Daily Thought for Thursday, December 29th

December 29, 2011 

The End Is Near – Still Time Marches On

Today’s Thought:

“There are years when nothing happens and years in which centuries happen.” – Carlos Fuentes

Today’s Quote:

“Time and Tide tarry for no man.” – John Clarke

Today’s Question:

“And what if you were told: One more hour?” – Elias Canetti

Today’s Bible Verses:             Psalms 90:1-4  &  Ecclessiastes 3:1-11

  

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

Today’s Spiritual Thought”

“No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.” – Thomas Jefferson

Arthur Schopenhauer said, “The years pass more quickly as we become older.”  And the truth is time does fly – and for 2011 it has almost flown.  Soon this year will be a memory and all that was a part of it will be left to the pages of history and the recollections of those who have experienced it; but whether the year is ending or a new one is beginning, every day is a day that the Lord has given and in it all we should rejoice, be glad and take up our cross to follow Him.

Ovid in 43 B.C. said, “At times it is folly to hasten: at other times, to delay.  The wise do everything in it’s proper time.”  While John Morley put it this way:  “Books, doctrines, ideas have been compared to the flowers in a garden.  Tis not always the best argument that prevails and the gardener wins the prize who chooses his season right.”

“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”  - The Bible (2 Corinthians 6:1-10)

Just as time is running out on the year 2011: each tick of the clock brings us closer to the day when the Lord will come again and for we, Christians, time is running out to make a difference in our world.  It is time to seize the day, capture the moment and make the most of the season in which we are in:  It is our time to do God’s work and to change the world by His power, because of His love and through His spirit.  May we be found faithful to have used our time wisely and not be found guilty of having wasted it foolishly.

Today’s Prayer:

Father, just as time marches on may I too march on faithfully, diligently and purposefully to serve you and to accomplish your work and your will during all the remaining days of my life.

“The right time comes when one is ready.”

- Carl G. Jung