The follow comes from a devotional book by legendary coach John Wooden and former coach and player Jay Carthy.
Ephesians 5:15-16 -- So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. (NLT)
If every morning your bank credited your account with $86,400 but every evening canceled whatever part of the amount you failed to use, what would you do? Spend every cent -- of course!
Well we have such a bank account -- it is called time. Every day it credits you with 86,400 seconds. At midnight, whatever you failed to use is lost. A balance is not carried over to the next day and you're not allowed overdrafts. Each day the bank named Time opens a new account with you. Each night it burns the records for the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. This thought from Christian comedian Robert G Lee, helps put value into each day. The apostle Paul also had a take on time. He wrote to the Christians in Ephesus and suggested that they make each day a masterpiece. As wise person, he pointed out, will make the most of his or her time. Paul also urges us to be filled with the Spirit. Having God's power helps us say no to the bad stuff and yes to God's will. How will you spend your 84,600 seconds today? How can you make today a masterpiece?
I love this devotional. It is a great reminder that each day we have is a gift. It reminds me of one of my favorite poems. One I ALWAYS carry with me in my wallet.
This Is The Beginning of a New Day
This is the beginning of a new day.God has given me this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good,
but what I do today is important
because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever,
leaving in its place something that I have traded for it.
I want it to be gain and not loss; good and not evil;
success and not failure; in order that I shall not
regret the price I have paid for it.
'Unknown'
I LOVE that poem... Again it reminds us that each day is a gift from God and how we use that day is our gift to God. As each of the 86,400 seconds are gone we will NEVER get them back and that makes each one important and valuable. God gives me free will to decide how to use it. My hope is that no matter what I will use it for Him and make it count in the lives of those around. That is what I try to do in not only my coaching but in my life in general. I may never know how much impact I have until I stand before Him but as long as I stay true to what I believe and what He has called me to do I know He will smile and say "well done good and faithful servant." In the long run that's ALL that matters.
One last thing this reminded me of is a song I hear so often on the radio. I posted the link below. I hope you will listen to it and really take in the words because I think it sums up this entire post.
Live like We're Dying by Kris Allen
