Consider this scenario: You are given $10,000 a week to spend however you like. The only caveat is that you cannot save it. You MUST spend the $10,000 a week or it vanishes at the end of the week.

What would you do? Would you travel? Would you spend it on family? Would you give it away?

Next question: What is the most precious resource we have on this planet?

I imagine your mind is racing so let me guide it for a moment. Think about this question in the context of your relationships.

At this point you have probably determined where I am going with this (or you noticed the title).
Additionally, if you have experienced the loss of the loved one then I am certain that you know what I am talking about.

You see, the scenario and the question both relate to time.

1 week consists of 7 days at 24 hours per day with 60 minutes in an hour. Quick calculation shows you that 7 x 24 x 60 = 10,080

10,080 minutes in a week. (I used 10,000 in the scenario just to keep it simple)

In a week we have over 10,000 minutes and we must choose how to use them.
This becomes compounded by the fact that nearly 3,000 of those will be spent sleeping. (7 hours each night)

Here is the point I am trying to make- How you spend your time determines your priorities. It determines who you are. It determines who you become. It determines the quality of your relationships.

Time can never be replaced. It is more precious than any gift you can give someone. To give someone your time means that you are giving them something that you can NEVER take back. And that principle applies to both good and bad things.

Consider the phrases “Spending time” and “Wasting time”- The both describe exactly what you are doing!

You are either spending your time in a worthy pursuit, or wasting your time on something worthless.

 

I have discovered over the years through personal experience and talking with others that we as Christians have trust issues. We find it hard to trust God with many of the details of our lives. Relationships, finances, jobs, school.. etc.

A thought struck me the other day, which addresses this issue of trust-

Consider that for a moment.
We trust God with something eternal, but can’t trust Him with something that is temporary.
When you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior you essentially said-
 “God, I trust that what You say is true and now my salvation is secure.”

The magnitude of trusting God with our salvation is unmatched!
Nothing we face in this life compares to that decision.. But even still, we struggle to trust Him.

Why is that? Why do we struggle to trust God with all aspects of our life?
Here are a few reasons I thought of

Pride– Our sin nature manifests itself as pride in this case. We believe that we can handle the other aspects of life. God was good for salvation, but He can sit on the sideline for everything else.

Ignorance– We are ignorant of the fact that God wants us to trust Him with all things. We deceive ourselves and think that God is not concerned with all of the aspects of our lives.

Earthly Trust Issues– Sometimes we allow the earthly trust issues that we have with people influence our relationship with God. Maybe it is a trust issue with a parent. Maybe it is the fact that you have been burned over and over again by close friends. Regardless of what caused it, you have unresolved trust issues that influence your relationship with God.

So how do we remedy this?

Pray– Pray for opportunities to trust God more. Pray for faith to trust God more. Talk to God and build a relationship with Him!

Be Informed– Ignorance is never an excuse. Regain a BIG view of God. Constantly challenge your view of God. Never settle for a small view of God.

Resolve Earthly Trust Issues– This may be one of the more challenging things to do. If you have unresolved issues, then you must address them. They are affecting your walk with Christ.  They are robbing you of the abundant life Christ promised. They are decreasing your effectiveness in reaching others. Plain and simple. Unresolved issues are a disease that will tear you apart if you let them. 

 In closing my hope and prayer is that you will trust God with all of the aspects of your life.

– B

A few nights ago I was sitting at my kitchen table having a conversation with a good friend. We had been talking for well over an hour and the conversation moved towards the loss of family members. If you know anything about me through this blog, then you know that my Mom passed away last year after a lengthy battle with cancer. My friend shared a similar experience that he had with his Grandfather. Our conversation carried on in a predictable manner until he asked a question that truly stunned me.

“Did you ever dream about your Mom after she passed away?”

The look on my face must have been confusion because I know that I was very surprised that he would ask such an odd question given the context of our conversation.

I proceeded to share with him what I am about to share here.

(Quick background information here- I am not a person that dreams often. And I barely remember them even when I do. With that being said, I remember this dream vividly, and you will see why in a moment)

I was standing on my neighbors front porch for some reason. It was raining outside. A really soft rain, nothing too bad. I turned around and walked down the steps to the sidewalk and turned towards my house. My mom was standing on the sidewalk. Her face and body showed no signs of the illness she fought for close to 5 years. She was healthy. She was normal. She was radiant.
 I dont think she said anything to me, but I just walked up to her and gave her a hug.
Then I woke up.
But I woke up with the sensation of hugging her. It was like I had just hugged her for real. I cant quite explain it, but an overwhelming sense of peace washed over me and I was so thankful.

 I had been struggling to remember how it felt to hold her and be held by her. I forgot how she looked when she was healthy. I wanted so much to forget the images of her last days. Looking back on it now I am convinced that God showed me that to provide me comfort. It was an answered prayer.

Praise the Lord.

– B