TIME is SHORT—Stop to SHARE—Anyway!!!
The world is filled with people; yes, full to the brim (it seems) with humanity, with brothers & sisters, with friends & acquaintances, with moms & dads, with aunts & uncles, with cousins (even the cousins who we do not know are related).
PEOPLE, both ‘lost’ & ‘found.’
Since the earth is full of people every direction we seem to look, there remains a question (possibly separated into two parts—one that our pastor shared the other day & one that has stuck with me).
- Today, the QUESTIONS are the focus.
- So, let us begin with the QUESTIONS & then expound upon the answer.
To do so, let’s set us a scenario.
Time was short because the baby shower began in less than an hour, and wouldn’t you know, I forgot to buy diapers for the game. So, a stop was necessary. As I scurried into town, I intended to run by the local Dollar General, but then my gas tank began to protest: “I am so ‘thirsty,’ almost famished!”
Thus, a quick stop at the Kroger gas pumps was necessary (you know, use those gas points). Some people do not necessarily believe in divine appointments, but many do. What some people may call a “crossing of paths” others call “God’s timing.”
To be sure, I stand in the second camp.
The gas tank was filled to the brim and would be sloshing gasoline around in the tank, at least until I drove the hour & back to campus. For now, my gas tank was filled, and I needed to hurry into Kroger for the box of diapers.
The store was extremely crowded!
The truth of that fact immediately fed a thought to my mind: “You might arrive late to the shower,” followed by a second thought: “Like always.”
My husband oftentimes asks me the question: “What office are you running for today,” because I like to talk to others.
My daughters both agreed as they said to me this summer, “Mom, you do like to talk.”
My family & extended family seem to agree and often add this additional comment, “You have been a teacher for a long time, so it is natural that students would stop you—to talk.
While all of the above statements may be true, the REAL TRUTH why any of us should ever wish to stop and talk with another resides within the QUESTIONS.
Thank you, Bro. Aron, for reminding us about the QUESTIONS that we must ask ourselves whenever another person stops us and wishes to talk.
QUESTION #1—Is the person a believer, a Christian, a child of God—OR—Is this person lost?
QUESTION #2—If the person is lost and does not know Jesus as Savior, then what can I say or do that will testify of the goodness of God, what can I say or do that will reveal Jesus to this person?
TIME is SHORT—Stop to SHARE—Anyway!!!
Recently, the study of “Why we REALLY need God’s Word?” has permeated my thoughts; in studying the Bible, numerous passages explain why.
Read with me a psalm written by David, “a man after God’s own heart.”
“The Law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much pure gold;
Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, Your servant is warned by them;
In keeping them there is great reward.”
(Psalm 19: 7-11 NASB)
Once I filled my tank with gas, I parked and walked double-time into Kroger, scanning the aisle markers for the “baby” aisle, and then I made eye contact. There was no hesitation; we stopped to talk. Even though time was short, still, we stopped in the moment to share a conversation. In talking to this former student from so many years ago, I saw tears fill the corners of her eyes as she shared some concerns for her son, who was now stepping into life as a young adult.
- God gives us divine moments to share the love of Jesus!
- God gives us divine opportunities to love on others!
- God gives us divine conversations to answer the two most important questions!
- God gave us so much when He sent Jesus to provide “the way” to know Him!
Who are we to ever race past these DIVINE MOMENTS gifted to us by ALMIGHTY GOD!!
When we walk within the divine conversations God provides, our clocks need to not be our focus. Truly. TIME is SHORT & ETERNITY is FOREVER!
We stood among the huge crowd of shoppers passing by as each person maneuvered toward the shortest check-out counter. We could have found a better place to pause and converse, but THIS was the place God led us to, so there we stood, sharing in an intimate conversation, discussing a concern deep upon her heart. Thank you God for drowning out the sounds of the shoppers because I was given the blessing of hearing to hear—only the words she spoke.
- We did not speak for a full hour.
- We did not solve the world’s problems.
- We did not do so many things, but this we did—
- We Stopped to SHARE!
- We Stopped to TALK!
Yes, she went to check-out & I went toward the diaper aisle. Our day continued on for both of us, but we were changed; we were different; we had shared in one of God’s Divine Moments, and we were both BETTER for IT!
Let us exclaim the goodness of God!
Let us praise His Son Jesus!
Let us thank God’s Holy Spirit who forever leads us to see the moments God gives, how even when TIME is SHORT—(we are to)—Stop to SHARE—Anyway!
“The heavens tell of the glory of God;
And their expanse declares the work of His hands.
Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”
(Psalm 19: 1-2 & 14 NASB)