Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas of Life (Luke 9:9) with a story shared by William Barclay.

NOTE TO MY REGULAR READERS: Just last Saturday, William, one of my regular readers shared that he doesn’t like it when I take time away from doing my blog. Well, William (and others who might feel that way), the time has come again for me to step away. This is one of those “seize the day” opportunities with some members of my family. See you on Monday, July 7^th. Have a great 4^th of July!

SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:9 (TM)

Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day."

STORY:

William Barclay shares this story: There is a fable which tells of three apprentice devils who were coming to this earth to finish their apprenticeship. They were talking to Satan, the chief of the devils, about their plans to tempt and to ruin men.

The first said, "I will tell them that there is no God." 



Satan said, "That will not delude many, for they know that there is a God." 



The second said, "I will tell men that there is no hell."



Satan answered, "You will deceive no one that way; men know even now that there is a hell for sin." 



The third said, "I will tell men that there is no hurry." 



"Go," said Satan, "and you will ruin men by the thousands." 


OBSERVATION:

Oh the luxury of tomorrow. Isn’t there a phrase which states, “Don’t do today what you can put off until tomorrow”? Most of us are pretty good at following that sage advice… aren’t we? Procrastination is the downfall of more people and the destruction of more wonderful ideas and thoughts than anything else visited upon humankind. Cursed be the day that a child learns the wonder of procrastination.

Here’s a poem by Shel Silverstein that speaks to this painful reality:

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas

Layin’ in the sun,

Talkin’ ‘bout the things

They would coulda shoulda done…

But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas

All ran away and hid

From one little Did.

It is kind of sad to realize what might have been, what could have been, what should have been in our lives just for taking advantage of the moment… those “seize the day” opportunities… just think about the phone calls that didn’t get made, the letters that weren’t sent, the stocks that weren’t bought, the advancements that weren’t realized, the talks that didn’t happen, the relationships that weren’t established… all left on the heap of Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda pile of life.

We beat ourselves up over these don’t we? When it comes to these lost issues we are our own worst enemy. But, hey, the day is still young and each of us still has a lot of living yet to accomplish. So, go forth and seize this day, take hold of today’s opportunity, don’t put off any longer those things that we know we can and should do… especially that which pertains to the Kingdom of God. Make a list of things that we have been procrastinating about at then determine to at least accomplish one thing on that list before the sun goes down. Then tomorrow wake up ready to accomplish two things… and then three… and then four… and BINGO the list will be completed. Yea, God!

Today is a gift. Become the one who can be counted on to do… to get it done… to place our hands on the plough and move forward. Today… right now… no more tomorrows only today! All those in heaven will be cheering for us… or Satan will win another day. It is our choice!

PRAYER:

We admit, Lord, that we have gotten into some really bad habits. We spend too much time playing games on the computer, sitting around watching mindless TV programs, and simply wasting the day. Bored, tired, and clueless. But today is going to be different. Today we are going to seize the opportunities that come our way. Today! Not tomorrow! But we are going to need your help… boy are we going to need your help in breaking some very bad, lazy habits!