About time

 Time travel is a popular theme throughout the science fiction genre, in both literary AND cinematic works.   As a matter of fact, the shows I’m currently watching all have to do with time travel in their plot.    Thanks to Netflix, I finally finished watching Marvel's Agents of Shield series after the boys  lost interest 2 years and 2 seasons ago.  There’s the Loki series on Disney plus who’s fighting with this entity that controls the order of time.  My family and I just watched ‘the tomorrow war’ about traveling in time to stop a war in the future.  And of course there’s my coveted Outlander series,  books I’ve only been reading for the past ten years but I’m finally on the last book, a story where a woman gets sent to the past unwillingly through these magical stones where she finds love and all kinds of adventure.  Doesn't that sound romantic and fabulous.  Anyway,  why are we so fascinated with time travel? I think its the concept of taking control of one's own destiny or maybe its  the idea of correcting our past mistakes, or maybe its just a bit of fun nostalgia (as I get excited every time the plot enters the 80s decade so far ago, gosh that makes me feel old)  Or just another form of escape for us sci fi geeks.   If we already traveled to outer space then let’s travel time. 

Last time I posted on here,  I said I was taking a break from blogging to concentrate on writing on my book.  Well, I honestly haven’t come too far in that department.   

I don’t know why I haven’t been able to get to writing that book, it shouldn’t be too hard. I mean, even my ten year old is writing stories. Very talented that one by the way.  I think I need to stop getting caught up in the creative literary part and I should just tell my story. Then go back and paint the picture, or show the story, if that makes any sense. If you’re a writer, you’d understand.  Anyway if I can ask for your prayers in that area please. I am however, getting some great bible studying in, still committed to that Jen Wilken method I talked about before.

So this is my mid year check in I guess.

This past year, 2021 I feel like I stepped into a time machine that’s getting a little too fast into the future for me.  When last year with all the closures and shut ins, it  felt like time slowed down a bit.  Now, with everything opening up, I finding a hard time just keeping up.  After working from home last year, this year in April, our new clinic opened and I’m now back to seeing patients full schedule. Then it was my son’s graduation from high school. Soon, he’ll be leaving to California for college. Birthdays-all members of my family turned another year older since the last time I posted.   The island is opening up which means more crowds, traffic, etc.  Everything  moving too fast, too soon. Can we just slow down for a bit? If there was only a way I can slow down time, without another pandemic to shut us in of course. Well I think I may have discovered the answer in my recent bible studying. 

I spent the last 3 months studying Matthew chapters  5-7 or otherwise known as the Sermon on the Mount.  Up until now and before I started this intense method of bible study, I confess. I thought the sermon on the Mount was just the Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer. Oh but there’s so much more! 

And at first I struggled because it seems like a list of dos and don’ts.  Jesus describes a standard of living that just seems too impossible to ever attain. Oh but there’s so much more here especially as I dig deeper. 

First, we must remember the context and who is speaking. This is Jesus, the long awaiting Messiah who Matthew sets up as King and Savior in our first few chapters of this gospel. This book starts by calling attention to the sins of people, but also ends with the death of this Messiah. Jesus has already paid the price for a punishment we all deserve.  By God’s grace and if you’ve accepted Jesus into your heart, we are already saved. Therefore, we do these things or live up to this standard not to earn acceptance from our God but because we already have acceptance through Jesus and we want to glorify Him in everything we do. 

Next we must remember, Jesus has come to uphold the law and actually add to it which yes, at first can be a very tall order as a follower of Christian. I think Jesus acknowledges this in these verses in Matthew 7: 13-14 

‘You can enter God’s kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it’.   

In other words , being a follower of Jesus is tough, difficult and requires discipline , but it is a highway worth traveling and a life worth living.  

But He doesn’t leave us without some keys. 

Jesus reveals a way  to pray to God with a sincere heart. Through the Lord’s Prayer, we acknowledge our need for Him.   He is showing us how we have access and can ask for help.  And speaking about asking for help, Jesus talks about this in chapter 7 of Matthew, verses 7-8. 

Keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks finds. And to everyone who knocks the door will be opened. 

So we can ask God for help to live out this sermon on the mount. 

So what does this have to do with controlling time? This is best explained in Matthew 7: 25-34 Please open your bibles and read this before moving on.  Or you can read it in the picture above.  Then I will reveal what I learned using the bible study method, always keeping in mind that the Bible is about God first, rather then just us seeking answers to make our lives easier. 

View of God: He values us more than the birds or the lilies that he already provides for.  He cares for us and knows all our needs. 

View of self: I worry too much! 

Worry is the biggest time waster.  Worry causes us to spend time on making sure we have enough of this or that.  Worry causes us to spend time trying to control things that we don’t have any control over in the first place.  Jesus reminds us in verses , So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. 

We  were not created to worry but to love, worship and serve him.  

Proverbs 16:9 also presents this beautifully.  ‘We make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps’.   This tells us to give God control of our own plans and agenda. Its ok to make plans, schedules and be structured, but allow God to interrupt those plans once in awhile. He is in control. 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.   —Matt 6:33.

Don’t worry about the small stuff, but rather focus on seeking God’s will and help in living out this sermon on the mount.  God will take care of all of our needs. Don’t get caught up in the worries of the world. Take one day at a time. Seek first his righteousness-these ways of living and walking in Christ. And he will take care of all our needs.  Tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. 

My response:  Surrender my control and my plans to God. Be present in my encounters and really listen to the person God has brought in front of me at the moment.  Try not to get caught up in schedules.   Sometimes I need to ask God to help me love people more than my plans. That teaches us, teaches me to live in this beautiful gift God has given us, the present, that is today.

This month I celebrate 6 years of sobriety. I was blessed to share my testimony with my small group. Looking back and seeing where God brought me through so I can share and help others is a blessing in itself. Looking back in time should be a place of reference, not residence to learn from our mistakes and not dwell on the past.   After all, my story is still being written on this timeline.  

I might not live in one of my favorite Sci fi movies or TV show.  I might not be able to run around with my favorite superheroes traveling through time trying to save the world.  Or better yet, I might not have the time stone so I can just turn back time just enough to those precious moments I had with my family last year while we are all still together and before one of our birds flies off to college, before we all move on to the next chapter God has in store for us.  

Instead,  maybe by not worrying so much  and giving my cares to God, I can enjoy the gift of the present moment He has given me.  Then maybe, just maybe I can slow down time just for a bit. 

-Hopeful girl Janette

Sober for 6 years and some change, hopeful  to live another day, one at at time.