It's a funny thing.
Within it you have times of extreme happiness and times of extreme sadness.
Sometimes you wish for it to just be over, and other times you're thankful for every minute of it.
Today I went to a memorial-type service for a little guy whose initials spell J.O.Y. He was stillborn.
It really makes you appreciate life. It makes you want to do whatever you can to proclaim the good news of Jesus -- To make the most of the short time you have here.
It also makes you just a little jealous of the little guy because, as his older brother put it, "He gets to skip out on this life."
I've dealt with stuff in my life, but nothing like that. I just hope that should anything happen to me I would have the faith and joy of that family.
But back to life. It's a confusing and wonderful thing. It's your .25 seconds of fame in a much bigger picture.
I've been thinking a lot about it lately. Stuff along the lines of "What's the point of life?" or "Why do I do what I do?" or "Why do I care so much about what people think of me?" and last but definitely not least "How does God want me to live?"
I've been pretty confused.
I'm not going to pretend to have all the answers but I was listening to this pastor the other day and he was talking about pretty much the same thing. He talked about in Acts, when the Gentiles were included in the covenant, how they rejoiced His word. They rejoiced!
Have you ever been the one to be picked last in dodge ball? Not that I ever was... cough cough.
The Gentiles were those kids that were picked last for dodge ball. They weren't included in God's vision.
After Jesus came they were finally not just acknowledged but they were accepted into the covenant! So what did they do?... They CELEBRATED!!!
Then I started thinking "Wow. If only we got that excited today." What would happen if just in the middle of the mall I started dancing and shouting praises? Well aside from being kindly escorted out of the mall, I would get a whole lot of strange looks. Why is that?
But then again, why should I care? We were called to go all out for God. If I would do anything for say, Orlando Bloom, then why shouldn't I for God?!
I decided I'm going to do just that: Go all out for God! Celebrate all the time! Live life like it's a party in God's honor!
So you'll have to excuse me if I break into a chorus of "Oh, Happiness" (or something of the like).
For the glory of God,
Carrie
