On turning 25

Todays' my birthday. 25 years old. seems strange, being so 'mature' and all. To think that 25 years is behind me, and to think that all that has been to prepare me for the next 25 -plus years, summons one to define it somehow. It's good to set landmarks in life which publish where we've been. Without knowing where we've been, it's improbable that we will ever get to where we're going by the means we anticipated.
I want to continue in life as a joyful, grateful and successful human being. For all practical purposes, my life is successful . But i often have such a narrow view on things that i forget what good surrounds me. I must never neglect the big picture, either. God has been working on this thing called "Jonathan's Life Story" for the last 25 earth-years. In fact, He is writing a book about me...see Malachi 3:16. Often i lack being marvelled by what God has done because i'm so stinkin' selfish in my fixating on what I have done and/ or messed up.
I've been thru a couple schools of 'hard knocks' during my 25 years here. Often it's the trials and sorrows that teach me so much. Every once in awhile i have a flood of inspiration, and it seems that just today is that day to get it in writing. I bless God for giving a great beam of Sonlight on this birthday! I am lonely of human presence, but I am not alone, because my Adonai is with me.

Some pearls of insight 25 years in the making:

-Treat the woman in your life like the treasure she is. She is God's gift to you! Live for her enjoyment, edification and enjoyment. Have it in mind to bring these to her every day through God's strength. You have what it takes to love her; God wouldn't have chosen you for her if you did not!

-Get enough sleep every night. No matter the extenuating circumstances, make sure decent sleep happens!

-Accept that you will have one of two pains in this life: the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Discipline can prevent regret; regret is much weightier than discipline.

-Don't allow for negativity to rule your mind. "Let the peace of God, which passes understanding, rule your mind through Christ Jesus"

-Let the past be past, and let what's done be done

-Think only that which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtuous, praiseworthy

-Beleive that God is intersted in your very best! He is not out to trick you, surprise you or punish you. You're His beloved, His creation, and whatever you do is going to turn out for the good.

-Whatever you do, do for the Glory of God. Work, play, talking, writing... "we are His workmanship, created through Christ Jesus unto good works, which He has before prepared that we should walk in them." It may be that what you're doing right now, this second, was prepared for you from the foundation of the world by your loving Father! Do it with all your strength, therefore, and show yourself a worthyand thankful servant and steward of that opportunity!

-Be thankful in all things

-Assume the best of people and uphold them in your thoughts with dignity and respect and admiration. We are each a reflection of God's image

-Constantly remind yourself of the beauty and love around you

-Define priorities and choose your actions based on those priorities.

-Don't wait or hesitate. there's nothing more useless than the time behind you.

-don't worry. it accomplishes nothing

-don't complain. same story

-time is for productivity and for carrying out constructive means to constructive ends

-when interacting with others, listen, learn, and try to understand where they are at that moment.

-know what you're good at and continually improve on that.

-Fear God - not man, or time or circumstance. Wisdom starts there.

-Keep your head above your heart, and God above it all.