“If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success” (Ecclesiastes 10:10 HCSB).

September 5, 2021

ARE YOU LABORING WITH A DULL EDGE? Take time to sharpen your saw. One of Solomon’s habits long before Covey’s seven. My maternal grandfather knew this habit. Before the invention of weed-eaters, he used a large sickle to clear the creek bank. He always kept a sharpening stone in his pocket and would pause from

“Also do not take to heart everything people say” (Ecclesiates 7:21 NKJV).

September 4, 2021

WHAT SOLOMON WOULD SAY ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA Solomon warned against being overly sensitive to what others say about you. Guard your heart. For from time to time, even those closest to you may say something disparaging of you. You might even overhear one who works for you, cursing you. Not to your face of course,

“In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears inside. But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us by the arrival of Titus” (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 HCSB).

September 3, 2021

THE ONE WHO BRINGS GOD’S COMFORT Paul told the Corinthians that the comfort that Titus brought from his visit with them filled him with great joy. In the midst of both external and internal conflict in Macedonia, news of the Corinthians’ repentance and love for him, was just the medicine Paul needed.   Paul attributed

“He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 HCSB).

September 2, 2021

WE LONG FOR THE ETERNAL King Solomon was the writer of Ecclesiastes. He observed the beauty of how God had assigned everything a season and how these things seemed to repeat over time. Yet, he also observed that God had put an eternal longing in man’s heart, so that he wanted to know and experience

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB).

September 1, 2021

A NEW CREATION Becoming a Christian is not about self-improvement. It is an invitation to come and die, that we might be born again. It is not incremental nor partial, but drastic and total. By believing and receiving Christ, we are found in Him. Our old nature we count crucified with Christ. Our new nature

“We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and present us with you” (2 Corinthians 4:14 HCSB).

August 31, 2021

WE CAN KNOW “We know.” This faith we have is based on the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus. We look at this fact, believing it, and this faith becomes like confident knowledge. Believing that God raised Jesus in the past, we also believe that He will raise us with Jesus in the future.

“Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7 HCSB).

August 30, 2021

IT’S NOT ABOUT US Our message is not about us, but about our Lord. For we are like clay jars containing a great treasure. Our weakness only serves to emphasize the greatness of Christ within us. When we want people to see us, to applaud our efforts, we forget that our purpose is to cause

“Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 43:5 HCSB).

August 29, 2021

ASKING QUESTIONS OF YOUR SELF There are at least two ways of reading this Scripture. The first is to view the psalmist as truly questioning the source of his feelings of discouragement and sadness. He knows that he is depressed, but he is not sure why. So, he is lifting up his heart to the

“My lyre is used for mourning and my flute for the sound of weeping” (Job 30:31 HCSB).

August 28, 2021

THE GRAYNESS OF GRIEF ABSENT THE LORD The grief that covered Job like a cloud affected even his ear for music. The lyre, a stringed instrument, was often employed by David to lighten the mood of King Saul. It was an instrument used in worship and in times of celebration. Yet, to Job’s ear, the

“I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food” (Job 23:12 HCSB).

August 27, 2021

DO YOU TREASURE GOD’S WORD? Job lived during the time of the patriarchs before the written Word was given to Moses. Yet he knew the commands and words of the Lord that had been given personally to him or passed on to him from his forefathers. He lived by them and “treasured” them more than