From Pastor Ben
Prayer Needs:
Good morning! Thank you for your prayers for Jack Jackson. He came through his surgery seemingly as well as was expected. Please continue to uphold him and Tina as they traverse through this challenging time. He is in the ICU for several more days, so please continue pray for his health.
Trivia:
On the lighter side: What is a Lay’s potato chip known as in the U.K.? Crisp-‘os, Walker’s, Blay’s, or Scotty’s? If you guessed Walker's you were right! Frito-Lay is a big international corporation, and you can find their potato chips in all sorts of places. But if you're looking for them in the U.K., there the classic brand name "Walker's" is still found in grocery stores. Lay's bought Walker's years ago, but the company realized that loyal Walker's fans would not appreciate the Lay's brand — so they simply used the Walker's name on the Lay's chips. They are still recognized there with the same label even though they are produced by Lay's!
Challenge:
Ecclesiastes 6:12
"In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone? "
This morning Solomon is attempting remind us that though unbelieving mankind all around us fail to realize that there is eternity before them, we have, none the less, a responsibility to make sure that our days are dedicated to recognizing His leadership in our life. We also are to focus our days on those things which have the greatest meaning.
Our Father knows just what needs are greatest in our lives. It is crazy to think of the many dare devil feats that we entered into in our early life, and now in our later years we are focused on the careful care of our what we realize is the frailty of our health.
The writer recognizes this fact when he speaks of it in this way, "Our lives are like a shadow". He is reminding us of the vapor like characteristics of our lives. When we appear to be so strong and robust, yet each day and each moment is a gift from our Father, which can disappear like a vapor in the morning dawn. Several passages speak of this in Psalm 102:11 and James 4:14. Both of these and many are spoken to us to remind us of how our outlook on life should not be remiss of the future and how we can't be aware of how best to guide others in their lives, unless we depend on our Saviors leadership in our lives.
So many of those who surround me are so focused on their bucket list, that they fail to seek to exercise their influence on those in their lives who are yet facing many coming years. In order to set our focus clearly on how we should live out our days, it is beneficial to take a quick view of Eccl. 12:13,14. Here we are left the reminder to guide those younger or more foolish folks around us, to keep their eyes on the many ways available to bring honor & reverence to God. This is especially needed right now when evil is impacting our world with renewed vigor.
I remember as a young person when my grandfather had come to live in our home. We had a number of conversations about the past Markley family and their struggles of leaving their homeland, the farm, cattle, and other livestock that they were forced to leave behind. They spoke to their neighbors and gave them permission to take over their properties as they escaped the German overthrow that Hitler was masterminding. He talked about his loss of his grandma in this life and the feelings that he felt.
Then, in the same moment of the sorrow he was experiencing, he spoke of his confidence in God and the evidence that he had known God's faithfulness in his past. He reminded me to start spending my life serving our Lord in my youth, for in time, everything else will fade in importance. As he was walking away from his life's efforts, he knew God was worthy of listening to in that very moment for wisdom and grace. In the same way, Solomon speaks these same words.
SO GO WITH GOD for He knows what is yet to come in this world, whether it is to be a bright future, or should tomorrow be a difficult day. In His presence, all is well. Yesterday, early in the morning, Becky brought me outside to gaze at the wonder of our God's creation ofthe stars. We stood for a few moments reflecting on the beauty of the firmament that God has placed around us. My thought as I getting ready for the day was "God, what a wonder you are." He is able.