For most of us, until just recently, our world was filled with work, obligations, appointments and constant busyness. It took some effort to spend time with God and have conversations with Him in prayer. God wants fellowship with us, but often we’ve just been too busy.

The word “sabbath” means “rest”—a day of religious observance and abstinence from work. One of God’s Ten Commandments says to remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy. Many in the world haven’t done that in a long, long time.

Yet, in the last month or so the Lord has stopped the world as it deals with COVID-19. In one of God’s Other Ways© He has given us time for rest and worship, as we call on Him for guidance, protection and healing.

We now live with required quarantines and strong suggestions of other ways of living that have changed our lifestyles—all necessary in order to control the spread of the coronavirus so it does not overwhelm our medical system and facilities. We must all feel and pray for those who have contracted this horrible virus.

For many this means staying at home, little or controlled personal contact with others, working from home (some with stoppage of work), shortages of ordinary and necessary supplies, closing of schools with resulting upheaval of learning and family life, necessary learning by home-school…and the list goes on.

Yet, in many situations it does mean that people have more hours available and “busyness” has been altered to “busyless”. Perhaps a consideration of making this time worthwhile and meaningful is called for.

As I thought about this, I found myself making a list of things I have wanted to do, but often had to struggle to make the time to do; or, things I could never pursue because I really didn’t have the time with life’s demands.

CONSIDER HOW TO MAKE USE OF YOUR TIME NOW:

* Time for prayer…really talking with the Lord, and often
* Daily Bible reading and study
* Quality time spent with the family…talking with them (wirelessly)
* Checking on neighbors, church friends, work and elderly friends, relatives, etc.
* Time to write or text distant family and friends more often
* Exercise and eating right
* Learn skills
Origami Knitting, crocheting, sewing
Magic Tricks Making medical masks
Juggling Learn/Refresh musical instrument skills
Or, learn about something you always want to know
* Take a Tutorial on the computer and learn or bone up skills on:
Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point
Apple Pages, Numbers
Organize your photos
* Build something/Learn construction techniques
Carpentry
Plumbing
Woodworking
Garden projects
* Plant a garden
* Do small home repairs
* Do spring cleaning/organize drawers and closets
* Learn to fly a drone or build a model airplane
* Take an online defensive driving class to lower the cost of car insurance
* Learn to play a harmonica, guitar, ukelele or some other musical instrument
* Start or finish a hobby project you always wanted to do
* Try your hand at painting, drawing or cartooning
* Read books on your “someday to read" list
* Write your autobiography
* Write your family’s biography/work on a family tree
* Learn a new language
* Improve your vocabulary and/or math skills
* Learn and practice memory techniques and mnemonics
* THINK: invent; design new products and ideas; recall good memories
* Try new recipes
* Say “I love you” to those that you do
* Sort items to give to Good Will/Salvation Army, etc.
* Get good rest and take care of you!

May you stay well and safe from the virus; continue to follow the protocols suggested to do that and to protect others. If you have tested positive and are ill, may the Lord protect and heal you.

Don’t squander this PRECIOUS time He has given each one of us.

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Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Exodus 20:8

And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Mark 2:27 ESV

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 ESV

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew; time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV

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If you liked this story and would like a copy of either of my books,
they are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format:

If you have a story or testimony that you think might bless others,
I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.

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