-
Let Go Of That Balloon! (07.08.05--Joy Every ...
Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 6, 2005 (message contributor)
Let Go of That Balloon! (07.08.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 11:1-6)
Carpe diem! Engraved in the keystone of the old fellowship hall I passed every day on my way to the office, I had glanced at it countless times. But on this particular day, with my youngest daughter in the car, her question prompted me to cast a second look. What does “Carp Dime” mean dad?” “That’s carp-ae dee-um.” I said. “It’s Latin for seize the day!” She looked at me quizzically for the rest of the answer. “Seize the day means to, well, hold on to it and wring every ounce of opportunity that you can out of it. Don’t let it go until you’ve made the best of every situation.” She seemed satisfied with the answer and continued watching the traffic. I, on the other hand, was left with a slight feeling of dissatisfaction. “Every opportunity? The best of every situation?” I may know the meaning but I was suddenly struck with the uneasy feeling that I didn’t understand the application.
“Seize the day!” Somehow it seems to me that this is probably what went through the mind of our Savior each morning as he awoke to another day of ministry on this earth. Time was short and the day was rapidly advancing when the work he could do here would be brought to end. “Carpe Diem!” What work needed to be accomplished must be done now. And, as importantly, what joy there was available in that “deum,” that day must, with an embrace, be brought into the heart, and, most importantly, shared with everyone in that day. The day was no time for slacking, whether that be in work or pleasure.
I remember reading about a conference at a Presbyterian church where people were given helium filled balloons and told to release them at some point in the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. Since they were Presbyterians, they felt that they weren’t free to say “Hallelujah, Praise the Lord.” All through the service some balloons ascended, but when it was over 1/3 of the balloons were unreleased. The majority of the parishioners were simply afraid to let their balloons go.
The Bible tells us to “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.” When we work hard it is easy to see that our labors result in something concrete, a job accomplished, something improved or made better. Why is it that we don’t treat the joy in our day the same way. Casting it upon the waters of this life so that others can benefit from our smile, our good joke told well, our willingness to say “Hi!” to a stranger on our way. Today, seize the little joys that God puts into your life and share them with someone else. Let your balloon and “seize the day.”
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt 6:34)
If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to “This Passing Day!”,
This Passing Day!
www.beechsprings.com
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
A. W. Tozer, Another Wonderful Devotional Writer ... PRO
Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jul 2, 2002
A. W. Tozer, another wonderful devotional writer said this: The widest thing in the universe is not space; it is the potential capacity of the human heart. Being made in the image of God, it is capable of almost unlimited extension in all directions. And one of the world’s greatest ...read more
-
Charles Spurgeon Offers This Warning: "If You ... PRO
Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 10, 2002
Charles Spurgeon offers this warning: “If you haven’t looked at Christ on the cross, you’ll have to look at Him on the throne—with great trembling. The sacrificial death of Christ will be brought before the eyes of all who refuse to accept His free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. In ...read more
-
Henri Nouwen, Who Was A Roman Catholic Priest And ...
Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jul 2, 2002
Henri Nouwen, who was a Roman Catholic priest and a man of deep devotion to Christ said this: I often think: "A life is like a day; it goes by so fast. If I am so careless with my days, how can I be careful with my life?" I know that somehow I have not ...read more
-
If The World Were A Village Of 1000 People, Next ... PRO
Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 7, 2002
If the world were a village of 1000 people, next year’s population would be 1018. Twenty-eight people would be born, but 10 would die: three from lack of food, one from cancer, two in birth, one from war or crime, and three from natural causes. Two-hundred people from this village would receive ...read more
-
One Blistering Hot Day When They Had Guests For ...
Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Nov 8, 2004
One blistering hot day when they had guests for dinner, Mother asked 4-year old Johnny to return thanks. “But I don’t know what to say!” the boy complained. “Oh, just say what you hear me say” his mother replied. Obediently the boy bowed his head and mumbled, ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Living In A Season Of Joy Series
Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jul 24, 2017
Each of us experience the natural seasons of winter, spring, summer and autumn; and we also experience spiritual seasons in our lives. I want us to consider together how we can Live in a Season of Joy.
-
Our God Of Restoration Series
Contributed by Jerry Owen on Oct 1, 2016
Yahweh is the God who delights in restoration.
-
When Satan Tries To Steal Your Joy
Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Nov 25, 2017
• Have you ever felt like you lost your joy? • Do you ever wake up and think… “I used to be happy.” • Could it be that satan has stolen your joy? • Let’s explore this today…
-
The Refiner's Fire
Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Aug 18, 2017
The prophet Malachi wrote that the Lord would send his messenger of the covenant, and asks, "who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap." What is the answer to Malachi's question?
-
Some Things We Can Get Excited About Series
Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Jul 4, 2015
With all of the discouragement we face in this world, when we look to the Word of God we find some things that we can get excited about.