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Be glad, don't waste your time // Alegre-se, não perca seu tempo



“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” Philippians 2:14 – 16

Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter, yet he writes a letter full of joy, with hope knowing that whatever happened next, he would be ok. If he would leave the prison alive, he would go back to his ministry, if he was condemned, he would be meeting Jesus. Isn’t that wonderful live like that? Full of hope and peace that no matter what you will be ok.

However, it is not easy to be always full of joy and be rejoicing. There was a time in my life that I thought I had to have control of everything. I had a planner filled with meetings and many other things throughout the week/month/year. Even with all the planning, I was wasting my time. I don’t remember much of that year, besides the fact that I was busy and some bad moments. But so few moments of real joy and fun. I didn’t spend time with my mother or sister. God? No time for God.

I didn’t rejoice, I made many mistakes, I was not, for sure, innocent or blameless before God. My light didn’t shine that year. I hid it. I was more worried about getting the work done, until one day I started to be forced to slow down (Fibromyalgia). And then it was the time when I started asking questions to God; I was losing control. In fact, I never had any control. At that point, it was as far as God allowed me to go. I resisted. I preferred to die than losing control. But it wasn’t his plan for me to die young. He saved me from myself.

I understood that one day in my life I told Him that I was His, and I forgot. He didn’t. He took the control back of my life and changed it completely. Now I know how stupid I was, thinking that I was ever in control. I wasted my time, my health, relationships, etc. We think we know what is best. But we have tunnel vision, we don’t see the big picture, especially if we are in high speed wanting to do everything as we don’t have time to waste.  We miss so many details in life and we don’t enjoy living.

What is life if we don’t enjoy?

Solomon in Ecclesiastes teaches us that we must be organized and be aware that there is time for everything. That we may enjoy the work of our hands and not forget about God, because He will take account for everything we have done. In summary, be wise about how you decide to live your life. And be glad and do not grumble about anything.
Rejoice.
Know that all this here, the present time, it is all we have.
Make the best of it.

“Faça todas as coisas sem reclamar ou contestar, para que você seja irrepreensível e inocente, filhos de Deus sem defeito, no meio de uma geração torta e retorcida, entre as quais brilhas como luzes no mundo ...” Filipenses 2:14 – 16

Paulo estava na prisão quando escreveu esta carta, mas ele escreve uma carta cheia de alegria, com a esperança de saber que o que quer que acontecesse a seguir, ele estaria bem. Se ele deixasse a prisão viva, voltaria ao seu ministério, se fosse condenado, estaria se encontrando com Jesus. Não é maravilhoso viver assim? Cheio de esperança e paz que não importa o que você vai ficar bem.

Contudo, não é fácil estar sempre cheio de alegria e regozijar-se. Houve um tempo em minha vida que eu pensei que tinha que controlar tudo. Eu tinha um planejador cheio de reuniões e muitas outras coisas durante a semana / mês / ano. Mesmo com todo o planejamento, eu estava perdendo meu tempo. Eu não me lembro muito desse ano, além do fato de que eu estava ocupada e de alguns momentos ruins. Mas tão poucos momentos de verdadeira alegria e diversão. Eu não passei tempo com minha mãe ou irmã. Deus? Não havia tempo para Deus.

Eu não me alegrava, cometi muitos erros, eu não era, com certeza, inocente ou sem culpa diante de Deus. Minha luz não brilhou naquele ano. Eu a escondi. Eu estava mais preocupado em fazer o trabalho, até que um dia eu comecei a ser forçado a diminuir a velocidade (Fibromialgia). E então foi a época em que comecei a fazer perguntas a Deus; Eu estava perdendo o controle. Na verdade, nunca tive nenhum controle. Nesse ponto, foi até onde Deus me permitiu ir. Eu resisti. Eu preferia morrer a perder o controle. Mas não era seu plano para eu morrer jovem. Ele me salvou de mim mesma.

Eu entendi que um dia da minha vida eu disse a ele que eu era Dele, e esqueci. Ele não esqueceu. Ele tomou o controle da minha vida e mudou completamente. Agora eu sei o quão estúpida eu era, pensando que eu alguma vez tive o controle. Eu perdi meu tempo, minha saúde, relacionamentos, etc. Achamos que sabemos o que é melhor. Mas nós temos uma visão estreita, nós não vemos a grande imagem, especialmente se estamos em alta velocidade querendo fazer tudo como quem não temos tempo a perder. Perdemos muitos detalhes da vida e não a aproveitamos.

O que é a vida se não aproveitamos?

Salomão em Eclesiastes nos ensina que devemos nos organizar e ter consciência de que há tempo para tudo. Que possamos desfrutar do trabalho de nossas mãos e não esquecer de Deus, porque Ele levará em conta tudo o que fizemos. Em resumo, seja sábio sobre como você decide viver sua vida. E seja feliz e não resmungue sobre qualquer coisa.
Alegre-se.
Saiba que tudo isso aqui, o tempo presente, é tudo o que temos.
Tire o melhor proveito.

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