"Seasons" by Sean Carr - Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season,
a right time for every intention under heaven —
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 throw stones and a time to gather stones,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to discard,
7 a time to tear and a time to sew,
a time to keep 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 does the worker gain from his efforts? 10 I have seen the task God has given humanity to keep us occupied. 11 He has made everything suited to its time; also, he has given human beings an awareness of eternity; but in such a way that they can’t fully comprehend, from beginning to end, the things God does. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them to do than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live. 13 Still, the fact that everyone can eat and drink and enjoy the good that results from all his work, is a gift of God. 14 I know that
whatever God does will last forever;
there is nothing to add or subtract from it;
and God has done it so that people will fear him. (Complete Jewish Bible)
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I am certain I am not alone in singing the words of Ecclesiastes 3 to the tune of the popular 60s song. The tune stays with you and powerfully conveys a message of hope. Life is not just the bad times, but a mixture of seasons of good and not so good. There is a time for everything: birth and death, planting and harvest, love and hate, peace and war.
The message of Ecclesiastes is about not just making it through the moment. The writer says “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart” (v. 11). While we may not intend or even understand the impulse within us, God has made us to strive for eternal results in our efforts. The work we do here and now can be eternal, but only if what we do is first recognized as a gift from God and offered back to Him.
Through the resurrection we not only have eternity placed within our hearts, but our very beings have been made for everlasting life.
Hymn for Today: "Living for Jesus" by Charles F. Weigle.
1. Living for Jesus, oh, what peace!
Rivers of pleasure never cease.
Trials may come, yet I'll not fear.
Living for Jesus, He is near.
Refrain: Help me to serve thee more and more.
Help me to praise Thee o'er and o'er;
Live in Thy presence day by day,
Never to turn from Thee away.
2. Living for Jesus, oh, what rest!
Pleasing my Saviour, I am blest.
Only to live for Him alone.
Doing His will till life is done!Refrain: Help me to serve thee more and more.
Help me to praise Thee o'er and o'er;
Live in Thy presence day by day,
Never to turn from Thee away.
3. Living for Jesus, ev'rywhere,
All of my burdens He doth bear.
Friends may forsake me; He'll be true.
Trusting in Him, He'll guide me through.Refrain: Help me to serve thee more and more.
Help me to praise Thee o'er and o'er;
Live in Thy presence day by day,
Never to turn from Thee away.
4. Living for Jesus, till at last
Into His glory I have passed;
There to behold Him on His throne,
Hear from His lips, "My child, well done!"
a right time for every intention under heaven —
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 throw stones and a time to gather stones,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to discard,
7 a time to tear and a time to sew,
a time to keep 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 does the worker gain from his efforts? 10 I have seen the task God has given humanity to keep us occupied. 11 He has made everything suited to its time; also, he has given human beings an awareness of eternity; but in such a way that they can’t fully comprehend, from beginning to end, the things God does. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them to do than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live. 13 Still, the fact that everyone can eat and drink and enjoy the good that results from all his work, is a gift of God. 14 I know that
whatever God does will last forever;
there is nothing to add or subtract from it;
and God has done it so that people will fear him. (Complete Jewish Bible)
***
I am certain I am not alone in singing the words of Ecclesiastes 3 to the tune of the popular 60s song. The tune stays with you and powerfully conveys a message of hope. Life is not just the bad times, but a mixture of seasons of good and not so good. There is a time for everything: birth and death, planting and harvest, love and hate, peace and war.
The message of Ecclesiastes is about not just making it through the moment. The writer says “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart” (v. 11). While we may not intend or even understand the impulse within us, God has made us to strive for eternal results in our efforts. The work we do here and now can be eternal, but only if what we do is first recognized as a gift from God and offered back to Him.
Through the resurrection we not only have eternity placed within our hearts, but our very beings have been made for everlasting life.
Hymn for Today: "Living for Jesus" by Charles F. Weigle.
1. Living for Jesus, oh, what peace!
Rivers of pleasure never cease.
Trials may come, yet I'll not fear.
Living for Jesus, He is near.
Refrain: Help me to serve thee more and more.
Help me to praise Thee o'er and o'er;
Live in Thy presence day by day,
Never to turn from Thee away.
2. Living for Jesus, oh, what rest!
Pleasing my Saviour, I am blest.
Only to live for Him alone.
Doing His will till life is done!Refrain: Help me to serve thee more and more.
Help me to praise Thee o'er and o'er;
Live in Thy presence day by day,
Never to turn from Thee away.
3. Living for Jesus, ev'rywhere,
All of my burdens He doth bear.
Friends may forsake me; He'll be true.
Trusting in Him, He'll guide me through.Refrain: Help me to serve thee more and more.
Help me to praise Thee o'er and o'er;
Live in Thy presence day by day,
Never to turn from Thee away.
4. Living for Jesus, till at last
Into His glory I have passed;
There to behold Him on His throne,
Hear from His lips, "My child, well done!"
Refrain: Help me to serve thee more and more.
Help me to praise Thee o'er and o'er;
Live in Thy presence day by day,
Never to turn from Thee away.
Thought for Today: For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:5)(Complete Jewish Bible).
Help me to praise Thee o'er and o'er;
Live in Thy presence day by day,
Never to turn from Thee away.
Thought for Today: For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:5)(Complete Jewish Bible).
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in the Philippines.
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This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
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