Dowie (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “dowie.”  My parents’ generation loved some funny songs.  One that is going to stick in my head for the rest of my life is a song called Turn Turn Turn.  It's about the different phases in life and how we all live within those seasons.  That's actually a really good representation of what each of us will face.  But, what is even better is that the song is pretty much taken straight out of the Bible.

There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

A right time for birth and another for death,

A right time to plant and another to reap,

A right time to kill and another to heal,

A right time to destroy and another to construct,

A right time to cry and another to laugh,

A right time to lament and another to cheer,

A right time to make love and another to abstain,

A right time to embrace and another to part,

A right time to search and another to count your losses,

A right time to hold on and another to let go,

A right time to rip out and another to mend,

A right time to shut up and another to speak up,

A right time to love and another to hate,

A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

~Ecc 3:1-8

My question is: what season of life are you in right now?  My mentor talks to me often about understanding each season of life as being particular and important.  Never should we go through life and live haphazardly.  Instead, we need to take every opportunity to be in God's grace and will at all times.  My prayer is that you ask God to always be in the right place at the right time.  Of course this will not always happen, but the more we seek counsel from the Lord, the better chance we have of living in his will.  Do not live a dowie life of dullness, but be in the moment and run for God's plan.

Praying for you,

MO

Yaff (Psalm 34:17-22)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “yaff.”  One of my favorite characters in the Bible is David.  He is an Old Testament guy that went through a ton of stuff.  He lived a pretty simple life when he was a kid and had the important job of taking care of family property.  Then his life that a little bit more complicated when God called him to be king.  Between being a kid and ascending to the position of ruler of Israel, he had to run away from a bunch of people who wanted to kill him.  At one point in his life, while on the run, he had come to the breaking point.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

~Ps 34:17-18

My question is: you ever been in a situation in life where you just wanted to give up?  You know, one of those places where it was a little bit darker than most other times.  I know that in my times of trouble, sometimes the last thing that I want to do is to yaff, or cry out, to God.  My prayer is that each of you take a moment to remember God during your times of trouble.  He wants to come to your rescue, and would love to help you through times of tribulation.  Just as David did while on the run from those who wanted to do him great harm, so does God want to come to your rescue, no matter the situation.

Praying for you,

MO

Propitious (Psalm 5:1-12)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “propitious.”  King David wrote a bunch of good Psalms.  No matter what kind of mood he was then, he always knew how to write it down.  It was almost a little bit like a journal.  David was not afraid to ask for God to come and help him in his time of need, and bring heavenly favor to his life.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

~Ps. 5:11-12

My question is: what are the things that you ask for in your life from God?  I think it's easy for us to lay our laundry list of wants and needs at God's throne.  When have you really asked him to make significant change in your life?  My prayer is that you give God the opportunity to come to your aid. Call on him to bring his propitious favor into your daily activities. Change comes subtly, but God is always faithful to do it.

Praying for you,

MO