Enjoy Life!

So I decided it was more important to enjoy life. The best that people can do here on earth is to eat, drink, and enjoy life, because these joys will help them do the hard work God gives them here on earth. – Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NCV)

 

What kind of hard work has God given you?  Have you decided it is more important to enjoy life?  What about this last week was a joy to you?  How is the best way to enjoy life?  Are you doing it?  Can you do the hard work without the joys?

 

The following story found at: http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/marbles.htm

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings.  Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, of maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work.  Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.



A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen, with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other.  What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.



Let me tell you about it.  I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show.  I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself.

He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named "Tom".  I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.  "Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job.  I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much.  Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet.  Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital."  He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities."  And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic.  The average person lives about seventy-five years.  I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years."

"Now then, I multiplied 75
times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime.

Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part.  It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays.  I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy.

"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round-up 1000 marbles.  I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away.



"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life.  There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight.  Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast.  This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container.  I figure if I make it until next Saturday then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones......

"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!"



You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even the show's moderator didn't have anything to say for a few moments. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special," I said. " It has just been a
long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."

 

There is so much to enjoy about life!  The moments that we do not take to enjoy will disappear soon enough.  We have the choice as to whether or not we will take time for the joys to help us do the hard work God gives us.  Of course God gives us the joys too!  Today make the choice to enjoy life!

With hope and joy,

Garrett

Christian Living

Love each other like brothers and sisters.  Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves.  Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart.  Be joyful because you have hope.  Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times.  Share with God's people who need help.  Bring strangers in need into your homes. – Romans 12:10-13 (NCV)

 

Are you the type of person Paul is describing?  How can you become more like this?  How can you give more honor to others than you want yourself?  What does it mean to be joyful because you have hope?  What happens when this description is who you are?

 

The following story is found: http://www.wow4u.com/wisewoman/index.html

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream.

The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food.  The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him.  She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune.  He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.  "I've been thinking," he said.  "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious.  Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."

 

When Christians live like Christians should live the world will change!  When Christians give of themselves without hesitation, work hard serving God, are joyful, have hope, show patience, pray, share with those in need, and welcome strangers, others will want to know what you have within that enables you to be as you are… then you can truly share your Savior!  Today start loving others like brothers and sisters and watch the world change.

With hope and joy,

Garrett

February Minister's Minute in Journal of Hope and Joy

My son smiled at me for the first time recently.  Sure he has smiled before, but it was generally the prelude to a moment where he fills the immediate area with gas.  This time he looked right at me and smiled.  No simple smile, but a large smile open mouth and all, the kind of smile where you wait for a second because you are just sure a laugh is going to follow soon… the laugh never came but I pray to my God the memory of that smile never leaves me.  It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.

Several weeks ago I was driving on a very rural highway to go to a conference.  I emphasize the “rural” because even after a year I am getting use to some of it.  I was on the highway for maybe about 40 minutes, and the whole while only three other vehicles passed me going the other way.  Two rusted pickups and a tractor.  I laughed as the tractor passed me and I considered my situation, God works in mysterious ways.  But the real interesting thing about the day was its splendor.  It could have been the clearest day I had ever witnessed.  Almost as though individual rays of sunshine could be differentiated from one another, splashing us all with its warmth and glory.  The sky was a crystal clear of indescribable proportions and the type of blue that one thinks of when one thinks of perfect.  This rural highway was saturated with the variety of landscape which seemed the perfect compliment to the majesty of the weather.  Fields of the brightest and most spectacular greens, rows of trees which played with the light as the wind passed through their branches, next a pond surrounded by foliage the likes of which I have never seen.  At one point I could not stand passing by such beauty while sitting alone in my car, so I pulled over and got out.  I leaned against the hood and stared, I just stared.  I half expected God to show up right then and lean next to me, not saying a thing just staring with me… God never came, at least not in person, but I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me.  It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.

I went to the hospital where sister Martha Clark spent her last days.  At 94 years old she lived one wonderful life.  I came into the room, and could tell that she would not recognize me because she did not have her glasses on.  I said, “Martha Clark, it’s Garrett Andrew!”  Immediately she looked over with a smile bigger than most patients ever give.  She spoke with joy about her life, she had a good one, and she told me she could not wait to see her husband and daughter again.  We prayed together, and before I left she put her arms out wide and demanded a hug, she gave a good one.  I think I knew it would be the last one… it was, but it was perfect and I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me.  It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.

Last Sunday the service went well.  It was one of those days where I thought to myself, “We done and had church today.”  Afterwards a family asked me to pray with them.  We prayed in the back of the sanctuary around everyone else, the Spirit and tears moved in our midst.  After the prayer another couple came up to me and said the service was special to them.  The solo that day moved them, the love in the church touched them, and they felt God while there.  Two young men shared with me their achievements in sports and I was excited for them.  A visitor took my hand and looked at me intently and said, “I needed that worship today, I have been looking for hope.”  I thank my God for moments like these after worship, and pray that they never cease.  They always end up as my fuel for joy in moments of need.

What is your fuel for joy in moments of need?  All around us there is reason for joy.  The cynic would point out that there is also reason for despair, but I would counter there are only reasons to have people who offer fuel for joy so that joy abounds.  To those who are hurting and in need, we must become their fuel for joy!  God offers a world so full of beauty, a life filled with surprise, and moments of inspiration to each of us with the express intent that we in turn offer the world what God has given, joy!

Riding the Wave of the Holy Spirit,

Garrett

Like A Child

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."   And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. – Mark 10:13-16 (NIV)

 

What does it mean that the kingdom of God belongs to children?  What does it mean that you must receive the kingdom of God like a little child?  Do you believe you receive God’s gifts this way?  How does one live life like this?  Who have you met that lives life like a child in God’s kingdom?

 

The following story found at: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/stories.cgi?record=30

Hot sun.  Salty air.  Rhythmic waves. 

A little boy is on his knees scooping and packing the sand with plastic shovels into a bright blue bucket.  Then he upends the bucket on the surface and lifts it.  And, to the delight of the little architect, a castle tower is created. 


All afternoon he will work.  Spooning out the moat.  Packing the walls.  Bottle tops will be sentries.  Popsicle sticks will be bridges.  A sandcastle will be built. 



Big city.  Busy streets.  Rumbling traffic. 

A man is in his office.  At his desk he shuffles papers into stacks and delegates assignments.  He cradles the phone on his shoulder and punches the keyboard with his fingers.  Numbers are juggled and contracts are signed and much to the delight of the man, a profit is made. 

All his life he will work.  Formulating the plans.  Forecasting the future.  Annuities will be sentries.  Capital gains will be bridges.  An empire will be built. 



Two builders of two castles.  They have much in common.  They shape granules into grandeurs.  They see nothing and make something.  They are diligent and determined.  And for both the tide will rise and the end will come. 
Yet that is where the similarities cease.

For the boy sees the end while the man ignores it.  Watch the boy as the dusk approaches. 

As the waves near, the wise child jumps to his feet and begins to clap. There is no sorrow.  No fear.  No regret.  He knew this would happen.  He is not surprised.  And when the great breaker crashes into his castle and his masterpiece is sucked into the sea, he smiles.  He smiles, picks up his tools, takes his father's hand, and goes home. 



The grownup, however, is not so wise.  As the wave of years collapses on his castle he is terrified.  He hovers over the sandy monument to protect it.  He blocks the waves from the walls he has made.  Salt-water soaked and shivering he snarls at the incoming tide. 

"It's my castle," he defies. 

The ocean need not respond.  Both know to whom the sand belongs... 



I don't know much about sandcastles.  But children do.  Watch them and learn.  Go ahead and build, but build with a child's heart.  When the sun sets and the tides take - applaud.  Salute the process of life and go home.

 

Life will go on no matter what we do, but God wants us to enjoy it will all our hearts!  The kingdom of God is reserved for those who rejoice with a child’s heart.  Adult worries are often meaningless, fruitless, and cause only pain.  Today enter the kingdom of God by becoming like a little child, and see the entire world as glory and surprise!

With hope and joy,

Garrett