What Time Is It?

Life is full of paradoxes. Depending on our family situation, holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas can be a time of joy or agony. The Bible acknowledges that we will experience a diversity of emotions, times, and seasons.

There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to get and a time to

lose, a time to keep silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for

peace. (Ecc 3:4,6a,7b,8)

As we move through life, struggles and challenges come. When we make mistakes, we sometimes concoct messes, which are really opportunities in disguise to gain wisdom and understanding. Some hardships arrive like a thief in the night to rob us of something valuable and irreplaceable.

Regardless of the cause, trials bring us to a destiny decision: What time is it? In our weeping, is it time to give up or time to dig deeper? In our mourning, is it time to be silent or time to be heard? In our pain, do we choose to love or hate? When will it be time to celebrate with laughter or dancing?

While God's love weeps with us in times of sadness, we must open our eyes and look for joy and laughter to appear. His voice may lead us to be silent when it is appropriate, but later ask us to share eternal truth in love to release freedom of thought and creativity. The power of the kingdom blossoms as we give to others and also showers His favor and blessing upon us.

While stress or trauma may last for a night season, God's mercies are new every morning. Lift your face to the sunrise and drink of the refreshing morning dew. Explore your new season like a little child. Speak to the mountain in front of you and tell it to MOVE because the King of Glory is breaking through. Arise! Let the supernatural love and power of Jesus within you shine in the midst of adversity. It is time to be the light of the world as His ambassadors.

Time marches on; time stops for no man. Have you ever counted the number of Saturdays you have left

to spend with family and friends? No matter if you are in a time of trial or blessing, seize the day and make something good happen.

During a recent time of intense, life-jolting testing, I started a new habit I really like. As I climb into

bed, I review and rate my day. I consider it a good day if I:

* Touched another life with a smile or a word of encouragement.

* Worked to progress in my job or towards a pesonal goal.

* Learned something new.

* Choose to follow God's ways of thinking or acting.

If I can remember anything good as I lay my head on the pillow, I can thank God for a good day. As I trust Him for tomorrow, peaceful sleep comes as a welcome friend.

What time is it? It is time to thank and praise the Lord; every day has something good that comes as a gift from above. Be thankful because love, joy and peace abound in the Kingdom!