HIS GRACE IS ENOUGH! So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I…

BE READY TO MEET HIM! The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. —Ecclesiastes 12:13-14             What is the duty of man to God? It is obedience. This is an obedience out of love for God and love for people (Matthew 22:37-40). It is not obedience out of an attitude of “I have to” but out of a grateful heart of “I want to, I desire to.” It is not a drudgery in obedience, but a joy to be obedient.…

LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ONLY INCREASES EVIL Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. —Ecclesiastes 8:11             When evil is not dealt with speedily by the authorities, then evil will increase.   We have seen this in the U.S. with these riots that are taking place. Because the authorities are not doing much about it these riots have increased by spreading to many cities. There are those whose hearts are “fully set to do evil.” Many people, from what I read, are traveling from places they live to these cities where they do…

INTERDEPENDENT AND NOT ISOLATED  Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.   But how can one keep warm alone?   Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. —Ecclesiastes 4:9-12              How much easier it is when doing a job when another is there to help? Think about it— A person putting siding on a house by himself…

GENEROSITY— LET THAT BE YOUR LIFE’S FOCUS! A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. —Ecclesiastes 1:4 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die… —Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may…

PAIN-KILLERS  Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!   Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. —Proverbs 31:6-7             Alcohol has been the ruin of many lives. I find it interesting that with such a problem the State still builds State Liquor stores near very busy roads, seeking to pull in customers. In 2017 there were 72,558 alcohol related deaths, 2.6% of all deaths in the U.S.   One million people died from alcohol related deaths between 1999 and 2017. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/alcohol-related-deaths-increasing-united-states            Why do people drink alcohol? There…

NOW IS THE TIME! Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. —II Corinthians 6:1-2 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. —Proverbs 28:26             And so it is with salvation— the one who trusts his own mind is a fool, but the one who trusts the gospel of Jesus Christ is wise. The one who trusts in…

THE NEED FOR EACH OTHER A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. —Proverbs 25:27 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. —Proverbs 26:12 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. —Proverbs 27:2 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. —Proverbs 27:9 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. —Proverbs 27:17             What a picture of a man without self-control. A city without walls has no protection from the…

PRIORITIES Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. –Proverbs 23:4-5 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. You will be…

OUR GOD DIRECTS IN THE AFFAIRS OF MEN The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. — Proverbs 21:1 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD. —Proverbs 21:30             A king, a president— Pharaoh, David, Donald Trump… Let us not forget who is ultimately in control. Our Lord God Almighty works through any person to accomplish His desires. Our Lord will turn a person’s heart as He desires.   We need not fret over a Nero or Stalin, Hitler or any tyrant. Our Lord is working out His plan even through their lives. Let…