Ecclesiastes 9
7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.
9 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.
The sad part of life is v3 that the same event happens to all. ... and after that they go to the dead.
It seems that you should enjoy the process and the partial rewards that you obtained from your toil. There is no point accumulating anything and triving to achieve anything, because the end is all will be dead and all all be forgotten and you may not live to enjoy what you reap.
Toil, enjoy, but life is made meaningful and purposeful only with God in the equation. I toil because this is what God has enable me to do. I reap the rewards of my toil, I enjoy it, because God has bless me so and I give thanks for it. I accumulate and achieve and leave a legacy, because God has permitted so and intend for a higher calling through me for His kingdom extension.
Remember the goodness of God. - Blessings, provision and abilities
Remember the greatness of God. - Nothing is impossible for Him
Remember the glandeur of God. - Purpose, leaving a legacy.
Lord, bless my hand for a higher purpose. I know I can because of you.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
25 Feb 2010
Ecclesiastes 8
What is good?
12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.
Why associate with evil, and compare with these people? Such negative and such feeling of unjustification.
The physical body will in time experience death, therefore fill our spirit with that of God. Fear Him.
Why pleasure and pressure for something that is not eternal?
15 And I commend joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.
Focus on and in the Lord and commit to Him.
Lord forgive me, that I have not focus on you. Let me enjoy what I have because of you and be satisfied by what you have already blessed me. Let my spirit and my energy be positive in you always.
What is good?
12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.
Why associate with evil, and compare with these people? Such negative and such feeling of unjustification.
The physical body will in time experience death, therefore fill our spirit with that of God. Fear Him.
Why pleasure and pressure for something that is not eternal?
15 And I commend joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.
Focus on and in the Lord and commit to Him.
Lord forgive me, that I have not focus on you. Let me enjoy what I have because of you and be satisfied by what you have already blessed me. Let my spirit and my energy be positive in you always.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
24 Feb 2010
Ecclesiastes 7
13 Consider the work of God:
who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other
Live a balanced life.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Do not be over righteous and of course refrain from evil.
Be able to give thanks in time of both prosperity and adversity. In giving thanks we acknowledge the works and the faithfulness of God. In handling adversity, we know that God is in control and learn to trust Him. When matter past, we give thanks and see how God has carried us through.
I live for the purpose of God, there is no obstacle too big because my God is bigger than the obstalce. He is my CEO and I will enjoy the fruit of the labour with Him.
Lord I pray for II for the coming training. Lord put it in prespective and see how to carried the first run to success. Help us to iron out the differences and let the plan be carried out be yours.
Use this as a learning platform for future success with you and through you. amen.
13 Consider the work of God:
who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other
Live a balanced life.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Do not be over righteous and of course refrain from evil.
Be able to give thanks in time of both prosperity and adversity. In giving thanks we acknowledge the works and the faithfulness of God. In handling adversity, we know that God is in control and learn to trust Him. When matter past, we give thanks and see how God has carried us through.
I live for the purpose of God, there is no obstacle too big because my God is bigger than the obstalce. He is my CEO and I will enjoy the fruit of the labour with Him.
Lord I pray for II for the coming training. Lord put it in prespective and see how to carried the first run to success. Help us to iron out the differences and let the plan be carried out be yours.
Use this as a learning platform for future success with you and through you. amen.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
23 Feb 2010
Ecclesiastes 6
v2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them.
Blessed is the man that God gives him his toil and he enjoys it.
Blessed is the man that he enjoys the rewards of his toil.
Blessed is the man who enjoys the rewards of his toil with his family and friends.
Blessed is the man who knows how to keep part of his reward for future growth and rewards.
7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
Be statisfied and know how to be statisfied. As you toil, enjoy it. And as you received the rewards of your toil, enjoy it. Rather, toil toil toil and horde horde horde, with no time for family and firends or even yourself to enjoy the process and enjoy part of the rewards.
As you toil, enjoy the reward as it comes. Of course, keep part of the rewards for further growth and future enjoyment.
Nevertheless, toil comes from God, enjoy the blessings given by God.
v2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them.
Blessed is the man that God gives him his toil and he enjoys it.
Blessed is the man that he enjoys the rewards of his toil.
Blessed is the man who enjoys the rewards of his toil with his family and friends.
Blessed is the man who knows how to keep part of his reward for future growth and rewards.
7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
Be statisfied and know how to be statisfied. As you toil, enjoy it. And as you received the rewards of your toil, enjoy it. Rather, toil toil toil and horde horde horde, with no time for family and firends or even yourself to enjoy the process and enjoy part of the rewards.
As you toil, enjoy the reward as it comes. Of course, keep part of the rewards for further growth and future enjoyment.
Nevertheless, toil comes from God, enjoy the blessings given by God.
Monday, February 22, 2010
22 Feb 2010
Ecclesiastes 5
4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools.
This reminds me of the book I read by T Harv Eker, "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind", that "ricj people keeps their commitment".
Likewise, what is our commitments to God. When we say it do it.
In addition, the book also mentioned about total commitment to the goal. That is serving the Lord your God whole heartedly, in spirit, in soul and everything.
10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
Loving money is the pursuit of money and the hording of money. Thereby bypassing God in your first and rightful commitment. Serve God or serve money?
18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment [7] in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.
Our commitment is God. Enjoy the process making money. God must be in the equation or else its is all meaningless!
4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools.
This reminds me of the book I read by T Harv Eker, "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind", that "ricj people keeps their commitment".
Likewise, what is our commitments to God. When we say it do it.
In addition, the book also mentioned about total commitment to the goal. That is serving the Lord your God whole heartedly, in spirit, in soul and everything.
10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
Loving money is the pursuit of money and the hording of money. Thereby bypassing God in your first and rightful commitment. Serve God or serve money?
18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment [7] in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.
Our commitment is God. Enjoy the process making money. God must be in the equation or else its is all meaningless!
Friday, February 19, 2010
19 Feb 2010
Ecclesiastes 4
What's the point of doing evil? And enjoy the process, the pleasure of seeing other suffer as a result. Meaningless.
In the same light, v3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
The solution to evil is righteousness in God. Ecc 4 does not say about suffering under evil. But we have a God to turn to.
Our toil because of envy.
v4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor.
When our objectives for toil is because of a wrong motivation, we work to prove ourselves, pride. The intend will gives raise to not enough because there is always someone better. Look at the purposes of God.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
This is nice, together in partner with God in your toil with someone.
I pray for II, that God you will use Rach and myself to purpose the toil. Remove the obstacles that block the prayers that hinder us from working together. Lord, bless my hand in II, search my heart and let it be tune to your purposes and intend.
Review your calling and show me the how to work towards what you have purposes in my life.
What's the point of doing evil? And enjoy the process, the pleasure of seeing other suffer as a result. Meaningless.
In the same light, v3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
The solution to evil is righteousness in God. Ecc 4 does not say about suffering under evil. But we have a God to turn to.
Our toil because of envy.
v4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor.
When our objectives for toil is because of a wrong motivation, we work to prove ourselves, pride. The intend will gives raise to not enough because there is always someone better. Look at the purposes of God.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
This is nice, together in partner with God in your toil with someone.
I pray for II, that God you will use Rach and myself to purpose the toil. Remove the obstacles that block the prayers that hinder us from working together. Lord, bless my hand in II, search my heart and let it be tune to your purposes and intend.
Review your calling and show me the how to work towards what you have purposes in my life.
Monday, February 15, 2010
15 Feb 2010
Ecclesiastes 3
A time for everything...
What is the point? Meaningless.
If you know that you are going to die, today or tommorrow, why bother. Therefore, v12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot.
Yes indeed, enjoy the food, the drink, the toil that God has bless.
The key is know that the Lord has blessed, it is not about because we are are waiting to die so there is no need to strive so hard.
Know the blessings, enjoy the blessings. But how can we rejoice in the work if we know that regardless we are going to die? The purpose.
The purpose bring about the meaning, the meaning allow us to enjoy the blessings and rejoice in the things that we are doing.
A time for everything...
What is the point? Meaningless.
If you know that you are going to die, today or tommorrow, why bother. Therefore, v12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot.
Yes indeed, enjoy the food, the drink, the toil that God has bless.
The key is know that the Lord has blessed, it is not about because we are are waiting to die so there is no need to strive so hard.
Know the blessings, enjoy the blessings. But how can we rejoice in the work if we know that regardless we are going to die? The purpose.
The purpose bring about the meaning, the meaning allow us to enjoy the blessings and rejoice in the things that we are doing.
Friday, February 12, 2010
12 Feb 2010
Ecclesiastes 2:
Enjoy life, that is good.
But even so, Solomon who has everything finds pleasure meaningless.
3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
"My heart still guiding me with wisdom".
Enjoy the pleasures of the world and start losing your soul, because you get carried away. Look at what Solomon did - his heart still guiding him with wisdom.
v9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
In fact, he tolied for building up his pleasures, but he kept his heart from pleasure, and instead the pleasure comes from the toil. v10 for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.
Seeking pleasure is meaningless and it can be dangerous, unless the constraint of the heart to remain right in God. Solomon don't take pleasure from the things of the world, but from the toil he made to create these pleasures, because he knew that pleasure don't last and are meaningless to pursue.
24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment [2] in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him [3] who can eat or who can have enjoyment?
The answer, pleasures comes from working and the work is a blessings from God. With God, enjoy the work He has blessed you and take pleasure from it
Enjoy life, that is good.
But even so, Solomon who has everything finds pleasure meaningless.
3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
"My heart still guiding me with wisdom".
Enjoy the pleasures of the world and start losing your soul, because you get carried away. Look at what Solomon did - his heart still guiding him with wisdom.
v9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
In fact, he tolied for building up his pleasures, but he kept his heart from pleasure, and instead the pleasure comes from the toil. v10 for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.
Seeking pleasure is meaningless and it can be dangerous, unless the constraint of the heart to remain right in God. Solomon don't take pleasure from the things of the world, but from the toil he made to create these pleasures, because he knew that pleasure don't last and are meaningless to pursue.
24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment [2] in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him [3] who can eat or who can have enjoyment?
The answer, pleasures comes from working and the work is a blessings from God. With God, enjoy the work He has blessed you and take pleasure from it
Thursday, February 11, 2010
11 Feb 2010
Ecclesiates 1
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 1:2
This is the famous verse written by Solomon, the son of David, one with full wisdom given by God.
If everything is meaningless, why do this or that? Just laze around and wait to die.
There must be a higher intend and purspose for our being and the things that we do.
v3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
What meaning does it bring when we work? Just to bring bread on the table. It will never ends. Remember your creator, your God the Lord. The toll that we did is for Him, then enjoy.
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,but the earth remains forever.
People gets married, have children and then what? Meaningless. Add god into the equation, children are a blessings from the Lord. Nuture them in the fear and in the ways of the Lord.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,and hastens to the place where it rises.
Nobody cares, it is just a routine. Meaningless. Imagine, enjoy the sunset moments with your family and remember the goodness of our great God.
Likewise for the rest of the verse, add God into the equation and you will find the meaning.
The world do and did exactly what Ecc 1 said and v8 the eye is not satisfied with seeing,nor the ear filled with hearing.
The doing part or the purpose of doing is because of why are you doing all these. Why are you doing all these is because of I want to because of who I am. Who I am is because of my relationship with God. And who is this God? My master and my Lord.
Lord, I pray that the meaningless and routine task to become a purposeful one because of who am I and what bigger plan you have for my family. Amen.
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 1:2
This is the famous verse written by Solomon, the son of David, one with full wisdom given by God.
If everything is meaningless, why do this or that? Just laze around and wait to die.
There must be a higher intend and purspose for our being and the things that we do.
v3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
What meaning does it bring when we work? Just to bring bread on the table. It will never ends. Remember your creator, your God the Lord. The toll that we did is for Him, then enjoy.
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,but the earth remains forever.
People gets married, have children and then what? Meaningless. Add god into the equation, children are a blessings from the Lord. Nuture them in the fear and in the ways of the Lord.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,and hastens to the place where it rises.
Nobody cares, it is just a routine. Meaningless. Imagine, enjoy the sunset moments with your family and remember the goodness of our great God.
Likewise for the rest of the verse, add God into the equation and you will find the meaning.
The world do and did exactly what Ecc 1 said and v8 the eye is not satisfied with seeing,nor the ear filled with hearing.
The doing part or the purpose of doing is because of why are you doing all these. Why are you doing all these is because of I want to because of who I am. Who I am is because of my relationship with God. And who is this God? My master and my Lord.
Lord, I pray that the meaningless and routine task to become a purposeful one because of who am I and what bigger plan you have for my family. Amen.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
10 Feb 2010
Rom 15-16:
Building up
Wake up and move on. You have received much from god, from the blessings of His people. What are you doing with your life. Half of your time is over. Check your heart, you know the what, the where and the who, get your how from God and move on..
Lord raise me up as a leader in my family, my community and even so in your ministry and in your kingdom.
Builds up one another:
15:1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
The love of God allows us and wants us to build each other up. So that each one of us can be encouraged and ground our growth in Christ.
Let me, build my household on prayers, my family on love. Let me build them up on what God has given me and engage them by heart.
Building up your ministry:
15:16 because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
So far, I have not been in ministry. Is II my ministry? or am I working towards a higher calling that you have place in my heart?
Get moving. Be faithful with the small things and let God show me the big things.
Build up the church:
16:17 to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
Build up a community of believers that that support each other.
Building up
Wake up and move on. You have received much from god, from the blessings of His people. What are you doing with your life. Half of your time is over. Check your heart, you know the what, the where and the who, get your how from God and move on..
Lord raise me up as a leader in my family, my community and even so in your ministry and in your kingdom.
Builds up one another:
15:1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
The love of God allows us and wants us to build each other up. So that each one of us can be encouraged and ground our growth in Christ.
Let me, build my household on prayers, my family on love. Let me build them up on what God has given me and engage them by heart.
Building up your ministry:
15:16 because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
So far, I have not been in ministry. Is II my ministry? or am I working towards a higher calling that you have place in my heart?
Get moving. Be faithful with the small things and let God show me the big things.
Build up the church:
16:17 to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
Build up a community of believers that that support each other.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
4 Feb 2010
Romans 13-14
There is 3 portions to these passages.
The first is our vertical relationship with God and our subjects.
The second is our horizontal relationship with our peers.
The third is how we lived out these relationship in love and be subjected to God's love.
Follow and obey if you want to lead
13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God.
If you want to excerise authority on someone else, like your children or your students, then first and foremost, subject yourself to the headship of God.
Under the authority of God you are to do what is righteous. 13:4 for he is God's servant.
How can you pass authority on someone if you yourself has not obey God. For example, you want to punish your children for lying. But how can you do so, if you yourself lied to God. Therefore, subject yourself in order to subject others.
Follow on rather than passing judgement
In our relationship with peers and to people we are not subject to authority, we tends to pass judgement, because we feel that we stand on certain moral high ground. 14:4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?
Our obedience in God and our righteousness in God is about our relationship with God. By this standards of obedience does not warrant us to consider others less rightous because they do not do the same thins as us.
Follow love
13:13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Our walk with God demands us to be in "moral high ground". Not for the sake that makes me better than others or makes me a better subject of God and therefore warrant a right to subject others.
It is our love for God that we wants to do so. The world satisfy the flesh by eating, drinking and sexual immorality. How can then we different from the world? In fact by not indulging in eating, drinking and sexual immorality, you have put yourself in a rightoues ground for an authority to teach and to rebuke others against them.
The next element is love. We did so because of God and not because of the need to teach, to rebuke.
Likewise, 14:18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
My prayers:
Make me a righteous man in your sight. Forgive me of all my past wrong doing and cleasnse me of my acts in gratifying the flesh.
You have position me in authority, to teach and to rebuke. Therefore set me correct and rightoueus in your sight. Allow me to teach and rebuke in love, not for anything to gratify my flesh, but to point others back to you.
There is 3 portions to these passages.
The first is our vertical relationship with God and our subjects.
The second is our horizontal relationship with our peers.
The third is how we lived out these relationship in love and be subjected to God's love.
Follow and obey if you want to lead
13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God.
If you want to excerise authority on someone else, like your children or your students, then first and foremost, subject yourself to the headship of God.
Under the authority of God you are to do what is righteous. 13:4 for he is God's servant.
How can you pass authority on someone if you yourself has not obey God. For example, you want to punish your children for lying. But how can you do so, if you yourself lied to God. Therefore, subject yourself in order to subject others.
Follow on rather than passing judgement
In our relationship with peers and to people we are not subject to authority, we tends to pass judgement, because we feel that we stand on certain moral high ground. 14:4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?
Our obedience in God and our righteousness in God is about our relationship with God. By this standards of obedience does not warrant us to consider others less rightous because they do not do the same thins as us.
Follow love
13:13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Our walk with God demands us to be in "moral high ground". Not for the sake that makes me better than others or makes me a better subject of God and therefore warrant a right to subject others.
It is our love for God that we wants to do so. The world satisfy the flesh by eating, drinking and sexual immorality. How can then we different from the world? In fact by not indulging in eating, drinking and sexual immorality, you have put yourself in a rightoues ground for an authority to teach and to rebuke others against them.
The next element is love. We did so because of God and not because of the need to teach, to rebuke.
Likewise, 14:18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
My prayers:
Make me a righteous man in your sight. Forgive me of all my past wrong doing and cleasnse me of my acts in gratifying the flesh.
You have position me in authority, to teach and to rebuke. Therefore set me correct and rightoueus in your sight. Allow me to teach and rebuke in love, not for anything to gratify my flesh, but to point others back to you.
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