Today’s Reading: Psalm 83, 110 & 120

I took my troubles to the Lord;
I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
and from all deceitful people.
O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
How will he increase your punishment?
You will be pierced with sharp arrows
and burned with glowing coals.
How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
I am tired of living
among people who hate peace.
I search for peace;
but when I speak of peace, they want war! – Psalm 120:1-7

THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN CAN LEAVE US WEARY AND EXHAUSTED.

It seems like the truth is no longer desired by our culture, and we are surrounded by lies — in the news, politics, social media, education, and in the workplace. Lines are blurred and confusion is the special for the day as someone else’s truth gets more credence than God’s truth. To be surrounded by those who wound us with their words and challenge our integrity can leave us crying out to God and longing for peace.

O God, do not be silent!
Do not be deaf.
Do not be quiet, O God.
Don’t you hear the uproar of your enemies?
Don’t you see that your arrogant enemies are rising up?
They devise crafty schemes against your people;
they conspire against your precious ones.
“Come,” they say, “let us wipe out Israel as a nation.
We will destroy the very memory of its existence.” – Psalm 83:1-4

Would you agree that the culture we live in today is quickly destroying the cultural expectations of yesterday? The truth has been watered down and justice is quickly disappearing. Beautiful cities have become unsafe as thieves are allowed to take what they want and protestors are given space to vandalize anything in their path, all for political gain. The Church is spoken of with contempt, and God’s people are accused of promoting agendas that take away the freedom of those who shake their fist in the face of God.

WHY ARE WE SURPRISED WHEN OTHERS PERSECUTE US, LIE ABOUT US, OR FALSELY ACCUSE US?

Jesus warned his disciples that they would be mistreated. He told us we would be blessed when people make fun of us or lie about us or say awful things about us. His advice for us was to be happy, for great is our reward in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12). When times get tough, we are encouraged by the words of King David and the words of the apostles.

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. – 1 Peter 4:12-19

KEEP ON DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND TRUST IN GOD.

Lord, thank you for the encouragement we daily receive from your scriptures. Thank you for the reminder that it is a privilege to be called a Christ follower. Though this world will disappoint us, you will never fail us; though others may accuse us, you are the only One who has the right to judge us. We pray for courage to stand strong in the midst of adversity, and we pray for your Spirit to guide us each day so that we represent you well. Give us the words to say and the heart to love, even in these dark days.

The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.” – Psalm 110:1

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 15-16; 2 Chronicles 13 – 17:19

Abijam began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother was Maacah, the granddaughter of Absalom.
He committed the same sins as his father before him, and he was not faithful to the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had been. But for David’s sake, the Lord his God allowed his descendants to continue ruling, shining like a lamp, and he gave Abijam a son to rule after him in Jerusalem. – 1 Kings 15:1-4

The chronicles of the succession of kings in both Israel and Judah give us a great example of how our decisions today can impact the choices of the next generations. All Abijam had ever known was the culture set by his father. King Rehoboam had lusted after the things of this world, leading his country and his family in the worship of false gods. And so often our kids value what we teach them to value — money, sports, alcohol, music, cars, hobbies, etc. So, when we do not live our lives out of a faith relationship with God, why would our kids?

Nadab son of Jeroboam began to rule over Israel in the second year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Israel two years. But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his father, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. – 1 Kings 15:25-26

HE FOLLOWED THE EXAMPLE OF HIS FATHER.

But King David’s great-grandson, Asa, had a heart for God. The decisions he made and the manner in which he led the people of Judah were pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He got rid of the idols and banished the male and female shrine prostitutes. Because his grandmother made an Asherah pole, he even removed her from the honored position of queen mother. Asa’s heart remained completely faithful to the Lord throughout his life (1 Kings 14b).

There was constant war between King Asa of Judah and King Baasha of Israel. Baasha son of Ahijah began to rule over all Israel in the third year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. Baasha reigned in Tirzah twenty-four years. But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of Jeroboam, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. – 1 Kings 15:32-34

HE CONTINUED THE SINS OF HIS FATHER.

Zimri began to rule over Israel in the twenty-seventh year of King Asa’s reign in Judah, but his reign in Tirzah lasted only seven days. The army of Israel was then attacking the Philistine town of Gibbethon. When they heard that Zimri had committed treason and had assassinated the king, that very day they chose Omri, commander of the army, as the new king of Israel. So Omri led the entire army of Israel up from Gibbethon to attack Tirzah, Israel’s capital. When Zimri saw that the city had been taken, he went into the citadel of the palace and burned it down over himself and died in the flames. For he, too, had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam in all the sins he had committed and led Israel to commit. – 1 Kings 16:15-19

When the influence of a father leads to the sinful behavior of the son, it strips both father and son of joy. There are consequences to sin, all of which could have been avoided if the father had chosen to lead the son in the ways of the Lord. But when a father leads his family into a covenant relationship with God, teaching them how to see after God with all their heart, soul, and mind, they will find a life filled with joy.

Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the Lord, the God of Israel, would be put to death—whether young or old, man or woman. They shouted out their oath of loyalty to the Lord with trumpets blaring and rams’ horns sounding. All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side. – 2 Chronicles 15:12-15

HE LED THEM INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND THEY FOLLOWED WITH ALL THEIR HEART.

Many of us have our own story of the influence of our father on our spiritual journey. As I spend another Father’s Day without my dad, my heart is grateful for the example he set for me and for my children. His willingness to do whatever God asked Him to do taught me how to fully surrender my life to Christ. And my prayer today is that my girls will always have the example of their parents and grandparents to encourage them to remain strong in their faith.

What legacy are you passing down to others? What impact are you having on the lives of those around you — those who are watching how you respond to life’s challenges and blessings? May God equip you to be a great example of a life surrendered and fully devoted to God.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 90

Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! – Psalm 90:1

Consider the man of God who first prayed these words. Moses, who was taken from his home and hidden in a basket (Exodus 2:3), called God “home”. A few years later, he was taken from the arms of his mother once more to live in the palace and become the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:10). As a young adult, Moses stood up for the mistreatment of his people, after which Pharaoh tried to kill him. So once more Moses left the home he knew and fled to the land of Midian. God gave him a wife and two sons, and the Midianites became his family.

GOD GAVE MOSES A FAMILY OF HIS OWN — A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

But one day God called Moses back “home”. He had seen the affliction of His people and He chose to use Moses to rescue the Israelites from the bondage they were experiencing. He had heard the cries of His children, including Moses. He knew the heart of the man who did not have the consistent security of “home” and promised to go with him as he stepped into God’s story (Exodus 4:12).

Moses was not the perfect leader. He experienced doubt, lacked self-confidence, and battled fear, even to the point where it affected his speech. But God knew Moses’ struggles and chose him anyhow. The God of the Universe displayed His strength, showed His power, and exhibited His omnipresence to Moses as He called him to leadership.

MOSES FELT ILL-EQUIPPED FOR WHAT GOD WAS ASKING HIM TO DO.

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” – Exodus 4:9-12

This orphan came to realize that God had been the consistent presence in his life, and that God would equip him for the task before him. He found his “home” in his God, as he penned these words:

Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from beginning to end, you are God.
You turn people back to dust, saying,
“Return to dust, you mortals!”
For you, a thousand years are as a passing day,
as brief as a few night hours.
You sweep people away like dreams that disappear.
They are like grass that springs up in the morning.
In the morning it blooms and flourishes,
but by evening it is dry and withered. – Psalm 90:2-6

As Moses looked back over his life, he recognized the holiness of our God and compared it to the sinfulness of humanity. He saw the grace of a God who allows us a short time on earth before He takes us “home”.

We wither beneath your anger;
we are overwhelmed by your fury.
You spread out our sins before you—
our secret sins—and you see them all.
We live our lives beneath your wrath,
ending our years with a groan.
Seventy years are given to us!
Some even live to eighty.
But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble;
soon they disappear, and we fly away.
Who can comprehend the power of your anger?
Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.
Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
so that we may grow in wisdom. – Psalm 90:7-12

THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR ETERNAL HOME.

Let’s make this prayer of Moses our own. Let’s soak in the satisfaction we can only find in our God, and let’s rest in the purpose that can only be found in the eyes of our Creator. May each of us experience the approval of God, and may He make our efforts successful as we respond in obedience to the call He has placed on our lives.

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,
so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!
Replace the evil years with good.
Let us, your servants, see you work again;
let our children see your glory.
And may the Lord our God show us his approval
and make our efforts successful.
Yes, make our efforts successful! – Psalm 90:14-17

Today’s Reading: Psalm 45

Beautiful words stir my heart.
I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet. – Psalm 45:1

This poet had been inspired by God’s Spirit to write about the coming King. This song had been placed on the heart of the lyricist, and powerful words to describe the coming Messiah had been penned by the Spirit. The King was coming — the beautiful and magnificent promised One.

You are the most handsome of all.
Gracious words stream from your lips.
God himself has blessed you forever.
Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!
You are so glorious, so majestic!
In your majesty, ride out to victory,
defending truth, humility, and justice.
Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds! – Psalm 45:2-4

DRAW NEAR TO THE LORD AND BASK IN THE GLORY OF THE ANOINTED ONE.

Consider this morning how glorious He is as He rides out in victory. He comes to defend the truth in a world that promotes lies and deception; He comes to distribute justice to those who have been oppressed and exploited. Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).

He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. – Isaiah 11:4

Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. – 2 Thessalonians 2:8

Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts.
The nations fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
You rule with a scepter of justice.
You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes.
In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you. – Psalm 45:5-8

THE KING IS RIDING VICTORIOUSLY!

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. – Revelation 19:11-16

The bride, a princess, looks glorious
in her golden gown.
In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
accompanied by her bridesmaids.
What a joyful and enthusiastic procession
as they enter the king’s palace!
Your sons will become kings like their father.
You will make them rulers over many lands.
I will bring honor to your name in every generation.
Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever. – Psalm 45:13-17

CHURCH, GET READY, FOR THE KING IS COMING AGAIN!

What a glorious day that will be when the prophecies are fulfilled and the bridegroom makes His home among His people! Sing praise to the One who is worthy of our worship.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” – Revelation 21:1-4

Today’s Reading: Ecclesiastes 10 – 12

One chapter ends and another begins, and there is beauty to be found with each turning page.

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. – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Life is beautiful, and part of that beauty comes with the changing seasons. Summer will officially arrive next week with its heat and high humidity, and there is a new buzz of activity across the community from farmers markets to summer concerts. Families can be seen out riding their bikes, and the sounds of laughter and lifeguard whistles can be heard by the swimming pool. But summer does not last forever. We are only weeks away from stores filling their shelves with back to school supplies. Soon fall will arrive with all of its yummy smells and community festivals.

LIKE THE CHANGING OF THE CALENDAR, LIFE COMES WITH ITS SEASONS

As we look back, we see how our life is broken into intervals. Friendships come and go, jobs change, and life looks slightly different from one chapter of our lives to the next. College years, young adulthood, new parents, growing careers, youth sports leagues, summer camp, vacations, graduations, weddings, funerals…We blink and we go from having a newborn in our arms to having the chaos of coordinating family schedules to having the silence of the empty nest.

One chapter ends and another begins, and there is beauty to be found with each turning page.

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. — Ecclesiastes 3:11-13

2021 brought many changes to our life. We had a daughter move away to go to medical school, a daughter graduate from college and get married, and a father pass away. We moved to a new state, started new jobs, and began a new chapter. Scott gave me a book by Patricia Heaton titled My Second Act and it changed my perspective about facing a new day. While in some ways it felt like I was losing my purpose because life as I knew it was coming to an end, this book helped me realize I was just entering into act two of a story that is far from finished.

THERE ARE STILL NEW CHARACTERS TO BE INTRODUCED, MEMORIES TO BE MADE, AND A STORYLINE TO BE DEVELOPED.

Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. — Ecclesiastes 11:4

Ecclesiastes has the potential to change our perspective on life. Every time we make our way back to this familiar book of wisdom, we are given the opportunity to step back and see how our life has evolved from season to season. It is okay to grieve the chapters that have come to an end, but I believe God wants us to look ahead with hope. Every chapter of our lives has come with its unique blessings, and this next one will also. So rejoice in where God has you today, and allow him to use you. Live with the confidence that this earthly life is nothing in comparison to the joy we will experience for an eternity when we place our hope in Christ Jesus.

LIVE WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES ARE STILL AHEAD.

Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.
Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. — Ecclesiastes 11:7 – 12:1a

Life is meaningless, but find satisfaction in it. This life God has given you is a gift — find new ways to show your appreciation for each opportunity He gives you. Yes, the day will come when our earthly chapter ends, but our life will not. When we take our last breath of humanity, we will experience Jesus like never before.

One chapter ends and another begins, and there is beauty to be found with each turning page.

Today’s Reading: Ecclesiastes 7 – 9; Psalm 73

Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life. – Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?

We hear this question asked often. Or sometimes we hear the question — Why do the wicked prosper? When we watch a godly person battle cancer or a child die suddenly and seemingly without purpose, we find ourselves asking, “Why?”

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper? But what a difficult task it is! – Psalm 73:16

King Solomon struggled with this same question and it is beneficial for us to follow his line of thinking and see where his journey for understanding took him. When we do not understand what or why, we can trust in the wisdom God gave to Solomon when he reached the following conclusion:

Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen?…None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. – Ecclesiastes 8:7-8a

THOSE WHO FEAR GOD WILL BE BETTER OFF.

I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless. When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know those who fear God will be better off. The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows.

And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless!

So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun…there is ceaseless activity, day and night. I realized that no one can discover everything, no matter what they claim. – Ecclesiastes 8:9-17

I HAVE OBSERVED SOMETHING ELSE UNDER THE SUN.

The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.

People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy. – Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. – Ecclesiastes 11:5

REJOICE IN EVERY DAY OF LIFE (Eccl. 11:8)

Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. – Ecclesiastes 11:9

Don’t let the excitement of your youth cause you to forget your Creator…REMEMBER HIM…
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion; Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. – Ecclesiastes 12:1-2,13-14

Remember Him, fear Him, obey Him… King Solomon is not giving his readers permission to participate in what the world defines as fun. When he says to “enjoy life”, he is not giving us permission to serve our sinful nature. Those who choose their own course, who are not careful to do what is good, have no hope. FIND JOY TODAY, but know that there is no joy in choosing sin. There is joy in trusting God – fearing and obeying the God who loves us and knows everything about us.

IT IS WHAT IT IS, SO TRUST GOD.

That seems to be what Solomon is saying. It does no good to worry about what will happen in life. Instead relax in God’s plan and enjoy what He gives you today, not worrying about tomorrow. Remember Him, fear Him and obey Him. There may be sinful people around you who seem to be having a better life than you, but you know where you will spend eternity. You know there will be a day when you give an account to God for everything you do in this life.

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

Remember Him and rejoice in every day of life. Don’t spend your youth worrying about what you have no control over. It is what it is, but that is okay because God is who He is and we can trust Him with whatever comes our way.

Today’s Reading: Ecclesiastes 4 – 6

But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless — like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. – Ecclesiastes 2:11

I must confess I have had moments when I have asked God what the purpose is in this repetitive life. I have found myself wrapped in self-pity and despair, more focused on what I did not have than on what I did have. Have you been there? Have you found yourself half happy and half mourning? Have you spent time dreaming about what could be, instead of soaking in the blessings of what is?

In 2011, we moved to Dallas. The Church was wonderful, the schools and community were great, and the food was delicious. God blessed us with a beautiful home with a small pool in the backyard. Life was good, but life in Texas meant we were far from family and that my job with Living Alternatives would soon come to an end. I loved our life in Texas, but missed family and friends, and I dreaded the coming loss of my job.

In 2012, God moved us back to Illinois. We were close to our family again and I was able to keep my job. God was richly blessing our family and we were happy, yet we were all missing our Texas friends. I was mourning the loss of the role of the pastor’s wife and struggling to feel at home in our new church. I was surrounded by gifts from God, yet had my Ecclesiastes-moments of feeling sorry for myself. I grieved what I did NOT have.

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless – like chasing the wind. – Ecclesiastes 6:9

WHY DO WE FEEL SORRY FOR OURSELVES WHEN WE ARE SURROUNDED BY GOD’S BLESSINGS?

God is SO good and SO generous! Why do we fail to recognize the pleasures in life that come straight from the hand of God? God has made EVERYTHING beautiful for its own time. There is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy this life! No looking back at what we have lost or looking down at what we are missing. No, let’s look around at all our blessings and look up in gratitude to the source of those blessings!

It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life — this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past. – Ecclesiastes 5:18b-20

GOD HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME.

In 2021, we once again packed our belongings and this time we moved to Kansas City. We hugged our family and friends, said our goodbyes, and we moved 300 miles away. This time, I made the conscious decision to find joy in this next chapter of our lives. I looked back and saw how each season of our life was full of God’s blessings, and I decided to look ahead in anticipation for the evidence of God’s goodness in what would become our Kansas chapter.

When we moved to Kansas, the Lord gave me a word — stay light on your feet. I pondered the meaning behind those words and the Spirit brought them back to my mind over and over again. We began thinning out our possessions once more and then gave the Lord a quick YES when we felt Him moving us to Indiana for a season. Moving is hard; leaving friends behind is painful. Honestly, I still have moments of feeling a little homesick for what used to be, but I am trusting in the Lord who daily leads me.

I AM TRUSTING THAT GOD IS GOOD AND THAT LIFE IN THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL IS GREAT!

Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny. – Ecclesiastes 6:10

Father God, we thank you for the many gifts you give us so generously. Forgive us for the moments when our focus is on what we don’t have, or our minds wander to what we wish our life could be. Thank you for the opportunity to learn this morning from King Solomon, in all of his wisdom. Help us to relax in YOUR plan for our life – to trust you with yesterday, today, and tomorrow. May life be about pursuing your perfect plan rather than chasing after the wind. Plant eternity in our hearts and give us eyes to see the grand scope of your plan. May each day be lived for the glory of God. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Ecclesiastes 1 – 3

Father:
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
Son:
“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)

EVERYTHING IS MEANINGLESS.

Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. The wise and the foolish share the same fate – they both die. All of our hard work, everything we have earned or acquired, we leave behind to someone else. We cannot take it with us when we die. Most people are motivated to succeed because they envy their neighbors. This is meaningless — like chasing after the wind.

These are the thoughts of King Solomon after devoting himself to the search for understanding and exploring everything being done under the sun. The more wisdom he gained, the more grief he experienced; the more Solomon knew and understood, the more he grieved the realities of life. He discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race.

I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” – Ecclesiastes 2:1-2

King Solomon initially comes across much like Winnie the Pooh’s friend, Eeyore. But, in the midst of Solomon’s cynical and negative rant, he offers us some great words of wisdom to live by. He teaches us how to relax in some of these negative realities and enjoy the life God has blessed us with.

EVERYTHING IS FROM GOD

What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are GIFTS FROM GOD. – Ecclesiastes 3:9-13

Today is a great day to recognize God’s blessings in our lives. Even though there is trouble and sorrow in this world, the evidence of God’s provision is everywhere. He is preparing a wonderful place for us to spend eternity with Him — more beautiful than we can imagine — but He is also blessing us with people and opportunities that bring us joy now. God has made everything beautiful for its own time. Let’s find the beauty in today, recognize the beauty in yesterday, while living in hope for tomorrow.

So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are FROM THE HAND OF GOD. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? – Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth – except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!…Hoarding riches harms the saver…We can’t take our riches with us…And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life – this is indeed a GIFT FROM GOD. — Ecclesiastes 5:10-19

God, we want to stop before our day gets any farther and say thank you for all you have done for us. Today we recognize all the pleasures you allow us to enjoy in this life, and we want you to know how grateful we are for your loving generosity. Although the pleasures of this world are temporary and cannot be compared to the riches of Heaven, we see that they are gifts from you — blessings straight from the hand of God! May we never lose sight of the source of everything good in our lives, and may we never lose sight of the things that are eternal because we have become too wrapped up in the things that are temporary. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Song of Songs 6-8

I slept, but my heart was awake, when I heard my lover knocking and calling:
“Open to me, my treasure, my darling, my dove, my perfect one.
My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”

But I responded, “I have taken off my robe.
Should I get dressed again?
I have washed my feet. Should I get them soiled?” – Song of Songs 5:2-3

The One who loves her more than she can even imagine is calling out for her to come to Him and she is counting the cost. Counting the cost — something we are probably all guilty of. God has created us for an intimate and personal relationship with Him, but we count the cost. Do I have the time to spend with God; do I have the energy after a long day? We often find ourselves too busy or too tired to spend time with the Lover of our Soul.

But when we consider how much He loves us…
When we consider how much He has done for us…
When we consider how he died for us…
When perfume is dripping from our hands and myrrh from our fingers (5:5)…
When we consider how much our salvation cost Him, we run to the door!

I opened to my lover, but he was gone!
My heart sank.
I searched for him but could not find him anywhere.
I called to him, but there was no reply. – Song of Songs 5:6

There are times when we feel we have missed our opportunity. We count the cost, but this time we decide to seek Him. We call out, but there is no reply. We feel like He is no longer there for us — like He is too far to be found. Know this, my friend, God is always here – always within reach. We have the tendency to shut Him out but He never walks away from us.

My lover has gone down to his garden, to his spice beds,
to browse in his gardens and gather the lilies.
I am my lover’s, and my lover is mine.
He browses among the lilies. – Song of Songs 6:2-3

In her book Receive His Love, Aletha Hinthorn describes the lilies as God’s people. When we are searching for our God, a great place to look for Him is among His people as they gather together to be with Him and to call on His name. When we walk into the garden where God’s people are gathering, we can find God in their presence.

There are two moments in this love story found in Song of Songs when the young woman experienced dark times. The first was when those who were supposed to protect her and care about her instead mistreated her (5:7). The second was the result of giving into temptation and allowing her desires to pull her toward temporary physical love instead of toward the eternal spiritual love of God (6:12).

Return, return to us, O maid of Shulam.
Come back, come back, that we may see you again. – Song of Songs 6:13

Love is calling her back — love is healing and love is redemptive. Did you hear that? Love is redemptive. It is forgiving and full of grace.

Even among sixty queens and eighty concubines and countless young women,
I WOULD STILL CHOOSE my dove, my perfect one …
Oh, how beautiful you are!
How pleasing, my love, how full of delights! – Song of Songs 6:8-9; 7:6

I aroused you under the apple tree, where your mother gave you birth,
where in great pain she delivered you.
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave.
Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame.
Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it.
If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned. – Song of Songs 8:5-7

Oh, how He loves us! When you have wasted time counting the cost, He loves you! When those around you have left you wounded and scarred, He loves you! When you have fallen to temptation and need forgiveness, He loves you! He is jealous for you and welcomes you with grace in His eyes. Oh, how He loves you! You cannot waste time maintaining regrets when you step into the presence of a God who loves you THIS much – who is calling you to intimacy with Him. He calls you to dwell in the garden. He longs to hear your voice (8:13). Let Him hear your voice.

Today’s Reading: Song of Songs 3-5

There are many different interpretations of the beautiful, poetic story told in Song of Songs. Taking it at face value, you might think it is a love story about a man and a woman. This passionate young couple is in love and enjoying the sexuality given to them by God. We can see that God created us to love in this way.

Now consider the possibility that this book written by King Solomon is about how much God loves us and how He provides intimacy when we purposefully spend time with Him. This relationship with God is different from, yet can also be compared to, the intense love of a man and woman. I can see that God loves me strongly, and I can become passionate about my spiritual relationship with Him. But relationships require attention and care; they cannot be ignored or taken for granted — neither human relationships nor our relationship with God.

My brothers were angry with me; they forced me to care for their vineyards,
so I couldn’t care for myself – my own vineyard. – Song of Songs 1:6b

How often are we so busy doing things for other people that we fail to take care of ourselves? We are so busy working in the vineyard — living life, maybe even doing ministry — that we fail to make time to slip away into the quiet God is calling us to.

Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love,
the grapevines are blossoming. – Song of Songs 2:15

The grapevines are blossoming. We are growing in our relationship with God and there is fruit in our ministry, but beware of the foxes. Beware of the little things in life that creep in and prevent us from experiencing intimacy with God. They become distractions and they seek to ruin the vineyard. We become so focused on the foxes that we find ourselves feeling once again distant from God. We look around and wonder where He is. We have lost our focus and need to find it again.

One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover.
I yearned for him, but he did not come.
So I said to myself, “I will get up and roam the city,
searching in all its streets and squares.
I will search for the one I love.”
So I searched everywhere but did not find him.
The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds, and I asked, “Have you seen the one I love?”
Then scarcely had I left them when I found my love! – Song of Songs 3:1-4a

Where is God? We have all found ourselves, at one time or another, asking that question. We have faith to believe He is present, but we also have a strong need to feel His presence because of the severity of our circumstances. We yearn for His touch. We slip away to a quiet place and listen for Him, searching for comfort and peace.

When we seek God, we will find Him. When we search for intimacy with our Savior, He will come to us and provide a place for us to be strengthened and refreshed by Him. Picture it. His left arm will support your head, giving you rest when you are weary or comfort when you are mourning. His right arm will embrace you. You will feel the arms of God loving you and holding you up in even the most difficult of situations.

Like the finest apple tree in the orchard is my lover among other young men.
I sit in his delightful shade and taste his delicious fruit.
He escorts me to the banquet hall; IT’S OBVIOUS HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME.
Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am weak with love.
His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. – Song of Songs 2:3-6

God’s love feels just like King Solomon described. It feels like being wrapped in the strong arms of your Father – it feels safe, warm and comforting.

My lover said to me, “Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!
Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone.
The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come
and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.
Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!” – Song of Songs 2:10-13

Oh, how He loves us! He calls to us – come away with me! He longs for us to step out of the chaos and noise, and to experience intimacy with Him. When we look at ourselves, we may see how our experiences and choices have darkened us, but He lovingly calls out, “Come away with me, my fair one!”

He is calling out to you this morning. Take notice of the obvious love of your God!