What Will YOU Do With the Time that's Left

As missionaries we don't get to have our own computers so we often rely on the community library to use the internet in sharing the gospel. As I have walked in and out of this building a number of times I have come to realize that there are a lot of books. There are books about literally everything and even if I spent the rest of my life reading them I couldn't even finish the books in the small library of Kalispell, MT.

"So what's your point?" you might ask. The point is that our time is limited here on earth and we should spend it doing worthwhile things. There is a song I really like entitled: Time That is Left. One of the verses reads:

What will you do with the time that's left?

Will you live it all with no regret?
Will they say that you loved till your final breath?
What will you do with the time?

So give that one some thought and possibly make an adjustment to how you spend your time.

5k for Life

Ready. Set. (Snap) The starting gun is fired and the race begins. Running a 5 kilometer race begins with everyone fighting for position, testing the strength of their competitors, and getting into a rhythm for the rest of the race. I would compare Mile 1 of the race to the first 15 years of life for us. We are just starting out; just getting to know ourselves and take in our surroundings.

Mile 2 of the race is to me the most important. This is where many runners kind of 'fall asleep' so to speak. After all, the finish line seems so far away and they start to rationalize slowing down, maybe working a little less than they could. Some even quit and give up entirely. In life, this period of time is often referred to as the decade of decisions. We have many choices to make that will greatly impact the rest of our lives. So we'd be best to 'stay awake' during all of it.

The last mile is a different length of time for each of us. Unlike a race we don't know exactly where the finish line will be. We could stumble upon it at any time. Let us endure to the end of our lives with perseverance, dedication, and hard work. If we do so I know that we will find peace in this life and happiness in the life to come.

No Regrets

During my high school days I ran on the cross country team. I was definitely not the fastest runner on the team but I had fun and was able to work hard and improve my race times. Many runners would write things on their arms with a marker or a pen to remind them of something during the race. One such phrase I often saw on our team was "No Regrets."

One of the worst feelings after finishing a race is to not be tired. You look back and can see that you could have worked much harder and ran much faster. It's a disappointment most runners will feel at one point or another. Our lives can be compared to a cross country race. We don't want to walk through the finish line, or even jog. We don't want to look back afterwards and see that we could have done so much better. We want to finish strong knowing that we have fought a good fight and finished the course.1 Let us live our lives in such a manner that we will have "No Regrets."

See also:
2 Timothy 4:7

Running the Race by Elder Steinicke

Our Life on Earth

        Our lives here on earth are full of trials and struggles (See Tests, Trials, and Turmoil). But we can have joy and happiness if we follow God's commandments. In Matthew 25 the Savior teaches us an important lesson about what we need to do. In the parable of the talents he tells us of three different servants (What's a talent?) . One is given five talents, one is given two, and one is given one. The first two men manage do double their money but the third hides his in the ground. The lord promises the first two men that they will be made rulers over many things but calls the last servant slothful and unfaithful. Why? He didn't lose any of his lord's money. It must be very important to Jesus Christ that we work hard and improve the great gifts that we have been given.

       In our lives here on earth we need to do our very best. I testify that if we use our time and talents wisely our Lord will say of us, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (See Matthew 25:21)

The Mission of Music

       This last week we had, what we call, a zone conference. A zone conference is when all the missionaries in one area meet together and our mission president and other leaders instruct us on how to become better missionaries. It was a great meeting and I learned a lot. I may have learned the most in the last 5 minutes though. To close the meeting we sang a hymn entitled: I Believe in Christ. In the last verse it says, "I believe in Christ; so come what may, With him I'll stand in that great day..." When we sang that, I could really feel the Spirit. I know that being on a mission and sharing this great message is what the Lord wants me to do. I am thankful for music and the impact it can have on our lives.

Running the Race

       The apostle Paul writing to the Hebrews gives them some counsel that, I think, we can all benefit from. In Hebrews chapter 12 he says, "...and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." As we run along the path of life it is important that we look to the finish line where our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ are waiting for us, cheering us on. When we can look to, and focus on, this goal of returning to live with them we gain a more eternal perspective. This eternal perspective helps me to have patience through my tests and trials in life. Another thing that helps me is that I don't have to run alone. Heavenly Father has given us some running buddies like our friends, families, and the Holy Ghost. With their help we can run this race of life and win.