I don’t know about you but I think this Song of Songs scripture section sounds like a broken record to me. I mean, Solomon did have 800 wives and 300 concubines. So he must have said that kind of stuff over and over and over and over again. You think?
So my apologies to the romantics, but I just am happy to skip over writing about it, this go thru, to get to the Prophet Isaiah on the other side. Jesus junkie jumping. The only other thing I noticed was myrrh myrrh myrrh and sweet-smelling spices must have been mentioned dozens of times. Hmmm… You may think the time of Solomon was SUPER romantic from these scriptures, but I’m telling you, I THANK THE LORD I was born in the PRESENT, for I was born for a time like this: an era with running clean, potable cool water that’s CHEAPER THAN DIRT. (Trust me I’ve bought dirt/soil, it’s MORE pricey per cubic feet compared to water plus the clean sewer system too., haha)
.
Anyway, I’m saving Song of Songs for another day.
Maybe someday a man worthy will come my way.
We will work side by side for the Lord in a blessed way.
Till the soil, adventure out, teach the Word in some new Way.
Plus adventures and what not, HOORAY!
Lord, make him SWEET smelling too, OK?
That is, IF it is in Your Plan for me, maybe Lord, someday.
It might be a new chapter, my discernment would say.
Meanwhile, don’t let me pine away.
You Lord are SUFFICIENT for me, each and every day.
Scripture reading: Judges 6 excerpts – When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you…”
Sermon:
Wake Up Dreamers, God Wins!
I just finished with Vacation Bible School – craft-station – and what a wonderful week of teaching the kids and especially enjoying their energy and high-spirit-ness! Our theme was Putting on the Armor of God – and yeah how perfect the reinforcement for me for this message that God placed in my heart weeks ago. I am going to talk about people – touched by God – including myself – and I wanted to start with this toy – it is a ladder – Jacob’s Ladder – isn’t it cool that one could teach the bible story using a TOY!
So here is the story of Jacob’s dream: Jacob stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28 excerpts)
Jacob was able to both understand that God had a heaven full of angels – who also came down to earth – and Jacob was able to understand that God was with him – with them. – same that we heard in our scripture reading of God saying to Gideon “I WILL BE WITH YOU!”
That’s NOT a Dream – but real truth
You may have heard of the Gideons – the current day group who put Gideon bibles into the hotel rooms – well isn’t’ that a perfect place for travelers, often alone, to have that chance to pick up the bible and be with God – and know God IS with them… Gideon was a man who saw God face to face – and unlike the thoughts of those times that you could die when you saw God’s face, but Gideon did NOT die… Gideon was then used by God to take down idols used to worship false gods. Gideon was being used by God to help bring the people back from straying away. – they had been gone pretty far off the deep end and God let them go… Gideon taking down the poles and altars to the false gods got to be known in the land… that Gideon worshiped the God of Moses and Jacob, the Israelites’ God.
Well, this Gideon – God found him working one day – and God told him “I got a job for you!” God told Gideon He wanted him to rescue His people Israel (remember Israel is the other name for Jacob and all his offspring – numerous – people were promised to be saved in that ladder dream) but Gideon said “ARE YOU SURE?” = I’m not what you think I am – I’m small – not really all that…
Gideon said “PARDON ME???” to GOD! Geez – I bet we never say that to God – haha – yeah we do – we say: “Are you sure God?” NOT ONLY DID GIDEON QUESTION GOD – HE TESTED HIM !!!!!! Oh, bet we never do that haha… Guess what – God complied – and convinced Gideon – because He had a BIG job for him.
Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened – Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew. POINT PROVEN – GOD IS GOD
NOW – TIME FOR BATTLE – hear how really God IS in charge – if only we would remember that.
Early in the morning, Gideon and all his men camped – the camp of Midian was north of them -. The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into ALL THEIR hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave -.’” So 22,000 men left, while 10,000 remained. [WOW 2/3 gone] But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are STILL too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.
Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”
When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to his camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” Dividing the three hundred men into three companies of 100, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”
Gideon and the 100 men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled…
WOW !!!!!! Gideon won a battle because God’s Hand was on Him and the whole situation. And God needed them – as Israelites – and have this story passed down generations – to know God did that. We too can trust God and know He has won our war – but must still venture into battle.
That’s REALLY what God used: a dream of a tumbling loaf of bread, an interpretation of the dream, the noise of empty jars broken, the sound of Trumpets, and the LIGHT of the torches… WOW. (and isn’t that cool the symbolic use of bread, those dreams, yes trumpets, and LIGHT which all relate to JESUS, who is the Word. The bread was ordinary bread just as Jesus came as an ordinary man.) Jesus Bread – daily bread – …
Gideon said: but I am the weakest! How many times do we not realize that God’s going to provide the Power behind His Plea for us to do something. Yes God makes a Way. Sometimes he wants us weak so that we depend upon Him. The battle was won before it was begun – sounds like Genesis to Revelation too – the War IS won but we have still battles to be in…
DREAMERS – but real dreams courtesy of God. God uses dreams – uses experiences – uses sounds and clues and especially uses the spirit in us to move us…
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There were dreamers in the bible – and God spoke to them when they were finally quiet – Solomon learned God’s plan in a dream – Joseph before Jesus was born learned by dreams – telling him the real scoop – as well as later to travel to avoid Jesus being killed –
BUT THERE WERE THOSE WHO COULDN’T EVEN DREAM – let alone remember the truth
Jesus as Messiah they didn’t understand God’s plan… Those people in Jesus’s time – the Jews the Samaritans and Pharisees – they studied and studied the law and made up their own laws too and made up their own kings (Samuel warned them but they did) – they basically lost sight of the basic child of God ability to see a Messiah coming – they thought an earthly king was coming – even the romans had heard that and feared an earthly king powered by God to reset things “right” on earth – they couldn’t wrap their heads around a Godly King who WAS God – and IS God – Jesus. Not in their wildest dreams.
In the gospel of Matthew we learn that The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. [another weather discussion like Gideon] Jesus replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
[so those signs and those teachings they should have understood]
COULDN’T DREAM THIS AMAZEMENT IN THEIR WILDEST DREAMS – THAT IS ME TOO
Let me tell you a little bit about my journey and how the Holy Spirit was lining up the time and place and the way to bring me to Jesus.
I was 50:50 on Jesus – prophet with a publicist? I think of the pride I had – but also the ignorance – and the lack of time and essentially I was one asking for data like a scientist – how did I really know Jesus was the Son of God – plus I had the indignation of knowing people are self-motivated to twist the bible for their own take – so I was skeptical… Even as a Sunday school teacher – I ran Vacation Bible School – president of United Methodist women – I was not awakened – not 100% believing in Jesus – I didn’t know Him in me.
God started rolling strikes on my disbelief system – most opportunely, He did NOT come to me in dreams but he WOKE me up 2AM – 2:30AM – 5AM – with just enough rest to be fresh and WIDE AWAKE and me saying “WHAT”S UP GOD???” – see I always believed in God – and I believed in the Holy Spirit moving me and us – I just had a blockage of understanding Jesus IN me…
God did NOT send me a dream – He made me start writing – writing and writing – I had to write out my faith – from a diatribe December 10th 2014 – softening writings all thru December and January then I had to even write out the major revelation I had February 1st 2015 – when I finally knew that not only I had changed, but that God HIMSELF did it – and that I was 100% – and there was no turning back…
(Showing the box …) I hid the initial writings in my car in this box – thought I was going mad. Embarrassed no more – I have 3 giant boxes printed – 88 chapters now – nearly 1900 writings.
God found me help – recorded sermons from my now friend pinch-hitting as a sermonist – who simply preached God’s truth – it wasn’t targeted at me at the time – because no one knew my story – but it resonated TO ME…. I reached out to him – because God found the way for us to connect – all Holy Spirit.
Theology Professor and Pastor friends – had writings about the canonization of the new testament – OH – the DATA I needed – so it wasn’t a telephone game of stories – I learned who wrote the chapters and when and why… OH! – I explain it like having Legos in my brain of the data chunks but they weren’t all there – not in place – some in wrong places – and I had to start building….
I was like the DRY SOIL in the parables of the soils – but my faith seeds bouncing off the ground were not all eaten by the birds – I somehow scooped them into my pockets and had them to look at – especially since I taught about Jesus all the time – knew the stories – but did not understand how to sprout them inside – until LIVING WATER activated the whole thing… Jesus came to make me good soil…
The Lord herded me like a cat – more like a pinball in a pinball machine – ding ding ding – bouncing my head.
He walked me right into the arms of Jesus – it was like God said: She’s dead in sin – she’s lost in her doubt – she is lacking knowledge – and Jesus said: “Nah, she’s only sleeping!” just like Jairus’s daughter – he woke me up ever so gently – so surely with the right people around me – so clearly ONLY from Him – the rest of the people around me either didn’t know where my faith was or didn’t ask – I was not a life-crisis that I knew about – not except not knowing Jesus in me… So the Lord rocked my world – and early on with the now nearly 1900 blogs that I have written – expressing faith – one is called STRIKE – God was rolling strikes on my pins of disbelief – I tried putting them back up but God was ready to knock them down on my and show me HE WAS LORD!
WHY is God having me write? I know that I was chosen to be an encourager – I’ve known that for a long time – but now I know where my focus is – God could have me talking and talking – but something about writing it down means that it is there – you profess it and you teach it and you inspire – and you make people say “wow – she must really believe in God – or God really is real – YEAH – and really real also means that at some point someone might come with a blockage like mine and say OH! And perhaps the Lord will also use my writing for post-rapture people – that is why I make sure I print copies – I think it is the only thing that NEEDS to be displayed at my funeral – to say “God made her do that… God blessed her to think of HIM.” I want people to realize God is alive. People don’t have to read them – but I want them to know HE made me write them.
I have been so blessed – one small example I will give you is when my Dad passed away, God was already having me write it out as processing – a month writing of deep but healing processing thru His Word. I know that I was blessed and can share that now with friends who are going thru healing processes. Now I am writing my way thru the Old Testament and it is GREAT – LOVE the stories of Gideon and Jacob and others.
Let me wrap up with going back to the bible to talk about my name in the bible – Deborah – a judge just before Gideon’s time – and God had installed not kings but judges after Moses and before the people begged for kings – kings like Saul, David, Solomon…
Now Judge Deborah is not my namesake – because I was actually, comically, named after Debbie Reynolds, the movie star, because my mom thought it was cute: Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds together at the time… Yeah – but now I HAVE looked up Deborah in the bible – the book of Judges – I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a Deborah – not just in my nickname as a Debbie – which is Hebrew for bee – but because Judge Deborah was the one who told people what God intended and what God was going to do and to keep doing what God needs you to do – keep going out to do the battle – He already won the war.
Excerpts of Judges: Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappid-oth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”
Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” [So Deborah went with Barak – and the enemy heard of this and they all started gathering their troops]
Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him. At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.
Barak pursued the chariots and army – , and all Sisera’s [the enemy’s] troops fell by the sword; not a man was left. Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot [to the tent of a particular woman -Jael – went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket [ – gave him a drink – and then – WOW – picked up a tent peg and a hammer and while he was sleeping she drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died. Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. “Come,” she said, “I will show you the man you’re looking for.”
So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple – dead. (Isn’t the Old Testament interesting!!!) Yes – and just as Deborah Predicted – God won that battle by the hands of another means other than Barak’s methods – it was unexpected – unique… God’s ways are God’s ways – unique Sounds like Jesus’s plan – unique – and ours too ….
Let us pray – Judge Deborah reminds us that God will win our battles HIS WAY – Deborah reminded Barak – God has already won the war – Gideon too learned that God was going to win but still had to finish the job set before him – we still need to get out there to battle – but remember whom we are fighting for -and fighting against – against the forces of evil– that is what we are to do – put on our armor of God and keep fighting to spread the Word to bring the good news of Jesus out there – to have God show us not just tough battles but the opportunities – many many opportunities – may we realized God you are with us – and remember that You have already won This War. AMEN…
Wrapped up vacation bible school with an ice cream party after their presentation of songs and a slideshow. It was nice to sit, nice to only have to slice bananas and serve whipped cream. I didn’t get to see the other stations during the week because I was busy in mine, the crafts, but that is OK because we must realize we CAN’T be everywhere at once, but I can imagine them. We also CAN’T be in every life stage at once, but we may be able to imagine them. We just simply today have to appreciate being in TODAY.
We essentially never will have enough time. Or will we? I often wonder (in my limited wondering time) what will Heaven be like with endless time? I don’t get it, don’t understand it, can’t wrap my head around it, fittingly so because my head seems finite and yet in it, God has put the key to eternity, Jesus bringing us home.
You know what? Let’s just get through today!
Will we be bored in Heaven? Will things seem routine? Well, without knowing I highly doubt that they will. Once I get there, I’ll let you know with a big “Oh!!!” I guess I’m not supposed to worry about a place that has no worries.
Once I get to the place, I am sure the one thing lacking, for all of eternity, is WORRY. I can imagine human emotions in heaven, but how difficult to imagine Heaven’s emotions on earth. One I am sure of, that will exist, is the emotion of “It will be OK, keep moving.” I think we get plenty of practice of that now. The “Owwwws” becoming “Wows”, in Heaven, we will get to that place where God moved us into realizing He won the battle and the war. I bet we will also have lots of “OHHHH’s – that’s how God wanted to use me.”
Meanwhile, let us put on the full armor of God, like that shield of faith, like those shoes and breastplate, and especially not a crown but a helmet of salvation, because there’s still battles here. And like an army, even in reserve, we fight not each other but the darts from the evil one.
Keep the battle of today in today, and stay in the fight. And keep in the blessed things of today blessedly, and stay in the Light. Then one day in Heaven we will say: Blessed are those who are blessed. Blessed are we, alright!
Remember that the War has already been won.
Amen
Solomon concludes his writings (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14):
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Psalm 119:1-16, 130-133
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart – they do no wrong but follow his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
…
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
I was myself surprised, the manual dexterity of the children at vacation bible school was SO variable, even to tie a ribbon. Good thing we are practicing these things! The willingness to learn was HUGE for all. The ability to attempt something comes with practice practice practice, and the opportunity to try comes with freedom, but the thirst to “do it myself” is inherently strong in kids and we have to keep cultivating that – that must come from God – who are we to squash what comes from God.
Yet, I’ve seen that fade in many adults. I think “not-do-it-yourself” is more and more entering our lives. But I have hope in these children. Let’s keep letting them try, provide the safe space. Yes, we learn safety. Yes we learn orderliness. But we learn caution over creativity, let’s not let that happen, at least at camp.
I have some of the crafts still on my fridge from my kid’s vbs days, especially those adorned with my kids photos. I have a couple of the dozens of items that I myself got to make in my grandfather’s woodshed, airplane with bent nails, then an improved teenager-made wood box sanded, stained, solid. My grandfather let me try. My grandmother let us sew and bake. It was cool to be a kid.
My daughter (22 tomorrow) FaceTimed me from her 3D printer lab where she is one of the volunteer managers. Cool stuff like the Cathedral of Notre Dame and practical for architectural students rather than simply toys (but they make toys too, like miniature milk crates). She called these machines her good children and bad children. They only print with white filament because the in between cleanings of them is a pain, she said, and she is well versed in unclogging, tearing them apart. Cool. Dexterity is practiced, freedom to try is a gift in a safe space. (Although college is a pricey safe space, it’s priceless for her education). Watching my son tear apart a thousand dollar computer is scary but necessary to learn – I just would hold the flashlight and pray. He did it – he has the dexterity and the drive – and the safe space to try more.
This is where I remember King Solomon and his advice, God gives us freedom and really the choice in life is to become ‘Grumpy Gus’-es or NOT. God has us such a short time on earth, let’s make the most of it. God especially wants us to remember Him while we are young, remember that He made us.
I was blessed to be a young at heart coordinator this week, to glue, staple, hammer, pour, tie, try lots of markers, and laugh with these children at VBS. Mostly I marvelled at their Spirit. Crafts is a golden opportunity to tell the kids: “WOW, you did a great job!” Arts is an amazing opportunity to tell the kids: “You are SO creative!”… Really also what you are also doing is complementing God in giving PRAISE for how wonderfully made He has made these children – and He made their ears to hear the encouragement meant for Him. He lets them and lets us take praise for His Creation so that we can hopefully remember to thank Him. Otherwise we fade in our appreciation and remembrance. We think about old ways in our old days. Let us remember our Youth, God IS the One Who WILL restore that too – in Heaven.
Let us keep remembering these days of youth and foundry fondly as a foundation to grow. Try to remember to marvel, because each child is made in the image of our Father, and He’s the best Crafter and Artist Creator EVER. Even and Especially God says of children and of us: “VERY GOOD!”
Remember our Creator! Thank You Lord! Thank You for Your Children!
Amen
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Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 Remember God your Creator
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them” – before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
Remember him – before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Ecclesiastes 11:5-6
TRUE!
My blue Subaru tail lights went out last night – I started seeing a guy in a jeep flash his lights at me from behind – you know I got nervous being 9pm at night – but also wondered if he was just warning me – but I didn’t think I had anything dragging out the back – or had a seltzer can on my roof like I did the day before (oops, I realized after 30 miles that I put it up there – slowed down and opened my sunroof and it slid back and into my car – haha – still an inch of water in it! no, I didn’t drink it). I wondered, last night, why he was warning me but just drove couple more blocks – and then got up my nerve to take my turning lane and he pulled next to me. He said my tail lights were out – OH! WOW! – I wasn’t scared anymore and I thanked this man for his kindness – and his warning and I thank the Lord that I had to get over my fear to hear it. Yeah. He commiserated with me – while waiting for the light to change – my headlights worked but my taillights didn’t. Maybe a fuse… WEIRD… Maybe God was pre-playing with my schedule for today… Maybe we just don’t know how God works. Ah, yeah!
See – I do need to stay home today both to keep focusing on writing a big work report – and how convenient that there are very very few meetings on my calendar – and how convenient that I get back 2 hours not commuting to both spend time with my cat outdoors (it’s beautiful 75 degrees now at 8AM) – AND I have my last night of VBS crafts tonight – whew – I am that VBS kind of tired but God worked in a nap for me yesterday too – I am SO GRATEFUL! God works it ALL in… Just keep riding His Wave.
So the tail lights? I see it as an opportunity to remove my guilt from choosing to do a WFH day, I HAVE to have tail lights fixed. As I took the heavy trunk contents out of my trunk and slammed the hatchback, one of the 2 tail lights came back on – Hmmm… good – and hmmmm… going to take it to a repair place today – locally – and the fear? none – I got that extended extended warranty… because with electronics like this, you never know… Especially when God can short circuit a fuse just to slow you down. That’s wisdom to realize God works in mysterious ways.
And now I will keep working – morning, day and night – it is a GREAT VBS week – I have been enjoying the crafts and the sweetest of kids – and even the Queen of Sheba came to visit her friend King Solomon, she wanted to gain HIS Wisdom!!! She said: “PRAISE BE TO THE LORD!” Thanks Lord… And VBS is doing GREAT! fun fun! (This is a friend’s church – we are pinch hitter people – ready to help. Yesterday making a Shield of Faith and Helmet of Salvation – which I told the kids it rhymes with Vacation – “S” for “JESUS’ SAVE” – so Salvation = Jesus saving us from our sins to go forever on vacation with Him eternally = Salvation). Keep sowing those seeds…
Amen
Solomon said (Ecclesiastes 11:6): “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”
1 Kings 10:10 The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.” And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
Just in time for Solomon day at VBS, here is a poem of rhyme:
‘Meaningless’ Was Solomon’s Favorite Line
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Solomon’s wisdom can sometimes be read as his life’s whine.
His days were filled with riches too, but he did not live feeling completely fine.
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Solomon learned the hard way, time after time.
‘Meaningless, it’s all meaningless’ was his favorite line.
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Writing long soliloquies, like Ecclesiastes chapter 7, verse 9 to 29,
Are truly warnings for us, given from a place DIVINE.
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Wise Solomon may have had wisdom, wealth, and excessive time,
But his life saw that it was God who made it all awful or fine.
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‘Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes‘ – that’s a great line.
We must heed these warnings of how to spend our time.
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Solomon continues speaking on and on, well beyond chapter nine.
I don’t need to retype and rehash it all, no one has that time.
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But if anything, remember this rhyme:
God’s Abilities are beyond yours and mine.
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Solomon concluded: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
Solomon reminds us this: Live life best by enjoying the time.
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Life in God’s Grace? Divine!
Solomon, thanks for sharing your reasoning time.
Amen
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Excerpts of Ecclesiastes 7:
*Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
*Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.
*Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.
*Consider what God has done:
Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness. Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise – why destroy yourself? Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool -why die before your time? It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
*Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city. Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
*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.
*All this I tested by wisdom and I said, “I am determined to be wise” – but this was beyond me. Whatever exists is far off and most profound – who can discover it? So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly. I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.
*“Look,” says the Teacher, “this is what I have discovered: “Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things – while I was still searching but not finding – I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all. This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.”
I am prepping for Merry Christmas in July – especially for vacation bible school – where we are learning about King Josiah today – remember the unexpected find of the Book of the Law and his re-affirmation of the Covenant with God and his people – what a great Christmas gift!
I am remembered of one of my first awakened Christmases in July, 7 years ago, and place these writings below – what a great Christmas in the heart start that the Lord gave me:
writing #228 Merry Christmas in July, 25JUL
How could I miss this opportunity to wish you all Merry Christmas in July…. Is it silly? I KNOW silly, I work hard at silly, and NO, I assure you it’s NOT silly. It’s Christmas.
This time seven months ago I was in question, I was in flux… I was reaching to stabilize myself to only a few souls who wouldn’t betray my sinful secret that I wasn’t truly a believer in Jesus as the son of God… I prayed for discernment, and I got it… And I got Jesus big time… Actually He got me…
I still do pray for renewed discernment… New questions… Where do I go from here, God? How do I share your promised salvation? Who do I tell and when? How do I honor YOU without disobeying YOU? How will I stop asking so many questions? How will I “Be Still”?
I still reach to stabilize my new life, I never knew this path would take me where it has, I never knew I could find more joy than I had and I never knew I was to find true sorrow and true temptation too. Yeah light and dark.
So, a few days after Christmas, at our open house party, many brought me a candle as a gift… And my daughter made candles too, I made a couple myself… A couple days after Christmas I found myself with about 10 new candles… Yeah, why so many candles? I pondered… Why so many when I NEVER burn a candle, ever… Why so many people thought I needed the candles? That I needed the light…? Oh yeah, didn’t take me long to put it all together… God orchestrated this… and He said let there be LIGHT! And He found the people to bring it. He found the people who beam it!
Well yeah, I do boast my God sightings way too much, and I want to stop screaming how excited I am…. but I just try to tell the truth… God smiled… God said this sleeping child of mine needs CHRISTMAS, needs CHRIST. God said you the people, “Bring My Light”
Yeah, God gifted me Jesus, I got Christmas… I got Jesus… Thank you God! I got to share…
God’s timing shook me, but now I reflect… God picked the ways, God picked the people, God knows what HE is doing… comfort in His plan… I turn to God to see the light, I turn to Jesus to feel the light, I turn to the world to shine the light. I turn to God to focus His light, gifting my heart and my eyes to shine Him…
Yeah, I still reach to stabilize while I broadcast… Yeah, I am scared because I don’t know what sacrifices I must make now… I felt and have been told that the devil is out to get those who turn away from evil and ignorance… Yeah, God told me to look for Christmas everyday this year, lest I stop listening, lest I stop looking for the light. I was sent to deliver HIS message.
God assures me the LIGHT won’t go out, that I won’t burn out… I know that God knows I don’t take any chances… I reach out just wanting to stabilize myself until I stand unshakeable… I will stand for you God, I will beam Your light. God willing I can make a difference no matter what…
Merry Christmas God. Thank YOU for taking me, sinner that I am, imperfect in so many ways, for giving me your LIGHT, everyday. Thank YOU for YOU, everyway.
I give all of me to You.
Merry Christmas God.
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writing #229
Christmas again, 26 JUL
I knew it was Christmas everyday but it’s extra sweet when God shows me it in different ways… I was sitting in a random pew for Sunday services and opened the pew hymnal to find a Christmas program 1 ½ years old… from 2013… in July… How blessed to feel God’s love in every little detail in my life … I’m sure God saved this paper for me to find… “Come to the cradle”, come and find peace… Yeah, thanks God… That’s exactly what I found. Jesus is my peace everyday… Awesome! Blessed! Christmas! That’s the real ABC’s…
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
I am wise enough to know that vacation bible school is such a blessing and gift and it is not just for the kids. There I was face to face with 10 parents – none of whom I ever met since this is a friend’s church – arriving just a few minutes early to be there when their kids were done at 830pm. I knew God had put me into an opportune timeslot. I recounted about the day – the scriptures – the fun – the craft home project to make a family crest – and I talked about the powers of good and evil and that we need to put on the armor of God – and I even talked about the science project that was performed across the room from me. I was in crafts. No, I didn’t tell them I was a scientist because those folks are AWESOME at coming together and explaining the amazing things in science. FUN. I am thrilled in crafts. Who knew glue dots would be invented as a modern marvel.
Face to face with cute kids and face to face with appreciative parents – where else would you want to be? AWESOME – I liked how the 30 year old eyes lit up when I told them the projects and the scriptures. BOOM – vacation bible school IS for parents too – this VBS sent home excited (and well fed and well-tired out kids) with memories to blurt out in the car and bible messages to take them all home afar – to the Kingdom not of this world.
I am in crafts and we made catapults and cut out castles – and we made crowns. I always thought it was good match to my skill set and interest to do crafts if I ever wasn’t running a VBS. God opened up the window as a door closed.
God is good, I stood face to face with 30 yr olds and grandmothers last night who LOVE the wild and crazy things of VBS, appreciative of the time their kids spent with us. One grandmother said “mom and dad are on a date, they went to a concert.” God bless grandmas and grandpas and anyone who takes the kids for you and you get a break. Now my kids are older, and it’s my turn to be a grandma of the moment and craft lady. I had a GREAT role model in Miss B. My view of the children is that their hands need this crafting challenge, twisting rubber bands and manipulation of glue dots, and my my how we don’t get our kids into these activities like my cousins and I built model airplanes and such. Crafting is a lost art but a great use of time.
Well my facebook memory shows to me it was 5 years ago this month that we were “Shipwrecked”, then had a pandemic patch of dryness. We ARE ALL shipwrecked but not abandoned, this is not our home but Jesus IS here helping. And when life changes, God is good, that’s the ROAR theme I stepped into at a friend’s VBS soon after, learning that yes, we can keep helping where God needs us. Be the experienced crew that migrates church to church to help. I challenge my former co-shipmates to hop into friends churches. We now can be the people DISSOLVING LINES between the denominations because a catholic-raised attendee to Methodist, Presbyterian, non-denominational, Cavalry-movement, kitchen table, park pinch-hitting preacher, and forever writer IS MEANINGLESS to the face of a five year old who simply needs the confidence that he CAN twist a rubber band. Our reputation and resume is nil when you are face to face with a child hungry in the Spirit, because only the Spirit would quench that thirst. Face to face, speaking faith. Someday God in all His Glory will stand with us Face to face, we will cast our crowns down to Him too. Until then, keep keepin’ on.
God Himself crafts an armor for us, the armor of God. One grandmother (in charge of dinner) cheered as I read the scripture to the kids, and we will keep reminding them all week. The last line is key – keep on praying for all the people.
The Armor of God from Ephesians 6:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, …
… and with your FEET fitted with the READINESS that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD of FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the HELMET of SALVATION and the SWORD of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD. And PRAY in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people…
Solomon said: “I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.”
Isn’t that a strange truth…
I was at a great 90th birthday party yesterday, so sweet – the birthday girl LOVED IT! Loved seeing her friends! And then I was savoring THAT CAKE, the icing even, because you know you shouldn’t eat too much icing and sugar, but I was feeling the treat-deserving treatment to myself at that moment. But my piece came as a middle piece, no extravagant icing. Hmmm… No, I didn’t need even it, the icing, let alone the cake, but just figured just this one time… Nope, but better a little cake with a little icing than none. Fringe benefit from wisdom is to be happy with your lot in life. (And don’t worry about me, I had a great lunch and ice cream later…)
Solomon said: “Everyone’s toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.”
I then saw those picture perfect cupcakes, and more cake, but I wasn’t going to get up from my landlocked chair. The gentleman across the table did, he took one, I savored the icing as he peeled the wrapper and the look (however I would have picked a vanilla one not chocolate). Then he instantly did a surprising thing, put the WHOLE #%! thing in his mouth. Eww. Ummm. Munch munch MUNCH. A surprise totally and my brain went racing much crazier than my taste buds had. Kinda like your macho showing off (well I been there done that – over it!). Ewww, and yet he accomplished it well, cleanly in a smooth landing that would have rated 9’s and 10’s by the judges, but yeah it took him MANY munches, sort of embarrassingly, before he could swallow and speak… SILLY… I’m not sure if he was hungry, doubtful, or showing off, likely, or just playing it to be a surprise, yeah, or what?!!! I saw the squander of savoring. Yeah. Geez…
Solomon said: “What advantage have the wise over fools? What do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others? Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
But if he wasn’t being foolish to be foolish, that’s wise, right? It’s all meaningless anyway. Maybe one is silly to get a laugh from someone, I do that with crazy hats and whatever, but how does one know what I or others would laugh at? We do like be a big kid in our furthering years, well me too, but I think I took the icing of my wisdom cake as a lesson to savor things over stuffing cupcakes or otherwise or squandering wealth… yeah, but whom am I to speak, I squander, squish, and waste plenty… We all do…
And whose to say what is right? We all go to the same place, as Solomon says: “For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?”
Well, thinking about such things is good. And saving some savoring for life to come is good too. Don’t eat up life all at once. You know that saying: “You can have everything in life, you just shouldn’t want it all at once.”
I think the fruits of tasty things in Heaven will be so good, that if we savor everything to come, we can live without things now, yeah. Take smaller bites of life more thankfully. That is at least what I hope to do: slow down and well, THINK. Savor thoughts… Savor God’s Wisdom. Have desire yes, but most importantly, ask God for the ability to simply enjoy life now, with GLADNESS of heart.
It is such a foreign concept to us that in the Garden of Eden, that nakedness was normal for Adam and Eve… but to also be walking WITH God? WOW, MIND-BLOWING… Isn’t that just seeming like a dream state?! Being Adam and Eve were born of God, nothing was needed to clothe them (yet), not even their thoughts (nor ours). It would be good to be THAT open with God, especially since He already sees us. No clothes, No nothing and No nonsense either… And you know what? NO pockets either – NO phones, NO wallets, NO money, NO needs, NO baggage, NO WORRIES.
Thankfully we return to this in Heaven – but it won’t be in nakedness – in Heaven we will be clothed with a cover of fine white Jesus-gifted purity. No stain remover is more powerful than Jesus Himself. Yes, covered. No tears and no need to look back either…
Dust to dust means no way to carry that baggage (or those riches) to Heaven. Even though there are pockets of dust in our lives, our lives return to dust and our dust has NO pockets. Wise Solomon said: ‘Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.‘
Ah… the future… But can we live with and walk with God now too? YES!!!! And His Word helps us each day – brings us time with him – precious time… ‘GLADNESS OF HEART’, that we CAN carry thru life and enjoy as a gift from God. We can find satisfaction in our labor. ‘This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.‘
My laundry room roof, I am considering and experimenting and praying, but not obsess$$ing (I don’t think) about the leak. And I could continue to just live with it ‘as-is’, or fix it. I found a trustworthy person as a contractor, PRICELESS, who is also a new Dad, PRECIOUS baby just weeks old, and a PASTOR too, What’s the odds???, HAHA GOD! PROVISIONS PROVISIONS PROVISIONS!!! PERFECT PONDERING PARTNER for PATCHES and POSSIBILITIES, roof and otherwise.
Some decisions in life have to be made on the spot, some are ponderable for a while, like this roof, and some decisions in life seem tough to make, and some are just best given to and worked out WITH God, but all the while you yourself put in the work to weigh the options. That’s the Bible Study he (pastor patcher papa) just presented and told me about, from Acts, for casting lots… This is his teaching, so I give him credit: that these apostles (after Jesus arose in the Book of Acts, chapter 1, verse TWELVE on) discussion of whom to replace Judas with, and they had two really good choices. They vetted the requirements for a core replacement (like having been there from the beginning, walking with Jesus, etc)… They had good choices, and they got to the point where they put in. All the work and both would have been fine. So at that point, they said, “Okay God, we’re going to let you pick”. And they casted lots which is not random knowing God would pick. (See, that’s probably also why I’ve not won megamillions, that God didn’t will it and that I didn’t buy a ticket, haha!!!. not going to win it if you aren’t in it!) Ah, casting lots was after good choices had been presented, win win. Ah, like picking between 2 flavors of ice cream that are both good choices but you only get one. Ah, like fixing the roof now or fixing the roof later, both technically are fixing the roof, just when…
Let me add my extra pondering to this pastor’s discussion of ‘casting lots’… Why, at that point, was it important for God to choose the twelfth apostle, a replacement HE KNEW He would have to make? Because He planned TWELVE: there’s TWELVE everything, TWELVE apostles, TWELVE sons of Jacob/Israel and yeah, TWELVE gates in the walls of the NEW JERUSALEM (Book of Revelation), in the New City that comes out of God’s Provisions for eternity. Cool. People don’t know what eternity will be like, they say, but if we read and walk with God, we do get this glimpse! It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Rev20:12-14)
God picked a place to restore the 12th before it has even been built – like laying down the foundation of the world. Yes – like Jesus being with God and being God at the beginning and Jesus knowing He Himself would be the cornerstone to build us into a NEW Kingdom with Him, to be the replacement, to be ransom for us in sin and death, to BE a New Covenant, IN ADVANCE for Adam’s fall, then placing in a Good Foundation to build again. A Shepherd AND a Sheep.
Cool. God spent His most precious resource, His Son, to rebuild HIS GLADNESS OF HEART, being with us in eternity. Cool… let’s re-read Ecclesiastes 5, wise Solomon with all that money but lost gladness, let’s apply this in our lives – let us not hoard or squander wealth but put it to use for God’s good – and for our money – just enough – let us accept it as a laborer and not be burdened with mega millions. Let us keep giving away God’s Gladness.
Live happily – be Glad for God’s Goodness Wins. Let us be COVERED IN GLADNESS always.
Amen
Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 Riches Are Meaningless
Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?
The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.
I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.
Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.
This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
Acts 1:12-26 NIV
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, ‘May another take his place of leadership.’ Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
I rationalize things, thoughts, actions – we all do that… it’s good to be a thinker, and even better it is good to be a pondered of God. What I DO understand is God wanting me to listen.
So much in life and how we live it totally falls into the MEANINGLESS category, like Solomon says in Ecclesiastes. It is also what David Byrne sang for the Talking Heads that makes sense here: “Stop Making Sense.”
Ecclesiastes 4 and 5 goes a bit more into about how to live, with friends and brothers. And then the best advice: Fear God. Plus something that I do understand, something Solomon says makes all the sense to me: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it.” YEAH ! (and thus I spend my quiet time with His Word each morning, and write to fulfill my promise to the Lord to process this way. To proclaim, exclaim. To share Him. He would forgive me if I didn’t write, but I remember how my brain gets when I don’t, so I keep this promise, when I can. Rest in God’s Plan.)
Yesterday, I was laughingly blessed with my work brother, bursting into my office and in his EXPRESSIVE way, venting about stuff, a needed break not breakdown… The great business truth he stated in a drawing, is a triangle of words, you get to pick 2. Either “fast and good”, that’s an expensive project. “Fast and cheap” gives poor quality. “Good and cheap” means a long turn around time (TAT)… True in the world! Business savvy. Great example is my dripping ceiling experiment, especially this rainy morning, 2 years now but spent very little money – I’m going for good and cheap, but that takes a while. (Not bad just half cup dripping with solid rain this early morning). Another example is repairs to a local fallen overpass and major highway, a “temporary” repair: FAST and GOOD was like only 12 days but $25-30 MILLION dollars, wow! (!).
Let’s go back to Ecclesiastes, stop making sense of the world, but put trust in the God who made it and is keeping us in it, for some reason. Although I am loving the sound of this summer rain, we don’t really need it, but who are we to understand that? I know we are not in this world for our pleasure but God’s pleasure. He also wants and yearns for fellowship with us. Two is better than one, a cord of three not easily broken. Two are you and a friend. Three is God with us. (Love that two also can be: you and God yourselves – we are never alone. God can fill us with ‘gladness of heart.’)
Another great friend came over last night, been a best friend years now, wow. It’s the 3rd time this summer we’ve seen each other. Blessed. Just living in an open life, lived, living and to live with a brother and friend, and freedom to be me – to be open with each other – chats of open dreams and fears – of sorrow and pain – of hopes and dreams. Blessed. A friend is a brother, not with less family baggage but someone who helps you carry yours… You carry each other’s… Blessed.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Well, let’s wrap up meaningless moments and pull out the scripture soothing truths – make the best of this world while you are in it... Fear God… Instead of walking alone, walk with the Lord, He knows the Way. He strengthens the cord. Listen to God, don’t talk over Him like a fool.
Absorb the sound of the earthly rain too – and know God’s reign – it’s never meaningless to listen to either of them and BE STILL…
Amen and Happy Friday.
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Ecclesiastes 4:7-16, 5:1-7
Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business!
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Advancement Is Meaningless
Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Fulfill Your Vow to God
Chapter 5: Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
What an interesting day… and always make lemonade from lemons…
And the end story of the day is the same as the beginning story: Yes, God is more powerful and good then each of our days could be good (or bad or weird)…
I can’t really tell you why I consider this day (yesterday) more weird than others lately, but I still do. It’s not just because I had a conversation about implanting brain chips in our heads – which I did – which I brought God into the conversation – a natural conversation about evil in the world, with a skeptical not paranoid person, someone skeptical of man and knowing the good stuff is used for evil… well, yeah, I agree, and so my thoughts and therefore my comments redirected the conversation towards “God’s bigger than even that. ” YEAH!
Isn’t it great when God gives an apt reply!!!
Anyway, the whole day just kinda rolled weird – but sometimes you have to say keep rolling Lord, Keep Moving…
Here’s the rest of the day’s diatribe, because God and the cat were my listeners in the evening for typing, at least until my friend called me on the phone – a nice moment… and then God reminded me this morning to reinforce the writing with the actual scriptures which explain why we have these days. You don’t have to read the rest, but the end sentence is God Wins!!! (and my end scripture was gifted by God this morning – Isaiah 41-42 – God Wins…
—
Today I started with thankfulness that I had pre-written a devotion that released electronically in the morning and so I could leave close to the crack of dawn as I could for an early morning meeting- but of course, I’m always late – but then with a big traffic tie up on the highway, my lateness became a mute point. 1.5 hrs in the car is OK taking the scenic back roads; and having an hour Bible study podcast for pondering, which included the dream that Pontius Pilate’s wife had about Jesus, which reminded me of a sermon I am going to write about God and dreams; plus I had a phone call to a fellow late person stuck in traffic. Total 45 minutes late, but oh well I wasn’t the only one. It was not the most exciting section we have covered but I do like the trainers and I do like talking to the people. (and it got me out of another meeting)…
Where was God in this? When I am bored or not sure why I am somewhere, I ask God: “why am I here?” Sometimes I believe it is for me to wait and maybe sit there resting my legs and getting to the point to ASK – that’s the purpose: that we ask. Plus I start rolling through my brain of blessings, I’m sitting peacefully, I am in A/C, oh yeah I’m being paid to sit here and learn (hopefully).
My favorite part of the morning was that I got to take photos of everybody together, then share the photos, cool… And my other favorite part was being distracted in the middle by looking at an email that said how a new important thing was in our hands briefly, cool. And also I enjoyed meeting new people in the kitchen during break. Then meeting new people in an online meeting. I really had to take that noon meeting that actually didn’t pertain to me, oh well, it was enough for me to be a friendly face willing to take the meeting! (remember still getting paid to sit there). Anyway, I met these people for an important project and I heard it was for my favorite client, cool… I then sat in the beginning part 2 repeat of the training to catch up what I missed being late 45 minutes (then got to take that 2nd group’s photo)… then skedaddle home for a windshield replacement.
WINDSHIELD – that is God too – our WINDSHIELD to – protecting us… (And yeah I was thankful for that windshield when that rock bounced at 100mph at me!)… So yes, windshield replacement. Yes, I had all my electronic gear and settled in for the 2 hours – busy place. Nice people in a tough spot – either explaining to customers the issues – or people with issues that are not as bad as they think… Worth making lemonade out of the time… I did.
Where was God in this? He provides the sugar for the lemonade… I did get a safe trip home for me for sure in half the time of the morning, an interesting set of people to chat with… And oh yeah, I had the faith to look for Him in the moment. God is in your mix whether you hand Him the spoon or not.
1.5 hrs, that’s it for the windshield, not too bad, however the gentleman next to me had an early appointment, came back, they hadn’t even taken the car back yet, hmmm… and I finished before him, hmmm… and well what do you do but sit, delayed… His phone was dead, he asked if he could use my charger, SURE! 10 minutes later I was then done, I offered the charger, I had 2 including an old one, but he said thanks but no thanks… Sometimes it’s in the offering that God can give you the means to offer and that is enough… he had 6% battery and was happy enough. That’s gratefulness, when you had none but now some…
Ok, windshield, nice people, brain chip conversation… I gave just a little blurb to someone about what I do in science, which started us down the whole brain chips conversation. I could have stated: well good people do good things, like reattached artificial limbs that can move with new brain chips (cool!), I didn’t. I could have stated that no one had enough money to give EVERYONE a brain chip, we can’t even feed or find everyone – not everyone will get the brain chips, I didn’t. I could have changed the subject or ran away, I didn’t. But why Lord, was I in a brain chip conversation about good and evil? Ah, maybe and including to reinforce my belief that You, Lord, already said evil is in the world, that’s a true statement, reinforce me saying it, reinforce us commiserating it. But you have over come evil. (We are all driving cars with cracked windshields but God helps us see thru those cracks.)
Speaking of God in that chatty (weird) conversation then brought some agreement, I did read his eyes, it’s something that looking directly at a person while looking in compassion does, try to get a read on that person – and it is OK in a friendly space with others around… no fear – in 5 minutes… I’ve had lots of practice and yet am naive to do so too, but I could see the quieting of the conversation as we had no other place to go – my position was to speak about Revelation 20-22 without preaching it – just speak it in normal language and quiet the fear – just the end result: “God wins“. He said once they install brain chips it’s game over. I said God is still bigger than that too. “God wins, you know“… maybe that’s what I should make t-shirts of: “God wins“… no, that’s not Game Over… no that’s not “TILT”… THAT IS “GOD WINS over evil, over everything, over all”… “You realize? God Wins! (Revelation 20-22 and Isaiah 41-42)”
Yeah… I need that on my windshield and my car too.
Fear and Fear-raising is an idol. Fear is a false idol used by the enemy to make us not trust in God. I have no doubt that evil in this world will get worse and worse to our eyes – not to everyone’s eyes which is the prediction of corruption, but to so many of us who are warned against it… Well, nothing quiets a conversation (even about evil and fear) more than speaking about God. Nothing raises higher or more conversation either, even if it is within your own brain later… and remember – that WHOLE waiting room of people heard that conversation too… Ears are open that God knows – you probably won’t know – but God does… I got my windshield and a new view NOT cracked. I got to see God putting me in places where He said just be yourself and just be MINE. Cool… That is REALLY seeing clearly – even if still protected thru glass.
Clear view there… no brain chip needed, only rebirth in my head and a life to tread….
The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.
“But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
“All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.
For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
“See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,
new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains and crush them,
and reduce the hills to chaff.
You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,
and a gale will blow them away.
But you will rejoice in the Lord
and glory in the Holy One of Israel.
“The poor and needy search for water,
but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the Lord will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
and the parched ground into springs.
I will put in the desert
the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers in the wasteland,
the fir and the cypress together,
so that people may see and know,
may consider and understand,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
“Present your case,” says the Lord.
“Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.
“Tell us, you idols,
what is going to happen.
Tell us what the former things were,
so that we may consider them
and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,
tell us what the future holds,
so we may know that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,
so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
But you are less than nothing
and your works are utterly worthless;
whoever chooses you is detestable.
“I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes—
one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads on rulers as if they were mortar,
as if he were a potter treading the clay.
Who told of this from the beginning, so we could know,
or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’?
No one told of this, no one foretold it,
no one heard any words from you.
I was the first to tell Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’
I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.
I look but there is no one—
no one among the gods to give counsel,
no one to give answer when I ask them.
See, they are all false!
Their deeds amount to nothing;
their images are but wind and confusion.
—
The Servant of the Lord “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
This is what God the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”
Song of Praise to the Lord Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops. Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands. The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.
“For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.
He un-hammers the nails in your hand, from within… – I quickly grabbed my phone to start writing…
I’ve been studying my recently patched roof for the tremendous amount of rain this past weekend. Nice steady rain for my garden. And no dripping into my laundry room after saturated boards fill, thank God, the boards stayed dry in the big storms. But then after one extended period yesterday, I felt one section to be damp. Hmmm…. So not a perfect patch, yet, but I can’t complain. And more goo can be glued in. The nail hole is still there but now filled with a waterproof patch goo, there must be another hole somewhere. I will work it out – more experimenting to do… Not worried but working it out…
As my early morning fresh start presented my brain to the Lord, my thoughts were in His Workshop before I started to fill it with my projects (then race out the door). The Lord patched a thought into my brain for my writing fingers to express: When we sin, people say: ‘you are hammering the nails into Jesus’. And well, yes, I’ve always heard that as a deterrent from sinning, especially to kids… but think of the many people sinning, the original sin too, and we are not alone. Our sins are not uncommon to mankind. The nails that pierced His Hands and Feet, Jesus took them on for all, fulfilling the prophecy, plus took on the sword piercing. He did take them on for our sins. Perhaps our own sins hammer more nail holes in us? Well we could die eternally from our sin (and original sin too) and yet we have an opportunity to be patched. There’s only one way to live again and be reborn clean – by asking forgiveness and believing in the power of Jesus – Lord of our Life – this is how we are to be cleansed by His blood. He does the work.
What work? He un-hammers the sin in us. He un-hammers the nails in your hand, from within. Jesus patches the holes from within. Jesus taps taps taps back everything and anything a new nail pierces. He IS a Carpenter, you know. Jesus has a workshop but also travels to each of us to hammer out “love between my sisters and my brothers” as they sing. Jesus makes house calls – inside you.
We may be minor strikes to Him, but the holes to us are unfathomable because they are deep. We may need a refill of blood – so He gushed it to us. We may need patches – He is the whole stretchable layer of white onto our appearances. God’s Heaven holds all the Living Water we need to be cleansed. Jesus remains the Lamb Slain, for us all.
So let us hammer out our feelings about forgiveness – let us let the Lord craft our lives in His thoughts and repair us and restore us to life. Let us be born again to be His Hands and Feet movable and working hard for “our brothers and our sisters”…
Let’s ask Jesus – Please find me in the darkness and tough times, please show me the light thru You, and Lord, thank You for patching me into Your Mercy and Grace. Please patch me both within your workshop and make my every day “work in progress” into Your Job Site. Thank You Lord.
Amen
—
John 20:24-29
Jesus Appears to Thomas Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
I wrote this a few days ago, but in the writing, it seemed like I needed to put it down, bored with it, that’s God’s real message for me to stop. Lost His track. But I feel best now to release this now on a rainy day of Sunday rest. I have rehashed it to release it, if only to put away my human frivolity now that I’ve heard about 7 lost souls, passed away, including 2 children, in flash flooding just 20 minutes north of me. It was like 6 inches of rain in like an hour… This brings the meaningless complaints of the weather into light, mine and others. This is real stuff and we can tolerate the little stuff, (can’t we?). And as ‘we weather the weather’ – a great poem – but do we also: weather the whether? Meaning do we get thru life’s unknowns intact? Well, with the Lord’s help, blessings, hope and promise, we can weather the whether… (and the weather)…
…everything God does will endure forever…
Lord, thank you for letting me process with words and in Your Word. Thank you for the beautiful times (and the difficult times) to remind us You are to be feared, loved, respected, known.
Here’s my post (about the weather and the whether):
Unsettled (and Settled)
I watch weather with interest, it is both predictable and unpredictable. Life is unsettled and unpredictable too, so be prepared and depend upon God always… Life is settled only WITH God. He solves the ‘whether?’ with a yes. He makes us able to weather the world.
So with the Lord’s mercy, I share a diatribe of weather (now edited), and a praise of His mercy. And I pray for those families who were swept away now with unbelievable tragedy…
In nature there is normal stuff: my possum visitor, a baby praying mantis, big clunky beetles, fireflies, mosquitoes and moths. And a cat who wants to be outside too.
And the weather…
I embrace the weather forecasts as interesting. Sometimes there are torrents of rain in pockets of “train-ing” – where the system just won’t stop and it floods overwhelmingly. I’m on a hill, I forget to worry sometimes. Flood plains used to be set apart, not so much anymore. Sometimes one area has a drought, sad. Sometimes less than an hour away maybe, it can be completely flooded, devastating… We tend to forget to make our own risk assessments in life WITH prayers, but a quick rise of the unknowns will catch anyone off guard. We even try to trick the weather by taking an umbrella so we won’t need it, good that they are small to carry. Other older times we, especially as children, we lived IN the weather, we would actually own raincoats (hand me downs back then) and ponchos and rain boots (and plastic bags for our feet)… Now we just sometimes wait inside until it’s done, WEIRD. Local – we live local but rarely prep local anymore – we don’t learn how to live in nature either, we have the lack of resiliency that we all slip into. We also don’t depend on the local weather for our food anymore, in a global economy/source way. The blueberries I picked yesterday could be considered a luxury to me, and they were SO good, but to the farmer this is their livelihood, the weather is at God’s mercy for them. Weather is not for our folly but God’s fields. I have many days this week being awoken by the thunder, or downpour and the cat being scared. We had a drought but are now in a typical high humidity summer pattern, yes I said typical, popcorn storms and more. People have been saying how weird the weather is, but I think that statement in itself is strange because it IS normal to have weather that’s different at different times of the year and weather that’s different in different years. YES!
(I think this has been quite a summer for a weather junkie – like me – like a couch tornado chaser, with awe of the variation and variability. But with prayers for those adversely affected.)
I sat outside in the start of a thunderstorm yesterday (the same one that north produced the flooding. Now, before you go tattling on me to my mom (I already told her) it WAS a DISTANT storm for quite a while, and even the cat was not nervous, cleaning herself and minding her own business. The other night, the possum didn’t scare her either. She’s pretty good at gaging situations. Possums, certain beetles and bugs are more cool than anything. The skunk smell however, this morning, clearly dissuaded her from begging for any outside time in her tent. Smart cat. (I have a big screen tent in the backyard to protect myself from mosquitos and my cat too, a small tent to protect AND keep her from escaping). WE LOVE to be outside. Well, yesterday I continually scanned the radar, checked the wind and clouds. Obviously when the rain started and wind, we came inside, the cat knew best too. Half an hour later with cooler temps, I went back out to weed a now softened garden. Yay flowers and eggplant, beans and breaths of fresh air.
People (and me too, even as a gardener) don’t always take in the forecast minute by minute, but CLEARLY the storms are noticeable. I love looking at radars and not guessing, but as always we simply should be ready for everything and have a plan. Do we absorb forecasts as an education? Sometimes. Hopefully we learn at the very minimum to shut our sunroof every time.
Now, the world gone worldly is the common thing and to be expected. That’s in the forecast, you know…
Unsettled is weather but settled is the why. The WHY is simply or untimely answered – we will see that God has done everything in His Kingdom for Our Good – anything worldly IS unsettled and subject to change. How will we weather this? Only by looking OUT of the world, even while in the world. And look at the world as if we were looking thru God’s eyes, with compassion. How then to weather this world? With Him, that’s how. We can settle our hearts with a God Who already settled the score (He won).
Let me wrap up a time of pondering with a pondering of time, by our Ecclesiastes author, chapter 3:1-15. There is a season for everything…
Let us weather the ‘whether?’ with: “YES, LORD”. He’s got the time to help us watch and weather our lives. Accept this as a gift AND a command.
Amen
Ecclesiastes 3 NIV 1-15
A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not Poem by Anonymous Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot, We’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather, Whether we like it or not.
What a needed Bible message, perfect for a rainy summer morning, this world is wacky but we need to live in it, people are people, God is ALL in ALL.
Wisdom is better than folly. Light is better than darkness.
King Solomon (one of our VBS stories this year) is said to be this author of Ecclesiastes (and also Proverbs), filled with wisdom but beset by human humanness, folly-failing, futility-faced. Solomon had been chasing the wind for years too, even while seeing the wisdom against it. Solomon had riches untold, then future generations lost touch with them. It’s a classic problem, called out by Solomon, that we will forget things and people and we too will be forgotten by people.
But God remains. Was, Is, Will Be. His Word unchangeable. His Wisdom unflappable.
There’s so much here (part 1 for chapters 1 and 2), please read Ecclesiastes and understand that in future chapters, the writer will essentially sum up in a saying of ‘just do your best, enjoy life, work hard, love well’.
I wonder, did Solomon get this great wisdom (gifted by God) for explaining how God must be patient with humans, He knew the frailty, He knows the frivolity, He rescues the people anyway because He loves us.
There is beauty in this world and ugliness of course, but for God this world is made for blessing us with Himself, seeing us forever as His children, He will never forget us. All that’s glitters is not gold, but all that GLORYs is GOD’S.
Thank You God for Your Word(s) of Wisdom.
Amen
—
Ecclesiasties Chapters 1-2
Everything Is Meaningless
The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
...
What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.
All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.
Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.
Wisdom Is Meaningless
I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.
I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
Pleasures Are Meaningless
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
Wisdom and Folly Are Meaningless
Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king’s successor do than what has already been done?
I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. The wise have eyes in their heads, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both.
Then I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?” I said to myself, “This too is meaningless.” For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die!
Toil Is Meaningless
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
There are some sections of the bible which are just a marvel. like the last bit of Proverbs 30… Wisdom spelled out for all to understand in simple but elegant fashion. Be Wise, learn to work, don’t strut in pride that stirs up anger, be quiet when you could say stuff – but just don’t. Be in awe of the creatures which live wisely and are blessed. Surely we must remember that wisdom comes from God. I appreciated the VBS coloring sheet that I found which shows a medieval knight bowing down to worship God. We all must take time to be appreciative of God’s Almighty Majesty… “Every knee will bow…”
Imagine these debates and discussions could be held about an ant or a lizard – and yet there are mighty creatures of God in all sizes. Imagine these debates and discussions about kings, tremendous teaching opportunities, and well there are fools among us all. We learn LOTS from a fall. Each of us should strive to kneel before we strut too tall. All in All, we can praise when wisdom is gifted to big and small. Don’t be churning butter y’all!
Read on for some true wisdom – thank you Agar in Proverbs 30:
“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:
*Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
*Hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;
*Locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;
*A Lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.
“There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing:
*A Lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing;
*a strutting rooster,
*a he-goat,
*and a king secure against revolt.
“If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth! For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, sostirring up anger produces strife.”
I have various opportunities at work, not my core duties but broaden my portfolio of fun, including hosting webinars and presenting them too. Next week is about owning your courage and career. This week, a couple times, I was the moderator for a science fair webinar aimed at an audience of children of our staff. One was about using machine technology to study protein interactions with potential drug molecules, cool. Another was one on making kitchen volcanoes into an experiment testing variables – oh, I know about those! One of the questions I asked was: “what was the temperature of the material? did it turn more cold or hot (exothermic)? What happened to the potential energy from breaking a bond or did one have to put energy in to create a new bond – storing up more potential energy…???
Ah Potential… Potential energy stored up in molecules, in us, in everything… Potential pulls from what is already here, just a change of form. That’s us too. Life POTENTIAL can be our potential.
Our potential is to use our energy for the Lord. Potentially, the potential that the Lord puts into us involved His energy to break our chains. Potentially, our potential (once we shake off the broken chains) is to move forward freely… How much energy did the Lord put into us? Unlimited. How much energy does it take to start a wide path of destruction pitfalls? TOO LITTLE, too easy, too often.
What if we squander what little energy we have? Well, the Lord knows all about those situations and those people and us as people… HE FORGIVES. Still let us try to avoid them… We have potential to learn from these misdeeds too – let’s learn and live better.
Here is a list of “oh no’s” from Proverbs 30, Part 2, let’s live better within our own potential: “There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers; those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth; those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful; those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind. – “The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry. – “There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’: the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’
Ugh!!! I don’t want to fall into that potential – I want to live under and within love from my potential by listening to God. I want to be satisfied, unlike fire. I want to listen to Him like Mary at His feet, then use my potential for Him. Jesus did say: “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.“
Let’s try to live in love with showing love. God’s purpose puts a lot of potential in us! Let’s use it for Him!
Amen
Psalm 16 by David
Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
I am savoring this summer, yes it’s hot, not cold except inside. But with the window open, nice 70’s outside is sort of chilly in a good way, blanket to snuggle, the blessings of a new day to appreciate. So much so that the birds (God takes care of them too) have been up a couple hours already. Savor summer, it’s short.
I didn’t get to the beach yet, but I DID finish my beach book, started 2 summers ago, a savor of reading about our Savior – the slain lamb, the Lion, the exalted one – the ‘Name Above All Names”. This book by Begg and Ferguson is so meaty it only could be absorbed in small 2 page chunks anyway, perfect for the beach or airport or anywhere you will have such limited time to read but a lifetime to appreciate. I had been singing the praise song lyric when walking by the book sale… same title… WOW… And yes, timing is God’s timing and I got the REPEAT verse in an email this morning, after finishing the book: “Name above all names” Paul wrote to the Phillipians… WOW… Life is too short to wonder if God is sending messages, ah yeah, HE IS. Life is too short not to receive them.
God specifically makes for me – gives me – extra morning time for just us and my processing, so I accept this time, I savor scripture after sleep, I savor sleep after the long day and His Rest forever… In this morning, it’s quiet enough to hear the train in the distance seem nearby, and that’s our future too, NEARBY.
The summer is short, the year is short, life is short. I’m early 50’s, the mid 50’s seem forever from now. I imagine 20 years ago was so short ago yet filled with life all along, will the next 20 be filled for me too? That’s such an unknown, I would be in my 70’s if I make it. Maybe Jesus comes back sooner than later, I won’t worry either way because my rapture bag is packed. Oh yeah, there’s nothing to pack, only unpack to let Jesus carry it and leave it for me. I do and will have my life bags full because I am human, but I will and will have to let them go, leave them at the train station for heaven, let it all go… Best to stop accumulating anything but memories now. BUT I WILL LIVE TODAY LIKE I WILL LIVE FOREVER… I will live in the WONDER of God’s Will always.
We only get about 120 years max to live. How about Noah at 900? God limited living after that time to 120 years max. And Jesus? Jesus ONLY got and took 33 years, just 3 for ministry – on earth – some of that just for prayer alone with God in His wilderness of getting away from it all – to be strengthened to DO IT ALL. He could or would have wanted longer but really He wants us all to understand forever that God has been thinking of us.
Jesus, Name above all names, got that Name from God who exalted Him after Jesus humbled Himself. Jesus: “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” Jesus was humble as the most powerful, and lives within us to strengthen our weakness. Therefore, let us attempt life less brazen and more bondservant. Less reputation and more reputable. Less human and more Jesus in, under, and through our skin.
And my name? Under HIS. We need to PUT HIS ABOVE because it already IS. Our name should be “child of God” – “servant of Jesus” – “just me”,under His. For Jesus IS NAME above all names. Every knee shall bow.
SO, DON’T WORRY ABOUT TODAY, let alone tomorrow, God’s got this. Live like you are living forever and yet just today. Don’t worry about non-humbled people getting in your way either, because our knees should already be bowed and we should only be searching for His Face.
Thank You Lord for being You. This is how we live TODAY!
Amen
—2 Philippians 1-11 NJKV, a letter from Paul:
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The Humbled and Exalted Christ
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Oh, what fitting sentiment and utterance: ‘God, I know You are God and I am NOT’… ‘God, I know You are amazing, how can I even grasp it?’… These are sentiments of Agur son of Jakeh—in an inspired utterance included as Proverbs 30. He barely feels like a man let alone able to grasp life with understanding of God… and yet he knows and mentions what he needs and wants from God – he wants just enough: “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Give me just enough. Yes, we can appreciate that, not too much but not too little. Really, our daily bread, which is Jesus, the Word of God. Jesus in life, one day at a time, is all we need and all we can handle too. We need Jesus to handle it all, even and especially our brushes with evil, self-doubt, challenges, frustration, life.
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” This sentiment is how we are to begin each day, shielded in God, how else will we survive? The next part of Proverbs 30 details pitfalls, but first think of God, how else will we prevail? Let us look to the Lord for protection first, put on the Armor of God and keep moving. God leads, we can follow Him.
The Armor of God represents both protection and one aspect of a weapon, that weapon is the Truth, Sword of Truth, which is the Word, which is Jesus. The Word breaks barriers and kills evil, can pierce through fronts of seeming armor but not of God, falseness fronts, those false flashy idols and ideals are no match to God. Darkness has not overcome the Light.
Imagine the armor forged by man: chain mail armor, forged by hand, every link building coverage with the next link. This personal coverage like feathers on a bird protects, is flexible, moves. Imagine then how good God’s armor is. God needs us to move. God’s Armor on us allows us freedom in Him and separation from the world, yet to stay in the world. God needs us in this world to do His Will. We were born for a time like this.
Armor also needs soft underlying material to be gentle on your skin. Our skin itself is great armor too. Protection and movable. Protection from internal damage and an ability to be thick, sometimes calloused, but intact. No chains of the enemy (chains of sin and death) will gain authority over the Armor of God for your life even if it cuts through the flesh. God already won the war, let Him lead the battle.
Keep moving my friends. One day at a time. Keep holding on to and within the power of God to keep Life. He has put eternity into your heart. Worship God.
Amen
—-
Proverbs 30:1-9 NIV
This man’s utterance to Ithiel: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail. Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One. Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
—-
Matthew 4:1-11 NIV – Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
—-
Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV
The Armor of God
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your FEET fitted with the READINESS that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD of FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the HELMET of SALVATION and the SWORD of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD. And PRAY in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people…
Sunny this morning, nice, no hint of the storm last afternoon. What a terrific rainstorm! Wow, we needed it and I loved it and best yet, my ceiling in the laundry room didn’t leak! Woohoo!!! What great humidity this weekend, broken by the rain temporarily… You know, it IS SUMMER, both technically and functionally and repetitively… We best get used to it, lap up these dog days of summer… no snow!
My cat, participating in this rain storm, did NOT appreciate the thunder which was minimal compared to other times. She didn’t want to leave my side last night… in the quiet time of evening, she was here stretched out and OK – but still touching me with a paw and then against me completely. But not this morning, yes content but impatient and feisty. She doesn’t cuddle up much, but she does cower down, low to the ground in safer spaces in thunderstorms. It’s the touch of safety to just connect us. Resting while touching our security. Maybe it would be nice if cats could talk too, then again no.
In my quiet time, these storms gave me the opportunity to read in the safety of being inside, but I’m no scaredy cat, I chart the storms, evaluate the closeness of it, and screenshot radars. I would run in between the raindrops if I could but not in thunder and lightning. I’m no fool even if my ways are sometimes foolish. There’s lots of proverbs about fools, that’s a whole section chapters 26-29. Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. Don’t risk thunderstorms, but don’t be a scaredy cat, but do reach out and find comfort. Look for rainbows, I sensed there would be one, but my cat kept me close. I saw messages of them from encouraging friends.
In my reading, most importantly I was studying scripture lessons about Jesus being the Lion and the Lamb. This book I have almost finished, so highly recommend “Name Above All Names”, so good. The chapter on Revelation suggests that we don’t get so caught up on the weirdness of descriptions to lose the MAJESTY, POWER, AWESOMENESS of Jesus explained, of Old Testament fulfilled, and especially being set right. Jesus as the Lion AND the Lamb, the author counts the couple dozen mentions of the Slain Lamb as the ultimate ability for our Lion of Judah to accept death as a Lamb sacrifice yet still be up and standing. AMAZING!
Yes we will see this all in Heaven, we will be in AWE. And all will be understood and tears absorbed. We can touch this time, like we are in a rainstorm, go from cowering to resting while touching our security, because we need to know Jesus is setting it all right.
Whether we are caught in storms or sitting well, Jesus will return and set all things Heavenly right – we need to be patient and patiently working. Let us think of good things of Him. And let us live wisely (not foolishly) in these times. WE BEST NOT BE FOOLS. LET’S CLING TO THE LORD. Jesus Is a Lion and a Lamb, and NO Scaredy Cat!
Thanks Lord for comfort in the storms. Thanks for the reach and touch. Thanks also for the RAINBOWS. AMEN AMEN AMEN
Proverbs 26-29 NKJV, select excerpts about being foolish and being WISE
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As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.
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A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.
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Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
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Like the legs of the lame that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like one who binds a stone in a sling is he who gives honor to a fool. Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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The great God who formed everything gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
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Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
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He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; Though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
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Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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My Son, Be Wise. Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
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Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
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A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them.
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A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
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As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.
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Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
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For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.
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The Righteous Are Bold as a Lion. The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.
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Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all.
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Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
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Happy is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
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He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!
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A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
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A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.
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He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.
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He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
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If a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.
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A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.
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The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
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The king who judges the poor with truth, his throne will be established forever.
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Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
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A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.
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The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
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Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord.
His Spirit enables and enriches the Word IS enjoyed.
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Not all who hear, Listen.
No all who listen, understand.
But with the Spirit interpreting, understanding will expand.
So dig into the Word and let it leap to your eyes from your hand.
The Scriptures bring Him alive, Jesus, Son of Man.
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Amen
Listen, Hear, Live, Love, Share
Believe.
—
Proverbs 25:11-14
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear. Like the cold of snow in time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters. Whoever falsely boasts of giving is like clouds and wind without rain.
Not only does it seem summer can get carried away, fretted away, lost so quickly, the whole year is half gone. It’s like we just got started, but already planning back to school, fall festivities, Christmas. No, the reason for ‘Christmas in July’ is that it’s IN July, SUMMER. Enjoy summer because like Christmas it will come and go too too fast… !!!
My readings in the ‘Jesus Calling’ daily devotion book remind me not just that I’ve read through half of it, but that Jesus carried me through ALL of it. Just like the ribbon demarcation helps lift the pages to your place, let us remember Jesus and His Word carried us through all those done days. He carried us safe thus far, we’re still here aren’t we? Any peace we have now, Whom restored it? Jesus. Thank You Lord.
My second book I noticed that without a ribbon, I use the book flap to cover the completed pages, folded over and tucked away. Jesus again, folded me in, tucked my past away, and proclaims me His. Not only that, the cover claims “His Name above all names” – which is all we need. Can’t wait to finish these pages of life WITH Him.
Remember for us in Heaven, there is no personal fame, nor more shame, ONLY His NAME. Jesus will Reign. All Glory will Proclaim and Exclaim His Name above all names.
Amen and thank You Jesus for claiming, covering and continuing my life. Let’s open the book to the next chapter. Remember to dig deep under His cover, get carried away in His Plan. He completes us and we complete Him in LOVE.
For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Amen
—
Philippians 2:1-16 from Paul to the church (and us)
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and GAVE HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
THANK YOU, GOD, I’m relaxing (for now). Weird for wobbly starts. Thank You, God, I’ve got nothing pressing to do (yet). Thank You, God, You did it all (I just have to remember that). Thanks Lord for me being slightly bored. Weird but alone is OK too.
Last Tuesday afternoon (after filling up the day in the yard and gardens):
Thank You, God, I’ve got my daughter visiting EARLY (after I pick up her and her laundry, lol). Thank You God, I miss her and love her and wow the cat will be THRILLED. Thanks Lord for me being re-directed. (And thanks for the prodding all day to just keep working.)
Thursday morning:
Whew Lord, how am I going to fit everything in? How interesting how you redirected my Wednesday, what about today? Thank You Lord for ONLY You know the path, the pace, the priorities and the plan. Thank You Lord for the peace, the purpose, the particulars, the people, the praise, the possibilities, the problems too. Pursue Your Plan, Lord, You ALWAYS say that, You know best. And I’ll learn to put Your Power into my Praise.
Later this afternoon?:
Let’s see how God worked it today, for Him (and me too)… Let us follow His Lead. Let us see how God works out priorities, planning, pursuits!!!
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,…” Proverbs 25:2a
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.
I love the roadside church sign that I saw couple days ago: “READ THE BIBLE, IT WILL SCARE THE HELL OUT OF YOU.” … Hmmm… Well… YES! ! !
So I turned my car around and took a photo. And then I got myself back into the Bible reading/writing.
The Bible IS going to scare each of us, at times, but it’s BETTER and MORE than that, the Bible SCARES the Devil DOWN, like throwing LIVING WATER onto a fire fueled with fear. Jesus saves the day. Us listening to the Lord makes the Devil ‘steaming’ mad.
THANK YOU JESUS FOR KEEPING US OUT OF HELL AND HELL OUT OF US.
The Bible Scriptures, studied and absorbed, when ingrained in our thoughts and actions, will give us daily apt responses, give us timely advice (like put on the Armor of God), and convict us and convince us from going down a bad way… We are human but God applies Jesus-level purification to our sins. The Bible will bring Jesus to Life in us, and no Way in Hell will Jesus let us go any other which way once He has His Way. Give Jesus the Right of Way in your life, He paid the price for it.
Hell is NOT a party, don’t be enticed to the lies.Here are gems of Wisdom from Proverbs, over 30 Sayings of the Wise… straight from God’s mouth to our ears.
“Yes, my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak right things.”
I especially appreciated, this 4th of July freedom weekend, to remember to NOT take freedoms for granted, and we should not slip into lax, lazy, or loathsome ways… the Bible tells us so…
“I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.”
(Yeah, I finished mowing my lawn after that… wise… and today, back to work for me! what a nice 4 day weekend – freedom to praise God!)
Amen
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Proverbs 22:17 – 24 NKJV
Sayings of the Wise
Saying 1: Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; let them all be fixed upon your lips, So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, that I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may answer words of truth to those who send to you?
Saying 2: Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; For the Lord will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
Saying 3: Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.
Saying 4: Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts; If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?
Saying 5: Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.
Saying 6: you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.
Saying 7: Listen to Your Father. When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you; and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
Saying 8: Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.Saying 9: Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you. The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, and waste your pleasant words.
Saying 10: Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Saying 11: Do not remove the ancient landmark, nor enter the fields of the fatherless; for their Redeemer is mighty; He will plead their cause against you.
Saying 12: Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to words of knowledge.
Saying 13: Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell.
Saying 14: My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself; Yes, my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak right things.
Saying 15: Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.
Saying 16: Hear, my son, and be wise;
And guide your heart in the way.
Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.
Saying 17: Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice.
Saying 18: My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways. For a harlot is a deep pit, And a seductress is a narrow well. She also lies in wait as for a victim, and increases the unfaithful among men.
Who has woe?Who has sorrow?Who has contentions?Who has complaints?Who has wounds without cause?Who has redness of eyes?Those who linger long at the wine,Those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: “They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”
Saying 20: Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of troublemaking.
Saying 21: Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Saying 22: A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
Saying 23: Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the gate.
Saying 24: He who plots to do evil Will be called a schemer. The devising of foolishness is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
Saying 25: If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
Saying 26: My son, eat honey because it is good, and the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste; So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; If you have found it, there is a prospect, and your hope will not be cut off.
Saying 27: Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not plunder his resting place; For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
Saying 28: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him,And He turn away His wrath from him.
Saying 29: Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the wicked; For there will be no prospect for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
Saying 30: My son, fear the Lord and the king; Do not associate with those given to change; For their calamity will arise suddenly, And who knows the ruin those two can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise:These things also belong to the wise:
*It is not good to show partiality in judgment. He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” him the people will curse; nations will abhor him. But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.
*He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.
*Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house.
*Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, For would you deceive with your lips? Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
* I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.
It’s a long 4-day weekend that I am taking, for the 4th of July. Loving summer and opportunities to travel (both kids are away) and because the cat home is surely alright! Freedom is freedom except when you don’t remember to feel and act free.
I’ve been visiting up home and yay we got to the fields for last chance for STRAWBERRY picking (crop was toughest in years to pick – but we got the last hour before the thunderstorms rolled in! but TOTALLY worth it)… Just enough time as the season closes out. Got shelling peas too, not the best season but still some is better than none. Fringe benefit: STRAWBERRIES on cheesecake. STRAWBERRY Rhubarb pie, excellently made crust too… STRAWBERRY anything… Even the end of strawberry season is sweet.
Summer is a season for enjoyment. Don’t let it slip by… enjoy!!! (our phrase: ‘it’s not snowing, might as well enjoy!’)
It is ‘coincidence’ on this visit that it is 2 years that my Dad’s been gone, but I imagine him up in Heaven doing OK, even playing cards with “the guys” including most of his brothers. As we drove back from the strawberry fields we passed a small cemetery where my mom just simply said: “So many of my classmates are there”… whew… yeah, take the time before the time takes you … Even the end of the season makes the sweetest memories.
Many of my passed family members and “the guys” from the heyday of my parents first years married, we saw in some 1960’s home movies over these past 2 days. My Dad transferred them to camcorder and vhs, then I had uploaded them online (privately) about 10 years ago as well as placed on DVD. It is just cool to see 1960’s everything, my family was of 50’s styles, 50’s cars and 50’s people who had freedom to be young in the 60’s. Good to see my grandparents in these movies, 30’s stress 40’s determination 50’s relief now in 60’s smiles….
Good to see everyone’s freedom to smile and live well (or well enough) by people who struggled previously. Trust me, the freedoms of stability was clearer than the fuzzy focusing of the film. In all, you could see the smiles.
This is 4th of July (and all days) for American appreciation with smiles of freedom brought by HARD WORK. American appreciation of holidays and vacations, traveling and camping and new houses and new children plus memories of old.
These movies represent my dad’s freedom to capture the moments in time on recordings, freedom to appreciate his family, both blood and relational-relatives. My dad cared to record them and share. My dad worked so hard, it’s good to see what he enjoyed, in family and friends, new house, weddings (and lots of vacation and zoo visits). Of course there are films of us kids too (and lots more vacations and zoos). They didn’t have riches but they did have a rich life!
Above all, our freedom to be free is to have freedom to be who we need to be, want to be, try to be, should be. Freedom to focus on freedom.
My freedom to focus this weekend was gifted by others who gave up their freedom. I’m in thanksgiving to those whom I don’t know, and in love of appreciation for those I do.
In this quiet time reserved by the Lord for me and Him, (He woke me up to find focus time, then refound me time taking a break from driving), I have to appreciate the Lord’s gifted Freedom to Focus back on Him… I appreciate this set of Proverbs 22, about good names, good people, good focus, like that of my family, plus warnings of folly too (in all of us).
I finish my writing today in front of a firepit – how randomly nice as I stopped driving to stretch my legs, stopped at the river whitewater base camp. In five minutes of sitting, two young men set up a campfire! Cool … warm… summer savoring… and chatting with people who just wanted to chat… Even the beginning of the summer season makes the sweetest memories.
All in all, THANK YOU Lord for this moment to appreciate it, all in all.
This summer, please take the time to appreciate TIME. Appreciate the FREEDOM TO FOCUS.
Amen
Proverbs 22:1-12 – NKJV
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. The rich and the poor have this in common, The Lord is the maker of them all.
A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them.
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, and the rod of his anger will fail.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the faithless.
Remembering my Dad, who passed 2 years ago now… This post is such a memory – the smell of his sweater…
It’s been a process in processing after my Dad passed away.
That process in processing seems quick because my Dad passed away just 3 weeks ago. Everyone is doing very well and it was a JOY traveling up home. Picking Blueberries, Thai food, walks, talks and meeting their new cat. The joy of trinkets of 40 year old toys of mine found in a hidden closet while emptying the attic. Weebles wobble but they STILL don’t fall down. An unexpected “treasure” were the black walnuts in the attic, crazy, just plain nuts! A hundred or more walnuts stowed into chewed empty cardboard boxes. Squirrels try to store up treasures too. A funny new memory for us.
Cleaning is a process to processing that is as therapeutic as it is necessary. As therapeutic as it is sad and yet we are VERY grateful for remembering all the good times. Sadness fades. Treasured memories remain.
As I moved items, on top was my father’s blue sweater that he seemed always dressed in, especially the last few years. My mom paused in tearful processing when she saw it. I paused to hug her. It is important that life and love does move us to move forward. My Dad doesn’t need that sweater anymore. We don’t either. We know to not store up treasures or sweaters which won’t last, the bible reminds us of this too (Matthew 6).
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
So someone else can use that sweater. We shall keep the memories of course. Blessed memories…
The lingered smell in the sweater surely reminded me of him. Cool little memory triggers seem to come like every day. I smelled it once again before I put it in the washing machine, his suit coat too. A smell in your memory bank can be priceless but not a treasure to save anywhere except within your smile and within your heart. A smell on a shirt can comfort your baby or puppy, so why not you too. A smell can bring memories unique to you.
I thought of this sweater today, sitting in church, when I was reading ahead, in the story of Mary, Martha’s sister, who took a tremendously valuable bottle of perfumed oil “nard” to pour onto Jesus’s feet and head. A WHOLE bottle worth a year’s wages. WOW expensive and WOW a strong smell too. The house was FILLED with the scent. The money-focused folks gasped, but the teacher in Jesus consoled her and appreciated the gesture and used her as an example of LOVE. She was and is valuably mentioned by us forever to represent His teaching moment to know real treasure: spending time with Him. Jesus explained to others that Mary was pre-anointing Him for death, and He knew His death was soon to come, within a week’s time. Although He taught and told of His death and deliverance, it is unknown how many people really processed what they heard Him say. We don’t know what we will do today or tomorrow but Jesus knew His time was near. So, with the strong scented oil now poured on Jesus’s feet, Mary used her hair to wipe them. I bet the WHOLE house smelled of the treasured nard oil. Everyone who came close to Jesus that night must have smelled the strong scent. Everyone who came close to Mary must have also smelled her perfumed hair. And no doubt that strong smell lingered for some time in the house. I think it is fitting of this sweet scent as the presence of God in Jesus FILLING the house. Like the scripture states, the smell of Christ is life to those being saved. That’s what reminded me of my Dad’s smell from his sweater.
Just a week or so after Mary poured that oil on Jesus, just outside of Jerusalem in Bethany, we now know what Jesus knew: Jesus was on His Way to death then resurrected LIFE. The scriptures don’t tell us what Mary and Martha did after His death, but can you imagine that the house may have still smelled of the perfume for some time – even past Jesus’s passing (well it was only a week later!!)… Perhaps Mary’s hair did too, the smell and the memory lingered in her hair or her clothes. Did it trigger thoughts of sorrowful loss or joyful memories for her? A smell of death or a smell of LIFE? Probably both. How about after Jesus arose? Did Mary once again catch the scent in the house and think back to that night in pain – or did it trigger JOY? It’s not my place to add anything to scripture, but my thought of their thoughts makes me sure that Mary held many a memory of Jesus treasured in her heart.
Jesus did rise after His death. He did crush the evils of death as foretold in Genesis (chapter 3). Mary became remembered as treasured by the Lord, her story specifically savored in His Word as well as in our retelling. Mary did put her treasure where her heart was, with Jesus. We can too. The smell of Christ is salvation. So, I put the smell of my Dad’s sweater in the category of reminding me that He is in Heaven with Jesus. The best JOY that Jesus gives us life eternally.
We each can remember many unique treasured thoughts of our loved ones. We can all make new unique memories now too, these become future memories that will give life and joy – then and now. When Jesus is remembered, there is JOY. When Jesus is remembered, their is sorrow for the pain He had to bear. When Jesus is remembered, His LOVE is remembered too. No doubt, Jesus treasured us all. He treasures me and He treasures you.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Live LIFE as TREASURED as a loved child of God. Live in the moment (as Mary did). Treasure Jesus (as Mary Did).
Love Life and love all (as Jesus does too).
Amen
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John 12: 1-8
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
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Mark 14:3-9
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
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Matthew 6:19-22
Treasures in Heaven
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
My Dad, who passed 2 years ago now, was always looking out for me – always and forever…
Looking back, I love that one of the last things that my Dad said to my Mom, including “I love you” was: “Move the car.”
My Dad was always looking out for me, and my kids. He knew what was going on up until the end. I was driving home that last day, he knew that and wanted my mom to move her car from blocking my car from reaching my recent normal parking spot, at the top of their second driveway. “MOVE THE CAR.” It is a new parking spot for me and I like it. Being able to get home, no matter that it is a long distance, has been important for me – and I am grateful I did and I can.
MOVE THE CAR.
What does that really mean? It meant my Dad wanted it easier for me, wanted me in a safe landing spot, that I was welcomed and he wanted to know that I would be alright. He also wanted me to be done driving and safe. I could say the same about him. I wanted him to land in heaven safe, sound, whole, helped. I could say to many people: move your car and get up to see your loved ones and help them and you find closure, or move the car and stop blocking someone else to get a place where they find peace.
My Dad wanted me to be able to get home. I did.
Move the car, and get to where you need to go. Get to the doctors, dermatologists, specialists, diagnostic experts, cardiologists, you name it, and get treatments if needed for longer life.
Move the car and get to church to hear the healing Word and learn about your own way inside God’s Way. Talk to the people, fellowship, and find your peace.
Move the car and free up the connections for others to make their peace with you. Your forgiveness of them and theirs of you are paramount to everyone’s peace.
Move the car and serve.
All in all you will find that God already “moved the car” and has no blockage for you from reaching home. Jesus serves, we land in safety with Him. Welcome home.
I was glad my Dad was home on earth in his house and in his comfort even thru his suffering. I wanted my Dad to get Home, Heavenly Home, where Jesus had prepared a place for him, he did. Jesus prepares a place for each of us – not JUST for our comfort, but for His, and for His and our Father who wants us Home in Love.
Our Father wants us Home in due time, not a rush, He wants us to move and inspire the people who need Him and help others who don’t know Him. We are to share His Peace and Love with them so that they know He has secured their way and parking spot. His vehicle to Home is catching a ride with Jesus, He knows the Way, He IS the Way.
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Jesus showing John what His Love will do for us in His Revelation, in the eventual rolling out of the new Home for us with Him.
Welcome Home.
Jesus said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7
Love these memories of remembering my dad – on the 2 year anniversary of his passing.
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I remind myself that the Holy Spirit is real. ACTUALY REAL. The Holy Spirit HIMSELF, of course, reminds me that He is real. We are blessed because the Holy Spirit “IS”- as in ‘I AM” – on the MOVE…
A BLESSING after my Dad’s passing has been spending time in this sweet crush of LOVE’S outpouring of support.
Love IS showing to be real right now. Love IS real. Love IS.
In between raindrops on Saturday morning I went to the packed Farmers Market. Here if you wait long enough the weather changes. The last few days it has flip flopped sun and showers. That is also how we often are with grieving. We have memories and moments back and forth of sorrow and joy – all to be weathered like weather. On this day, this moment, the blue flowers caught my eye, and I had 4 bucks leftover clenched in my fist – enough change to splurge after my happy purchase splurges of shelling peas, maple syrup popcorn, and real blackcaps – a side of the road delicacy of a variety with white stems unique to this area, different than those only a few hours south. These fruits from the first to last bites gave me equally sweet memories of my childhood.
Four bucks cash? Blue flower? Wouldn’t you know that it was 4 bucks. SOLD. I carried it back to the car and looked down at the tag quickly and saw the name was BLUE BIRD. Haha Lord!!! That’s the name of my Dad’s favorite bird. Of course you knew that, Lord. CUTE! It could have stopped me in my tracks – those God-sightings tend to do that – but this time, this moment, I didn’t stop walking because it is hard to stop and count the number of God sightings that I have had today, yesterday and every day. One could wonder that what we see everyday are “simply serendipity situations” or coincidences or real Holy Spirit movements. I also didn’t stop walking as I would never get anywhere, AND I had to get out of the rain back to the car, but we (especially I – really I) should stop and BE STILL and absorb what the Spirit is showing me (or trying to show me). The Spirit today IS telling me that He Himself IS taking care of my Dad. I believe it. I believe Him. I won’t multiple choose guess about God, I will say IN TRUTH that these good memories are God sightings and they ARE from Him.
The bluebird is my father’s favorite bird. I have a bluebird pin that sat on my dresser and that I wore as I was driving up to see him that morning that he passed. The previous visit, 2 weeks ago, I don’t know what possessed me to ask him what his favorite bird was, because I KNOW what his favorite bird is. The grimace on his face of “you’ve got to be kidding, asking me” told me LOTS, reinforced my knowledge that he was very well aware of everything going on. It reminded me that I needed to trust the Lord working out all things. I need to remember that I DON’T know all the inner workings of the Lord thru the Holy Spirit, but if the Lord takes care of the birds, therefore He was and is taking care of my Dad. The Lord was telling that His Spirit within my Dad was moving and working this whole time. The conversations that my Dad had with the Lord in my Dad’s final days must have been tremendous.
Bluebirds require special houses, so how much more does the Lord prepare a room for each of us in His house because of His LOVE. My Dad’s last words that I heard on the phone the day before he passed were “Thank you.” when I told him that I loved him and everyone was praying for him. His answer: “Thank you”. It IS and WAS and WILL BE, YOUR PRAYERS which ARE the Holy Spirit moving. It was because of YOU and the Spirit in you that helped carry my father thru. It is You Lord, where credit is ALL due.
I love the idea of the fun good “coincidental” things that happen in life, like the BLUEBIRD name of the flower. I love the nifty “coincidence” of a neighbor needing a ramp for a visiting relative coinciding with the dismantling of our ramp that my Dad now did not need. We love saying how serendipitous things fall into place, don’t we. For example my father’s assigned cemetery plot number matches my parents’ house number where they have lived for nearly 60 years. So MANY of those fun things abound. Of course we need to be careful, as what we see every day can be said to be “in the flesh” and not reliable. We must and BEWARE the things of evil to trip us up – BUT I am NOT going to solve that answer of coincidence serendipity and Spirit in a simple blog, how dare I. BUT, I will tell you where I KNOW the Holy Spirit has been working – in my faith of God in helping my Dad with his faith.
Those flowers, the bluebirds, and even worldly things, ARE worldly things. We must be careful to not read tea leaves when God Himself made and gave us His cup to be known. We also must fear the Lord and read Him. But as human as I am, asking for discernment, I am knowing that the Holy Spirit works all things for the glory of God, I put my confidence not in the flesh but in these connections that the Holy Spirit makes as answers of our prayers. If it brings us closer to God, I best say: It AIN’T serendipity if it really IS the Holy Spirit. (And honestly I would never ever bet on it, I would just believe.)
I believe in God being Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, so when we pray and ask specifically, He sends the Holy Spirit. I don’t have to tell you all my God-sightings or God winks to convince you that God is paying attention to us. I pray you already know His Holy Spirit is active in your life, and want to know Him more. I do know that His ability to send the Holy Spirit makes me sigh and smile.
The weather, and our sorrows and joys in life change. If you wait long enough, your view will change and with discernment you MIGHT see what the Holy Spirit was trying to show you all along: HIM. You don’t know how God makes and stores snowflakes, right? So honestly most of the time we have no clue how many times in life the Holy Spirit holds the glue. We have no clue, but the Holy Spirit is TRUE.
AMEN and Lord, I believe You are there always.
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Jesus said (in John 16:12-15):
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
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1 Corinthians 2:7-16 Paul speaking to the church:
…we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Debbie Upper 