Ecclesiastes 8:15  Joy!

"So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun."

 Wait a minute.  Christians aren’t supposed to have fun are they?  The world would tell you NO way! J

 This is s great reminder for us to ENJOY our days, thank God for what we have, live life to the fullest, but in the context of following Him (of course, not like a gluttony of the world “style” living to the fullest!   More like living life to the most shallow).   

 Life can and should be joyous.  Sure, we all have our trials, but we can weather all storms by knowing that God is with us and will bring us through them. We can have joy even in that knowing, if that’s all we seem to have at that moment (hey, sometimes it’s pretty difficult).    And,  when we AREN’T under attack and going through a trial, can we try to show the world that we ARE enjoying life AS A CHRISTIAN?  How do people see us and what we (supposedly?) stand for?  

 If we can’t purpose for and live with joy on a GOOD day, how can we show the world who we lean upon and how we “manage” during the BAD times?  How else can we draw people in if we aren’t happy that we chose JESUS??!

 Food and drink for thought as we live out what we believe…..or do we?  J    I will take that as a challenge, thank you!   The world, at large sees some of us as a pathetic, martyrish bunch with no joy at all.   Let’s be sure to be the “real” Christians that live and breathe our beliefs, not just when times are great, but at LEAST when times are great.   I am mostly writing this to myself, but offering as an open journal to you ladies as it struck a chord for me.   I need to be reminded of this most of all, but perhaps, if you have a hard day coming up or just don’t have joy, you can join me in remembering this scripture…..PEOPLE ARE WATCHING US and God sees our hearts and all actions.  I so apologize for all the years I’ve wasted whining and thinking I had things so rough, but I determine to turn that around and actually act as a representative for the Lord I say I serve.

Thank you Father for all that you have given us TO ENJOY!!

                                                                                                            Submitted by Julie Anderson