If he had learned nothing else from experiencing more than his fair share of life’s highs and lows, it was that there was no point in being anything but a realist.”
–George G. Gilman (The Quiet Gun)
“Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.”
“Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.”
–Isaiah 55:2 (NKJV)
—————————–
I have used the words from my pastor as a youth, G.R. Kelly, many times–“Live is living.” I wrote yesterday the words from Ken Gangel, “Have a blast while you last.” In other words, live happily wherever you are. There is no joy without Christ, and happiness if fleeting. So to truly have a “blast” one must know the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. Only when you become intimate friends with God can you really live this life as it is meant to be lived. Remember, to God you “are special objects of His gifts and His acceptance.” (Walter C. Kaiser). When we realize this then we can truly be joyful.
8 — Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil.
9 — Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.
10 — Whatever you hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device of knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (NKJV)
Go back and reread the first seven verses of Ecclesiastes 9. Then read the above verses. Perspective is important when reading them, for the person without the Holy Spirit could and most likely will be downhearted, but the Christian can smile and say “let it be.” Tim Hansen has written a little poem about life that I would like to share.
Don’t be bashful,
Bite in,
Pick it up with your fingers and
let the juice that may
run down your chin.
Life is ready and ripe
NOW
whenever you are.
You don’t need a knife or fork
or spoon or napkin or tablecloth
For there is no core
or stem
or rind
or pit
or seed
or skin
to throw away.
Live life in Christ! Throw away worldly philosophies and have a life that is free of guilt, contagiously happy, and committed to God. A life that is thoroughly involved in the kingdom. A work that is not a curse. Ray Steadman said, “Believe what God has given you already, and then, on that basis, live your life to the full. Fill it with all that is of value, reason, and worth.” How do you currently see your life? Maybe the words of Jim Elliot should be etched in your mind, “Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
How do you live life? The optimist goes along thinking nothing is wrong therefore does not check anything. They live a life that lacks reality. The pessimist trudges through life in grim existence, there is little joy. Then there are those who are suspicious, maybe even suspicious as to why you are smiling in this journey of life. They think everyone is out to get you and live in the realm of conspiracy theories. Finally, there is the life of the fatalist–no hope. The Christian is to be living a life of victory and of hope and of faith. “There is to be calmness, a peace, a consciousness about us that no matter what happens, it is never going to be too bad or too difficult, because we have with us a God who will enable us to handle it. Do we view life that way?” (Ray Steadman)
“Let your garments always be white,” live in the righteousness of the Lord–be pure in mind and in spirit. “Let your head lack no oil”–let the oil of the precious Holy Spirit flow through you and especially over your head. Let it clean the mind. Charles Swindoll says that we “need an objective view of this rat race!” We are to live realistically (read James 4:13-17). Don’t dream your life away. Have joy, don’t be a victim of pessimism. “Face life as it is, not as you think it is or as you wish it were. To the best of your ability, with God’s help, enjoy it.” (Charles Swindoll)
—————————–
I have used the words from my pastor as a youth, G.R. Kelly, many times–“Live is living.” I wrote yesterday the words from Ken Gangel, “Have a blast while you last.” In other words, live happily wherever you are. There is no joy without Christ, and happiness if fleeting. So to truly have a “blast” one must know the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. Only when you become intimate friends with God can you really live this life as it is meant to be lived. Remember, to God you “are special objects of His gifts and His acceptance.” (Walter C. Kaiser). When we realize this then we can truly be joyful.
8 — Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil.
9 — Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.
10 — Whatever you hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device of knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (NKJV)
Go back and reread the first seven verses of Ecclesiastes 9. Then read the above verses. Perspective is important when reading them, for the person without the Holy Spirit could and most likely will be downhearted, but the Christian can smile and say “let it be.” Tim Hansen has written a little poem about life that I would like to share.
Don’t be bashful,
Bite in,
Pick it up with your fingers and
let the juice that may
run down your chin.
Life is ready and ripe
NOW
whenever you are.
You don’t need a knife or fork
or spoon or napkin or tablecloth
For there is no core
or stem
or rind
or pit
or seed
or skin
to throw away.
Live life in Christ! Throw away worldly philosophies and have a life that is free of guilt, contagiously happy, and committed to God. A life that is thoroughly involved in the kingdom. A work that is not a curse. Ray Steadman said, “Believe what God has given you already, and then, on that basis, live your life to the full. Fill it with all that is of value, reason, and worth.” How do you currently see your life? Maybe the words of Jim Elliot should be etched in your mind, “Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
How do you live life? The optimist goes along thinking nothing is wrong therefore does not check anything. They live a life that lacks reality. The pessimist trudges through life in grim existence, there is little joy. Then there are those who are suspicious, maybe even suspicious as to why you are smiling in this journey of life. They think everyone is out to get you and live in the realm of conspiracy theories. Finally, there is the life of the fatalist–no hope. The Christian is to be living a life of victory and of hope and of faith. “There is to be calmness, a peace, a consciousness about us that no matter what happens, it is never going to be too bad or too difficult, because we have with us a God who will enable us to handle it. Do we view life that way?” (Ray Steadman)
“Let your garments always be white,” live in the righteousness of the Lord–be pure in mind and in spirit. “Let your head lack no oil”–let the oil of the precious Holy Spirit flow through you and especially over your head. Let it clean the mind. Charles Swindoll says that we “need an objective view of this rat race!” We are to live realistically (read James 4:13-17). Don’t dream your life away. Have joy, don’t be a victim of pessimism. “Face life as it is, not as you think it is or as you wish it were. To the best of your ability, with God’s help, enjoy it.” (Charles Swindoll)