Valerie Sjodin

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Living Time Now - T in A-Z Challenge

Choosing "Time" as a word to focus on relates to my previous word "Rhythm" which speaks to what I do with my time and when. To be honest, I usually feel I don't have enough time to get the things done I want to get done, or to see all the people I want to see. That viewpoint is one thing I want to change in my life. This is where our challenge comes in and helps me be intentional, especially when the temptation comes to just keep doing what I've been doing. Do you ever feel that way?

One thing I've enjoyed about journaling the words for this year is the challenge to vary lettering and incorporate the word into a symbol. You may notice I have "the Mystery of" in front of "Time." I am still working on the A-Z of Mystery from 2018 and decided to combine the two challenges when possible. The spiral numbers-clock is a favorite symbol of time with the spiral showing time's passing past and present. I put the definition of around the outside:

TIME: An appointed fixed period for a process, activity, or condition to occur - period of one's life

"We live in the past of the future."

~ Jonathan Cahn

When I heard Jonathan Cahn say the sentence above,  I knew it was to influence how I saw living in the present, and to value the present moment more than the past or the future, because neither the past nor the future would be meaningful if I didn't live fully in the present moment.  I thought: 'We live in the past of the future.' So make today count like a time traveler! Like I am actually able to go back in time and change the trajectory of my future. If I were looking back from tomorrow or next year, that is exactly what coming back to this moment would be like.

Interestingly, one Sunday at church, theologian Harold Eberle came and he was also talking about time in a way I hadn't thought about before. My thinking and my living Time is beginning to change, for the better. Here are notes I took during his talk, personalizing what he said:

Time flows from God and is moving towards me, free and abundant. God is giving me all the time I need to do what He has called me to do. I have to learn how to receive it. As time flows towards me, my mistakes fall away, the seeds I've planted begin to grow. Tomorrow is a fresh source of time. I love that!

Questions to Consider

  • How am I receiving time as a gift?

  • How am I doing about living in the present? or Am I stuck in the past or focusing too much on the future?

  • Am I living out what is really important to me?

  • What mistakes do I need to let go of in order to move on?

  • What seeds have I planted that are showing signs of growth?

  • How can I trust God with my time?

Scripture

"Every generous act of giving with every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

~ James 1:17 NRSV

God never changes but He changes everything!


"To everything there is a season
and a time for every matter or purpose
under heaven."

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1Amplified Classic

 

"LORD, remind me of
how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered."

~ Psalm 34:9 NLT

Living Your Word 2019 Opportunity

Bernice Hopper, and Mary Brack, and I share insights through blog posts for keeping an Everyday Calendar Journal. We will be using the journal to record events, experiences and relationships; to explore our word’s meaning in visual and fun ways. If you would like to connect with others in creative way about organizing your word, your ideas, thoughts, prayers, events, or your projects all in one place, you are invited to join our Facebook group: Everyday Journals ~ Living Your Word of the Year.URL for Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/203309083575277/

URLs for Instagram: #livingyourword2019

CHECK OUT THE BLOGS:

Bernice: https://newlycreative.com

Mary:  www.foundonbrighton.com

Valerie: https://valeriesjodin.com/blog/ this one :-)



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