Connect Time: May 13-17
5/13/2024
Connect:
Ecclesiastes 8:5 CSB
“The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure.”
Discover:
“The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful,”
Why do I ever lead myself down the wrong path? God is clear, if you do what he says, life is good. Now that doesn’t mean that I wont have trouble, but nothing can harm me. There is a huge difference between self-inflicted harm and worldly trouble that comes from living as a person on Earth.
“and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure.”
Life is filled with decision making. In fact, it’s a subject that I have written about many times. Wisdom cures the anxiety of decision making. Solomon as a king had to deal with decision making all of the time. Leadership is problem solving all of the time. That can lead me to some seriously stressful seasons in my life. If i don’t find the right wisdom at the right time it can send me down a tailspin of mental health.
Respond:
Where can I find wisdom?
God’s word.
God’s people.
Trust the ultimate source and people who know that source well.
5/14/2024
Connect:
Ecclesiastes 9:9 CSB
Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life, which has been given to you under the sun, all your fleeting days. For that is your portion in life and in your struggle under the sun.
Discover:
In the season of life that we are in, it can be easy to stop and have fun. With kids it almost feels like there is a never ending “what do I need to do next” problem. That’s especially true with a 3 and a 1 year old. The house is always messy, there is always food to prepare, there is bath and bedtime. Time runs by so quick. Next thing I know it’s 10 pm and I want to go to bed. Add in jobs, meetings, and more my schedule feels spoken for before it even has time to adjust itself. Time is fleeting, life is fleeting.
BUT I am supposed to enjoy life with my wife. The only way that is going to happen is if I make it happen.
Respond:
Where are my priorities in time? What do I need to change? How can I improve this?
I remember Brad Cooper saying - my first person I love when I get home is my wife, then I move to my kids. Maybe that is something worth considering.
5/15/2024
Connect:
Ecclesiastes 10:20 CSB
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry the message, and a winged creature may report the matter.
Discover:
I often audit what I say in public. I don’t talk bad about people, don’t gossip, and do my best to not judge others while in conversation with individuals. I believe it is our responsibility to uplift people inside of our conversations. Part of that is for the good of them, the other part is for the good of me because people will get a very real feel about you whether you are talking about someone to them or not.
This scripture takes it one more convicting step further.
Those thoughts that I have about someone? Those conversations that I have with “trusted” people? That thing I said about someone to my wife? Yeah that’s wrong too and there may be consequences to that.
Matthew Henry - “The happiness of a land depends on the character of its rulers.”
Respond:
Am I being mindful about what I say in private? How can I uplift others in all situations?
5/16/2024
Connect:
Ecclesiastes 11:4 CSB
One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.
Discover:
You get out of life what you put in. Don’t let your dreams be dreams *Insert Shia Labeouf voice* There is certainly a responsibility that I have to accomplish what God has given me the chance to do. Yeah, he puts all things together, yeah he calls me to us, but I still have to take action and do it. Sitting and watching means nothing, while going and doing means everything… Because then even if it doesn’t work, I will still learn something about the journey, myself, and about God.
Respond:
What is God calling me to do? Where in life am I sitting on the sidelines?