Day 145- A Church Deposit First

Today I preached on how if we make small deposits of time over time in certain areas of life it can make a huge difference. For example, if you take 20-30 minutes a day for 5 days a week and invest that time in a certain activity, it can make a profound difference in your life. If you took 20-30 minutes a day for 5 days a week for a few years, you could learn to play the piano, become an expert by reading on a certain subject, develop a stronger relationship with your family or with God.  We usually take an offering during the middle of the service.  Tonight, I moved the offering to the end of the service and asked the people to think about one area where they have made small deposits of time over time that have really made a big difference in their life (which is what I preached on).  After the offering, I gave the people an opportunity to share those things as a way of helping each other to find a way to develop some habits that are really helpful.  I asked the congregation to help each other apply the sermon as my "first."

Our people gave some pretty cool examples of some ways they have invested small amounts of time over time.  Some examples given were:

• Reading a devotional book and then taking it to work with them to look at through the day (this lady liked the Jesus Calling book)
• One guy prays the Lord's Prayer before he get out of bed in the morning
• Calling your spouse during the day (both spouses work and leave home at different times) to just reconnect
• Carrying a thanksgiving journal with you and writing down things you thank God for that day
• Regular church attendance
• A couple prays together each night before they go to bed.
• One lady tries to spend some time each week with an elderly person or a person going through a hard time
• One person know a few friends that are having a hard time and she sends them a text every day to encourage them.
• When someone asks you to pray for them, pray for them right then.

That's a sampling of what was shared tonight. The church family had some great ideas. One that I would add to the list (because I enjoy it and have heard several Christian leaders mention it as being very important to them) is eating together as a family at supper each night.

Hannah Grace likes to invest time in bomb pops (it is a Popsicle)

Joel thinks you should take time to try a watermelon slush from Sonic

The thing is that we can't save time, we can only spend time. If we don't consider wise ways to spend our time, we will end up wasting our time.  If we waste our time, we waste our lives.  There are some really cool ways to invest small amounts of time.  I thought letting the church body help each other think of ways would be helpful tonight.

God has put us in a body and the idea is that we develop close relationships and help each other become the person that God wants us to be.  We can grow better and closer with each other's help.  God never intended us to live the Christian life as a lone ranger.  Helping each to spend our time wisely seemed to me a wise use of time.  I did not do this to have a "first."  But after church tonight I started wondering about a "first" and felt like this was the one for the day.  Why not ask yourself, "What is a wise way I can invest small amounts of time over time that I will really be glad I did 6 months from now, 5 years from now, and a million years from now?"

Investing for the abundant life
Barry

3 things I thank God for today
1. A responsive church family
2. Tater tots
3. Our youth pastor, Bro. Jim