When things seem to be declining

 I was reminded by God this week that He is in charge.  Not in any one major event.  Not in a special urgent message or vision or anything like that.  But in the small things.  In the times when things did not seem to be going my way a reminder that even then God is in charge.  In the cold that I got that meant that I missed a Bible study but then got to spend a few extra moments talking with a friend that I might not have had if the sickness was not present.  It was the visit from the in-laws where I still was able to accomplish the tasks because I was not able to go with them due to the cold.  Of course I was not really excited to get the cold.  But the cold led to a few things I was not expecting - a few blessings that I was not expecting.  And sometimes that is the way we need to think - each difficulty is a chance for a blessing we were not looking for.  But we have to be willing to look for it!  May God help us see His glorious hand even when the events of our life are not ideal.

Fun

 I think that sometimes we make a false dichotomy between doing things God's way and fun.  But perhaps that tells us that we are defining fun incorrectly.  If we define fun by what brings us the most pleasure than the truest definition must involve doing things God's way.  

I remember back when I was in college I would go to work and talk with people who "had fun" over the weekend doing various things that God prohibited.  In nearly every circumstance that I can recall the "fun" they had was temporary and the consequences longer lasting than the moment of enjoyment.  Alcohol led to long hangovers, headaches, poor choices, loss of monetary resources and many other things.  Getting high led to much of the same.  Sex often led to broken relationships and sometimes even children.  The fun that was had was always tempered by the consequences.  

When we do things the way that God intends we can not only enjoy the moment, but know that the consequences will be positive.  Yes it is sometimes hard and yes it sometimes requires self sacrifice, but the joy that we receive both in the here and in the here-after are immeasurable.  So I guess if you want to trade your eternity for a moment you can have at it.  But I would rather trade this moment for eternity - I think that is not only the better deal - it is a lot more fun!