SPEECH & CURSING

 

This subject has been on my heart for quite some time. I believe its an arena, that's tolerated, when it should be condemned. Do we pull ourselves up, when we start thinking or talking negativeley about others?..and even more so, do we pull each other up? Why is it tolerated?
Talk (unbridled) is destructive, it curses, tears down others and wounds. I did some research and found this good piece of writing from 'chasingalion.com'. so I decided to share it. I believe everyone of us would have participated in this attitude and behaviour and are no doubt also victims of its destructive effects.

Its about a change of heart and attitude towards others. To see people as God's sees them, and ask his forgiveness for our attitude and behaviour.

Here's the article: (chasingalion.com)

'Our speech is determined by our thoughts. If we want to make our speech more Christ-like, then we must make our thoughts more Christ-like. CURSING:
James 3: Verses 2-12

² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
(Jam. 3:2-12 NIV)

The Bible is clear, cursing is a sin. Let's consider a few more passages where GOD speaks to the issue.

⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
(Col. 3:8 NIV)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
(Rom. 12:14 NIV)

¹² We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.
(1 Cor. 4:12-13 NIV)

Most believers probably already know that cursing is condemned by GOD. Yet, it is so incredibly common among people who profess to be Christians. Why is this? That's a discussion for another post, but the short of it is that many are trying to serve two masters, not truly knowing Jesus.
Some of us, thankfully, have the self-control to keep ourselves from cursing. That's good. Cursing (and improper speech in general) is more of a temptation for some than for others. But let me ask you this: Do you ever struggle with insulting other people? I do. Perhaps you only do it behind the person's back, instead of to their face, but if you speak negatively about them, it's just the same.
I must be honest. James 3:9-10 steps on my toes pretty hard. Sure, the Bible teaches that we should avoid foul language. But look at the message again:

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
(Jam. 3:2-12 NIV)

GOD's teaching to us here is not to curse people. In other words, it isn't just saying curse words, but it's the act of berating or belittling another person. For example, have you ever been driving down the road and someone pulls out in front of you and pokes along like they didn't even care? What do you do most of the time? "You moron! What's wrong with you? Idiot!" Ouch. I'm guilty. Or what about the coworker who shows up late or doesn't do their job, yet they got the promotion you deserved or the boss likes them and, rather than dealing with their lack of productivity, (s)he dumps more work on you instead? Or how about the bully in school who gets their way just because they're bigger than you and everyone else? Ever had any choice words for or about these people? I have.
Friends, remember Jesus' example:

²¹ To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

²² “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
(1 Pet. 2:21-23 NIV)

Becoming a parent has taught me a lot about how GOD views us. I plan to speak further on this in the future. GOD is our Father—each of our Father. He is no respecter of persons, thus He loves the guy who pulled out in front of us on the highway, the incompetent coworker, and the school bully just as much as He loves you and me. To Him, we're all special, just like each of our kids are special to us as parents. When someone insults, mistreats, or puts down one of our kids, it hurts. We want there to be peace in our family. And GOD wants peace among His children too. So, since He's always present when we think or speak, He knows whenever we say something about one of our fellow siblings (speaking in terms of humanity), and it hurts Him when we curse one of them.
Let's be more intentional and thoughtful about our words, what we say, how we say them, to whom we say them, and about whom we say them.

¹² Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
(Prov. 11:12 NIV)

 

Blessings - Follower of the WAY

 

Intamacy with God

I recently found a piece of writing that the Holy Spirit gave me about 5 years ago. As I read it over again, it spoke such intamacy and peace to me. My husband encouraged me to share it, so here it is:

 

I called to the deepest longing within your soul.

 

I receive you with the highest joy.

 

You are My creation

 

My beauty is revealed in you,

 

Your hearts desire for Me and your life lived as Me is all I ask.

 

Take from Me,

Drink from Me

 

and I will allways be with you,

 

and in you.

 

 

Eden's Bridge - The Shadow of Your Hand Soaking Worship

The Doorway

This morning as I had just finished praying with my husband, over a matter of God's provision, this 'word' came to me.

I felt the Lord impressing on me, an image of him standing behind a closed door, longing to come through, longing to comfort, heal and help, but he was hindered. He knew about the impending 'need', long before we did. He was waiting expectantly, but when it happened, he couldn't get through...and why???

He couldn't come through, because the door of our hearts was not opened in prayer, to invite him in, to recieve from him. The scriptures tell us:

'I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you.' Luke 11: 19

In the East - "The oriental house was fitted with heavy doors which were bolted and locked with wooden keys too large to be carried about, so that even a member of the household could not secure entrance until in response to his knock or call the door should be opened by someone within. At night the delay would be increased by the difficulty of arousing the inmates sleeping within the inner chambers. To persons familiar with such experiences, the words of Jesus concerning a higher entrance, "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7 and Luke 12:36) would have a unique force not easy for us to appreciate." (Russell Benjamin Miller)

Are you asleep or awake to supernatural provision? Are you going through this life, walking in your 'flesh', relying on self to provide all things and solve all your problems? Well thats what you are doing as a christian, if you don't run to God in prayer..you are trying to do it all yourself. You tie the hands of God, you keep the door closed on him...you depreive yourself of a blessing.

Its so vital that we include and call upon God in all matters of our life, and especially seek him first when we get 'bad news'...of a financial woe etc. Too often christians do everything else but seek God when a crisis comes. They phone a friend, they let themselves carry the burden, become sullen and depression creeps in. Instead, throw off the shackle, don't give the enemy a foothold, don't let the 'care' penetrate through the peace and joy that surrounds you. Act and believe that your problem is actually only a little thing, not an mountain to be climbed. It's a speck of dust in the hands of the amighty, our majestic Lord and provider. He hungers for our love, he seeks and desires an expectant heart..he has plans to prosper us and not to harm us. (Jeremiah 29:11)

I know and believe it saddens the Father if we don't trust in him, if we don't run to him first with our cares and worries.
I always say to people, just keep on doing the work he has provided for you, keep being a good steward with your finances, no matter how little you have, there will be something you can share with others. Have an expectant and trusting heart that God is always with you and will provide for you. See your won attitude and outlook change and wait for the peace to flood in :)

Be blessed and be a blessings -
Linda - Follower of the Way

Holding On To You.

I hope you will play this beautifull song,  ' Holding onto you' by Grace Williams. It's truly annointed music of the finest quality, direct from heaven...soak in it, sit quietly, play it over several times, and meditate on the words in it...draw near to the heart of Father....hold onto him...hunger for his love..its freely there for you..available always...run into his arms.

Obedience

Deuteronomy 13:4

It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Over the last month or so, I've been slowly reading through the book of Genesis. As I read the close of this book in Chapter 50 and began Exodus, a common and obvious theme stood out  to me, that of 'Fear God and keep his Commandments'. This theme runs throughout the whole bible.

God has a divine agenda for each of our lives, he has plans to prosper us and not to harm us. Sadly and so often we thwart or interfere with the plans of God, by trying to intervene, and 'help' or alter the course slightly. We become impatient, as was the case with Abraham and Sarah, when God promised Sarah would bear a child in her old age. Sarah grew impatient, not believing that God could bring fourth an heir when she was well past child bearing years and took matters into her own hands. She decided that the heir would need to come through her maid servant instead. God of course kept his promise and meanhwile Sarah had to bear the brunt of her own actions and the problems it created. God  was simply doing it in his own time and Sarah learnt lessons along the way.
Impatience is a terrible thing...we are so bad at 'waiting upon the Lord', thinking perhaps he hasn't heard us. He always hears us !!!, we need to get this into our hearts. He always answers, in his time, in his way, and for our good. Many times not what we ask for, but in hind sight, we are greatfull and relieved.

Oftentimes we can fear man, more than we fear the Lord. But every time thoughout scripture, I read that those who wait on God, who walk in his ways, obey his commandments and reamin faithful to him, (as in the case of Joseph, son of Jacob) are blessed. Jospeh always sought the Lord, always remained faithful, didn't hold grudges, didn't seek revenge, but instead forgave all his brothers did to him, and even blessed them and provided them with Land and a good life, because of his own prosperity and favour in the eyes of God and Pharoah, king of Egypt. Jospeh had a tender heart for the ways of God, he was merciful and forgave. Mercy and forgiveness are two virtues sadly lacking in our world today and in the hearts of many christians.

To fear God and keep his commandments at all times, is not easy, but also not optional, even when lifes circumstances or our own choices  throw us off course. God's ways are not our ways and he knows what the outcome will be if we stray from his divine plan. He puts his laws in place to protect us.

As I finished off Genesis and began the first chapters of Exodus, the legacy of the Patriarchs stands out. The Israelites are said to be 'fruitful and multiplying greatly', they have become 'exceedingly numerous', to the point that the land of Egypt is full of them. God's hand is upon them, and the Egyptians came to dread them. They worked them hard and used them ruthlessly (Exodus 1:14). The new king of Egypt hatched a plan to decrease the population of the Israelites, by asking the midwives to kill every Israelite baby boy that wass born. The midvives however 'feared GOD', and did not do what the king of Egypt  asked them to do, instead they let the baby boys live.
Then the king of Egypt summoned them and asked them why they had done this. The midwives were wise and answered, that the Israelite woman were so vigourous in childbirth, that they had already delivered their own children, before they arrived, so therefore it was not possible to carry out the kings command.
Because of their obedience to Yahweh and fear of him, God was kind to the midwives and blessed them, by giving them famlies of their own, and consequently the Israelites became even more numerous.

What can we learn from all this?

Well how it speaks to me, is simply this, 'God is an all knowing, all powerful, all seeing God' and nothing escapes his attention. If people work to feather their own nest, disobey the laws of God and trample over anyone else in the process, eventually the day will  come when they will reap the consequences of their actions, either in this life or the next.
We are not to fear man and what he can do to us, we are to fear the Lord and keep his commandments. In the lives of all believers, we will be tested, people will let us down, we'll also let people down. However, if we continually walk in the promises of God, repent of any of our own sin,  and seek forgiveness, God will always honour that, forgive and restore us and his favour will once again return to our lives. Its really over to us to do our best and obey him, keep our eyes, hearts and minds fixed on him and continue on the narrow path, that leads to life.

2 John 1:6

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Psalm 16:11

 'You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.'

Deuteronomy 10:20

Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.

Blessings to anyone who reads this,
Follower of the Way (of Christ).

The Deceitfullness of the Human Heart

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17: 5-11
5 This is what the Lord says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

who depends on flesh for his strength

and whose heart turns away from the Lord.

6He will be like a bush in the wastelands;

he will not see prosperity when it comes.

He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.

7“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.

8He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.”

9The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

10“I the Lord search the heart

and examine the mind,

to reward a man according to his conduct,

according to what his deeds deserve.”

11Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay

is the man who gains riches by unjust means.

When his life is half gone, they will desert him,

and in the end he will prove to be a fool.

Here's a commentary on Jeremiah 17:9, which I enjoyed:
Gills expository:
Jeremiah 17:9
who can know it? angels do not, Satan cannot; only the spirit of a man can know the things of a man within him; though the natural man does not know the plague of his own heart; the Pharisee and perfectionist do not, or they would not say they were without sin; such rant arises from the ignorance of their own hearts; only a spiritual man knows his own heart, the plague of it, the deceitfulness and wickedness in it; and he does not know it all; God only knows it fully.

Mathew Henry's Concise Commentary:
Jeremiah 17:5-11:

He who puts confidence in man, shall be like the heath in a desert, a naked tree, a sorry shrub, the product of barren ground, useless and worthless. Those who trust to their own righteousness and strength, and think they can do without Christ, make flesh their arm, and their souls cannot prosper in graces or comforts. Those who make God their Hope, shall flourish like a tree always green, whose leaf does not wither. They shall be fixed in peace and satisfaction of mind; they shall not be anxious in a year of drought. Those who make God their Hope, have enough in him to make up the want of all creature-comforts. They shall not cease from yielding fruit in holiness and good works.

The heart, the conscience of man, in his corrupt and fallen state, is deceitful above all things. It calls evil good, and good evil; and cries peace to those to whom it does not belong. Herein the heart is desperately wicked; it is deadly, it is desperate. The case is bad indeed, if the conscience, which should set right the errors of other faculties, is a leader in the delusion. We cannot know our own hearts, nor what they will do in an hour of temptation. Who can understand his errors? Much less can we know the hearts of others, or depend upon them.

He that believes God's testimony in this matter, and learns to watch his own heart, will find this is a correct, though a sad picture, and learns many lessons to direct his conduct. But much in our own hearts and in the hearts of others, will remain unknown. Yet whatever wickedness there is in the heart, God sees it. Men may be imposed upon, but God cannot be deceived. He that gets riches, and not by right, though he may make them his hope, never shall have joy of them. This shows what vexation it is to a worldly man at death, that he must leave his riches behind; but though the wealth will not follow to another world, guilt will, and everlasting torment. The rich man takes pains to get an estate, and sits brooding upon it, but never has any satisfaction in it; by sinful courses it comes to nothing. Let us be wise in time; what we get, let us get it honestly; and what we have, use it charitably, that we may be wise for eternity.

~A Mighty Rushing Wind~

As I was reading Acts this morning,  Peter and John had just been through the trial to answer the accusations of the council of religious leaders, over their healing of a blind man. They were beginning to experience some of the persecution that Jesus faced constantly.

What I see is no matter how hard pressed they were, because they had strong faith, stood firm on the word of God and were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were able to stand their ground and defend the truth with clarity and boldness.

^{Acts 4:8-11}
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? ¹⁰ Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. ¹¹ For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,
‘The stone that you builders rejected, has now become the cornerstone.
¹² There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:29-35 (NLT)

²⁹ And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. ³⁰Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

At no time do I see them walking in their own strength. I see their utter dependence on the power of God to give them courage and the supernatural ability to heal in his name.

The Believers Share Their Possessions
³² All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. ³³ The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.³⁴ There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them ³⁵ and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

And now there is unity. The people are one in mind, in mission and purpose. LOVE rules, God’s glory has pre-eminence, they are all walking boldly in their faith, living it, breathing it, speaking it , keeping it simple !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and then seeing the results

^{I believe we can all pray verse 29 b and verse 30:}

V 29b - "Give us O Lord, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.^{30 “}Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
We don't need to worry about how we will do it, GOD WILL DO IT !!!!!!!! 
We just need to get out of the way, let God clear out our junk, slay whatever hinders to let God's spirit have rule and reign in our lives and bodies.

We need a faith like Peter and John, and an utter dependence and desire for  God's power and precense. Then we have prepared a place for him to flow though each of us, an open channel for his power to bring total healing, salvation, life,  and hope to others.

God Bless anyone who reads this. FOTW

~ CONTENTMENT ~

"Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers,
and are famous preservers of good looks."
- Charles Dickens 

^{Philipians 4: 12-13
12} I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

^{1 Timothy 6: 6-8
6} But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Whether you have little or you have a lot, the secret to contentment is

depending on God's provision and strength, not your own.

Paul reminds us that contentment doesn’t happen overnight. It’s something that we learn. As our relationship with God develops over time and through experiences, we learn to trust God more and ourselves less. Paul knew that Christ would give him the strength to persevere in whatever situation he encountered (v.13).
No matter what you’re facing today, through prayer you can receive the strength to be content.

 

The world is filled with so much good
That brings us joy and pleasure,
But true fulfillment only comes
When Christ we love and treasure.

(Anon)

We find contentment at the same place we find salvation—in Christ.

~ blessings and peace - Follower of the WAY ~

The Plague of Self-Sufficiency

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet

and a light for my path.

(Psalm 119:105)

I read this today, as I was doing a little word study on the word ‘WORD’.. sounds like a tongue twister. Some people read the Old Testament and they see a vengeful God. I see a God desiring closeness, oneness and fellowship. This is how it spoke to me. I see myself and I see others in this piece of scripture.

A Plague of Hail
13 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 14 If you don’t, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth.
15 By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth.
16 But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.
17 But you still lord it over my people and refuse to let them go.
 18 So tomorrow at this time I will send a hailstorm more devastating than any in all the history of Egypt.
19 Quick! Order your livestock and servants to come in from the fields to find shelter. Any person or animal left outside will die when the hail falls.’”
20 Some of Pharaoh’s officials were afraid because of what the LORD had said. They quickly brought their servants and livestock in from the fields.
 21 But those who paid no attention to the word of the LORD left theirs out in the open.
22 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky so hail may fall on the people, the livestock, and all the plants throughout the land of Egypt.”
23 So Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed toward the earth. The LORD sent a tremendous hailstorm against all the land of Egypt.
24 Never in all the history of Egypt had there been a storm like that, with such devastating hail and continuous lightning.
 25 It left all of Egypt in ruins. The hail struck down everything in the open field—people, animals, and plants alike. Even the trees were destroyed.
 26 The only place without hail was the region of Goshen, where the people of Israel lived.
27 Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he confessed. “The LORD is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong.
28 Please beg the LORD to end this terrifying thunder and hail. We’ve had enough. I will let you go; you don’t need to stay any longer.”
29 “All right,” Moses replied. “As soon as I leave the city, I will lift my hands and pray to the LORD. Then the thunder and hail will stop, and you will know that the earth belongs to the LORD. 30 But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God.”
31 (All the flax and barley were ruined by the hail, because the barley had formed heads and the flax was budding.
32 But the wheat and the emmer wheat were spared, because they had not yet sprouted from the ground.)
33 So Moses left Pharaoh’s court and went out of the city. When he lifted his hands to the LORD, the thunder and hail stopped, and the downpour ceased.
34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn.
 35 Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the LORD had predicted through Moses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know this is directed at Pharoah, at the way he was persecuting Yahwh's people, but all scripture still continues to speak into our lives again and again. Why is this? Because human nature in and off itself desn't change, cultures, circustances etc may do, but the problems that face today are the same. Our  ruler can be our own hearts and minds...the things that we allow to drag us from the sanctuary...the things that take our eyes of Jesus, the things that stop us desiring and worshipping him, depending on him.

When we face difficulties in life, as believers we are meant to seek the Lord, to plead to him, and invite him into the situation. We should lean on him and our prayers never cease. Oh how he delights in this communion with us…in the softening of our hearts.
But often Christians don't turn to God, instead we get angry, and retreat back tp the ways of the flesh in handling the problem. But experience has taught me, that getting ugly or trying to get even, does not fix anthing. It just causes even more stress and anxiety.

Even those who do seek the Lord in the storm, too often when its passed,  return to self-reliance. The very thing God doesn’t want. We coose to descend to the lower regions…to ‘self’ sufficiency, to the way of our minds, ego’s and the flesh…the land where there is no peace. Verse 21 'But those who paid no attention to the word of the LORD left theirs out in the open'
We leave ourselves, our lives and our families out in the open, when we turn from the ways of God and seek the ways of the world, when we turn to its ways for solace and comfort.

 Struggles and hurts, with always be with us, but the way we face them, the way we choose to walk daily doesn’t need to change. We can go from strength to strength in our struggles…and grow in our depth of intimacy with God. ‘We can know peace in the storm and the drought’...and will prgress in spiritual maturity.
 God has so much for us….but we need to want it, and desire him and his ways above all things, to worship him alone, to surround our ear and eye gates with the things of God and not this world.   He had spared us again. If only we would stay in that closeness with him, that communion, that place of safety, holiness and fellowship.

Whats preventing you from giving your all for God and remaining consistent. Who is your Pharoah? Whats keeping you bound and imprisoned?

Psalm 119: 98-109

Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.

98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.

99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws.

100 I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.

101 I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word.

102 I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well.

103 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.

104 Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

106 I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.

107 I have suffered much, O LORD; restore my life again as you promised.

108 LORD, accept my offering of praise, and teach me your regulations.

109 My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions.

Peace to anyone who reads this.
 Linda - Follower of the WAY

Y

Where is the Love? (2 Masters)

Messages come through to us in a myriad of different ways. I was with some friends last night, and this song was played.I found it refreshing, because its truth. We live in a blinded world, driven by greed, consumerism and materialism. Its everywhere and sadly even within Christendom. If most problems in the world were boiled down to there essence, we would find 'greed'and 'fear' as the root causes.

The bible speaks very clearly about whats important in life and whats not.

Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

On my recent visit to America, I had an experience that has stayed with me. I attended an event, which was pretty much a wash out, torrential rain had been forecast, and it didn't let us down. Many people didn't come because of the weather..and I suppose thats understandable. On one of the nights, when the wind was howling, and the rain bucketing down, some believers had arranged a church service. They gathered in a small group to sing songs to God and give testimony of what he has done in their lives. Initially I wasn't going to attend that little service, because of the terrible weather, and the only shelter from it, consisted of a building with a roof, but no sides. Then the thought came to me 'If my saviour could be born in a smelly old manger for me, then the least I can do is worship him out in the storm, so I donned my coat and went out there.
Well the singing was so beautifull and soft...(drowned out in part from the raging weather), and the sharing was from the heart and genuine. I truly felt the spirit of the Lord there...and I believe the others who stood around that night did too. It felt sort of like a sacred moment, because I knew that no matter what happened in life, believers in the Lord, don't need any props, we don't need buildings, we don't need sound systems, we don't need power pionts..all we need is each other and the word of God. The Spirit is whats important....and if its sweet and honest, then love is there too...and where there is Love, lives are changed and miracles happen. Its not about the money, money, its about the spirit and about Love.

The pastor at the church I attend and his family are very humble people. They have 9 children, 4 of them still live at home. The house they live in is provided by the church and its the most plainest, humblest house you could imagine. It looks like it hasn't been redorated since the 1970's and there are definelty no mod cons and nothing fancy inside it. The dishwasher looks like it came out of the ark...and I think its only fired up for special occasions. They always have people over for meals and they're the happiest looking couple I've ever met. In my opinion they live 'Its not about the money, money'...really and truly...and I find that inspiring in this world today. Its obvious where their treasure lays and where there hearts is.
Be Blessed,
Linda - Follower of the Way

A Living Temple

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven."
Mathew 6: 9 & 10

Doing Gods will should be our first and greatest goal in life.

Here's a true story from the book 'Praying the names of God' - by Ann Spangler

Lalani is a Sri Lankan woman who knows what it is to depend on God to provide for her. In 1986 she married Lionel Jayahsinghe, a former Buddist monk, who had converted to Christianity after reading a tract. Shortly after their marriage the two began a small house church, despite the opposition of local monks, who went door to door warning people against them. It wasn't long before Lionel started recieing death threats. One Friday in March 1988 Lalani heard a gunshot. Lionel had been shot in the face. her husband stumbled into their bedroom, followed by an assailant who stabbed him repeatedly. As she turned away to shelter her 11 month old son, she heard another gun shot.
After Lionel's death Lalani became determined to continue the work they had begun in their home, despite threats against her own life. During the years that followed, the church grew despite continued opposition. At one point the roof was burned and later on, in 1999, the church property was bombed. Today their are 1200 believers, that attend the church that she and her husband founded.
Not long ago Lalani travelled to another city..
When asked how things were with her church, she replied "Wonderful, Praise the Lord". later she gave a more detailed report, telling how the local opposition had that week organised a protest march against her church and then burned the thatch roof.
Stunned by this news, someone in the meeting asked why she said everything was wonderful. "Obviously she said enthusiastically, "since the thatch is gone, God must intend for us to have a metal roof."

What a remarkable statement ! Instead of complaining about her hardships (and they must be many) Lalani praised God, because she fully expected her heavenly father to turn these difficulties into a blessing for the church.
We should all reflect on the faith of this amazing and couragious woman. !!

Reading this devotional today got me to thinking about the way we gather to worship the Lord, and more specifically where we gather. For the Lord isn't living in a building. Yes he meets with us there, and he dwells within us..but he is also everywhere. So we can be alone or in company and still praise his name, worshipping him in spirit and in truth no matter where we are. Praise him for that and for freedom from persecution.
Praise God that he does not dwell anywhere that man can destroy.

In the old testament Soloman says in 1 Kings 8:27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built."

2 Corinthians 4:6 - 12
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

1 Corinthians 3: 16-17
"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple."


Blessings to you all - Linda Follower of the Way

The Narrow Road

Mathew 7: 13-14 The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Mathew 6: 19-21 Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

Compassion (from Latin: "co-suffering") is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy (for the suffering of others) are regarded as a part of love itself.

'A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.'
~ Abraham Joshua Heschel

'A love for humanity came over me, and watered and fertilised the fields of my inner world which had been lying fallow, and this love of humanity vented itself in a vast compassion.'
~ Georg Brandes

'At the end of the day, love and compassion will win.'
~ Terry Waite

'For me, forgiveness and compassion are always linked: how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed?'
~ Bell Hooks


The greatest example ever of love, was embodied in the person of Jesus. 'Our beautiful compassionate Lord'.

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman Mark 5:21 - 43

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
36 Overhearing[d] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

A Story of Supernatural Rescue

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(God as our Refuge (Mach-seh)

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Psalm (:9: 9-10
9 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.


A few years ago, a young Liberian man experienced the truth of God's promise to be a refuge for the oppressed. His story takes place in the late 1990's, in the middle of Liberia's bloody civil war.
Joedafi was doing his best to stay alive while making the fourty five mile trek on foot to the capital city of Monravia, hoping for a chance to escape the fighting that raged around him. After he and his friends spotted several bodies rotting in the bushes, he began crying out to God with the words of Psalm 23 - "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."
Suddenly he and his companions were surrounded by soldiers. They had unwittingly wandered into Charles Taylor's rebel camp.
When one of Joedafi's friends tried to resist, the rebels didn't hesitate - they slit his throat with a machete.
Joedafi was thrown into a crudely constructed jail, around which were strewn human bones and skulls. Knowing he would die if he didn't escape, he kept on praying Psalm 23. Then after a few days, he was moved to a deep place within the forest. He reports what happened next:

'I began to feel that I would be set free by the Almighty God. I'm not sure how I came to have such a feeling, but it was ever there. The thought was quite wild, becaue I witnessed the soldiers disregard for life. They made us drink from human skulls, bury dead bodies and live on leaves.
Yet Psalm 23 was giving me the feeling that out of this valley of the shadow of death, God would deliver me. In the past I read my bible daily and went to church. Now I believed that God would do something and prove himself. I had believed in the Lord and trusted him to lead me in my life. I took faith in the teaching I had heard, that the Lord delivers those who trust him and commit their ways to him.
One evening, as I was dozing off to sleep, I heard a silent voice call my name, commanding me to rise up and walk away from my captors. It was so commanding, I obeyed instantly and walked past sleeping guards out into the main road. I walked on spellbound and passed by many rebel soldiers along the road, but none of them dared ask me any questions. I walked through many check-points and wasn't stopped once.'
Joedafi kept on walking, hour after hour, until he met someone willing to give him a ride to Monravia, where he then boarded a ship bound for Ghana.

What a remarkable story of a man who trusted God to be his refuge and was not dissapointed. Most of us will never face the kind of terror Joedafi describes, but we will pass through storms that test our faith. When that happens, remember that the same God who miraculously rescued this man, is your God too. Let him be the refuge you seek, your stronghold in times of trouble.
Today as you think about God's desire to be a refuge for his people, pray for believers throughout the world who are suffering the ravaging effects fo poverty, war, famine and natural disasters. Ask God to shelter and to save them.
by Ann Spangler

Psalm 23:4-6
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 91

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

I hope this story encourages you as much as it did me'
God Bless - Follower of the Way

Heavy Load

Have you heavy had to carry a heavy load, or felt like life was a chore ? I can remember being a tired, young mother, I didn't yet drive and I recall vividly what a mission it was just doing the groceries each week. The first worry was always that I would go over the budget and have to put something back (shame), plus trying to keep a toddler happy all the way round the store, so he wouldn't have a tantrum. Then there was the walk home, pushing the pram, praying the baby would stay asleep, grocery bags piled high on top of it, plus holding the hand of a tired toddler. I remember feeling like those wearisome days would go on forever !!! but they don't.

Sometimes we can become like this spiritually too. We weigh ourselves down with the woes of this world on TV and with health or financial problems. Then a friend phones and pours their heart out, and before you know it you feel weighed down physically, emotionally and mentally.

The bible tells us in Galatians 6:2 'Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ', so we are meant to be there for our friends, and to encourage them, even if we cannot always lift the burden completely, we may be able to ease it.

However sometimes, almost without realising it, we find ourselves carrying other people's burdens in our minds and hearts and feel unable to let it go.

The writer of Ecclesiastes advises:
'In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. (Ecclesiastes 8:16). So we see that struggles are just a part of life and will always be there in some shape or form.

The Psalmist tells us:
'Give your burdens to the Lord,and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall'. (Psalm 55:22)

We are never alone, the Lord is always with us, and wants to be included in our walk, he wants to help in carrying the load. Picture yourself placing your head on his chest and share all that worries you. Then release it from yourself, or otherwise you'll still be carrying it.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

The 'REST' Jesus talks about is an 'inner peace'. Its a knowing deep inside, that even in the midst of a storm (yours or soemone elses), God is in control, right through the whole thing and a peace that passes all understanding will come and take root deep in your heart. Try it !

God is a great God with wide shoulders, designed and desiring to lift our burdens. So take it to him !!

Blessings to anyone who reads this - Linda FOTW

'Merge like a Zip'

In New Zealad, to help with traffic flow, we have a system called 'Merge like a Zip', for when you want to enter a busy flow of traffic. The traffic isn't going to stop, so this system allows a little opening for cars to slip into the main flow. So as I was thinking about this concept of 'merging', this slipping into something that is already there and moving,
it got me to thinking in a spiritual way.

I saw a mighty flowing river, a bright clear, warm day and many trees lining the river. Dappled light from the leaves flickers on the water and where the light and water meet in splashes, the light dances. In places the river surges with great power and then in other areas, it gathers in small pools. The river never decreases, its width and might stay the same. Unlike a normal river however, this one has no beginning or end, it continues to flow on forever, because it represents Gods love.

Each morning as I wake, I see myself dive deep into this river. The river flows so fast and I'm simply carried along, becoming one with it. I see myself 'merging'...slipping into whats already there. As a kingdom bearer, I seek to bring heaven to earth, by bearing Christs likeness within me. By taking the light of his love that I know and being that to whomever I meet. To receive others in the same way I am received by God each day.

I don't know who might phone, or come by the house. I don't know what needs will arise..but I want to contribute somehow to the flow. Because whatever we do in love, has an impact in people's lives and in the spiritual realm. It does make a difference and it helps to bring the kingdom closer, even into one life, to unveil the lovely face of the Lord. As Mother Theresa would say "A drop in the ocean may not seem much, but the ocean would still be less without that drop".

Blessings to anyone who reads this - linda Follower of the WAY

'I AM'

One day a woman asked,"Who are you God?"
He answered, "I AM,"
but who is I AM," she said?
He replied..I AM Love, I AM Peace, I AM Grace, I AM Joy, I AM the Comforter, I AM strength, I AM safety, I AM Shelter, I AM Power, I AM the Creator, I AM the Beginning, and the End, I AM the Most High, I AM the Way, The Truth, and the Life
The lady with tears in her eyes, looked toward Heaven and said, "Now I understand, But Lord, who am I?"
The Lord tenderly wiped the tears from her eyes, and whispered,
"YOU are MINE!"

Favourite Scriptures

‎A continual blog..to be added to as I remember various scriptures that have helped, consoled, taught and inspired me over the years.


1 Chronicles 16:29

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Isaiah 35:8
And a highway will be there;it will be called the Way of Holiness;it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it;wicked fools will not go about on it.

Isaiah 40:31

'But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint'

Psalm 103:8

'The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and a
bounding in love'

Mathew 7: 7 & 8

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened"


Jeremiah 6:16

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

The whole Book of Ecclesiastes (its all great)

Ecclesiastes 3:
A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him

Ecclesiastes 12

1 Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”—
2 before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim;
4 when the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
but all their songs grow faint;
5 when people are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags itself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home
and mourners go about the streets.
6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the wheel broken at the well,
7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.[a]
“Everything is meaningless!”

The Conclusion of the Matter

9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.[b] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
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.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.

Going Deep with God in Song

He Knows My Name


Hear O Israel