Do you find that you survive each day by the seat of your pants, even though you think you’re fairly organized? Do you find there aren’t enough hours to get it all done and some of the things that didn’t happen were important – like spending time with your family or reading your Bible? Yeah…me too. So what can we do about it?
A few months ago, Stacy shared her experience on creating a household schedule using Managers of Their Homes, a resource for women by Steven and Teri Maxwell. That book was so transformational for our home lives that I asked the Maxwell’s if I could review another resource, specifically for men, Redeeming the Time. They graciously agreed and sent me a copy of the print book and the audiobook! I have a 40-minute commute to/from work each day that I almost always try to fill with “reading” time via audiobook.
I quickly learned this isn’t another “ten steps to a schedule that works” kind of book. Instead, the premise of Redeeming the Time is making choices that “redeem” the time rather than simply organizing it (see John 10:10, Psalm 90:12, Colossians 4:5, Ephesians 5:16). Mr. Maxwell asks readers to focus on the question of who owns your time? If you believe your time truly is yours, you will choose what’s important based on that decision. If you decide it is God’s, your family’s, or your job’s, you will choose what’s important based on that decision as well. Mr. Maxwell goes into a lot more depth on this and comes to the conclusion that “our time” is really God’s time.
God owns it all. We have grown up with the ‘mine’ mindset. We can live our lives thinking we own our time, and we can do what we want to do with it. That doesn’t change the reality that it is really God’s time. If we will submit to God’s ownership of our time, we will view our time in a totally different perspective…as we obey the Lord’s leading for our time, we will leave behind the stress that many are living with when they face time pressures beyond their time resources. from page 25
As you might imagine, any book on time management has to discuss the concept of a daily schedule. This book spends quite a bit of time going through prioritization of tasks, and then putting them on paper in the form of a daily schedule. Redeeming the Time includes an Appendix with 12 daily schedules and suggestions for how to make a schedule. With the audiobook, there is a small booklet with this information. Best of all, the sample schedules give options for those who work odd hours (24-on, 48-off; military; truck driver, etc.).
Some will dismiss Maxwell’s suggestions or his schedule ideas as unrealistic or too difficult. One of his recommendations is to ditch the television (“the beast,” as he calls it). In the Myers home, I don’t think we’ll toss our TV out anytime soon, but I also don’t plan to use it for anything but our existing purpose of using the Roku for Netflix and Pandora. We don’t have any cable or antenna service, so we get to choose what programming comes into our homes through the television and we don’t spend a lot of time in front of it. MOST families do.
Another recommendation Mr. Maxwell makes is to schedule a daily family Bible time. We have done this in our family since before Annie’s birth. When Stacy and I were first married, we read the Bible through in a year together. That was a tough, but awesome experience. Now, we spend some time in the Word as a family every evening. It is something we almost never miss because what’s more important than sharing Jesus with your family? Mr. Maxwell offers numerous suggestions on how to make this work for your schedule, even if you’ve never tried it before or have a crazy schedule that makes it seem impossible.
Simply put, I would recommend every man read Redeeming the Time. It has challenged me. It has encouraged me. It has convicted me. It has helped me realize how much time I waste (and I’m VERY organized).
To all men (especially husbands): you need to examine and evaluate how you’re spending your time. Take an hour or two on your next day off to read some scripture, pray for guidance and chat with your wife about your time priorities. If you are serious about making the most of your time, Redeeming the Time will help. It will be $12 WELL SPENT.
Giveaway ends February 7 at midnight ET.
***Dear FTC, I am not an affiliate with Redeeming the Time. I just like to recommend good stuff to our readers. ***
Colleen8 says
February 7, 2014 at 4:08 pmI feel overwhelmed taking care of my elderly mother and homeschooling my two last children. It seems my need to be flexible takes over my life. I feel burned out too. Need to see what I need to do and my husband too.
Angela L. says
February 7, 2014 at 1:12 pmWe enjoy reading many of the Maxwell books but have not read this one as of yet. My husband has just retired from the US Navy and we have found some challenges adjusting to the civilian life and workforce. Getting back into a steady routine for daily Family Worship has been one of them. Would be interested in reading this to find encouragement and ideas on how to get back on track.
Beth Anne Beckenhauer says
February 7, 2014 at 1:12 pmWe bought a ‘fixer-upper’ 2 1/2 years ago, when our first child turned one, had a baby the next year and have another one coming next summer. It seems impossible to get anything done around here without something else getting un-done! I would love to see the house pull together and also keep our kids clothed, fed and fairly well mannered, while being able to sit down and talk to my husband in the evenings without feeling guilty or having one of us fall asleep. Can this help with that? 🙂
Robyn says
February 5, 2014 at 9:26 pmMy husband and I could really really use some fresh ideas on redeeming the time with our home and eight children. My husband works 24 on and 48 off and it just seems like the time is gone and nothing gets done.
myersbr2 says
February 6, 2014 at 9:16 amIt’s funny you mention this schedule. Mr. Maxwell talks about this specific work schedule quite a bit as he discusses ways to make it work when you don’t have the normal 9-5 workday.
Jessica says
February 5, 2014 at 1:54 pmThis is a good message for everyone-using our time wisely in the way God has willed for us. Our entire family needs it!
Erinn L says
February 5, 2014 at 12:30 amWe need to redeem our time so we can focus on the things the really matter- spending time with God and our family 🙂
caroline d says
February 4, 2014 at 11:14 amDarling Hubs and I both need to redeem out time – more time with God, more time with each other, and more quality time with our daughter. Spending time is a love language of 2 people in our house (me & my daughter), so it’s critical that we honor God and one another with this form of love. We’d love the resource. The hubs & I are trying so hard to have more quality time together on Sun nights. This would be a great resource for us to work through/discuss. Thanks for the post!
Jenni says
February 4, 2014 at 9:10 amSince my husband is addicted to the tv and to computer games, he has failed to teach these Biblical principles to our two sons. If I were allowed to have this resource, I would use it for my two sons.
myersbr2 says
February 4, 2014 at 10:01 amDon’t give up on him!
Marisol T. says
February 4, 2014 at 7:40 amTruth: I need to redeem the time because I am going to give account for it someday!
Heather says
February 3, 2014 at 5:18 pmLove this post! I loved loved the book 7 habits by Stephen Covey. It helped me see the “tyranny of the urgent” and figure out what is REALLY important! would love to read this book too!
Sarah D. says
February 3, 2014 at 2:59 pmI need to redeem the time because I have small children! =)
Brenda Thompson says
February 3, 2014 at 2:47 pmThis is exactly what I need. Although I am not married redeeming my time is so important to me. I want to live my life God’s way so if learning how to redeem my time helps me in my relationship with Him well then I want to know more. I’ve already figured out some things that are time stealers in my life and am working on eliminating them!! This would be an excellent resource to help me be a better steward of what God has blessed me with–TIME!
Marisa B Allen says
February 3, 2014 at 11:38 amI would love for us to be able to redeem our time. We are just stewards. So many competing things clamor for our attention, even good things, it can be hard to know when to say yes and when to say no.
Serahe says
February 3, 2014 at 10:22 amHello! I need to redeem my time because I’m not focusing enough on working daily to accomplish the larger goals I have for my life. I feel stuck in a rut and winter doesn’t help. Working towards my dreams and purpose helps pull me out of that, but lately, i feel like I cannot find the time. 🙁 Maybe this book would help!
Misty says
February 3, 2014 at 10:40 amAt the end of every day, we are left wondering where the time went. I don’t want our family to just go through the motions, when there is obviously so much more that we are missing. I want us to live intentionally, to be aware of
how we are spending our time. When I think of how our lives reflect who/what owns our time (as we live it now), it’s
embarrassing. And it’s convicting. I want our family to do better in this area where we truly struggle and I am excited that there’s a resource that looks promising in providing help in how to do it. We will be looking more into this. Thanks for sharing this review.
Mary Suzanne McKinney Mounier says
February 3, 2014 at 2:16 amStacy, my husband and I both need to redeem our time. We have absolutely no schedule! He works full-time for the transportation department in our county. I work about 20-30 hours a week for our church(Admin. & Hospitality). We have 4 children living with us ages 9-20. We have 6 pets and a 3 level house. We need help! We both love the Lord as do our children. But, I do not feel that our time reflects that. We have 2 gaming systems in our house and 3 Rokus. Are you pulling your hair out yet Stacy??? My food budget is $1000 a month which I know I need to find a way to make that less and start putting some of that away. Ok, can I say out of control? We go to a weekly couple’s bible study, that we love. Our kids are involved in the children’s group at church. My youngest daughter and I horseback ride every Saturday morning($100 each week). My husband and I are avid runners. Our 20 year old is finishing her 3rd year of college and is engaged to be married this year.. They, my daughter and her soon to be husband, will probably live with us to save money for a few years. We are trying to bring a child/teenager from Haiti up to live with us to finish his high school education. Has your head exploded yet? I recently started couponing to get a stock pile as well as an emergency kit for 3 days prepared for all of us. We have a TV in everyroom in the house, but the kitchen and the bathrooms. I would love to get rid of them, but my husband is a no go on that because of football he says. All of this to say, I think this book would help us and it could potentially be a resource for our bible group in the future too! Thanks for everything you do Stacy, you really are an inspiration to me! God bless you and your family!
Melissa Pallex says
February 2, 2014 at 11:54 pmMy husband and I find ourselves daily taking care of things…his accounting practice, my massage therapy practice, homeschooling, our volunteer responsibilities and more…but not enough time, if at all, investing in eternity with our children. As you can imagine, with as many responsibilities as we have to manage, we do pretty well with time management and scheduling…except for time together as a family to know God and study His word. I would love a resource like this one that would help us with that area!
Denise Rogers says
February 2, 2014 at 11:41 pmRedeeming the Time would be such an asset to our family’s life, particularly my husband’s, as he seeks to lead our family, run a business, work on our house, along with everything in between. He is on overload and I would love to be more of a help to him in any way I could, if I might be able to benefit from this book also.
Tiffanie says
February 2, 2014 at 10:11 pmOur family needs this because my husband lives at work, even if he is physically home, often his mind is at work. And I miss him.
kortney says
February 2, 2014 at 5:22 pmAs our children grow out of being babies, our life has gotten busier and our time is even more valuable now. W don’t want to waste it, but struggle with it.
Tina says
February 2, 2014 at 4:11 pmThis book sounds like it would be good for women as well. Would you agree or is this specifically for men?
myersbr2 says
February 3, 2014 at 9:12 amThis book is specifically for men. However, wives may want to read it as a way to learn how to encourage their husbands in leading the home and redeeming their time. The book Stacy reviewed, Managers of Their Homes, is specifically for women.
Helen Thomas says
February 2, 2014 at 2:54 pmWe need this to schedule more Bible time with the kids and between ourselves as a couple.
Lori says
February 2, 2014 at 12:44 amI already own this book as well as several other books Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell have written. I could go on and on about how much they have convicted me and how much this couple has ministered to be individually. Love them!
Michelle :) says
February 1, 2014 at 11:47 pmI need to redeem my time because I want to make sure I am spending my time the way God desires me to in order to spend quality time with my husband and kids, get the things done that need to get done and make sure I’m not missing what is important. With baby #4 due in May, I desire to spend my time wisely in order to give each of our kids and my husband the time they need and also have time for myself to spend with God and also just do something I enjoy each day. 🙂 My husband and I have also found The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey to be helpful with focusing on our mission and priorities and making sure how we spend our time lines up with that. Are you familiar with the concepts in that book and if so, have you found them beneficial? Thanks 🙂
Stacy says
February 2, 2014 at 9:11 amYes, I’ve read the 7 Habits book. Good stuff. There are LOTS of good books out there that give practical priority-based advice. What I like about Redeeming the Time is its focus on Christ’s priorities. While many other scheduling, organization or priority-based books may mention family, church, etc. as one of the things you should focus on, that’s the ultimate foundation of Redeeming the Time.
Michelle :) says
February 2, 2014 at 10:08 pmThanks for your reply! That makes sense. Redeeming the Time sounds like it would be great to read. 🙂
Becky Honey says
February 1, 2014 at 9:01 pmWe need to redeem our time spend more time in the word and teaching our kids the words not wasting on things that don’t matter.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Gina Helton says
February 1, 2014 at 8:14 pmWe need to redeem time in order to keep a good communication flow.
Megan says
February 1, 2014 at 7:23 pmMy husband and I have fallin into this rut with our time. Even the simplest tasks are hard to complete (let alone start!)
Carrie Clem Dickey says
February 1, 2014 at 3:56 pmMy husband and I need to redeem our time because we are getting lazy on our free time. We need to schedule exercise and biblical teaching time with our kids. It always get pushed to the end of the day and then usually doesn’t happen.
Dawn says
February 1, 2014 at 3:46 pmThis Is Exactly What I’ve Been Looking For! After Being Recently Divorced & Trying To Continue To Homeschool It Is Very Difficult To Stay On Task. I Love The Idea Of The Schedules To Help Use Time Wisely.
Thank You!
Sarah says
February 1, 2014 at 3:28 pmI would love this for my husband. He is so busy trying ot earn a living for his family that he doesn’t have much time for anything else. I think this book could really help him.
CW says
February 1, 2014 at 3:13 pmSometimes we feel like we’re spinning our wheels. Maybe this would help use our time better.
Brooke C says
February 1, 2014 at 3:12 pmWe both need to redeem the time. I because I homeschool our five children, and he because he works so much, upwards of 70 hours every week. Time is so short, and we both feel overwhelmed. Thanks for the book suggestion, and for the reminder. God bless! 🙂
Erin says
February 1, 2014 at 2:50 pmI would love to give this to my husband. NOT because he needs me to give him a hint but because I know he is trying to be a responsible, Godly husband/father.
tracy says
February 1, 2014 at 2:04 pmMy husband and I need to redeem time. We are a busy Christian family of three. Our family Prayer time is in the car in the mornings (this is when we all seem to be together). Would love to make the Lord more of a focus in our home. Not just in the car and church.
Ileata Lundmark says
February 1, 2014 at 2:01 pmWe have four small children that we homeschool and have a small homestead. My husband works full time and has his own business. We could definitely use help with managing our time.
Amanda R says
February 1, 2014 at 1:41 pmWe need to redeem our time because we do too much work! We always get all the work done (jobs, side-jobs, projects, house-hold), but often at the expense of not enough time to relax and take care of ourselves and each other. And when we DO take any time off, we always have the looming feeling of the work hanging over us.
Kelli says
February 1, 2014 at 1:26 pmI need to redeem my time because I am a TERRIBLE procrastinator, and I need to align my priorities with God’s priorities for my time. Thanks so much for the opportunity to win!
Maria says
February 1, 2014 at 1:24 pmSimply put we are procrastinators that need lists, but even procrastinate in the area. I am easily overwhelmed with responsibility partly due to perfectionism. I just painted a lovely picture of myself!
Hilarie Laughman says
February 1, 2014 at 12:22 pmMy husband and I need to take a SERIOUS look at our time management. Thanks for pointing me to this resource. We both watch too much tv and let things slide that we should be doing. Need to get ourselves a better schedule/plan!!!
Amanda says
February 1, 2014 at 12:18 pmI share custody of my son with my ex-husband, and only get to see my son 50% of the time (every other week). I work full-time and attend school online full-time. I need to manage my time better so that I am not reading the Bible late at night when I am tired and falling asleep. I have trouble NOT watching tv when I get home, because I am so exhausted from work, which effects my time with God and time with homework. I am very good about not doing anything when my son is home and awake, but when he is gone my life seems to fall apart. Help!
Angela Ayaz says
February 1, 2014 at 12:17 pmI need to redeem the time. I have five children 10 and under and so many days go by where I drop into bed exhausted at night but I cannot point to one thing accomplished during the night. Many times, to our shame, trying to keep up with a rigourous online school schedule pushes religious studies, prayers and time in God’s book aside. I am at a point in my life where I feel like throwing in the towel so often, and I need a lifeline.
Pam says
February 1, 2014 at 12:08 pmThanks for the give-a-way. We are striving to be very intentional with our time (God’s time!), but sometimes get off track. Could use some guidance.
Cecilia says
February 1, 2014 at 12:04 pmWe have read this book together when we borrowed it from a friend. We really need to again though because, though we love to be organized, with homeschooling 8 children and 3 jobs, life has gotten really hectic and a schedule for him (the rest of us are using a “Maxwell schedule”) would really help.
Jolene Wester says
February 1, 2014 at 12:03 pmMy husband and I farm. There is probably no sample of our crazy work schedule in this book! Due to the unpredictable nature of our business, we do not plan anything that is not related to the farm. Or at least, not much. Our home life, spiritual life, personal life is all relegated to the bottom of the list after the cows the crops the weather and our customers. We, not just my husband, need to learn to prioritize our time because we are losing each other. I would love to win this book but I suspect I will be looking into getting it and the other one you mentioned as well even if I don’t. I am a relatively new reader and appreciate this blog very much!
Ruth says
February 1, 2014 at 11:52 amI need to redeem the time because I want to be living for Him at every moment.
Katrina T says
February 1, 2014 at 11:49 amI would love to win this book for my hsband. He’s been struggling with how to spend time with family while still fulfilling obligations at work. I know he would appreciate it!
Elizabeth says
February 1, 2014 at 11:41 amGod’s timing is perfect, isn’t it? In the past few weeks, God has really been convicting me about how much of my time is “wasted”. No – I don’t sit around and drink coffee and eat chocolate bon bons all day (while watching television), but I have found that the first thing I do every morning is check my e-mail….facebook, etc. I think STUFF has begun to take over too much of my life! This didn’t just happen overnight! What would satan most like me to do? Easy answer…..put God on a shelf. I love the devotional “Jesus Calling” and have found that it has made such a difference in my quiet time. I treasure those moments with my Bible and the devotional. But – to be honest – some days I miss, and there is no excuse. None.
Bless you…..
Adrienne @ Whole New Mom says
February 1, 2014 at 11:32 amWe’ve been talking so much about prioritizing. We want out time to count. Not being nutso thinking that any downtime is a waste, but trying to be focused on how we are spending the little time we have on earth. Thanks.
Joanne says
February 1, 2014 at 11:25 amMy husband is soon retiring and needs some structure in his life. I am semi retired and find my time is not best utilized- many things to do yet my time gets frittered away. We both need some help.
Kim Covell-Campbell says
February 1, 2014 at 11:24 amSpending more time together talking.
Tara H says
February 1, 2014 at 11:16 amSweet! I love the Maxwells! I need to redeem the time because I will give an answer to God for how I’ve spent my life/time.
Lois says
February 1, 2014 at 11:12 amI lost my job in December and am finding that my free time is being chewed up by TV and the internet. I need to get my time back on track with the One who owns all of my time.