"Developing Christian character is at the heart of what it means to grow in Christ. One method of reaching your goal of developing Christ-like character is keeping a list of character qualities on a 3x5 card. Look at these cards when you have waiting time and think of something you can do wherever you are to implement that quality. This will give an immediate opportunity to practice the character trait.
For example; you have to wait at your doctor's office, you might pull out your card with a reminder to practice patience. Instead of fuming about the late doctor, you might see if there is someone in the waiting room you could converse with. Or maybe you could pray for whatever situation has caused the doctor to run late. Maybe someone ahead of you had a medical emergency and they need your prayer.
Taking advantage of little opportunities to develop Christlike character is an important way to redeem the time.
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"Child training experts Michael & Debbie Pearl wrote the following poem called channel 23:
The TV is my shepherd, I shall not want anything else.
It maketh me to lie down on the sofa.
It leadeth me away from the Scripture.
It destroys my soul.
It leadeth me in the paths of sex and violence for the sponsors sake.
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will enjoy the evil, for blood and sex, they excite me.
Its cable and remote, they comfort me.
It prepares a commercial before me in the presence of my children.
It anoints my head with humanism.
My coveting runneth over.
Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow my family all the days of our lives,
and we shall dwell in the house watching TV forever.
The Pearls have eloquently expressed some reasons why too much TV is probably the greatest hindrance many families and individuals face when it comes to redeeming the time.
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"Calvin Coolidge was the 29th President of the United States. He was often called “Quiet Calvin” because of his soft-spoken nature. When told that Coolidge had died someone asked, “How could they tell?”
Coolidge may not be the most outspoken President or the best remembered, but he was a good manager of his time. One of his best quotes was often cited by McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc. Coolidge said:
Nothing in the word can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; there is nothing more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts.
Coolidge’s quiet persistence eventually landed him the most powerful job in the world. Ray Kroc’s persistence made him the most successful restaurant owner in history. But Jesus told us that by persistence in prayer even greater things could be accomplished that will matter in eternity. Persistently doing God’s will is redeeming the time.
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"A wild animal trainer raised a baby boa constrictor till it grew to an enormous size. He eventually trained the giant snake to curl around him in coils until the trainer was encircled head to toe as the snake waved his head above the man to the delight of cheering crowds.
The act went fine until one night the crowd was horrified at the sound of breaking bones and screams of agony as the monstrous snake crushed his trainer to death. The serpent had become the master. The man had toyed with him one too many times.
That’s a picture of how sinful time wasting habits can eventually choke and kill the Christian. What starts out as an innocent little diversion from doing God’s best, often grows to dominate and rule its victim. The results can even be deadly.
Beware today of Satan’s attempts to bring clever little diversions into your day. Be on your guard to avoid anything that does not redeem the time.
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