The Mountain of Time part 3: Are You Reading to Climb?

Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise, he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 

In parts one and two of this blog series on utilizing our time wisely during the pandemic, I have stressed the importance of why it is important to use our time ascending or moving closer to God.  In this latest installment, I want to tell you how we can do it in a meaningful way.  It is not our goal to place God on our neat little To-Do list. It is, however, our goal to cultivate a lifestyle that repeatedly makes Kingdom investments and gets Kingdom returns stemming from an intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

So now that you have determined to make the climb, just like with real mountain climbing, there are a few things that MUST be done first!

 1) Consult an...THE expert.  
    Jesus says in Matthew 11: 29 to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him.  God says to the prophet Jeremiah in verse three of chapter thirty-three of his writings, to "call to Me and I will show you great and unsearchable things that you do not know about". We are told in John 14:26, by Jesus, that the Holy Spirit would teach us all things.  

    THE EXPERT has given us the avenue of prayer to use as we call out to Him through Jesus while receiving an answer from His Holy Spirit.  Through prayer we consult Him, attach ourselves to Him, and to expect to be taught.  You know the saying, "You won't know until you ask"?  Well, it also applies here.  You won't know more about God until you ask Him to reveal Himself to you.  I love this scripture: "Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust;  Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You." Psalm 143:8 NKJV   Ask to hear from Him.  Ask about His plans for you. He will reveal it to you as you... 

2) Gather your gear!     

Mountain climbers need what? A Map, proper clothing, tools, shelter, food, and water, right?   Well, use the Bible as your map and one-stop shop to provide all your mountain climbing needs.  Kinda like Wal-Mart.  First and foremost, use it to learn about the life of Jesus and unpack His gospel (The "good news" about His life, His death, His burial, and His resurrection...hallelujah).  Then take what you learn about Him and consume it.  In the book of John, Jesus references Himself as the Bread of Life and living water. So consume what you read about Him and let it nourish and refresh you. The bible is also filled with principles for success with your children, marriage, finances, and the building of your character. It gives us many examples of "what to do" and "what not to do".  Read through the lives of the famous and not so famous men and women of the bible and know that God often uses the imperfect, untalented, and uneducated to have a lasting impact on the lives of others.   

    But don't stop there. We also need proper attire right?  I don't think anyone would make it two miles skipping up Mt. Everest wearing a pair of Crocs and some Levi jeans. They would have to be dressed appropriately because their safety and life would depend on it.  In a spiritual sense, it's the same way. We cannot improve our intimacy with God without wearing proper attire. The Bible speaks of various garments that Believers are to wear such as;  the armor of God, the garment of praise, the garland of grace, the garland of wisdom, His yoke, and our new self.  Purposefully putting on these "garments" will guide us in translating and applying what we read into how we live. 

    Finally, as we read, we begin to unearth His promises for us.  Promises to never leave us.  Promises to protect us.  Promises to love us.  Promises to provide for us.  Promises to heal us.  Promises to empower us.  These promises are our shelter.  They are always there when we need protection from whatever life may bring.   

    To sum it up, think about some people you know.  Your levels of intimacy with them more than likely varies from person to person.  Some you aren't too familiar with and hardly talk to, others you occasionally see from time to time and exchange quick pleasantries. There may be others in which you initiate contact or you can't wait to hear from.  But within all of the folks you know, there is still a smaller more intimate group.  People with whom dialoguing is a part of your daily life.  And then, even from within that group, there are those individuals to whom you may affectionately refer to as your "heart".  

    You know, it's the same with how people relate to God. Some know of Him.  Some exchange quick pleasantries or may speak every day out of dutiful love, but to others, He is their heart. 

    If you feel like you're in a less than desirable group, don't fret! We're all at different stages in our relationship with Him, so no finger-pointing is coming from over here. We ALL fall short of the glory of God, and all of us could use a trip up the mountain.   But hey, seriously, who better to guide us during this pandemic than our loving Father?  Since we don't want to be that kind of friend or child who only shows up when they're in a bind,  let's show up now whether or not this pandemic has put us on the struggle bus. Let's give God our attention.  Let's show Him some love and let's use this time wisely.  

Check out this song, "Make Room" by Jonathan McReynolds.  It's food for thought.

(Good links: I like using the YouVersion bible app because they already have daily bible readings for just about any area of growth you need.  RightNow Media, which normally can only be accessed if your church has an account, is free and filled with videos and study sessions for you and each member of your family.  Free Armour of God poster PDF)   Read this about wearing your worship!  )


Pictures retrieved from:

(reading bible): https://churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/329016-making-quiet-time-with-god-josh-weidmann.html

(Climbing gear): https://mounteverestwondering.weebly.com/gear--equipment.html

The Mountain of Time part 2: Each According to His Own Ability

Have you read part 1, "Talents in Your Hands"?  Click here to do so.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise, he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time, the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them."                                                          

- Matthew 25: 14-19 NKJV

With shutdowns and stay at home orders in place worldwide due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic, many people have a massive amount of time on their hands... mountains worth! 

So, do we stare at this mountain of time or do we climb? The sheer grandeur of this mountain, like all others, is impressive to behold and must be approached with the help of He who has given us the ability to climb high places. Habakkuk 3: 19NLT 
The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

Today, mountain climbing has become more of a recreational sport than a necessity for survival or a search for the unknown of what's on the other side. Unfortunately, this is often the case for how people look at spending time with God.  They relegated it to little more than an adrenaline rush for special holidays and the exercise of ritual weekly meetings instead of approaching it as a necessity for survival or a search for the unknown of God's plan for our lives.  

In part one of this blog message, I proposed that our new found time be seen through spiritual eyes and accepted as something that God wants a return on as presented in the parable of the three servants in Matthew 25.  In viewing it this way, our understanding of the Father's love for us as individuals deepens. The mountain terrain and altitude of time vary as it's placed in the hands of teenagers, two-parent households, single parents, college students, couples on the fringe of divorce, pastors, the elderly, teachers, laid-off workers, those who are now working from home, shut down small business owners and those who were struggling before all of this made it worse. 
Everyone's mountain will be different. Just take a look at these two. Try going up those the same way!  What's more important is that the base of each mountain is different.  So where you begin your ascent will determine the urgency for the breath of the Holy Spirit to takeover! 

My friend, what God has crafted for you during this pandemic, is just for you as is the destined outcome from how you invest this time. The bible says in Hebrews 4:13, that not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight. He is keenly aware of all that He has created and He looks on you and me in love through the precious blood of His son, Jesus.  

For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.                               -Jeremiah 29:11AMP 

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were appointed for me, when as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape].     -Psalm139:16AMP

For it is [not your strength, but it is] [a]God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.                                                                  -Philippians 2:13AMP

Are you ready to climb?

Read part 3 here

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni



Looking at mountain source: https://www.thesimpledollar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/debt-mountain.jpg

The Mountain of Time part 1: Talents in Your Hands

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many aspects of life as we know it have changed... everywhere. Globally, the people of the world share in the transformation of what we once called "normal".    

To me it seems, that's where the commonality ends.  Differences are on display as you compare countries, states, communities, and even the people who reside in individual homes.  There are some who are concerned about the virus and some who believe it's no worse than the flu.  To some, like my husband's side of

the family in the Caribbean, this has meant being under a severe shelter in place mandate and not being free to come and go as they please.  We, on the other hand, live under much lenient restrictions.  And as you know, many people are without work and have no income while others are working from home with pay.  Some mothers worry only about making sure there are enough arts and crafts to keep their children busy, while some worry about there being enough food to keep their children fed.   

While there are too many "two sides" of this corona story to list, there is, however, one group I would like to address.  It's the group of people who now have time on their hands; mountains of time. Time because there is no work or school to attend. Time because there are no services, appointments or practices to rush to. Time because, well frankly, there's nowhere to go.

Social media is plastered with DIY projects and TikTok videos. The marketing folks for the major chain crafting stores have notified me to death with discounts on things to keep the kids busy and beautify my home. Keep yourself busy and entertained.  Keep them busy and entertained.  Create something great.  Take your mind off things... Well, in a way they're right. It can take your mind off things.  I just finished a beautiful paint by number unicorn.  Plus, I'm learning how to make audiobook recordings aaaaannd guess who's making churros soon???   But flip the coin and we understand that everyone's newly acquired time isn't filled with acrylic paint and self-rising flour. Maybe your time now is infused with questions of survival.  

We have a lot of time on our hands; a mountain of time.

Does it all seem a bit unfair though that this pandemic scale unevenly carries playdough on one side and a paycheck worries on the other?  Let's pray aloud and look to the word of God for answers.

Father God, in the name of Jesus, we acknowledge Your sovereignty and love for us.  We need the teaching presence of Your Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in truth concerning how You want us to spend our newly acquired time.  As we walk through Your word, speak to our hearts; encourage, convict, and correct us so that we may be shining lights for You in this dark time.


Parable of the Three Servants
Matthew 25:14 NLT “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

Here we have in this parable, three servants who all have something in common;  the entrustment of something valuable- silver. Notice that what they were given was not theirs to keep, just theirs to develop, to enhance, to invest.  It was understood that in the end, upon the master's return, they would have to give an account and place it back in his hands.  That is where the similarity ends.  The three servants each receive different amounts according to what their master knew they would be able to handle; "according to their abilities" and the three servants also handled their assignment differently.

Right now, our sovereign God has entrusted time to many of us.  A mountain proportion worth of time.  He is standing at the top of this mountain on the other end of this pandemic waiting to see how we invest in it for the benefit of His Kingdom.  

Now is the time for each of us to prayerfully seek God to understand the value of what He has put in our hands.  God asked Moses, "What is that in your hand?" That staff which was at first just a tool of the trade; something anyone who did what he did would have, became instrumental in displaying the miraculous power of God.  So I ask you, whether it be the "five", "two", or the "one", "What is in your hand?"  What does God want you to invest your time in that will display His miraculous power? 
Whatever is in your hand, remember, God intentionally put it there because He trusts you to transform it into something greater. 

Moses threw down his staff and it transformed into a living, breathing snake. With this gift of time, what will your prayer time transform into?  What will your relationships transform into? What will your family transform into?  Will this time with your family take you all from a lifeless, culture stamped household to a living and vibrant family used by God?  Will this time at home with your spouse do for you what counseling could not?  Remember, Moses' snake ate up the magicians' snakes because they tried to duplicate it to humiliate what God activated.  If you allow God to transform what is in your hands, it will astonish those around you. 

God is at the top of this mountain of time. The happenings of this time, sheltering in place and social distancing are only for a season. But when that time is up and life continues on, will you be on a new plateau in Christ or still at the base of the mountain? 

I urge you to continue reading this parable in Matthew 26:14-30. Let us learn from Jesus' teaching and invest our time wisely. 

In part two of this study, we will talk about how to ascend this mountain.


The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni


Time zone image source: https://www.timeanddate.com/time/time-zones.html

It's A New Blog Ya'll

Five years ago, I began writing a blog entitled, "A Moment to Reflect" for Believers in Christ who worked in the educational field. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined our normalcy for who knows however long,  it seemed like some of the things God's been downloading into me couldn't be confined to just one group of people. 

This new blog is intended for anyone who wants to know more about God.  Not to say that I have the ultimate 411 on the Almighty. I'm not even remotely close!  I know that just as He asked me to testify about my walk with Him as a teacher, my Father is calling me to expand my borders and share my walk as His child and disciple.  

As the blogs are posted, please comment and share what God is saying or has said to you concerning that particular issue or topic.  Iron sharpens iron.  Should you disagree with what I have shared, please respectfully share your position.  Again, iron sharpens iron.

A Moment to Reflect will still be operational as directed by the Holy Spirit. I need it. I use it.  I stilllllll go back and read some of the old entries for a refresher and a quick prayer.  God is not through with this ole educator yet!

The Lord is with you and you are loved!

-Toni





Image retrieved from https://www.lifewire.com/web-development-4781505