Posts

The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: Turn, Turn, Turn

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace. What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-11a
Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to kno…
Post a Comment
Read more

The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: Friday Follow Up

- Choose one of this week's passages from Ecclesiastes to be your prayer focus for today. They are:

Eccl. 1:1-11
Eccl. 1:12-18
Eccl. 2:1-17
Eccl. 2:18-26

- Read the passage again and identify a word or phrases that jump out at you.

- Read the passage again, and if possible read from a different translation (biblegateway.com has many translations you can choose from). Identify where this passage might be touching your life today. How is this relevant to your life?

- Read the passage a third time, again in a different translation if possible. Ask yourself what God is calling you to do or to be from this passage. What change might God be moving your toward?

- Close with a silent prayer, listening to God rather than speaking to God. What actions will you take today based on this prayer?

- Recite the Lord's Prayer.
Post a Comment
Read more

The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: Work & Play

I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me —and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity. There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God; for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and …
Post a Comment
Read more

The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: Tough Questions

I said to myself, “Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But again, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself; I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house; I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, and many concubines. So I became great and surpassed al…
Post a Comment
Read more

The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: Wisdom of Faith

I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said to myself, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow. ~ Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us. ~ Socrates


When I think about everything happening in the news right now, none of it does make muc…
Post a Comment
Read more

The Wisdom Of Ecclesiastes: Vapor

The next devotionals will be a walk through the confusing, exciting, beautiful book of Wisdom, Ecclesiastes. It is a book often loved or hated. I love it, and hope to share with you why.
The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
What do people gain from all the toil
at which they toil under the sun?
A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun goes down,
and hurries to the place where it rises.
The wind blows to the south,
and goes around to the north;
round and round goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they continue to flow.
All things are wearisome;
more than one can express;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
or the ear filled with hearing.
What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the…
Post a Comment
Read more

The Teachings of Jesus in Luke: Friday Follow Up

- Choose one of this week's passages from Luke to be your prayer focus for today. They are:

Luke 17:5-6
Luke 17:20-21
Luke 18:9-14
Luke 18:18-25

- Read the passage again and identify a word or phrases that jump out at you.

- Read the passage again, and if possible read from a different translation (biblegateway.com has many translations you can choose from). Identify where this passage might be touching your life today. How is this relevant to your life?

- Read the passage a third time, again in a different translation if possible. Ask yourself what God is calling you to do or to be from this passage. What change might God be moving your toward?

- Close with a silent prayer, listening to God rather than speaking to God. What actions will you take today based on this prayer?

- Recite the Lord's Prayer.



Next week we will begin a new series: The book of Ecclesiastes
Post a Comment
Read more