So I hated life, because all the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 2:17-23)
The first two sentences of this paragraph hit me so I decided to put them in the blog. I put the whole paragraph not so much more for me but for you reading.
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grevious to me. The work done under the sun is still grievous to me. I don't hate but I don't understand, well sometimes I hate. I feel there is no direction I can take that I will be happy with, that will satisfy me. I've had these feelings for a while now and they tear away at me. They keep me sitting idle doing nothing but focusing on my toilsome labor and the worthlessness of it all.
I had a dream last night. This dream showed me three paths. One was a path I had been on before and I was looking to go down it again. It was a scary, long, gruelling path that lead to nowhere. I did not want to go on this path however this is the path I was drawn to in my dream. Another path directly behind me was a very steep difficult path. This path was shorter and on the other side there was nothing but sinking mud. I could find quick self-worth on this path by running to the top and showing everyone I could do it. I knew I could make it to the top but that would be the end of it. I could run and repeat this however I would never be able to go any further, only up, down, up and so forth. The praise and recognition I would receive would feel nice but would only deteriate, and was not what I was seeking. The third path was not really a path. It was more like a place. I never walked to this place but just seemed to be there. I was happy, full of joy, holding on and living in innocence. There was a game, practice maybe, of volleyball going on. It seemed juvenile and misguided however the people were doing the best they could. I felt challanged to join but I didn't. I was with most of my family, across the court my Grandpa watched the game being played, cheering with the crowd. I sat content with my niece speaking to me and us laughing together. I didn't want this to ever end.
I believe this last place represents the church, the body. The game being played is life. Here is where I will find myself and my calling. I am an intricate piece of the puzzle in the body. I do not know where that is but I know the body is where I belong.
Gods Love
Hosea 11:1-4: When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck an bent down to feed them.
Commentary from "Today in the Word" regarding Hosea 11:1-4:
"Israel failed to know and understand God, both before and after Hosea's message and the ensuing Exile. Today's reading portrays Israel's sinfulness as even more disappointing when contrasted with God's tender love. Hosea has given us multiple perspectives of God's love and our relationship to Him, including the image of God as husband, master, and provider.
In Hosea 11, God is depicted as a loving father in an endearing image of teaching His child to walk. God not only gave life to Israel but he also reared them gently and personally. God didn't force His children to survive and grow on their own; He came alongside them and helped them in love.
Hosea reiterated the image of Israel as a beast of burden, this time describing God as a compassionate master who eased the burden and kindly fed them. Despite all the myriad of ways God showed love to His people, they did not recognize Him as the One who loved them. Israel fled from His calls and showed their love to other gods, a reaction to which many parents can sadly relate. The verse describing God's call to His rebellious children was also prophetic of Jesus' return from Egypt after fleeing with Joseph and Mary from Herod's wrath (cf.Matt. 2:15). Israel lefty Egypt only to fall into idolatry immediately, but Jesus returned to save His people from their sin. Both times, Israel failed to recognize the merciful love of the Father."
More....
Commentary from "Today in the Word" regarding Hosea 11:1-4:
"Israel failed to know and understand God, both before and after Hosea's message and the ensuing Exile. Today's reading portrays Israel's sinfulness as even more disappointing when contrasted with God's tender love. Hosea has given us multiple perspectives of God's love and our relationship to Him, including the image of God as husband, master, and provider.
In Hosea 11, God is depicted as a loving father in an endearing image of teaching His child to walk. God not only gave life to Israel but he also reared them gently and personally. God didn't force His children to survive and grow on their own; He came alongside them and helped them in love.
Hosea reiterated the image of Israel as a beast of burden, this time describing God as a compassionate master who eased the burden and kindly fed them. Despite all the myriad of ways God showed love to His people, they did not recognize Him as the One who loved them. Israel fled from His calls and showed their love to other gods, a reaction to which many parents can sadly relate. The verse describing God's call to His rebellious children was also prophetic of Jesus' return from Egypt after fleeing with Joseph and Mary from Herod's wrath (cf.Matt. 2:15). Israel lefty Egypt only to fall into idolatry immediately, but Jesus returned to save His people from their sin. Both times, Israel failed to recognize the merciful love of the Father."
More....
Unplowed Ground
Hosea 10:12: Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, & break up your unnplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes & showers righteousness on you.
Where is your unplowed ground?
The True God
In my reading today I was focused on Hosea 10:1-10. After reading the scripture I read the "Daily Bread" commentary and this stuck out...
"It had been a long time since a good and wise king ruled over Israel, and that appears to have fostered their dependence on foreign gods..."
This struck me and made me reflect on my walk.
The devotional goes on to say about Hosea 10:1-10:
"It had been a long time since a good and wise king ruled over Israel, and that appears to have fostered their dependence on foreign gods rather than pursuing political reform. They mourned the loss of their idols. They ignored the loss of courage like David's or wisdom like Solomon's. Israel didn't place their hope in God or even in kings...they put their faith in manmade objects of worship. As a result of their foolishness, their government was rendered irrelevant (v.7) and their gods were proven disgraceful (v.6)."
So much can be drawn from this single paragraph, from my walk to how I see our country going and what we tend to worship.
"It had been a long time since a good and wise king ruled over Israel, and that appears to have fostered their dependence on foreign gods..."
This struck me and made me reflect on my walk.
The devotional goes on to say about Hosea 10:1-10:
"It had been a long time since a good and wise king ruled over Israel, and that appears to have fostered their dependence on foreign gods rather than pursuing political reform. They mourned the loss of their idols. They ignored the loss of courage like David's or wisdom like Solomon's. Israel didn't place their hope in God or even in kings...they put their faith in manmade objects of worship. As a result of their foolishness, their government was rendered irrelevant (v.7) and their gods were proven disgraceful (v.6)."
So much can be drawn from this single paragraph, from my walk to how I see our country going and what we tend to worship.
Judge Not
I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The murderers, the trash
There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thoughtWas rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well
I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.
'And why's everyone so quiet,
So somber?
Give me a clue.
''Hush, child,' said He, 'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'
Judge NOT.
Mundane
“Long before I landed in Portland but shortly after my conversion to Christian spirituality, I experienced periods of affinity with God.
I would lie on my bedroom floor, reading my Bible, going at the words for hours, all of them like arms wrapped tightly around my chest.
It seemed as though the words were alive with minds and motions of their own, as though God were crawling thoughts inside my head for guidance, comfort, and strength. For a while, I felt as though the world was a watch and God had lifted the lid so I could see the gears.
The intricate rules of the sociospiritual landscape were something like a play to me, and I was delighted at every turn in the plot.
The truths of the Bible were magic, like messages from heaven, like codes, enchanting codes that offered power over life, a sort of power that turned sorrow to joy, hardship to challenge, and trial to opportunity. Nothing in my life was mundane.
Early on, I made the mistake of wanting spiritual feelings to endure and remain romantic.
Like a new couple expecting to always feel in love, I operated my faith thinking God and I were going to walk around smelling flowers.
When this didn’t happen I became confused.”
Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller (59-60)
I would lie on my bedroom floor, reading my Bible, going at the words for hours, all of them like arms wrapped tightly around my chest.
It seemed as though the words were alive with minds and motions of their own, as though God were crawling thoughts inside my head for guidance, comfort, and strength. For a while, I felt as though the world was a watch and God had lifted the lid so I could see the gears.
The intricate rules of the sociospiritual landscape were something like a play to me, and I was delighted at every turn in the plot.
The truths of the Bible were magic, like messages from heaven, like codes, enchanting codes that offered power over life, a sort of power that turned sorrow to joy, hardship to challenge, and trial to opportunity. Nothing in my life was mundane.
Early on, I made the mistake of wanting spiritual feelings to endure and remain romantic.
Like a new couple expecting to always feel in love, I operated my faith thinking God and I were going to walk around smelling flowers.
When this didn’t happen I became confused.”
Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller (59-60)
Crucible for Silver and the Furnace for Gold
Proverbs 17:3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
The Quest study bible adds commentary on this stating, "...suffering allows the moral impurities in our character to surface. The heat of the hard times is designed to improve us, drawing us closer to the heart of the God."
The Quest study bible adds commentary on this stating, "...suffering allows the moral impurities in our character to surface. The heat of the hard times is designed to improve us, drawing us closer to the heart of the God."
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