Time Is Priceless

Show of hands; which would you rather save – time
or money?

The majority of people in society at large will choose money.
But the truth is; how you spend your time is far more important than how you spend your money.
Lost money can be regained, but time, once it’s lost – it’s gone forever.
Money mistakes can be corrected; but time mistakes – apart from the grace of God – are made forever.
If you have a lot of money, but you have only two weeks to live, you are not a rich man.
But if you have time and no money, you can use your time to get money.
In fact, you can convert your time into just about anything you want.
God doesn’t really give us money – He gives us time and we convert it into money.
God doesn’t really give us friends – He gives us time and we convert it into friends.
God doesn’t really give us knowledge – He gives us time and we convert it into knowledge

What am I trying to say?

Your time is your most valuable resource; therefore you must guard it jealously
You must be wise and deliberate about how you use it
Look at Ephesians 5:15-17 again
15 Look carefully then how you walk! Watch your step. Use your head. Don’t live like ignorant people, but like wise people. Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),
16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!


17 Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish , don’t lie carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.
Remember, every minute you live is an irreplaceable resource that is limited in supply.
Every minute you live is a gift from God; and you have the responsibility to maximise it.
Remember that life is short – no one has the luxury of living forever in this mortal state.
We are mortal and our life will eventually end.
And the more we appreciate the value of time, the wiser we become at using it.
If you want to know the value of . . .
One year . . . ask the student who failed the final exam
One month . . . ask the mother of a premature baby
One week . . . ask the editor of a weekly newspaper
One day . . . ask the daily wage earner who has six children
One hour . . . ask lovers who are waiting to meet
One minute . . . ask the passenger who missed the flight
One second . . . ask the person who survived the accident
One millisecond . . . ask the Olympic silver medallist

YOUR TIME IS PRECIOUS; YOUR TIME IS PRICELESS

Poet Carl Sandburg said; “Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful you do not let other people spend it for you”.
Now, because your time is precious; and it is limited in supply, you have to be very selective what you put in it.
And that brings me to the big issue of priorities.

PRIORITIES

Priority simply means determining what comes before what.
From the word ‘prior’ which means ‘before’.
It means in the use of my time, one comes before two and two comes before three . . . and so on.
It means, my daily activities are on a queue – I attend to the most important thing first; and then the next most important thing – and so on.
It means everything is not equally important to me.
Not everything requires equal time attention and energy.
You can’t give the same amount of time, attention or energy to everything or everyone.
Some things require five minutes – don’t give those things one hour.
Some things require one hour – don’t give those things five minutes.
Same with people.

How do you know which things or people require five minutes versus one hour?

Priorities
The things that are most important should never be at the mercy of the things that are least important.
So, because you cannot do everything, be everywhere or please everybody; you have to choose.
Chinese author, Lin Yutang said; “Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of the non-essentials.
Philosopher William James said; “The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook”.
How do you decide what to overlook?
Priorities

ESTABLISH YOUR PRIORITIES

Your priorities help you to determine how to spend your time
And the converse is true – the way you spend your time is a good indicator of your priorities
Have you ever found yourself thinking; “I need more time”?
Well, newsflash – you’re not going to get it!
No one gets more time
There are 24 hours in the day – that is 1,440 minutes – and everybody gets the same
The president doesn’t get more, the school janitor doesn’t get less.
So, what determines the value of our lives is the value of what we put into our time.
Since you cannot change time; you must change what you put in it.
If you want to change your life, you need to change your priorities.
If this year is going to be different from last year, then your priorities this year must be different from your priorities last year.

ESTABLISH YOUR PRIORITIES

And if you don’t establish your priorities, someone else will.
If you don’t decide how your day will be spent, someone else will.
Have you noticed that people who have nothing to do usually want to so it with you?
What are the benefits of establishing your priorities?
1. Priorities help you separate what is most important from what is least important.
2. Priorities liberate you from the tyranny of the urgent
Just because something is urgent doesn’t mean it is important
The simple question is: “What is the worst that will happen if I don’t attend to this thing?”
3. Priorities release you from the guilt of not doing everything
4. Priorities help you eliminate distractions
My Psychology professor used to say: “If you have two conflicting duties, one of them is not your duty”
And we added: “It is your pleasure”
5. Priorities help you obtain the highest return on the investment of your time
Any time you see people fulfil their dreams; any time you see people attain the highest level in their career, you can be sure that priorities have been very important to them

ESTABLISH YOUR PRIORITIES

Let me close by giving you a five step strategy for establishing your priorities

STEP 1: ARTICULATE THE GOALS

Three categories – yearly, weekly, daily
In order to do this, you need to create three lists
1. Write down the five most important things you want to achieve this year
It doesn’t have to be a permanent list - you can review it as the year unfolds, but start with a list
If you don’t have this first list, you have given your year the permission to unfold in a random fashion
My list for this year is to:
Practise the presence of God
Pursue wisdom
Promote my health
Produce extra wealth
Preach for transformation
2. Write down the five most important things you need to achieve this week
Now you may have more than five, but work from a list of five – the most important
Write down the five most important things you have to achieve today

STEP 2: ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

These answers will help you to determine what must be on your list and what number to assign to them
What are the four R’s
Reach, Required, Returns, Reward
1. Where do I want to reach?
This is the goal question
This year, this week, this day
2. What is required of me?
This is the duty question
This year, this week, today
What is required of me - as a spouse, as a parent, as an employee, as a team leader?
Remember, if you have two conflicting duties, one of them is not your duty
3. What will give me the greatest return?
This is the efficiency question
Very quickly you will find that some activities give you a greater return on the investment of your time and effort
Concentrate on those
This is also a way to determine your strengths
4. What will give me the greatest reward?
This is the fulfilment question
Reward of fulfilment, finances and favour

STEP 3: ASSIGN THE NUMBERS

Take a close look at your list of five and assign a priority number to each one
Which one must come first, second, third, fourth and fifth

STEP 4: ALLOCATE THE TIME

For example, for your yearly list, how many hours per week should you give to each item?
Same for your weekly and daily lists
But beyond allocating a timeframe for these, now allocate a specific time e.g. 8.00 to 9.00 p.m.

STEP 5: ADVANCE THE PROCESS

Take the first item on your daily list and start to work on it – and stay with it until it is completed
Then take the second item, then the third until all five are done
What if you only managed to finish item one?
No problem.

Then tomorrow, item two becomes your item one
Will this always happen the neat way you arranged it?
No – there will be interruptions and eventualities
But you will still achieve far more than if you did not establish your priorities
If you want to increase your focus this year, if you want to increase your productivity, if you want to become more effective, ESTABLISH YOUR PRIORITIES.

I'm Not That Girl

I won't be that girl



I don't want this to end.
This.
Whatever this is...


Everything happened exactly how it was supposed to.
Slowly.
Cautiously.
Moderately.
Safely.


I was so careful with you.
I followed all of the rules that society has set for us.
Tell me, where did I go wrong?
It isn't about the other girls.
I knew all along.
Just like you knew.
It was about being treated equally.
Having the same privileges.
Not having to hide my existance.
For once in my life, I stand up for myself.
What do I get?
"I'm upset for no reason."
"I'm being so immature."
"I'm acting like a child."
"I'm just so stupid."
Right?
Wrong.
I won't be that girl.
The girl that hides in the shadows.
Waiting...
Waiting...
Contemplating...

Wasting her life away waiting on you.
I won't be that girl.
I could very easily get you back.
You're only a phone call away.
But I refuse to do that.
I am not in the wrong here.
I've looked at it from every angle.
And...
I
didn't
do
this.


To say that my heart's broken would be an understatement.
Nothing can be healed if you keep it covered up.


Well, I let my wounds out in the open and now they're infected.
I've ripped off the bandaid and it's completely in your hands now.

I won't go back on the promise I made to myself.
I won't beg for you to fix me.
I won't change my mind.
I won't wait for you.
I won't be that girl.

The State Of Ignorance

Disclaimer: This is not directed at any one person. More like the human race as a whole.

I have no hope for the human race. Intellectualism is dying. Nobody thinks anymore, they just merely cry with outrage at anything that makes their lives even remotely uncomfortable. Pleasure, that’s all this generation cares about. Whatever can make their lives easier. They don’t pay attention to the issues of the world, just what’s going to make them the happiest.

Each generation seems to be less intelligent then the one before it, less able to think for itself, more ignorant of the world around it. You can see it every day. Each freshman class that has come after mine seems to be worse than the last.

For example, my AP Literature teacher also teaches normal freshman classes. Looking at the way they paraphrase the works of Shakespeare are simply embarrassing. It’s clear they gave no effort at all into the thought of the greatest literary genius of all time. One of them even spelt Shakespeare and person wrong. Then refused to correct it when they were told the right way to spell it.

"One Man's Dream"

Let me give all that I can, whenever I can, to all that I can. It is a simple plan for the remaining time here on this good earth. It is a cleansing of one's soul. When I have given all that I can, and loved all I that I can, it completes me.

My dream is for all people on Earth to have faith in a greater power than us. Every little thing around you is from a divine plan. Every storm in life is a lesson to be learned. Every smile and every tear is witnessed. The very moon was placed exactly in the right place in the heavens. One little shift of the moon and the oceans would overtake the land. The sun was placed exactly in the right place. One little shift of the sun and the entire world would be a desert.

Man only thinks he can control life around him. Man controls nothing. What he has tried to control, he has destroyed. I share with you these things that you already know. When we all go to bed at the end of the day no matter who you are, a king, a beggar, a president, a rich man, a poor man, a doctor, a mechanic, a teacher, a preacher, all lay their heads down and sometimes think what is this really all about? Is this all that there is? Is there more?

Yes there is more.......I believe with all of my being that there is more! This life with all it's beauty and also all it's hurting, is only but a step into the gates of forever and ever. So enjoy everything that is given to you, good and bad. And live each day like it is your last here on earth.

And remember to give something back, whenever you can. This is just my dream, what may be yours?

A Rose In Torn

RareLightning Spears

No ulterior motive

Nothing up my sleeve

Nothing you did or said

You were just you

Didn’t have to buy me anything

Didn’t have to wine or dine me or anything

Ever and persistent

My desire for you from a distance

I love you for who you are

No agenda at all

Nothing to win but you

Nothing I would not do

You were just being you

Didn’t have to spend a lot of money

Didn’t have to call my jokes funny

Always and forever

My love for you fades never

I love you for all that you are

Not some reward

Not for anything you’ve done

Not even for being so true

Just for being you

Didn’t need to go out of your way

Didn’t need to bend over backwards

I’d hold you close or love you from far away

So much to giveSo much love to share

No one could ever compare

You’re a find you are

You’re rare Take my breath, my very air

At your beauty I constantly stare

Love you for beauty you hide

Love you not for anything you’ve got

Love you for the angel inside

Love you not for just you looking so hot

Love you so much it ought to be a crime

Love you so until the end of time

Love you as if you were already mine

Love you like no other

You are such a rare find

Hold you close or love you from afar

I love you for who it is that you are.

How to win others,Learn to appreciate them

Life should not be a race. Let's try to make it a Journey of Love, Peace & Harmony…

"Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, 'Make me feel important.' Never forget this message when working with people."

If practised, this could be one of the most life-changing pieces of advice. In any relationship, whether it's a spouse, child, client, colleague, or casual acquaintance, the best way to make a lasting impression is to take the time to make others feel genuinely valued.

Here are four tips to help you make others feel more important.

1. Greet everyone you meet with enthusiasm. Have you ever called someone on the telephone - or met them somewhere -- and they greeted you with such energy and enthusiasm that you felt they must truly adore you? A greeting of ardent and genuine enthusiasm sets the tone for your entire encounter.

It's such a simple skill (the hardest part is remembering to do it) but if you CAN remember, it will enliven all of your relationships. This skill can be particularly life-changing when practiced with your children. A simple show of enthusiasm and appreciation when a child walks in the room can have a miraculous effect on the relationship.

2. Slow down. Take the time in conversation to really listen. While someone is talking, focus on taking in what he or she is saying in words, tone, and body language instead of thinking about what you are going to say next.

Relax and listen before responding. As you practice this form of deep listening, work on identifying the other person's needs. Put your own needs aside during the conversation and focus on determining what *they* need today. Imagine that each encounter is like a brief interlude in what may otherwise be a hectic day. Slow down and savour the connection you can make with another person, even in a casual conversation.

3. Work on remembering the details of past conversations and encounters.

Ask about the things they confided to you. How did her business presentation go? How is his ailing father? It's often helpful to make little notes to remind you to ask about something or someone the next time you meet. This simple skill shows people that they are important to you.

4. Appreciate the small things that people do for you and never pass up an opportunity to say thank you. It doesn't have to be anything fancy...a few kind words or even a simple note is plenty. Find simple and small ways to show appreciation and caring to those you love. Maybe it's bringing home take-out when your spouse has been home all day with a sick child. Maybe it's making a quick phone call to your mother. As you go through your day, be thinking of how you can take a step toward recognition and appreciation.

When you make the people around you feel important, you create a climate of trust and mutual appreciation, which can change your life in ways large and small. Try it today.

Remember:

people will forget what you said ...

people will forget what you did ...

but people will never forget how you made them feel ...

"You reap what you sow"

It's true everyone does have something to give. Even in doing nothing you're also giving nothing. So what are you offering this world? Whatever it is and whatever you do I hope you shine, give everything from your heart and you shall always be divine. Cause toasts and give value to the water turned wine.

As you sow, so shall u reap

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.

If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.

If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory.

If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony.

If you plant hard work, you will reap success.

If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.

If you plant openness, you will reap intimacy.

If you plant patience, you will reap improvements.

If you plant faith, you will reap miracles.

But

If you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust.

If you plant selfishness, you will reap loneliness.

If you plant pride, you will reap destruction.

If you plant envy, you will reap trouble.

If you plant laziness, you will reap stagnation.

If you plant bitterness, you will reap isolation.

If you plant greed, you will reap loss.

If you plant gossip, you will reap enemies.

If you plant worries, you will reap wrinkles.

If you plant sin, you will reap guilt.

*********

So be careful what you plant now, It will determine what you will reap tomorrow, The seeds you now scatter, Will make life worse or better, your life or the ones who will come after. Yes, someday, you will enjoy the fruits, or you will pay for the choices you plant today.

" I Believe "

Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.



I Believe...

That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they
don't love each other. And just because they don't
argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.



I Believe...

That we don't have to change friends if we understand that
friends change.


I Believe...

That no matter how good a friend is they're going to hurt you
every once in a while and you must forgive them
for that.



I Believe...

That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest
distance. Same goes for true love.


I Believe...

That you can do something in an instant that will give you
heartache for life.


I Believe...

That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to
be.


I Believe..

That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It
may be the last time you see them.


I Believe..

That you can keep going long after you think you can't.



I Believe...

That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.



I Believe...

That either you control your attitude or it controls you.



I Believe...

That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it
needs to be done, regardless of the
consequences.



I Believe...

That money is a lousy way of keeping score.



I Believe...

That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have
the best time.


I Believe...

That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're
down will be the ones to help you get back up.


I Believe...

That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but
that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.


I Believe...

That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences
you've had and what you've learned from them and
less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.



I Believe...

That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.


I Believe..

That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't
stop for your grief.


I Believe...

That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we
are,
but we are responsible for whom we become.



I Believe...

That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could
change your life Forever.


I Believe...

Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something
totally different.


I Believe...

That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people
who don't even know you.


I Believe...

That even when you think you have no more to give, when a
friend cries out to you - you will find the
strength to help.



I Believe...

That credentials on the wall does not make you a decent human
being.


I Believe...

That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...

'The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of
everything; they just make the most of everything.'

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

P O W E R O F W O R D S

ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED THIS PAST WEEK IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PHRASE "THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK". WHAT IT ALL ENDS UP BOILING DOWN TO IS THAT ONCE THE WORDS ARE SPOKEN YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM BACK. AFTER YOU SAY SOMETHING TO SOMEONE THE EFFECT AND POWER OF YOUR WORDS EFFECT THEM IMMEDIATELY.


I HAVE FELL VICTIM TO THE BAD HABIT OF SPEAKING TOO QUICKLY AND NOT CAREFULLY PHRASING MY WORDS OR NOT THINKING ABOUT WHAT I'M SAYING BEFORE I LET IT COME OUT. IT CAN BE SUCH A HORRIBLE THING TO DO BECAUSE I KNOW THAT NOT ONLY HAVE I BEEN HURT BY OTHERS THIS WAY BUT I HAVE ALSO HURT OTHERS THIS WAY. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY ARE PEOPLE I LOVE AND CARE ABOUT.

IT IS ALSO SO IMPORTANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE TONE OF YOUR VOICE AND THE ATTITUDE IN YOUR VOICE WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHING. SO MANY TIMES ARGUMENTS AND HURT FEELINGS AND BAD SITUATIONS CAN BE AVOIDED SIMPLY BY TAKING A MINUTE TO THINK ABOUT THE WAY YOU WORD THINGS OR THE EXACT WORDS YOU USE OR THE TONE OF YOUR VOICE ETC.......



IT IS ACTUALLY A LOT HARDER TO DO THAN IT SOUNDS BECAUSE OUR VERY FIRST REACTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT IS SAID TO US, IS TO GET DEFENSIVE OR RUDE AND JUST POP OFF WITH THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND WHICH MORE OFTEN THAN NOT ENDS UP BEING SOMETHING SARCASTIC, RUDE, CONDESCENDING, ETC, ETC.......

IF THERE IS ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY QUICKNESS TO SPEAK OR BY MY VOICING OF MY OPINION WHEN I SHOULDN'T OR IT IS NOT WANTED IS THAT IT IS WORTH TAKING THE EXTRA FEW MINUTES OR SO TO CHOOSE THE WORDS YOU SPEAK VERY VERY WISELY BECAUSE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE YOU LOVE AND CARE ABOUT ARE NOT WORTH RISKING.

FOOLISH WORDS CAN RUIN MANY GOOD THINGS AND ALL IT TAKES TO AVOID THIS IS A MINUTE OF CONTEMPLATION BEFORE YOU VOICE YOUR THOUGHTS. PEOPLE THAT LOVE AND CARE ABOUT YOU MAY UNDERSTAND AND BE PATIENT ABOUT IT BUT THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN SORRY DOESN'T CUT IT AND WILL GET SICK AND TIRED OF IT AND WILL NOT PUT UP WITH IT. IT IS DEFINITELY NOT WORTH IT AND I CAN SAY I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

TAKE EXTRA THOUGHT AND CARE IN WHAT YOU SAY TO OTHERS BECAUSE YOU MAY NEVER QUITE REALIZE THE WAY YOUR WORDS MAY TOO BE HURTING THEM AND THAT IS NOT FAIR TO DO TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU.

"Knowing Oneself"

HOW DO I DEFINE MYSELF

I do not define myself by how many roadblocks have appeared in my path; but by the courage I have found to forge new roads.

I do not define myself by how many disappointments I have faced; but by the forgiveness and the faith I have found to begin again.

I do not define myself by how long a relationship lasted; but by how much I have loved and been willing to love again.

I do not define myself by how many times I have been knocked down; but by how many times I have struggled to my feet.

I do not define myself by how many times I have appeared the fool; but by the number of risks I have taken.

I do not define myself by the number of mistakes I have made; but by the knowledge I have learned from trying a new way.

I am not my pain... I am not my past...

I am that which has emerged.

"Find Happiness Within"

Things I have learned.....enjoy life

Enjoy….
I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I 've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile. I've learned..... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned..... That opportunities are never lost, someone else will take the ones you miss.

I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.