POWER 2 CHANGE

“Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:15-16

As summer begins to taper off, my thoughts are filled with visions of spending the chilly winter nights snuggling with my wife in front of a warm fire. Reality presents a different picture; my firewood racks are empty. They should be full of wood that has been cut, split and seasoning in the warmth of the sun. It has been a busy summer; a floor in our storage area, stone steps off the driveway, the painting of our patio decks, helping our daughter plan her wedding and the birth of our sixth grandchild, Cyrus Samuel. Did I mention that we have also been diligently preparing to present our seminar, “Every Marriage Needs a Hero” at Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa on August 23rd? Life can get away from us if we are not careful. And I’m not just talking about empty wood racks. We have the ability to “redeem the time” we have on earth regardless of the circumstances clamoring for our attention. It’s not a magic formula or incantation, although it is miraculous. It’s a series of wise decisions that fills us with power; the “power 2 change” our lives from fuzzy to focused and from whining to winning.
 
Put down
Own up
 
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3
 
We can never “own up” to what we want to be until we “put down” what we don’t want to be. It’s like the monkey who sticks his hand in a jar to grab a peanut. If he holds on to the peanut, he can’t get his hand out of the jar. To get his hand out of the jar he has to let go of the peanut. Some of you might be saying that the monkey can just break the jar to have it “both” ways; however, if he breaks the jar he risks cutting himself on the glass and not be able to use the jar to get a drink of water. We don’t need to destroy our past experiences (the glass jars) but learn from them so we can move forward. Are you ready to take your hand out of “everything than hinders…and so easily entangles” so you can “run with perseverance” the “race” that God has for your life? Are you ready to “put down and own up”?
 
Willing to die
Enabled to live
 
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body...Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 16.
 
When we decide to “put down and own up”, we begin to experience the “all-surpassing power” that God wants us to carry around in our “jars of clay”; a paradoxical power that fills us with the “willingness to die” for Him while at the same time “enabling us to live” for Him. Regardless of our circumstances His power will renew us every day. Whether we are “hard pressed”, “perplexed”, “persecuted”, or “struck down” God has an answer for our problems.  Notice that I didn’t say the problems would go away. Wherever we are and whatever we are facing is not as important as the attitude that God wants us to have as we face them. God will give us the “power 2 change”, but we have to be “willing to die” before we are “enabled to live”.     
Redeeming the time
 
“Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity (KJV = redeeming the time), because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
 
None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes in our life and with our life at various times. The key is what we “do” with the mistakes (remember the glass jar) after we adopt our new attitude. If our life is “fuzzy”, we need to ask God for focus and if we are “whining” all the time we need to ask God how to “win”. Sometimes making the most of “every opportunity” is just a matter of making “lemonade” out of the lemons that life throws our way. At other times, it is moving forward unhindered, accomplishing the purpose that God has placed on our heart and life. Stop for a moment and think about your life this week. Has God been trying to say something to you about your life, your job or marriage? Ask Him to help you “redeem the time”, making the most out of “every opportunity”.  
 
Well…my wood pile is still pretty pathetic, but that’s okay, I’m trying my best to redeem the time. We can always throw on another blanket if we get cold. I’m sure you have some “wood piles” that need attention as well. Just remember they are probably not the most important thing in your life right now. Set aside some time this week or perhaps even right now while you are thinking about it and “check your pulse”. Ask God to give you the “power 2 change”, by “putting down, owning up, by being willing to die but enabled to live, so you can redeem the time”, after all He specializes in “jars of clay”.