Effective TIME MANAGEMENT: Setting Priorities

Pastor Arnold Perona set a very good example when he came on time for our fellowship, and even though there were a lot of us who came in late, indeed the Holy Spirit worked through him and that his message was very powerful as it served to be a wake up call and a reminder for everybody.

We praise God and give back all the glory to HIM for bringing P. Arnold in leading our morning devotion earlier.

Here's the summary of the message:

A Time for Everything
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.



-The passage calls our attention in no uncertain terms to a clear view of sovereignty.
-Because God is in control of everything, we should trust Him.
-God's control remains mysterious.
-There will be times when you will need to scatter things because it doesn't work.
-Enmity; when the bond of friendship is broken.
-With all His authority, he left us with something for us to fulfill-- CHOICE.
-Salvation; it is a gift for everybody but then it is for a person to make the choice to ACCEPT it.
-Time; we are all given equal time, 24 hours a day.
-The focus should not be on the QUANTITY of time but on the QUALITY on how we manage it.
-Time is rhythm of events, it is not sortable nor retrievable, it is not loanable.
-Time is to be spent, time not spent is time LOST.
-Your time intersects with time of others, time is relational.
-The view of time in CULTURES; there is no such thing as Filipino Time (which is not on time).
-How much of your personal time is controlled?

10 Basic Principle of TIME MANAGEMENT

1. Live in the present- you cannot changed what happened, as life is to be lived today, and as the future depends on what we do today.
-Tomorrow is all about today.
-Focus on the immediate time; the present.

2. Value your activity- ask yourself "Is it really worth it?", every minute counts.

3. Create a Daily Written Schedule- you must respond accordingly to your activity.
-Mental schedule; sequence is very important, you need to know what you will be doing in the next 24 hours.

4. Prioritize your tasks- start with the most difficult (if it doesn't work for you, start with the least difficult task).

5. Use short period of time effectively- maximize your 15 minute break, take a power nap, do something productive and relaxing at the same time.
-If you want to be remembered forever; plant a tree, bear a child, write a book!

6. Do not allow others to determine your schedule, set aside distractions.

7. Work smart- working smart beats those who work hard, prioritize and plan.

8. Recognize time wasters- ask yourself "What are time wasters for me?"
-Do not put one over yourself.
-Stand on your feet and think quickly
-Do not concentrate on irrelevant questions/issues.
-Train well to avoid time wasters.
-God gives us two ends; to sit down and to think (how will we act upon it).

9. Focus on personal productivity- poor discipline is your problem.
-Do not mind what's happening in your left nor what's happening in your right, but rather focus on what's in front of you.
-Live according to your personal standards.
-Discipline your self.

10. Do it NOW- it is a three letter -word of success.
-Do not procrastinate.
-Tomorrow is nothing more than a series of today.
-There is no time to waste on idle dreams, every minutes counts.
-It makes no difference because we all have 24 hours to spend equally, no one has the right to say "I don't have time!"



I HAVE ONLY JUST A MINUTE. ONLY SIXTY SECONDS IN IT. DIDN'T SEEK IT. DIDN'T CHOOSE IT. BUT IT'S UP TO ME TO USE IT. I MUST SUFFER IF I LOSE IT. GIVE ACCOUNT IF I ABUSE IT. JUST A TINY LITTLE MINUTE. BUT ETERNITY IS IN IT.

"Be careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil"
-Ephesians 5:15-16