Letting Go

In a recent post, I shared with readers that I’ve been mulling over what my husband’s retirement will mean for me. While we both contemplate our day-to-day lives, I need to simplify a few things. First, let me assure you that I will keep the blog site. I use the links often for discipleship, mentoring, and teaching. I have come to find great value there. However, the Facebook page “Debbie Swindell – An Everyday Theologian” is something I will be letting go. To streamline, I discontinued newsletter subscriptions about a week or so ago. I’m contemplating the Instagram account.

Thank You

Thank you for having followed my Facebook page. My personal friends will still have the opportunity to share blog posts from my wall (please do), and if you only know me from social media, you can subscribe to the blog. You will receive every post in your mailbox, which you can read in your own time.

Slowing but not Stopping

I’m in this for the long haul, and by that, I mean by ministering to women in my local church and community. But in this current phase of life, I no longer find particular efforts worthy of my time. I’m slowing but not stopping.

Evaluating Time

As followers of Jesus, we are to make distinctions between ourselves and those of this world. C.S. Lewis penned, “Glory is an pervasive reality that surrounds us every day and beckons us to belief and delight.” Godly living focuses on Christ. In doing so, we become evidence of the one who made us. The blood sacrifice of Jesus was not that we might be a people serving ourselves but to become His people, saved out of this world. While evaluating my time, I ask myself:

Have I been faithful in 2023? Have I walked out of my faith and lived consistently biblical?
Have I been a good steward of time? In what ways have I served my neighbor and my church?
Have I enjoyed God and “be” in his presence while in his Word, prayer, or church?
Have I shown myself to be teachable? Have I grown in biblical knowledge?

As Christians, it is appropriate for us to establish and keep specific priorities and principles as we strive to love and follow Christ. Under God’s sovereignty, he gives us responsibility over many areas of life. Truthfully, reflecting has the potential to reveal problem areas. Taking time to pause brings an issue or commitment into focus. Beyond reflection, where do adjustments need to be made? I’ve shared some of mine with you. Why wait until January 1st?

In Haggai Chapter One, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai: “Consider your ways!” God wanted the people to reflect on some things and evaluate their spirituality in light of what God had told them. May we do no less, considering our relationship with the gift of time.