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It
can be amazing just how quickly our plans can crumble and change. I awoke
this morning, to see a light on in the kitchen, but heard no morning news
and found a note telling me Carol had gone to sit with two of our
grandchildren, because their mother had gone to the hospital. I called and
learned they were on the way with bacon for breakfast and a request for
waffles. Soon after breakfast, we learned their mother was home again, and
that she will be fine. But, both kids were awake nearly all night so
I’ll have company till this afternoon. I called Madison’s school to
let them know she’d be absent.
Carol may be getting a little bit of a nap, before she goes to work and I
may get a nap later today. All of today’s plans are now; ‘on hold’.
When Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, most of the first part speaks to the fact
that most all our pursuits are mere vanity. He spoke of working today,
only to have to do it again tomorrow and his writing speaks to our lives
yet today. Weeds pulled seem to come back nearly instantaneously, and it
seems a never-ending task to try to control garden pests. Most all our
pursuits are vanity.
We can understand what he writes, and our conclusion should be that the
only thing that ‘really’ matters; is a life lived for and with God. We
all realize in winter, we struggle to stay warm and, in summer we seek a
way to be cool. Most all of our lives, we seek to improve what we should
be content with. If we provide well for our family, we soon feel the need
to ‘earn more’, so we can have and do more. In contrast, a life lived
for and with God, is a life of continual contentment, and it fosters the
desire to continue pleasing Him, while being content with our own lot.
When the poor widow gave her only two coins, she must have been happy to
give all she had, and was thankful that God had provided all she needed.
Paul was content, even while in chains and imprisoned. In contrast, a life
lived to serve ‘self’ is vain, and never satisfies.
Diana P had to return to the
hospital with infection and dehydration after surgery. She’s home again
and continuing to recover. Please pray for Johnnie W’s daughter Amanda.
Pray for Rosa S and her family. I don’t know her situation, but a friend
asks prayers for them. Pray for Sandy, who has mentioned a ‘lost’
feeling. Becky C has undergone reconstructive surgery after her upper
cheeks were shattered in a fall.
Father, we do feel a sense
of useless vanity, when we spend our lives seeking one pleasure after
another. Show us the contentment of a life spent with and in You. Fill us
with a desire to serve and live for You and in Your will. Give us the
contentment Paul knew, even in the face of adversity or persecution.
Forgive our sins, as we forgive other sinners. We lift these: Diana P,
Johnny W’s sister Cindy & daughter Amanda, Rosa S & family,
Sandy, Becky C, Jerry P, Betty Y’s mother, Sophia Maria D, Brock –
Brandelyn & Susan H, Rob P, Larry, Tony G & wife, Mackenzie,
Kristen - Jessica & the Koster Family, Ellen & her sister Jackie,
Joanne F, Maggie, Bob M, Tyler B, Quinn B & family, Betty Y, Ginny S,
Buddy B, Lynch family, Larry C, Jesse H, Mrs. Pearson (Akron, Ohio), Jim
& Donna R, Bill & Shari (Arizona), Michael P, Patrice S, Cheri H,
Steve B. Brian, Kelsey M, Linda R, Larry B, Cathy, Florence, Roy &
Becky M, Rodney M, Tom & Marg C & John K, David S, Roger D, Pete
Z, Mitzi – Rick F & household, John, Pat T & family, Joe D,
Scott Kimes & family, John N, Sarah (missionary), Nioka P, Sherry,
Edie D, Shawn & Heidi G, Jake J, Matt B’s mother, Breanna F, Jean S,
Kaleb & his mom Brenda M, Buddy H, Darien, Betty H, John L, Trina,
Jacki, Jim R, Trevor, Bill W, Businesses struggling, Bill D, Bill H &
kids, Joe & kids (NC), Jill L, Jessica K, Janet L, Phil B &
family, Lukas, Brad, Mike M, Missy A, Gary H, Sylvia F, Larry C’s
brothers-in-law – Joe & Don & wives Karen & Glenna, Betsye
A, Mike N, Dave W, Curt F, Naomi’s Heart Mission, Patty B, Jan F, Jason
& Kristie, Evan W, Dave H, Brenda W, Mary A, Eldon & Deloris,
Sondra F, Kevin, Judy R, Solly (for liver), Archie S, Roger D, Michael V,
Charlie M, India U, Sharon N, Nathan R, John D, Dean S, Dustin, Dylan,
Robin & husband, those ending addiction or habit, our families for
salvation and guidance, Those grieving, depressed, fighting or working for
freedom, safety from terror, neglected, abused & missing children,
God’s servants & churches, those looking for work, in rehab programs
our families and all we hold dear in our hearts. Hear our prayer lifted in
agreement…. Amen.
The words of the Preacher,
the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the
Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the
toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation
comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes
down, and hastens to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its
circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not
full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All
things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not
satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is
what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is
nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said,
"See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us.
There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any
remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. I the
Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart
to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is
an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy
with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all
is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made
straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. Ecclesiastes
1:1-15 ESV
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