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A Time for Everything

8/21/2015

What is your definition of time? For most in western society we say that we just don’t have enough of whatever 'time' is. Webster’s dictionary has thirteen different definitions and usages of the word ‘time’.

1.      A period during which an action, process, or condition exists
2.      A point of period when something occurs
3.      A moment, hour, day, or year as indicated by a clock or calendar

And ten others!

I have found myself in a season of life where I have filled my time up a little too much. I’m glad it’s a temporary thing, but I am more than a bit stretched. I would even say that I am pushing my boundaries, but at least it’s only for a season. . . literally, a girls JV volleyball season. I’m the coach this year for the Christian school our children attend.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:” So if the wisest man, Solomon, penned these words that we do have time for all sorts of things then why is our time so crunched?

A big reason is we just pile our schedules full to stay busy. And if kids are involved, you have to say no to them or they will try to schedule every waking hour of your time with activities! I look at my “have to” responsibilities and commitments and I shake my head as to how am I going to be able to complete them. I don’t sleep well when there are too many irons in the fire. Today I was awake before 5AM and left for the office at 6:15AM to start work because I got behind this week due to a couple uncontrollable situations. Friday’s are typically my day off and I don’t even come into the office. I didn't accomplish all I wanted to this morning, so some tasks will just have to wait until Monday. (Don’t worry I’m ready for Sunday service though. LOL)

School starts next Tuesday and looking at my kids I can’t fathom how the time has gone by so quickly. Amanda and I now have an 8th, 6th, 4th, 2nd, and Kindergartener in school. I only have five years left until Michaela, our oldest, graduates from high school! Time travels so quickly and none of us can afford to busy ourselves so much as to miss the blessings of daily living.

Spending quality time with the people you love is of utmost importance. My children will probably remember getting ice cream last night more then they will remember my Sunday sermon. Corban and Andrew will remember beating me at “Chutes and Ladders” more than weather I had to get the grass mowed and lawn manicured.

There is a time for everything but we must always take time for the things that are the most important. For me it’s my faith in Jesus and my family. To have a vibrant faith and a vibrant family you have to spend time nurturing both.

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What Drives You?

8/5/2015

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    Sunday we had our 9th Annual Car Cruise at the church with over 150 vehicles and 300+ people in attendance. (You can see pictures at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victory-Heights-UB-Church) The temperature was in the mid 80’s with hardly a cloud in the sky. A beautiful day for family fun and human connection.

    Many of the vehicles at the Car Cruise had modified engines. Some were completely different from the stock engine, while others had some extra modifications to make their engine’s roar. The road in front of the church is now “tattooed” with a number of black tread marks where the power of these engines were put on display. (You can see one of them in action at the FB page mentioned above)

    To the cheers of those in attendance, I was able to witness the power of what drove all these vehicles . . . but what about my engine? I’m not talking about my 1995 Chevy Impala, which wouldn’t turn a single head, but what about my heart? What is the driving force or passion in my life? That same question can be posed to you too. What drives you?

    All of us come from different backgrounds with differing life experiences. My experiences have been different from yours, but what makes you you? What drives you to be the best person you can be? How does your engine run? What makes your heart rate increase with excitement? When you die what will people say about your passion? What drives you?

    I know that we are all wired differently and I have to admit I am a very driven individual. I am a very passionate individual. I am a visionary. When I worked in Syracuse, NY nearly a decade ago, at the Mars Hill Network, the station manager would help balance my vision with planning and wise advice. Wayne Taylor helped me learn how to better balance passion with feasibility! I am grateful for those years working with him and learning how to better hone my passion.

    Ultimately, my heart’s desire is that my life will be fully used by God to help bring hope to others. I think that this is a good drive for us all. Regardless of where we are, at home, work, or school, our actions are reflective of our heart. People watch what we do and listen to what we say in order to know what drives us. So what are they seeing and hearing? It’s not being judgmental but out of the mouth comes the overflow of the heart.

    God has a plan for each of us and he will give us the drive that we need to accomplish it. It wouldn’t be the same amount of drive that I have though. It may be more or it may be less. God’s knows us better then we know ourselves so we just let him drive and we’ll do fine.

    I received an email from a mother yesterday whose 6 year old daughter was just diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome. This family of six live in the Midwest and the mother shared some of her thoughts about the Custom Scars website and my story. She is facing some of the same battles my parents faced 25 years ago with my initial diagnosis and some of the battles that Amanda and I face raising two sons with Marfan Syndrome.

    I encouraged her to use her story to help others. She has a drive and love for her family and for the Lord. Her and her husband have been growing in their faith and I trust that they will be vessels to help bring hope to others. I also pray that their daughter will be strong despite some of her limitations.

So . . .

What drives you?

Only you can answer that, but my prayer is that you allow God to be in control and His will be the driving force in your life.

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A Time for Everything

What Drives You?

Steve Henry

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