Sunday, November 22, 2009

Daily Bread - Sunday 22 Nov 09

Heaven on Earth

15 Then I thought in my heart,
"The fate of the fool will overtake me also.
What then do I gain by being wise?"
I said in my heart,
"This too is meaningless."

16 For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered;
in days to come both will be forgotten.
Like the fool, the wise man too must die!

Toil Is Meaningless
17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 19And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. 20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 22What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.


Until the writeup from Our Daily Bread, I didn't know this was written by Solomon. I've read Ecclesiastes quite a few times (not a ton, as I'm still a rather young believer) & it's always something I seem to struggle with. I know that I should focus on God & not the things of this world, but how? It's definitely a good reminder for me that no matter how hard I work at anything here that I'll just end up giving it off to someone else eventually.

I have so much stuff in my home, and I still seem to acquire more. I want to go through it, to either trash it or pass it along to someone else that will get good use out of it, but why can't I just buckle down & start doing it? I also want to work just for the sake of providing; I don't want to make work an idol. I want to glorify God while I dance, not get lost in the music as much. I want to pour into peoples' lives, but not take on so much I get burnt out and do nothing.

God, please work with my heart; change my priorities such that I will make time for what You want me to do first, before anything else. I am so thankful yet overwhelmed with how much You love me. Thank You for all You have trusted me with. Please remind me that I'm here for You & You alone, not any of the stuff of this world. Show me who I should pour my life that's developed due to Your Love into. I love You so much. Amen.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Top 5 - Monday 09 Nov 09

  1. CN being so excited & appreciative of sharing my pumpkin butter & pumpkin seeds with her.
  2. Many people at dance last night mentioning how noticeable it is that I've lost a lot of weight.
  3. Last dance rehearsal before the competition this weekend. DS is pretty impressed with how well we're doing!
  4. EC asking me to do strictly with him this weekend at the competition. Sooo cool how God answers prayer even when it has to do with insignificant stuff!
  5. Random txts from B that just made me smile.

Monday, November 09, 2009

Top 5 - Sunday 08 Nov 09

  1. Being very open/honest/raw with B & him responding by being loving & consoling.
  2. Going for a walk with B.
  3. A very different church experience than what I'm used to.
  4. An hour of cardio at the gym with B.
  5. Eating breakfast at home instead of on the run.