Time Wasters and Time Makers

I had an aha moment when I read this scripture: "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7.

I don’t watch the news, but my Facebook newsfeed keeps me updated on the highlights of “wicked schemes” of people and it moves me to make part of my daily devotion time to earnestly pray for our country. Whatever side we may be on, we should diligently pray for God's wisdom to our president, Congress, and military leaders. They need our prayers even if they are not the candidates we voted for and even if we don’t like what they say and do. Interceding for those in authority is not an option. It is a biblical command: “I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Here’s the good news. God’s perfect judgment WILL put things right! If we can believe in a God Who is going to execute judgment with perfect justice, then we can leave it in His sovereign hands and do what Jesus told us to do: “Love your enemies”! Whew! That’s the test. It’s a TIME WASTER to complain and moan the state of the world when we know the end of the Book’s WINNING outcome. So many of the world’s problems would be solved if people believed in the fact that there is a God Who judges justly and we can trust Him to put things right in the end.

Why, then, should we be worrying and fretting about anything?” The older I get, the more I realize the most precious time in life is when I spend it with the people I love the most. I love spending time with my family, my extended family, my church family, and dear friends. And, I like to think they like to spend time with me. That is the TIME MAKERS. Yet even more amazing to me is that God desires to spend time with me – especially when I’m in a “time maker” mode with Him and delighting in Him! In fact, He wants to spend time with you and me so much that He paid a hefty debt He didn't owe in order to get it. He sent Jesus to remove every barrier, tear down every wall and unlock every door so we could have a personal relationship with Him. In fact, He gave us His Word so we could hear from Him consistently.

God gives us unrestricted access to Him, anywhere and anytime. God wants us to get to know Him better so we can love Him fully, hear Him clearly and experience His guidance. This comes by spending quality time with Him instead of the news or newsfeed.

So today -- instead of wasting our time on fruitless thoughts and bemoaning the troubles in our world, let’s set aside time to spend with the One who is above all time and He sure makes our time beautiful. It will be time well spent.

The Golden Rule

Day 264 of Photo Inspirations -- The Golden Rule
I remember, as a kid in "public" grade school, that "The Golden Rule" was taught, and emphatically brought to remembrance when one of us needed discipline.  It set the tone for our respect and appreciation for each other.  The teachers would quote it to a kid who was a bully (yes, there were bullies back on those days, too) or to a kid who was being disrespectful to their teachers or peers.

Whatever our religious persuasions and faiths may be, if we lived our lives adhering to those beautiful words from Matthew 7:12 -- making them the absolute non-negotiable in our lives, this world would be such a better place.

Yesterday, Pope Francis became the first pope ever to address a joint meeting of Congress.  Of course, on this historic day and occasion, this photo was most certainly my photo inspiration for today.

In his address to Congress, Pope Francis said, "Let us remember the Golden Rule: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'.
This Rule points us in a clear direction. Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves. Let us help others to grow, as we would like to be helped ourselves. In a word, if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us. The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development."

I love this Pope.  I love his example of love and compassion for the poor and needy.....and he not only talks the talk, but walks the walk -- of expressing it in deed.  "The Golden Rule," is indeed a biblical principle. Luke 6:31 records Jesus saying, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This statement is in the context of a lesson from Jesus about loving our enemies. Jesus led by example -- He treated people that way.  Rather than doing to others what they have done to us or giving them what they may deserve, we are to treat them the way we want them to treat us.

These words by Pope Francis rang loud and clear in my heart today.  If we take his lead, just maybe we can be a conduit of living out Jesus' words as we treat others the way we want to be treated.  "The Golden Rule" will be the best "rule of measure" we use daily to spread love and peace in our world.