"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

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" -- 2 Corinthians 5:17

There is the old you, and there is the new you.  Whether you were born into a Christian family and have been taught the faith all of your life, or you have come to know Jesus through a dramatic conversion experience, for every Christian, there is "before" and there is "after" Christ.  For the one who has had the "road to Damascus" sort of conversion, the line that marks the change is clear.  For the one who was born into Christianity, there came a point in your life when you accepted the faith as no longer that which belonged to your parents, but it was truly and personally yours.  Once you live your life in Christ, for Christ, and with Christ, you cannot be the same ever again. You cannot remain the same once you crossover either.  You are a work in progress-- never perfect, never complete.  You are changing even now into someone who will either deepen their faith or into someone who fades from their faith identity.  You can't stay still.  You are changing.  We know that today is your "before" and tomorrow is your "after".  What will it look like?  Who will you be?

Readings:  Job 40:1-42:17; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 22:14

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-- while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?" -- Job 38:4-7

In this passage, Job is getting quite a scolding from God.  The questions of the universe fascinate us.  It seems as though we are always seeking the answers to our curiosities about the beginning of time.  The  big bang theory... creation... Adam and Eve... the Garden.  Some scientists erroneously say "there is no God" because they have found scientific evidence refuting the nature of creation as presented in Genesis.  It all didn't happen in 7 days like the Bible says, therefore there is no God.  Hmm... terrible logic.  People of faith fall into the same trap:  scientific findings don't line up with the biblical account, therefore, science is wrong.  Terrible logic again.  Questions of science should be handled in scientific discourse.  Questions of faith handled in theological discourse.  But as we seek to find truth, let's remain humble.  For neither you nor I, nor any human being was there when God created the heavens and the earth.  Remember who we are: we are not God.

Readings:  Job 37:1-39:30; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10; Psalm 44:9-26; Proverbs 22:13

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." -- 2 Corinthians 4:7

I look in the mirror and see a body that is mortal.  My hair is graying, there are wrinkles forming around my eyes.  I know my body as I know it now is not forever.  But within, there is a light, a spirit, a "treasure" as Paul says, that reveals not me, but the one who made me.  Each of us have a spark inside that can light up our worlds.  Do not hide it.  Do not douse it.  Do not let it grow dim.  But let it shine so that others might see not you, but the one who made you... who made us all.  You are a vessel... a clay jar... that is frail and temporary... but the treasure inside is eternal.  Be generous with what you have in who you are.

Readings:  Job 34:1-36:33; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 22:10-12

"He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed." -- Proverbs 22:8

The rule that all major faiths share is this:  do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  If you live your life treating others well, they will treat you well.  If you sow spite and discord, and spew venom from yourself, then your own life won't be too pleasant.  Call it karma, call it the Golden Rule, it doesn't matter.  The simple truth is that you have a great deal of control over how you will experience life, and that control is exercised in the way that you treat others.  So take control of your life.  Be kind to the world and you will be blessed.

Readings:  Job 31:1-33:33; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; Psalm 43:1-5; Proverbs 22:8-9