Greater is He

Ecclesiastes 4
⁶Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 5
¹Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. ²Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. ³For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

Ecclesiastes 7
²It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. ³Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Ecclesiastes has always been one of my favorite books of the bible; but I never understand those last two verses until this past year. I knew it had to be right, because the bible is true... but how could sadness really be better that laughter and joy?

The most meaningful and most memorable times in my life have not been the good times. They have not been the times when I was surrounded by family and friends. I sure do have those good memories, but the memories I have that have had the most impact on me were the times that I was tore up about something. The times when I have wept and prayed with friends. When My heart was literately failing me, when it physically hurt, when I cried out to my God.

It is through pain and sorrow we "lay it to our hearts." We remember the serious things of life. We remember who we are and why we are here. Our hearts are "made better" when things in life hurt us and draw us back to the One who frees us from our pain and loves us without limit or restriction. Those are the memories, those are the late nights that are planted so deep in my heart I wont be able to forget. We are a peculiar people, called with a high calling. What a privilege to serve One who's understanding is "infinite."

I read 1 Peter 2, and if you get the chance read the whole chapter. It really spoke to my heart in following God's will and having Him direct my steps. It's not so much where I work, what I do, where I go, as it is that I follow the example that Christ left behind. It's not a matter of knowing God's will, but doing it.

¹¹Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

¹²Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

¹⁵For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

²¹For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

²²Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

²³Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

²⁴Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1 Peter 3

...If any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; ²While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.³Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;⁴But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

What all these verses seem to have in common is the "quietness." Which don't you know is my best attribute. (:

God's in the fixing business though, and He's is a lot stronger than me.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.1 John 4:4