Where has the year gone?

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Where has the year gone? In just one day we will enter a new year, 2015. It seems like yesterday that I was in high school and thinking about “how old” I would be in 2000. It is now 15 years later and I’m still marveling over the New Century.

What was this year like for you? Did you do a lot of traveling? Where family members “added” as in a marriage or a new birth? Did you do something you always wanted to do? Did you complete anything on your “bucket list”? Did you make goals at the start of 2014? How did you do?

Each year I make “goals” for the coming year, activities that will enhance my spiritual and physical life. I write them down and review a few times a year. I am a “list” person, I write it down and cross off as I complete things. It helps to “see” the accomplishments. Whatever works for you do it; we are each unique and what works for me will probably not work for you. Find what makes you comfortable and do it.

Making goals for the coming year should not be hard. Start out with small things. If you already walk 1 day a week make it two. If you read a chapter a day in the Bible try to read it through in a year, there are so many “reading plans” that one of them will probably work in your schedule. There is also a Bible reading plan to read it through in two years.

Think outside the box. Look for opportunities in your community, school, work, and church that you can do or help with.

Here is a list that can get you started:

à       Attend a Bible study

à       Keep a thankful/grateful journal

à       Read the Bible

à       Memorize scripture to help with problems/issues

à       Volunteer

à       Encourage/help others

à       Exercise regularly

à       Pray and ask the Lord for guidance

As you look forward to next year, take a few minutes to reflect on 2014. Like most families, our family had sad and happy times this year. We suffered the sudden lost of my beloved brother-in-law, Thomas, but it drew us closer together. Cousins renewed friendships with cousins and old friends mourned with us. Everyone banded together and dropped whatever they were doing to be a help and an encouragement. We have so many happy memories of things we did with him, of this I am so thankful.

I will close with some entries, written throughout the year, from my thankful journal:

à       Protection from storm

à       Cup of tea

à       Food

à       God’s glorious creation

à       Morning sounds of birds and squirrels – I can hear

à       Mark doing well after surgery

à       Breakfast with friends

à       God’s wonderful creation

à       Kayaks

à       Family

à       Job

à       Coffee

à       Bible – daily comfort from God’s word

à       Stove – I don’t have to cook over a camp fire

à       Refrigeration – keeps my food cold

à       Winter coats

à       Ireland trip with the family – blessing and within budget

à       Neighbors – we are so blessed with great neighbors

à       Knitting

à       Annual “tea” with granddaughters

à       Beautiful sunrise – I can see

à       God’s mercy

à       Skype with grandsons

à       Children

à       God’s faithfulness

à       God’s greatness

à       God’s comfort and peace in tragedy

I could go on and on of my thankfulness to God for all He has done and will do.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:3

Start the New Year with a “goal list” and maybe a thankful journal and you will be pleasantly surprised when you review next year.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from Esther: The Special Banquet

6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. 7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said. 9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. Esther 5:6-9

The banquet is ready and the food and wine are served. Still very curious about why the queen would request his presence the king asks again, “what is your request?”

Esther does not have complete peace. Fasting for wisdom and guidance from the Lord she knows this is not the time to speak about the situation regarding her people. Esther quickly asks for another banquet. Again she requests the presence of both the king and Haman. The king, as we see from previous chapters, loves a good banquet. He confirms for both of them and I’m sure Esther starts the preparations right away. This next banquet needs to be perfect and the time needs to be right for her to brooch the delicate subject.

Imagine the pride that is welling up in Haman. Not just one banquet but two, he is “beside” himself. Being invited to a private banquet with just the king and queen, could he be any more special.

Haman’s joy is soon turned to indignation when he sees Mordecai. Indigation from the Hebrew means heat; figuratively anger, poison (from its fever): - … In other words, he is so hot with anger that it makes his blood curdle.

There are a few lessons to be learned from this short portion of scripture:

1. There are times to speak and there are times to be quiet.

… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Ecclesiastes 3:7

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: James 1:19

2. Don’t let pride “creep” in

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. Psalm 10:4

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.  Proverbs 14:3

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Proverbs 29:23

3. Beware of anger

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Psalm 37:8

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.  Proverbs 15:18

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  Ephesians 4:31

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.  Ecclesiastes 7:9

As we travel in our daily life let’s put on the courage of Esther (#1) not the character of Haman (#2&3).

Have a blessed day, 

Donna

Lessons from Esther: The Keeper of the Women

9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. Esther 2:9-10

As we learned from the last lesson, all the women were brought back to the king’s house. They were in the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. Hegai was the one who took care of the women by getting them everything needed for the meeting with the king.

This portion of scripture tells us that Esther pleased him. He saw something in Esther and treated her with kindness. Hegai was so “taken “by Esther’s beauty as well as her calm demeanor that he gave her seven maids to take care of all the details.

Esther and her maids were given one of the best rooms. Keli & Delitzsch Commentary says, “he changed her and her maids into the best of the house of the women, i.e., he took them out of the ordinary rooms and placed them in the best apartments, probably in the state-rooms, where those who were accustomed to be brought to the king used to dwell.”

Throughout all the preparation and all the kindnesses shown to her, Esther kept her promise to Mordecai. She told no one of her Jewish ancestry.

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 13:3 

… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Ecclesiastes 3:7 

I can see “God’s hand” throughout this portion of scripture. God’s care and protection are everywhere. Hegai took her “under his care”. He gave her preferential treatment. Esther was in the center of God’s will and He was taking care of her.

When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 

Sometimes we think that if everything is not going “our way” then we must be doing something wrong. We need to trust God with every detail of our life. It doesn’t matter if it is small or large, God cares about everything. God was with Esther even in the middle of a foreign palace.

God cares about you and whatever you may be going through. Trust him with all your worries and problems.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5 -6

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:7

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Man or Beast??

18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? Ecclesiastes 3:18-22

Man compared to beast (animals). Are we like animals? In one sense we are inclined to say yes, because both are born, both eat to physically strengthen themselves, both breathe air to live and both die.

Warren Wiersbe says,”For when man leaves God out of his life, he becomes like an animal. He lives like a beast and dies like a beast.” (Be Satisfied, loc 973, Kindle version)

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. II Peter 2:19-20

Man has body, soul and spirit. Animal has body. The similarities end there. Are we better than animals? I say yes, there are some that would disagree but let’s look at what God’s word says about man.

God made us in His own image

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:26 

God wants us to walk right

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Psalm 37:23 

They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Psalm 119:3 

God wants us to trust Him

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalm 34:8 

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8 

God wants us to follow Him

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. III John 1:11 

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 1Thessalonians 5:15 

God wants us to obey Him

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Hebrews 5:9 

Next time you see an animal remember you are not related, but you were created in the image of God. Praise God for giving you LIFE!

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Righteousness vs Wickedness

14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. 16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. Ecclesiastes 3:14-17

In his position Solomon observed many things. He had opportunities many of us will never have but he witnessed lots of corruption.  He saw “the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.” There were crooked judges and corrupt courts. Even in Solomon’s time the laws were being altered.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

Like Solomon we need to keep in our heart that God is the righteous judge. God will judge in His time, “for there is a time for every purpose and for every work.”

In the mean time, “put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand in the evil day.”  Ephesians 6:13-18 

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Do good

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

There appears to be a change in thought process. Rejoice in what you have and do well in this life. Be thankful for everything. Be grateful that you can work and provide food and needs for your family.

Everything I have is a gift from God. I am blessed with the ability to think, the ability to work, and the ability to do for others.

A few verses that jumped to mind are:

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

Think of those around you, whether they be family, friends or acquaintances, is there something you can do for one of them this week? Look for opportunities to share the “goods of your labor” with others.

Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good; try to use ordinary situations. ~ Henri Richter

Just do it ~ Nike

Have a blessed day, 

Donna

Beauty in God’s time

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:9-11

The theme of time continues in these verses. God has made everything beautiful in HIS time, not ours, but HIS. As mere humans we have a hard time with anything not in our control.

No one knows the work that God has established from beginning to end. Our finite minds cannot discern all the beauty God has created. We see the world in its fallen state; just imagine what it looked like before the fall of man.

His Creation

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 

He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. Job 26:12 

By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. Job 26:13 

Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand? Job 26:14 

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; Psalm 8:3 

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. Psalm 50:10 

He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Psalm 147:4 

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: Matthew 6:28 

His Power

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1Corinthians 2:9 

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:25 

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Revelation 22:13 

Spend a few minutes reflecting and praising God for His creation and His great power.

Have a blessed day, 

Donna

A time to …

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I remember when I first heard these verses. It was in the mid 1960’s and the folk/rock group the Bryds sang the song, Turn, Turn, Turn. I was not a Christian and had never read the Bible. My best friend told me the words were from the Bible. She proceeded to take the Bible and find the verses, together we read them. At the time I had little interest in the Bible other than to read the words of the song. Praise God He had a different path for my life.

Everything has it’s time. There is a reason for everything, even if we do not understand. God knows. God makes no mistakes. Sometimes we can’t understand but God is in complete control. Trust Him.

Let’s look at each verse separately:

1  There is a time for everything

2 Time to be born and a time to die

God knew when we were going to be born – He knows when we will die – Are you ready?

A time to plant and a time to plunk up the plants

There are seasons for planting and reaping. We know this by the weather and the areas where we live.

Who made the seasons and weather?

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. 
Genesis 8:22

He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Psalm 104:19

3 A time to kill and a time to heal

Killing as in war but there will also be a healing

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. 
Psalm 147:3

Time to breakdown and buildup

Speaking of the breaking down and building up of cities i.e. Jerusalem

4 A time to weep – we all have sad times

A time to laugh – we have good times and happy times

A time to mourn (in the Hebrew it means: to tear the hair and beat the breasts)

No one likes to mourn but God knows we need to.

A time to dance (in the Hebrew it means:  to stamp to spring about – dance, jump, leap, skip) a time of rejoicing

5 A time to throw stones – to cast out of fields, vineyard

And a time to pick them up – to build walls and fences – John Gill

There are times to hug and times we shouldn’t hug

Ask God for wisdom to know what to do in times of doubt. Even during mourning some people prefer not to be hugged.

6 A time to get and a time to lose

John Gill says it could be talking about getting and losing riches

Or

God’s sheep (Israel) lost and to seek them again

7 A time to rend (cut out, tear)

A time to sew

A time to keep silence and a time to speak

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. Proverbs 8:6

Teach me Lord the correct times to speak and to keep quiet.

8 A time to love and a time to hate

A time of war and a time of peace

In each situation God is in control – not us – but God.

Trust God in all the different situations you find yourself, He will never fail you.

Have a blessed day, 
Donna

Job’s Wife

[9] Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.[10] But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.  Job 2:9-10

When you first hear “Job’s wife” what runs through your mind. My first thought, “she was not supportive but wanted him to just curse God and die.” Think for a minute with me, Job was not the only one who lost everything, so did his wife. The livestock that was killed was part of her livelihood too. The children that died were her children also. Her heart must have been breaking. I cannot image losing a child never mind ten, all at once. Not only did she lose everything with her husband, but it appeared that she was now losing him.

He was covered from head to toe with boils. Boils are extremely painful. He did not have one or two but so many that he was literally covered. He probably could not walk very well, because they were on the soles of his feet. His hands, most likely, were covered so he could not carry or hold anything without being in excruciating pain. He could not sit, he could not stand, and he could not lie down without pain wrenching his whole body. Thoughts from theologians believe it was anything from small pox, or leprosy to elephantiasis. The Hebrew meaning of boil is to burn; inflammation, that is, an ulcer: - boil, botch.

It appears that her faith was not as strong as Job’s, “do you still retain your integrity?” was the question asked. She was suffering too. She did not know how to reach out and comfort her husband. Maybe communication was not good between them. We need to remember this was a time when women kept silent. Eugenia Price says, “She saw her husband strictly from her own viewpoint, not at all from his.” We learn in Job 19 that his breath was offensive to her. It probably was because of the dreaded infection he had.

Only four verses mention Job’s wife. We do not know much, most is conjecture. We do know God gave Job double at the end than what he had in the beginning (Job 42:12).  God gave his wife a second chance with the birth of more children. Again there is much said about the end of Job’s life. Some believe it was a second wife, some believe it was his first wife. I side with it being the same wife. After looking through scripture I could not see the “second wife” theory.

Lessons I learned from Job’s wife:

Judgemental – do not be quick to judge, we need to walk in someone else’s shoes

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. ~ John 7:24

Offend – don’t be offensive, think before you speak, think before you act

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. ~ Psalm 49:3

Bitter – Bitterness festers inner “sores”

Let all bitterness… be put away from you… ~  Ephesians 4:31

Stern – Watch the tone of your voice

… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Ecclesiastes 3:7

Weary – when one is emotionally drained it brings everyone down

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. ~ II Thessalonians 3:13

Inadequate –  realize we are inadequate but Jesus is there to help us

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. ~ I Peter 5:7

Fatigue – when going through hard times find time to rest your tired body (physically and emotionally)

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: ...~ Psalm 37:7

Encourage– pray and ask God to help you be an encourager not a discourager

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Have a blessed day,
Donna