Life here on this earth is way to short.  This is why we need to make sure that we are having some fun.  Fun is different for every person.  Some people have to plan out very specific things, while others can pretty much dig it up and get it started wherever they find themselves.  It does not matter which category you fall into, just step out of your busyness for a few moments and make the choice to have a little fun today.

You might go out and watch the sunrise or sunset.  You might go for a walk and kick some leaves around.  You could go shopping for something you don’t really need.  You could call a friend and tell “knock, knock” jokes.  You could go buy your favorite candy and eat the whole thing.  Here is the secret:  The what is not as important as the how.

Whatever you do today – do it with the intentional intention of having fun!  You are worth a little fun and the people around you are worth a little fun.  A smile on the face and joy in the heart are gifts from a loving God, Who has amazing plans for your life.

Ecclesiastes 8:15 says:  “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.”  God created you for life and God created life to be enjoyed, so get out and have a little fun today.  Do it right and you actually give glory to God…

Last night, I taught the first part of a lesson on priorities.  In preparing for the lesson, I had to think a lot about the things that I value.  In thinking about the things that I value, I had to think about the way that I spend my time.  I had to be honest about what I make a priority in my life.

Some of the time, what I say I value and the way I spend my time do not match up.  For example, I may say, I value God, family, friends, calling/ministry and work, but the way I spend my time may not reveal that this is what I value and especially in this order.

While I value all of these things, there may be other things that I value that in my mind, I am not even aware of.  Does this make me a bad person?  No, it makes me a person and that is what we do.  We often say one thing and do another.  Does this mean that I have work to do?  Yes, of course it does.

It is true that there is a difference between quantity and quality when it comes to time and who and how we spend it, and I have noticed that if I am not careful, I can use this as an excuse to justify what I value and get my priorities all out of whack.  If I am honest with myself, then I realize that the priority fight is a full-time, never-ending battle.

The more I think about it and as I look back on my life, I have really messed this one up and wasted a lot of time.  I am thankful that my Creator is understanding with me and I want to honor His love, acceptance and grace by getting my values right and my priorities in order, so that my life will bring Him glory.

I’ve got a lot of work to do, and being honest with myself and others about this is a very big first step.  I want to encourage you to take a little time to think about what you value and the priorities of your life.  Also take some time to look at your life and how you spend your time.  What is the way your spend your time really telling you about what you value?

If you are honest in your evaluation, then I am almost certain that you will find some adjustments that need to be made and some changes that are worth embracing.  Go ahead and think about it, in the long run, you will be glad you did!

“Great people talk about ideas, while average people talk about things and small people talk about other people!”  This quote or some variation has been attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, first lady and wife of US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  She was one of the most socially active first ladies in all of history and was a major influence on society.  She received more than her fair share of negative and positive critiques.

This quote makes me think about what I talk about.  The truth is that I have been in all three conversations.  I have been a small person, talking about other people.  I don’t have any real excuse other than I was in fact a small person that thought I was big.  I have been an average person, talking about things.  Nothing really wrong with talking about things, but there is not really a whole lot of value in it.

As I look back and even think about it now – we are all great, when we talk about ideas, especially the ideas that our Creator has put in us.  I don’t want to be a small person, because I know that God created me for more, so I am working hard to not talk about people, even the people who talk about me.  I don’t want to be an average person, because I know that God created me for more, so I am working to not be distracted by things, not even the brief moments of success.

I want to be a great person, not for greatness sake or personal ego, but for God’s glory. I want to talk about ideas – His ideas and how they can and will make this world a better place.  I want to see the ideas become reality.  I’ve got a lot of work to do, but just the idea that I’ve got work to do is a start, so let’s talk about it and see where God will take us…