Because of Christ and our faith in him,
we can now come boldly and confidently
into God’s presence.
So please don’t lose heart…
I pray that from his glorious,
unlimited resources
he will empower you with inner strength
through his Spirit.
…Here now is my final conclusion:
Fear God and obey his commands,
for this is everyone’s duty.
God will judge us for everything we do,
including every secret thing,
whether good or bad.
Life is sweet;
how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
…But remember that you must give an account to God
for everything you do.
So refuse to worry…
Honor him…
Remember him…
Remember him…
Remember him…
Remember him…
Remember him…
Remember him…
Yes, remember your Creator now…
Don’t wait…
…the dust will return to the earth,
and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 11:7, 9-10, 12:1-7
Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
If they watch every cloud,
they never harvest.
Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind
or the mystery of a tiny baby
growing in its mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the activity of God,
who does all things.
Plant your seed in the morning
and keep busy all afternoon,
for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity—
or maybe both.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else,
and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need.
So don’t worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
Today’s trouble is enough for today.
…search again for the LORD your God.
And if you search for him
with all your heart and soul,
you will find him.
Deuteronomy 4:29
Some went off to sea in ships,
plying the trade routes of the world.
They, too, observed the LORD’s power in action,
his impressive works on the deepest seas.
He spoke,
and the winds rose,
stirring up the waves.
Their ships were tossed to the heavens
and plunged again to the depths;
the sailors cringed in terror.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards
and were at their wits’ end.
“LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.
What a blessing was that stillness
as he brought them safely into harbor!
(Ancient Kechrees Port on the Saronic Gulf of Corinth, Greece)
Let all that I am praise the LORD.
O LORD my God,
how great you are!
You are robed with honor and majesty.
You are dressed in a robe of light.
You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
you lay out the rafters of your home
in the rain clouds.
You make the clouds your chariot;
you ride upon the wings of the wind.
You placed the world on its foundation
so it would never be moved.
Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth
and made the heavens with your hands.
They will perish,
but you remain forever;
they will wear out like old clothing.
You will change them like a garment
and discard them.
But you are always the same;
you will live forever.
…spreading this Good News…
…about the endless treasures available to them
in Christ.
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church
to display his wisdom in its rich variety
to all the unseen rulers and authorities
in the heavenly places.
The LORD has made the heavens his throne;
from there he rules over everything.
Praise the LORD,
you angels,
you mighty ones who carry out his plans,
listening for each of his commands.
Ephesians 3:7-8, 10;Psalm 103:19-20
