This is what I heard Mom say at least three times today! My friend, Barbara and I, both, said it at least twice! You probably already know where we were! We were sitting on the beach under full sun - not a cloud in the sky! Hot sun, warm sand and a cool breeze! While there was a lot of talking and laughing there was quiet time too. Time to soak up the Son! I thought about how we kept saying, "it doesn't get any better than this!"
I feel this is so true! Not just that I am at the beach sitting in God's creation but that I know I am sitting in God's creation. That I know He is the Creator! It is hard for me to imagine going to the beach and not feeling super close to God but it happens. I can tell you every day of the summer, growing up, I was on the beach and that was not my thought. I loved the beach but it was not a spiritual thing for me at that time in my life.
I think everything in life is better because we know Jesus. When we realize all good things come from Him we cannot help but be grateful. James 1: 17, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." I love how James calls blessings “good and perfect gifts.” Not only has God provided food, shelter, a job, health but He has provided a place for me to go and enjoy His creation and sit in His Presence! I can hear Him saying, "Charles, I know Jill and Sylvia will love today - I'm going to make it 82 and full sun. I'll throw a little cool breeze on them." They will be renewed today!
When we accept Jesus' commandments and hold them in our hearts and minds we experience the joy that His commandments give us. John 15: 10-11, "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." When we love God and our neighbor as we love ourselves, we will have joy. Think about when we do something for someone else, even if we really didn't want to, we are always glad we did. It gives us joy! We experience joy when we do for others or even when we forgive someone.
While we may not have everything we want, we have all we need to live a godly life. 2 Peter 1: 3, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." When we turn our lives over to Jesus, we have access to Him 24/7! We have equal access to Him as everyone else! He gives us His Word to study. We can communicate with Him through prayer. We will have a fulfilled life serving Him. John 10: 10, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." It doesn't get any better than that!