Life is not just for living

Today: Ecclesiastes 9-12

Awhile ago, I came to the realization that, "Life is not just for living--it's here for us to love." You'll find that line in my blogs' "About Me" sections because it's something I really take to heart and I think it has several meanings, one of which we read about in today's passage. Take a look:

Seize life!

Eat bread with gusto,

Drink wine with a robust heart.

Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure!

Dress festively every morning.

Don't skimp on colors and scarves.

Relish life with the spouse you love

Each and every day of your precarious life.

Each day is God's gift.

Life itself is a gift meant to be loved and cherished. I love just being with my family, playing catch with my crazy dog Harley, tasting the first few bites a really great molten lava chocolate cake, laughing like crazy with my friends, and wearing colored high heels that are completely impractical...just because I think they're beautiful.

The second meaning of my self-coined saying? We're not here on this planet just to live life for ourselves--we're here to love God and to love people. God's the One who gives us the gift of this life and eternal life. People make life on this Earth absolutely a pain at times, but also they make it meaningful. Life is nothing without love and love is nothing without some life. It's a beautiful thing. :)

Tomorrow: Song of Solomon 1-8

Dogs, slobber and Scripture

Today: Psalm 36-39

My dog Harley loves it when I come home. He stands by the door in expectation. He waits for me to take him outside and let him run around in the backyard. As soon as he comes back in the house, he grabs one of his toys and stands by my side. He looks up at me with wide eyes, waiting for me to pull on the toy. I do. And it's slobbery...really slobbery. Ugh! :) I guess I can't fault a dog for loving his toys.

I thought of Harley when I read part of today's passage. Take a look:

Righteous chews on wisdom like a dog on a bone,

rolls virtue around on his tongue.

His heart pumps God's Word like blood through his veins;

his feet are as sure as a cat's.

It's a different type of Scripture passage, but I love the imagery. We're not literally supposed to chew on wisdom or God's Word--but it's supposed to be something we love with the same zeal that Harley has for his beloved toys. We're supposed to speak virtue--to let God's Word flow through us as if it's part of our DNA. To slobber Scripture? Not exactly...but to let it ground us, like the purposeful steps of cat. (Sorry, Harley!) :)

Tomorrow: Psalm 40-45