Heavenly Father,
The older I get, the faster my life seems to be going! I spent a lot of time this weekend with family members from near and far. It seems like just yesterday I was holding my babies in my arms…and now I am holding their babies (and even their baby’s baby) in my arms. When I was younger, I thought I had all the time in the world to do whatever I wanted. Yet now, I know I’ve used up probably two-thirds of my time here! I’m not worried about dying because I know I will finally be Home with You, Lord…but I am much more aware of how I’m spending the time I have left here on this earth. I sure want to do all I can to help bring Your Kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven. It’s crazy that You actually allow me to be a part of Your kingdom-building!
It certainly causes me to prioritize how I’m spending my time. Am I doing what You want me to? Do my regular activities bring glory and honor to You? Am I making anyone hungry and thirsty for more of You? Are there things in my life that are taking up too much time that are not going to make a difference eternally? Am I spending my time simply loving You and others more deeply? Do I take time to tell others of the wonderful things You do? Am I studying and sharing Your word, Your truth with others? Am I truly letting You rule my life (or am I at least getting better at surrendering?) Do I spend all my prayer time telling You what I want, or do I listen to what You want? (Your way is always better!!)
Father, I know when I breathe my last breath I am ready because I have no doubt I will live forever in Your presence. Yet there are so many here on earth who still don’t realize they are not complete without You. Whatever time I have left, Father, help me make it count for eternity. I don’t want to see anyone left behind. Even if it’s only tiny seeds that I sow, let my life be fruitful for Your kingdom. Let my short bit of time shoot far into forever!
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“Again, it (the kingdom of heaven) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Matthew 25:14-30