Another Day: 30
Another Day Along the Way
Friday, November 7, 2008
Another day,
30. The number informs us of a price, a score, a date, an address. It can hit reverse and take us back in time: that many years ago. It guides thoughts forward to plan a month from today.
Last month I enjoyed the 30 Year Reunion of my high school class. I know, I know...that almost sounds like I graduated from high school 30 years ago. It does sound that way. For good reason. Three decades have passed since our senior class waved goodbye to those days.
I loved seeing so many friends. I almost said "old friends," but I didn't; it could have presented a double meaning. We laughed and ate and talked and remembered -- though this mind of mine doesn't remember many of the events my friends described.
The day before that reunion, I spoke to a group of high school students at the place where 30 years ago we were moving forward. I talked to them about what might happen in the next 30 years. And 30 months. And 30 weeks. And 30 days. And 30 seconds.
Do we realize what we do in 30 seconds can change our paths for the next 30 years? A decision, a comment, a choice. Saying yes or saying no. Walking toward or walking from.
Do we realize how we spend the next 30 days will guide us toward the next 30 weeks and months and years? That number won't leave my mind. I guess because I've seen so many of us fail to realize the importance of what one choice or one month can do to many lives.
This week at Emmanuel our guest speaker also mentioned the number 30. Chuck Quinley invited us to enter a 30 day trial run of praying for and seeking to influence a friend. To rescue them. To love them. To bring them home.
What if you pray for someone over the next 30 days like you've never prayed for them before? What if you actually pray during these next 30 days like never before? Possibly, God might do things like He has never done before.
It might take Him 30 years to do it. Or maybe 30 weeks. We don't know.
But let's experience a reunion with God. 30 years from now and 30 days from now we will be glad we did.
And God will also be glad.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Prayerful Surrender: Lord, send me to someone who needs Your help. (Chuck Quinley)
Friday, November 7, 2008
Another day,
30. The number informs us of a price, a score, a date, an address. It can hit reverse and take us back in time: that many years ago. It guides thoughts forward to plan a month from today.
Last month I enjoyed the 30 Year Reunion of my high school class. I know, I know...that almost sounds like I graduated from high school 30 years ago. It does sound that way. For good reason. Three decades have passed since our senior class waved goodbye to those days.
I loved seeing so many friends. I almost said "old friends," but I didn't; it could have presented a double meaning. We laughed and ate and talked and remembered -- though this mind of mine doesn't remember many of the events my friends described.
The day before that reunion, I spoke to a group of high school students at the place where 30 years ago we were moving forward. I talked to them about what might happen in the next 30 years. And 30 months. And 30 weeks. And 30 days. And 30 seconds.
Do we realize what we do in 30 seconds can change our paths for the next 30 years? A decision, a comment, a choice. Saying yes or saying no. Walking toward or walking from.
Do we realize how we spend the next 30 days will guide us toward the next 30 weeks and months and years? That number won't leave my mind. I guess because I've seen so many of us fail to realize the importance of what one choice or one month can do to many lives.
This week at Emmanuel our guest speaker also mentioned the number 30. Chuck Quinley invited us to enter a 30 day trial run of praying for and seeking to influence a friend. To rescue them. To love them. To bring them home.
What if you pray for someone over the next 30 days like you've never prayed for them before? What if you actually pray during these next 30 days like never before? Possibly, God might do things like He has never done before.
It might take Him 30 years to do it. Or maybe 30 weeks. We don't know.
But let's experience a reunion with God. 30 years from now and 30 days from now we will be glad we did.
And God will also be glad.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Prayerful Surrender: Lord, send me to someone who needs Your help. (Chuck Quinley)
9 Comments:
Hey pastor C, thanks for writing. You haven't sent one in a long time. Aren't you out of town? You still get up early on another time zone don't you? Yes, I like that sermon. I wonder what I ll be doing when I turn 30.
Hey Chris, this is a great reminder. I invest too much energy in the next thirty years, but God cares about what I do in the thirty seconds. I need to live now and trust Him with the future.
Hey Chris --
I know, I just attended my 15th College reunion at Eastern Nazarene. That means I started college 19 years ago! Seems like another lifetime ago already. It was fun, I got to see my roommates and meet their kids.
Next year will be 20th High School reunion. Crazy!
Have a great weekend!
Chris
Thirty years is a long time. And the juxtaposition of the teenagers you talked to and your high school classmates further highlights that. I hope that in thirty years, God and I will have a reunion that is a good one. I do want to have a life well lived.
Hi C, you made me look at my calendar, past 30 days and next 30 days. I did not see any entries for 'persevere in prayer for ....'. I know I pray for the lost but the persevering part, pressing in for 30 days, that will be my challenge this month. See you Dec 14th :)
Cyn
I've made 30 poor decisions in 30 seconds, 30 days and 30 months. But you know what? God was there to forgive me each and every time. I make my choices more carefully these days knowing that 30 seconds can change one life or the lives of many.
Hey Max, That was a good read. I never looked at what a 30 second decision could do. There are several decisions I made in 30 seconds that have effected me 3o years later. Some good, some bad.
love you and miss you.
Interesting you should mention Quinley's 30 day challenge and the significance of choices made in 30 seconds, hours, or days. Being a senior, I'm especially aware of the break-neck speed with which we're barreling across this fenceless life-scape.
Thanks for reminding me, along with Jesus and Chuck, that I should seriously relax my manipulation of what I think "His future for me" is, and live simply, an instant at a time, with eternity in mind.
Thanks, Chris. I've chosen someone for special focus for the next 30 days. I'll let you know what happens. Thanks again for the inspiration, the challenge.
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