"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." -- Isaiah 1:18

As kids, when we were at play and it was our turn to take our shot and it didn't go our way, we would shout, "Do over!!"  And if the others liked the rule because they could have a second chance too, then the "do-over" was allowed.  As an adult, I play golf with groups who regularly take "mulligans"... same concept.  We all mess up.  We all take shots that miss and that we want to take again.  Everyone at some point needs a new beginning.  Our faith is one of new beginnings.  Yes, you and I have made mistakes.  You and I have taken shots that have missed.  We've hurt others.  We've hurt ourselves.  While consequences to our actions don't go away, the good news is that through Christ, God grants us new beginnings all the time.  In fact, the essence of our faith is that it invites us all to the biggest "do-over" imaginable.  The old self has passed.  In Christ, you are new again.  Take another shot.  And make it a good one!

Readings:  Isaiah 1:1-2:22; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 22:26-27

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." -- Psalm 51:1-2

Here is one of those passages that is good to carry with you.  Write it down.  Put it in your purse or wallet.  Memorize it.  Say it.  Think it.  Pray it.  Then rejoice, and know that you are forgiven!

Readings:  Song of Songs 5:1-8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 22:24-25

"How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes begind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing." -- Song of Solomon 4:1-2

My how times have changed.  The woman receiving this compliment would have blushed, overcome by such lofty words.  Today, if I said this to my wife, her face would probably turn red too.

The poetry in Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) is such that it celebrates the love of a man and a woman.  It is not, as some argue, a writing representing Christ and the Church.  It's about two young and vibrant people who are bursting with love and physical anticipation for each other.  Some find it hard to believe that the Bible is filled with so much sex and violence.  Enough for the ages, I'd say.

Readings:  Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) 1:1-4:16; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24; Psalm 50:1--23; Proverbs 22:22-23

"Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." -- Ecclesiastes 11:6

I am loving Ecclesiastes-- it's so incredibly rich in wisdom and truth.  This verse speaks to the importance of not relying on any one thing to produce that which you need for your life.  And here, I'm not speaking of spiritual life, but physical (and yes, I realize they both affect the other).

In modern western culture, there was a time when organizations espoused a degree of loyalty to their members/employees that is not seen today.  I remember when I was a teen and the unheard of happened: companies stable as the likes of IBM began to lay people off.  Middle-aged workers who had given their whole adult lives to serving their companies were seeing their retirement plans ripped away.  Having thought their future secure, they were shocked to find they were having to reinvent themselves.

Whether its your job, your assets, a product, or a service for your business, or your art... you must continually cast new seed in order to harvest a new kind of crop when the other no longer grows.  There is great power in being singularly focused, but there is wisdom in being multi-faceted and versatile as you function in that purpose.  In organizational terms, when you have multiple skills, we call it utility.  I think this is what the writer was talking about.  Don't live a "one and done" kind of existence.  Plant multiple seeds early, and tend to them throughout your life.

Readings:  Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 22:20-21

"Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come: as fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them." --- Ecclesiastes 9:12

To live a life of wisdom is to live a life knowing that security is an illusion.  When you accept this as reality, then you are free to embrace the life you have and live it to its fullest.  If you spend all your days seeking safety from all harm, you live on the edge like none other-- for you procrastinate the very act and art of living.  What life do you want after all?  What is it that you live for?  What do you dream of doing one day that you can actually do today?  Do something today.  Live.

Readings:  Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18; 2 Corinthians 7:8-16; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 22:17-19

"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." -- Ecclesiastes 5:11

When you have an insatiable appetite for something, you can't get enough of it.  You eat, but you get hungry again.  You drink, but you get thirsty again.  When it comes to money, how much is enough for you?  Enough to give you bread and water each day for the rest of your life?  Enough to house you for the rest of your life?  If you had more money than you would ever need, what would you do with it?  Seriously consider this question, then reflect on what you're spending the money you do have.  Is there alignment between the two?  How do you need to adjust your current money management practices?   Will there ever be "enough" for you?

Readings:  Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 22:16

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."

-- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Readings:  Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 22:15