My Inbox of Daily Inspirations: Daily Heartlight -- October 14, 2007

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October 14, 2007

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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================

The Brevity of Life, by Tom Norvell

As the week begins consider this short verse from the Psalms:

"Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in
wisdom" (Psalm 90:12 NLT).

Another version says it:

"Teach us to use wisely all the time we have" (CEV).

Still another reads: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may
gain a heart of wisdom" (NIV).

You may have never prayed that simple prayer, but chances are the
lesson is being taught in various ways every day in your community.

You get word that a classmate from high school has just had a heart
attack and died. He was your age.

Within weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer you are attending the
funeral of a co-worker. He went so fast.

A teenager is killed going home from football practice. He was the star
of the team.

A mother of three small children is broadsided by a semi in the middle
of the day. She was on her way to pick up her kids from school.

The news reported that the babysitter had left the three-year old alone
on the deck to check on something she had left on the stove. When she
looked up he was floating in the pool.

A freak accident claimed the life of a friend. You were with him
yesterday. You talked with him on the phone last night. Now he is gone.

So, how do we do it?

The Psalm says, "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we
may grow in wisdom." "Teach us to use wisely all the time we have."

If we knew how much time we had, we'd use it wisely ... at least the
latter part of it. Wouldn't we? Perhaps that is the point.

So, how do we do it?

The Psalmist may give us the answer at the beginning and at the end of
the Psalm:

Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! Before
the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the
world, from beginning to end, you are God (Psalm 90:1-2 NLT).

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work
of our hands for us -- yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm
90:17 NIV).

When we realize that the Lord is our home and that God is God, we can
see our days more clearly. When we allow the Lord to establish the work
of our hands, we can see our days more clearly. With this knowledge we
can appreciate and remember that life is brief, that things can change
in a split second. Since we don't know how much time we have, we must
learn to use what we have wisely. Every day live wisely. Every moment
live fully. Take advantage of all opportunities.

Let's start right now. We don't have much time.

---------
(c) 2007 Tom Norvell <tomnorvell@mac.com>. Used by permission. A
Norvell Note <http://www.anorvellnote.com> is a weekly email
message from Tom Norvell. Check it out!

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Daily Heartlight -- October 14, 2007