From The Bible Nuggets Series ( #27 )
Psalm 90:10,12 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
I don't know if any of you are familiar with Dave Ramsey and I don't listen to his radio program very often but I heard him speak these words of wisdom which made an impression on me. "Every one is born with a terminal illness called life." Tomorrow I will turn 57 (written 2003) and each year that passes brings me that much closer to the termination of my mortality. The verses cited above point to this concrete truth. I may live to be 70, 80,90 or possibly 100 or even a little more. I don't know. But this one thing I do know. Each passing year verifies the truth of verse 10 and each passing year shows the importance of the wisdom referred to in verse 12.
If you go to a cemetery you will find listed on each stone a date of birth and a date of death. Each of these two dates will have a dash in between. My Dad's stone reflects July 12th, 1918-Sept. 9, 2000. Do you see how little is revealed in the dates. You reason that he lived 82 years and almost 2 months. Now reflect on that dash between those 2 dates. That is where the story is. Contained in that dash is a man who was saved at a young age. Married in 1942 and fathered 4 boys. He served his country in the military for 21 years and retired. He was a deacon in his local church and taught an adult bible class. He loved gospel music and good preaching. Those are some of the things covered in the dash between the two dates. Things that are important only to his family, friends and the God he believed in and taught about.
Verse 12 tells us in light of the fact that we are all going to die we need to "number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom". The Bible tells us the "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". Having identified wisdom and knowing that we are not getting any younger we would do well to apply the teachings of Paul to our lives. Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Folks, we are all running out of time while we rush to and fro in this mad crazy world. We need to take time to be sure that the dash in between the dates of our life reflects love and service to God, family and our fellow man. It is that dash in between the dates that we will be judged by and not the dates themselves. Have you placed Jesus in your life between the dates?
What are you filling your "dash" with?
Hillbilly
***POETRY CORNER***
This Is Your Life By Thomas E. Kittrell
Opening scene: Heavy traffic
Traffic jam!
Horns honking,
Feeling frustrated,
I could just scream.
Next scene: Bad day at work
Boss in bad mood!
Heavy work load,
Deadline to meet,
Hate this job.
Move to next scene: Shopping
Stores crowded!
Too many people,
Prices too high,
Hate shopping.
Then comes Sunday:
Time for church!
Other things to do,
Pastor expects too much,
I need to rest.
Followed by Monday:
Same old routine!
Committee meeting,
Bills overdue,
I need a change.
Hectic Wednesday:
Bible Study tonight!
I don’t have time,
I’m religious enough,
God will understand.
Week-end at last:
Big ball game!
They need this win,
I’m all excited,
I wouldn’t miss it.
Senior years:
Time to retire!
Worked long enough,
Time to relax,
Don’t ask me to volunteer.
Final scene: Standing before God’s throne
This is your life, you’ve been busy!
Let us review the opportunities,
I gave you on earth,
To be my witness.
© 2006 Thomas E. Kittrell
Poetic Prayer For The Day...
A MORNING PRAYER
Dear God, I pray
I'll not take for granted today
The daily blessings you give
Like the sweet smell of a flower
and the green grassy hill.
May I not walk at such a pace
That I miss the beauty of the place,
Nor the smile of a child at play
Or the song of the blue jay.
And may I travel not so fast today
That I fail to help someone along the way.
Gene Minix copyright 1984 in CHARIOTS AND HORSES
I want to thank our Heavenly Father who continues to
write upon the hearts of His children ---that they
may share the sweetlove of God with others
through their publishing
with all thanks and praise.
God bless you ,
Pages Of My Heart Ministry
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