74th Week Ecclesiastes Chapters 9-12 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)
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Monday, Ecclesiastes Chapter 9
Ecclesiastes 9
Verse 9a
Jeanie Boldt
Verse 9a: Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun.
THOUGHT
I couldn’t help but think of a couple of things when I read this chapter. First of all it spoke of “Our Destiny”. I asked Rory what he thought of the word when I threw it out to him, and he thought the same thing that I did. He feels that the word “Destiny” gets way too much attention. We need to focus on our lives being in the ‘Will and Way of the Lord’. Yes, no matter who we are - we will die. However, by knowing the Lord and receiving Christ as our Savior, it is how we live that is more important and should receive more time and attention.
This is the very reason I chose this verse. We should enjoy our life with our spouse. We need to love them as a very close part of our life. Each day we should praise God and appreciate those who the Lord has chosen for us. For those who are single yet, you have replacements for that space that are as equally important to you as our spouse is to us. Let’s make the most of the time the Lord has given us and live it as a thanksgiving to Him. May your mate or the one you are the closest to never once question if he is loved, respected or appreciated.
PRAYER
Father God, we love You and thank You for the lives and years here on earth that You have given us. May they reflect an appreciation of that life from us. Help us to never take our closest most loving person to us for granted. May we only serve them and rejoice with them at all times. We honor You for the plans that You have for us. Each day we are excited as they are revealed to us. We know we will die an earthly death here on earth. We are excited to live eternally with You. I pray that everyone will learn that it isn’t a person’s destiny that is important to them. I pray that everyone will realize what needs to be learned here on earth for their eternal salvation.
AMEN
Tuesday, Ecclesiastes Chapter 10
Ecclesiastes 10
Verse 10
Jeanie Boldt
Verse 10: If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.
THOUGHT
I couldn’t help but think when I read this chapter how much this book, and really this chapter, sounds like Proverbs. Solomon had a way of saying things. At times his words of wisdom go over my head. I guess I am thankful for the application. This so tells us that it works best if we have the right proper prepared tools for the job. They paralleled it to your area in which you work. We need the proper skills for the job we are doing. Beginning a new job is really hard. It takes a while for training and practice and experience. When all three come together because of time, the performance becomes an easier success.
We can so relate this not only to our job and career but learning a new position in a relationship. It takes work to be a good husband or wife, Christian Mentor, friend, father or mother or grandparent. Books, Christian friends and mentors, praying, reading the Word and support groups can help us strengthen our needed skills in these areas.
We are never done learning. As Solomon says, it takes less strength if we continue to try and better ourselves in our profession and relationships each day. Rory also made a point from his scouting days that a sharper ax is a safer ax. Let us all strive to be the best we can and do it the most comfortable and safe way.
PRAYER
Father God, thank You for this another day and for just the right verse that we all needed to hear. May we shine in our jobs, relationships and in our adventures by striving for the best actions and input in them that we can give. Help us to go the whole way and work hard at becoming the best in our work area, the best wife/husband, parent, grandparent, etc. May we search for areas of expertise that can help us become better at what we do and polish up the areas that have become dull. May we also be the best example of a Christian that you would want us to be. Help us to be faithful to You by being in the Word and in prayer. AMEN
Wednesday, Ecclesiastes Chapter 11
Ecclesiastes 11
Verse 4
Jeanie Boldt
Verse 4: Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
THOUGHT
There is never a perfect time. There is never a perfect condition. If we waited for all the environment to be perfect, the bank account perfect, our health good, our weight just where we want it, the home improvements caught up, everyone done with school or studies, our careers at just the right spot-then I will go on vacation, have a child, get into a relationship, move to the location that I have desired forever, bought the car I have always wanted, had the neighbors for supper, shared a weekend with siblings, or concentrated on my relationship with God my Father, Jesus my friend and the Holy Spirit that is in my heart, it would never come.
We can’t wait for the perfect conditions. They may never exist. We must take risks in life. We must have a spirit of adventure. We must look at every opportunity and not study it to death but follow the ways of our heart. I can give an example of this. When I was trying to find a church after the move to Omaha, I visited 3 and weighed out all the pros and cons. I had decided to go to Westside Baptist when a friend finally heckled me enough to attend King of Kings church. The sermon that day was entitled “Stop Wandering and Start Wondering”. That is all it took. I stopped trying to find the perfect place and listened to God My Father instead. Take a leap of faith TODAY!!! We will back each other.
PRAYER
Jesus, our Friend, thank You for coming to earth and dying for our salvation. Things were not perfect for You. Thank You for taking the risk and dying so that we may live. We pray as Salt Shakers that our paths will be faced with God-directed enthusiasm and faith. God give us courage each day to take a chance to verbalize Your love to the world. There will never be the perfect time. May our lives never stand still. Help us to keep moving forward doing Your Will. Thank You for each opportunity we will have today. We anxiously await. In the Blood of Christ our Lord. AMEN
Thursday, Ecclesiastes Chapter 12A
Ecclesiastes 12A
Verse 6-7
Jeanie Boldt
Verses 6-7: Remember him-before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or 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.
THOUGHT
This made me think of how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken from us or broken. I can’t help but think of a couple situations that have touched my life recently.
1. One of my nurses has teenage boys. About a month ago 4 boys were in a car going at high speed after drinking. They were under legal drinking age and legally drunk at the time of the accident. That night two 17 year old boys were killed, and the driver that lived is now on trial for automotive manslaughter. Life is so precious. In a wink it is gone, or in a wink you bare a cross that is so very hard to live with.
2. My nurse friend, who I have asked prayers for with the brain tumor, six weeks ago had no sign or symptoms of any problems. The past 6 weeks she has been experiencing some tiredness and memory loss. After some tests, a brain tumor that is malignant has been found, and via the CAT scan, is not a good prognosis. They have taken family pictures and have been talking about possessions and what may be desired at her funeral. She is having a biopsy with surgery tomorrow. Her speech may be affected with this procedure along with other side effects. One week her name was on our assignments; the next week she is absent.
As we live each day, may we recognize the gift of life as a precious resource to be used wisely and not squandered.
PRAYER
Father God, thank You for this day. We pray that we have lived it to the fullest. Help us to understand right from wrong and life according to Your Will. May we be excited about each day You give us, and with faith and strength from You, walk strong with the crosses that we bare. Each of these Salt Shakers are so precious. May we never take each other for granted. May we never not appreciate the other. May our days close with that thought in our hearts and minds. Thank You for Life. We will hold on to it the best we can through strength from YOU!! AMEN
Friday, Ecclesiastes Chapter 12B
Ecclesiastes 12B
Verse 13-14
Jeanie Boldt
Verses 13-14: Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment including every hidden thing whether it is good or evil.
THOUGHT
In closing we must remember what Solomon wanted us to get out of this book. We must work hard at knowing God and loving Him with all our soul and all our might. God wants us to enjoy life but we must do it in a way that patterns His commandments. I think there is very little fear of God anymore. I believe so many people think that they have the power and can do as they please. Well, God is One you want on your side. He will judge every action that we do in the end. If we keep our eyes on Him, we will do just fine.
So Salt Shakers, we need to live so God could publish a book about you and you would not be ashamed for the whole world to read it. We need God to be a part of our lives. He must be put first. Realize that everything good we receive is a gift from God. He gives it freely to all of us.
PRAYER
Father God, thank You for the strength of another week. For our jobs, homes, cars, family and times of enjoyment, we honor You. Help us to pattern our actions after You. Please forgive us where we fall short or fail to love as we should. Help us to keep our eyes on You from the time we wake until the time we rest. Thank God for our health and happiness and time shared with You, Father God. AMEN
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