companionship

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1247Ecclesiastes 4

The theme that links together this chapter is companionship.  Life can be hard, and we need others to come alongside us and comfort us when it gets so.  Whether it’s a spouse, children, neighbors or God himself, we need companions to make life and accomplishments worthwhile.   There has to be a reason outside of me for what I do.  That is built into my DNA.  I do not have to be with others all the time, but I need others.  God’s idea was not a lone Adam, but a full planet to love.

LORD, give me the wisdom to cultivate godly companions, and so fulfill your destiny for me.

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career change

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1248Jeremiah 1:1-10

Jeremiah was just adjusting to his life as a priest when the LORD informed him that he was going to be a prophet.  He was reluctant to take on the new role.  Prophets had to be bold and decisive.  They could not melt into the background, and just do their duties.  Prophets made important people angry.  It was not a strategic career choice.  It would lead to hardship, rejection, and danger.  Yet, it was his destiny.  We should never be afraid of taking the less travelled path when it is the LORD leading us.  He knows where we need to go.

LORD, we surrender our plans and expectations to your sovereignty.

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learning to trust

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1246Ecclesiastes 3:9-22

All go to one place: Sheol, the state of death.  This is not altogether bad news.  It puts us into a place where we must depend on God for a resurrection.  We have to learn to trust that our LORD knows what he is doing.  We begin by being thankful for the work the LORD allows us to do.  Ultimately, we are learning to trust him, even when the work leaves us, and all we see is an open grave.  We have to trust God for life on the other side of the grave.

LORD, teach us to trust in you.

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he will save

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1245Zephaniah 3:9-20

The LORD intends to save his people, and he also intends to change the hearts, minds and tongues of the nations.  We can rejoice now, because he will rejoice then.  His heart is for the whole planet.

LORD, teach us how to cooperate with you in your plan to bring the world to yourself.

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under control?

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1241Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

We began the year looking at this text and thinking about how we do not know what is going to happen.  We have no control over the events, but do we have control over our reactions to them?  It’s not about being stoic or distant.  There is a time to laugh and dance.  It’s about staying under the Holy Spirit’s control, so that even when we weep and mourn, we still witness to the existence and power of a loving God.  The year’s half over now.  Have you stayed under control?

LORD, we choose to surrender control of our lives to your Holy Spirit, and practice his self-control.

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which assembly?

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1239Zephaniah 3:1-8

Nation after nation were destroyed by God’s judgment, yet the peoples continued to walk in corruption, never fearing his great wrath.  Therefore he made a decision.  He will gather all the nations and assemble all the kingdoms for one great day of judgment.  On that day he will pour out his anger, and they will all be consumed. 

Fortunately, the prophets also teach that God is gathering a people to himself from among the nations, and assembling them from among the kingdoms. Which assembly are you in?

LORD, we accept your grace, and the atoning death of Christ.  Gather us to your assembly for life, not death.

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given the business

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1238Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

The Preacher had discovered that he could waste his life accumulating things only to lose them all at the end.  His experiment in seeking pleasure by means of pouring himself into productive work – had reached its result.  The result was that there was a missing element in the equation – without which toil was meaningless.  That missing element is God.  The person who  pleases God gets enjoyment as well as wisdom and knowledge.  Those who try to get things without cultivating a relationship with God are only given the business of gathering and collecting.

LORD, above all things, we seek you.  You can make things bring joy.  Without you, they are only things.

Posted in discernment, money, relationship with God, Solomon, wisdom | Tagged | 1 Comment

how to starve a god

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1237Zephaniah 2:4-15

How do you starve a god?  You take away the people who worship him.   That is what the LORD promises to do to all the false gods which the inhabitants of the nations worship.  Instead, to the LORD they will bow down, each in its place, all the lands of the nations.  The judgment will result in desolate places, and those who are left will not cling to their idols.  They will seek the one true God.

LORD, make us wise enough not to wait until all the other contestants are eliminated.  May we seek you now.

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relay race

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1235Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

The preacher considered all his hard work and discovered a problem.  Even if he built a great empire by forcing himself to work hard, he had no guarantee that his work would survive the generation.  He could not trust that any of his plans would outlast his breath.  It lead him to despair.  The question of “what?” was temporarily replaced by the question of “why?”  Life, he discovered,  is a relay race, and he had no certainty that there will be a fit athlete to take over the torch when he reached the end of his portion.

LORD, we put our hope and our confidence in you, not our work.

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perhaps you may be hidden

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1236Zephaniah 1:1-2:3

Judgment is going to take place.  There is no doubt about that.  But God’s people are challenged to gather and seek him and his righteousness in humility.  Perhaps they will be spared on that great and terrible day of the LORD. 

LORD, we seek your kingdom and your righteousness.  Hide us from your terrible wrath.

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