Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Possessions

What is your favorite possession? Mine is my shiny black piano. In fact, I was very upset a couple years ago when James accidentally chipped one of the main keys when he happened to be throwing coins in the air. In fact, we now have a rule that nothing gets thrown in the air in the living room and no toy is to ever touch the piano. 😊

I don’t know what Solomon’s favorite possession was, but he certainly didn’t lack anything. Just as he didn’t find satisfaction from chasing after wisdom, wealth, pleasure or greatness, apart from God’s plans. He also found chasing after possessions equally meaningless, apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 2:17-25     ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. ²¹ 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.²² What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? ²³ All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.

²⁴ 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,²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

You’ve heard the sayings: “You can’t take it with you;” and “No u-haul behind a hearse.” Solomon had worked hard and accumulated much, but realized he wouldn’t take it with him and he had no control over what happened to it after he left.   

I do want to teach my children to take care of their property and especially treat other people’s property with care. However, it’s far more important I leave behind a spiritual legacy of faith and trust in God than a perfect piano! Their spiritual inheritance is eternal while their earthly inheritance is not.

Where else are you and I more focused on possessions (accumulating and protecting them) than on our relationship with God and the impact that has on others around us? Let’s focus on our eternal legacy! 

Alice

Goodness and love

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

The choir at my church had a Spring Cantata yesterday.  It was based off Psalm 23.  There are so many things I could pull out in this Psalm but the one part that really hit me was the last verse of the chapter. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The part that we don’t often focus on is the part “all the days of my life”.  It is in this lifetime that we are told that goodness and love will follow us.  It’s not after this life.  After this life is when we will dwell in the house of the Lord.  While there is a lot to look for after this lifetime, we still have a lot to live for in this lifetime as well. 

Have you stopped today to think about what goodness and love follows you today?  It’s there if you just take the time to look for it.

El Shaddai

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord

appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am [El Shaddai];

walk before me, and be blameless.”

     Genesis 17:1

“Also God said to [Jacob]: ‘I am [El Shaddai]. Be fruitful

and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall

proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.”

    Genesis 35:11

One of the Hebrew names of God used frequently in the Old Testament is El Shaddai. It is often translated as Almighty God because He is sovereign, eternal, all powerful.  One of my study Bibles indicates that the name El Shaddai reflects God’s character as the strengthener and satisfier of His people. Thus, the name is also translated as the All-Sufficient One. 

I have experienced both aspects of El Shaddai and that causes me to fear and love Him all the more.  He has proven Himself faithful to me time and time again.  I have found out that He is always more than able to provide what I need--physically and spiritually.  His grace is sufficient for all my big issues and small issues, and everything in between. I find that the more I commit my ways, needs and concerns to Him, the more I see answered prayers every day. And that helps me to trust Him more and more.

I encourage you to spend some time pondering God as El Shaddai. Let the revelation of Him as the Almighty and All-Sufficient One quiet your fears and concerns, and bring peace to your heart. He alone can truly strengthen and satisfy.  Entrust everything to Him who is able and rest in the knowledge that He will bring His will to pass.

Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Greatness

Solomon didn’t find satisfaction from chasing after wisdom, wealth or pleasure, apart from God’s plans. He also found chasing after greatness equally meaningless, apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 2:4-11      I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. ⁵ I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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. ⁹ I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

¹⁰ 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.
¹¹ 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.

Solomon attained greatness that far exceeded anyone before, during or after his time (I Kings 3:11-13). He used his wisdom not only for his own benefit, but for the benefit of his entire country and those outside his country. Yet, attaining greatness for the sake of attaining greatness, didn’t satisfy.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25     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,²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

God desires us to live, work and serve with excellence. If we pursue greatness on our own and for ourselves, though, it won’t bring lasting joy and true satisfaction.

Where are you and I more focused on earthly greatness than on the great things God has purposed for you and me? I can easily get caught up in my own expectations of myself or family members rather than what God deems important or a priority. God may have us pursue a prestigious degree or position, keep an immaculate house and pristine yard, or master a unique skill. Let’s make sure it’s the greatness He desires, used for His glory, then it will bring lasting joy that satisfies!

Alice

'The Other' John 3:16

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.  1 John 3:16

It is far better to give than to receive.  That was something my mom taught me when I was little.  As I look back, I reflected on those times that made me the happiest.  It was usually around birthdays.  My favorite childhood birthday was when I turned seven.  We were in San Francisco for my mom’s job, and her and some colleagues took me to an old-fashioned Italian restaurant.  I’m guessing my affinity for Olive Garden must have started there, but I digress.  We were done with dinner, and our server brings out a little birthday cake.  She begins to sing ‘Happy Birthday.’  But she was not the only one.  The tables around us began to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ as well.  Before I know it, the restaurant has become the Mormon Tabernacle Choir because everyone (I’m not kidding … everyone!) began to sing.  Tough act to follow for a seventh birthday.  My mom marvels that I remembered that day because to her, it was just part of being my mom.  To me, it meant the world, and it still does today.  However, it brings joy to my mother’s face that I remembered it.

As a Christian, I remember watching the Passion of The Christ for the first time.  I understood what Jesus had done for us, but that moment in the theater changed my trajectory.  Seeing the graphic nature of what Christ went through leading up to the crucifixion was simply at times unbearable to watch.  It was so painful (spoiler alert 😊) that I barely remember Him walking out from the tomb on the third day at the end of the movie.  While it is true that the depiction of His crucifixion was somewhat off, the concept one could get of what He went through was deeply impactful.  I can still remember it to this day.  It centers me whenever I wander too far from course.  It keeps my faith grounded on the solid foundation He made for me.  He went through all of that for us.

Real love is always about giving.  Not receiving.  Most of us focus on John 3:16, which says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  Today’s John 3:16 (1^st John, that is) speaks very similarly of the sacrifice Jesus made.  However, while one spoke of the gift God gave to us through His Son the other commissions us to give as Jesus gave.  Now this is not to say we are to lay down our life throwing caution to the wind.  However, it requires us to have a selfless love for others.  We are to give of ourselves so that others can know the love of the one true living God.  If you think of the one moment you truly knew God was real, what would you give for someone else to have that moment?  Couldn’t your selfless act be the one that either makes a difference in another’s life or helps someone recognize God truly at work?  My pastor understood this as he quoted from Philippians 2:4 saying, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

There is truly no greater love one can have for another than to give their lives for them.  My wife gives me the greatest amount of joy in my life.  It’s not because of what she does for me.  It is because when I do something for her and she smiles, nothing can ruin my day.  That is the kind of love today’s verse speaks of.  Jesus too spoke of this saying, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)  Whether it be for a child, a significant other, a parent, or someone in need, let us renew our commitment to God by committing to give more to others.  Where are you reserving space that God wants more from you?  How can we give more of us for our brothers and sisters?  My prayer is that while we find comfort the words of John 3:16, we act remembering ‘The Other John 3:16.’  Amen.

Serve humbly

Galatians 5:13-14

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  

America’s view of freedom seems to have gotten out of control.  We often hear comments about having freedom of speech and freedom to do whatever we want.  The time in which Paul wrote Galatians seems to not be all that different than how the world is becoming now.  He gave them, and us, a warning.  While we are called to be free, that does not mean we should misuse our freedom.  We are warned not to use our freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

So what does this look like for you?  It might mean that instead of going and buying yourself something, that when you see a person in need, you help them out.  Maybe it’s that single mom next door that is struggling to give her kids the best she can while trying to work two jobs to pay the bills.  Maybe you can show her love by mowing her lawn or helping with the kids.  Maybe even dropping a gift card to the local grocery store in her mailbox.

This week I want to challenge you to serve one another humbly in love.  Since I know that sometimes people can struggle with ideas on how to do this, I want to invite anyone who reads this to leave a comment on a way that you have been served humbly in love by someone else.  Read through the comments and see if something that you see gives you an idea for how you can serve someone else.  Let’s spread the Love of Christ this week to those we come in contact with.      

 

Positive Influence

“I thank God . . . when I call to remembrance

the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt

first in your grandmother Lois and your mother

Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”

     2 Timothy 1:3, 5 (NKJV)

Children are a blessing from God and as Christians, we have a special responsibility in raising them. Mothers (as well as fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) play an important role in helping to "bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Eph. 6:4, NKJV)

I think we’d all like to know that our children are walking with the Lord, but that doesn't come just by virtue of having a Christian upbringing. This is a personal decision that everyone needs to make for themselves.  Our children have free will and they have to choose to accept Christ or not.  However, we do have some important tools that we can use to have a positive influence on our children:

Power of our words:  The words we use have great power---to build up or tear down, to encourage or to dishearten others.  At times, we all say things rashly or idly that we wish we could take back, but once said, they can’t be retracted. However, we can apologize and that is a wonderful teachable moment for our children.

Power of our prayers:  Committing our children to the Lord in prayer on a daily basis is one of the most important things we can do.  Interceding on behalf of them, entrusting our petitions for them to God is powerful.  And letting our children know that we pray for them is also a way to strengthen them and help them realize the importance of prayer.

Power of our walk:   How we act is just as important as what we say, and of course, we should strive for consistency between the two. Demonstrating grace, mercy, forgiveness, charity, obedience, etc. to our children speaks volumes. And we should not be afraid to admit when we make mistakes, to show how we get back on track with God and our Christian walk.

I want to wish a special Mother’s Day blessing on all the mothers here and encourage you to leave a legacy of faith with your children.  Keep praying that they will "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18, NKJV) 

Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Pleasure

As we saw last week, Solomon didn’t find satisfaction from chasing after wisdom and wealth, apart from God’s plans. He found it meaningless, so he tried chasing after pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-3    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. ² “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” ³ 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.

Solomon found chasing after pleasure meaningless, too. It is temporal and unsatisfying. However, chasing after God’s plans is eternal, has meaning and is satisfying.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25           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,²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

Without a relationship with God and following Him, nothing will ever satisfy. Where are you and I chasing after an earthly temporal pleasure more than God’s plans for us? Staying up late watching TV, playing video games, reading/posting on social media, or logging another exotic vacation doesn’t provide lasting satisfaction.

God asked me to join an international ministry over 14 years ago that takes 15 or more hours of my time each week. It is far more rewarding than I expected. I wouldn’t trade it for all the exotic vacations in the world!!!

Similar to what Kent talked about yesterday, God can give us true joy in being content in what He’s given us to do and experience.

Alice

Chasing The Unicorn

Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.  Luke 22:39-43

Each month, I have set goals that help me measure what I am trying to achieve for the year.  Things like meeting with my manager and team members come to mind, and discussing both their and my progress throughout the year is very helpful.  Then I have family and personal goals that are set to ensure things done.  These goals over the course of life have changed quite dramatically.  Today, things like, “Love my wife better today than I did yesterday,” and “complete repair of screen window,” are what occupy my thoughts.  When I was younger, my goals were on more materialistic or things that I wanted to get for the wrong reasons.  You might know some of these phrases behind them:  “It gives me status.” “This makes me look better, and it shows I have arrived.”  Sometimes, those are not bad things, but the motives often are.  It’s not that we should not want things, but we should always ask ourselves, “At what expense?”  There is this expression called ‘Chasing the Unicorn,’ which in essence means running after something that does not exist.  We often do this in life wanting to gain something we do not have hoping it will fill a void that materially cannot be filled.

As followers of Christ, we should always know that only He can fill the voids that matter in our lives.  I chose these verses as an example of what we should aspire to in our walk of faith.  My original thought was that verse 42 (take this cup of suffering away from me) was enough.  However, the prior verses give it context.  Reading it a few times, it feels that Jesus is giving a pep talk not only for His followers but maybe even Himself.  I know!  Jesus needs no pep talk!  However, we all have that inner voice that chimes in to try to talk ourselves out of doing something because no one will notice.  Don't have that second piece of cake.  Do not spend the extra $50 a month on the car.  Keep God in that part of your life.  Feel free to insert that indulgence that you fight to avoid a pattern of poor judgment and behavior.  I have been there, and struggled in those moments.  That is why what Jesus says has such resonance in the context of these verses.  It’s not about what I (Jesus) want.  It’s about what you (Heavenly Father, Your will to be done) want.  Whenever we face something albeit literal or spiritual, we must pray that our minds, hearts, and spirit focus on God and not just our own wants in the process.  That was what Jesus did at the Mount of Olives.

God wants what is best for us.  There are times we will openly question Him.  We say, “Why not that, and why not now?”  However, over time we have learned not just through His word but also personally that He has always delivered.  For those of you newer in your journey, think of when God first came into your life.  You knew He was real then.  Trust that He will be that same God to you today as when you first committed to Him, and as time passes, your life will be as in Jeremiah 31:12; “They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts— the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone.”  Trust in God’s will and timing, and all things will work out right.  What anxieties are you experiencing today?  Where are you challenged to trust God’s timing over your own?  My prayer is that we know God will always provide, and let us not give in to ‘Chasing the Unicorn.’  Amen.

Dash

Revelation 1:8

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

THE DASH

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning… to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars… the house… the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.

To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile… remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?

We have all heard and read how the Lord God is the Alpha and the Omega.  He is the beginning and the end.  But what is in between?  In between is the dash, the life that we live.  While “The Dash” never mentions God, the things it does say we should do to live our dash the best all goes along with how the Bible tells us to live.  How we are to love one another and be slow to anger. 

Today I wanted to encourage you to make sure you are living a dash that is worthy of beginning and ending with Christ.  We are Christ on earth to those that we come in contact with.  Live your dash for Christ today and always.