This reading (in Ecclesiastices) is a good reminder about looking for the meaning of life in all the wrong places--and even Solomon, who was given great wisdom by God--tells us he's done this. Food for thought.

It's hard for anyone to claim that he or she is leading a truly good life; I think, though, that many of us keep trying to live lives that are dedicated to loving God, loving our neighbor and walking in the ways of the Lord. In that quest, we know that we often mess up--sometimes we make mistakes, sometimes we deliberately do things we know are sinful, sometimes we're just as proud and "stiff-necked" as the Isrealites. That's why I am encouraged by the story of Hezekiah. He lived much of his life in ways pleasing to the Lord; however, he was prideful and angered God too. Fortunately, Hezekiah was wise enough to recognize his sin and humble himself before the Lord--AND HE WAS FORGIVEN.

I have always been impressed that when God told Solomon he could ask anything he wanted of Him, Solomon asked for wisdom--the ability to discern wisely. It seems that Solomon truly listened to his father David who told him to always "walk in the ways of the Lord your God," and he knew he would need wisdom in order to do so.

In his request and the words of his father, David, before his death, Solomon teaches us the importance of being humble, of acknowledging that we don't know everything and that we need to rely on God for wisdom to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to him, and the

When I read about Saul, who God turned away from as king, all I could think about was how he seems to join a long list of Biblical figures who do things they shouldn't do (sort of like me)!

Saul--and Moses before him--can serve as good reminders to me to check my own behaviors. Am I really placing my trust in God? Am I being obedient to his will?

The readings of the last few days have been in books filled with information about specific rules and guidelines God supplies for his people...from how to worship to ways to live together in community. What intrigues me the most is that despite God's constant conversations and His visible presence (in the cloud), the Isrealites still grumble and complain. I guess it also reminds me that I do this a lot too...It may be the 21st century but I don' think human beings have changed that much. Guide me, O Lord, and keep me focused on You, not grumbling about my own concerns.

Today, I was reading with the consciousness of one who recognizes she is no longer a 20-something with a whole life still before her. I drew encouragement from my reading that Moses—called by God to this task when he too was no longer a very young man—reminds us all of some very important things: God can (and does) use each of us at virtually any and all points of our lives; we often want to avoid the call or find reasons why we “can’t” but God is relentless in his calling to our purpose; and best of all, he constantly places people around us (like Moses’ wife and brother) to help us in our life work and fulfilling the good plans He has made for us! Gave me some wonderful encouragement…hope it encourages you, too!

Having just completed reading the first book of Genesis, I'm struck by the wonder of God's promises, strong covenants that bind us to Him as His people and the amazing fulfillment of his plans--especially in the miraculous story of Joseph who God used in his captivity in Egypt in order to protect and preserve his own family in the time of famine. Thank you, God, for your promises, and help me to always remember that you have good plans for each of us...especially me.

These first two days of reading made more appreciative of God's covenants--in the garden after Adam's and Eve's sin, to Noah and his family saved from a world that had become terribly wicked, and to Abram, the childless old man whose faith and covenant with God would make him Abraham, the father of descendants too numerous to count--and God's control of circumstances...with mercy and the promise of redempton, with a plan for our lives more wonderful than we could ever imagine.