"Paradigm"

 "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." (Ecclesiastes 9:11 KJV)

  ""All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, 'What do you mean by doing these things?"" (Daniel 4:35 NLT)

 It might seem as though this might be random, but there is a pattern in Solomon's thought prosses which is countering the last thought, 'Whatsoever you do, do it well.' There are no guarantees in this life that all will be well, no matter how hard you try, or how strong you might be, stuff happens, lives get cut short, and things don't go the way that you planned. 

 That said, we must always do our best, even in the time of failure, we must not give up; especially when it comes to doing that which you believe God has told you to do! Sometimes, what we think is meant to be happening is only door to what God really wants for your life. We might think God want's us doing one thing, based upon the direction or the road we are on, but it is really just something totally different that He has in mind. 

 Besides that, the whole "time and chance" thing pertains to this earth, where there are no guarantees for anything except what God has promised or determined to be. He is the one who rules over everything; there is nothing that He can't do, and there is no way to stop His plans! You would think by now the powers to be, here on earth, would have figured that out. But that is the point the Solomon is trying to make...

""Don't store up treasures here on earth where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."" (Matthew 6:19-21 NLT)  

"Do it Well!" -2

 "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." (Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV)

  "Don't you realize that in 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)

 Sorry about yesterday, that was a pretty bad morning. I went to bed with cold sweats and woke up feeling as tired as I was before I went to bed. Went to the doctor yesterday, got a big dose of antibiotic something in a place where it hurts to sit down; and now I have to get a prescription for more, to take for ten days. I think the doctor was having fun with my diagnoses, as I heard him after he left the room, saying, "That's an angry ear!" 

 Well, 24 hours of feeling bad is more than I can take! It's time to get back to work and quit feeling sorry for myself. There are certain things in life that a cold or infection of the head should not stop; work and taking care of your family are two that others depend upon. 

 When I was working for someone else, back in the 80's, no matter how much I didn't feel like working, I would go to work anyways. I remember one day I was so sick, when I inspected the subarea of the house, I placed my head on a wastepipe and took a nap. The owner of the house thought I must have died under her house and called 911. I was woken up by paramedics screaming at me through one of the vents. 

 In this line of work, people count on you to show up! In almost 44 years of doing this, I think I might have taken only a handful of days of canceling appointments. When a Real Estate Agent schedules an appointment, they are counting on it happening; sometimes they only have so many days for finalizing the offer, and my inspection is what they are making the decision on.

 Anywho, Paul is making a case about training his flesh, not about physical training. This type of training is something that requires the Holy Spirit and discipline in doing all the things needed to be prepared to minister, in season or out of season, you are denying the desires of your flesh, and you are doing all you can to feed and mature the new man, to run the race.

 I actually know some Christians that are on anti-depressants. As strange as that might sound, it really is something that is happening. They want to get off them because it messes with their mind; but when they stop taken them, they get really badly depressed, almost suicidal.

 I asked someone, who shared with me that they were taking them, "Do you read your Bible regularly?" and they said, "No I don't. I hardly ever read my Bible." So, I suggested that they get started right away. If you are going to end your depression you need to have something better to take its place; the Bible is the best, there is. 

 I haven't had a chance to speak with this person again, put I am praying for them every day...

"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." (Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT)  

"Do it Well!"

 "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thy goest." (Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV)

  "I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words. I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign LORD. I will tell everyone that you alone are just. O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me." (Psalm 71:15-18 NLT)

 I know it might seem as though this is about ministry, because it is! Only what's done for Christ will last; or so it goes. Sorry for my last start, but I had cold chills last night and could hardly sleep. As a matter of fact, I think I will cut this short, as I feel as though I need to get back in bed. So much for well...

"Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically." (Romans 12:11 NLT) 

"Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do"

  "Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom. I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time. People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy." (Ecclesiastes 9:10-12 NLT)

  "The angel of the LORD encamped round about them that fear him, and delivered them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him." (Psalms 34:7-9 KJV) 

 Some call it luck when you prosper, and fate when you don't; but there is something to this little bit of wisdom, something that no one can predict or make happen on their own. I know that might fly in the face of those who believe in setting goals and making plans for a successful business venture: but things just don't work out the way everyone plans them to be; stuff happens! 

 When my wife and I moved to Northern California, we came to start a business and make a life here away from Los Angelos and the big city living. I thought it would be a good chance to relax and change from the hustle and bustle of Southern California. Working for myself seemed harder than working for someone else! 

 When we lived in L.A., we had chances to get away as a family, at least once a month. There was more freedom to do whatever we wanted, without having to worry about work. After about seven years of building a simi-successful business we started making time to get away. We learned how to play golf; my wife and I had a membership at a local club, playing almost three times a week.  

 Things were going pretty good for several years, until Marianne started getting sick. We never planned for that, but who would...

"Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." (James 4:13-15 KJV) 

"Happy Wife, Happy Life"

 "Live happily with the woman you love though all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil." (Ecclesiastes 9:9 NLT)

  "Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth." (Malachi 2:14-15 KJV)

 Sorry if I might have made a mistake, or so it seems; but since we were talking about joy and happiness, I thought it only fitting to add verse 9 into the mix: after all, if you have a wife that is happy, then you will have a happy life! But, on the other hand, if you don't treat your wife as you should, your wife will not be happy, and your life will be missing out on the happiness you would have enjoyed as being one! 

 This passage from Malachi might seem a little bit twisted and hard to understand; but there is something very important about the man and woman becoming one. As most of us know, when the husband and wife are joined in Holy Matrimony, they take on more than just their vows; they are making a covenant before God, to which God responds with joining the two together, as the two bodies become one.

 There is really a lot more to it than that, but for the most part, it is something special: when the one hurts, the other hurts also; when the one is happy, the other is also happy: at least that is the way it was meant to be! This word for treacherously is pretty much the same as transgress, which, if you know what it means in reference to our attitude towards God's law, we know we are stepping over the line, but we do it anyways, as if we really don't care. 

 Basically, it means that you do whatever with intent, deceitfully, and faithlessly. Please give up doing anything that you do that might offend one another; especially you men! You are the one who is given the responsibility to love first, as Paul instructs us: "love your wives, just as Christ loved the church." (Ephesians 5:25) Your wife will respond to that love, just as the church responds to the love of Christ...

  "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and see that she reverence her husband." (Ephesians 5:25-33 KJV)  

"Enjoy It While You Can!"

 "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 9:9 KJV)

  ""Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, 'Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.' "But the master replied, 'You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate, why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.'"" (Matthew 25:24-27 NLT) 

 All these years of being a Christian, I have probably heard a teaching on this passage of, "The Three servants", at least a dozen times. I was saved in 1981, most likely around the middle of September; I don't remember the date, but I do remember the day and the time: Sunday at around 11:00am. 

 The one teaching I remember most, dealing with these Three Servants, didn't have to do with actual money, as this parable gives reference to, but it had to do with time; as in, we are all given so much time on this earth, and we shouldn't waste it or think we can count on it tomorrow, what we can do with it today!    

 Whatever you think of that, it is more about family and friends, then it is about making money or running a business. We don't get second chances to do the things we should have done, once we lose the chance to do them, due to death or a critical injury. By then, we just look back and think about all the things we should have done, and all the things we wish we hadn't done.

 Matthew Henry gives a plug for this, saying, "It is all thou canst get from this world: That is thy portion in the things of this life. In God, and in another life, thou shalt have a better portion, and a better recompence for thy labours in religion; but for thy pains which thou takest about the things under the sun this is all thou canst expect, and therefore do not deny this to thyself." 

 I can honestly say that I love my wife deeper now than I did before her accident. I can't explain it, but it has taken on a deeper, more intimate, kind of love, one which causes me, or should I say, allows me to sing to her; which is something I had never done before. You really don't appreciate what you have been given until it is gone...  

"Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly." (Colossians 3:19 NLT) 

"Joy and Cheerfulness"

 "Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment." (Ecclesiastes 9:8 KJV)

  ""Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready."" (Luke 12:35-38 NLT)

 Just a quick little recap from verse 7, with a brief note from Matthew Henry: "We must serve God with gladness, in the use of what he gives us, and be liberal in communicating it to others, and not suffer ourselves to be oppressed with inordinate care and grief about the world." This was made clear to the children of Israel by God, as He instructed them not to mourn when they celebrated their special Feast's Days, but to be joyful and full of cheer, blessing God for His goodness. (Deuteronomy 28:47) 

 I know that there are days when it might not feel like dancing for joy; maybe more than most, I can find myself feeling depressed or discouraged because of my life's situation. But that is just because I am in patch of fogginess, where there is self-pity or worse, I could have unconfessed sin. We all should know what it feels like, when we are not feeling the joy of the Lord; and then, we must make absolutely sure that we don't stay that way for very long! 

 This reminds me of the 'wedding feast,' the one where Jesus speaks about a banquet when those invited didn't show up; so, He had the servants go out to the streets and invite strangers and random people. In this story, Jesus mentions the man being called out for not wearing the wedding garment, which was obviously a garment that was given to everyone as they entered the door. 

 We our given something exceptionally special, a special kind of joy that is like a garment we wear to express the honor of being a part of the Lord's banquet! When we don't feel that joy, it most likely is because we don't feel worthy of being in the banquet; or worse yet, we feel as though we don't belong to the celebration...

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon." (Philippians 4:4-5 NLT)

"A Good Heart" - Too

 "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works." (Ecclesiastes 9:7 KJV)

  "Oh, the joys of those who trust in the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand - you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings. Then I said, "Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart."" (PSALM 40:4-8 NLT)

 Just in case you might have missed the whole point of what was said, we are not given the gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love, just to hold those inside our hearts and feel good; they must be put to work, by letting those around us see them, especially when they show up in times of hardship, trials, and tribulation.

 If you have a chance to show off the hope you have been given, then don't waste it by acting as if you have no hope, just because your temporary life has been stripped away, or health is failing. Focus on the life of eternity you have been given; on what is ahead, not what is being left behind. 

 If you have a chance to express the great peace you have been given, then make sure your fear is only in pleasing the Lord, not in things that can destroy your body, but on the One who holds your soul. You would be amazed how much peace you actually have, once you put your full trust in the Lord.

 If you have a chance to be joyful, even though your being crushed or torn apart, then think upon the cross that Jesus died upon, which was not a cross of death and destruction, but was the means of Salvation and deliverance for all mankind. Oh, what joy we can know and express, even in our sufferings! There is not a single thing on earth that could compare to what Jesus did, yet for the joy that awaited Him, He did it willingly and as a humble Servant, obedient to the Father!

 And then, the greatest gift of all, is love...

"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us." (1 John 4:7-13 NLT)  

"A Good Heart"

"Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works." (Ecclesiastes 9:7 KJV) 

  "They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." (Acts 2:46-47 NLT)

 Something to think about, if you are looking for ways to express these gifts the Lord has given us, we must be willing to open up and express the good heart that we have been given! Really, that's the only way we can make it all real and know the changed heart is within us, by putting it to work and making it come alive, by doing good works for the Lord.

 We need to get past the point of thinking that works do not matter, because we have no reason to be selfish, thinking that our works are just filthy rags; they are filthy rags only when we are doing them in order to try and gain something from God by doing them. 

 James, the half-brother of Jesus, knew what it was like to properly serve the Lord, because it wasn't about what we gained that mattered, it was what we gave away that mattered most. Jesus has given us such riches, beyond measure; more than we could ever use up in a single lifetime; we just need to put them to use; the more we use them, the greater they grow and multiply.

 We are not talking about money, because money can't buy what the Lord is selling; He gives us gifts freely and with only one requirement: that we use them to further His Kingdom! Some only have little, and some have much; but each have the portion they need to do a little or a lot. 

 It might not make a whole lot of sense, but if you have a good heart, your works will not be rejected...

"What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well" - but then you don't give that person and food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." (James 2:14-17 NLT)    

   

"Undeniable" - 2

 "Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 9:6 KJV)

  ""For in death the wicked cause no trouble, and the weary are at rest. Even captives are at ease in death, with no guards to curse them. Rich and poor are both there, and the slave is set free from his master."" (Job 3:17-19 NLT)

 For those that might not understand, we really only have one chance to get this right! Solomon might have done some things that were over the top; but one thing he wasn't, he never set out to harm anyone, to kill anyone, or to be a wicked king. And, when he came to his senses, this is what he understood: once we die, we have no more portion to do anything, here, under the sun! 

 This might be the reason there are tears in heaven, because we still remember those we wronged, those we didn't try hard enough to save, and those we should have loved more than ourselves. This life is for us to be a vessel for the Lord to work through. If it was just about us getting saved, the Lord would take us home as soon as we accepted Him as Lord.

 As I said several posts ago, we most likely have all experienced each and every one of those things that have caused the seeds to fail: taken up by the enemy, have no roots to grow due to lack of faith, and be choked out by a love for the things of this world. It is just life here under the sun; the longer we live here, the more chances there are to be taken off guard or go down a wrong path. 

 We could find a mirrored image of the normal Christain life, by looking at the life of Israel, and all the different paths that they followed, which led them away from God. That's not to say that we can't be as good as we should, because we can, if we die to ourselves and seriously do all that the Spirit tells us to do! 

 Life happens, whether you know it or not, just thinking about doing those things, that is portion enough to sin, just by living them out in your mind, they take a part of your heart...

""You have heard the commandment that says, 'You must not commit adultery.' But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart."" (Matthew 5:27-28 NLT)    

"Undeniable"

 "Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 9:6 KJV)

  "Praise the LORD! Let all that I am praise the LORD. I will praise the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath. Don't put your confidence in powerful people: there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God. He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever." (PSALM 146:1-6 NLT)

 Just an interesting note about yesterday's title, it might have had something more to do with Holden's message yesterday, than it did with the verse I shared on yesterday. Holden shared on 'Peace,' describing the whole notion of peace as something that is unrecognizable, if you are trying to find it; because it is not something that you look for, it is something you are given! 

 All four of the Advent qualities are given, because they come from the Lord! You will not find hope, because there is nothing here to really place real hope in; everything here will soon pass away. You will not find peace, because the peace the world gives, really doesn't last very long; it fades away. 

 You might find some joy, for a season; but then you discover it was only happiness, as soon as someone takes your temporary joy away. If you are looking for real love, hoping to be able to get some, just enough to love people as you should; your most liking going to like some, and love some; that is, until they offend you. 

 All four of these are gifts that Jesus gives with the salvation we accept; we are given these gifts in order to use them, hold tightly onto them, and make them visible for all to see! Each one of those gifts are from the Lord, we don't get to claim them as something we made happen; it was what Christ did when He died for our sins, He rose again, He entered our hearts, and He ascended up into heaven, where we will be joined together with Him! 

 You just can't make this stuff up...

"One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: "A farmer went out to plant seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!" When he had said this, he called out, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: 'When they look, they won't see. When they hear, they won't understand.'""  

"Unrecognizable"

 "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward: for the memory of them is forgotten." (Ecclesiastes 9:5 KJV)

  "Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came. It protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:23-26 NLT)

 Before you start wondering what this title, 'unrecognizable', might be getting at or where it might be going, let me tell you that nobody that is alive can tell you that they have recognized death. I know that there are some who say they have died and came back, having experienced bright lights or dark holes; whatever it is that they went through, they didn't experience death. 

 Jewish custom says that a person isn't really dead till after three days, as they believe the soul of a person that is dead will hang around the body, hoping to be restored. But then, after that, on the fourth day they give up and end up in hell, or wherever they the soul is destined to go.

 Jesus waiting to go to Lazaras was probably based upon this Jewish tradition, as He arrived to call him out of the tomb on the fourth day after he had died. We can see this mentioned by Martha, after Jesus told them to roll away the stone: "Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible." (John 11:39) 

 What I believe we can see from Solomon's illustration, is that the only thing we can take for certain is death will come, in one form or another, everyone living body will die. Yes, every living body, even those who will never die, still don't go into glory with this temporary body. That dead body will be no more, it is basically part of this earth and will remain part of this earth.   

 The point about having no more reward, basically means that it will decompose, no more care or sustenance needed; nothing but decay and rot to look forward too. There have been so many different ways people have tried to preserve the body; but that dead body isn't coming back...

"For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:53-57 NLT)   

"Where There is Life There is Hope!" - Too

 "For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion." (Ecclesiastes 9:4 KJV)

  "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch there of will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?" (Job 14:7-10 KJV)

 Having a little bit of hope, is better than no hope at all! At least that is what I have experienced over these last 21 years of taking care of my wife. Yes, she may not be able to do much; she can't walk or talk or enjoy certain things that normal people might do. But she still keeps going, from day to day, seemingly waiting for something. 

 The title of this post is something I was told while my wife was in the hospital. There was a brain doctor that came in to check on my wife, who had nothing but negative things to say, seemingly trying to get me to have me put out of her misery. I rejected his words, telling him that there is hope, and that God can do anything.

 He didn't like my diagnoses of the situation and scoffed at everything that I said. And then, another doctor came in, this one being a lung doctor, seemed to see things a little differently. He looked at my wife and saw a soul; that there was still life in her, saying, "Where there is life there is hope!" From that time on, I asked him to be the doctor that would help with the orders for Marianne; and he accepted. 

 Those who were the main doctors involved were her heart doctor and the doctor that operated on her heart, there role was just monitoring her daily functions and the level of the nursing care. After three months, they told me there was nothing else they could do for her, and that I needed to place her in a facility; giving me a list of places to go look at. 

 After many different choices, only one seemed to be good enough; and the process was started to get her placed in that facility. The day before she was going to go, they received her orders and saw that she had a trech, so they refused to accept her, because they had no RN's on duty at night.

 When this happened, I told her doctors that I would take her home and take care of her myself. They told me that was not possible, because she really wasn't a candidate for a home care situation. But I did not give up; and they finally decided to help me get the help that I needed. 

 This is something that I am very much concerned about, the way that they just want to place people in certain facilities, where they get forgotten and seem to give up trying to live. My wife had Cobra, so that would have paid for her care in a Rest Home. But when I took her home, Cobra was shut off and I had to pay for everything on my own. 

 Long story short; ever since she has been home, she has never been checked into a hospital again...

"Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desire. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you." (PSALM 37:3-5 NLT)     

"Where There is Life There is Hope!"

"For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion." (Ecclesiastes 9:4 KJV)

  "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 1:12-14 NLT)

 The other night Pastor Bryan shared a little bit about a king of Judah, one that I have shared about too, maybe within the last few months. This king was the worst king that Judah had ever had; he was also the longest reigning king, having been seated on the throne at the age of twelve, he reigned for 55 years. 

 As the story goes, he was a very wicked king; murdering people, having Isaiah sawn in half, while being inside of a log, establishing all sorts of wicked and cultic things, such as the zodiac, and other evil practices against God; things that are still being put to use as of today. But, with all of that wickedness, he still ended up finding grace with God!  

 The whole reason I bring this up, is that we should never give up on praying for someone, hoping for a loved one to be restored, healed, saved, or give their whole life to Jesus; as long as they are still alive, there is hope...

"For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."" (Romans 10:13 NLT)

"One Life to Live" - To

 "This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead." (Ecclesiastes 9:3 KJV)

  "On another Sabbath day, a man with a deformed right hand was in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching. The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, "Come and stand in front of everyone." So the man came forward. Then Jesus said to his critics, "I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" He looked around at them one by one and said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him." (Luke 6:6-11 NLT)

 There is a connection here, believe it or not. This passage from Luke is meant to show the hearts of the sons of men, being filled with evil and madness in their hearts. You must realize the connection, because many of us were just the same; I know firsthand what I am talking about. 

 Having grown up in a religious, so called, off and on environment, I can remember back to around the time I was 12 or 13, I became very rebellious and really didn't care if I lived or died, as long as I could do whatever I wanted to do. I stopped reading the Bible and gave up on religion, all together. I still believed in God, but I became rebellious towards Him, having drugs and drinking as the god that I followed. 

 By the time I was 15 years old, I had crossed the line; giving all of my time to partying and calling myself a Rebel, who was on the highway to hell. Before I turned 16, I was arrested and charged with 6 grand-theft-auto charges, and numerous breaking-and-entering's. Which sent me into being locked down until after I turned 17. But after only a month or so, I was arrested again, with the judge giving me a choice: go to CYA of leave the State of California. So I went to Texas to live with my grandfather; while at the same time, being kept on probation. 

 I only say this, because the madness part of this evil is real! Once you commit to dying, as if it is the only real hope for your future, you seriously go off the rails! There is really hardly anything you aren't willing to try or do; even if it might seem totally wicked, it really doesn't matter, because death is certain, and life is not; so, you give it all you got.

 Now, think for a second about these 'Teachers of the law and the Pharisees.' These are men of the law, supposably being those who teach the law of Moses, and should know full well that God's laws were given to show man his faults and the things he fails to do. The Sabbath day was a day that honored God, and by resting from your daily work, you were to be dedicating that day to God.

 I hope you can somehow you see the connection, because there is something very familiar with the heart's condition of these men and my condition as a rebellious teenager. Jesus did nothing wrong, yet they treated Him as if He had broken something, that crossed the line, so to speak. Not only did He heal that man on the Sabbath, but He did so in front of everyone, making sure He had their attention. 

 Believe it or not, but they were very closely aligned with me, during my time of rebellion and being evil. There is something that happens in our hearts when we turn away from God; whether you know what you are doing, or not, you actually are taking on a partnership with the devil. 

 And who, pray tell is the devil...

"If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NLT)   

"One Life to Live"

 "This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead." (Ecclesiastes 9:3 KJV) 

  "But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God has made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they know God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think us foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused." (Romans 1:18-21 NLT)

 Don't get alarmed by the title, it is only in reference to this life, the one we live here on earth. Surprised by this or not, we all will lose this tent we have been given; whether it will die naturally, and go back into the earth, from which it came; or it will be transformed into something undefiled, when we are raptured from this earth. Either way, this fleshly body will remain here: "For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19b NLT) 

 Therefore, all this is the result of the fall: death and decay happened when man disobeyed the one and only command that God gave, 'Do Not Eat of The Fruit of That Tree, or You Will Die!' That wasn't too hard to understand, but there was something at work in Adam's heart; something that caused him to be drawn towards that tree, making him want to know more about that which was forbidden. 

 This may be the evil that Solomon speaks about, as it was the thing that caused all things under the sun to die, everything that has life, will pass away, nothing that lives gets a second chance. Under the sun, it is all temporary and combustible! However, we have something that is part of us that will remain forever within the eternal world: Our soul! 

 When God breathed life into Adam, man became a living soul; the body was that which was made from the ground, but the soul was brought forth from the breath of God! And, along with that soul, there came the Spirit of God, which allowed for man to be as God, living forever; or so the story goes...

"Then the LORD God said, "Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!" So the LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life." (Genesis 3:22-24 NLT) 

"Equality Under the Sun"

"All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and the wicked; to the good and the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath." (Ecclesiastes 9:2 KJV)\

  ""You have said terrible things about me," says the LORD. "But you say, 'What do you mean? What have we said against you?' "You have said, 'What's the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the LORD of Heaven's Armies that we are sorry for our sins? From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.'"" (Malachi 3:13-15 NLT) 

 Yes, it is as it is; we all suffer the same fate in this life: both the good and the bad get sick; those who serve God, and those that serve themselves will suffer the loss of loved ones. There is no difference to the pain and suffering, as far as pain and suffering goes; but there is an extraordinary difference in the way we react or show off the hope we have in the LORD! 

 Seeing this put out there, front and center, Solomon is making a claim that is based in truth, because there is no real difference in what happens to those living here under the sun, the just and the unjust can be struck down by the same illness, beaten up by cancer, thrown down by brain disorder; you name it, it could happen to anyone, regardless of their standing in this world. This world is broken and fallen; it is not what the LORD made it for; but it is what man has made it to be. 

 Therefore, we cannot blame God! Still, there will be those who do, because they have no respect for a God that would allow it all to happen. Thinking it is wrong for this to go on and trying to put the blame on God for letting it happen; they either reject God altogether, or write Him off, as if He just doesn't care. 

 If you doubt me, just try to share the Lord with someone that doesn't want to believe in Him; you will most likely get that same reaction. But there is a big difference in God's side of the story! God has given man the freedom of choice; yet man choose to not listen to His commands, even though they were the best things for them, they did what they wanted to do. 

 Wild and crazy, the story goes! God sends His Son, knowing full well the man would reject Him, punish Him, and crucify Him on a cross! So, you tell me, who is the bad guy in the story! We must never give up on the LORD; He doesn't give up on us...

 "Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. "They will be my people," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."" (Malachi 3:16-18 NLT) 

"Consider God's Work" - Too

 "For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them." (Ecclesiastes 9:1 KJV)

  "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 if 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 3:13-15 NLT)

 There really are some things that we cannot be absolutely sure of; but the one thing we must not give up on, is the salvation we know that we have been given: even if we experience a time of testing or we start having doubts, based upon something said, or discouragement planted in our minds from the devil; we must never give up believing, all the way to the very end! 

 Now then, about this thing of feeling angry at God, or thinking He has done something to make you suffer, as if it was punishment for your recent sins; I do not think God's discipline is all about that, because He loves us more than we could ever know. Things happen, (unfortunately, a recent quote from a certain Governor, that shouldn't have been stated,) but no matter what, it is not God causing you pain or severe punishment for your sins: your sins were taken care of on the cross, once and for all!  

 God's discipline for us is all about making us turn towards Him, not run away. If we think that anything going on in our lives that was meant to hurt us is of God, then we will become bitter and doubting that He really loves us. Something that should never happen to a child of God! 

 God demonstrated His love for us by sending His one and only Son, that His Son would take the penalty for our sins; so that was the end of the punishment for sins; Christ Jesus paid that price once and for all; now we can be cleansed from sin. Does it mean that we won't have situations of difficulty or hardship; things that seem as though they are too hard to handle? Absolutely not! 

 It doesn't either mean we won't continue to deal with sin! As long as we are living in this world, sin will confront us, we will sin, and we will be tempted by sins. But the penalty for those sins, even those we will still commit, all ultimately paid for, each and every one. If we don't acknowledge our sinfulness or cannot bring ourselves to ask for forgiveness, God will make a way for us to see we need to repent and turn from our wicked ways. 

 Whatever it is that God allows for us to go through, is not to destroy us, but to give us strength and hope, even in the things that seem overwhelming and might hurt for a short while. If we don't give up, we will see everything from a completely different perspective. There is nothing more valuable than the salvation of our souls! 

 Every one of the disciples went through punishment and almost all of them were killed because they followed Jesus. What do we have going on in our lives that compare to that? If you truly believe in the salvation you've been given, then what can possibly take away something that cannot be take back? Yes, that is what I said; your salvation is secure in Christ forever! 

 Please don't think this is something about, "once saved, always saved", because if you know that you are saved, then you will not really give up; even if you wanted to, He, will not give up on you, ever...

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change or decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while." (1 Peter 1:3-6 NLT) 

"Consider God's Work"

 "For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before him." (Ecclesiastes 9:1 KJV)

  "The people surrounded him and asked, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father's name. But you don't believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. Jesus said, "At my Father's direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?" They replied, "We're stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God."" (John 10:24-33 NLT)

 First off, Solomon is hesitant to explain the things he considered in his heart; mostly because they, at first glance, would most likely not shine a very good light upon God; seeing that both the righteous and the wicked are all in the same boat, so to speak. Here on this earth, the rain falls upon the good and the bad, just as sickness and death; we all suffer through life with the same ailments, some more than others. 

 We can seriously all but pretend that we know how we will react, regardless of your current beliefs; because once you come down with something, or you lose someone you love, you really don't know how you will react. You really cannot plan for it to be as you think, until you are going through it. Will it be something that draws you closer to God, or will you hate God for allowing it to happen?

 That is really not hard to understand, because there are many people that resent God, even though they have served Him for years; but once they have a great loss, they change their heart and turn away from the only one that can actually give them comfort!

 Thus, this little tidbit is added in: We are in the hand of God...

""Oh, why give light to those in misery, and life to those who are bitter? They long for death, and it won't come. They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure. They're filled with joy when they finally die, and rejoice when they find the grave. Why is life given to those with no future, those God has surrounded with difficulties? I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water. What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true. I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes."" (Job 3:20-26 NLT) 

"Death Comes to All"

  "This, too, I carefully explored. Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God's hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor. The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners. and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don't.

 It seems so tragic that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. That is why people are not more careful to be good. Instead, they choose own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway. There is hope only for the living. As they say, "It's better to be a live dog than a dead lion!"

 The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. Whatever they did in their lifetime - loving, hating, envying - is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth. So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne!" (Ecclesiastes 9:1-8 NLT)

  "LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as a handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity." [Selah.]  (Psalms 39:4-5 KJV) 

 Again, we must remember that Solomon here is sharing about living under the sun, which, in case you might have lost sight of that, it is referring to those that live on earth, this rotating ball that circles the sun! By the way, just in case you might have not known, but we are traveling in a circle, which takes 365 days to circle the sun, at a speed of 67,000 miles per hour to go approx. 590,000,000 miles. At the same time, this planet is spinning at a speed of 1,000 miles per hour; every 24 hours we have traveled 24,000 miles in a circle, without even knowing we moved! 

 Strange, but oh so exciting! God made this, designed it to function just as it does. Too bad mankind is not wound up like most everything else; we just seem to do what we want, seeing that we have a choice...

 "Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. I was dumb, I opened my mouth; because thou didst it. Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thy hand. When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity." [Selah.]  (Psalms 39:6-11 KJV)