Hello from New Zealand

Hello From New Zealand

It is 11:05 p.m. in New Zealand on Thursday night, July 25th.  That means it is 6:05 a.m. in Texas on Thursday.  As New Zealand ends Thursday the 25th and begins Friday the 26th in 55 minutes, most of you are just getting up on Thursday morning to begin your day.  When we lived in New Zealand in the 1980’s, one of the things we had to adjust to was the time difference back home where our friends and family were.

The reason I am writing this article for Word For Today at such a late time is FORGETFULNESS and PROCRASTINATION.  I knew about the assignment weeks ago.  When I left for New Zealand with Gail on the 15th of July, I told her that I needed to send an article back to the USA for the 25th of July.  I had a lot of time to write this before I left and time to do it after I arrived in New Zealand. BUT GUESS WHAT?  I went to bed tonight without writing the article.  Gail remembered before I went to sleep so here I am writing these words frantically trying to beat the deadline.

Tomorrow morning at 9:00, I will be teaching the book of Hebrews in the South Pacific Bible College in Tauranga, New Zealand.  There will be 12 eager students in the class.  Three are from New Zealand, four are from the United States, two are from the Philippines (a husband and wife), two are Korean, and one is from Switzerland.  They range in age from 51 to 21.  Seven are male and five are female.  As we cover Hebrews 4:14-6:12 during our three hour class in the morning, I will be relieved that I sent this article tonight.  It is now 11:35 in New Zealand, so I will finish this before midnight.

So, how is this experience helpful or useful to you as you read it today?  Have you ever put off something until the last possible minute?  One of the ways that we earn respect as Christians is by fulfilling our obligations.  All of us have the opportunity to set a good example before  others by following through with our commitments.  That means fulfilling our commitment   to our spouses, to our employers, to our friends.  We all have daily responsibilities and lifelong responsibilities.  As you live July 25th, (for me it will soon be the 26th), resolve not to procrastinate!!  Let’s LET OUR LIGHTS SHINE BEFORE OTHERS SO THEY WILL SEE OUR GOOD DEEDS AND PRAISE OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN!!

Prayer:  Father, help us to make the most of the time You give us.        

Terry Brown
Abilene, Texas