Ecclesiastes 11

New International Version:
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8 However many years a man may live,
let him enjoy them all.
But let him remember the days of darkness,
for they will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.

9 Be happy, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you to judgement.

10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.

The Message
7-8 Oh, how sweet the light of day,
And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
Even if you live a long time, don't take a single day for granted.
Take delight in each light-filled hour,
Remembering that there will also be many dark days
And that most of what comes your way is smoke.

9 You who are young, make the most of your youth.
Relish your youthful vigor.
Follow the impulses of your heart.
If something looks good to you, pursue it.
But know also that not just anything goes;
You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.

10 Live footloose and fancy-free—
You won't be young forever.
Youth lasts about as long as smoke.


Yesterday the message that Major Wade gave at our Youth Service rang pretty close to home. He read an expert out of John Ortberg's book "When the Game is Over it all goes back in the Box". The part was about a successful business man who took his life for granted and always pushed important time with his family, and with God for when he "had more time". But little did he know he didn't have much time left. We all know that we're going to leave this earth sometime. But do we really take it seriously? Do we take every day and live it to the fullest? If you were to leave this earth today - would you be happy with your last day? Could you honestly say, "I couldn't have done better". I don't think I could say that. I try to remember to live life to the fullest, but I think of it as a bigger picture. When I think about living my life to the fullest, I'm thinking about, the things that I achieve, the person that I'm evolving in to and large things like that.

Its really unfortunate that tragedies have to happen for you to wake up and smell the coffee. Sad times in my friends lives I seem to feed off of and witness the most. I guess God is using others lives to influence mine. He really does work in the weirdest ways. Because of this week I've become closer with my Mom. We've talked about our beliefs and feelings more than we ever have before. Because of this week I've shared my testimony with an old friend in hopes that she can understand what God is doing in her friends life. In the worst times, God does the most amazing things. And I am trying really hard to take these opportunities NOW because I really don't know how long God plans for me to be on this earth.