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Viewpoint from Rev Elizabeth Stoner 17/09/2021

ELIZABETH STONERRev Elizabeth Stoner
Pastor
Light of Life Baptist Church, Ormesby St Margaret

 

Yesterday with a mixture of excitement and oddity we met back inside the chapel, having enjoyed podcasts and meeting outside in various locations during the last 18 months. Whilst the building has been empty, we have used the time to have a bit of a clean and sort out with more alterations on the horizon too. We laughed as we realised that the clock was an hour fast – it hadn’t been changed since last autumn. With the clocks going forwards in a few weeks we decided to leave it as it is
 
dove leftThis got me thinking about time. Time is precious, we only have 24 hours in the day, 7 days in a week, and there is so much to do! Society values time: we like fast food, speedy internet access, and next day deliveries (anyone else remember having to wait 6 weeks for their holiday photographs to arrive in the post?)
 
Like many people, I try to cram too much into my day and still feel that I haven’t achieved all that I wanted to. Yet I am trying my best to follow an eternal God, a God beyond time. God is, He always has been, and always will be. Psalm 90 tells us that a thousand years to humanity sweep past as a moment to God. Maybe that’s why God is so patient. Slow to anger, abounding in love, He has all the time in the world!
 
Dove rightThe people that I love being around, and hopefully you too have people in your life like this, are patient people. They are grounded souls, with a deep sense of shalom and wellbeing. They exude joy, and peace, they radiate love and wisdom. This doesn’t come from them trying to live life at speed. This comes from them living life with the One who is beyond time, who holds eternity in his hands
 
As things begin to open up again and the slower pace of the summer fades, I am reminded that God calls each of us to Himself, to live life in the way that He has ordained for us, a life that is beyond time, that values love, not accomplishments, relationship over busyness. An eternal life … which I guess means that I too have all the time in the world. I need not rush to cram it all in but rather learn to live at God’s patient pace

 

 



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