Ecc 7-9; Eph 4

Scripture - Ecc 7:21 Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you.

Observation - Oh - the wisdom of Solomon. Do not take to heart everything people say because you will definitely hear something that irritates you. This is especially true with leadership. As a leader people have all kinds of opinions about how things are being done and why things are being done. To the point of criticism. I love what Aristotle says "the sure way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing and be nothing." As a leader makes progress and begins to move mountains physically and spiritually the critics will come out. What people say should not be what settles in your heart, that place is reserved for God's word and direction for your life. Only take to heart what God says - His word is true and infallible.

Application - To hear God's words of any other. Progress is wrought with accusers and objectors. The interesting thing is that it only happens as progress is being made - as Aristotle says "We can do nothing". I choose to do something. I choose to continue to move forward. I choose to make waves in the community and to continue to strive for excellence.

Prayer - Father shield my heart from the words of man and replace them with the words of God. Father your word and direction for my life are of ultimate importance to me and they are what I build my future upon. Amen.

Ecc 4-6; Ps 18: Eph 3

Scripture - Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

Observation - Solomon is looking at this life and with all the wisdom God has blessed him with is looking at the life of a person that works for what he has and one that has abundance through wealth. The laboring man's life allows him to sleep in comfort and peace - while the man with abundance is up all night trying to figure out how to keep what he has. I know that most every one's desire is to be wealthy, thinking that the other half lives so well and has no worries. The fact of the matter - wealth without Godly principles and peace cause sleepless nights. While the wealth is not the issue - the condition of the heart that has the wealth is.

Application - Whether I am in poverty or wealth - abundance or lack - I should live like Paul describes "whether in abundance or lack I have learned to be content". Being content with what and where you are allows peace to invade your life.

Prayer - Father help me in this time of economic chaos to see your provision as plenty and to have the peace of a laboring man.

Ecc 1-3; Ps 45; Eph 2

Scripture - Eccl 2:21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Observation - Solomon is discussing the frustration of having to leave something that he has worked so hard to achieve to someone who potentially will squander the responsibility. There is a grave difference between earning something and being given something. I can remember back to my first car and how proud I was of that car. It was mine and I earned every dollar that paid for it. It caused me to respect it and to take care of it and to make sure that it was in good condition (even though it didn't run all the time). It was mine because I earned it. Many times people are looking for something they haven't put any time in to gain. The get rich quick and the fast anointing of God. People want all the glory with none of the guts. Solomon calls this vanity and evil. While none of us can earn our place in the kingdom - we can work for our relationship with God. We can put the time in to develop our relationship skills and our understanding of His word and the nature of the God we serve - the issue becomes taking on responsibility to fast before you have put in the time - cause you to be weak and ineffective. Solomon says that for ever time there is a season - its waiting for that season that is tough.

Application - I know that there are many things in store for me. As a competitive person - I don't always wait and put in my time to develop the necessary skills and temperament to fulfill the call. I am anxious to see the result and sometimes look for the given thing. It is the working it out that causes the deep development in life. I believe that this scripture has application to both my personal life as well as my ministry. Personally I need to wait until I have worked to develop the spiritual tools necessary to achieve God like results. Ministerially placing someone before they have developed the spiritual tools can cause a stumbling in their walk. It is all about the work and the timing of God.

Prayer - Father help me not to be the one that just wants everything given. That I can work for the skills to accomplish your goals. God I need your help to assist those around me in developing the skills to achieve your goals. God help us to wait and to develop and to form the spiritual muscles necessary to carry the load of ministry.

Prov 30-31; Ps 33; Eph 1

Scripture - Ephesians 1:19-23 What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church. 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Observation - I love what Paul is establishing here in these verses. He tells us that the church is the physical manifestation of Christ to this world. That we are to be filled with Him by the power of the Holy Spirit and that the church should represent Christ to the world. The church is His body and He is head over all things in the church and to the church. He has been given supreme authority over all things named and all things to come. Through the church there is power to transform, power to be successful, power to have dominion over all the accusers. Christ is embodied in the church and a church that understands that Christ is represented there will gain His feet, His hands, and His heart to affect the world.

Application - Modeling after Christ...The church should be the physical representation of Christ to the world. Our church should represent the physical attributes of Christ and the spiritual attributes of Christ. From headship to servanthood. To lead a church that is Christ to the community is not only the goal but the mandate.

Prayer - Father help me today to not only bring you into the church but to model the church after your son. To use Christ as the example and the purpose for our very existence. Amen

Prov 25-25; Romans 15

Scripture - Romans 15:1-2 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

Observation - The Roman church was wrought with individuality and competition to be the best. The instructions given here by Paul tell the strong to bear the burdens of the weak and to go out of your way to please your neighbor. Today that same is true. In modern society there is a distinct push to be the best, to beat everyone else, to out pace and out do everyone. The individuality of our nation has divided and separated people. Paul as well as Christ instructs us to not only bear the burdens of our neighbor but to serve our neighbor, go out of the way to please them - do something for them - serve them when there is no reward for us. These kind of actions cause a harmonious culture where all needs are being met. We must take our focus off of our needs and place them on someone else.

Application - As a pastor - I not only need to live selfless service - I must find a way to teach selfless service. There are those that are weak all throughout our community and the only way to make a Godly impact is to find and bear their burdens. I must find those burden.

Prayer - Father help me to find those burdens that you are concerned with. The burdens that you would ask to be addressed. Father help me to look at life today in terms of others needs and desires and weaknesses and build them up.

Prov 22-24; Romans 14

Scripture - Prov 24:10 If you faint in the day of adversity,Your strength is small.

Observation - In the verses written 5 before this one - Solomon links strength to wisdom by saying that "a wise man is strong, yes a man of knowledge increases strength". It is evident that as we increase our Godly wisdom and our knowledge and understanding we have the strength to endure every adversity. The adversity that comes our way is planned to test our strength. Too many times we crumble under the adversity when in fact we should be looking at adversity as the gauge of our strength in the Lord and our knowledge and understanding of His ways. Adversity is our weight machine that allows us to continue to build our strong spiritual muscles. Fighting the adversity, becoming angry in the adversity only proves our lack of strength in the Lord. James says to count it joy when you fall into adversity and Peter says rejoice in the trial. They both testify that the trial serves as a test of our perfected faith in God. Remembering that "All Things Work Together For Good" allows us to look very differently and what we face each day.

Application - It has become abundantly clear that EVERYTHING that I have faced in my life - personally, professionally and ministerially has been for a purpose - I know that we are on the brink of breakthrough and with it comes new adversity and new challenges - today I will look at every challenge and every adversity as a test of my current level of strength.

Prayer - Father - give me the wisdom and knowledge to be strong in the adversity. Give me the tenacity to push through and the compassion to restore the lost to you.

Prov 19-21; Romams 13

Scripture - Rom 13:1-3 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.

Observation - Paul is giving instruction here to obey earthly government. While this scripture does not authorize a Christian to obey when asked to sin - the command is there to bring order in the kingdom. Paul is speaking to the church in Rome that has one of the strongest governmental powers of the time. The fiercest army and the strongest non-christian leadership. The church must have been trying to discern the purpose for non-christian rulership. Paul simply states that God has a purpose for Godly and ungodly government. Following them will allow God's purposes to be fulfilled. He says that rulers are a terror to evil. Throughout the old testament God used ungodly rulers for a season to chastise a sinful people and bring repentance.

Application - In a recent class we had a discussion on obedience. One of the taboo words of the 21st Century. The bible says to prefer obedience to sacrifice. We are a people called to obedience to both God and those that rule over us that are appointed by God. In the church it is our pastors and our leaders, in society it is our president and government. Our job is not to abandon either when we don't like what is happening - our job is to pray that God's purposes would be fulfilled through those men and women. That we are able to submit our lives to those that God has placed over us - that I am to submit my life to those over me in the Lord. God has placed some great people over me in both government and in the church and it is time to see the purpose of God fulfilled.

Prayer - God help me today to submit to the authorities you have placed over me. God you have appointed men and women in our church leadership as well as in our governmental bodies to lead and guide and cause a change. Father I pray that today and everyday I embrace your purpose for my life and follow with honor.