– Today’s blog is from the book Pause: The Secret to a Better Life, One Word at a Time. Pick up your copy on Amazon or at: BUY PAUSE
When our schedules are interrupted or delayed or completely stopped, we can choose to enjoy every moment.
As we face our personal issues of disability, sickness, or weakness, can’t we choose to celebrate and enjoy the moments? Maybe we feel locked, unable, iced in. Even then, we can select attitudes of noticing the often ignored, enjoying the moments of each breath, reflecting on the drops of God’s grace that have fallen on our land and chosen to remain. We can sense that we are covered by a true hope.
I looked out the window as I typed this original draft. Then, I prayed. I prayed that I would become better at noticing the scenes of glory, better at celebrating, better at choosing joy no matter the forecast of my future.
I was speaking with another young lady today, and we both agreed that we see gods future far off, in the distance. However we feel like in “the now” we are just siting and being. Perhaps feeling as if we are wasting our time. However, in this chapter I am reminded to enjoy “the now.”
Some of the little moments that I enjoy the most are when I decide to stop and notice the beautiful sunsets. I can be in a car, my home in Virginia, or walking to room in Roberson. When I stop and take in the beauty of God’s incredible creation, it is in that moment that I’m reminded of his unending grace.
I often try to rush things to get them done and not actually take the time to enjoy them but this chapter reminded me that while I am doing that that I need to slow down sometimes and enjoy the moments while they are happening.
I need to stop often and enjoy the moments instead of letting my thoughts run wild. I need to reflect upon the simple things in life that bring glory that I over look. I need to stop looking at what I can’t but focus on what I can. There is so much glory I just have to stop and realize it.
This makes me think of Job. Verse 1:21 says “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the neam of the Lord.” Especially when things don’t go as I planned, I strive to remember God is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:16, “rejoice always.” Two words meaning more than just two words. Two words which stretch across a timeline on an infinite level. Our challenge from Paul to always be rejoicing. With a God who loves us so much, I wonder how we can do anything but rejoice. Who knew that two words could make such a difference; have such an impact on lives? Yet we do not allow it. It is interesting how these two simple words which are easily passed by are two words which you cannot not afford to miss.
Often times we can allow our circumstances to bring us down. We can let our past mistakes get in the way of our present happiness. We harbor on those acts of weakness and mistakes. When in fact, we should be thankful for those times of weakness that allowed us to be where we are today. If we learn to live one day at a time, taking in God’s love and joy, our problems and disabilities become irrelevant, and we can begin to truly serve the Lord.
Many times i find myself losing sight of the things around me and only focusing on me. The saddest part of that is i may be down in the dumps and the only pick me up is to take a second and watch a bird flying high, without a care in the world. I believe that we as christian should change our mentality and just let go of our worries and trust that God is working things out. We need to learn to rejoice, even in the tough times. I think that is one of the hardest things for us to do. Rejoice regardless of your circumstances. Choose to Celebrate.
I so often get caught up in what I need to get done that I neglect God and the time he deserves. Sometimes I hear his voice calling to me to take a step away (even if just for a bit) and come “be” with him. I hate to say that I do not always listen to his “interruption”. But for the times that I do, He never fails to show up. Its funny how we think that we will have less time for other things if we give God our time, but in reality, it is the same as a monetary tithe. We give got some of the time that he has given us, and the rest is blessed by Him.
I find that there is joy to be had when we choose to accept it. God has given us joy. We so often worry and make things much bigger than they really are. Even in desperate times, there is joy. There may not always be happiness. There may not always be comedy or fun. But there is always joy. Now is all we have. We must live.
Celebrating is one of the best things in the moment, but I am challenged to continue celebrating. I cannot truly celebrate if I only think about it once. Celebrating should be something that we do all the time. Is something really worth celebrating if we forget it the next moment?
Choosing joy can be one of the most freeing things ever once you step in to it. But getting there can be a the tough part. Recently I have leaned to worship on your weakness and when you do, that is when breakthrough occurs and the Lord grants us with such a strong grace we are freed from our sadness, weakness, and/or depression. God’s love is a freeing kind of love.
I choose to be happy and to live because God gave me the ability to do so. I find peace most days in the little things and hang on to those things tightly. Sunrises, Sunsets, even cool breezes often make me stop and remember the beauty of Him.
I’m always thinking five steps ahead of where I am. It’s just how I’m wired. But I am so reminded to enjoy the here and now. Rather than getting caught up in the craziness of life, where I have been and where I am going, there is so much joy in the present. Learning to celebrate spite suffering that is all around is such an opportunity to let true joy abide.
Right now at this moment i am on my last leg of my college career. i am looking out among the future of my life and it seems dark because i do not have an idea of what the next steps will look like. it is a very scary thought. but during this time of uncertainty i can still stop and notice the true hope of the promises that lie within reach that the Lord has for me and for my life. though it is hard i am choosing to celebrate and enjoy this moment that i am in which gives me the confidence to take this next step.
Celebration and laughter tend to be synonymous with me. Every genuine burst of my boisterous laughter is a mini-celebration for me. Especially now when it still physically hurts to laugh. It is such a release. I adore the people who take the time to make me laugh and who instead of mocking my laugh, enjoy it. I have taken laughter for granted and now I treasure it as a precious commodity and a gift.