Days of youth

9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

Yesterday’s verses were about the aged and today’s are about the youth. Today we will learn what Solomon has to say about the youth.

He begins with telling the young people that it is wonderful to be young. I have to agree, but I wouldn’t want to go back there unless I could take with me what I have learned through the years.

A few years ago when I was in my forties, someone said to me wouldn’t you love to go back and be 16? Without hesitation I said absolutely not. A few other co workers with me at the time echoed my sentiments.

Basically, that is what Solomon is saying, enjoy your time when you are young but remember you are accountable for your actions. You will pay for your foolish actions when you are older. The motto should be “think before you act”.

I have a few quotes about youth enjoy a laugh or a sigh, depending on how young or old you may be.

Youth is the opportunity to do something and to become somebody. ~ T.T. Munger

The follies of youth become the vices of manhood and the disgrace of old age. ~ L.E. Landon

Reckless youth makes rueful age. ~ Thomas Moore

Good habits formed at youth make all the difference. ~ Aristotle

In youth we learn; in age we understand. ~ Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

The excesses of our youth are drafts upon our old age, payable with interest, about thirty years after date. ~ Caleb Colton

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1Timothy 4:12  

Have a blessed day,

Donna

Aging

7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: 8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. Ecclesiastes 11:7-8

Solomon says if a man lives many years he needs to rejoice. Seeing the light each morning is a blessing. Waking up and taking a breath of air is something to be thanking God for.  The day is coming that we will be old. It is part of life.

With old age there will be days of darkness. As one ages simple things become much harder than when younger, there are more “aches and pains” as one ages. Climbing stairs may become more of a burden. Picking up items may be harder to do as arthritis or other aliments set in. Aging should not be looked on as a curse but a blessing, if you know Jesus as your Savior it is one step closer to eternity with Him.

I have a few quotes about aging, enjoy a laugh or a sigh, depending on where you are in the “aging” process.

Old age is not for the feeble.

Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many. ~ Unknown

Let us respect gray hairs, especially our own. ~ J.P. Senn

No wise man ever wished to be younger. ~ Jonathan Swift

Old age is not for sissys ~ Eric Lindell

It is a rare and difficult attainment to grow old gracefully and happily. ~ L.M. Child

Gray hairs seem to my fancy like the soft light of the moon, silvering over the evening of life. ~ Henri Richter

Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age. ~ Victor Hugo

The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. Proverbs 20:29 

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25  

Have a blessed day,
Donna

The works of God

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. 6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. Ecclesiastes 11:5-6

No man knows the way of God, God the Creator of the Universe, The One who made everything. Solomon asks “do you know how the bones of a baby grow in the womb?’ All would answer no because no one knows but the Almighty.

Man and scientists have tried and tried to discover the works of God but they remain a mystery. Even with the technology of today we cannot discover how things occur.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

Solomon says do your work and go on with your life, we do not know what tomorrow holds but God knows. Trust Him and He will show you the way.

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Proverb 27:1 

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Psalm 18:30  

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Showing Kindness

1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:1-4

When you do for others it will increase. The main reason we do for others is not so we will see the increase here on earth but we are laying up treasures in heaven. We need to help and give wherever we see the need. We need to have discernment in our giving and do everything with prayer.

Do good while there is time to do it – don’t procrastinate. When you know there is something God wants you to do – DO IT.  If you wait for the “right time” to do something it will never come. We need to do it when the need arises.

I have done many things for others with the Lord’s leading but there have also been many times I felt the Lord nudging me and I just ignored it. Only to find out later that it was a direct leading from the Lord.

The Lord wants us to show kindness to all around us. Is it easy, absolutely not, but it is doable if we are willing to do things God’s way.

As you put on your clothes in the morning, pray and ask the Lord to “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” Colossians 3:12

Maybe you say, I never see people in need, they are just not where I go. This may be very true but can you help “needy” people in your neighborhood or family? Can you ask God to bring someone in your path that may need a kind word and a cup of coffee?

Solomon says in verse 4 if the farmer just waits around watching the wind he’ll never plant. So will it be for us if we just wait for an opportunity to do something it will never happen. We need to get out there and “plant” kindness to all those around us.

In Matthew 25:34-40 Jesus said these words: 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from a trip - Architecture

I had a great week with my daughter and her family. My husband and I drove to AL. We had a good time and I really don’t mind driving if we have the time. Total driving time is twenty hours so we stop and stay overnight and then continue the trip.

One of my desires was to go and view “Fallingwater”, my husband made reservations for the first day of our travels. “Fallingwater” is a home designed by Architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930’s. The home is built into the rocks and over a water fall. The views from the house are spectacular and the design of the home was ahead of its time. Each part of the house and grounds surrounding the house “fit” together. F.L. Wright designed the whole image. While drawing up the blue prints everything was considered, the size of the house, the parcel the house was built on, the furniture so the views would not be obstructed, even the corner windows were built in such a way that they opened to the outside without a barrier (metal bars) to give a clear view of the nature without.

As we walked through the property and listened to our guide, I was thinking of a Great Architect. The Architect that created you and me, this Architect did not have a blue print; He did not need a drawing. God formed a man out of the dust of the earth and then breathed into his nostrils. The very breath of God went into his being and made him alive.

I love to look at different technologies and buildings that man has made but only One actually created from nothing. F.L. Wright was a great architect and had many unique ideas and techniques. All his abilities came from God.

As you go about your daily routine, take a moment and look at your hands, feet, hair, skin and marvel at how you were created. Thank God for the precious life He has given you.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4 

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14 

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. Ecclesiastes 11:5  

Have a blessed day,
Donna