By Andy Andrews
(Introduction of the book)
Not long ago, I finally told the story of when, at the age of twenty-three, homeless and scared, I was given guidance in a most unusual fashion by an old man named Jones. What the old man told me did nothing less than change my life and my future. He said..."With a little perspective you can live a life of permanent purpose."
When I asked what he meant, the old man answered with a question. "Do you sometimes find yourself unconsciously judging your actions by level of importance?" I frowned a bit, not certain I understood. "For instance," he continued, "the time you spend with friends is important, but the time you spend with family, is more important. You might rank an hour fishing as very important, thirty minutes visiting a sick friend in the hospital much more important than the fishing, and a sixty second conversation with a convenience store clerk as not very important at all."
I nodded my understanding and he returned to his initial point. "When you know that everything matters - that every move counts as much as any other - you will begin living a life of permanent purpose. A life of permanent purpose will make you a better parent, a better spouse, and a more valuable friend. Your productivity and financial success will soar to new heights while the old days of uncertainty, doubt, and depression fade into the past."
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EVERYTHING we do(or don't do) is important. We just put emphasis on what we "think" is important.
A smile here, encouraging word there may not be significant to you and yet it is a life and death matter for the other person. Be vigilant about God's work.Your choice to go to church or not is important, sometimes vitally important, to your spiritual life.
I remember as children, when Mom would leave us at home to do chores as she went to pay bills or go to the store, we would "watch" for her return and act like we had been busy the whole time. Looking out the window, listening for the car, etc...then run to finish what we should have already done. Mom usually is not fooled by that but we didn't realize that until we saw our own children pulling that same thing.....
God is not fooled - ever! He knows if you are doing what you should. He knows if you neglect prayer time or scripture time or if you snubbed someone. He is not Santa Claus, but He knows if you are vigilant or slumbering!
Mark 13:33-37 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
There was a time that I considered going to church an option. Then one day God asked me this question, "How do I use you if you are not there?" Oh my, was I feeling foolish! We pray God use me, send me, work thru me! But, where are we? Physically and spiritually we have to "be there" or God cannot and will not use our talents. Someone else will exercise their Faith and grow spiritually by utilizing their talents. We have hidden our talent. God is a God of increase! WE MUST USE what He has given us. Yes, God did send some to me by phone or a visitor to minister to...but what about all the rest that did not call or come by? God sent them to someone else because I was not there.
Watch and Pray!
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