Take Time or Time Will Take You

By Barbara Gillespie-Washington Ph.D.

What could you achieve in life if
you decided to take full control of your
time and make it work effectively and efficiently
for you?

As you ponder this question and others throughout the book,
may the words and life experiences you encounter on these pages,
help you to reflect more on how your time is working for you or against you.
May you be encouraged to use time in a way that will allow your
unique God given talents and capabilities to flourish to the maximum.
This self-help book will remind you of the divine plan for your life designed by God our creator. In this book you will be inspired to use time to carry out that divine plan which can afford you the joy and happiness that many strive for.. May this written words encourage you to capitalize on the actions that build confidence, build relationship, increase self-empowerment and cause dreams to become realities. Time well spent can be a message well sent for a life to be content. The choice is yours.
Barbara Gillespie urges readers to become steeped with positive reflections and vigorous activity that will help you discover and chase after your lifes passions which gives more meaning to life.
May this book take you on a time journey with wholehearted involvement that will move you from past regrets and on to future exploits that will touch the lives of others.
.
Time never stops and neither should you until you make yourself
the very best that it can be.
Take Time or Time Will Take You is a book of hope, inspiration and challenge. Read it once, twice and over again to gain some insightful information from life events and powerful scriptural references to help you stretch your own horizon.
Dont ask where all the time went, tell it where to go.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493189755

Barbara Gillespie-Washington Ph.D.

Barbara Gillespie-Washington, is a widow and mother of three adult children; Kimberly, Darrell and Joshua Barbara attended the University of Illinois, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree from the College of Agriculture, Master’s Degree in Education and a Doctor of Theology from North Carolina College of Theology She retired in June of 2005 after being an educator for 36 years in the Urbana Public School system.

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Copyright © 2014 by Barbara Gillespie-Washington Ph.D.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

KJV—King James Version

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 10/24/2014

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Preface

TENET I

Family Living

Family Time Investments

Family Time Creates Connectedness

Life Altering Change

Family Time

Time—A Son’s Perspective

Disciplining Days Can Correct Deviant Ways

Charged To Take Charge

Timely Praise and Encouragement

Pray Without Ceasing

Investing In Excelling

Weekend Refresher

Support And Encourage

Until Death Do Us Part

Qualitative Or Quantitative Dads

Family Pets Need Time Too

Time Challenges

TENET #2

Christian Living

Love at All Times

Our Own Time

Even in Stormy Times

It’s Your Time And Your Season

Walking In The Path God Has Laid For You

Importance of Friendship

Me Time—

Taking Time to Know God

Growing Season

Living In A Right Now Time

Getting Past the Past

Take Time to Pray Through

Nevertheless Time

Dark Times

Drawing Nearer Now

No Time To Forget God

Right On Time God

Signs of the Times

Treasuring Tight Time

Called For Such A Time As This

Time Challenges

TENET #3

Everyday Living

Nature Break

Overtime On Others

Get Away Time

More Tour Time

Who’s Got Time To Listen?

Wait Time

Time to Think Like God Thinks

Never A Time For Revenge

Between the Promise

and the Blessing

Choosing Today

Seed Time And Harvest

Time Of Reaping

Attitude Check Time

Favor Is A Benefit

Time Signatures And Notations

Time of Calm

Precious Moments For Others

Over Time

Right Now Time

Time of Going In and Coming Out

The Push That Moved Me In Time

Time To Check Yourself

Time of Partnership and Encouragement

One Hand At A Time

Reflections From Behind the Wall

The Final Hour

Reflection Time

Timely Scriptures

Reference Sources

Dr. Barbara Gillespie-Washington—Bio By Joshua Y. Gillespie (Son)

Dedications

In Remembrance of My Parents

Ulys and Edna Hoults

My parents will always be remembered for their vibrant life style and caring hearts.

They seemingly always had time for whoever needed them, especially their children.

They were catalysts for promoting academic achievement, always instilling in us that with hard work, perseverance and faith in God, we could reach heights only dreamed of by many.

They left a legacy of love, family values, commitment, integrity and unwavering trust in God.

To my children:

Darrell U. and Makeda Gillespie

Joshua Y. and Angela Gillespie II

Kim D. Gillespie

And their children Christopher, Norrlyn, Joshua Cheo, Mariama, Darrell, Angel, Josh and Jeremiah

To my many relatives and friends who have helped me

to overcome timidity, procrastination and lack of confidence

to finally complete this work long begun.

To everything there is a season, and

a time to every purpose under the heavens.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Acknowledgments

I am grateful for those who have assisted me in completing this self-help book of reflective inspiration.

I extend special thanks to God first, my family and friends in both the religious and secular realms for support, encouragement and prayers. Certainly, I give a note of gratitude to the women of the Champaign County Correctional Center who have shared testimonies for inclusion in Take Time or Time Will Take You.

Introduction

THE CLOCK

Invented in 1750 this timely invention has the fate of the world in its hands. From morning to night it dictates waking time, eating time, working time, cooking time, learning time, entertaining time, church time, school duration time, sleep time, waking time, news time, store hours shopping time, exercising time, money exchanging time, playing and watching sports time, TV time, airplane flying time, riding the train time, boarding the bus to school and back home time, working time, quitting time. It includes all of the in between entities from the rising of the sun in the morning until bedtime. From alpha to omega, we encounter bouts with time.

Time goes on whether we’re in the right place at the right time or not. We are not as fortunate as Joshua, whom God suspended time to allow him to finish his battle with the Amorites. Thinking this phenomenon through, perhaps the most equal of all commodities is time. In this life we have each been parceled out 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week and 52 weeks a year. It is our choice to use it well or lose it. That is to engage it productively or gamble it frivolously. You can never regain it.

My interest in time peeked as a results of over 68 years of observing and interacting with people of all ages, various cultures and social classes. I watched them as they manipulated or had their time manipulated for them. Working with people in the religious community, educational arenas, and everyday family operations, it revealed great insights and illuminations I considered worthy of sharing with others relative to the use of time.

This book is not written from any authoritative perspective. It is simple utterances from my heart and mind. Some points are God revealed inspirational thoughts, other points gleaned from information I have heard or read from others that touched my soul and may perhaps touched and inspired others.

These various revelations have caused me to look closer at my own maladies in this area. Reflectively, I have concluded, I need HELP! Throughout this book you may be inspired and motivated to look closer at your time allocations. Are you making the best of one of the greatest resources we have, a precious gift that God has equally distributed to us all – TIME?

Times are filled with swift transitions. Changes continue to occur in every societal realm known to mankind. These constant changes seem to occur frequently and many have great difficulty adjusting. Nevertheless, time goes on.

We can easily get caught up in rush hour traffic. Everybody is trying to get somewhere quick, fast and in a hurry. Only to find out that down the highway of life, folks are stuck in that same traffic that they were trying to rush along through. Make sure you allocate enough time for the journey, to ensure you make it to your destination at the designated time. You can’t leave late and expect to get there on time. We cannot govern time; we can only govern how we use it.

The clock keeps ticking, prepared or not. The earth keeps spinning, revolving and orbiting the sun dictating day and night, weeks and months, seasons and years. Hopefully the contents between these pages will prompt us to get a tighter grip on this once lost, never regained phenomena; this fleeting commodity called—TIME.

Man is given only so much time on this side of eternity. It is up to you how that time is calibrated. Major emphasis must champion the idea – not counting minutes and hours but making minutes and hours count. Take time or Time will take you.

Preface

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die,

A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which 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 get, and a time to lose;

A time to keep silence, and a time speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time of war and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Time, the quiet thief that can and does steal dreams, ideas, products and futures, must be harnessed and channeled in order to achieve the most profitable and enduring end product. The mental womb is the reservoir of masses of ideological embryos that may never be birthed. The delivery time has gone unchecked and has aborted the birth of commodities conceived in the mind, heart and spirit that could greatly empower and enhance man’s very existence.

We have a tendency to ask the question, Where did all the time go? Don’t be guilty of asking that question, you tell time where you want it to go. Take time to plan, to prioritize, and minimize distracters. Distracters come to steal, kill and destroy productivity.

We must learn to identify what items are important and necessary for now. It is essential to keep those things up close as frontlets in constant view. Eyes and actions must stay focused on the completion of the defined prime objectives.

My daily priority is to start the day with my God. I get up daily and begin a routine with specifics for the day. Sometimes while still lying in bed, prayer, thanksgiving and supplications are made unto God. My feet hit the floor praising and honoring him for just another day. I am so thankful for the prayer shawl I purchased. It is called a Tallit. The Tallit is called a prayer shawl or little tent because it can be worn over you like a tent. (Let me dwell in your tent forever: Let me make refuge under the shelter of your wings. Psalm 61:4).

I must spend time in prayer, worship and fellowship under that prayer shawl. During the time there, the presence of God is rich and potent. I am refreshed and refurbished with the power of the Holy Ghost. I am grateful for the revelation and illumination on God’s Word received during this time of consecration and drawing nearer to God. It is here the Lord directs my steps. He knows the way I should take. It is God who then works in me to will and to do His good pleasure.

He keeps me with a desire to never give up in tough times but to move ahead in confidence. This journey with the Lord may include unplanned winding curves, twisty turns, deep potholes, and major detours. However he equips me with the necessary tools to keep me moving toward goal completion.

Too often I am rolling along just fine, feeling a sense of accomplishment, making significant gains toward goal completion, then the phone rings; somebody needs my help, my vehicle, my encouragement, my mind, or my energy which are major diversions at the time.

At the end of the day, I look back and thank God tomorrow is coming. Whatever you’re assigned put forth your best efforts to achieve what you can today, because tomorrow is just a figment of the future.

Work in your season and do it all heartily unto the Lord and reap benefits no man can discard. You only have your allotted time in this life. What is life? Your life is as a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes, (James 4: 14). Use your time wisely and live it fully.

TENET I

Family Living

A good example has twice the value of good advice.

Anonymous

Family Time Investments

Having strong relationships means spending time together. Don’t become too busy for your family. Make time for the people you love today, tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Children get up! Help me find my glasses; I’ve got to get to work. Many mornings we were awakened to help my dad find something before work. That was my dad.

My childhood days are memorable. I explicitly remember how lovingly dad always took time with all of his children. There were nine of us. His limited grade school education was never a hindrance to anything he wanted to teach us. He invested himself in us. Every day he gave his life in fractional pieces of time, instruction, energy, wisdom and devotion. He did small things in great and memorable ways.

It was in my adult years before I realized Dad’s educational deficits. He and Mom made sure that school and learning were priorities. Homework and chore work had to be done before we even looked outside, not to mention thoughts of outdoor playing. They were consistent in what they expected and we honored them.

Getting tasks done was not an issue because we were excited about the outdoor time, knowing Dad would be with us to teach us sports, especially softball and baseball. He was a devoted Dodgers’ fan although we were only a stone’s throw from St. Louis, the home of the Cardinals.

He was always ready to play games with us and we were bubbling over ready to get started. There were six girls and three boys, almost a full team roster. Others from the neighborhood would come and join in. Our parents were known throughout our little town because they had an open arm policy. They were full of love and compassion and eager to spread it around as long as kids were respectful to them and others.

We looked forward to the picnics. The best ones were at Cahokia Mounds in Illinois. The picnic baskets were filled with all kinds of homemade fresh goodies. Mom and dad both were masters in the kitchen. With the farm and the gardens at home, there were always great dishes to be made fresh. The desserts were the best because dad could make those cakes that just seemed to melt in your mouth, while your insides were hollering more. He would get in that kitchen and cake flour would be here, there and all over him, reminding us of the Pillsbury doughboy. That didn’t matter, we were as anxious to get to that cake as a hungry baby waiting to get to mama’s milk. When it was ready we excitedly packed it for the trip.

Even after almost seven decades, family fun times are still some of my most favorite memories. My brothers enjoyed fishing, boating and hunting with both parents. My parents were both sharp at handling both fishing poles and rifles. Mom and Dad were great supporters at school events for not only us, but grandchildren and neighborhood children who needed their support and guidance.

My sisters Edith, Agnes, Vera and Clara were dangerous on the baseball field together. They could throw a ball so fast it seemed to whistle. I never saw them miss a catch, high low, fast or slow. There was action on that ball diamond with those Hoults girls ready to play ball. I never played much but my heart was pumping with pride watching them. I knew Dad was full of joy seeing the results of his skillful training.

There was more relationship building times in our family than peas in a can. My Dad cooked, cleaned, combed hair, and took special care of his girls right along with Mom. Their employment shifts fluctuated so whoever was home, did what was necessary to avoid any household shut downs.

I remember that morning when Mom had to work and could not do my hair. There was dad ready with comb, brush and Hair-Rep to put in my hair to give it some sheen. I did not know what to expect. I just knew my course hair was in his hands. Well the embarrassment I dreamed about never occurred. Dad’s twisties were just fine.

We had that great daddy –daughter relationship. Don’t mess with Mr. Hoults’ daughters unless you were ready to face his terrible fury. That would create the diary of a mad black man with caramel skin, nice curly hair and grey eyes that turned green when angered. He stood about 5’9’ in stature but 7’ in character and strength. That’s Mr. Ulys Hoults, my Dad.

How fortunate we were to be raised by such caring, outstanding and loving partner parents. They fed their own children and others in the neighborhood. From the farm my dad purchased, he sold produce as well as gave it to those in need. Mom and Dad were the epitome of the villagers taking care of the village. Day after day they were engaged in various activities, growing food, freezing food, canning food, picking tomatoes, pulling corn, digging potatoes, picking berries, and even hunting wild game. My mom even had a small boutique in the home where she sold clothes, shoes and other items. They were survivors and great providers.

Ulys and Edna were faithful members at church. Mom worked in many positions. She wanted to sing in the choir, but the pastor said Mrs. Hoults maybe you should just stay with the trustees, stewards, ushers and the Mother’s Board. I know where I got my singing potential from. That is why I am glad David ordained making a joyful noise in the house of God. Work where you are best qualified, that works best.

Mom and Dad did this while