I have a confession to make.

I am not as awesome as you think I am. 

There.  Now you know. Oh, I know it seems like I have everything in the world together (Please don’t talk to my friend Jen about this.  She knows me too well.)  That I have the perfect life. (Refer to the last statement in parenthesis.) I am always totally put together. (Ha. Haaa. Haaaaaa.)  I never let the occasion pass that I don’t always say & do the appropriate things, at the right time. I never leave anything to the last minute & am on time for everything.  (Ok.  I really have to stop with it now.)  And you all know what a total math whiz I am. (Ok.  Seriously, that’s the last one.) Whew, glad to clarify all that.  Those who know me, know I have my share of flaws.  As I get older, I begin to reflect on what it is all this life stuff is about.  Because c’mon. I had some things I wanted to do in life.  I’ve done some of them.  Other things have just fallen by the wayside.  That’s just reality.  Most importantly, I am a put-ter off-er.  I always think there’s more time to do better, change my life, or help make other’s lives better.  The bad news is there’s really not more time.

The other night, at church, Bro. Brad gave a thought provoking talk about how today is the day. We can make excuses from here to yon on why we can’t do something.  He said there are many that are not in a right relationship with God, that think, “I’ve got time.”  Folks that say, “When I make more money, I will give more to the Lord.”  Then, they are blessed with more & it seems they take up another payment on something they could not live without.  Bro. Brad brought to our attention the only reason people don’t own a pet elephant is because we have never been offered a deal for zero down & make monthly payments.  ( That Bro. Brad can be pretty comical.) His point was,  we shouldn’t let stuff get in the way of our relationship with the Lord.  We may say, “I will work more for the Lord, when I have more time.”  When the kids get older, when my job slows down, when I don’t have so many other activities going on, such as kid’s soccer practice, softball games, basketball games, being a taxi to your kids.  When all of that stops, I will devote more time to the work of the church.  Let me tell you.  Time doesn’t stop.  If you don’t make a way to do things now, the time has past.  And guess what?  Yep, you know.  You never get that back. That’s why we must figure out a way to maintain a balance.

II Corinthians 6:2

For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (NKJV)

It’s to our ultimate advantage to be faithful to the Lord. So many times I see people not attend church services because all of their other activities have them worn to a frazzle.  I heard a preacher say one time, when you start missing church, you can bet it won’t be long until more & more things hinder your spiritual life.   Let me tell you, sweet friend, the ol’ devil has his ways to keep us from doing the Lord’s will.  Many times, it’s not one big thing that happens.  It’s more of a slow leak than a big blow out.  That’s why the small things matter.

I know sometimes people search for something, in life. They are looking for a purpose.  I am happy to tell you, you need not look any further.  Jesus is it.  There are so many things out there that tries to make you believe happiness & contentment comes from this world.  If I only had a new car, a better house, more money in the bank, a bigger t.v., then things would be better.

Umm, not really. 

Ebola doesn’t care how much money you have in the bank.  You can still be inflicted with a dreaded disease, even if you have a 72” big screen t.v.  Then, what becomes important?  Relationships? People who will take care of you & help you through hard times? Many times your relationship with God takes a front seat.  God should be our first choice at all times.  Not our last resort. The apostle Paul talks about how matters of the heart, really matter.  Especially when it comes to love.

I Corinthians 13: 4-8 

 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Faith, hope, & love are very important. It’s a good thing to choose to make those a part of your daily life.  Don’t think you have time to make things of your heart right.  The time is now.

Solomon was the wisest man & had great wealth. He had access to all the things of the world.  It was unbelieveable!  The Queen of Sheba was so curious of his riches & knowledge, she paid him a visit.  Afterwards, she had this to say:

II Chronicles 9: 5 & 6

Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. ⁶ However I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You exceed the fame of which I heard.(NKJV)

 

After all the glitz & glamor of having everything he could ever wanted, the wise Solomon gave the recipe of what our whole existence is about.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.(NKJV)

So, if Solomon is giving us the answer to the meaning of life, why don’t we take heed? It’s like we have found the answer, but we often times keep looking somewhere else for what life is all about.  We must act now to make things in our life right & know we are not promised the next minute.  At the end of your life, what will really matter?  Whatever you have been putting off, take that step of faith.  The Lord will be there to walk with you.  It’s time.

I hope everyone has had a blessed week. With this past Friday being Halloween, I had my share of sweet trick or treaters!  We trunk or treated at church Wednesday night.  The kids had a great time.  And then we had that thing called setting your clock back an hour on Saturday night.  We really need to quit with the time changes.  Just make it one way & leave it, is what I say.  Oh well, another time no one consulted with me. Until they do, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: love printables, behance.net,tolavishlylove, justsaynototoxicrelationships