Dreams and Donuts and Time
Dream
Often I don’t remember my dreams at all, but this morning I did. I was trying to sing Edelweiss, for some reason that I’m not sure, and ended up messing up the words some. At the end of the song Julie Andrews’ operatic voice joined in, but I tried to match it with my own (imagined) Pavarotti voice: “...Bless my homeland forever!”
The first thing I wanted to do when I woke up was find out if I was in pitch. ;-) I was off a half-step, in case you wondered.
It may have been that last phrase partially that brought the song to my mind. “Bless my homeland forever.” Last night I talked in passing with Missy about how this land has become so polluted with evil and that I almost don’t feel like celebrating Independence Day by watching fireworks. I’m pained by how America has drifted so far. It’s hard to imagine that God will bless this land much longer. He’s been tremendously merciful so far, hasn’t He? “Longsuffering” describes it pretty well.
...who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water -1 Peter 3:20.
(Actually, to be balanced here, I thought I’d add that I do live in what is likely still the best country in the world, and for that I’m certainly grateful.)
Dunkin’ Donuts
For our monthly sweet treats night, Missy, Annie, and I went out to Dunkin’ Donuts last night instead of Starbucks. I’m not too fond of financially supporting Starbucks because of their wicked misuse of profits, so I wanted to see if Dunkin’ Donuts had some products almost equivalent or better than Starbucks.
We all liked our drinks, but, related or unrelated, Missy got sick later and felt like throwing up and coughing and had a runny nose. Hmm. To be safe, I think we’ll do something else next month. Any suggestions about a healthier place to go?
During our time out, we discussed buying from companies like Starbucks and women missionaries. (Okay, let me rewrite that.) =D We discussed the ethicality of buying from companies like Starbucks, and whether women should be missionaries.
I’ve struggled with both of these issues before. It’s not easy to deal with them from a biblical perspective. Last night, though, my beliefs became more solidified, and I’ll probably write a blog post about them. *Does that now*
What Does It Mean to Waste Time?
Here’s the big question that’s been on my mind for several days. What does it mean to waste time? The first thought that came to mind is that it’s about productivity. If we are being productive and accomplishing good things, then it’s well-spent time. But that brings up several of other questions. Is wasting time sinful? What about playing games with family? What about enjoying the outdoors? Well, it may depend on what you consider productive, I suppose. If that’s the case, we’ve just shifted the question from “What is wasted time?” to “What is productivity?”
Well, this question really must be thought about from God’s perspective. What is His view of profitable time? I think we all know the answer, more or less. Profitable time is time that is spent to the glory of God! We must do all to His glory, whether it be eating or drinking or sleeping. If our time is spent to the glory of God, it is time well spent and that wasn’t wasted. Consider the Lord. Did Jesus ever waste any time? I can’t imagine that He did. Yet, He ate, He drank, He slept, He attended a wedding ceremony, He sat by the seashore, and He worked as a carpenter (we presume). In it all He glorified His Father.
Something like playing a game with friends can be time that is profitable, if we’re doing it with an eye for God’s glory, I believe. Yet, something as seemingly productive as plowing the field for sowing can be wasted time, if self-exultation is the rather than God-exultation.
The moment that time is spent primarily selfishly, without God in the picture, is the moment that time becomes wasted. The Lord deserves every second of our lives! Every last second. Any second that we dedicate to ourselves and use purely for our own pleasure is squandered time. That’s a bit convicting for me. Oh, may the Lord be at the center of all in our lives! Make it more completely so, Father, for me!
Often I don’t remember my dreams at all, but this morning I did. I was trying to sing Edelweiss, for some reason that I’m not sure, and ended up messing up the words some. At the end of the song Julie Andrews’ operatic voice joined in, but I tried to match it with my own (imagined) Pavarotti voice: “...Bless my homeland forever!”
The first thing I wanted to do when I woke up was find out if I was in pitch. ;-) I was off a half-step, in case you wondered.
It may have been that last phrase partially that brought the song to my mind. “Bless my homeland forever.” Last night I talked in passing with Missy about how this land has become so polluted with evil and that I almost don’t feel like celebrating Independence Day by watching fireworks. I’m pained by how America has drifted so far. It’s hard to imagine that God will bless this land much longer. He’s been tremendously merciful so far, hasn’t He? “Longsuffering” describes it pretty well.
...who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water -1 Peter 3:20.
(Actually, to be balanced here, I thought I’d add that I do live in what is likely still the best country in the world, and for that I’m certainly grateful.)
Dunkin’ Donuts
For our monthly sweet treats night, Missy, Annie, and I went out to Dunkin’ Donuts last night instead of Starbucks. I’m not too fond of financially supporting Starbucks because of their wicked misuse of profits, so I wanted to see if Dunkin’ Donuts had some products almost equivalent or better than Starbucks.
We all liked our drinks, but, related or unrelated, Missy got sick later and felt like throwing up and coughing and had a runny nose. Hmm. To be safe, I think we’ll do something else next month. Any suggestions about a healthier place to go?
During our time out, we discussed buying from companies like Starbucks and women missionaries. (Okay, let me rewrite that.) =D We discussed the ethicality of buying from companies like Starbucks, and whether women should be missionaries.
I’ve struggled with both of these issues before. It’s not easy to deal with them from a biblical perspective. Last night, though, my beliefs became more solidified, and I’ll probably write a blog post about them. *Does that now*
What Does It Mean to Waste Time?
Here’s the big question that’s been on my mind for several days. What does it mean to waste time? The first thought that came to mind is that it’s about productivity. If we are being productive and accomplishing good things, then it’s well-spent time. But that brings up several of other questions. Is wasting time sinful? What about playing games with family? What about enjoying the outdoors? Well, it may depend on what you consider productive, I suppose. If that’s the case, we’ve just shifted the question from “What is wasted time?” to “What is productivity?”
Well, this question really must be thought about from God’s perspective. What is His view of profitable time? I think we all know the answer, more or less. Profitable time is time that is spent to the glory of God! We must do all to His glory, whether it be eating or drinking or sleeping. If our time is spent to the glory of God, it is time well spent and that wasn’t wasted. Consider the Lord. Did Jesus ever waste any time? I can’t imagine that He did. Yet, He ate, He drank, He slept, He attended a wedding ceremony, He sat by the seashore, and He worked as a carpenter (we presume). In it all He glorified His Father.
Something like playing a game with friends can be time that is profitable, if we’re doing it with an eye for God’s glory, I believe. Yet, something as seemingly productive as plowing the field for sowing can be wasted time, if self-exultation is the rather than God-exultation.
The moment that time is spent primarily selfishly, without God in the picture, is the moment that time becomes wasted. The Lord deserves every second of our lives! Every last second. Any second that we dedicate to ourselves and use purely for our own pleasure is squandered time. That’s a bit convicting for me. Oh, may the Lord be at the center of all in our lives! Make it more completely so, Father, for me!