Precious Time

‎Friday, ‎April ‎16, ‎2021

Good Morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Romans 13:8

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Memory of the month:  And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" —Luke 24:32

Today's reading: 1 SAMUEL 30-31 LUKE 13:23-35

(I want to revisit what I wrote a year ago in the pandemic)

Precious Time

My daughter and her husband had a baby girl on January 13, 2020. Baby Ophelia came into the world with a couple who is consumed with being the best parents they can be. Now, at three months, a sweet girl is smiling and giggling and movin' and groovin' and we get videos of her almost daily.

What a precious time. What a really precious gift of time. Home from work until who knows when-sequestered from the world in social distance-all day long-everyday.

This sounds like torture to some folks but to these two, it is a precious time. I am sure, knowing my daughter, that she and her husband get on each other's last nerve from time to time. This is growing in love-not growing apart.

But what happens when everyone goes back? For folks like these who have been brought face to face with reality so quickly, this cements their relationship forever but there will be a time of returning- a time for some of withdrawal.

For those at home alone, this time is just short of torture. If one has not come to terms with this 'monastic' life, they may run from the quiet forever.

For those in God's family in Christ, this should be a precious time. People wait for long periods to have a short period of quiet and contemplation and we have been afforded by a difficult time for the whole world to have a great time with God in His heart.

King David wrote: My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue....—Psalm 39:3

Another man wrote that no man is qualified to speak for God until he has first listened.

This is not just for teachers and preachers. This is for all-even for those who speak so little. It is an awesome responsibility to preach or teach but these folks are not the only ones who hear from God. Please know that we have all, in Christ, been given the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16 ►for, "Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

In Psalm 39:3 David said 'musing'-that is a period of thought or reflection. His heart burned in the presence of God while his mouth was closed-shut-silent-alone.

The news may be broadcast live but those people are not really in our homes-yes, they are as big as the screens we have but they are not 'alive in our homes'.

God's divine personal presence is alive and speaking in our homes at this very moment if we are desirous enough to listen. Do we even care? God is speaking...have we stopped to listen?

So stop-ask God to please repeat what you have missed...

He wants our attention. He wants us to listen. He wants our hearts to burn within us while our mouths remain silent.

He has a plan for us to speak from the fullness of our hearts-even if it is only a few short words to someone over the telephone-someone who does not know how to handle the lonliness and solitude.(our hearts can only be full if we spend time wisely in God's presence and experience His filling us.)

God desires that our joy be complete-

4 Abide in me, and I in you.

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15

Time at home is a gift that must be opened and used-learning to abide and muse and burn...

(This year: How did you do with the 'free' time during the pandemic? You still have the same 24 hours in a day you had last year as always. God is still here and still wants for us to hear Him speak. He still longs for us to sit with Him in His love. Please don't miss this-to be in the presence of The Eternal who loves you perfectly and endlessly)

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

I confess I have not used my time wisely. Teach me to muse-to be quiet and listen. Give me courage to speak for You.

Mighty God of peace and joy.

In the name of Jesus,

 Amen