In my morning devotional time this week I have been reading in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. This book was written by King Solomon towards the end of his life. Admittedly, this book could almost be subtitled, “How not to live life” as Solomon looked back on his life and wrote this book with some serious regret. However, as I read his words this week, I was struck by how often the word, “enjoy” came up. So I compiled a list of verses where he encouraged his readers to enjoy life. Here they are…

2:24-25, “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?

3:12-13, “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.”

3:22, “So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here! No one will bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die.”

5:18-20, “Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. 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.”

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

7:14, “Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.”

8:15, “So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life.”

9:9, “Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun…”

11:9-10, “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.”

Don’t let this day pass without enjoying something or someone in your life! Life is a gift from God and it was meant to be enjoyed…today!

Tim

This morning, for whatever reason, I decided to read something from the Psalms. I guess I was in a “Psalm-reading-mood”. Anyway I opened my bible to the Psalms and began reading in chapter 16. I paused on the final verse, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” How fitting a verse for a funeral message I will be giving this afternoon! I will definitely incorporate it into my message. What a comfort to know that after we leave this life we will experience the joy of God’s presence and the pleasures of living in heaven forever!

I kept reading and when I came to 20:4-5 I thought of you. David wrote, “May he grant you your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.” I don’t see these words so much as a promise as much as a hopeful blessing. I trust you will see the good hand of God in your life today.

Tim

That title is the heading in the Life Application Bible at the top of 2 Samuel 11. It is the story of David’s affair with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, in an attempt to cover his tracks. This chapter is what I read this morning in my devotional time. I am going to list the words, comments and questions that I wrote in the margin of my Bible around 2 Samuel 11. Men, especially, take note:

43 +/- years old (mid-life)

He had conquered his world and was secure at the top

Coasting

Bored with nothing to do

Alone because his men were all away fighting a battle

In verse 2, “he noticed” Bathsheba bathing – this was the moment of decision.

What had happened up to this point in David’s life that allowed his lust to turn into adultery so quickly? There didn’t seem to be any struggle to fight the urge to have sex with a woman he was not married to.

Uriah had more discipline drunk than David did sober (Uriah refused to sleep with his wife even after David got him drunk and told him to go home to his wife!)

I know that unaccountable, free time is a dangerous time. I believe that had David known the outcome of his actions he never would have taken a second look! Let’s all take a moment to ponder Paul’s words from Galatians 6:7, “Don’t be mislead – you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.”

This may be a good reminder for some and it may be a wake-up call for others. Let God’s Spirit use it in your life as he did in mine.

Tim

This Sunday I am going to be speaking on the topic of balance in our walk with God. Here is a ‘sneak peak’ into where I am going:

“I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There I will wait to see what the Lord says.” -Habakkuk 2:1

We all need a ‘watchtower’; a place where we can go to get above the noise and routines of our lives and hear God speak to us. For Habakkuk it was on top of a wall. For me it is a woods or park. Where do you hear God the clearest? I’d love to know.

Tim

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.

Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”

Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it. This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.”* So that is what they did.

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”* A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

This morning I began reading the Gospel of Luke. I planned to read until the Spirit stopped me with a lesson or challenge. It happened when I came to 2:27, “That day the Spirit led him to the Temple.” The statement is in reference to an old man by the name of Simeon who had been promised by  God that he would not die before he saw the Messiah with his own eyes. One day Simeon was prompted to walk to the Temple. There he met Mary, Joseph and the eight day old baby Jesus.

My mind then went to the statement in Matthew 4:1 where it says that “Jesus was led by the Spirit to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

And here is what I wrote in my journal: “May I be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit today. I know what my schedule is, but help me to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. If he prompts me to speak to someone, pray for someone, go somewhere, or do something may I be open to his leading. May today be an adventure with the Spirit of God!”

Perhaps you would pray a similar prayer and see what awaits you today!

Tim

This morning in my quiet time I read and reflected on Hebrews 12:1-3.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”

Here are some thoughts that came to mind:

1. Are there any good things in my life that should be ‘stripped off’ in order to be less consumed by things that distract me from my calling? Am I content or is my life cluttered?
2. Are there sins that are tripping me up that I should deal with?
3. Am I focused on my race; the race God gave me to run, not someone else’s? Am I envious of someone else’s race or am I trying to run a race that God didn’t call me to?
4. Am I keeping my eyes on Jesus? His focus on our salvation and his return to the Father saw him through the terrible ordeal of the cross.

Dealing with these matters will go a long way in helping me run my race with endurance and not grow weary and lose heart.

Maybe what God brought to my attention this morning will be of help to you.

Tim

This morning I read the account of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, trials and crucifixion from Matthew 26 and 27. When I was finished I thought of these words from the hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”:

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count by loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God; all the vain things that charm me most – I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down; did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small: Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, m life, my all.

Sometime during this season of Lent, you really should take 20 minutes and read those two chapters from Matthew. It will be good for your soul.

Tim