different! They think they are normal!
And so I ask, "What is normal?"  Or maybe the question should be,
                                                                                                           "What should be normal?"
Modesty should be normal. 
In a perfect, unfallen world, women would not dress in such a way that men can see their every curve and that would cause them to stumble.  If everyone lived as God intended for them based on what we see in the scripture, would I be keeping my eyes on the floor or ceiling as we pass by certain stores? 
Family should be normal.
How many families did I see at the mall last night, one, two? And those were young couples who were dragging their screaming children through to the movie theater.  I saw many clusters of young people, hanging all over one another, and couples who I can't imagine were married, and groups of middle aged ladies taking a break from hectic schedules by gossiping with their friends and spending their husband's hard-earned money....okay, so they may not all be like that!  But where are the families? Does the fact that I see few families encourage me to spend my time at the mall? Or should the fact it doesn't seem like a family event discourage me from frequenting it?
My family is important to me, and I believe that it is the building block of society.  But the mall and all places like it are focused on self! Not that you can't have a good time there (we did!) but it is not an atmosphere that encourages building relationships or glorifying Christ!
Contentment should be normal.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content!" 1 Timothy 6:6-7
I really don't intend to give a guilt trip to anyone who enjoys a trip to the mall, I really don't! But when we really think and consider what the mall teaches us....it might help us question whether it is a valuable use of time!  ("Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is, redeeming the time because the days are evil.")
If you think that the mall (or more precisely, the world's way of seeing things) is not trying to draw you in, to make you want more and more and to think that you can't be happy without that pair of shoes....you're wrong.  We must be sober and vigilant because we are not going for a picnic in the park...we're in a war! And the enemy is not honest or kind, but deceitful and sneaky and evil! The world ( and the Father of it) loves to see us distracted from what really matters: Christ! Why? Because when we are content with Christ, we do not need the things of the world!
I am in the midst of reading, "The Pursuit of God," by A.W. Tozer for the second time, and yesterday I was struck by this thought. "The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One."
Being content in Christ does not mean that we are excluded from having fun, or rejoicing, or being passionate about anything else, but when we are wholly committed to following Christ, He gives us the capacity to enjoy much! 

I need to get off the computer, but in closing, consider that we typically judge "normalcy" by the company we keep.  If our friends act or dress in a certain way, we think that is normal.  But what if we weren't bound by "normalcy" at all, what if instead of thinking "do I fit in or stick out?" we thought, "How does my behavior reflect on Christ and my family? Can people tell instantly that something about me is different and that I have a freedom to not be normal?"

Joh 15:18:19 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
If Jesus says we should not be surprised that the world hates us, why should we be surprised if the world looks at us funny, or be cause we are different than them? 

Eph 5:1 "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children."
Who are we trying to mimic, the world or Jesus Christ?