One

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Midweek Musing 6/19/19

Most of you may not know this about me, but once upon a time I was a high school volleyball coach. I loved the sport and love coaching. I really miss it. Some people dream of retiring to sit on a rocking chair, but I look forward to returning to the sidelines with my whistle wrapped around my neck.

I enjoy keeping up with the student athletes I coached now on social media. Some of them are old enough to have some of their own children begin playing youth sports. A few have even gotten into coaching themselves.

One of the lessons that I had to teach each of my teams was the power of one.

During practice, I often emphasized the importance of taking just one more step. One more step was often the difference to being in position to make a good play or make a mistake.

During training and conditioning, I would encourage athletes to do one more rep in lifting weights. Or one more push up. Or run one more lap.

I would also encourage them to spend more time practicing. Just signing up for one more individual workout, attending one more open gym, going to one more camp, spending just one more hour practicing could be the difference in whether they were an average player or a good – or even great – one.

We all have those same kinds of decisions to make every day.

While lots of churches and church leaders talk about stewardship of resources one often overlooked area of our stewardship is the stewardship of our time. What we do with our time says a great deal about our beliefs and can make a big difference in the lives of so many.

I ran across this which says it so well.

One step. Not very far, is it? But just one step’s distance is the difference between being safe or out in baseball. Just one step may be the difference between victory or defeat.

One second. Not very long, is it? But just one second may be the difference between children going hungry or eating cereal you placed in your church’s food drive box.

One minute. Not very long, is it? But just one minute may be the difference between visitors deciding not to return to your church because they felt unwelcome, or joining because you greeted them warmly.

One hour. Not very long, is it? But just one hour may be the difference between a shut–in feeling lonely, or being reminded of the church’s love by your visit.

One afternoon. Not very long, is it? But just one afternoon may be the difference between a serious injury, or an elderly couple entering their house safely because of a handrail you installed.

One week. Not very long, is it? Yet the Bible tells us God created the world in less than a week. And the week we call Holy week changed the world? By giving more time to God each week, we can make God’s world a better place.

And might I add…One Life. It’s all we have – how will we use it?

Because how we use our One makes a difference.