Saturday Scripture Speaks

First let me say I realize it is not Saturday yet. I just know that my day is full of volunteering at Society of Samaritans, since I found out Paul is not going it might mean I am there from 8-2 so that I can get everything I want done. I am hoping Jakob will cope with being there that long.
This week I have thought a lot about time. Questions like,
How can I use my time more wisely?
What do I want to accomplish the most if my time were up in a week, month, year?
How come there are not enough hours (time) in my day?
Honestly that last one is on my list more than anything, right along with how come this takes so long (again in reference to time)
So what does God say about time. The most common verse I think is this one.
¹ There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:
 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
It is really true there is a time for everything. It reminds me of an old Hymn we sung esp when I was attending the Church of Christ as an elementary student, it was called In His Time.
The words to that song are so accuarte. How often do we wonder why something cannot just be now. We want an answer now, we want results now, we want change now… Yet its hard to remember that an answer to prayer is often In His Time.
I have adjusted my schedule (time) a great deal to be able to help with SOS. I never realized that they needed so much help. They need way more help than I can offer for sure. I always want to make sure that I am doing this service for the Lord though. I look to Colossians 3:23 which says,
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
I think this is important because if you do it for Glory, or you start to feel resentful or like it is an obligation then what are you really gaining? That’s something to think about. It is hard sometimes to set the time aside to volunteer but I realize the Lord is giving me so many more hours to get things done. I am trying to get better at allowing the Lord to plan my day. He talks about this concept in Proverbs 16:9
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his step.”

The bible talks about time in prayer. To me this is very important. I don’t just want to spend time in prayer about people I know their situations, health , children passing tests. I want to spend time in prayer about our lives. About directions for the future, about our relationships with one another, etc. The bible says in

1  Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing”

Prayer is our life line to God. We need to take time in prayer in speaking but also in listening. Imagine having a conversation with someone and you do all the speaking but never listen for their answer. It would be very one sided and very unproductive too. I doubt you would even have a very good relationship. Remember the Lord already knows the words we are going to speak.

I think the most interesting verse I found when studying about time was this one.

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” Luke 14:28.

I admit I am not building a tower, but I have been working very hard on our house. It takes time and planning. I have to adjust my schedule to allow for my projects without cutting out important time like spending a couple hours watching a movie with the kids.

The one area of time I seem to be lacking is exercise and sleep. So as I go into the next week and evaluate if I am spending my time wisely I will work on those two areas. I will admit I planned on working out every day this week. Painting sure is a workout in itself. It does not leave me wanting to walk on the treadmill after I am done, esp not with the heat in the house. Still I need to make it a priority. I am praying the Lord will continue to convict me about this.

I will leave you with my favorite of all verses in respect to the conversation on time,

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

What I am Learning Friday

I am learning that I honestly can't do it all this week. I have a list a mile long for quilts that need to be made by May 2nd, for whatever reason. I am learning that I have to say "NO" at some point, because otherwise life is way to complicated. I am learning that my kids feel a little neglected, as does my house. My house shows it to everyone, my kids showed me this morning and late last night before bed.
My house is a wreck. We have so many things going on right now. Between me quilting for donations and otherwise, between my husband and I putting a fence up and trying to help with homework and chores around the house, then just all the regular stuff we do. My daughter and middle son both have come up to me last night and then this morning before school and gave me genuine huge hugs. The kind that you just feel all warm inside from. Yet I felt guilty. I know that I have not watched a movie with them in a couple weeks. That is generally an every week occurrence. I have not made a "Feast" in nearly three weeks- which they love to have.
In fact the house is so out of control that there were dishes still in the sink, on the counters and the stove when I left for work, there is a pile of 6 loads of clean clothes on my daughters bed that need attention. She slept on the couch the last two nights because her bed is otherwise occupied.
I don't know how life got so out of control. I am learning that I need to go back to a list and a calendar.
I get so busy that I forget what the day is! I almost forgot about a church event for my oldest that is tonight. I had gone to my Spam folder and saw a church reminder that they send out. Thank you for REMINDERS! So the word No needs to be voiced more often. I only get a short while with these kids and then they are grown and on their own. I have a lifetime to donate quilts for good causes, but only a short while to make sure they are nurtured better.
That they truly feel loved by my actions.
Can you imagine if God got to busy too put his arms around us or keep things in our life from really spinning out of control. I know He blocks so much from entering our path so that we are not Given More than we can Handle.

So this weekend we have a list that is a mile long but tonight we will pick a couple of things that have to be done- then I will make sure that I spend some time with the kids. Play a game or something. Next week I will remember to say No to the extras so I make better use of my time. :-)

Today I think of a song that I love- we all have heard it. It is based on Psalm 136-which states.
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.

8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.

11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.

12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea [a] asunder
His love endures forever.

14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.

15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the desert,
His love endures forever.

17 who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.

18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.

19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.

20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.

21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.

22 an inheritance to his servant Israel;
His love endures forever.

23 to the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.

24 and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.

25 and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

What Am I Learning Friday

Wow this week just seems to have dragged on and flew by all in the same moment. I have been so out of it. Been out of it with my Blog, just not even wanting to write, that is unusual for me. I have been drained- so tired not just physically but emotionally and spiritually too. I missed church being out of town his past weekend and boy can I tell. I love music worship time, it just energizes my soul. I have had so much to do- dishes, wash, normal kids stuff like homework. Even babysat my friends child for her on Thursday- that was an all day event and worked Mon and Wed mornings caring for Anne. I just did not find the strength to write. I wanted to just stay in bed and hibernate. I have tried praying and searching for this hole in my being to just be filled back up.

I am not quite sure what is bothering me, I think I have learned this week that I just need to be able to allow myself to grief. How funny does that sound? You would think being an adult I would realize that. What I realized was I am fighting it. I want to think I should be able to get back into the swing of things. I flew back into Texas on Sunday. Completely drained from all the events of my trip. Got to bed late that Sunday night, got up on time Monday to go to work and was so exhausted I came home and took a nap. I even slept in late, nearly until noon Tue, went to work Wed and came home and wanted to do nothing again. Then watched a little toddler all Thur and was down again today. Just amazing! I have gotten little things done so I don't want to say I am depressed just not my normal self just yet.

Partially stress over all the unsettled work- wash that is done and not put away, dishes that even though I clean seem to reappear to be washed again so quickly and kids that are learning division in school and are completely lost. Of course they started last week and I was not here so I missed their important week and now we are onto harder aspects. I learned that things take time. It reminded me of a very important scripture, also a book I have, that maybe I should re-read.

As for the bible part- you probably could guess what I will share since I mentioned the word Time, and it is one of the most famous chapters in the bible, songs even written after it, books written about it, sermons, debates, lectures in college...

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What does the worker gain from his toil?

10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.

13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.

14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.
16 And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I thought in my heart, "God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed."
18 I also thought, "As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.

19 Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath ; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless.

20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.

21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?"
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

So I thought that maybe it is my time to grief this week, maybe I shouldn't fret and be too hard on myself that I have four quilt orders that are not done, yet the deadline approaches. Maybe just maybe the heart is just as important as our physical self. I have a secret pal who just suggested that I do something for me, maybe a small project etc and maybe that will help me feel a little better, while I had the same thought, it seemed like Godly wisdom coming from this secret person I do not know yet. So as this weekend approaches I want to take Time to spend with my family. My son turned 11 this today and we are celebrating him all weekend. We have some odd traditions in my family, but I figure we will cook, play games and celebrate life and each other, letting my grief lay aside and turning the time for something new. All I know is it is wonderful that we all still have more Time. For that I give much Praise and Thanksgiving to God!