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