Devotion
All is Vanity
Frances Taylor
Today we have one of my favorite books in the Old Testament – Ecclesiastes! It is second only to Psalms. What are riches? What is so important about having things? Now, I'm not talking about necessities, or even the luxuries that most of us enjoy, but having things, just to have them. Greed is a very dangerous vice that we often don't even recognize in ourselves. Just watch what happens when someone dies and the relatives fight over what they leave, or complain that one person got more than another! This happens in the best of families but it doesn't usually make the papers or the media in the way it does when the person is rich or famous. In Ecclesiastes, this is pointed out rather starkly – no matter what you accumulate on earth, someone else is going to enjoy or waste it in the end. Jesus tells the parable of the rich man who hoards his goods only to die that night. I don't believe that Jesus is telling us not to prepare for the future, but not to the extent that we think only of ourselves. How many times when a hurricane or blizzard is predicted have we seen people rushing out to the grocery store to buy enough water and milk or food to last a month or more without a thought of others who might want enough to last a couple of days! In times of extreme emergencies, we often see the generosity of others, but why does it take a catastrophe to open our eyes to another's needs? Jesus asks us to be aware of the needs of others all the time, to share what we have, to refrain from envy and jealousy. Our society doesn't make it easy to do this, as we are constantly bombarded with ads that encourage us to buy more, think only of ourselves and to live for the pleasure of the moment. What is it that we possess that we would find it hard to do without? This reading makes me think, what about you?
Prayer
Lord, help us to see what is important in life. Greed does not lead to happiness. Looking out for oneself and overlooking the pain of others only leads to fear and unhappiness. We are told in the Old and New Testament alike that the way to happiness is love of God and love of neighbor. Let us choose the right path. Amen.
Night Prayer
Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
Inspiration
We humble ourselves before the Lord when we come to Him with earthly burdens. We understand we do not have the power to control or fix our problems alone, so we lay our egos down and align our lives with the will of God. We are proud to be His servants and accept His help throughout our struggles. His love is unconditional, and His wisdom parallels none other.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we humble ourselves before You, seeking Your wisdom and guidance all the days of our lives. Thank You for Your presence and unfailing love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
You are a Temple of The Holy Spirit
Frances Taylor
This is a hard saying in today's world. Sexual immorality is so rampant and public that few people believe it to be immoral! People no longer think of sexual behavior outside of marriage as wrong and, in fact, have no problem with going from one person to another quite publicly, broadcasting their behavior on social media and if you're famous enough, on twitter, on TV, in magazines, etc. What happened to "Thou shalt not commit adultery?" I guess I'm old fashioned. I'm not about to condemn anyone who truly loves another and is faithful to them regardless of marriage, but I don't understand and cannot condone random sexual encounters that are not based on love but lust, have no desire for permanency but are literally just to satisfy a sexual itch.
Sorry if I offend anyone, but if we believe that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit to be kept holy, how can we treat them as what – toys, prizes? I'm aware that women have often ...
Morning Prayer
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
Inspiration
Think of a grudge that you held on for a long time. Did you feel better from holding this grudge? Now think about this deeper: what if God held a grudge against us? Wow, how blessed we are that he forgives our sins! He leads by example, forgiving those of us that do exactly what he asks us not to do. We all should all be more forgiving, like God is to us.
Prayer
You sent your only son to the world to die so that we may be forgiven, merciful God. Forgive me, once again, for being too selfish and proud to not forgive those that trespass against me. I wish that I can sin less and ask for forgiveness and guidance when I need it. I thank you for sending your son to us, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
