Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Seeking to Live God's Time in My Life

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

 

Public school has started.  Hunting season is underway.  There are also still some fish in the rivers to be caught.  Gardens are about ready to need picking and processing of their fruit and vegetables.  And at church, Sunday School is gearing up to begin its school year classes.  All of these activities and responsibilities are in addition to our regular family schedules and work schedules.  Does it sometimes seem to you that there is too much to do and too little time?

 

A favorite verse of many about time comes from God in chapter 3 of the book of Ecclesiastes.

 

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.

 

These thoughts about time are poetic and share truth that brings God’s wisdom to our lives.  However, sometimes people focus on the poetry and then miss the explanation that follows.

 

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.

 

As the school year schedules of busy-ness begin it is good to keep in mind the truths of God.

 

·       There is a time for everything, and everything is beautiful in its time. (verses 1 and 11) However, everything in God’s time, not all at the same time.

·       God wants us to find satisfaction in our work and labor. (verse 13)  A favorite quote these days is: “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”  Actually, this is not a new idea.  It has been God’s plan all along.

·       It is the things of God that last forever. (verse 14).  This world is temporary.  The things of God are what is really worth spending time pursuing.

·       All God sends our way is so that we revere Him - so that we love Him, so that we worship and serve Him. (Verse 14)  God is our priority.  This truth should help us set priorities in our busy lives.

·       Therefore the last half of verse 11 is also true.  While God blesses the times of our lives, He also “sets eternity in the hearts of men.”  In the stress of hectic lives it gives us perspective to know that God has eternity waiting, where there will always being enough time.  This is God’s gift in Jesus.

 

As fall arrives and our schedules grow busier, may that fact that God has time in His hands give you comfort and strength.

 

A Child of God, Seeking God’s Time As I Pastor, and Garden, and Fish, and Hunt,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  I harvested broccoli, raspberries, and peas recently.  Here are some pictures.  https://goo.gl/photos/VUBWdLLk2wXzN2HJA

 

 

 

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am regularly adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you do not want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.

 

 

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