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Christian Devotional – May 16, 2014
Read Ecclesiastes chapter 12 VERSE: Ecclesiastes 12:13–Now all has been heard, here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. TRUTH: Once he had explained every idea, every concept, and every potential way of finding fulfillment; the teacher came to his conclusion. Life is about fearing and obeying God. This is the way to find fulfillment in life. This is how we are to seek satisfaction. Have we reached the same conclusion as the teacher, or are we still turning to other things to find fulfillment and satisfaction? RESPONSE: Father, only You fulfill me. Only You bring my…
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Christian Devotional – May 15, 2014
Read Ecclesiastes chapter 11 VERSE: Ecclesiastes 11:2–Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. TRUTH: The Bible is a book that deals with every area of life. This important business and investment principle, diversification, is something that many people are reminded of when studying business ideas and strategies. However, if they will turn to the Bible, they will clearly see the same teaching and principles expounded there as well. The Bible is very practical. Do we look to the Bible for the answer to all of our life’s issues and questions? It contains the answer, if we are open to…
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Christian Devotional – May 14, 2014
Read Ecclesiastes chapter 10 VERSE: Ecclesiastes 10:12–Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. TRUTH: Are our words full of grace? Do we know when to speak and when to be silent? These two things are the difference between being wise and being a fool. If we are allowing our words to run away with us and we don’t know when to stop talking, then we are certainly not being wise. Our words should overflow with grace and mercy. We must display thankfulness and love any time we open our mouth. RESPONSE: Father, I praise You and love You. You are…
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Christian Devotional – May 13, 2014
Read Ecclesiastes chapter 9 VERSE: Ecclesiastes 9:17–The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. TRUTH: Which phrase describes us? Do we speak the quiets words of the wise or the shouts of a ruler of fools? In today’s crazy world, it is easy to think we need to shout to be heard or that we should listen to the one who shouts the loudest, however, wisdom is often found in the quiet words and unassuming manner of the people who speak softly. Which will we be today? Which will we listen to today? RESPONSE: Father, give me the quiet…
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Christian Devotional – May 12, 2014
VERSE: Ecclesiastes 8:1–Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance. TRUTH: When we seek after God’s wisdom and allow it to permeate every area of our life, it is amazing how wisdom can effect everything. Being wise and choosing to act the way that God desires we act will cause even our appearance to change. Are we seeking out and applying God’s wisdom in our lives? Our very face will display the answer to that question. RESPONSE: Father, everything about You changes everything about me. I will allow You to come and move in every area…
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Christian Devotional – May 11, 2014
Read Ecclesiastes chapter 7 VERSE: Ecclesiastes 7:20–Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins. TRUTH: No matter how good we try to be, we are not righteous on our own. Our own works can never measure up to the standard of perfection that God has set. The Lord is perfect, completely without sin. We are in desperate need of a Savior to cleanse us from our wrong doings and to intercede for us on our behalf. Have we trusted in Jesus Christ and accepted His cleansing? We desperately need it! RESPONSE: Father, You are perfect and I am not. You…
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Christian Devotional – May 10, 2014
Read Ecclesiastes chapter 6 VERSE: Ecclesiastes 6:11–The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone? TRUTH: Sometimes, the more we talk, the less we say. We have to be careful that we are not just talking meaninglessness, or just to hear ourselves talk. When we speak, we should have meaning and purpose for what we say. Are we speaking with purpose, or just speaking to hear ourselves talk? RESPONSE: Father, I praise You for giving us a way to communication with others. Help me not to waste it, but to speak with purpose the words You have for me to say today. Help me hold…
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Christian Devotional – May 9, 2014
Read Ecclesiastes chapter 5 VERSE: Ecclesiastes 5:10–Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. TRUTH: What do we love? Sure, many of us wouldn’t admit it directly, but our actions and attitudes display a love of money and things money can buy. The problem with that is, like this verse states, money never satisfies. When we love something, we can never have enough of it, yet only God can truly satisfy us. When we love God, we will always be seeking for more of Him. If we love money, we will always be seeking for more money. The list…
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Christian Devotional – May 8, 2014
Read Ecclesiastes chapter 4 VERSE: Ecclesiastes 4:10–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. TRUTH: We need friends. Yes, the Christian life is a choice that we must make individually, but once we make that choice, we should be looking for someone who can walk with us. We can encourage that person and they can encourage us. Do we have someone who shares our beliefs and our faith that we can share with? We are stronger together. RESPONSE: Father, You are the one I am following and to You I will cling, but…
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Christian Devotional – May 7, 2014
Read Ecclesiastes chapter 3 VERSE: Ecclesiastes 3:11–He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. TRUTH: God’s timing is beautiful! We may not understand it, and in fact we cannot completely fathom it, but God’s perfect picture of how events unfold is spectacularly beautiful and awe-inspiring. Sometimes we get so focused on ourselves and our frustration that things aren’t moving fast enough for our personal timing desires that we miss seeing the beauty in God’s timing. Are we looking at the events around us as part of the beauty…