Tag Archives: Time

This is the Day

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One of the concepts of scripture that has always meant a lot to me was the notion of God’s time.

What do I mean by that?

God has a way of working all things out, just at the right time. Time is a big deal in Scripture. For example:

Jesus was born in the fullness of time, according to the Gospels. That means at just the exact and precise moment, He was born.

He appeared to be late to the tomb of His friend Lazarus, but in fact, He arrived at the exact moment He needed to.

Forty days on the Ark (Noah), Forty years in the wilderness (Moses), Forty days being tempted in the desert (Jesus).

Notice a theme here?  Notice how God works things out at the just the right time?

One of today’s readings hits on that as well. This is from Ester 4:

Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”

Esther was the queen of Persia and her people, the Jews, were about to be destroyed.  At great peril to her self, she came the king and told him of the plot, and her people were saved.

God had placed her where she was for just that moment.  At just the right time, she was where she needed to be. God had worked the time out just perfect.

It is not accident you were are you are today.  Perhaps God has you in the job you have, with the people you are around, with the status you have, with the influence you have, for just this time.

Perhaps God has something amazing for you today, that no one else could accomplish.

Perhaps this is not all by chance. But, in fact, God is at work.

It was for such a time as this, God has you here.

What are you called to today? What steps does God have for you today? Where are you being called today?

Today is no accident. This is not fluke.  It is for this moment you are here.

Let us be faithful in all God has called us to be!

Higher

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I have my plans.  I know what I want to do.  I know when I want to do it.

I have a schedule.

I’ve got it all figured out.  I know how I want it to all play out.

And, sometimes it does.

Most of the time my schedule works, my plans work, everything goes as I think it should go.

But not all the time. Sometimes things don’t work the way I want them to work.

Sometimes my schedule isn’t working. Sometimes things don’t come in the way or on the schedule that I’d like for them to.

And in those times, that’s went it’s good for me to remember what God said in Isaiah:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, *
nor your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, *
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God’s ways are higher than mine.  God’s plans are higher than mine. God’s ideas, God’s schedule, God’s purpose is higher than mine.

And, a lot of the time, it’s not the way or time or the anything that’d I’d like it to be.

That’s ok.  It’s not about me. It’s not about my plan or my schemes.

It’s about God’s.

Even when it doesn’t work according my schedule.

There’s a higher schedule.  It’s God’s schedule.

God’s plan.  God’s vision. God’s dream.

It’s a higher plan.

And instead of trying to get God to work according to my plans and schedules, I need to work according to His plan and schedule.

For it’s the higher one.

Today, even if it’s not working according to your plan, that’s ok.

There’s higher plan than even ours  – God’s!

Just in Time

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I’m a schedule person. I put everything that needs to be done into my phone. I joke with church folk that if I don’t put the things that I need to do in my phone, it’s not going to get done.  I’ve got a schedule that I keep, things I check off my to list, places to go, people to see.  Wesley said don’t be trifling with you time, and I try not to be.

So, there’s nothing that irritates me about myself more than when I’m late for something. I’m normally on time for stuff, or early, but man oh man, I’ve had a run of lunch meetings recently where I leave the office just a few minutes later than I’d like then, bam, I’m late.

That always drives me crazy when I do that.

No one likes it when folks are late.

Particularly when we feel like God is late.

We’ve got our schedule. We’ve got our time that everything is supposed to happen on. We’ve got ideas about how things are supposed to run.  We’ve got our plans!

And, God doesn’t always work on time frame, does He?  He doesn’t always do things the way or in the time we’d like, does He?

His way is different than our way, His time is different than our time.

I was reminded of that while reading Psalm 102

12 But you, O LORD, endure for ever, *
and your Name from age to age.
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to have mercy upon her; *
indeed, the appointed time has come.

The appointed time has come.  Perhaps not in the time the people would like.  But, the time God has appointed. The time God has desired. The time God has planned.

God is never later.  God’s clock is just different from our clock.

God works things out in the time and in the way that they need to work out.  Maybe not in the time and in the way that we’d choose. But in the time and in the way that is best.

Today, trust.  Even if we think God is late.  Even if things are not coming on our schedule.

Trust.

God is never late.  He is always on time.  Even if we don’t realize it at the time.

A Short Week

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About the only downfall of a long weekend is that it produces a short week.

You’re thinking, no, Andy, a short week is also a good thing.

It is, in some ways. But, in others it’s not.

At least for me.

I get so focused on getting everything done that I need to get down that I find myself rushed, I find myself unfocused, I find myself not really paying attention to what matters most.

I got so focused on trying to get done the things that I have to do, I feel like I’m so short of time, I forget what I really need to focus on.

So, I really needed to hear the words of Psalm 119 this morning:

15 I will meditate on your commandments *
and give attention to your ways.
16 My delight is in your statutes; *
I will not forget your word.

I will not forget your word.  A powerful statement. We are not going to forget about God forever, I know.

But sometimes, with deadlines coming, and tasks to accomplish, and things that have to get done, we forget.

We forget to slow ourselves. Pray.  Listen.  Remember His word.

I know you’ve got a busy day today. Lots to do. Meetings and worries and all sorts of stuff.

I know it’s a short week.

Don’t forget. Don’t forget to slow yourself. Don’t forget to take time to listen. Don’t forget that God is there, even in a busy short week.

Don’t forget His word.  Don’t forget Him.  Listen. Seek.  Knock. And you will find.

Don’t forget what really matters.