Dear Parents, Caregivers and Whanau,

I would like to share with you briefly about ‘Making Time for the Important’.

What are the important things in your life at the moment?

Often these are the things that we spend most of our time and money on. In Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34, we read “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Is our treasure in heaven, with an eternal focus, or is it here on earth with a temporary, worldly focus?

If your priority is growing your relationship with Jesus Christ, then your actions should reflect this. Do you spend TIME with Him? Do you read his word regularly and spend time in prayer? Do you have regular (weekly) fellowship with other Christians at church? If we value something – we make it a priority in our lives and we are intentional about it.

Our next priority should be our families. If you agree that your marriage relationship is important, then what would you like to do to enhance it? Would a “daily sharing time” be helpful? Would a weekly date night be good? Decide what would be profitable and make time to do the important.

I say “make time” because if you don’t put it into your schedule, it won’t happen. Saying yes to the important may mean saying no to the less important. For example, setting aside a daily time for the two of you to talk uninterrupted may require that you give up a thirty-minute television program each night, or some time on social media. A weekly date night may require that you eliminate something from your budget to have money for a babysitter. If it’s important, you can make it happen.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time.”

The passage above from Ephesians 5 encourages us to be wise in how we use our limited time, and to make the best use of it. Time and money are your assets. You must manage them well in order to accomplish the important. No one else will do it for you. Only you can take control of your life, with God’s help of course, and see that you actually do what you believe you ought to do.

I wish you God’s richest blessing as you continue to manage your priorities and make time for the important in your lives.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our school; financially, practically and through your prayers.

May our Lord bless us all and continue to guide us as we seek to serve Him in our respective callings.

Blessings in Christ

Mike Vannoort - Principal (Tumuaki)