Since 1990, the Lord has given me a “logo for living” to focus on for an entire year. He has also made it clear that this logo should be shared with others as a personal testimony. Last year's theme focused on the need to “strive to shine in 2009 through our story, our silence, our song,” challenging us all to share what the Master has done and is doing in our lives. This year I have received a new message, and I am honoured to share it with you.

Take Time Again … in 2010!

Luke 12:12: “… for the Holy Spirit
will teach you at that time what you should say”

Time to:

Taste—Psalm 34:8: “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (KJV);
Think—Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”;
Trust—Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”

He has made everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

It often seems impossible to find the necessary time to accomplish all of our daily tasks. Many of us feel like there will never be enough of it in our schedules to take care of things. Time gets away from us. We lose track of it.

But time is in our hands. It is a gift. And how we use it is up to us.

In Our Hands
Time is not for wasting. God offers it to us with the expectation that we will use it wisely. This demands severe intentionality. We must daily seek his face through Bible study and prayer. It's not the length of time that's important, but rather the consistency that comes when we faithfully dedicate space in our schedules to spend with the Lord. As we establish a purposeful plan to take time with God, we learn that this practice becomes a necessity in our lives. We should never begin nor close a day without first seeking the presence of Jesus. In fact, as we deliberately take time for him, we will develop a pattern that is as much a part of us as is our DNA.

Make Your Time His
This lovely song reminds us to be intentional in our taking of time. If we don't, the time will never come.

Take time to be holy,
the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret
with Jesus alone;
By looking to Jesus,
like him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct his
likeness shall see.

William Dunn Longstaff

And now the three points that always accompany every logo for living. Take Time Again … in 2010 to taste, think and trust.

Taste Again
First of all, taste again and “see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). In Psalm 27:13 we read, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (KJV). The Lord is so good to us all. When we take time to be with him, we realize more of his goodness. We taste of his faithfulness and then witness his blessings in new ways.

Think Again
Secondly, think again. We need to revamp our thinking. The Scripture in Philippians 4:8 tells us exactly what to think. When our jobs demand critical thinking, or when our day-to-day activities cause our thoughts to become clouded or skewed, we need to stop and take time to seek God's direction. He wants us to view ourselves and the world around us as he does. He reminds us to think on what is just, pure and lovely. But when we get wounded in the fight of life, we often choose to mull things over or feel that we have to talk to someone else about it. If we intentionally take time with God, however, he will help us to soar above our earthly thoughts and see the things that he desires.

Take the time to be re-MIND-ed. Think on those things worthy of praise. When we do this, we feel better about ourselves and others will notice. Life becomes positive and blessed, and as a result, we become a blessing to others.

Trust Again
Thirdly, trust again. Trusting is believing. In difficult situations, my mother taught me to place my trust in God alone. She said, “Believe and then you will see.” But the world conditions us to say, “I'll believe it when I see it.” When we believe and trust in God completely, we discover that his timing is perfect. May we all trust this coming year to him and believe. As his Word reminds us in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

My friends, take time again in 2010 to taste, think and trust in God. He has made and will make everything beautiful in its time.



Commissioner Marilyn D. Francis is Territorial President of Women's Ministries for Canada and Bermuda. Her husband, Commissioner William W. Francis, is the Territorial Commander. Commissioner Marilyn Francis is an accomplished vocalist and pianist. She has produced an audio recording of vocal and keyboard improvisation of hymns and gospel songs titled Just a Closer Walk. Commissioners Francis have two adult children, Captain William Marshall and Susan Marjorie, plus six grandchildren.