March 11

Remember the Creator

Bible in a Year :

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.

I recently read a novel about a woman who refuses to acknowledge she has terminal cancer. When Nicola’s exasperated friends force her to face the truth, the reason for her avoidance emerges. “I’ve wasted my life,” she tells them. Though born with talents and wealth, “I made nothing of my life. I was sloppy. I never stuck at anything.” The prospect of leaving the world now, feeling she’d achieved little, was too painful for Nicola to contemplate.

I was reading Ecclesiastes around the same time and found the contrast stark. Its Teacher won’t let us avoid the reality of the grave, “the realm of the dead, where you are going” (9:10). And while this is hard to face (v. 2), it can lead us to value every moment we have now (v. 4), intentionally enjoying our food and families (vv. 7–9), working purposefully (v. 10), taking adventures and risks (11:1, 6), and doing it all before the God we’ll one day answer to (v. 9; 12:13–14).

Nicola’s friends point out that her faithfulness and generosity to them proves her life hasn’t been a waste. But maybe the Teacher’s advice can save us all from such a crisis at the end of our lives: remember our Creator (12:1), follow His ways, and embrace every opportunity to live and love that today He provides. Reflect & Pray

How will you take delight in today’s simple, God-honoring joys? What one good thing have you yet to do or attempt?

Loving God, thank You for today and the gifts it holds. I’ll enjoy its simple joys and embrace its opportunities as an act of worship to You.

Learn more about the book of Ecclesiastes.

“How will you take delight in today’s simple, God-honoring joys? What one good thing have you yet to do or attempt?”

I think I will take my dog into the forest. The reading talked about adventures and risks. I’ve been hesitant to go in the forest because I’ve heard coyotes back there, neighbors have told me they’ve seen a bear on their cameras, and I’m just lazy in general. But I do have a bear whistle, some bear spray, and I put a bell on my dog’s collar. I’m more worried about going in there for cooper, I’m pretty sure I’ll be left alone but he thinks he is a doberman and can take on anything. But he loves loves loves hiking, and he’s so good at it, he can find all the trails. And being there without a sign of another person and just getting to look at God’s creations always calms my soul.

So that’s the adventure and risk we will take today. Fairly minor but very enjoyable. And I will thank Him for what He has created here. And for the gift of my sight to see it with after an eye surgery almost 10 years ago. My vision is starting to drift again but I’ll appreciate what I have all the more now.

A good thing I have yet to do - I needed this little push. I want to volunteer at a local shelter. I’ve been reluctant because I get so attached to the animals and I want them to go to very good rescues that can find great homes. And that may not happen. Doesn’t matter, that part is out of my control and all I can do is pray for the fur babies. I’ll go next week and set up a volunteer schedule

TY for your thought-provoking posts!