So I was challenged reaading this...

Ezra 7:10... I read it the other morning. I don't think I ever noticed it before but check it out... "Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel." How awesome is that? What a great recipe for anyone wanting to be a disciple of Jesus. First get the heart attitude set. Determine to be a "student" of God's word. Then, once you begin studying, set your heart on putting what you learn into practice. Finally, once you're learning and practicing, start creating more disciples by teaching others.

2009 is coming...Isn't that a great time to begin focusing on my heart attitudes... a time to renew my commitment to be a student of the word...

86,400

Today is nearly gone. 86,400 seconds wasted or invested. I cannot save time to use later. I either invested it or wasted it. Those are the only two choices. Now, it's after 11:00 and I should go to bed soon... Tomorrow, I will have another fresh 86,400 seconds to invest or waste. I will sleep away thousands of those precious seconds, then, the children need to be to school by 8:00a. I must be to work by 9:00a. By 6:00p I should be home in time to grab supper then, it's off to Bible study at 8:00p. When I come home after 9:00p... how will I use those last couple hours before bed?

Tonight I listened as a girl, nearly 20 years years younger than me, wept for the lost and described her passion to go and serve in the townships outside Cape Town, South Africa... to go be Jesus to the needy, to bring His love and His message of forgiveness to the AIDS orphans, prostitutes and drunks of Masiphumelele. That mission field is dangerous, smelly, frustrating, and ...

My friend Paul is dying. He is not a young man, but he now knows his heart is nearly completely choked off by hardened arteries. There is nothing the doctors can do. Paul is like a man on fire. Knowing his time is limited, he wants to extract from every day every ounce of value. I don't know that my time is limited, but I don't know that it's not either. God ignite my fire to burn bright for you... Help me invest tomorrow's 86,400 better than I did today.

reminiscence

Reminiscence is the process of recalling past memorable experiences. As we discussed this a the West Michigan Dementia Care Teamwork, I recognized how much I miss spending time doing this with my residents. I'm so thankful and humbled by the gifts God has given me in ministry and being able to touch the lives of seniors, adding life and joy and meaning to their years. How do we get out of our ruts? How do we get out of our offices and routines and invest in the hearts and minds of these dear ones? The tyranny of the urgent is too often the master of our moments.

Two great ideas they shared today I want to implement. One is a Montessori tool, using simple, two or three piece puzzles of faces, especially or children or babies and as the individual puts together the puzzle and sees the face, you try to draw out memories of babies or children from their past. The second is the use of odd pictures that you utilize to attempt to have the residents create a story from.

I need to purpose to implement this time commitment we've been talking about to just be with the people who need me, focusing on their needs and demonstrating the kind of care we want!