So teach us to number our days, That we may get a heart of wisdom. Do return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalm 90.12-14 (ESV) Does God care how we spend our time? I guess we're confronted with that question a little more now (at least those of us stuck at home without our usual work to do). But even those still needed for work at the moment might be confronted with the issue of whether it is worth it, when life can be so fleeting - especially for those who've been in hospital and have been scared of losing their lives. What are the things that make life worth living and time worth having? And how much of our lives do we actually spend on those things?
Ellen White, the 19th Century church-founder, who lived from 1827-1915, wrote that: 'The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it.' ~ Ellen G. White, Be Like Jesus, p.78 Time is something we all have, but that we all prioritise differently. It's often hard to say what is the right way and wrong way to gather and use our time. There are enough good things to do that you could fill a thousand lifetimes with them! But we have to be selective. Consider mapping out all the things you spend time on, and reflecting on the things you want to spend more time doing. If there's some aspect of your work or busyness that can be streamlined, try it. And give the remaining time to something important - to building lasting relationships with your family and friends, or reconnecting with God who gives peace and reveals truth. If you have any successes, let me know, because this is something I massively struggle with! I always have so much that I want to do, and often have to stop myself and reconfigure my daily time to make carve out space for the seemingly non-productive things that make me human and connect me with my God. Stay safe everyone, and take care!
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For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4.15 There have been a few intermittent days between day 10 and day 11 as I had some time off for Easter, though I'm grateful to my church leaders who have continued giving updates and posts, day-by-day. The post for today came from one of the church leaders who works as a psychologist, and he shared that many times people come to him with a strong sense of hopelessness. They have infirmities or issues, but the most common thing they all share is a sentiment that they alone are going through this. That no-one understands, they're on their own, and there's nothing anyone could do to help, because they just don't know what it's like.
And it's not just people in need of professional help who have this experience. I'm convinced we all do, at times. And especially right now, when we don't spend as much time with other people and are left with what people are willing to share digitally (which we know from studies and from ourselves is generally the best bits!). It's easy to think no-one understands what I'm feeling. It's easy to tell ourselves that we should be happier, that we're the lucky few who have good provisions, good homes, good people to talk to still, good connections - but underneath it all we don't and we feel that nobody could understand that. Well no matter what we're feeling, and regardless of whether we think we have "the right" to feel that or not, I'm thankful that there is someone who knows exactly what I'm thinking and feeling, and understands me probably better than I do myself. So, when you find that you're down and feeling alone, take encouragement from the fact that Jesus knows you fully, understands what you're feeling, and loves you. God doesn't care what you think you "should" be feeling. God cares about you. Hang in there - and if you need to, reach out for a chat, any time! Stay safe, and take care! P.S. I made this illustration by following a tutorial from Teela Cunningham which you can get to by clicking on the link! I had great fun following along and I really like the end product! It just makes me think of hope! I love it! Last year, the book of James was the focus of an initiative called 'Bible Month' where, for the month of June, people were encouraged to spend #30_days_with_James, as part of reconnecting with the Bible! For me, this is what Bible journalling is all about! It enables me to re-connect with the words in my Bible in a different way, and remember it as my memory entwines the motion of making the art, the visuals of seeing the art and the auditory processing of my reading the words. This spread actually came out of me reading through the book a few times for a couple of nights, underlining key verses, trying to take in the whole of the book (it's only a short one - why not give it a go!) and grasp what it was the writer was so passionately saying. I was then talking about it with my boyfriend, just sharing what I'd found exciting and challenging - when we find something exciting, we want to talk about it, and others pick up on that excitement too! He then actually wrote a song which grew out of one of the phrases I'd used in talking about it, and this art grew out of that song, in a sketchbook, which I then transferred over into my Bible. Particularly that phrase; "Let's give faith its fangs back"! The book of James is a challenge to each of us to live out our faith. To "be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves". To make sure that our faith in who Jesus is pervades every interaction we have with people and every decision we make. Faith and love and hope should be strong and powerful; they should be beacons in a world where despair and hate and doubt usually pervade; they should be the hand reaching out to someone's utter depth of need; and they should be a loud and strong proclamation of the good God who made all we see and treasures each person around us so intimately! If we don't live out our faith it becomes lame, tame and a joke. Let's give faith its fangs back and live like we actually believe what we profess to believe! I've been quiet on here for a little while, but still want to get a post out this month, even if only just!
The past month and a half has been really tough. And sharing why just feels a little too difficult right now, but hopefully will be something I can do at some point. So for now, I've done this instead - the photos above all point to little pockets and experiences of happiness amidst and despite the difficulty and darkness. Things that were just fun; just bright; just reminders of a world created and sustained by a God who is still good, even when I don't even care enough to want him to be. These things are:
These are by no means exhaustive as the things that have been good during this time, but they have been pockets of happiness that have brightened my world just a little at points where I felt darkness only could prevail. If you're struggling, know that God is still good, even when you can't feel it. Talk about it, and let others remind you of the truths you feel not strong enough to hold on to. God loves you, still. My first ever collaboration post - how exciting! :-D T his photo was taken by my friend Michael Nyatigi, whose photography work you can see more of, over on his photostream website, and I offer a reflection on it and on the theme for this first week of advent: hope. On the first Sunday of Advent, we light a candle as a symbol of Hope.
Advent is a time for hope; expectant and prayerful hope, confident in the love of God made present with us always because he came down to earth for us. It is a time for provocative possibilities that take us beyond the world as it is, to the world as it could be - no, should be! A place of healing, restoration, justice and peace; wholeness, completeness and life in its fullness with nothing to detract from it or hold back from us. It is a time for us to take hold of that confidence and boldness brought from that hope we have in a faithful, wonderful God, and use it to "walk in the light of Lord" (Isa 2.4), even when we are surrounded by darkness. A time when we ask ourselves: how will we experience peace in this busy build-up to Christmas; how will our Advent be holy and whole-making; what behaviours do we need to change to be part of the peaceful world that God intends? We need to live intentionally; demonstrating the love of God we know to be true. As people living in the hope of God, we can depend on God to provide the light we need. To shine like the sun, bringing warmth and comfort and light, after the cold, dark night. And if we can live like the truth of Advent IS true; that Emmanuel - God-with-us - broke into the world and lives with and in and through and for us today, then we will see him shining and coming to us in every encounter, as we prayerfully wait and hope for it to come more. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (Jn 1.5) |
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AuthorI'm a recent Cambridge Theology graduate now studying for a Masters in Biblical Studies and blogging about all sorts of things! I'm interested in faith, Church, theology, social action, the great outdoors and being creative, and all of those things - along with many more - come through in my posts!
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