Lose No Time
Dearest Father, Thank You that I lose no time because, in Christ, my time has been redeemed. As written in the First Reading today.
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But these have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in Him, you may have life (John 20:31 GNBDK) - the rich and satisfying life in Christ. (John 10:10 NLT)
Today's Readings
First Reading: Acts 25: 13b-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 103: 1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab
Alleluia: John 14: 26
Gospel: John 21: 15-19
Reading 1, Acts 25:13-21
Acts 25:13-21 GNBDK
[13] Some time later King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay a visit of welcome to Festus.
[14] After they had been there several days, Festus explained Paul's situation to the king: “There is a man here who was left a prisoner by Felix;
[15] and when I went to Jerusalem, the Jewish chief priests and elders brought charges against him and asked me to condemn him.
[16] But I told them that we Romans are not in the habit of handing over anyone accused of a crime before he has met his accusers face to face and has had the chance of defending himself against the accusation.
[17] When they came here, then, I lost no time, but on the very next day I sat in the court and ordered the man to be brought in.
[18] His opponents stood up, but they did not accuse him of any of the evil crimes that I thought they would.
[19] All they had were some arguments with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus, who has died; but Paul claims that he is alive.
[20] I was undecided about how I could get information on these matters, so I asked Paul if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.
[21] But Paul appealed; he asked to be kept under guard and to let the Emperor decide his case. So I gave orders for him to be kept under guard until I could send him to the Emperor.”
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20
R. (19a) The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels,
you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
Gospel, John 21:15-19
John 21:15-19 GNBDK
[15] After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.”
[16] A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.”
[17] A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.
[18] I am telling you the truth: when you were young, you used to get ready and go anywhere you wanted to; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will bind you and take you where you don't want to go.”
[19] (In saying this, Jesus was indicating the way in which Peter would die and bring glory to God.) Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”
Dearest Father,
Thank You that I lose no time because, in Christ, my time has been redeemed. As written in the First Reading today.
Acts 25:17 GNBDK
[17] When they came here, then, I lost no time, but on the very next day I sat in the court and ordered the man to be brought in.
Redeeming the Time.
I’ve always heard this when I was a young Christian in our Charismatic community.
It means putting every time we have to perfect use, for the glory of God.
Maybe this is Your reminder to me that time is precious and I only have limited amount of it on this earth.
Even though You have already redeemed my time, I have to be wise in my use of it.
To allocate it to fulfilling my purpose to which You have called me.
These days, my time for ministry and work have been skewed.
Mainly because, these days, I'm distracted.
First, it was my dream of having Eden Garden Retreat Resort and my dream house..
Then starting an aquaponics system in my home for sustainable living to provide us with fresh fish and veggies when we want it.
Now I’m into urban vegetable gardening. Starting a vegetable garden in our little front yard using used plastic PET bottles or sacks.
Like growing potatoes in sacks like this. Just using sacks of soil and harvesting a lot of potatoes:
My mama said I should focus more on my work and earning much at this time so I can pay off all my debts and have overflow to fund for extra things I want to do.
Only, then should I think about other things.
But I'm thinking, can't I do both, though? These don't take much time when set up.
Yes, I do have to think of the budget for setting it all up though, which right now is tight for me.
Also, if God wills it for me, then He'll provide for anything I need.
Last month, when considering going ahead with my aquaponics system using IBC containers which I can get online, I received the same message about not losing time.
Acts 16:10 Once he had seen this vision we lost no time in arranging a passage to Macedonia, convinced that God had called us to bring them the good news.
Seeing that “we lost no time” phrase, I thought it was my go-signal to set up my aquaponics system.
But then Mama spoke those words to me which kind of stopped me from doing it. Cause, definitely, I don't have the extra money for now for all that's needed to set that up.
I asked the Lord, what if I'll build up my 30k wealth buffer first, which I had at the beginning of the year to help me pay all my bills in advance but now I've all but spent that ever since I lost my other online job and my budget got screwed.
When I've saved up more than that, then I could go safely ahead with establishing my aquaponics system.
So, at the moment, I’ve surrendered that desire to the Lord, knowing He’ll provide for me for these things in His own time.
Now, these past couple of weeks, I've stumbled on Urban gardening videos on YouTube which don't take much money, just using old used plastic containers, and they're able to grow fresh vegetables from even a small space that they have.
I particularly like this way of planting potatoes in two 5L containers. I think this way, I can potentially have a continuous potato harvest all-year round cause I can just harvest potatoes as needed and leave the rest to sprout and grow again. I love eating potatoes!
Now I wanted to do that for a start.
Yesterday, we had fresh cucumber with lunch and I started keeping the seeds in a tissue paper to dry them so I could start planting them when ready.
Then I learned I could use old egg creates for seed germination. I just bought a tray of eggs with 3 egg crates, so that's all good.
I went to Mass this morning distracted with thoughts and possibilities on how I can start my own vegetable garden with very little money.
When I went to the Adoration chapel, and read this verse about losing no time, I asked the Lord if my desire to start this vegetable garden and aquaponics are His will for me or are these just distractions from the one thing He has called me to do this year - to proclaim the good news to the poor by publishing my daily journal reflecting on living the rich life in Christ based on today's Catholic Mass readings?
Am I being lured away from my number one priority of doing God's will with these desires, even when these are good for me and my family?
I think losing no time simply means taking care that I lose no time to do what God has called me to do first and foremost, work hard to earn a living, second, and then use my time for relaxing, like on Sundays which I dedicate to spend time with my family to rejuvenate, to establish my vegetable garden.
My mornings are always dedicated to seeking God and spending time with Him, to my health and well-being, as well as my focused work of writing and publishing my journal.
I can then add gardening to my morning routine, a good opportunity to be in the sun.
Anyway, once that's set up, it won't take much time cause I saw a self-watering system using the PET bottles that I can implement.
Dearest, I don't want to lose any of the time You have given me to fulfill Your calling and purpose for my life and live the rich and satisfying life You have given me.
I know these desires to start vegetable gardening and, later on, aquaponics come from You because I wouldn't have thought of them on my own.
I just need to lose no time and balance my pursuit of these things I dream of with the pursuit of Your dream too - feed and take care of Your sheep.
John 21:17 GNBDK
[17] A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.
I know, living in Christ, I have the wisdom I need to lose no time but to use every bit that You've given me for Your greater honor and glory.
Father, my times are in Your hands.
Psalms 31:15 MEV
[15] My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and my pursuers.
In Jesus’ Name!
If you want to lose no time in living your God-given purpose and the rich and satisfying life Jesus has died to give you, live in Christ. Join me in our SpeakChrist RichLife Club. We'll do it together. St. Katharine Drexel, pray for us.
Live the RichLife in Christ today 🤟
Lose no time.
Life is short.
Fulfill Your purpose.
You only live once.
Forever awaits.
Free 🎁 for you.
Lose no time.
Live in Christ.
Live to the fullest.
For God.
For His greatest glory.
Say Amen! 🙏
Acts 25:17 GNBDK
[17] When they came here, then, I lost no time, but on the very next day I sat in the court and ordered the man to be brought in.
Now Your Turn
(Questions to ask yourself when scripture journaling)
What verses spoke to me strongly and powerfully from the scripture readings?
What is God saying to me in these verse or verses?
What does God want me to do today?
Journal prompts of the day
Are you losing no time for what really matters or just wasting your time?
How can you redeem the time God has given you?
Are you losing no time for doing what God has called you to do?
Vivo dives vitae in Christo. Live the RichLife in Christ.
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