“After looking at the
way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live:
Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you
have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human
lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the
capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s
God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood
over how long we might live.”
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 MSG
Instant conviction. You see most of the
time I am far from living in and enjoying the moment. I'm pretty sure I
spend 99% of the day dreaming about tomorrow. My thought process looks a little
something like this;
" When I graduate,
and get a good job, I can't wait to move. I'll get this car, Jax will be old enough
to go to this school. Tomorrow I need to edit that blog. Saturday I need to go
to the grocery store. I can't wait to finish school. What's for dinner? Am I
done with school yet?"
Talk about not living
in the moment! I'm pretty sure most of you can agree with me. Our minds are
naturally running and thinking about what's to come.
But how can we learn to live in the moment?
In the opening scripture,
Solomon gives us some tips. I am trying to embed these tips in my heart and
mind. Let's jump right in!
After looking at the
way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live:
Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you
have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human
lot.
Take Care Of Yourself.
Have A Good Time. Have you ever met someone who could have a good time with any
circumstance given to them? Maybe you are that person, and if you aren't I'm
sure you can't think of someone who pretty much lives for the moment. I don't
think it's a coincidence that take care of yourself and have a good time are
listed back to back.
When we think of
taking care of ourselves, our minds probably go right to things like a massage,
manicure, a haircut, or buying ourselves something nice.
We need to consider
adding living in the moment, and having a good time to that list!
When we choose to live
in the moment, and enjoy whatever is happening we are in return taking care of
ourselves. We are pushing the stress and worries of tomorrow out the door and
welcoming in peace, and happiness.
Now for some of you,
the next part struck a nerve. Make the most of my job? MY job? I know you can come up
with 10,000 reasons not to make the most of your job. And for all of you out
there holding down a household, I know that can be overwhelming and stressful too.
I believe that Solomon
knew how tough jobs can be, no matter what you do in life, that is why he took
the time to remind us to enjoy what we do. We can't possibly enjoy our jobs, no
matter what they are, if we aren't living in the moment. Let's try to live a
life where we find joy in what we do, I believe it's more about having an
attitude of gratitude. Let's make the most of what we have!
Yes, we should make
the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it,
accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals
out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might
live.”
Delighting: take great pleasure in.
We should take great
pleasure in what God has given us. Our home, our kids, our jobs, our cars, our
friends, our family, OUR LIFE!
ITS GODS GIFT
God deals out joy in
the PRESENT, THE NOW
God deals out joy in
the PRESENT, THE NOW
God deals out joy in
the PRESENT, THE NOW
Have you been lacking
joy? Chances are you aren't living in and appreciating the now! (and guys trust me as I type
these words are slapping me in the face, no judgment here.)
So, friends, as I am
growing and learning, and as I challenge myself, I want to challenge you guys
too!!
This is obviously not
an overnight change, but we can start somewhere.
• Take care of
yourself (by having a good time)
• Make the most of
your job
• Take great pleasure
in what God has given us
• Live in the
PRESENT
• Live in the
NOW
that's the KEY TO
LIFE
xx Jo
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