Embrace the Moment

Saturday night at church, Pastor Clint's sermon was entitled Embrace the Moment. As he began preaching, I thought back to books I have read that speak exactly about living a life that helps you to embrace the moment. One of my favourites - Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist and another called Simplify by Bill Hybels.

In life, there is one thing that is equal for all of us and that is the gift of TIME. How we choose to spend that time, however, differs from person to person. As I stopped to reflect on this, I took a mental account of how I have recently been spending my time. Is my time being spent how I want it to be spent? Is my time being spent in a way that will help me to grow my relationship with God? Am I spending my time in a way that is modelling healthy habits for my children?

Generally, I would have to say that my time is, for the most part, pretty balanced. But, there are always areas that I can improve in. Time is a valuable resource, sometimes more valuable than money. After all, isn't the saying, "Time is money." Pastor Clint asked the question, "Is there any way that we could live our lives to be more generous with our time and embrace the moment?" I think if we were honest, each of us would say there are things that we could change to give more generously of our time. I mean, I like the next person, loves to watch Netflix on a Friday night but perhaps a game night over a lazy night in front of the tv might be a better use of family time. Or rather than allowing myself to be buried under email or paperwork, I can connect face to face more and put limits on the tech time - that is possible, right? I mean, didn't God create us for relationship.

I remember in both of the above books, there was a focus on prioritizing time. Shauna speaks about change beginning with a breaking point. But rather than reach that breaking point, wouldn't it be better if we made choices to change the way we live our life before ever reaching that breaking point? Bill Hybels speaks about the importance of focusing your time and energy and actually builds that into his calendar.

Make the most of every opportunity. How you may ask?

Pastor Clint points us to Ephesians 5 for the answer

"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another wish psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, int he name of our Lord Jesus Christ." ~Ephesians 5:15-20

To live as wise and to be led by the Holy Spirit. The morning after this sermon, my devotion followed right in line with exactly this. Allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you and move you. Allowing yourself to be swept away by praising Him - even with hands raised in adoration to Him. It always amazes me how God speaks to us - God knows what we need to hear and His timing is always perfect.

We ought to live as children of the light.

Those who are wise, not unwise. Allow ourselves to be filled by the Spirit. The only way this will happen is if we are spending time in His Word.

Allowing the fruit of the spirit to guide us as we live so that we can live following the example of Christ.

However, in our busy lives, how many of us are guilty of becoming so busy that we don't stop to take the time to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. To lead us in the path that Christ is calling us to follow. For the moments in our day that we are meant to embrace but instead let slip through our fingers.

As promptings happen throughout our day; do we stop to answer the call when God is speaking to us? I know I have been guilty of this. More than a few times recently, a friend/family member has been on my heart and because I was too caught up in how busy I was with work and my own family, I ignored the gentle prompting from God to act.

Part of how we can embrace the moment and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us is through creating margin in our life. I thought it was perfect that our service on Saturday evening ended a little earlier than usual which actually allowed for that margin that Pastor Clint mentioned. Allowing me to connect with a couple of special women who I hadn't had the opportunity to connect with recently.

The idea of margin is something I remember reading about in Bill Hybels book and that at times I have been able to apply in my life - giving myself extra time so I don't feel continually rushed and allowing myself to be fully present in the season of life I find myself in. I have scheduled margin into my calendar so that I am able to get certain tasks done - rather than always having a to do list. When I create margin, I find I am more relaxed and can take the time to slow life - to slow it down enough to hear God's whisper through the Holy Spirit. Stephen Covey also speaks about this when he refers to first things first. Focusing on priorities as you fill your time jar. We need to first place the large rocks (priorities) before we place the pebbles (important tasks that take our time) and the sand (all other things that fill our time jars). What are your priorities?

Are you focused where God wants you focused?

Praying that each of you is able to embrace the moment and focus on what is truly important in the week ahead as you are prompted and filled by the Holy Spirit.