This month I am focusing my daily devotional on time management. They are part of a larger devotional called Purpose Pearls, which are all devoted to the five Gold Mine Principles of purpose, goals, time management, organization and faith. You can check them out and even subscribe to receive them daily on my personal blog site.
This past Wednesday we had a snow storm that dumped about 12 inches of snow at my house, while delivering considerably less in other parts of my city. That snow was a gift from God for me! Why do I say that? To get the answer, you will have to read on.
A DAY AT HOME
When I teach about time, I always go to the story in Joshua 10 where Joshua asked the Lord to stop the sun so he could finish the task at hand. In other words, Joshua was asking for more time. God answered his prayer and stopped the sun in the sky for about a day. Joshua had faith for more time, prayed accordingly and God heard him.
I then challenge my listeners to have faith for the time they need, just they would have for money, ministry or other miracles. This past week I was asking God to 'stop the sun' because I had a book manuscript for which I needed time to finish. I did not see where that time was coming from, but I had the manuscript ready to work on whenever God opened the door.
Then Wednesday came, and I worked about 12 hours on the book, finishing the first draft. Now I will edit, write the introduction and conclusion and I will send it off to the publisher. Yet this snowy gift did not work as it did if I did not have the manuscript ready, if I did not prepare in faith for the time I knew was coming. Wednesday worked because I had faith and something ready to fill the time.
YOUR SNOW GIFT
Are you ready for a snowy gift like mine, to help you get done what is before you? Or do you now know what to do with those time gifts when they come along? The key for last Wednesday is that I didn't try to find something to do on that day; I had something ready to do on that day. I had the faith, but my faith led to action. I did what I could do and God did the rest.
How would you use a gift of a day like I got last week? Do you know? If not, then start preparing in faith for just such a day. But don't waste it on just busy work, but rather invest it in a high priority project that will have significant long-term returns. I am still thanking God for that gift of snow and it's almost a week later. His gift of time has enhanced my worship and now I have faith for another project and I can't wait to see how He will reward my faith this next time. Be blessed and have a great week!
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WHAT SHOULD I TELL PASTOR FRANCIS? I pose this question in this update from Kenya. Let me know how I should respond by sending your gifts to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882 or by giving through my website.
LAST CALL FOR THE PACIFIC INSTITUTE: I start the TPI training this coming Thursday here in Pittsburgh. If you are interested, you need to write me right away. I have 12 people, so there is always room for one more. God used this seminar to change my life and He can and will do the same thing for you.
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