"Part and Parcel"

 "And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour." (Ecclesiastes 2:10 KJV)

  "HE - Teach me your decrees, O LORD; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your laws, rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you. Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good. I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness." (PSALM 119:33-40 NLT)

 Oh my, this might be interesting, so say the least! If you have ever been overcome by desire, then you might be somewhat familiar with the feeling you get that it is yours, you deserve it, and nothing is going to hold you back from having it, no matter what! You choose the poison; just about anything fits the mold, it just needs to be something that fills your fleshly desires! 

 From my own experience, if I know that it is wrong, and I want it anyways, there will be some sort of barrier or wall that God will throw in the way; mostly for an opportunity for me to change my heart, not go through with it, or come to my senses. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it did not! Sad to say, if God locked the door, I would find a key; if He put up a wall, I would find a way over it; if He turned off the power, I would find another source. You name it, if it was something preventing me from filling my desire, it would not keep me from making it happen. 

 Maybe that is not something you have ever dealt with? If that's so, Good for you! But for those that have, you know what it is like to feel totally and completely ashamed, once your desire has been fulfilled! We fall on our knees, begging God to forgive us; making all sorts of promises, most of which, we will not keep! 

 If there is one thing that I have learned, in these forty-plus years: the only One who really keeps a promise is God! As I said before, and I will say it again: I pray just about every morning for God to give me patience and an understanding heart; but no sooner than I can make it happen, I fail the test, and will judge, get upset, or say something that I did not want to say! 

 You tend to think that your broken and need to go back to the beginning and start all over! Thinking that there was something you overlooked in the manual, a part got left out, or you just need to be made over! Well, if that is the case, stop and let God have full control! That is what He wanted from the very beginning, to be the One you listen to and follow His directions! 

 It is really all about compromise! Just a little bit of variation to His plan, becomes a large complication to following His commands! How far back do you need to go, in order to find your way? That is not the way to deal with anything! Turn away from all of that, and just move forward, in love...

"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses." (Galatians 5:16-18 NLT) 

"Needle Pulling Thread"

 "So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me." (Ecclesiastes 2:9 KJV)

  "The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, "Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies - I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for - riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life."" (1 Kings 3:10-14 NLT)

 Back on track! We went through the stuff, most of which was used for ego and entertainment; all of which was given to him by the LORD! Yes, that's right: God gives and takes away! Sorry to burst your bubble, but He opens doors and windows, making a way, we seldom have any clue how much God does, even if He says He will do it; when it has happened, we usually will take the credit, without even saying, "Thank You, God!"  

 Something else that needs to be explained, 'wisdom remained,' which was used for governing God's people, that was protected and lift untouched by all of his folly and pleasure; however, common sense to govern himself, that was something which was out of control and left unchecked! Really, this is not all that uncommon! We can see it happen in some of our large mega-churches, where the anointing and the ability to teach remains, but common sense of governing one's personal life, goes right out the window! 

 So many examples of this, most of which are beyond comprehending how or why; but in the end, the flesh is what made it happen! It is hard to crucify the flesh! Over and over, we make mistakes and wrong choices; mostly because we fail to do what is right! This is why Paul says, "Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God." (Romans 6:13 NLT)

 Please don't think I am sharing something that I have any control over, because I do not! But I know what I must do, I just forget sometimes to do it! If you think about sinful things, then you will end up in sin, making yourself weak to the power of God; God's power is realized by doing the things of God, whatever and however God has shown you, you must continually do those things! 

 That does not mean you are safe from making wrong choices; but when you are following God's lead, you're going to end up safe and secure, for sure...

"I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me." (Philippians 3:10-12 NLT) 

 

"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) 

"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) 

"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) 

"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)

"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) 

"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) 

"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)

"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) 

"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)  

"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) 

"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)  

"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)     

"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)  

"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)   

"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)     

  

"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)  

"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)  

"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)