OUR TIME
We know time as years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds. We
are always very much aware of the date and the time .. that is why we are
always marking our calendars, checking our diaries, always looking at our
watches, always saying "O, how the time flies" or "I don't
have time". Maybe in some situations we say, "time passes too
slowly, when will this be over?" Often we say "I will do it
tomorrow, or next week, or
" But the Bible says:" You don't
know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen
for a moment and then disappears. Instead, you should say, "If the
Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans." (Jam 4:14,15
GW). God fixed beforehand the exact times that we will live (Acts 17:26)
and HE says "Can any of you add a single hour to your life by
worrying?" (Matt 6:27 GW) - our times are in His hand: "Hour by
hour I place my days in your hand" (Ps 31:15 MSG)
GOD'S TIME
He created and controls time and seasons.
As long as the world exists, there will be a time for planting and a time
for harvest. There will always
be cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night." (Gen 8:22 GNB)
He lives forever and will rule until the end of
time
But you, O LORD, are King forever and will rule to the end of time. (Lam
5:19 GNB)
I praise and honour God Most High. He lives forever, and his kingdom will
never end. (Dan 4:34 CEV)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Heb 13:8 GNB)
God's time doesn't tick in the seconds that we
know
You've got all the time in the world - whether a thousand years or a day,
it's all the same to You. (Ps 90:4 MSG)
A thousand years to You are like one day (Ps 90:4 GNB)
GOD'S TIMING
We now that God's timing is always perfect
He is always on time: He
provides what we need at the right time, He saves us at the right time, He
answers our prayers at the right time - His time is the right time, even
if we do not understand His timing, there will come a day that we will
confess that His time was the best time.
Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.
(Ecc 3:1 GNB)
"Be encouraged my friend, He'll never let you
down, He is on time, I know He'll answer your prayer. The Lord is always
on time.
Don't you ever give in, if you hold on to Him, then He will meet you at
the point of your need. The Lord is always on time.
The Lord is always on time, He may not come when you want nor when you
expect Him, but the Lord is always on time, on time, the Lord is always on
time"
It is beautiful how God has done everything at the
right time. (Ecc 3:11 GW)
.. He will lift you up in his own good time. (1Pet 5:6 GNB)
He has made everything beautiful in its time. (Ecc 3:11 ESV)
THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING
l a time to be born and a time to die
l a time to plant and a time to pull out what was planted
l a time to kill and a time to heal
l a time to tear down and a time to build up
l a time to cry and a time to laugh
l a time to mourn and a time to dance
l a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them
l a time to hug and a time to stop hugging
l a time to start looking and a time to stop looking
l a time to keep and a time to throw away
l a time to tear apart and a time to sew together
l a time to keep quiet and a time to speak out
l a time to love and a time to hate
l a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecc 3:2-8 GW)
TOO BUSY?
Does busy perhaps mean
.
B eing
U nder
S atan's
Y oke ?
Always focus on doing the important things rather than the urgent things.
TODAY IS THE DAY
.
Hear what God says: "When the time came for Me to show you favour, I
heard you; when the day arrived for Me to save you, I helped you."
Listen! This is the hour to receive God's favour; today is the day to be
saved! (2Cor 6:2 GNB)
Today is the day that you can accept Jesus as your Saviour, today is the
day that you can be set right with God through the blood of Jesus Christ,
today is the day that you can say YES and invite Jesus into your life to
wash away every sin, to be the Lord of your life, today is the day that
you can receive eternal life as a free gift from God, TODAY! But by the
free gift of God's grace all are put right with Him through Christ Jesus,
who sets them free. (Rom 3:24 GNB)
Do not delay
. Tomorrow may never come; today can be your last chance!
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. (Heb 4:7 ESV)
Now it's time to change your ways! Turn to face God so He can wipe away
your sins and pour out showers of blessing to refresh you. (Acts 3:19 MSG)
It is time for you to turn to Me, your LORD, and I will come and pour out
blessings upon you. (Hos 10:12 GNB)
MAKE GOOD USE OF THE TIME
The only time you have to make the right choice or to do a good deed is
NOW.
So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get.
These are desperate times! (Eph 5:15-16 MSG);
. always make good use of
the time. (Col 4:5 CEV)
So, if you want to tell someone that you love them, or thank someone for
something, or give someone a gift, or write someone a letter, go and do it
NOW.
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME?
Our people should learn to spend their time doing something useful and
worthwhile. (Tit 3:14 CEV)
Spend time in learning, fellowship and prayer (see Acts 2:42)
Lets take after the example of Dorcas: She spent all her time doing good
and helping the poor.
(Acts 9:36 GNB)
. so that those who believe in God may be concerned with giving their
time to doing good deeds. (Tit 3:8 GNB)
. give your time and effort to the public reading of the Scriptures and
to preaching and teaching. (1Tim 4:13 GNB)
They spent all their time in the Temple praising God. (Luk 24:53 MSG)
Be ready to spread the word whether or not the time is right. (2Tim 4:2
GW)
And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called
"today." (Heb 3:13 CEV)
MY LIFETIME
ONLY A PUFF OF WIND
In comparison with eternity our lifetime is very short. The Bible
describes it as a puff of wind, no more than a shadow, it fades away like
a whisper, lasts no longer than a dream.
"He has put a sense of eternity in people's minds." (Ecc 3:11
GW) - we need this sense of eternity, so that we can be able to
concentrate on things that have eternal value, rather than only worry
about the things that are here and now: "So I tell you to stop
worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than
food and the body more than clothes?" (Matt 6:25 GW)
"So don't ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry
about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(Matt 6:34 GW)
TESTIMONY: MY TIME WITH GOD AND HIS PERFECT
TIMING FOR ME
Time cannot be measured by means of seconds, minutes, hours and days. When
I was still outside I didn't have much time to listen to God. I had
problems, asked Him for help, but immediately try to solve it myself. I
didn't trust God, as I should have. I started stealing money from my
employer and every time God said STOP! IT IS WRONG! But I carried on. My
way was the wrong way and didn't solve my problems, in fact, my problems
only became bigger. I was sentenced and thought "God, why? What do
You want from me" After quite some time He answered me "TIME
WITH YOU
you were too busy outside to listen to Me. Now I've put you
in this special place to spend time with you" This doesn't mean that
I sit with my Bible 24 hours a day, locked up alone in my room, but being
in a relationship with God wherever I am. Whether I am taking out the
dustbins, queuing for food parade or cleaning my room, I can speak to God.
I can take every problem to Him, asking for help
. And at the right
time He answers. Then, I really realized why I am here. Yes, to serve my
sentence, but also to spend special TIME WITH GOD. I don't focus on the
length of my sentence anymore, but on the time I can spend with Jesus, my
Saviour. He is so faithful to me and gives me His grace and mercy, which I
do not deserve.
In the beginning I felt that I had no future, but I could see a light at
the end of the tunnel
it was His light. He leads me everyday, I follow
in His footsteps. Today I know: Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, all
fear is gone; I know He holds the future and my life is worth the living
just because He lives!
I will be released soon, and at His right time He said, "Now it is
the right time for you to go home".
Please start making good use of your time. God is always next to you. He
has time for you - make time for Him.
(This testimony by Sandra B.)