A moment in time

I received this clock as a wedding present.  I thought it was beautiful. 

Only one problem with it.  It hasn’t kept very good time.  (At least not since it fell off the wall a few times.)  Sometimes, even with a fresh battery, it would suddenly lag behind for a few minutes or even hours!

I hated to get rid of it, because it was a really nice clock.  Except for not keeping time.

But what good is a clock that doesn’t keep time?

Reminds me of some Bible passages, such as Proverbs 26:6-8:

⁶ Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence
       is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

⁷ Like a lame man's legs that hang limp
       is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

⁸ Like tying a stone in a sling
       is the giving of honor to a fool.

And Matthew 5:13:

¹³"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

 

So, I decided to throw it out and get a new clock. 

I found one just like it at Wal-mart.

Except with darker wood (which I thought would work well with the dark wood in my living room).

And with Roman numerals (well,the kids need to learn Roman numerals sometime, right?)

And made in China.

And after I got home with it, realized it was not anywhere near as good quality workmanship.

Sigh.  I suppose I could live with it.  But…if only I could just make my pretty clock work right again.

Hmmm.  What is really the only thing wrong with it?

Hmmm.  The part that makes the hands move.

Hmmm.  Let’s turn it over and take a look…

Hmmm.  People make clocks out of plates and other things.  They put in their own hands and the thingie that moves the hands (it’s called a “quartz movement”, I found out).

Hmmm.  What if I could replace that thingie?  Would it work again?

Long story shorter… I had fun learning how the clock was put together, how to take it apart, and put it back together again.  And lo, and behold, after a “heart transplant” … it seems to work again!

Of course, time will tell (pun intended) if the new “heart” keeps better time than the old one.

And that reminds me of two other Bible verses…

In Ezekiel 36:25-27, God promises:

²⁵ I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. ²⁶ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

And in Matthew 7:15-23, Jesus said

¹⁵"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

²¹"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

 

Has God given you a new heart?  If so, are you bearing fruit that can be recognized?

Thank you, Father, for removing from my heart of stone and giving me a heart of flesh.  Thank you, Jesus, for dying for my sins  on the cross and rising again the third day so that my sins could be forgiven.  Thank you, Holy Spirit, for convicting me of sin and righteousness and judgment.  Thank you for giving me the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord!

Romance

I thought I would share a quote from a book I just started re-reading, called “Falling in Love with Jesus” by Dee Brestin and Kathy Troccoli.  My aunt and uncle gave me this book in 2002 when I was still single (and thought there was no hope of ever getting married) and it really blessed me then.

Now, I am very happily married.  And very busy with four young children who make constant demands on my time and energy every waking moment.  At times, I long to sit quietly at Jesus’ feet, taking in his every word.  But is is hard to get even a few minutes of hurried Bible reading before someone needs me.  And sometimes, I find it hard to just enjoy God (or my adorable children or my wonderful husband) because I am so consumed with my list of things to do.

So, here’s the quote I just read today…

Romance is so much bigger than just a love story.  Romance has to do with making things lovely because of love.  Romance means absorbing the beauty of life: conversation, atmosphere, places, and surroundings.  It means increasing our awareness of the fragrance of pine trees, freshly ground coffee [or freshly baked bread!], and sheets drying on the line; hearing the music of waves, children’s laughter, and the rain drumming on the roof; seeing the signature of God on His creation.  It means drinking the gift of life to the dregs.  All to be enjoyed, all to be taken in.