NOW…THIS IS THE LIFE!!
Have you ever noticed how a phrase with just a few words can conger up all sorts of (different) thoughts? What comes to your mind when you those words: THIS. IS. THE. LIFE!
Sitting on a beach soaking up the sun drinking your…aaah..Diet Dr. Pepper?
Camping under a bright moon with your wife and/or family while staring at the stars?
Enjoying a day at a theme park, eating garbage food with your family?
Sitting at a retreat center basking in the glow of some good Bible teaching?
Being alone in the quiet with no phone, no computer, no nothing to interrupt the serenity?
Being retired and traveling the country and seeing sights you never had time to see before?
Riding in a bicycle tour that lasts for a week or more with no agenda but to ride?
Betcha don’t know which one is mine. 😛 Hint: the last one. So many people have no idea what it means to really live. I am an extrovert. I also tend to be an optimist. I have my days, for sure when life drags, but I don’t stay down very long. To me, each day I open my eyes and see hear the alarm clock is a day to celebrate. (I can’t see much of anything without my glasses when I wake up). Life does not come wrapped in a pillow or blanket or a big envelope saying, “Okay buster. Here it is! Choose easy and comfortable or choose tough.” I have no clue what any day will bring. Neither do you.
BUT…WE…DO…GET…TO…CHOOSE…HOW…WE…WILL…LIVE…THE…DAY!!
You can choose to live the day, to fully participate in it, OR you can choose to hide away and seek ways to avoid it. This is not a treatise against those who struggle emotionally. It is a challenge for all of us to choose to live life FULLY ALIVE!
What about you? What is your choice? Is it hard for you to live life alive? Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
I used to be very pessimistic. Somehwere along the way I decided to change. I faked it for a while until the optimism I was spouting took hold.
i think a lot of that is in our minds larry. We can change by how we act and think. Thanks.
Love the spirit in your words. Your enthusiasm is just bubbling. I wish I had some of that in a bottle that I could drink down. For some time I have been a dark little cloud. But I am, even still, seeking the sun.
Keep seeking the sun Daniel. It is a conscious decision made every day. I know it is a little harder for some than others.
I’m pretty optimistic for the most part. It’s not unilateral across every area of life, but generally I see the bright side.
Sitting on the beach and drinking a Diet Dr. Pepper sounds pretty awesome right about now 🙂
I sensed that about you Loren. And the fact that you are a fellow DDP fan makes it even better. 🙂
Ironically, I’m reading a book on death now 😀 Well, not so much on death but on the hope for the life everlasting – but it still talks a lot about physical death that we all will experience. It’s Dekker’s The Slumber of Christianity – considering that he talks about heaven a lot in his fiction books, it’s interesting to see his real-life perspective on things in a non-fiction book. (Do you have Kindle?)
Back to your question… I’m an optimistic realist (which is basically a fancy name for an optimistic pessimist)))) 😀 I try to make lemonade out of the lemons, but I guess since this life isn’t all we’ve got, it’s okay.
To answer: no I don’t have Kindle. 😉 Nothing wrong with being an optimistic realist. I get buffaloed a lot (least I used to) because I didn’t see beyond the surface. I always want to fix people. Glad this life is not all we get.
Buffaloed? (Need English slang help here…)
Sorry forgot. Snookered. I don’t always show discernment and the ability to “see” people as they really are. Help??? 🙂
LOL, not really 😀 But I think I got the idea…
you need to come over to America for first hand knowledge of American slang. LOL What I mean: I often get taken by inability to see deeper into some situations and people. Whew! You are making me thing this morning.
Making you thing? 😀 *ahem* 😀
I’d love to brush up on my American slang words 🙂 (And looks like I need to!)
oops. “think” See, told you i was worn out this morning. Too much burning of the gray matter. 😀
Sorry 😀
I’m not. It is so good to hear from you i would banter back and forth (as long as it wasn’t too deep). LOL
I have always thought I am a “realist”. Optimism with caution…however truly living for me has become just seeing and praising Him whereever I am. Of course, I am at the beach now so seeing Him is easy! Thanks, Bill
Cruel tom, real cruel. 🙂 hope you are at least drinking a DDP while there. Living life as an optimist with caution is good. have a great time!
I try to be optimistic. It just feels better. Sometimes it isn’t realistic and takes a little more trying. I try to not get “up” on the good times or “down” on the bad. I just keep it simple and try to enjoy the day as it comes.
There will always be people with better happenings or worse situations. I have found that giving increases the quality of Life.
I like your approach jeff and you state it well. My personality tends to be “up” and so I can fly high. I don’t have very many “down” times, although I have had them. But I do totally agree with your last line.
I tend to be an optimistic type of fella, and a firm believer in choices and the way we intentionally live our lives…I love this quote below!
The glory of God is man fully alive.” – St. Irenaeus
This, I think of often, especially on those dreary days, those hard to take moments that want to suck life from you. But…When I’m alive in Him…He receives bunches of Glory!
I like the quote also Jay. it is one to remember, especially on those tough days.
You and I are a lot alike in this: extrovert, optimist, might get down, but don’t stay there long. I’ve recently discovered the absolute truth of “weeping may last for the night. But joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5. It seems no matter how down I am at the end of the day, after some sleep and with a new day, I have some joy back again.
Thanks for sharing that tammy. The rejuvenation that comes with a new day is almost worth going to bed really early for. LOL
i think i’m a optimist…glass half full…or thankful that there even is a glass to fill!!! ha!
i tend to wake up hating the alarm clock…cause gotta leave what I love most…my family…
but i choose to make the best of it at work…and working for the kingdom at work as well…
and of course the day ends great as always…
with my fam…
I’m guessing you love your family? LOL You have the right idea though Arny: working for the kingdom at work. That is where it hits the road.
I’m an introvert. I like people, care a lot about them – preferably in small groups, no more than three or four at one time. I don’t usually cherish any illusions about who people are and what depredations of which they are capable. But, I prefer to focus on their positive attributes, and encourage them. Often an ounce of encouragement is worth more than a ton of criticism because encouragement leaves the door open for Jesus to walk in. Once He gets in, anything might happen – and often does.
I’m a morning person – love the pristine quiet before anyone else is awake. I’m pretty quiet on the outside, but my brain is always very noisy.
I like your attitude Susan of focusing on positive attributes and encouragement. I am also a morning person. 9;30 pm hits me hard. 🙂
This is also an exercise of God’s gift of free will. It is a choice, but it doesn’t work unless we keep priorities and truths in order.
God causes or allows all things. There are consequences to our actions, but He is merciful and full of grace.
I have to remind myself of these things and that He is preparing me with wisdom for bigger things in the future. I also remind myself and others that David didn’t get to go around the Valley of the Shadow of Death, God marched him smack through the middle of it for His glory before the lost world so that they might have a change of heart.
Good thoughts Bill.
True on the exercise of free will Floyd. We make the choice by making right choices along the way. Love your thoughts about David.
I am an optimist, I see good in every situation and make the best of it. I am also somewhat introverted, keeping much to myself, unless I see someone in need of help. Then I will step out of my comfort zone and offer to help.
Like you, I believe we never know what the day is going to present, but I also know we have a choice on how we perceive it. I always look for the good, there is always some there somewhere no matter how small, and make the best of it. I am a firm believer in the saying – if life deals you a bunch of lemons, make lemonade!
Make the best of what you are given – it may just be a blessing in disguise.
Walk daily with God at your side!
Ed
I think you and I would get along very well Ed. 🙂 Blessing in disguise for sure.
Hi Bill,
I believe in the sovereignty? of God however, we do have a verse in Ecclesiates 9:11 that says’
“The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all”.
What does this mean? Perhaps it means that God isn’t always controlling our every occurance in our day.
If we look at our own life as parents of children, do we control their life and everything they do during the day? No, we control in a general way. Supervision to keep them safe, food on the table for them to eat, reasonable bedtimes, correction when they cross the boundaries of good behavior, etc.
Somehow I don’t see the nature of God as micromanaging our lives. This type of managing is not freedom and liberty for us. It’s control and bondage.
You ask: ‘Are you an optimist or a pessimist’? I think as believers we eventually move into supernatural living. This type of living is not optimistic or pessimistic. It’s a provision from God to live our lives in peace, joy and tolerance.
We have to remember as believers that when we choose God we are choosing a greater glory than unsaved and disobedient men. This I believe is the kingdom life. Not the teaching that seems to be saying that Christians are going to dominate the ungodly in the world. This type of teaching is too worldly to be from God in my mind. Also, when we look at how the alien was treated in Israel it seems to go against the current style of teaching about what the kingdom of God is and how it will be manifest.
Men are wicked. Their idea of kingdom is ruling and dominating. Just like the Jews believed that the Messiah was going to do for them. Nothing has changed. The devil uses the same tactics over and over again, they just look a little different over the centuries.
Thanks for your thoughts Linda. Don’t know that I totally agree with your phrase “supernatural living.” Smacks of “being heavenly minded and no earthly good.” But that is what I perceive.
I don’t think I understand what you are meaning Bill when you say ‘heavenly minded and no earthly good’.
Revelation speaks about the persecution of the saints by the antichrist immediately before the end of time. If this is occuring how are the christians ruling the world in this situation?
If we believe that the rapture will take all believers before the antichrist begins his campaign of persecution, how are the Christians going to be ruling and reigning the world just before this time happens? If Christians are ruling the world, why do they need to escape and be saved from persecution and wrath? In my mind they would not have to removed by God. God is quite capable of judging the earth while we are in it. An example of this is shown in Exodus. Judgments from God happening all around the Israelites but judgments were not happening to them.
Are we no earthly good if we are living in greater glory on the earth? I think we would be much good to the earth.
Some thoughts? Am I talking about something different than you are?
I would like to clarify that my idea of tolerance here in my comment is not about being tolerant of differences between people. It’s about being able to tolerate our circumstances whatever they may be. Paul says that he has learned to be content in every situation, whether he is in plenty or in need. Is this ability he has about optimism? or pessimism? Positive thinking? Disciplines of the mind?
Or is this ability given to him by God? God tells Paul ‘my grace is sufficient for you’. This is not optimism on Paul’s part, this is a heavenly provision for him.
Some thoughts?
no question this is given to him by God. It is also faith in a trustworthy God.
There are some people Linda, who talk and spend so much time thinking of heaven and “kingdom living” that they cannot relate to people. that is what I meant. And yes, I think we are talking about two totally different things. I am basically saying we get to choose the type of attitude we will have to face our day and to live it. For the follower of Christ, yes, it is tempered by the Spirit. That sets us apart from the run of the mill “positive thinking” guru out there.
Bill, I’m learning more and more how dishonest professional people are becoming. It’s unbelieveable. As believers we can make our choice to be positive but we can also make our choice to be honest and trustworthy. To me this is greater glory to God than the optimist. Even the wicked can be an optimist.
In fact in order for some people in rather regular professional jobs to be so dishonest, deception has to have a good hold on their minds. They don’t believe that they are doing anything wrong.
They are just doing their ‘job’. What is expected of them by the world.
This is probably the tip of the iceberg in our culture and society. Christians need to strive to live differently from the world.
I am a lot like Susan, except for the morning part! 🙂 I am definitely a night person. But I have done my time of being a pessimist, God has definitely been working in me since we moved because I have noticed my attitude has changed, I am more joyful, more positive & have definitely been stepping way out of my comfort zone big time….John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” I was seeking comfort in the Bible last night, had no idea where to go, flipped through and God led me to that verse. Then I thought about the ways He is using me I said, “wow, this is just not me, this is definitely God”….I am happy to have each new day now! 🙂 Gotta run, on my way to VBS, one of the places God led me to go.
Yeah, having known you for a bunch of years, I know about the morning part. 😛 But I also know you are changing. Very cool! And VBS? WOW that is new!
Jan, my husband is a night person. We have about four hours a day when we’re both on our toes. 🙂
I’ve been pessimistic. It’s not a fun place to be. I’ll probably never be a bouncy optimist, either. But after a lot of years, I’m just beginning to understand the verse in Hebrews “I will never leave you or forsake you”.
I used to be a pessimist, but it never really helped, especially when I found out others were too, so I changed and became an optimist. I lost all credibility with the other pessimists around me. But at least now I can give them an evil smile and make them laugh.
Always good to make people wonder what we are up to. 🙂
I love your attitude, Bill! Rock on.
I totally agree about our attitude being the thing we are in control of. We can’t control this world, we can’t control others, but we can sure have a big impact based on how we decide to go into a given situation!