Friday, March 19, 2021

Redeem


Whenever I write on a word-prompt, I always wait a little while, letting the word roll around in my mind. What does the word mean? How has it been used? Can I think of an example from real life illustrating the word? And most importantly, does the Bible say anything about this word?

Today's word at Five Minute Friday is redeem, which means to purchase back.

GO
When I was a kid, my mom collected S&H green stamps. I often would help her paste them into books. It was fun to look at the catalog to see what prizes could be redeemed for a certain number of books.

I remember there were such cool things to save for! One thing that sticks out in my memory was a sewing machine. I could be wrong; but it seemed like you had to save hundreds of books to get one of those.

I laugh now, because having a sewing machine means WORK I don't want to do.

Not far from where we lived, there was a place called a Redemption Center, where you could go and turn in your books of stamps and get whatever your heart desired. FOR FREE!

I'm a little sad redeeming S&H green stamps have went the way of rotary phones, cameras using film and typewriters.

However, there is a commodity way more valuable than stamps needed by every human, and that is time. It's true there are only 24 hours a day for each person and nothing can be done to increase the amount.

It's also true many of us spend our time foolishly.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 NKJV

STOP (My five minutes ran out; but I must finish!)

How do we redeem time? We use our smarts and take full advantage of the time we have.

So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes. Ephesians 5:15-16 TPT

I'm learning how to use my time wisely. I have to be honest, it's taken me a lifetime to even begin using time in ways that count. I can get lost down a rabbit trail - or a scroll of social media - in an instant and spend hours there.

I don't want time-wasting to define me. These are evil times. I have no idea how much longer I have. (You don't have any idea, either.) I am asking God to help me live each day as He wants.

I think you could call that redemption.

~~~

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9 comments:

  1. Jerralea, I love your story and the message to be had. Blessings.
    Visiting from FMF#3

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  2. Love this story and the object lesson! I'm still learning to use my time wisely - it's a daily struggle, but I'm so thankful for every day I'm given.

    Kym - at FMF#25

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  3. Rotary phones are finished now,
    and S&H stamps, too.
    I sorely wished they could go on,
    but it's time for something new,
    and the new things are the nails
    pounded through Holy Hands
    to take us from our childish tales,
    and make us understand
    that all the stamps we paste in books
    cannot support our hope;
    the torment that the devil took
    is the only way we cope
    with the sin that we embraced
    and that, with grace, our Christ replaced.

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  4. Amen, Andrew, I'd rather have grace than stamps anyday!

    Thanks for sharing your words!

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  5. I remember those coupons - I don't think we actually ever redeemed anything from them - maybe they did before I was old enough to remember! Collecting things like coupons weary me, but redeeming grace! It energizes me! I'd say you spent your five minutes wisely! (and then some)

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  6. Jerralea, I remember seeing those S&H coupons, and I remember rotary phones. It's a little crazy how much has changed since those days. Thank you for the reminder of the importance of redeeming the time God's given me and using that time in ways that bring Him glory.

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  7. Redeeming the time is such a valuable lesson I must be reminded of frequently, it seems. It is easier for me to walk/live as He ordains for my life during this year of Covid for I am more introspective and by myself. But I must continue these ways while out and about in the world so that I can be a light in such a dark place. Thank you.
    I loved S&H Green stamps. In CA where some of my youth was lived, we also had Blue Chip stamps. They were the same so had two redemption centers around town. My sisters and I helped Mom paste them in the books and perused the catalogues. Mom usually let us go with her to the stores so that we could see the displays of the things we/she was wanting/hoping to get with her stamps. Good memory!

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  8. I remember those green stamps too!! It was so much fun as a kid to see what mom and dad would choose.
    Redeeming time is huge for me. I decided about 5 weeks ago to stop scrolling down instagram and facebook. What a wonderful thing for me! I now have time to spend extra reading in the Bible, work on my Bible study book group questions without feeling rushed in the evenings because i wasted time scrolling and also I've been able to read some good books this winter! I'm also really into staying fit as I age so the extra time to do weights, yoga or power walks/bikes has been great! Awesome post Jerralea.

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  9. I remember loving the taste of those stamps when I licked them and placed them in the book ;). I, too, am on a journey to redeem time. It takes forming better habits and being more mindful about what I do. And it's so worth it!

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