“Teach us to number our days…that we may gain a heart of wisdom. “Psalm 90:12
I heard an Andy Stanley message on this last week. (It’s first in the series: Time of Your Life. Listen HERE.)
The message was great but it’s the scripture that I didn’t remember that so impacted me. I’ve been looking for a scripture like this ever since my mom left this planet 5 years ago. I wanted a verse to help me understand what’s been happening in my heart.
It was a subtle shift… becoming more focused on the end of my life.Realizing that my ordinary days are in fact not so ordinary.
I tried to wrap words around the change… living today, the legacy that I will one day leave.
But perhaps what God’s been teaching me is simply…to number my days.
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Do you ever think of your life with the end in mind and if you do does it make a difference in how you live your moments?
~Just wondering…love to you my friends~
Such a simple message, but it does have a big impact. Yes, I do think about the end of my life and try to let that inform how I live my days. But truthfully, I catch myself in less than stellar moments of raising my voice with the boys, or pushing someone aside who wants my immediate attention and I still struggle daily.
Thanks Robin, numbering my days may be just the catch phrase to “catch” me.
.-= Vicky´s last blog ..All the numbers round II =-.
Vicky…we all have less-than-stellar moments. I think of you so often these days …and pray for your journey. love to you my sweet friend.xo
Good question Robin. I have never been one who is a doomsayer. You know, “the sky is falling” type of person. As I have gotten older i do think it is more common to look at the end of a life and wonder. But when I do that I want to consider not the end of my life, as such, but what am I leaving behind for future generations? Like everyone on this planet, I have no clue how long I will live. All I do know is that I don’t want to “pine away” dreaming but go out living. Good thoughts today my friend. Hugs to you.
.-= Bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..Input Needed =-.
Bill, When I look at the end of life it’s totally a positive. It helps me focus on making decisions with deliberate intention! Also the realization that there’s more than just this life helps me to weigh my choices…will this make a difference for eternity?
Since you’re a pastor your circle of influence is so much larger than most…what you do truly does impact others. Keep doin what you’re doin!
Hugs right back at cha!
Thanks for an insightful post, Robin. Just like you, I’ve pondered the length of my days ever since my mom died suddenly 11 years ago. It’s more important now to live fully, to try to pass along goodness, and to openly share God’s words while I’m here. You’ve given me something to think about this morning.
Have a blessed day, my friend.
Jean
Jean, isn’t it interesting that sometimes great change comes when we lose someone so close? xoxo
We listened to that very same message Friday evening, and are doing a church wide study called “One Month To Live” Psalm 90:12 is the first versed that is referenced, and key verse for the study. I want to truly make a difference in lives as I number my days. I want them to count for God’s glory. I had planned on doing a similar post. Thanks for sharing. Jackie
.-= Jackie´s last blog .. =-.
Jackie…when we number our days it really does change our behavior…Amen to making a difference in the lives of others.
Look forward to seeing your post.xoxo
Since I lost my dad almost 2 years ago, and my mom has Alzheimers , I think of my life in a whole new way , every day. I too want to learn to number my days and make each day a memory to be treaured .
Joanne, just like Jean, losing someone so close makes a profound difference in our thinking. love to you my friend.
You’re so right. Losing someone close does change our thinking. I can’t believe it. My dad died in 1983–going on 30 years ago. How can it be? It goes so fast–so fast. Robbie would be 21.
Number my days. Make them count. Thank you for the reminder. No way to make time slow down, is there?
As I get older, COUGH!!!, I do tend to thnk about the end of my life but moatly, like others, how I will be remembered, especially by my family. I hope I am living an example and that they will remember me fondly!!!! XO, Pinky
Good grief! Sorry about the typos!
i celebrated 20 years of marriage with my husband last week and our only son turned 16 2 days later. those events made me reflect on time–along with andy’s message–and made me realize that i have been behaving lately as though i have a better grasp on the concept that my life will not go on indefinitely. i want what i do to make a difference for eternity.
5 days after that anniversary, my man became unemployed. because of the truths of God’s Word (andy’s second message from matt. 6 was just as good as the first), we are not freaking out. we want to really stand on the TRUTH that our Heavenly Father knows what we need–food, clothing, and shelter…yes, and work. life isn’t about plan a anymore, but plan b.
As my Dad has been struggling with lung cancer these last 8 months, I definitely have been thinking about the end of life and how I can make my days count more. And now, thanks to the verse you have posted, I will print it out and hang it somewhere, where I can see it daily as a reminder.
.-= Eileen´s last blog ..Shades of Orange =-.
Robin, thanks for this post. I think this is sort of what Paul was talking about in the Scripture about having one foot on earth and one in heaven. We can’t be so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good but it gives today a lot better perspective if we keep eternity in mind. I also thought of this quote from John Ortberg’s “the me I want to be.” I recommend it highly! In the final chapter, my breath was taken away by this quote from Paul Brand who was speaking of his mother’s lifetime of service to the people of India: “This is how to grow old. Allow everything else to fall away until those around you see only love.”
O Robin that is so good. How I pray that I get more intentional about my days. Amazing how a day can end with so much left unaccomplished. I know that looking at the end will help to create the urgency. Thank you for your reminder!! God’s really been hitting me with this one and I appreciate you putting an exclamation point on it!!
Tom
.-= Tom Raines´s last blog ..Affirmation of God- I am glad in the LORD and rejoice =-.