“WHAT IF you found out you only had one year to live?” My nineteen year old daughter asked.
“A lot would change,” I replied.
She said, “I think it’d make things easier. You’d choose what’s really important.”
I’ve been pondering that short, and yet poignant conversation for a few days. What things would I change? What things would suddenly become unimportant? What things would rise to the top as truly important?
My initial response was correct. A lot would have to change. But I decided that I’m not going to wait to make a few changes.
I started by looking in the Bible.
“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 NLT Another version says: “Teach us to use wisely all the time we have.” CEV Still another versions says: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” NIV
Time is not on our side. It never has been. So we must choose wisely what we do with the time we have been given, which is now. (Like on twitter below)
Time is not on our side. It never has been. So we must choose wisely what we do with the time we have been given, which is now.
— Beckie Lindsey (@BeckieLindsey_) August 5, 2015
And since NOW is all I have, there are two things that I need to let go:
The Past
The Future
Dwelling on the past is a waste of time. Yes, we learn from the past, but let’s learn and move on. And of course reminiscing precious memories is fine, but I want to make new ones!
“…but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” Philippians 3:13 MLT
Living in ‘the now’ is to not fret over the future thereby missing what’s going on presently.
Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present. ~Bil Keane
Take away and application: God has only given us one day at a time because that’s all He designed for us to handle. Let’s focus on the NOW. After all, we don’t really know if we have tomorrow.
Perhaps you need to let go of a few things. Well, there’s no time like the present! Your heavenly Father is waiting.
Each Day God Turns a Page
by Ron Curtis
Each day God turns a page
In the book of every life
But we know not how it read
Till we get to each new line
Each new day another page
Each page new lines unread
Yet we can’t help but wonder
Just what lies ahead
Each page is mixed and mingled
With lines and stories not told
Some of joy of peace of sadness
And as we read each unfolds
And though we know and we believe
That He directs our ways
We can’t help but wonder why
Some things happen on a certain page
And sometimes I beg in prayer
The words and paths to see
But I am gently reassured
Child you must wait on Me
And of pages long since folded
I once tried to re-write
And some lines I tried to erase
To read as I thought was right
But paths once traveled in my past
The truth has brought to bear
The page is already written
Each line I must leave there
For when we allow the story
On each page in our book of life
To unfold as He has written
There is more joy and less strife
And as each new page I read
I’m learning every day
To read how to be patient
And listen to what He has to say
For the books are not yet finished
For life’s role we’re each to play
So I patiently seek his guidance
As I wait for each new page
Meet Ron Curtis:
Ron has been writing music, poetry and articles most of his life. He draws from his life-long experience of observation, counseling, and personal study as well as his relationship to Jesus Christ. His first book, The Almost Perfect Marriage is in the publication process. Updates on his book will be posted here.
funny, this is the very subject I spoke on for the Sunday message. Our minds run the same course sometimes. dad
Yep, great minds think alike! So they say 🙂