A Time to Speak

I love Solomon’s classic contrasts in the Book of Ecclesiastes. While expressing “to everything there is a season,” he contrasts “a time to be silent and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7, 3:1-9).

This past weekend, America celebrated 250 years of existence. That’s not long in comparison to many other nations around the world, but to us it was worth celebrating.

Along with the history of the nation's founding, we heard many patriotic hymns and songs. We also heard many prayers for America. Some were prayers of thanksgiving, while others were prayers for God’s continued mercy upon us.

What makes a nation? People! And such a wide variety, too. In America, we have fifty states, each with a varied history of its early settlers; however, it’s been my privilege to talk with missionaries. I’ve always enjoyed learning that each country has its own variety of people and cultures.

How can we ALL speak to the LORD? Psalm 100 gives some guidelines. The first verse says we can “make a joyful noise.” Psalm 98:4-6 tells us that joyful noise can be shouts of joy or songs of praise with instruments of various kinds.

Sometimes, I enjoy singing or making music on an instrument myself. At other times, I enjoy worshiping the Lord while listening to a CD or DVD of Christian songs. And, of course, church worship includes singing by the congregation, such a joyful sound.

Here are two basic guidelines: (1) Enter His gates with thanksgiving, then (2) go further into His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4). I picture it this way. First, I thank God for the things He has done, and then I praise Him for who He is.

Psalm 100:5 gives us three reasons to praise the LORD: (1) He is good, (2) His love endures forever, and (3) His faithfulness endures to all generations. Isn’t it easy to say “Praise the Lord” for all that?

Speak up wholeheartedly. Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His Holy name (Psalm 103:1).

Pixabay: Diversity, Earth, Family; GDJ.

A Self-Made Challenge

I just finished the Book of Ecclesiastes by King Solomon. OK, I’ll admit it. I made myself read it!

I’ve read it before but never studied it. My large-print *Life Application Study Bible (New International Version) motivated me with its footnotes, cross-references, introductory notes, and charts. We are blessed to have such help available

I’ve always enjoyed the classic beauty of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Solomon wrote, “There is a time for everything,” then contrasted positive and negative events in our lives. It’s worth a read!

Ecclesiastes opens by using the word “meaningless” four times in the NIV (in the King James Version, the word is “vanity”). Not exactly words to draw us in, but this time I determined to plow on through it. Raised on the plains, plow was exactly how I felt about it. . . breaking into fertile, untouched territory, one chapter a day. Footnotes were the biggest help. Then I considered cross-references.

I discovered some “meaningful” scriptures along the way. For example, as a history major, I could agree with Solomon that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10).

From other Scriptures, I also knew he was correct in saying “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked” (Ecclesiastes 3:17). Also, it’s better NOT to make a vow to God than to make a vow and not fulfill it (Ecclesiastes 5:4-7).

I finished the book and then paged through to review. Chapter two caught my attention because sixteen verses in a row were extremely self-focused: “I” will do this, “I” will do that. My previous note in the margin said: Great accomplishments with no eternal motives.

At the end, with his focus on God and not himself, Solomon said, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:12-13).

Remember: All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Even the Book of Ecclesiastes!

Ready for a self-made challenge? You might be pleasantly surprised, or at least get a feeling of accomplishment.

*Life Application Study Bible, Lge. Print (NIV: New International Version) is published jointly by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. and Zondervan. Life Application Study Bible copyright 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2004, 2005 by Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, IL 50188. All Rights Reserved. (Note: Available where Bibles are sold. I purchased from christianbooks.com. It comes in different translations.)

*Pixabay: Explore, Word, Letters; WOKANDAPIX.

Ask, Believe, Receive

God hears our prayers, but the answers come in His time. I want to share something good that happened to me this week.

I went to the “residents’ dinner” and sat by a pastor and his wife who rarely come. He shook my hand and asked why I was using a cane. I explained that due to a fall, I’d had hip surgery, but I had an atrophied muscle that could not be reattached.

He asked what that was, and I explained it was a rotator muscle in the hip. He asked, “What does it do?”

I said, “When I try to pull my leg toward the center of my body, I feel a pull all the way up to my hip.” He made the move with his right leg, and I said, “You’ll have to turn your foot toward the center to feel the pull.” He did.

The next thing I knew, he was holding my right hand and, with bowed head, was quietly praying for God to heal the problem with my right leg. 

I said, “Thank you,” and we talked with the others at the table while waiting for dinner to start.

After prayer, I started to get up. I noticed his intense interest in my feet. Suddenly, he said, “You turned your foot!” I stopped to think about it and realized I had not felt a pull. I said, “You’re right. God touched me. I’ll be sure to give Him the glory.”

Later that evening, I noticed I had no pain in my hip, and my leg seemed easier to move toward the center. The next morning, it was the same. I had more freedom to move with no leg or hip pain. A definite difference!

The morning’s devotional was based on James 1:6, a reminder that we are to ask God for things in faith, without doubting. It seemed the pastor had done just that with his intense observation and declaration of faith the night before.

I had asked God to heal my hip several times. It hadn’t happened, but I believed it would, in His time. 

It did happen, and I can’t say, “Thank you, God,” enough! It's nice to no longer have to depend on a cane.

Pixabay: Calendar, Months, Wood Image; Alexas_Fotos.

The Learning Curve---COVID 19: Part Three

THE LEARNING CURVE---COVID-19: Part Three

A World-Wide Pandemic

The Corona Virus is still in control. Social distancing, hand washing, face masks and stay-at-home orders are still the norm.

These guidelines have changed my life. How about you?

It’s easy to forget the advice in Proverbs (27:1) which says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

*John Glenn, an astronaut chosen to orbit in space, illustrates this well. After years of training, his mission was rescheduled eleven times.

That means ten times he was ready to go, but someone with higher authority and more knowledge said, “Not today. Mission aborted.”

His flight finally took place on February 20, 1962. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything.” From the description of his orbital flight, I think John would agree it was worth the wait.

Under virus protocol it’s easy to feel like our life is a “mission aborted.”

When we are finally “released for take-off” how will we react? That may depend on our current daily attitude.

Some people will come out of this challenge with new interests and happy memories. Others will have nothing but negative reports and plenty of complaints.

My fifth learning curve: Value Life and Enjoy It One Day at a Time.

Hemmed in by the Blues

I recently woke up in what I call “a blue funk.” I couldn’t find a reason. I was muddling through the morning when a friend called. She said some ladies were joining in prayer, each in their home, at a certain time.

I agreed to join, but when the time came, I still didn’t feel like praying. As a point of faith, I picked up my Bible and started reading. Then I started talking to God about the caller’s prayer request.

As I was praying for that person, I began to feel peaceful. In fact, when my prayer time was over, I actually found myself singing.

That change of attitude was a marvelous experience.

Here’s the secret: I did not pray because I felt like it. I decided to pray by faith. Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) says without faith we cannot please God, but it says nothing about feelings.

That verse further explains that faith means we come to God because we believe He exists, and that He will reward those who sincerely seek Him.

That’s not hard to understand and I can tell you, “It’s true.”

Psalm 62:8 tells us to trust in God at all times and pour out our hearts to Him. All times? Yes. Because faith is based on trust in God’s Word, not feelings.

My sixth learning curve: There’s Never a Wrong Time to Pray.  

*John Glenn: A Memoir, John Glenn with Nick Taylor, Bantam Books, NY, ©1999, Chapter 18, p. 256, Chapter 19, p. 275.