Another great memo from . . .

The Monday Memo
MONDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2008

THE BIG PICTURE
EPHESIANS 5:16

Mary David Fisher said, "The length of our life is less important than its depth."

Her saying reminds of something that musician Eubie Blake said on his 100th birthday: "If I'd known I was gonna live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."

We never know how much time we have left, either in this life or in this ministry, but the question of longevity isn't nearly as crucial as the question of intensity. Even though quantity is an unknown variable; quality must remain consistent.

I think of this when I spend time with my kids. They're out of the house now, living in other cities, starting new lives. When we're together, it's only for a few days -- sometimes only a few hours. When I see them, I forget about what's on TV and my cell phone gets turned off. I want to make every second count.

We need to approach our lives and our work the same way. Paul used a phrase in Ephesians 5 that is translated in the NIV as "make the most of every opportunity." The King James uses the phrase, "redeeming the time." In order to do this, we need to understand two things:

1. Our lives fit into the Big Picture of God's plan.
2. The Big Picture is played out one frame at a time: one day, one hour, one moment at a time.

If you're like most of us, your plate is already full. At any moment there are a dozen things you could be doing. The important question is: "Of everything on my list, what is the best thing I can do right now?"

You can't answer this question without a good idea about where your life is going. Grasping the Big Picture empowers you to shape your plans day by day.

So your day is full. Maybe you'll spend some time today cleaning up yesterday's mess. Maybe you'll spend some time putting out today's fires. These things are inevitable. But the biggest "maybe" is if you'll spend some time today preparing for what your life will become tomorrow.

If we're not careful, we can spend all of our time focused on yesterday and today. The result is that the Big Picture stuff doesn't get done -- until it becomes another fire to put out or another mess to clean up. (Need examples? Waiting until December 10 to decide how you'll pay for Christmas; waiting until you're 62 to decide how you'll pay for retirement; waiting until September 15 to decide who will speak at your Fall Retreat ... and so on.)

Redeem the time. Make the most of every opportunity. Think about the hours you have at your disposal. What's the best thing you can do -- not just for the crises you're facing now, but for the life you want to have in the months ahead and in the years to come?

Determining the most important thing to do at any given moment isn't as easy as it seems. It takes practice, discernment and wisdom. And it takes a grasp of the Big Picture. The pay off is that your days have meaning, and your life tells a story that brings glory to God.

--Steve May

About the Monday Memo
The Monday Memo is a weekly devotional for leaders sent out each Monday by Steve May. This is a free service. For more information, to change your email address, or unsubscribe to this newsletter, please visit http://www.aboutsunday.com/omm.htm

Timely Clarification

One Minute Uplift
Your weekly one minute inspiration from Rick Ezell
11-01-07

Compass or Clock?
By Rick Ezell

"But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in your hands" (Psalms 31:14-15 NIV).

A friend said, "My problem is that I have surrendered my time to work, to other people, and to bad habits."

Then truly that is the problem. We should first surrender our time to God. God owns it anyway. Our task is to manage properly what has been entrusted to us until he returns or wants it back, including our time.

Think about a compass and a clock. Two very important tools, but two very different instruments. One would be wise not to confuse the two. To surrender our time to God is to be governed by a compass rather than to be controlled by a clock. A compass provides a sense of direction, purpose, vision, perspective, and balance. A clock measures duration, the expenditure of time. A compass determines effectiveness-doing the right tasks. A clock determines efficiency-how long it takes to accomplish a task. Both have their place. But, the compass must come before the clock, therefore, effectiveness before efficiency. The "mega priorities" of the compass subordinate the "mini priorities" of the clock.

A compass, therefore, becomes a symbol of an internal guidance system that provides us with our values and convictions based on God's Word. This non-negotiable governs our lives. In the same manner that the gravitational force pulls the compass needle; it is God that governs the drive of our lives. We surrender to his force.

Our time should be surrendered to God daily. I asked a friend who is engaged in many pursuits successfully, how he managed it all. He said, "I give my first minutes to God, then I commit the remainder of the day to his Lordship. And amazingly I work more effectively and efficiently."

Have you surrendered your time to God? Is your time in his hands?

About the Author
Dr. Rick Ezell is a husband, father, author, pastor, consultant, coach, conference leader, and communicator. Rick has a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Master of Theology in Preaching from Southern Baptist Seminary. He has published over 450 articles and sermons in various Christian publications. While authoring six books he has served over twenty years in pastoral ministry. Rick, Cindy, and Bailey currently reside in Greer, South Carolina.
www.rickezell.net