Hobbies.

"It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life.
Just make sure that you don't use this freedom
as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom.
Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows."
Galatians 5:13 {The Message}

"... do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh..."
Galatians 5:13 {NIV}

Lately I've been thinking a lot about what we do with our time {as I said in my last post}.
I have been thinking in particular about hobbies that take up our "spare" time.
How does God feel about our hobbies?

"The Lord has given them special skills as engravers, designers, embroiderers
in blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth, and weavers.
They excel as craftsmen and as designers."
Exodus 35:35 {NLT}

This is so interesting to me {partly because of my interest in clothing, ha!}.
God gives us all special skills, passions, interests... he gives us talents to use and {we hope} that these talents will come out in our jobs/hobbies.

The problem I've been facing with my hobbies lately is that I'm letting them take up all my free time and leaving no time for God.
Which has been leaving me in quite a terrible spot...
Isn't it sad that you notice how much more negative and stressed you become when you aren't spending the time with God that you should be, but it's still so easy to fall into the cycle of not making the time?

"No one can serve two masters..."
Matthew 6:24a {NIV}

We need to be sure that we are not letting our hobbies become a master of our lives.
So, how can I serve those around me with my hobby?
How can I show God's love through my hobby?
I'm still trying to figure this out... but it's just some questions for you to ponder.

"So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work.
That is why we are here! No one will bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die."
Ecclesiastes 3:22 {NIV}

{Sorry for such a scattered post! Just thinking out loud}