There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: Ecclesiastes 3:1
*Happy mid-week, the last 2 weeks have been super busy with Camp Meeting. I think I can safely say that everything is in a place, maybe not organized by off the floor. I think I can speak for all those that attended that it was a great time of fellowship and renewal. The speakers and seminars were awesome. As the verse says there is a time for everything. God’s timing is perfect, but hard to except at times. My week started out rocky but I have confidence it will end much better. I would invite you to reflect on and use the lessons I have included in this email.
A Time for Everything
Apr 12, 2017 07:00 am
I think we all long for lighter loads and freer hearts, the same way a traveler likes to be free from extra unnecessary baggage. But we are scared – too scared – to leave it behind. We have forgotten what it was like to live in a place where armor is not needed.
For everything, there is a season. There really is a time to hurt and grieve and allow anger to run its course. There’s a time to wrap up in protection, like a soft wool sweater. But there is also a time to cast it off and give our hearts the chance to love and live again. I think the key is knowing where we are. When you’re in the rain? I say cover up. Protect yourself for a time. But when that sun comes back, have the courage to leave those heavy covers behind.
Object Lessons:
**Precious Gift of Time
An Illustration to demonstrate how quickly time passes.
TOPICS:
Accountability, Choices, Godliness, Pleasing God
MATERIALS:
75 coins
Clear plastic sandwich bag
DURATION:
Approximately 10 minutes
PREPARATION:
Before class obtain 75 coins and place them into the clear plastic sandwich bag.
WHAT YOU WILL SAY:
(Show the bag of coins to the children) Guess how many coins are in this bag. (If no one guesses the correct number, tell the students that the bag contains 75 coins.)
These coins have some monetary value, but today we are going to use the coins to illustrate the passage of time.
An average person, in moderately good health, can normally live to be at least 75 years old. Many people can live quite a bit longer than this, but we will use 75 years as an average life span.
For each year we live, we will take one coin out of the bag. There are a limited number of coins in this bag, just as we will have a limited amount of time here on earth. None of us know exactly how long we will remain in our earthly bodies. During our time here on Earth we can choose to use the time we have to follow God and lead lives that are pleasing to God or we can choose to lead lives that sadden God.
Our earthly life will last a short time, whereas our spiritual life will last for eternity. Eternity is forever and without end. We could fill this room from top to bottom with bags containing 75 coins and this would not represent even a dot on the timeline of eternity. We could fill this entire building with bags containing 75 coins and this would still not represent even a dot on the timeline of eternity.
(Read 1 Peter 1:23-25.) Yes, our earthly lives are like blades of grass here today and gone tomorrow.
We can be wise and use the years that we have here on earth to live a life that is pleasing to God and store for ourselves treasure in Heaven that will last forever. (Read Matthew 6:19-20) Or, lead our lives selfishly and reject God; only to spend eternity separated from Him. (Read Matthew 7:22-23)
How you spend the years God has given you is up to you, but it would be foolish to misuse our time here on Earth. We do not want to be separated from God for eternity.
**Using Time Wisely
Objective Each person will understand the importance and benefits of using time wisely and will learn how to organize their time to use it productively.
Preparation
1. Materials needed:
a. Bible for each person.
b. A piece of paper and a pencil for each person.
c. Pencils for marking scriptures.
2. Prepare a clock face on a poster.
3. Print Time Is Life; Don’t Waste It across the face.
4. Make a poster or list five examples
5. Practice the object lesson using an empty bottle or jar, small rocks, sand, and water so that you can take the proper amount of rocks and sand to class.
Life is Like a Jar of Rocks
JAR: This is you.
ROCKS: The MOST important things in your life.
PEBBLES: Important things, but things you can live without if you had to.
SAND: Things you just like to do that usually take time from the important things.
WATER: God, who holds us all together.
6. Prayerfully study Ecclesiastes 3:1–8.
Calendar Updates:
June 4-25 Summer Camp @ Camp Kulaqua 3 weeks Register @ the Camp Kulaqua website
July 7-8 Family Min Weekend @ Crawfordville SDA Church
July 22 Creative Ministry Workshop @ Oasis of Hope Company
July 23-26 Ministerial & Families Retreat @ Camp Kulaqua
August 4-6 Single Parent Event @ Camp Kulaqua Discounts available. Check it out at the Camp Kulaqua website
This weekend we will be worship and doing leadership training for the Palm Coast area. If you are close by join us. (Palm Coast SDA Church is hosting the event.) Please keep us in your prayers as we travel and present to adults and children.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers this coming week. If you need to contact me, please see contact information below. I would love to hear from you and help in anyway possible.
Keep smiling as you are greatly appreciated.