TIME

Have you ever sat down and thought about time?  How is your time spent?  How does it tick away on the clock?  Do you rush it or wish it would stop?

I've spent my time this past week trying to rush it!  We leave for vacation in The Outer Banks, North Carolina in just three more days.  I can barely wait to get there and smell the Sea.   I promise the Sea smells sweeter in The Outer Banks than it does in Florida. I don't know why...maybe because it is one of the fondest memories I have in my life. It always seems there that I am immune to the heartaches I've always had and that no one could hurt me there. Whatever it is, I cannot wait to sink my feet into the beautiful tar-filled sand, hear the Sea singing praises to the Lord and smell the salt in the air.  I cannot wait to see Cape Hatteras Lighthouse that I started a love-affair with 30 years ago.  Isn't she beautiful!?!

My time not thinking about vacation is spent, mostly likely, just like yours.  I have school carpools, my son's music lessons, church, meals to prepare and an a sundry of other things that require my time and attention.  At the end of the day, my husband and I collapse on the couch, talk about our day, talk about all we have to do the next day and wonder where our time has gone.  We have all looked forward to time creeping by while on vacation.  We plan to just go slow!  Here is the home we are renting for the week.  Doesn't it look like a nice place to let time slip by in?

Vacations are great for whiling away the time, but there is a better prescription that God has given us for rest from our busy, time-stealing lives.  It is found in Exodus 20:8, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy."  God gave us the Sabbath as a reminder to slow down and turn our hearts toward Him.  It wasn't given to us to perfect our salvation, as some believe, it was given to reflect on Him, who holds all of time in His hands.  We need to learn to rest in Him.  He does not want us striving, as if we have no Heavenly Father who loves us and who has numbered our days.

Each day set aside a period of time to meditate in His Word.  I recommend it be early, when you first arise, so that you can give Him your first fruits of the morning.  Spend that time reading, praying and mostly being silent so you can hear Him speaking to you.  He desires our time, our fellowship and our adoration.  That is why He created us in the first place...do not rob God of your time, Beloved.  Shalom!