Ecclesiastes 1:1-7 - As the World Turns!

1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

      2“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,  “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

      3What advantage does man have in all his work, Which he does under the sun?

      4A generation goes and a generation comes, But the earth remains forever.

      5Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; And hastening to its place it rises there again.

      6Blowing toward the south,

            Then turning toward the north, The wind continues swirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns.

      7All the rivers flow into the sea,

            Yet the sea is not full.

            To the place where the rivers flow, There they flow again.

As the World Turns, sounds like a soap opera! We scratch our way through life, and a generation passes and a new generation comes along. The sun continues to rise and set, the wind continues to blow south then north and the rivers continue to flow.

As I sit here a storm rages, we received a foot & a half of snow yesterday and I spent several hours using a shovel, a snowblower and a plow. The second half of this storm is raging wind with sleet. 

I work and toil as the generation before me and as the generation after me. Life is hard!

But you don’t have to walk it alone. Jesus will carry you through it. Allow Him to shepherd you through life, let Him be your guiding light!

As the world turns, He will never leave you.

Blessings, David 

The Joy's Of Scripture. Psalm 1:1-2 NLT

Psalm 1:1-2 NLT 

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 

2 But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. 

Does this verse seem "old fashioned" to you? How exactly are you suppose to "delight in the law of the LORD" ? I've read through Leviticus and I'll be honest with you, I didn't understand MOST of it. How can I delight in it if I don't even understand it? 

But I don't think that's what this verse is talking about. My interpretation of this verse is that God's word, the Bible, brings joy to our soul. When we learn God's ways, which are presented to us in the Bible, and we choose to follow His advice, live the way He tells us to, follow Him, we will have peace. His peace brings us contentment. Contentment gives us joy and joy is, well, delight. The Bible is an instruction manuel on how to live a life that p!eases God. When we p!ease God, He blesses us. 

Now the second part of that verse. Surely no one actually mediates on scripture day and night, unless they're a monk.... 

But actually, Christian, that's exactly what you should be doing. Are you reading scripture daily? I'm not talking about  those cute pictures with a verse that pop up in your Facebook news feed. Actual passages of the Bible. Are you studying it? Dissecting it? Comprehending it? Applying it to your life? 

THAT'S how you meditate on it day and night. 

Blessings, Cecilia 

Psalm 1:6-The way of the wicked!

Psalm 1:6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
            But the way of the wicked will perish.

Today we awake to the news that our country with France and the UK bombed Syria due to a chemical weapons attack. In WW1 over 1 million people died from chemical weapons.

There is evil all around us and throughout the whole world but we have to remind ourselves God is in control.

“For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.”

Try to follow the way of the Lord today, ask him to guide your heart. 

Remember..... “the way of the wicked will perish”.

Please pray of our military and their families.

Blessings, David 

Crossroads. Psalm 1:1 NLT

We face 100 different choices every day. Do I get up now that I'm awake or roll over and go back to sleep? Do I drink this cup of coffee black or add cream? Cereal for breakfast or bacon and eggs? The grocery store first or the hardware? Most decisions aren't life altering but some are.

Our decision to move back to Michigan was a big one. The house we now live in was another. When we decided to adopt, that was a big decision. 

Where do you go when you find it's time to make a choice, when you are standing at one of life's crossroads and the decision you make will effect the rest of your life? I hope you take it to the Lord in prayer. I hope you rely on His word for direction. If you need some perspective, I hope you seek Godly advice. 

Psalm 1:1 NLT 

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 

Blessings, Cecilia 

Jeremiah 6:16-Crossroads!

Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.’

When we are at a crossroad between good and evil God always gives us a way out. When Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord He wanted them to repent but when they refused He punished (disciplined) them.

It’s the same with us. If you had done evil (sinned) or are planning sin, God will discipline you.

When you find yourself standing at that crossroad, repent!

Seek the ways of the Lord, run as fast as you can away from sin. Ask Him where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest.

Blessings, David 

1 Titus 2:1-Petitions, Prayers, Intercessions & Thanksgiving!

1 Titus 2:1 BSB

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men.

I’ve been down since my devotional on Monday. I sent it to a friend hoping he would read it and pray for me and I didn’t get a response which brought me down further. I needed encouragement.

Then I thought of someone who is a prayer warrior so I emailed him and asked for prayer. Suddenly by early evening my “down” feeling had left me. The problem is still there but my outlook is different. God has lifted the anxiety over the matter and assumed complete control over it. After all, it’s His ministry.

I think what had brought me down further was not having someone to call on for prayer because everyone is busy, out of town or.....

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men.”

Do you know someone that is going through a rough spot, a hard time, an addiction, an illness?

Send them a word of encouragement, a petition, a prayer, an intercession, and give a thanksgiving for them! 

It may be your kind words and prayer that carries them through the hard time they are going through. 

Blessings, David 

Blessings Psalm 1:1 NLT

Psalm 1:1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 

What does it mean to be blessed? Is it receiving something good from God? Is it knowing we are saved? Is it things going well in our life? Is it just something we say to someone when they sneeze? 

I looked at Webster's definition of blessed and I don't think it even scratched the surface of what it really means to be blessed. I think being blessed is an inner understanding of the love God has for us. To me, being blessed is the joy we hold in our heart knowing the creator of the universe loves us as if we were the only one who loves us back. 

It's easy to love someone who loves us but what about those that despise us? What about that coworker who ridicules us because of our faith? That family member that tries to humiliate us at family gatherings? Can we love them with every ounce of our being? That's the way God loves us. That's the way God loves them. Aren't we called to love like Jesus? 

Luke 6:32 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 

Blessings, Cecilia