"Have you ever heard of a guy that used to write music named Wolfgang Mozart? If you had lived in his day, the chances are you might not have heard of him.
Mozart was a true child prodigy. He began composing his great works at 5 years old. By the time he died at age 35 he had created some 600 works. Many of those works are still enjoyed around the world over 200 years later.
But when Mozart died he was penniless and in debt. Almost no one went to his funeral. He was buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave which has since been lost.
Mozart’s life illustrates the principle of someone who started well but didn’t finish well. Unfortunately, many Christians will fall into this same category because of poor time management. To avoid being one of them, focus today on the vision God has given you. Then plan your day to fulfill that vision so you’ll redeem the time.
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"MY HANDS WERE BUSY
My hands were busy through the day.
I didn’t have much time to play
The little games you asked to do,
I didn’t have much time for you.
I’d wash your clothes. I’d sew and cook.
You’d ask and I’d read from your book.
I’d tuck you in all safe at night,
And hear your prayers; turn out the light.
Then tiptoe softly by your door,
I wish I’d stayed a minute more.
For life was short, the years rushed past,
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at my side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away.
There are no longer games to play.
No Teddy Bears or misplaced toys
No sleepovers with lots of boys.
No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear.
That all belongs to yesteryear.
My hands, once busy, now are still.
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do
The little things you asked me to do.
This poem, by an unknown author, reminds us what is really redeeming the time.
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"Perhaps you’ve heard about the man who was so narrow-minded he could clap his ears or he could look through a keyhole with both eyes at the same time.
Narrow-mindedness is generally considered a character weakness. But, according to the Bible, it is not always wrong to be narrow. In fact, Jesus said that the way to Heaven is a “narrow way,” so narrow in fact, that few would find it.
Making the best use of our time is also a process of finding the narrow way. God has something specific He wants you to accomplish today. He also has a narrow and specific plan and purpose for your life. Yet, many Christians will miss that perfect plan because they won’t take time to talk to their Heavenly Father and ask Him to show them the narrow way.
How about you? Before you go any further, stop and ask God for directions. The narrow way may not be the fashionable way, but it is the way to redeem the time.
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"A few years ago I had put on a few extra pounds and decided to attack the problem by jogging. But that is not an easy thing to motivate myself to do and on this one occasion I was having such trouble getting started I had to do something drastic, something totally out of character for me.
I am a very frugal person. Some would call me a tightwad. I prefer to think of myself as a good steward of God’s money. When I buy tennis shoes for example, I only look at one thing- how much do they cost. If I see some for $10 on the mark down table, I’ll grab them. But on this occasion I went to an expensive mall and bought some Nike jogging shoes for quite a bit more than $10. When I got home I ran and ran and ran because I had made such an investment I had to use those shoes.
Remember, you overcome procrastination by doing whatever you can, no matter how small, to create momentum so you’ll redeem the time.
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