EDC Christian

A Sharper Image

“It’s getting clearer now. I can see it better.” Have you ever said something like that after your eyes were dilated at the optician’s office? The Lord created mankind after His image. Men and women reflect the image, countenance, and person of the Lord Himself.

Humanity is a special creation of God. Mankind is different from all other created things – we are made in the image of God. We can have a special relationship with the Lord through His Son, Jesus.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 1:27

“Imago Dei” is the Latin phrase many people use to describe these Hebrew words. Imago Dei means “image of God.” After sin entered this world, the image is distorted. Like the dilation of the eyes, the image of mankind (looking like the Lord) is more complicated and hard to see.

Despite the curse of sin, the Christian can choose to become more like Christ and to look more like Him each day. The books we read, the films we watch, the news we listen to, the church we attend, the work we do, the classes we take, and the friends we keep will greatly influence our potential to look more like the Lord. Speaking of friends, Proverbs says:

Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Proverbs 27:17

I have several sharpening steels. I can use these portable steels to sharpen my knives anywhere I am. Some have diamonds encrusted in the steel to make it a hard surface to cause friction on the knife I am sharpening. The sharpener material is harder than the steel I am sharpening. I also enjoy using a benchtop grinder. The grinding wheel has elements in it that are stronger and harder than the blades I am working on – so it sharpens them.

We need friends who are stronger than us, spiritually speaking. We can be friends with others who may be spiritually weaker than us with the intent of sharpening them. Some are sharper in some spiritual areas than we are and vice-versa. Something to think about – a friend has the potential to sharpen your countenance. “Countenance” is the Hebrew פָּנֶה (paneh) which means “face or faces.” Since we are created in the image of God, this creation of humanity also bears resemblance to the features of God including the face of God.

The goal of our best friendships is to sharpen each other to be more like Jesus.

A good friend, who loves the Lord, can sharpen your life to help you look more like the Lord. Your countenance, face, facial expression, and entire being can be impacted positively by having good, healthy, and righteous friends.

The Every Day Carry Christian will carry these thriving skills:

Be a friend who sharpens others to be more like Jesus. Share spiritual sharpening skills with others; Bible reading, prayer, faithfulness to participate in church, finding ways to serve others, being faithful to your family, developing a good work ethic, not giving up, fighting temptation, and becoming accountable, just to name a few ideas.
Have friends who encourage and challenge you to be more like Jesus. It’s OK to say the hard thing. It’s healthy to challenge another to greatness. It’s good practice to discuss difficult things to grow and develop your relationship with one another and with God.
Be the one, with God’s grace, who stays sharp for Jesus. Pray for and plan for this. Maintaining a sharper image is like maintaining a sharp knife blade. With use, the knife becomes dull; but with consistent and purposefull sharpening friction on the steel, the knife – and the life can maintain its sharpness.

The goal of our best friendships is to sharpen each other to be more like Jesus.

Moral Awareness

Many people are talking today about morality in society and morality within the church. Recently Matt Chandler, a popular pastor, stepped down because of what he called “crossing a line” in a relationship with a woman who is not his wife. I do not know Matt or his church, so I offer no comment on his scenario because I (nor most social media commenters) do not have all the information. I have seen many people make comments on social media about his situation with vague innuendo and assumptions. Many share their personal thoughts, others suggest scriptural thoughts, and some offer seemingly contradictory advice – all hoping for the same outcome – healthy morality in relationships.

The Every Day Carry Christian will carry with himself/herself several Bible truths to deal with relationships with each other and with the opposite sex. A man or woman can enjoy many friendships with people of various backgrounds, faith traditions, work or school experiences, and other denominators, including being older or younger, or being of the opposite sex. It is possible!

Paul gave Timothy great truth to help with these personal interactions:

Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
1 Timothy 5:1-2

A SIBLING MINDSET

Men are not objects to covet. Women are not objects to lust after. Men and women are to be viewed through the personal lens of being a brother or a sister. For those readers who are born-again Christians, we have brothers and sisters in the Spiritual Family of God. They are siblings along with us in God’s Church. Perhaps much of the poor decisions of men and women about safe guarding their relationships could be solved with this sibling mindset.

In your lifetime, you may have only a handful of genuinely close, intimate, raw, and real friendships. For example, there are only a few people you want to go camping with and stay with in the same tent or campsite. Then there are others, that you want to see while at the campground and perhaps go fishing with, but they are staying in a different tent. Then there are still others you hope to never see at the campground! Most friendships will be more like acquaintances when compared to the few really close friends you may have.

While treating men as our brothers and the women in our lives as our sisters, it is important to observe the several Proverbs about being alone with “strange” people. Please note the following question:

And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a stranger?
Proverbs 5:20

A STRANGE GUARDRAIL

“Strange” is used several times in Proverbs. It does not mean “Weird!” “Strange” essentially means “someone that does not belong to you.” We “belong” to families, not as property, but as members. If you are married, you “belong” to your spouse, and your spouse “belongs” to you. When we “belong,” we are not “out of place” and the other person is not “out of place” because of the status of our relationship. A man or woman married to each other has a relationship that is consensual, legal, and approved by each other and by God. Unless it’s a real physical sibling, we create families and places of “belonging to each other” in marriage. Anyone not in that guardrail of marriage is “strange.” They do not belong to you, and you do not belong to them.

If you are attracted to someone, anyone, and they do not “belong” to you in marriage, then it would be best to not place yourself in a place to be tempted to entertain sin, flirt with sin, or actually physically sin against God and against that person. Don’t be alone with anyone of the opposite sex, behind closed doors. Being attracted to someone is not a sin; it’s a natural feeling. God created us with feelings and attractions. However, continually thinking about someone who does not “belong” to you can become a sin. Those thoughts can become lust or covetouesness. Coveting is a word that simply means to crave and desire something that does not belong to you. The Scripture is full of warnings about coveting. If thoughts are entertained and if you put yourself in a place where you can act upon your thoughts – you may sin against God and against your spouse and against the person you are alone with either emotionally or physically.

So here is a short list of the Every Day Carry Thriving Skills you need to carry with you to stay morally healthy and morally aware:

A Healthy Pace For a Busy School Year

Over 20 million students are enrolled in college this year in the USA.
Over 58 million children are enrolled in public, private, Christian, or home schools across America in 2022.

Life moves fast and there are some seasons of life that seem to move faster than others. The busyness of the start of the school year, the move to a new home, or starting a new job are all moments of potential challenges to finding a healthy pace of life.

Let’s talk about school. Some are starting school for the first time, others are anticipating a new year of discovery, and growth, and still others are saying, “One more year until I graduate!” It can be a very busy time. How can a student, parent, or family juggle all the new routines and responsibilities that come with the start of a new school year? Have a flexible plan. Having a flexible plan helps with the pace of life.

Paul encouraged the Colossi believers to make good use of their time. The Christian who manages time well is a good example and offers testimony to those outside the church, who are not yet Christians.

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Colossians 4:5

“Redeeming” essential means “To buy back.” You may have a gift card for a car wash and when you use that card, you are redeeming the card in exchange for the car wash. This is where the “wisdom” Paul is talking about comes into play. When we use wisdom to determine what, how, and when we do things, we can make better use of our time. We are “buying back” our time when we plan, makes lists, and have a set of priorities for our decisions.

Here are several tips for wise planning for your time, going into a new school year, and shopping for school items.

Read through all the school material, handbook, and classroom item lists today.
Make a list of all the things you need to find, buy, and order.
Order the things you or your student may need today, online.
Go to the store tomorrow with a detailed list of what is needed. You may need to take your child with you to try on some clothes or to have their feet measured for shoes.
Go over your list one more time while you have a few days left before school.

Now that you have all the stuff you and your student need for the school year, what about a healthy routine? Routine is a good word and a healthy routine has many considerations. Once school begins, there will be drive time, bus stop times, lunch times, after-school time, extracurricular activity time, and so much more to consider!

Factor in sports teams, music practice, and drama productions, and the calendar can fill in so fast!

Here are some ideas to maintain a healthy pace despite all of the potential demands on your time.

Remember Why. Why are you driving your child around everywhere? Love. Devotion. Developing their potential.
Remember Who. The first “Who” is God. Your kids are not the responsibility of the state or of the school. Your kids are given to you by God. They are an enduring gift of God’s grace. Your kids need to know about “Who” as well. All the education, athletic endeavors, and musical or artistic art forms lose their meaning and value if we forget the most important “Who.” The next “who” are the kids! They are students with God-given abilities and potential. They need you to help them learn good time management too. Just ask their science teacher when they are preparing a long-term science fair exhibit about time management!
Remember What. What is most important? Loving God. Loving others. Glorifying the Lord. Creating a safe place to learn and grow to become more like Jesus. With your best effort, avoid letting work, the job, school, or the classroom, squeeze church participation and Christian activities out of your routines. Gather with your church on Sunday. Worship God. Fellowship with your church during the week in your Scatter Groups. Sit down as a family and pray before a meal around the table. Remember the small and consistent things that are most important to building your faith.

Develop a flexible plan and start to use it this week, because having a flexible plan helps with the pace of life.

Handle With Care

Many people in the Adirondacks of New York, where we live, enjoy targeting, and hunting with firearms. I enjoy the sports of shooting and hunting too. When it comes to firearms, knowing what you are doing and knowing how to handle the firearm properly and safely is of utmost importance.

In the book, The Rugged Life, survivalist, and writer Clint Emerson includes a chapter on firearm safety. The 5 rules he suggests to stay safe with any pistol, rifle, or shotgun are:

Treat all guns as if they are loaded, whether they are or not.
Never point at anything you aren’t willing to shoot.
Keep the safety on until you’re ready to fire.
Keep your finger straight and away from the trigger until you are aiming with the intention of firing.
Know your target and what’s behind it.

As I read this chapter from Clint, it got me thinking about the concept of proper handling of the Bible. Just like firearms are used for both good and bad, sometimes people use the Bible for good and bad. Cults, false teachings, and even some fake “Christians” have sprung up throughout history because of the misuse or even abuse of the Bible. Sometimes well-meaning Christians have a lot of personal thoughts that take precedence in their lives and thoughts over clear Bible teaching. Observe the following verse:

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
2 Corinthians 4:1–2

Just like Paul reminded the Corinthian Christians, we can be reminded to handle the Word of God carefully as well. Here are 5 Bible safety tips:

Read the passage thoughtfully and thoroughly, picking up the context.
Understand the audience and the occasion for which it was written.
Notate all the main characters and the verbs of the passage recognizing specific terms that may be used in the passage. A dictionary, or Hebrew and Greek resource can help.
Avoid making the passage say something that it is not saying. Be honest with the interpretation and the application.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth as you cross-reference with other passages. As the old adage goes: “The Bible is the best commentary on itself!”

Whether you are handling a gun, or handling the Bible, be sure to “handle with care!”

You may want to read this book: The Rugged Life, by Clint Emerson

EDC Coping

How do you cope when a loved one’s life is taken in death? What emotions are you carrying with you from the hospital or the funeral home? The death of a loved one, family member, or friend, is something that every person must cope with at some moment in life.

How do we do it? How can we mourn and then continue living the life God has called us to live? Is there something we can do before or after? Are their coping and mourning answers in the Bible that we can carry with us and practice at the right time?

Meriem-Websters Dictionary defines coping as: “To deal with and attempt to overcome problems and difficulties.” Overcoming the loss of a loved one is something we can sadly anticipate but be prepared for.

Joshua has just lost his mentor and long-term friend Moses to death. Moses was 120 years old. Joshua was now 80. These two have known each other for a long time. Moses taught Joshua to believe. Moses gave Joshua God’s Word. Moses passed the mantel of leadership to the younger Joshua to carry on the momentous task of leading Israel into the Promise Land.

Deuteronomy 34:8 tells us that Joshua and the people of Israel wept and mourned for Moses for 30 days. Having funerals and taking time to remember, reflect, and mourn is essential – for the people left behind. When you make end-of-life plans, I hope you consider others and give them a chance for healthy closure by offering a funeral. A Funeral is a significant moment in time to establish closure for the grieving. It helps the survivors turn the page and begin a new chapter in life.

After 30 days of mourning are completed, Joshua receives an urgent message from God.

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.”
Joshua 1:1-2

God tells Joshua to “Arise” and to “Go.”

I write this with sympathy. “Moses is dead; get up from mourning, and go, lead, serve, and follow God into the next chapter of your life.” That is what God is telling Joshua to do. God has a future for Joshua. God has a future for you and me as well!

The Every Day Carry Christian will pray and plan ahead for these moments, and with this example, he/she can grieve healthily and then stand up and go into the next chapter of life God has for them. The pain of loss is real, but there is more to do. The sorrow of being alone is genuine, but there are new people to find and serve.

The memories will be triggered at certain moments or events, which is OK. Remember. Show respect. Reflect. And then keep going into the new chapter of life God has opened for you.

Here are some Bible truths to carry with you in your heart and mind each day:

Carry Scriptures of Hope.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13

Carry Scriptures of Comfort.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:18

Carry Scriptures of Promise.

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:8

The Every Day Carry Christian carries the words “Arise and Go” and many other hope verses daily. The Bible will help when your time of loss comes. Death is a sad part of living, but God has given us Spiritual Thriving Skills in the Bible to help us know what to do and how to respond.

Every Day Humility

Recently a “bishop” of a church in New York City was robbed at gunpoint right in the middle of their Sunday church service. He and his wife were wearing over one million dollars worth of jewelry. That seems to be a very excessive amount of jewelry for one to wear anywhere on any occasion on any day of the week.

I know some experienced travelers who avoid drawing attention to themselves. When they travel they do not wear their fanciest clothes. They wear regular, everyday clothes that do not draw attention to themselves. They work at blending in. They are smarter than to make themselves a target for thieves, robbers, or people looking for a hostage for a ransom.

It’s ok to have money. Working, saving, investing, and managing is part of good stewardship which will yield an increase. Perhaps some in ministry, even with small incomes, can arrive at having one million dollars because of frugality, good money management and investments. It is not OK to be flashy, to show off, or flaunt blessings in an excessive manner. How we dress and “decorate” ourselves does reveal our character.

Humility is a disposition in the spirit of a person. Humility can be demonstrated in our actions, attitudes, and our appearance. “Notice the Greek definition for the word “Humbled.”

Humbled = To assign a lower rank or place to; to base.
Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Being Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti (New York: Harper & Brothers., 1889), 614.

The Apostle Peter contrasts pride with humility, and says that instead of being clothed with pride, we should wear humility each day.

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5

The actions, attitudes, and appearance of a person can each be affected with pride or with humility. Living humbly is a conscienscous choice that will either point people to yourself or point people to Jesus.

By God’s grace, we can live each day with humility! Let genuine humility flow through your life. As Dwight Lyman Moody said, “A man can counterfeit love, he can counterfeit faith, he can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it is very difficult to counterfeit humility.”

This devotional is about the subject of “humility” and in my estimation, this is the greatest devotional posted to date. Lol! Really, that was a joke. Sometimes when we are seeking humility, we can actually start to be proud of our humility. That cancels out the “humility” doesn’t it?

Whether it is the clothes you wear, the standards you claim to adhere to, or some other possibly commendable practice, discipline, or habit, ask the Lord to help you remain truly humble.

Jesus is the greatest example of humility. The Apostle Paul described “humility” and “Jesus” this way:

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Phillipians 2:3-11

Be humble like Jesus. The Every Day Carry Christian will plan on carrying humility with him/her each day.

Carry Kindness

The Every Day Carry Christian should plan on carrying kindness around with him/her each day. Something we can practice is being kind to others! The following poem captures the idea of being kind – all the time.

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.”

6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths (Act of Kindness and of Love)

Speaking of being kind, Ephesians 4:32 declares, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted (Compassionate), forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

The adventurous missionary the Apostle Paul is teaching the Christians in the church at Ephesus to be kind to each other! This is applicable to us today as well.

“Kindness” escapes us sometimes in the busyness of life. We want to order the food fast. We want to get through the store quick. We have a meeting we are running late for. We have somewhere to go and something to do. Stop for a moment. Be kind to the person in front of you. Set the phone aside. Give your attention. Listen to what they are saying. Respond to their words. Be nice about it.

“Tenderhearted” is an old compound word that simply means “Compassionate.” It has to do with having “inner feelings” for other people and their circumstances. Showing compassion for someone is to show pity and concern. It is being interested in the problems another person is having. Not to gossip, but to lend a hand, offer encouragement, and give a pat on the back saying “It will be OK.” Compassionate people are often the “feelers” in the group who are more sensitive to the relational and emotional needs of others. This verse says each Christian should practice sharing compassion with others.

“Forgiveness” is the 3rd part of this kindness teaching. Christianity is built on the foundation of forgiveness. God the Father forgives us of our sin – because of Jesus, not because of our good works or deeds. That is the whole point of forgiving other people. They may or may not ask you to forgive them, but you can forgive them anyway. They may or may not acknowledge the wrong or hurt they may have caused, but you can forgive them anyway.

Forgiveness is not the same as forgetting. Forgiveness does not mean that you will put yourself in a place to be hurt again. Forgiveness does not mean you trust someone again – it means you have forgiven them. They do not owe you anything, and you do not expect anything from them. Their “Debt” is paid in full and forgiven – not because of them, but because of Jesus.

Once you choose to forgive, and after looking at others with compassion, it sure is easier to be kind to others! Ask the Lord to help you be kind to each person you encounter this week.

One more story about kindness and how it affects our friendships with others.

‘One way we build friendships is by those deeds that poet William Wordsworth called “Those little nameless unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” One such act was performed for a man in a small village who had suffered the loss of his young son. After the funeral he visited the local undertaker and said, “I’ve come to square my account.”“You don’t owe me a penny. You’ve paid your bill on the nail,” the undertaker replied.“But, I’ve had no bill for the funeral of my son.”The old undertaker answered, “If you had to bear the sorrow, surely I can bear the expense.”’

6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths (Act of Kindness and of Love)

Everyday Cash N Carry

Do you have $90,000 in the bank? Do you have $90,000 in collateral? Maybe, maybe not.

According to the Federal Reserve (Fed), U.S. consumer debt is approaching a record-breaking $16 trillion. CNBC says, “While the average American has $90,460 in debt, this includes all types of consumer debt products, from credit cards to personal loans, mortgages and student debt.”

This edition’s Thriving Skill is healthy money management. Poor money management is typical of many people today. Even many Christians do not use Bible principles to manage their finances in ways that please the Lord. They are not good stewards/managers of what God has given them. Money is not something to love, but a tool we use to demonstrate love to God and love to others. We do not trust our money for happiness or health. We use the ability God gives us to earn money and then we use the money we earn to do good in the world, plan for “rainy days,” and advance the Gospel.

Solomon, the wisest and one of the richest men to ever live, said in Proverbs 22:7, “The rich ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.”

The rich are the ones who employ other people and who hire others to do their bidding. In this way, they rule over the poor. The rich own the companies, order the products, and have the resources to influence others.

The second part of the verse is fascinating because according to statistics, it is where many if not most people live. “The borrower is servant to the lender.” This is where many people live – in debt. Debt is killing our society and debt is personally hindering millions of people (Christians too) from fulfilling God’s will in their lives.

Debt is not a sin, but it is certainly not a condition that anyone should want to remain in. It means someone else owns your stuff: your car, your phone, your house – your life.

Check your money situation:

Am I living in perpetual debt to others? I understand having a house payment, but I do not understand constant car payments. It is OK to drive an older car and save up to pay for a newer car with cash. After you buy a new car with the money you have, immediately start saving up for your next ride. Make “car payments” to yourself for your future wheels! If you have credit card debt – cut the cards up. Do the moral thing – don’t declare bankruptcy, pay off the debt instead, and then stop living on credit. Only buy what you can afford, which is what money you actually have after all necessary expenses are paid.
Am I living with financial pride? Pride is a primary motivator that drives people to take on debt. They want to have a truck as nice or nicer than the other person. You don’t need to “keep up with the Jones’!” Who cares what they drive?! Personal pride may cause one to want to live in a bigger house than they really need in order to show how important or well off they are. I know of men and women in their 20’s that have more debt than I have had in my entire life. This is not healthy. Debt will affect relationships, it will affect the ability to give to people in need, and it will affect time management because of all the work, all the time, “slaving away,” to pay someone back.

I have known many people that followed Bible principles to get out of housing debt. They make extra payments towards the principal of the mortgage payment, thus paying off their housing loan in a fast time. Once the house is paid for, they have a tremendous leap in wealth accumulation – because they are no longer in debt. Consider these tips:

Drive an older car until you can afford to pay cash for a newer one.
Have some personal discipline with what you buy. Leave it on the shelf or in the digital cart for 24 hours before making the purchase. Determine if it is really worth it.
Develop a budget. Have a giving, saving, and spending plan, in that order. It will free you and enable you to get out of debt.
Choose to help people in need. Many would like to help others, but can’t because they have not managed their finances well. I have heard of people literally crying because they want to give to good causes, but can’t, because of their poor financial choices.
Use the cash you have, not the money you do not have for everyday life. It is a Spiritual Life Skill. Unless a Christian gains control of his/her money, their debt (lack of money) may be in control of them.
Put God in First Place. God should be in front of your money and money choices. Give to Him first which demonstrates that you are really trusting God – not the money – for your everyday life.

Please reach out to our counseling office if you want to get some help about how to get out of debt. Below are good resources that could also be of help.

How to Manage Your Money

The Complete Financial Guide for Young Couples

Business By the Book

Money Before Marriage

Your Money After the Big 50

Master Your Money

Splitting Heirs

Never Enough

The Total Money Makeover

Baby Step Millionaires

Every Day Time Managment

The students arriving at school that day did know that some of them would not leave the building. Some of the staff had great plans for the rest of the day. Parents were looking forward to birthday celebrations and end-of-the-school-year activities. Whether Uvalde, Sandy Hook, or Columbine, we know that as humans, we have no certain idea about how much time we have on this earth.

Life, even if not “cut short” is short already as it is. Like the sand falling in board game minute timers, time flies.

365 days a year.

12 months.

24 hours a day.

7 days a week.

1440 minutes in a day.

How do you manage your time? What plans do you have for each day? We have the same amount of time each day, but we do not all know how much time each of us has living on earth. How can I make the most of the time God gives to me?

I make a list of things I would like to accomplish on a scrap piece of paper each week. I make a list each day. Some days, the daily list is not on paper, but out of routine, it is in my head! By God’s grace, I make plans for family, work, school, church, and play. I have learned and also found in the Bible that planning should account for being flexible. Sometimes God adjusts our expectations – and we should adjust our expectations when things come up that “throw off” our plans.

James the half-brother of Jesus writes about the brevity and uncertainty of life. He says, ” Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:13-17

If you sleep 8 hours a night, 480 minutes are spent sleeping. Around 90 minutes are spent eating and drinking. With work, school, family time, rest, entertainment, and more to consider, how well are you making the most of your time? Can you find a healthy balance for the time God gives to you? What guidelines do you follow?

Here are 4 Every Day Time Management Thriving Skills as relayed to us from James 4:

Make Flexible Plans. What if the grain is sold out? What if the store’s shelves are empty? What would you do if the tire of your car below out while driving into the shopping area of your town? What if the business deal falls through or the check handed you bounces?

God tells us to be flexible in our planning. Not everything will work out the way that we plan, but it will work out the way that God has designed! Rest and trust the Lord when your plans are changed due to circumstances. We do not fully know what will happen in a day – but God knows!

Know Life is Short. The air you exhale on a cold day when you can see a mist coming from your mouth is a vapor. It is visible for a moment and then it disappears. Why worry about our plans not happening the way that we planned when we can trust that God has better plans? Since life is so short, avoid wasting time about “what is not” and live in the moment of “what is.” Many headaches, heartaches, and sleepless nights may be caused by not accepting the fact that life is short.

A sickness could take your life. A crazy gunman or a drunk driver could kill you. An unhealthy entertainment/coping choice (drugs) can take your life. We don’t know when or how we will die, but we will all die. This is why the best decision you could ever make is to believe the Gospel of Jesus. Salvation by grace through faith is the only way to be ready to die and to be ready for eternity. Please follow the link here for info about Salvation.

Plan for God’s Will. Just like making flexible plans, we should plan for God to change our plans. God has better plans for us. He knows how much time we really have. And God desires for us to submit to his better plans with grace and humility in our hearts. Asking God for His will to be done is a terrific daily prayer to start the day. Jesus also prayed “Not My will but Thine be done” in Luke 22:42.

Choose to Do Good. With flexible plans, an understanding that life is short, and while adjusting to God’s will, we can and should choose to do what is right. Doing what is right becomes easier when we understand God’s will, time is short, and we can be flexible! It is easier to do what is right in God’s eyes when we are thinking right about life in general. You are able to choose to do good!

Set the vaping stuff down and do something good.

Go to bed at a decent time and wake up earlier looking for people to help.

Turn off the device and spend some time with a senior in need of a friend.

Work hard at work and make a good testimony of the Christian work ethic.

Get off the couch and help in a ministry at church.

Kneel more often while lifting up other people in prayer.

If you really want to manage your time well and to make a difference in life and eternity, then adopt these 4 principles and apply them to your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly life! Be an Everyday Carry Christian who practices healthy and balanced time management.

Planning Ahead

Stock up. Save up. Plan ahead. Weather the storm. Be prepared.

These are all statements that we hear expressed from time to time. It is a good rule of practice to be ready for emergencies or other unforeseen events. Not every event or possible event you may be prepared for will happen. Some of the older readers will remember “Y2K.” The projected problems was that computers would quit working when the year 2000 turned on their internal clocks. Commerce would cease, electric grids would fail, and digital devices (even back then) would stock working. That was the fear. It did not happen, but many people were ready.

But many things that are preventable or can be planned for do happen. Without living with fear of the possibilities, what can one do to be ready? The Everyday Carry Christian plans on being ready for each day. Be prepared.

Proverbs 6:6–8, are insightful verses about the life of the little insects we call ants. “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest.”

While small, yet powerful, the ants are also smart. Their wisdom in planning ahead is commended by Solomon. God made these ants this way, and we can learn from their productivity, forward-thinking, and planning.

In a Fox News article the middle of June, 2022, planning ahead is recommended. Observe the following from the former Chief Executive Officer of Home Depot:

“Former Home Depot CEO Bob Nardelli warned on ‘America Reports‘ Wednesday that the Federal Reserve hiking interest rates to cool inflation will have a “devastating impact” on consumers.”

“‘I would tell the consumer, make sure that you’re building up cash reserves,” Nardelli emphasized. “Build up a supply of non-perishables in your home. Make sure that you’re prepared for sustainable inflationary periods.’:

CEO’s of large corporations tend to know what they are talking about when it comes to financial matters. They have real-world experience in commerce, trade, investing and management, unlike many of our political leaders. Combine inflation with “Shrinkflation,” (when product packages become smaller while the sticker price remains the same), and massive amounts of debt, it is apparent we are in a major financial crisis. Be sure this does not alarm you to live with fear, but to respond with good planning~

So with hard economic times happening and perhaps becoming worse, what can we do? Look to the ant! Here are some tips for Everyday Readiness from the ant:

Don’t wait for an emergency. The ant does not have someone telling it what to do – it just does what is needed – ahead of time. Save up now. Save money. Store food. Get a freezer. Fill your pantry.
Cut expenses. Take less trips to the store. Consolidate shopping trips. Eat out less. Make the coffee at home. Buy in bulk.
Keep working hard. The ant stores food up but continues to work into the harvest season. Ants are not sluggards or lazy creatures. Sometimes it takes a while for our work to “pay off.” It is not wise to “coast.” We need occasional breaks and certainly need consistent rest, but keep working hard, doing your best to honor the Lord with your work. Take some positive pride in the work God has called you to do.

Another article I also just read that happened in the middle of June, 2022 is about cows. Beef cows in Kansas have been dying by the thousands. I can’t imagine. Google “Kansas, Cows, Heat, death” and you will find some disturbing pictures of cows all spawled out for mass burial. Too much heat is what they are blaming for these cows dying. More tragedies will come. Prices may go up, soon. It will be OK. The God who made the ant cares for you! He has given you a mind, ability, and clear directions about being ready.

Be an Every Day Carry Christian who is planning ahead.