Ecclesiastes 7-12, Work Diligently

 “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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Wisdom for the ages: whatever you are working on, do it with all your heart…and in the process, enjoy the blessings God has given you!

Ecclesiastes 1-6, Better Expectations

 “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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This has always been one of my favorite books of wisdom.  It seems a bit depressing, but it also helps to reframe what is important and what things to ignore.  Love God, serve Him, take pleasure in whatever He provides and hold all things loosely.  In other words, set the bar of your life expectations low and seek to please God…any joy you experience is a bonus!

1 Kings 9, 2 Chronicles 8-

 “Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the Lord has brought all this disaster on them.’””

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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Destruction is ahead for us when we surrender to Jesus, then turn our own way.  I am convinced that those who are saved and turn away from God experience more trouble, heartache and suffering that people who have never followed Jesus.  Their actions may not be any different, but the result of their rebellion is much more intense.  Lord, when I stray help me to run back to you so that I can live in Your peace and rest!

Psalm 119- Love Learning

 “Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭124‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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I feel conviction reading this because even though I read the Word every day, most days I do not love it.  I want to be able to declare like David, I love your commands therefore bless me!  But instead I need to say, help me love Your Word!

Psalm 7, 27, 31, 34 & 52- Protective Presence

 “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. In the presence of everyone you have acted for those who take refuge in you. You hide them in the protection of your presence; you conceal them in a shelter from human schemes, from quarrelsome tongues. Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me in a city under siege.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭31‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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What a picture of a counterintuitive comfort…we always want to be removed from the pain, the suffering, the trials…but Gods solution is not always what we are wanting.  Many times He wants us to run to Him in the darkness and rest in His presence.  In His presence is peace and rest, comfort and joy.  We can know Him in the midst of our trials if we seek Him.

I Samuel 4-8, Desiring God

 “Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for the Lord. Samuel told them, “If you  are returning to the Lord  with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, set your hearts on the Lord, and worship only him.  Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Gods presence was far from the people and they felt that distance, desiring God be close to them.  It was obvious that they had allowed other idols to take Gods place and they felt the distance.  They longed for the Lord…I believe we can feel this today when we enter “dry season” when God feels far away.  This allows us to look around and remove idols and remember the sweetness of relationship with Him.  When those idols are removed and we turn our attention to seek Him, there is a fresh desire for intimacy with our Creator.  Lord, help me to stay in seasons where I long for You and we have sweet times together!

Deuteronomy 30-31, Blessed Obedience

 “See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity.  For I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live  and multiply, and the Lord your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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There is still blessing in obedience, but thankfully we are indwelled by the Spirit of God.  We have the added strength and direction of God living in us!  How impossible would obedience have been in their time?

Deuteronomy 14-16, Celebrations

 “You are to hold a seven-day festival for the Lord your God in the place he chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands,  and you will have abundant joy.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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I love how celebrations are important to God.  Celebrations that highlight family, food and joy.  Occasions to remember all the blessings He has given us.

Deuteronomy 11-13, Blessing vs Curse

““Look, today I set before you a blessing and a curse:  there will be a blessing, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you today, and a curse, if you do not obey the commands of the Lord your God and you turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods you have not known.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11‬:‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Gods intention behind this was to use both the blessing and curse to prove that He was indeed God and sovereign.  God’s character has not changed, so does He still operate under a similar principle with us as believers today?  Obviously, we have the Holy Spirit permanently dwelling in us to help guide us.  And we don’t loose Him if we are disobedient…

He does bless us with sweet joy, peace and contentment when we are walking closely with Him!  But that does not prevent us from suffering trials…when we are not walking closely, we tend to make less wise decisions that lead to additional suffering, despair and isolation.  We feel far from Him and we intentionally pull away from others…And we still experience trials in addition.  It seems like the same pattern.

Lord, help me to follow You closely so that I can experience the joy and peace of your presence and know You more fully.

Numbers 28-30, Sacred Feasting

“You are to hold a sacred assembly on the tenth day of this seventh month and practice self-denial;  do not do any work. Present a burnt offering to the Lord, a pleasing aroma: one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. All your animals are to be unblemished.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭29‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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I love how much celebration the Lord commands the Israelites to participate in.  Days of rest, days of feasting, days or remembering, days of joy!  All days they were prohibited from working, and reminded instead of Gods love for them, and the reality of their sin.  Lord, help me to know how to build more of this into my life!!!

Job 10-13, True Peace

“Would God’s majesty not terrify you?  Would his dread not fall on you? 

Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ash; your defenses are made of clay. 

I will put myself at risk  and take my life in my own hands. Even if he kills me, I will hope in him.  I will still defend my ways before him.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬-‭12‬, ‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Jobs’ comments to his friends are so pointed and confident.  Job knew that he had nothing to hide from God.  Even his wise friends needed some reminders from Job to have humility.  Their best arguments and cases were fragile and worthless….like dust…

The same is true for me,..I may have some great things to say, but if they are not founded in scripture, they are worthless.

Lord, help me to point others to Christ and Your Word rather than my opinions or wisdom…You alone bring true Peace, Joy and Healing!

John 21:1-14, Nearness to God

“I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  

“Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did,  and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer clothing around him (for he had taken it off) and plunged into the sea [and swam ashore].”

‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Nothing was more important to Peter than being near Jesus.  He didn’t finish the task, or wait till a convenient time… he immediately went to Jesus.  God, I want to have the same sense of urgency to be near You!

John 20:19-23, Peace & Confidence

“When it was evening on that first day of the week,  the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”   Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”

‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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In the midst of fear, chaos and confusion, Jesus often steps in and His first words are “don’t be afraid, be filled with peace”.  What a comfort it is knowing that the God of the universe is here with me at every moment. If I behaved as if that were true, I would never have fear or anxiety.

Lord, help me to live my life in a way that reflects this truth!  Forgive me for ignoring You at times and being filled with selfish thoughts and chasing after my own ideas.  Allow me to trust You fiercely!

John 19:38-42, Details Orchestrated

 “After  this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus #— #but secretly because of his fear of the Jews #— #asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body.  Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away. Nicodemus  (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds  of myrrh and aloes. They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.”

‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭38‬-‭40‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The planning of God here is amazing, he strategically placed two men to be able to take care of Jesus body after he dies on the cross.  These were men with authority, power and standing,,,the only type of people who could have helped in this way…and God orchestrated previous circumstances to have them follow Jesus.

How many time do we feel like God has ignored us, or forgotten us…the feeling of being deserted and alone?  Yet, we can look back at those times and see that God had already been preparing someone to show up, or a situation to play out just when we needed it.  We often chalk this up to coincidence, but don’t fool yourself, this is GOD perfectly caring for us.

Lord God, thank you for caring for the most important need, my eternal salvation.  Something I could never even start to help with.  Thank you for sending Jesus at just the right time to save all humanity from the consequences of our sin.  Thank you for orchestrating every aspect of life so that I could know You and that through faith in Jesus finished work on the cross, have a personal relationship with You, the King of the universe!  There are not enough or even appropriate words to fully thank You!  Help me to always remember that I am so blessed!!!  Merry Christmas!

John 17:6-19, Joy & Holiness

“Now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy completed in them. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.   

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. I sanctify myself for them, so that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭13‬, ‭15‬, ‭17‬, ‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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In this section Jesus prays for His disciples…He is shortly headed to the cross, but takes a moment to pray that God the Father would amplify the Joy inside His followers.  And, also for protection from the Enemy…protection and joy…at the same time as being sanctified.

Sanctification is the reality of being set apart for a holy purpose, and being transformed into a more Christlike person.  This is the process of the Christian life…

So, while we are being reshaped and transformed in our holiness, Jesus wants us to experience safety and joy!  God, thank You that you don’t want one at the expense of the other.  You don’t desire that we only suffer while being made holy, or You also don’t want us to just be joyful and stay in our sin.  Both are possible, joy and holiness!  You are a good God!! 

John 16:25-33, Joy & Peace

“Until now you have asked for nothing in my name.   Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.   

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬, ‭33‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Jesus talking to His disciples right before He is to leave them for the cross.  His focus was to care for their emotional wellbeing even though suffering was coming.  Not only because of His own execution, but because they would face their own trials and suffering.

God desires that we understand the same things today:

1) we should go to Him with everything.

2) He wants us to experience joy in Him.

3) we will experience suffering, but we are not alone.

4) He wants us to experience peace in every circumstance.

This sounds like a realistic God, not one of fairy tales, but One who cares about each of us individually.  A God who desires good things for us and will be with us in any and every situation.  That is a God I want to worship, a God deserving my praise and my full surrender!

John 16:16-24, Perfect Joy

“So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Perfect joy comes with the presence of God.  Lord help me to experience your presence!  

John 15:18-25, Deadly Ignorance

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. The one who hates me also hates my Father.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Just like today, people are offended by the truth.  They hate the truth when it causes them to reflect on what decisions are made.  Conviction is painful…avoiding the truth is easier than making changes that align with the truth. Ignorance is bliss…but it is deadly.

Lord, help those around me to recognize the simplicity of surrendering to You!  Where conviction leads to letting go of sin and clinging to You!  Where chaos is replaced by peace and anguish is transformed to thanksgiving.  Confusion exchanged for joy!

John 14:18-26, Indwelling Peace

Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him… the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬, ‭26‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Placing our faith in Jesus gives us the literal presence of God in our life.  The Holy Spirit is with us continually, which is awesome, but He also does the work of a counselor…reminding us of truth and showing us how scripture can apply to our lives.

Lord, help us to remember what a true blessing it is that You are literally with us at every moment of every day.  That should motivate us to obedience and thankfulness!  When I am feeling weak, low or frustrated, help me to turn to you and find joy and peace in Your presence!!!

John 13:12-20, Know or Do?!?

“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 

Truly I tell you, whoever receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives him who sent me.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬, ‭17‬, ‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord help me to live my life as an example that others can follow.  I will never do all the things perfectly, but allow me to grow daily in living like Jesus.

It is amazing that You call out so clearly that knowing all the right things is good, but the blessing only comes from following through with obeying what we know.  Help me obey with joy and confidence.