Where does time go?

September 8th?!?! I can't believe that was the last time I posted here. I knew it had been a good while, but my, I had no idea. Since that time, I've had another awakening moment concerning time...a birthday. Wow...43. I know that is still young, believe me, yet I can barely believe that time has flown so fast. Where does the time go? What do we do with it?

Lately, I've felt the Holy Spirit nudge me about what I do with all the hours He grants me in a day. Unfortunately, I'm not very wise with handing it. I'm a horrible procrastinator...well, actually I'm a great procratinator but it is a horrible thing! I know, I know, join the club, right? But you know the Word, really does speak strongly against that and laziness (can you have one without the other?) in Proverbs specifically.

Proverbs 26:13-16 - "The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!" As the door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed. The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly." I can't help but visualize that while the man is turning in his bed the lion is jumping through the window for his attack! Then, notice that he could starve to death with his food right there in his hand. Do you see how his eyes are blinded by the deceit of his own reasoning?

Proverbs 22:13 says, "The lazy man says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets." Ok, anyone notice an association between the laziness and the lion - Powerful & destructive? It seems to me the point is: with excuses there is no victory.

One more proverb..."The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. He covets greedily all day long, but the righteous gives and does not spare." (21:25-26) According to this, if we are to live righteously, then we should be giving unsparingly...give our time, our talents, our resources, our love, our mercy, our forgiveness to others, our forgiveness to self! (Hello, anyone catch that?) Giving forgiveness to ourselves for our shortcomings instead of condemning ourselves when we miss the mark. Recognize it, ask God's forgiveness if it is sin, forgive yourself, turn from it and move forward in the walk and works of faith and righteousness. When we refuse to work for what we desire, we lie down surrendering to death - deserting our dreams.

Making the best use of our time is certainly one way to combat the urge of laziness. Doing it now instead of later and doing away with excuses, justifications and rationalization will give us the productive life Jesus desires us to enjoy. However, we must keep balance in all that we do. We must never become so busy with our time that we neglect getting away to a solitude place with our Lord...up on a mountain side, in a boat, or even a garden. Jesus set the example for us to follow...take TIME to communicate with God.