Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 reads, "Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you - for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others."
How many times have you worried about what others are saying about you? As women, I think it is something that is part of our mental DNA. We are, for whatever reason, concerned with whatever people are saying about us - and particularly other women! Perhaps the reason we wonder is because we ourselves have said things we should not have said and we know we will reap what we sow. We can be a rough group! The mind can play tricks on us, deceiving us and leading us around shadowy corners. Thank you God for your Word that reminds us of your truths and our tricks through words of wisdom!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Take the Good with the Bad
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| Mantis vs Grasshopper |
Solomon says to consider when times are bad. What a great statement. Don't be sad, mad, irritated, blaming God, asking why, but consider. What should we consider about that? I think just to look at things from different angles and try to understand (which is not always a possibility why it happened or even consider how you can make good from the bad; the proverbial lemons to lemonade.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Everything is Meaningless 2
As I continued on in my reading of Ecclesiastes I read Solomon is talking about Money. I think for a moment that Solomon was richer than any man who ever walked the face of the earth and was richer than any man who WILL ever walk the face of the earth. Think about that for a second. Donald Trump, Dupont, the Fords, Steve Job, all the sheikhs in the world were not and will not ever be richer than Solomon was. So he knew a little about what he was talking about when it came to money.
Chapter five starts out with a warning that we should not run at the mouth when praying to our God but we should use a small amount of words. His last word about this is that we should "stand in awe of God." Afterall, He is God! Then he jumps over to talk about money.
For me money is a necessary evil. I would rather work for something I wanted or trade for it than have alot of money for stuff. Since I have to have it to function, I want enough I can put in the plate on Sunday and give extra when I want or feel led. I want to not have to rub pennies together for groceries and wonder where I will get clothes for my one daughter. God provides for us and I have faith that He always will as long as I remain faithful to Him but it would be nice not to have to think about it so much. That being said, verse 10 says "Whoever loves money never has enough money; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." Again it brings to mind that I have always heard people say "You can never have enough money." Also, "money won't make you happy". These are all things that Solomon said. Our focus should not be on money but on God and the love Jesus Christ has for us. I saw a church sign once that said, "God feeds the birds of the field but He doesn't put the food in their nests." That is just so appropriate. He will not bless a fast win like lottery. Solomon goes on to say "The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much" (point being that he ate).
"Naked we come into this world and naked we will leave. Man takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." Ecc 5:15 Sound familiar? Solomon also says that he realizes it is important for man to be happy in his work and that he should be satisfied with whatever tasks he does every day. So how do you balance love of God and making money? The wisest man in the world finishes the chapter saying in verse 19, "Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart."
How cool a reward that is! Have an awesome day!
Chapter five starts out with a warning that we should not run at the mouth when praying to our God but we should use a small amount of words. His last word about this is that we should "stand in awe of God." Afterall, He is God! Then he jumps over to talk about money.
For me money is a necessary evil. I would rather work for something I wanted or trade for it than have alot of money for stuff. Since I have to have it to function, I want enough I can put in the plate on Sunday and give extra when I want or feel led. I want to not have to rub pennies together for groceries and wonder where I will get clothes for my one daughter. God provides for us and I have faith that He always will as long as I remain faithful to Him but it would be nice not to have to think about it so much. That being said, verse 10 says "Whoever loves money never has enough money; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." Again it brings to mind that I have always heard people say "You can never have enough money." Also, "money won't make you happy". These are all things that Solomon said. Our focus should not be on money but on God and the love Jesus Christ has for us. I saw a church sign once that said, "God feeds the birds of the field but He doesn't put the food in their nests." That is just so appropriate. He will not bless a fast win like lottery. Solomon goes on to say "The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much" (point being that he ate).
"Naked we come into this world and naked we will leave. Man takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." Ecc 5:15 Sound familiar? Solomon also says that he realizes it is important for man to be happy in his work and that he should be satisfied with whatever tasks he does every day. So how do you balance love of God and making money? The wisest man in the world finishes the chapter saying in verse 19, "Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart."
How cool a reward that is! Have an awesome day!
Friday, April 19, 2013
Everything is Meaningless
I am not much of a "read through the Bible in a Year" person. I do devotions by select devotionals and when I am out of those I have some prayer time and them let the Spirit lead me to my reading. So that is how I stumbled on Ecclesiastes and some of the words of wisdom here. I found that Solomon was frustrated and grieved by the wisdom he had. I think sort of like Einstein, his knowledge made him go mad. Solomon talks about how he considers all the areas of mans life and what the end result is and determines that everything is meaningless.
The work we do is left for someone else to either carry on or undo, pleasures are meaningless, wisdom and folly are meaningless, etc. He determined that as wise as he was and rich as he was, that he basically put his sandals on one at a time just like the beggar at the gates of the city. So whether he lived in war or peace, at the end of his life there was nothing that help meaning and nothing new under the sun. All of it is a chasing of the wind as there is nothing tangible to gain in the end and no lasting result. Kind of depressing!
However, he also determines that there is a time (or season) for everything (Ecc 3:1). I am reminded of the Byrds song, "Everything has a season, turn, turn, turn." I am struck with a little humor here as there are so many secular lines I know of that relate back to the Bible and thus proving what Solomon is saying! "Nothing new under the sun." Ecc 1:9
The one thing that carries through and has meaning is what God has done. For everything He has done will endure forever (Ecc 3:14) So keep your eyes upon Jesus and focus upward. He make everything beautiful in His time (Ecc 3:11) nothing man does can add to , change, or alter in anyway what God has perfected or intended. If that were possible that were could change what God does, it would diminish His awesome power, His majesty, and His "God"liness. Two are better than one (Ecc 4:9) and that applies to us walking with God. We are nothing alone but are strong with God by our side.
The work we do is left for someone else to either carry on or undo, pleasures are meaningless, wisdom and folly are meaningless, etc. He determined that as wise as he was and rich as he was, that he basically put his sandals on one at a time just like the beggar at the gates of the city. So whether he lived in war or peace, at the end of his life there was nothing that help meaning and nothing new under the sun. All of it is a chasing of the wind as there is nothing tangible to gain in the end and no lasting result. Kind of depressing!
However, he also determines that there is a time (or season) for everything (Ecc 3:1). I am reminded of the Byrds song, "Everything has a season, turn, turn, turn." I am struck with a little humor here as there are so many secular lines I know of that relate back to the Bible and thus proving what Solomon is saying! "Nothing new under the sun." Ecc 1:9
The one thing that carries through and has meaning is what God has done. For everything He has done will endure forever (Ecc 3:14) So keep your eyes upon Jesus and focus upward. He make everything beautiful in His time (Ecc 3:11) nothing man does can add to , change, or alter in anyway what God has perfected or intended. If that were possible that were could change what God does, it would diminish His awesome power, His majesty, and His "God"liness. Two are better than one (Ecc 4:9) and that applies to us walking with God. We are nothing alone but are strong with God by our side.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
How to show Wisdom
Words of Wisdom
Proverbs 4:20-23
Solomon was the wisest man to ever live and will be the wisest man to ever walk to face of the earth with the exception of Jesus Christ. He gave us the book of Proverbs which is full of more proverbs to live by than the Chinese have for fortune cookies! He repeats things that I believe he found more important than others like the fact that fools run their mouths while the wise man will keep quiet (Proverbs 12:23). The first several chapters are talking to his sons and are more a guide book for like than actual proverbs. He requests over and over that his sons pay attention to his words and store them in their hearts. His heart aches that his sons would hold these truths close and apply them in their lives.
Proverbs 4:20-23 reads "My son,, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
A prayer I have had for my daughter at her young age even, is that God would protect her heart. Proverbs also states that "Heartache will rot your bones." and I believe that in a literal sense. Solomon doesn't split hairs about it. Every action we do comes from our heart. Ultimately, that is the bough of the ship in our lives and in our actions. If we harbor envy, jealousy, angry thoughts, bitterness, these are the things that will determine our actions and the choices we make.
Pray that God will protect your hearts and create a desire for His Holy Spirit to indwell and direct your life.
Pray that God will protect your hearts and create a desire for His Holy Spirit to indwell and direct your life.
Heart of a Servant
Busy Busy Busy. Our society today is so busy. It seems there is always a list of accomplishments being done or waiting to be approached. Every devotional you read, sermon you listen to or church you attend can have a list of "what works for them" and what they think you should do. Is that what true service looks like? Do we throw every ounce of our time and energy at the request for service or servitude in an effort to fill the empty spots?
Jesus Christ was a servant here on earth and he was undoubtedly a busy man. But the art of giving and serving is not always about how busy we can make ourselves. We were not asked to make ourselves WEARY serving. I am not saying tired but I am saying WEARY. Weary is an emotionally exhausted state that lacks the desire to carry on and has no ability to feed or care for its host. Have you ever been in that state? I believe that when our service becomes more about what we are accomplishing and less about becoming lesser in the kingdom, we become weary. Matthew 20:26 says "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,". Matthew 19:30 says "But many whoa re first will be last, and many who are last will be first." I don't know about you but I would rather be elevated from last to first in glory than to look at the Father's face and be demoted to last because I haven't learned this simple lesson.
The act of serving in the church is not a list of accomplishments. It's not being on more committees than Susan and Jenny to coyly prove you are better at being active in the church. We have a lady in our church who is a wonderful servant. She works in the background and accomplishes a lot! She makes sure there are 4 large urns of coffee always ready, the snack bar is full, no shortage of cold water and cups, has time for any child, works all three services and does it all in bare feet. She is soft spoken, humble, and simple in her tasks but she loves to do all that she does and willingly steps back when the "show offs" come along and take a moment of coordinating to overshadow her constant, quiet presence.
Serving is a condition of the heart. Christ calls us to serve one another because it puts us in a humble position. It's not a matter of what you have accomplished, how much money you threw at the issue or who saw you do it. We should be more concerned that our children see us opening the door for the janitor, giving a kind word to the girl at the take out window, paying for the ladies coffee behind us or leaving change at the gas station for someone who might come up short later in the day. We need to focus on our hearts and what the quiet words of the Holy Spirit are asking of us instead of drowning out that still small voice with the thundering list of accomplishments "WE" did without anyone's help.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Free yourselves that you might see and hear more of the Spirit of the Lord in your life. The still small voice is not loud, boisterous and self-gratifying. It is quiet and softly molding your heart to be who God sees you to be under His grace. Let that voice teach you the art of serving and accomplish the Father's "good and perfect work" in you. (Philippians 1:6)
Jesus Christ was a servant here on earth and he was undoubtedly a busy man. But the art of giving and serving is not always about how busy we can make ourselves. We were not asked to make ourselves WEARY serving. I am not saying tired but I am saying WEARY. Weary is an emotionally exhausted state that lacks the desire to carry on and has no ability to feed or care for its host. Have you ever been in that state? I believe that when our service becomes more about what we are accomplishing and less about becoming lesser in the kingdom, we become weary. Matthew 20:26 says "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,". Matthew 19:30 says "But many whoa re first will be last, and many who are last will be first." I don't know about you but I would rather be elevated from last to first in glory than to look at the Father's face and be demoted to last because I haven't learned this simple lesson.
The act of serving in the church is not a list of accomplishments. It's not being on more committees than Susan and Jenny to coyly prove you are better at being active in the church. We have a lady in our church who is a wonderful servant. She works in the background and accomplishes a lot! She makes sure there are 4 large urns of coffee always ready, the snack bar is full, no shortage of cold water and cups, has time for any child, works all three services and does it all in bare feet. She is soft spoken, humble, and simple in her tasks but she loves to do all that she does and willingly steps back when the "show offs" come along and take a moment of coordinating to overshadow her constant, quiet presence.
Serving is a condition of the heart. Christ calls us to serve one another because it puts us in a humble position. It's not a matter of what you have accomplished, how much money you threw at the issue or who saw you do it. We should be more concerned that our children see us opening the door for the janitor, giving a kind word to the girl at the take out window, paying for the ladies coffee behind us or leaving change at the gas station for someone who might come up short later in the day. We need to focus on our hearts and what the quiet words of the Holy Spirit are asking of us instead of drowning out that still small voice with the thundering list of accomplishments "WE" did without anyone's help.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Free yourselves that you might see and hear more of the Spirit of the Lord in your life. The still small voice is not loud, boisterous and self-gratifying. It is quiet and softly molding your heart to be who God sees you to be under His grace. Let that voice teach you the art of serving and accomplish the Father's "good and perfect work" in you. (Philippians 1:6)
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