Sunday, March 31, 2024

"Peculiar Treasure"

 "I gathered me also silver and gold, and peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts." (Ecclesiastes 2:8 KJV)

  ""Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!"" (Matthew 13:45-46 NLT)

 Just so you know, much of this stuff, treasures and servants and animals and buildings and gardens, they were really already addressed in the "Making Stuff" blog; all of these last four verses were just listing all of the stuff, all of which is currently not important! So, there you have it, whether or not to makes any sense, it still makes for good conversation! 

 Hopefully you have some indication what the number '8' represents, Biblically, it is a number that is used to represent New Beginnings. Not that it matters much to the verse we have today, because this is pretty much the end of Solomon's list, but within this verse we see things that might actually matter: Souls! Before you judge, you need to know that Solomon built one spectacular Temple! 

 These singers and musical instruments were not just part of his pleasure, there were some that were worshipping in the Temple and singing praises to God. I know that Solomon had gone off the path, it is only obvious that he did; but the end result, is the fact that he belonged to God; and anyone who belongs to God does not get thrown away or abandoned! 

 As far as the passage from Matthew, there a couple of different ways to look at this; but there is really only one way that shows the truth: God is the One that finds you! Yes you! If you were the only person on this earth, He would still die on the cross for you! Each and every one of us are His treasure; whether we know it or not, His heart is for us: to make the right choice, to love Him, to obey His commands, and to be His precious child! 

 That is what He sent His Son for; giving all that He had to pay the price for us, each and every one! But that was not the end: it was the New Beginning...

"But tell me this - since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would be lying about God - for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can't be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died." (1 Corinthians 15:12-20 NLT) 

Saturday, March 30, 2024

"Descension"

 "I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:" (Ecclesiastes 2:7 KJV)

  "That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead - so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit." (1 Peter 4:6 NLT)

 I know, it seems rather odd and quite out of sorts; but we are celebrating the power of God's salvation for the whole earth; this is the period between the death on the cross, and the moving away of the stone! In the part of this Scripture that says, "and had servants born in my house," if you look up that word, "house," Sheol is listed in the definition. So here you have it, just go with it! 

 Before Jesus had paid the price, having died for the entire sins of the world, those that wanted to ask God for forgiveness would sacrifice an animal, representing the blood that should be shed for the covering of sin. God initiated this when He clothed Adam and Eve with the skins of animals. They had covered themselves with fig leaves, which really did nothing but make them itch; but God, took away their itching, and gave them a covering that actually worked.

 Oddly enough, the whole thing with Cain and Abel turned out the same; as Cain sacrificed from the work of his labor, offering fruits and vegetables; but Abel offered a blood sacrifice, using the firstborn lamb from his flock. God accepted Abel's sacrifice, because of the blood that covered sin, but rejected Cain's sacrifice, which covered nothing, which made Cain furious with his brother.  

 All of these sacrifices, throughout thousands of years, they all were only a covering for sin, but never actually took away the sin, not like what happened on the cross! Jesus paid the penalty for sin, once and for all, with His blood! By His blood, He washed away all the sins, for the entire world! Those that had died before Jesus came and paid the price, if they were looking towards salvation, they were waiting in the place called, Sheol, or hell, where Jesus went to preach the Good News, to all of those that were waiting to hear it! 

 I don't really know how else to explain it, but those who have received salvation, they are the ones that accepted the Salvation that was offered them! Everyone's sins were paid for on that cross, but not everyone will receive the free gift that God has provided for them. I can only imagine that there might have been those who heard Jesus preach the Good News in Sheol, but ignored it and refused to accept it. Much like those that were bitten and refused to look at the bronze serpent that Moses lifted up on the staff; they just looked away and refused to be healed.

 Imagine the number of people that Jesus preached to and imagine how many animals were sacrificed to offer a covering for sins! I can only imagine that the numbers were staggering: Great, to say the least...

""And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."" (John 3:14-21 NLT) 


Friday, March 29, 2024

"Refreshment"

 "I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:" (Ecclesiastes 2:6 KJV)

  "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." (PSALM 1:1-3 NLT)

 This is a day, many refer to as, "Good Friday," yet many don't even really understand what it means, and why it might be good, based upon the fact of what it represents. In Luke 2:10-12, the angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds, saying, "Don't be afraid, I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him be this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." 

 For most people that are gainfully employed, their workweek involves a Monday to Friday kind of week, where you start working on Monday, finishing your week of work on Friday. It is basically a day many people look forward to, as they might have a time for refreshment during the weekend, if they get a chance. 

 Typically, good and death are not really something you might associate together, death is so gloomy, good doesn't really match gloomy, at least not in the situation of life as we know it. But God! (I can't really do this!) God made a way, a once and for all way, to make a death Good! Most people really don't really understand that! 

 We could call it the Great-Reset, where everything that was wrong in this world, was flipped and turned into something else, all because of One Man's death on a cross! Jesus said, "Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels - a plentiful harvest of new lives." (John 12:23-24 NLT) 

 At this point in the message you might be thinking, 'What does this have to do with pools of water, or watering trees?' I have had this discussion before, and it really doesn't end well; no pun intended! Is the Water a reference to the Word of God, or does it represent the Holy Spirit? What does it really matter! 

 We have One GOD! Did God actually place Himself on the cross to die for our sins? Was Abraham correct, saying, "God will provide Himself a sacrifice," as if to say that God Himself will be the sacrifice? Did the rainbow really represent the bow, with the arrow of the next judgment on the whole earth, aiming up into heaven? 

 Luke 2:10-12 makes the message abundantly clear! For hundreds of years God did not speak; and when He did, His first words were the cry of a baby! Man messed all of this up, and the Son of Man came down and fixed it, once and for all...

"For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law - I stopped trying to meet all its requirements - so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law makes us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die." (Galatians 2:19-21 NLT) 

Thursday, March 28, 2024

"Shamelessness"

 "I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits:" (Ecclesiastes 2:5 KJV)

  "Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Listen to this message from the LORD of Heaven's Armies: 'The time is coming when everything in your palace - all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now - will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,' says the LORD. 'Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon's king.'" Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "This message you gave me from the LORD is good." For the king was thinking, "At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime."" (Isaiah 39:5-8 NLT)

 Maybe this won't make much sense right away, but I believe it will sink in and penetrate some hearts; at least my own! You have probably heard the phrase, "You shall know them by their fruit," which comes from the passage in Matthew 7:15-20, as Jesus describes the good tree and bad tree, as they are only able to produce good or bad fruit, depending on what kind of tree they really are. 

 I tossed and turned in my bed most of the night; maybe because it really wasn't my bed, but a sofa-bed, that was not really all that comfortable. Regardless, it was a rather sleepless night! It could have been worse, but a doctor from the Hospital where my father-in-law was called, letting me know that he had opened him up, cleaned out a lot of issues, and was hopeful they might be taking his tube out soon.

 If none of that makes any sense, it really doesn't matter! I felt as though I had let him down; because when I had the chance to pray with him, I just sat there making small-talk and tried to keep him in good spirits. After the situation I witnessed on the 'Statis-Board' I felt I should have laid hands on him and really prayed hard that he would be protected. 

 Sometimes I am such a stupid idiot! When my wife was going into the operating room, I should have been more attentive to her and not so positive that everything was going to be alright. Several days before the procedure, she has shown me some papers that talked about Power of Attorney, and such; but I just blew it all off, telling her everything was going to be fine. 

 We must not ever let our guard down! You might think that all is well, but you really have no idea what the enemy can do, will do, or is planning to do; he will take you out, especially when you let him! "Oh what needless pain we bear!" 

 If there is anything good in this, it is that they opened him up, finding quite a few issues that needed to be corrected; issues that didn't show up in the x-rays, and where from his previous by-pass. Prayerfully, he will be brought back to a healthier condition; one where he can actually walk and work! 

 If your concerned about the title, "Shamelessness," it is a noun, specifically because it is a thing, like fruit is a thing that is produced! For the record, although it stinks to high heaven, it doesn't need to stay that way, and there is always hope...      

"At that time Jesus prayed this prayer, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! "My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."" (Matthew 11:25-30 NLT)

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

"Making Stuff"

 "I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:" (Ecclesiastes 2:4 KJV)

  "Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world! High and low, rich and poor - listen! For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight. I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp. Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me? They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever and never see the grave. Those who are wise must finally die; just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind. The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever. They may name their estates after themselves, but their fame will not last. They will die, just like animals. This is the fate of fools, though they are remembered as being wise. Interlude " (Psalm 49:1-13 NLT)

 This is the account of stuff! Stuff that doesn't last, but in the making, makes one feel accomplished! Been there, done that! If you have ever made something, such as furniture, or a garden, or a building, having actually completed your work, then you can appreciate the feeling you get, if just for a moment, of having accomplished something. But believe me, it really doesn't last! 

 This is not because we wasted our time, because we boast about the things we made from time to time, so it is hardly something you don't cherish having done. But it is all just stuff; and stuff gets old, needs to be kept up, and eventually becomes junk that needs to be discarded. 

 The Psalm which is printed above has a little something in common with Solomon's message; mostly the parts about what happens after you die: None of that stuff goes with you, nothing you accumulate or count as yours, is really ever yours to keep, because it doesn't go with you to the grave! And even if it did, you will have no use for it, because you are dead! 

 Again, the general thesis of this story has to do with things that really last: "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last!" (CT Studd 1860) Hopefully we can understand what that is, what it stands for, and how it works. Realistically, you could build and make things, which could be considered as things for Christ, if you were doing them for others and not yourself, (just saying!) 

 I was amazed to see pictures of a friend from church, Bruce, who was making false teeth for people in Mexico, as he molded and grinded the castings that would fit in their mouths. Things like that are what we should be about, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting those in prison! It's the little things that really matter, because a lot of the little things get overlooked... 

""Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"" (Matthew 25:34-40 NLT) 

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

"Happiness?" - To

 "I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under heaven all the days of their life." (Ecclesiastes 2:3 KJV)

  "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13 NLT)

 Whatever you feel, if happiness is what you long for, it doesn't last! You can be happy in the moment, but within an instant, you can say goodby to happiness, by just being let down or put into a bad situation. I remember something Pastor Chuck said, something like this: "I can make you happy by giving you a check; until you go to cash it, and your happiness will be gone!" 

 If there was some other way to say it, it is like David says in Psalm 32, explaining the difference between holding onto joy, yet at the same time, losing all gladness, with just a little unconfessed sin! You get joy from the Lord, who forgives and cleanses you of all your sins; but you bring the sadness upon yourself when you refuse to confess your sins! 

 God gives joy, we manifest happiness; His joy is true and remains, but our happiness is temporary and base upon what we feel, where we are at, and how our life is going. This is why those who know and live in the joy of the Lord, truly say: "Count it all joy when you are going through tribulations!" 

 On a different note: Solomon is also speaking about getting lost in a little drunkenness! Which, as I said before, it seems to be the way some people try to find happiness lately. If ever there was an absolute negative approach to finding happiness, temporary amnesia is one that will do it! If you don't remember what you did the night before, how sad is that! 

 Having grown up in a home where drunkenness was a normal assurance, I can tell you from experience, a happy life is not what you experience when stuff is being broken and your parents are threatening to kill each other! I had a lock on the outside of my bedroom door, but I wished that it was on the inside!  

 If you don't think you are experiencing the joy of the Lord, then you need to start confessing your sins! Make sure that you thank Him for forgiving you and set your heart towards obedience to all that He tells you to do. When you can do the little things, you will find He gives you bigger things that will make you happy...

 "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refuse to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude

 "Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude

 "Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude

 "The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control." Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust in the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!" (PSALM 32 NLT) 

Monday, March 25, 2024

"Happiness?"

"I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold of folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under heaven all the days of their life." (Ecclesiastes 2:3 KJV)

  "So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT)

 "Solomon is not speaking here of sober enjoyment of the things of the world, but of intemperate pleasure, whose two attendants, laughter and mirth, are introduced by a beautiful prosopopoeia, as two persons, whom he treats with the utmost contempt." (Commentary on the verse 2:2) 

 Whether or not you understand what this means, it is something we sometimes take for granted, as if, the world around us is what we live for; even though, this life is temporary, filled with death and destruction, and soon to be destroyed! Sounds like doom and gloom; but in contrast to what is coming, depending upon your statis with the Lord, we say, "Come Lord Jesus, Come!" 

 Distractions! How do you take your days upon this earth? That is where Solomon is going, as he counts that which is folly, against that which is wise; the things which take away, verses those things which give life real meaning and purpose. 

 If I am being honest, I would have to say that I pray for God's guidance and leading less than I should. As a matter of fact, I find myself saying, "Your will be done," but hardly ever ask Him what His will is for my life! Maybe because I am so caught up in the motion, (commotion is more like it,) that my life spins too fast for me to stop and smell the roses! 

 Happiness is a state of mine, so they say. Whether you except it or not, it is based upon where you're at and what you might be doing; but it does not stick around when you aren't where you want to be, doing what you want to do! 

 Basically, happiness is something that you chase, hoping to hold onto, but seldom can keep it around...

 "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until danger passes by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me. Interlude  My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness." (PSALM 57:1-3 NLT)


Sunday, March 24, 2024

"Prosopopoeia"

 "I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?" (Ecclesiastes 2:2 KJV)

  "So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of evil things that godless people enjoy - their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols." (1 Peter 4:1-3 NLT)

 For the moment, pretend you don't see the title of this blog, and imagine it doesn't exist. Instead, focus upon the word, "laughter," thinking of those things which cause you to laugh to yourself, when no one is around; if that is something that you might do? If you can't or don't remember laughing to yourself, then think of the opposite, which would be cursing out load, when you don't think anyone can hear you; I bet that is easier to recall than laughter! 

 Why does laughter do? Well, according to some studies, it lengthens your life; giving you less stress, a better immune system, more tolerance to pain; besides, those physical things, you will have a better sense of humor, laughing when it hurts otherwise! Looking at things with the glass half full, expecting more to come, and looking for opportunities to make your life better. 

 What is that Solomon is pointing to, when he speaks of laughter? To be candid, it is foolishness and worthless if it used to ease a sorrowful spirit or erase a guilty conscience; as James says, "Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy." (James 4:9 NLT) 

 When it comes to worshiping God, is there really such a thing as holy laughter? Can you have joy without laughter? Believe it or not, but when I feel sad and unhappy, I try to find something to make myself feel happy; something funny and worth laughing about.

  Some people use alcohol as a way to find happiness; and the amount of people that I see buying alcohol lately, seems like 95% category of people shopping. And there are 20% that don't even care, they just have a cart full of alcohol, and nothing else! 

 Why is this something we need to pay any attention to? What does it matter to God? I am thinking about Moses, when he was about to give up dealing with a million complainer's that just couldn't be satisfied. What did God do to change his heart? He caused him to fall in love with his people! Really, it was no laughing matter! But, at the same time, you can look back and laugh, because God does have a sense of humor! 

 Think about some of the Bible stories that make you laugh, some of which are God's way of doing things that are too hilarious to even speak about, let alone use for teaching! Why did Jesus tell those Jews, "If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." (Luke 19:40) Why did Jesus fold that napkin that covered His face, placing it neatly on the slab where He had laid? (John 20:7) How about, "Touche and Take That!" 

 I have tried and tried to change, sometimes making it work, sometimes not; but sometimes God has more to do with those that are broken, then He can do with those that think they are fixed...

"If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it, because I don't want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:6-12 NLT) 

Saturday, March 23, 2024

"The Test of Joy" - Too

 "I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 2:1 KJV)

  "Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" (PSALM 34:8 NLT)

 Thinking about this for most of the day, off and on, although Solomon uses the word, "mirth," which pretty much means joy, gladness, and rejoicing, it is a word that also speaks of pleasure; but because it is a noun, it is something you have or have not, not something you do! I really don't know how else to express it, other than to say that happiness and joy are not the same thing. 

 If you have real joy, then your joy is based upon something that is secure and doesn't get easily taken, by the basic cares of this world; this is the kind of joy we have when we put our faith in the LORD! The joy is not based upon what we can do or not do, but upon what God has done for us, meaning it has already been done, because God does not go back on His word! 

 Having said that, there are some basic principles that are ours, most of which I have already covered, as in surrendering and repentance; basically, something that doesn't require work or making up for things we might have done, but just surrendering our lives and asking God to forgive us! From that, we live by faith, believing in His forgiveness, which is the power of His great mercy and love; receiving His great grace, by which He gives us the righteousness we do not deserve! 

 Again, not anything that we can mess with, because it isn't anything that we have made or can take away; our joy comes from the LORD! However! Joy is expressed in us by doing His will for our lives; even if we mess up, as we most likely will do from time to time, it is His will and purpose for us to ask for mercy, even though we might not deserve it, He gives it freely! 

 Okay, I might not fully understand everything, because I really don't need to try; but the basic principle of what it means to trust God at His word, that much I believe is not something based upon what you think you understand, but what put your faith in, and is based upon what God has promised. You don't have to explain how God works your salvation out, only that He has saved you, and you believe that you have been saved! 

 If you don't believe that you are saved, then get saved, as soon as you possibly can; all you have to do, is just reach out and grab hold of it...

"One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, "As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small. Let's go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet." "All right," he told them, "go ahead." "Please come with us," someone suggested. "I will," he said. So he went with them. When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. "Oh, sir!" he cried. "It was a borrowed ax!" "Where did it fall?" the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface. "Grab it," Elisha said. And man reached out and grabbed it." (2 Kings 6:1-7 NLT)  

Friday, March 22, 2024

"The Test of Joy"

 "I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 2:1 KJV)

  "The Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, "Don't mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God." For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. And Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!"" (Nehemiah 8:9-10 NLT)

 Not quite sure where to start, except to go back to the beginning. When God made man, He pretty much blessed him with all that was created; including that tree, that tree he was forbidden to eat from! However! The thing which could have been a blessing, turned into a curse, because it was forbidden and yet it was present, right there in the middle of the garden! 

 The passage above, from Nehemiah, is a good example of what I am talking about. This people had been living in Babylon and really had no clue of the real words written in God's Law; but on this day, they heard the written Law for the very first time. Hearing the Law, they naturally felt cursed, weeping and mourning for they were guilty, each and every one, by the reading of God's word and His Law.

 The joy of the LORD is our strength! Yes, man's cursed tree in the middle of that garden, should have been his blessing! I know that might not hit the mark, but honoring God's one simple law, meant that he was doing that which God asked, despite his own desire or temptations! When we do this, we experience joy; and when we experience joy, we are strengthened! 

 When Jesus was preparing and praying about the cross, He was torn by the curse! It was in that moment a curse; so much so, He wept and sweet blood, being torn between the Father's will and that which He was currently feeling. When He finally accepted the will of the Father, the curse was lifted and He was full of joy, because He was doing the will of the Father! 

 From that point on, Jesus was strengthened; nothing was going to stop Him from walking in that feeling of doing something which pleased the Father! So, what is the point? Absolutely everything! Everything points to doing what pleases God; if it doesn't feel right, don't do it; see if the joy of the Lord doesn't show up and give you strength! 

 Otherwise, doing what doesn't please the Lord, will be a curse, whether you realize it or not, your guilty heart will feel cursed...

""It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands. Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the LORD'S name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love."" (Isaiah 55:11-13 NLT) 


Thursday, March 21, 2024

"The Futility of Pleasure"

  "I said to myself, "Come on, let's try pleasure. Let's look for the 'good things' in life." But I found that this too, was meaningless. So I said, "Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?" After much thought, I decided to cheer myself up with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.

 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire! 

 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless - like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere." (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 NLT)

  "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: to show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O LORD, how great are thy works! And thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this." (Psalms 92:1-6 KJV)

 If you think about it, most of us have tried to find satisfaction in pleasure, at one time of another. Some of us having probably went a little over the top; at least I know I did from time to time. Something is okay, and then there are other things we dare not talk about; but one thing is for sure: Nothing will last, everything gets old, and anything we think gives us pleasure, will sooner or later be a burden and cost too much to keep up. 

 Where we have pleasure is not where our treasure is, as long as it is something attached to this world! I can say with all honesty, the greatest pleasure I get is finding things in God's word; and even that is something that will wear off after a while! The one thing the I keep on bringing up, and it always a topic I am glad to share, is from Job 38:22-23. 

 Whatever it is, it is something that God asked Job to think about, but it is also something which I believe has happened only around 120 years ago, give or take. I have shared this with so many people, but most of them don't really think it really counts. 'Too bad for them,' that's what I say! 

 If you really want to know something that will change your way of thinking, just ask God to speak into your heart and apply His word to your life; life in general, as in, all that He has created and has shown you your entire life. He is such an amazing God! Can you believe that all of this, He created for us to be amazed by? God is so good...

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. And God saw everything that he made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." (Genesis 1:27-31 KJV)  

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

"All in the Know!"

 "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." (Ecclesiastes 1:18 KJV)

  "Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness." And again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless."" (1 Corinthians 3:18-20 NLT)

 I can recall a time when I thought taking certain drugs made me smarter; as if the more LSD I took, the more my mind would open up to the world around me, letting me experience the powers of the earth and sky. There is a reason that drugs are referenced with sorcery and white magic, because they are oddly connected to the god of this world, the Deceiver who leads people's minds down a rabbit-hole, only to have them trapped, on the highway to hell! 

 Since I have opened this, somewhat possessive journey, I have tried to make it into a living journal, to express to anyone that is listening what it is like to even try to embark on such an adventure, if you ever think about doing so. Honestly, it has its ups and downs; but I can tell you with all my heart, I love it! 

 Again, I need to express the reason that I choose to take on this particular Book, Ecclesiastes! As we went through the Journey of this Book in church, there were several messages that I had to take issue with; not that the teaching was not correct, because if you have studied in Seminary, there is the basic teaching of how those in the know teach, and then there is the opinions of those that don't know the know! 

 I don't know the know; but I do know what I have come to believe: Every Scripture in the Bible can be used to proclaim the Good News about Christ! This Book, Ecclesiastes, although very misunderstood and judged by some to be filled with complaints about life, each and every complaint or issue; but, with the right perspective, can be an open-door to Christ! Yes, even that which is negative, turned upside-down, becomes one that points to Christ! 

 Solomon is sharing his heart, making this illustration of two basic concepts of knowing: Knowing all that is to know under the sun, verses, knowing the Son! If you know the Father, then you will know the Son; if you know the Son, you will know the Father; and you will only know either One is by the Spirit! 

 Each and every word that is written in the Book, was written by the Holy Spirit; although it might have been penned by a man, this man was led by the Spirit of God, to express God's heart, not just that of his own! That's my belief on the matter, and I am going to still to it! 

 As for this final verse on, "The Futility of Wisdom," there are two very distinct contrasting ways to read into this: The things under the sun are temporary, giving no benefit for man to study and focus upon; doing so will just produce grief and sorrow! Why is that? Because they don't last, they are like chasing the wind! The hidden secret, which coincides with this discovery, is the life under the Son, and with it comes man's greatest hope, that never fades and is eternal...

""You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life."" (John 5:39-40 NLT)     

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

"Against All Odds"

 "And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit." (Ecclesiastes 1:17 KJV)

  "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

 There comes a point in this journey when you will be challenged to give up; not that you plan for it, or even expect it, but because you're making a difference, and when that happens, watch out! This is pretty typical for just about everyone, whether you are leading a large church, or a small band of misfits, if you are advancing the Kingdom of God, you will find yourself facing great opposition and loss. 

 Forget that we are talking about Solomon's extreme wealth and overindulgence; instead, focus on the part about the wisdom, as if wisdom gives insight into circumstance and situations. If you have been following Jesus for any amount of time, you should know by now, God's way of doing things, however strange or impossible, they are not the way we might have planned it; most of the time they are pretty much the opposite of what we might have done! 

 You might be struggling with your finances and have no clue what to do. Do you secure your funds and pinch your penny's? Yea, right; not in God's economy! You scrounge up all you can find, and give it all to the church, letting yourself fall into the arms of God! 

 That is just one example, based upon something normal and easy to understand. But what do you do when you can't move; when you are perplexed by so much opposition, you are certain that you are not where God would have you, feeling as though you're on your own. Besides prayer, which is always important, you look for the hardest and less obvious route. 

 Crazy as it might seem, but if you really want to follow the Lord, then you must, by all means, expect that the unseemly way is the way you will go. Think about it, it doesn't take a lot to figure it out; as a matter of fact, it turns out to be the exact opposite, because you shouldn't even try to figure it out, it's not your plan, its God's plan, your just along for the ride! 

 Does that mean you won't worry? If you don't have some worry, you are not normal and need to be check out! Heros are afraid, they just know how to manage their fear and use it to be motivated for the task at hand. Worry is just another way to make you put all your trust in the Lord...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." (Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT)  

Monday, March 18, 2024

"More Than We Ask For"

 "I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge." (Ecclesiastes 1:16 KJV) 

  "Many people say, "Who will show us better times?" Let your face smile on us, LORD. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe." (PSALM 4:6-8 NLT)

 Something to think about, if you are interested in learning how to count your blessings, instead of making complaints about things that might bother you or make you feel insecure and all alone. For Solomon, he only asked for the wisdom to govern God's people, saying, "Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by myself is able to govern this great people of yours?" (1 Kings 3:9 NLT)

 On a little different note, every time I ask God to help me to not judge, but give me patience and an understanding heart, it seems almost instantly there is someone or something that causes me to judge, lose my patience, and have a heart of stone! Go figure, you ask God to help you do something right, and He gives you the ability to try and make it happen! We fail, epically fail! 

 Well, at least I know that I do; but then again, I blame it on my wife, who has no way to defend herself; and if she did, she would lift up her hand, turn her head away, and say, "Talk to the hand!" Seriously, it is not really that I blame her, if I am going to be honest, any pain or suffering I might feel, is somehow all God's fault; at least it is when I am having a moment. 

 Don't be alarmed by that, because even Adam blamed God for his sin of eating the forbidden fruit, saying, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it," (Genesis 3:12 NLT) Regardless, for the most part, I have more blessings than I could ever count! Yes, it hurts from time to time, as I might feel as though I have been missing out; but there is no way to describe the love I feel for my wife; my only regret, is that I didn't show her this kind of love before her incident.

 If we both make it to the coming August the 12th, we will have been married half of the time better and the other half of it worst, although I'm not sure sometimes which one is which! I would explain it if I could, but all I can say, I have learned a lot about what it means to love unconditionally... 

"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We are knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." (2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NLT)   

Sunday, March 17, 2024

"Deficiency of the Heart"

 "That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered." (Ecclesiastes 1:15 KJV) 

  ""Why don't people say to God, 'I have sinned, but I will sin no more'? Or 'I don't know what evil I have done - tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once'?"" (Job 34:31-32 NLT)

 How is it that we cannot see what is lacking in ourselves? Why don't we try harder to stop doing the wicked things we hold onto, as if they can't be stopped? Having been serving the Lord as long as I have, it still isn't easy to try not to sin! As a matter of fact, when I focus on trying not to sin, it seems that there is some kind of magnetic force that causes me to do it anyway, sometimes repeatedly, without even trying. 

 The hardest thing for me to do, is to not judge others. I say to myself, "I will not judge why someone has done this or that?" but then, no sooner as I say it, I am judging them wrongly, almost as if my mind turns from judging to condemning, without even giving it a second thought. 

 That might not seem like such a terrible sin, but it probably is not a bad as backbiting or speaking behind someone's back, or spreading gossip about someone, without really knowing the truth! Actually, they are both very wrong, because it is basically a form of hate! No one thinks ill of someone or tries to hurt someone's character, without first feeling hate towards them, in one form or another. 

 What was it that made Cain kill his brother, Able? Envy! Cain did wrong, but Able did right; and it was something that Cain couldn't stand, it couldn't be undone, even though he didn't really do what was right! What can we do to undo what has been done? 

 When I first became a Christian, I think I rededicated my life to the Lord at least six or seven times; and that was within the span of six or eight months! I kept thinking that I had missed something somewhere, hoping to somehow get it right. Several times, both Marianne and I went forward, repenting before the Lord, feeling guilty, like, for having an argument in the church parking lot. 

 Now that I have matured, (which really means that I have gotten use to my sin,) I feel as though there is something more important than focusing on the things which are wrong; instead, I must focus upon that which is right. Basically, we have this hole in our heart that needs to be filled. When we accepted the Lord into our heart, He closed the gap; but we still have to have this empty space totally filled! 

 Just to put your mind at ease, that will not happen in these temporal bodies, so if your concerned about the lack of godliness, just know that you aren't all that different from anyone else! We are like the toys we had, decades ago: Weeble Wobbles, but they don't fall down! Just get over it and continue to put as much as what is right into your heart, as you possibly can. 

 Pray more often, read God's word frequently and throughout the day, and share your heart with as many people as you can, letting the Spirit flow through you, not letting yourself become stagnant! Sing this song, within yourself: "I've got a river of life flowing out of me; It makes the lame to walk and the blind to see. It opens prison doors, sets the captives free. I've got a river of life flowing out of me." 

 I know, silly as it might sound, but it actually works...

""No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."" (Matthew 6:24-34 NLT)     

  

Saturday, March 16, 2024

"Chasing the Wind" - 2

 "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit." (Ecclesiastes 1:14 KJV)

  "God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite and the sons of Mahol - Heman, Calcol, and Darda. His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations. He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in the wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish. And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon." (1 Kings 4:29-34 NLT)

 If you care to know, all the knowledge in the world doesn't do anything for your spiritual enlightenment! However, having a small understanding and relationship with God, will be enough to bring you through this life, however your condition, to the place where you belong, the hand of God! Don't doubt that is so, because it will be the absolute reality when your time to leave this earth has come, however that might happen: Here, there, or in the air! 

 Truth be told, all the knowledge of everything on this earth, is enough to make your head explode; it will surely puff your head up, making you pretend to think you might even know better what is good for you, than what God says you should do, or not do! Although it might take you into a dark and wicked place, we will always have a very short path back to the Father! 

 With all of this wisdom, he discovered that none of it satisfied the soul; none of it filled that natural desire to know the Creator! The more you know about the creation, the more you will be astounded by the One who made it all come to be! Such a simple and relaxing thought, just knowing that there is a God that has made this, holds it together, and fashioned it to be discovered, to amaze us by His creative power! 

 Isn't that what you get from all of this? If not, try to picture what chasing the wind might actually look like. Have you ever tried to do it? When you were a kid, do you remember a time when you thought you could catch the wind? I know it sounds crazy, but I think I might remember a friend of mine and me doing it the playground at school, maybe when I was in 3rd grade. 

 Guess what, the wind dies also! Everything dies! If it lives on the earth, it will one day die; nothing is alive on this earth that will not pass away. There is the "vexation of spirit," here today and gone tomorrow, longing and striving for something you can't have or obtain, on this earth anyway! So, what do we do: We Worry! 

 How long do I have? Will still be faithful in the end? Have I done enough to make the cut? All of these things are like chasing the wind, because none of these things are within our control! You might say, "Yea, but you said some things we must control!" Really? You know what you will do on your death bed? What is the cut? How much do you need to do, in order to make it? 

 I have witnessed dear saints, that feel torn and abandoned, feeling as though God has cursed them and made them suffer, just to punish them for the lack of whatever. They don't feel that they are unfaithful, but that God is the one who let them down. It is really hard to convince them differently, because they are in a really hard place; there mind is dark, and their heart is broken! 

 Will that be something that God won't forgive? You might not understand, because it isn't something you think you will do. But think of John the Baptist, who, because he was in prison and most likely to die, he doubted Jesus was the Messiah, sending his disciples to ask, "Are you the one, or are we look for another?" What was Jesus' reaction? Did He condemn John for doubting Him? No, He praised John for the things he had done! 

 Which takes us to the other issue: Have I done enough to make the cut? Did the thief on the cross do enough, having less than an hour to live after accepting Jesus as Lord? That was all that it took, to believe in his heart, and confess with his mouth! Jesus said, "Today you will be with me in Paradise!" 

 He is in control of your time here on earth! He is in control of your judgment! And He has provided you all the salvation that you need! What is there to worry about....

""But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descendant from Abraham my friend, I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, 'You are my servant.' For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."" (Isaiah 41:8-10 NLT)  

Friday, March 15, 2024

"Chasing the Wind"

 "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit." (Ecclesiastes 1:14 KJV)

  "Don't you realize that is a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what I should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT)

 This might be one of those messages that hits very close to home, having lived most of my last forty-plus years as a Christian, less than giving my all for the Lord. Don't get me wrong, I have tried to do my part; but looking back at everything, both good and bad, those things that stink seem to stand out the most. 

 Here is the thing that should be first and forefront on every believer's mind: "Only what's done for Christ will last!" If you are planning your life upon what is possible in the life of economics and business, you will be constantly dealing with worry and discouragement around every corner. 

 When I was working for someone else, my life seemed less stressful, and I had more free time to spend with my family. Even the evenings after work, although I worked long hours, when I checked out, I was free to spend time, my time, not concerned about the business, because the business wasn't mine! 

 Now, step that up, a thousand notches! When you live as a servant to the Lord, making everything based upon His leading and guiding your life, your life becomes less filled with worry; especially when you make everything you have, not yours, but God's! If everything belongs to God, when it breaks, it is not your problem, because it is God that gives and takes away, we are only stewards of all that He gives to us. 

 Yes, I talk a good game, but like I said, less than giving all to the Lord, actually means that I claimed possession on more than I should have; and that's putting it lightly! I was reminded about something yesterday that made me think about God's giving us, by us giving up. I know it sounds odd, but when you surrender something by giving it away, God provides you something better. 

 Case in point: I had been searching for a particular portrait for 15 years or more, with no success; even though I had a friend who owned a Christian Book Store; and she had no success looking to find me one. Then one Saturday morning as I was finishing my devotion time, I felt God give me a tap on my shoulder, saying, "Look for that portrait now!" 

 Instantly, I got online and typed in the search, "MasterPeace - Forgiven", and within minutes, there it was on Etsy, bidding for $1,200.00; and I bought it, no questions asked! When it showed up at my house, it was well packaged and sealed by the people that sold it online. It included a note explaining how they didn't really want to sell it but needed to money. No sooner than the time they posted it online through Etsy, there I was, buying it without even trying to bid, but paying full price. 

 I was extremely thrilled by the whole ordeal, especially because God was involved, and it felt as though it was an anointed transaction. But then! A year or so later, as I was doing an inspection on a vacant house, both the agent and I went into the garage, and I notice a portrait that was blocking a pet-door inside the side door of the garage. 

 When I pulled to portrait away from the door, it was the same portrait the I had paid $1,200 for, just sitting there, blocking a pet-door. I was so shock, I told her the whole story about the one I bought, and then she suggested that if I wanted it, she would ask the owner, because it obviously was left by the previous tenants. 

 The very next day, she showed up at my house with the portrait, and handed it off to me, totally free! My very first thought was to give the one I purchased to a friend of mine that really loved it, as he knew how long and hard I had searched for it. As I was swapping the portraits on the wall, I noticed the back of the free one had a pocket, and inside the pocket was a Certificate of Authenticity, but the back of the one I had purchased, did not! 

 Anywho, there you have it! God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good...

"It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God's workers. And you are God's field. You are God's building. Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have - Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials - gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But is the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames." (1 Corinthians 3:7-15 NLT)  

Thursday, March 14, 2024

"State of Affairs"

 "And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith." (Ecclesiastes 1:13 KJV)

  "You see, we don't go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves." (2 Corinthians 4:5-7 NLT)

 Breaking this down into two sperate points, both of which connect to one another, the first is one that is that which makes the least sense, from a human perspective; and that is putting it kindly. What I see that Solomon is saying, has to do with his unrelenting attempt to try a figure out, by man's wisdom, how God works; and when I say works, I mean how He controls everything from Heaven. 

 We know from His word that He has said that man cannot know His thoughts or His ways, because they are way too far above our paygrade! But, yet we still try, sometimes giving up some of the things we might care about, just to find the answers; answers that are beyond our reach, because they are beyond this measly existence! 

 The second part is just as promising, but at the same time, it is still productive. I would like to compare it to the analogy of the big giant rock illustration; how God my give us an assignment or task, which cannot be done, no matter how hard we try, we cannot budge that big giant rock! Yet, in the process of time, in the futile attempt to move something that we cannot move, we get stronger! 

 Crazy as it might sound, it works in mysterious ways, making us stronger in one respect, but breaking us down in another! God does not give us anything to do that we cannot do! But our will must be broken! It is really not that hard to understand, because if you are struggling to do something that you obviously cannot do, then it is God's task to do it, you are just standing in the way! 

 Again, the drowning thing is becoming more and more relevant. If you are flailing your arms all round, in futile attempt to save yourself, then the lifeguard will not go near you, and will just wait for you to give up. Once you have stopped, limply hanging there in the water, the lifeguard will rescue you and take you out of the water. 

 You cannot save yourself! Although there are many that try, they will not and cannot move that big giant rock, which is sin! Something that was placed before man, from the very beginning, when God told Adam, 'You may eat of every tree, except that one that is in the middle of the garden.' How often Adam must have looked at that tree, even touched it, felt the fruit, imagined what it might do; yet he had to tear himself away. 

 But then God gave Adam a help meet, that might help him to manage the garden...

"For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault." (Ephesians 5:25-27 NLT)  

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

"The Futility of Wisdom"

 "I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem." (Ecclesiastes 1:12 KJV)

  "Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people's minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their mind so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord - who is the Spirit - makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." (2 Corinthians 3:12-18 NLT)

 Maybe it might be difficult to illustrate what Solomon is trying to say, because there are too many common threads which make it hard to determine what is going to make us wise, which blend together with those that make us into a fool. The harder we prob into wisdom, as if that is what we need to make ourselves a better person, the further we become independent from God. 

 This might not make sense, right away; but the truth of being childlike in our faith, makes it real and extremely important that can, whole-heartedly, trust God; especially when we cannot figure out or understand what He is doing! How often we think we have it all figured out, only to get disappointed because it doesn't go the way we thought He was going to make it work? 

 We are a passenger on this ride, so we should learn to sit back and enjoy it; not try to figure out what comes next or make plans based upon what we think He is doing, or where He is taking us! As James, the half-brother of Jesus says, "What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that."" What a sharp contrast from the old James, who tried to tell Jesus what to do; if he only had known then what he knows now...

"After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can't become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!" For even his bothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, "Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can't hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I'm not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come."" (John 7:1-8 NLT)     

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

"The Teacher Speaks:"

  "I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless - like chasing the wind. 

 "What is wrong cannot be made right. What is missing cannot be recovered.

 "I said to myself, "Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them." So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind. 

 "The greater my wisdom, the greater the grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow." (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 NLT)

  "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." (1 John 3:18-24 KJV)

 We need to take some time to think about some of this, from God's perspective, not from man's point of view. Should anyone think that Solomon was not in his right mind, there might be some truth to that, if you are talking about the mind of a Thinker! The harder we think about anything that involves God, the further out of our minds we might get; there is no end to the circles we create, just trying to imagine the ways of God!

 If you study the lives of great Preachers and Teachers, you will discover that many of them were out of sorts, and that's putting it mildly. One thing is for sure, whether he was in his right mind, or out of sorts, he was led by the Spirit of God! What a difference the Spirit makes in us, anyone of us that are led by the Spirit! We might not know what we are talking about, but when the Spirit speaks, words come out of us that make hearts to listen! 

 This is how God works!!! You might not get the punchline, but it is the Spirit that delivers the punch...

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:19-26 KJV) 

Monday, March 11, 2024

"Momentous!"

 "There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after." (Ecclesiastes 1:11 KJV)

  "Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6 NLT)

 In the light of living under the sun, this is the expression of basic living, as in moments shared with those who are in our lives, cherished times, which do not really get to see the light of day, because they cannot be recorded as they might have happened. It is really not possible to express again something so special and personal; trying to duplicate it, is never the same.

 If we are speaking of certain historical events or people, the actual event or person is the thing that is recorded; but the motivation, emotional journey, and sacrifice of other things, not listed, never see the light of day! People might talk about these things, as if they know, but they really don't know what was or even is, in the heart of another person. 

 However! If you have a personal relationship with God, knowing Him, believing in all that He has promised, then we are talking about a whole different subject all together! Those ripples that are made, big or small, are long forgotten and they count no more; even though they might still go on, long after you die; effecting other people and causing things to happen, that you know nothing about; they have been erased and covered over by the blood of Jesus Christ! 

 Pastor Bryan said something very important for us to lock away in our thoughts, especially when we might be confronted by anyone that might ask: "Why would God need to come and die on a cross?" Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins; not only was He sacrificed on the cross for us, but He was the only one that could be counted as the Perfect Sacrifice; yet, He became sin, taking on the sins of the whole world; so much so, that for that brief moment in time, for the very first time, the Father and the Son had to be separated, because of our sins! 

 It's okay to have doubts about this strange and unorthodox way of sharing something I have no clue or real knowledge about; I even doubt it myself, but I also feel compelled to share it anyways, because I am sure that God is leading me, step by step! On a more pressing note: We are getting ready for some very interesting times; times that will require prayer and fasting, paying attention to the truth, and loving one another, like never before! 

 When things become difficult and trials seem unending, instead of feeling overwhelmed, rest in the arms of the Lord, letting Him be your strength! I really will never forget something I saw Pastor Gary do, back in 1989, as he was showing us what it meant to learn how to surrender and drown. He literally became limp as he stood next to his pulpit, and for a brief second or two, he looked as if he was floating in the water. 

 We need to learn how to drown! That means to surrender to the Lifeguard of your soul, quit trying to save yourself, and just relax and let Him grab hold of you...

"We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely on only God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us." (2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NLT)   

 

Sunday, March 10, 2024

"By Implication!"

 "Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us." (Ecclesiastes 1:10 KJV)

  "Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. Later, Levi held a banquet in his house with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi's fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus' disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with such scum?" Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent."" (Luke 5:27-32 NLT)

 Honestly, I really had no clue what I was going to share this morning; I was totally stumped, especially since I thought I had the title, based upon the meaning of something within the verse, but then I tried to find it again, and couldn't. So, I just gave up, used it anyways, and then flipped to a verse I thought would be good, Luke 5:37, where Jesus speaks about putting new wine in old wineskins; but then I moved up to that which is before us today: Jesus came to save sinners! 

 If anyone doesn't quite know, God's reason for not wanting man to know good and evil, was not to say that He didn't want them to know what was bad, as if that was all there was to it; but if you know what it means to do good, then you will figure out a way to do bad, naturally! Which, believe it or not, is pretty much what the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses for the people actually does! 

 Don't think of pink elephants! Oh, snap! That didn't work, I thought of them anyways! That is how sin works; good or bad, sin is derived by both, believe it or not! Damned if you do, damned if you don't! You cannot avoid the opportunity to sin: which basically means, you have missed the mark. There is a chance to sin by what you do, and a chance to sin by what you do not! 

 Look at the words God spoke to Cain, as He warned him to do right: "Why are you so angry"? the LORD asked Cain. "Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." (Genesis 4:6-7 NLT)

 Within the Ten Commandment, there are seven commandments that are based upon Don'ts. Then there are three that are based upon Do's. Which are the most important of all? The do's or the don'ts? What was the most important thing God told Cain, to not do something, or what to do? DO! DO! & DO!  

 I know it might sound crazy, but if we wanted to deal with spiritual issues, as if that was the true meaning of life, sin has always remained the same: Sin is sin, we cannot win...   

"I have discovered this principle of life - that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin." (Romans 7:21-25 NLT) 

Saturday, March 9, 2024

"The Widest Application"

 "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9 KJV)

  ""Long ago I told you what was going to happen. Then suddenly I took action, and all my predictions came true. For I know how stubborn you are. Your necks are unbending as iron. Your heads are as hard as bronze. That is why I told you what would happen; I told you beforehand what I was going to do. Then you could never say, 'My idols did it. My wooden image and metal god commanded it to happen!' You have heard my predictions and seen them fulfilled, but you refuse to admit it. Now I will tell you new things, secrets you have not yet heard. They are brand new, not things from the past. So you cannot say, 'We knew that all the time!' "" (Isaiah 48:3-7 NLT)

 I was just thinking of something silly, a song from Tiny Tim, "Tip-Toe Through the Tulips," which for some reason, is how I feel, as I navigate through this Book! Like walking on rice paper without tearing it, or even causing it to wrinkle! 

 Again, this extremely complex work of art, could not have been manifested without God's input and leading; along with the very experienced penman, as he takes the multi-level applications, making them fit all sorts of conditions of the heart. If you cannot see what is being said on one level, then you will see it as its suites your heart; but if you see it from the Right level, then it opens up into something new and hard to deny: that God is speaking into your heart! 

 Simple, childlike faith! That is what we need, as if there is something being directly told to you: you really don't need to tear it apart trying to analyze it, making it into something that fits your needs, and forgetting Who it is that you need to please. It is not about your expectations here on the earth; it is about the hope within you for what comes after, because there really is nothing new under the sun! 

 Let me try and put it another way. Here, on the earth, which is the place under the sun; nothing we do that can be undone; you cannot go back and fix something or stop it from happening, if it has already happened, it is done! This is basically the law of consequences and the circumstances for what is done. 

 Looking at this from a spiritual point of view, God does not make mistakes! When it looks like He has changed His mind, He is causing a change in who He is dealing with, by making them see it from a different direction. Case in point: Moses, whom God said, "Now then let me alone, that my anger may burn against them, and that I may destroy them, and I will make you a great nation." (Exodus 32:10)

 God did not actually expect that Moses would go along with what He said He would do; He said what He said to change Moses' heart, causing him to have pity upon the people, and to love them, as God loved them; something Moses was having a problem doing, because he wasn't getting their respect. 

 This is the way we treat God, without even knowing it! When we pretend that He isn't looking, that He doesn't care, or feel as though He has abandoned us, we are not giving Him the respect that He deserves! Even though, (we should knock ourselves in the head,) He already knows what we will do, before we even think about doing it! 

 In that regard, look at this from the Right direction! Before the foundations of the earth, Jesus was going to die for your sins, and He did just that! Your sins have been forgiven, and that is that! You are now a New Creature, a holy vessel, no longer a citizen of this earth, but a citizen of Heaven. Now you are no longer subject to old life, under the sun; but have been given New Life under the Son...

"What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdon of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever." (1 Corinthians 15:50 NLT) 

    

Friday, March 8, 2024

"Transitive"

 "All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing." (Ecclesiastes 1:8 KJV)

  "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)" (Romans 8:18-25 NLT)

 Please forgive me for being so blunt! It's just that I see things that take place in our churches which make categories of the body of Christ, most of which are based upon what they think people should be or do or say, as if the weaker vessels are useless and don't belong to the body! This is not a race against each other, as some might think; Paul was not talking about racing to defeat one another, but to be an overcomer of our own fleshly desires! 

 Anywho, these first eleven verses of Ecclesiastes are very similar to John's first eighteen verses in his Gospel Message; they are prelude to that which is going to be said, to something that is more important. At the same time, it summarizes with a brief condensed message of the main points; leading the reader into a certain thought, pattern of thinking, or an expectation of how to understand what is going to be said. 

 As to this title, "Transitive," that is based upon the word, "Labour," found within the verse; the word is followed by the phrase, "man cannot utter it," which implies that it is too complicated to understand, no matter how hard we try, we never can get to the end of the thought or see the end of the tunnel! Much like the illustration of the view looking over the edge of a cliff; we won't actually see what that looks like, until we can see it, on the way down! 

 Another analogy would be God's tapestry that He is painting, which means that we are only a very small dot of paint, alone side other dots, all of which paint a perfect picture, which we are totally clueless of what it might look like, until we have His vantage point, to look down upon all that He has made. Until then, we receive what we are told, and believe what we have been shown; consistently hungering to see and hear more...

""And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgement day than you." At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."" (Matthew 11:21-30 NLT)   

Thursday, March 7, 2024

"Being Restored"

 "All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again." (Ecclesiastes 1:7 KJV) 

  ""Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it is thick darkness. For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, 'This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!'"" (Job 38:8-11 NLT)

 Just a little recap, so I don't get too far out of sorts. There are two different lives that are being presented, that which of the physical type, and the spiritual; paralleled and stretched out, side by side. The one is restricted and governed by the things of this world, practically everything, both good and bad; the other, unseen and totally misunderstood, is that which is based upon faith; faith being the understanding of what we are and how much we need God to save us from ourselves! 

 Basically, that is the premise, based upon the choices we make, and God's hand upon our lives. We have the opportunity to live in the light, or we can hide among the shadows; but we miss out on so much of God's blessings by not taking every opportunity He gives us to live out a glorious life! 

 I know that there will be many that do not agree, thinking that there is this 'right to passage' kind of grace, as if, if you don't use it, you lose it. But what about a great big reset? Not one that is based upon that which is our doing but based upon God's doing! He is the Potter; we are just the clay!

 Too much, too soon? Maybe I should slow down a bit! These last three verses are basically all connected by a single thread: that thread being the fact that God is the one in charge; He sets the boundaries, the point of which is enough, and what is the breaking point that will take us over the edge. No matter what, you are His child, but you still need to learn a lesson, live out some wrong choices, and be taught what it means to obey! 

 The sun rising and setting was about our vulnerability, how dependent we that God is protecting us, keeping us from getting scorched in the fires of hell. The wind was about our opportunities, the ways we fail, and the ways that God gives us chances to do what is right; each and everything is based upon time and place; but everything also is based upon His will and purposes.

 And then we have the rivers! Everything flows, nothing is stagnant, no matter how it might appear, in God's economy of what works and doesn't work, nothing is done by happenstance! Even if the river doesn't look as though it is moving, there is a current below the surface that is always moving...

"The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those that fear him is as great as the height of the heaven above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone - as though we had never been here. But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children's children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything." (PSALM 103:8-19 NLT)

   

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

"Circle of Life"

 "The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits." (Ecclesiastes 1:6 KJV)

  ""God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding. He does not let the wicked live but gives justice to the afflicted. He never takes his eyes off the innocent, but he sets them on thrones with kings and exalts them forever. If they are bound in chains and caught up in a web of trouble, he shows them the reason. He shows them their sins of pride. He gets their attention and commands that they turn from evil."" (Job 36:5-10 NLT)

 Hopefully you were able to understand why I put those verses in quotations, because those are the silent words that are spoken by the heavens; especially the sun, which is held in place by God's mighty hand! If He set the laws of our orbits around the sun, He did so for our safety and security; because everything He does for us, tells us to do, and shows us to be, is all for our good and His perfect pleasure! 

 This verse regarding the wind, although it might not appear as though it is, is to go hand-in-hand with the verse about the sun, because both have the same illustration of apathy; which, for those that might not see what it actually means, it the lack of concern or feeling. Oddly enough, to is a noun, not a verb. It is a noun because it is a thing, a thing that happens in our hearts, causing us to not pay attention to the great power that is all around us! 

 I know that I have shared some of these things before, but before I was saved, spiritually, God had saved my life several times, physically! Several times growing up, I should have and could have died; beginning at my very first breath! Yes, it might sound crazy, but I was told by the mother, grandmother, and by my grandfather, when the doctor slapped by rear to cause me to breath, I took a breath and then tried to swallow my tongue. They had to stapple my tongue down to prevent me from trying to swallow it. 

 When I was around ten years old, I had this very strange idea about taking a cardboard box up into my treehouse, getting in the box, and then pushing myself off. I thought the box would protect my fall; it not only didn't protect me, but I had no idea which way was up! Thankfully, I didn't break anything, or worse! 

 When I was twelve or so, we were up in the mountains as a family having some fun in the snow. As I came down the hill, at a pretty fast speed, my sister stood in my path with her innertube in hand, as if she was going to make me fly through the center of the tube. The valve stem of the tube went into my temple, pushing the vein to the side as it went in. If it would have cut the vein, I would have died on that mountain. The doctor that gave me stiches said that he could see the vein protruding into the hole. 

 Another time, when I was about 15 years old, I was running across the street to visit my girlfriend who was standing in her front yard, as I leaped off the island dividing the main street from the side street, a car came racing into my path. I still have no way to explain it, and my girlfriend said I should have gotten hit; but I somehow stopped in mid-flight, just for a second, rolling around the back of the car, as it zoomed by me. 

 Besides all of these and more, we have no clue how many times we are saved from death. We could be driving on our merry way, and somehow get diverted from our route, only to find out that there was going to be a wreck, we somehow avoided. Most of the time, we do even have a clue; God just makes us move, ever so slightly. 

 With that same power, God can direct our lives and navigate us into opportunities to minister and do good deeds, without even knowing who or what we be allowed to be used for. Making ourselves available, is where we must start! I don't care who you are or how much you are insecure about being used of God, if you make yourself available, you will not be embarrassed or ashamed. 

 However, if you do get the opportunity and back out, feeling inadequate or out of place, you will have missed out on something that might have changed a life; maybe even your own! You must believe, God's Spirit is all around you, in you, and ready to do a great work, if you allow Him to work! 

 I feel as though I might have gotten sidetracked and way off course, making this into something about real life experiences, instead the circle of life. Maybe it is all meaningless, unless it means that we know He is at work...

 "We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion - how can God's love be in that person? Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if we don't feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him." (1 John 3:16-22 NLT)