I’m curently researching for my next book, Spring Into Action, and came upon this amazing video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J-khtdJB-E&list=RD7J-khtdJB-E&start_radio=1. If you can get past the obvious errors in the string players (they are all totally reversed) the spectacle of worship in heaven is amazing.
If you have not purchased my book, Awesome Autumn, these are the readings for Oct. 18 through25th
October 18 Scripture (Psalm 65: 9-13)
You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it, the river of God is full of water, You provide the grain for so You have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, setting its ridges, softening with showers, and blessings its growth. You crown the year with Your bounty. Your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.
Once again, as in the covenant promise to Noah, another Old Testament hero for whom God prepared a very special “herdsman” task, God provides the seasonal changes which produce all that is needed for our beautiful earth to produce crops in their season. Autumn is here, our barns are filled, our grocery stores’ shelves are abundantly stocked, wheat sheaves and pumpkins appear at our food stands, and we are enriched once again by God’s blessings in abundance.
Prayer:
Lord, this Psalm is so beautiful in its revelation of Your provision for me. Too often I take things for granted. I remember the Covid times when fear overtook me, when I experienced, perhaps for the first time ever in my life that I’d run out (of toilet paper, for heaven’s sake!) of what I’d always thought was my right. I needed a reality check. I needed to think about nations of the world where abundance is not the norm, where a woman’s whole day is filled with acquiring just enough to prepare for a day without water or fresh food to feed her family. Today, let me
continuously thank You for my blessings freely given to Your people. It is all a God Thing! Thank You, Lord. Amen.
October 19 Scripture (Ecclesiastes 1:16-18 )
I said in my heart, ‘I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me.…And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.’
We previously visited Solomon, the “wise” king God appointed and gave the gift of wisdom. He is well remembered for an incident where two women claimed the same baby as hers. When he suggested cutting the baby in two, the true mother was horrified. She was the one willing to give up her child to the other rather than see it killed. But Solomon reached the conclusion that there is nothing new under the sun. Man lives; man dies. With his death, nothing is remembered. Sort of depressing, isn’t it? In verse 8 he asks: What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. That could put advertising agencies out of business, right?
Chapter 8:8 says: No man has power to retain the spirit or power over the day of death. Chapter 12:13 says: The end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing whether good or evil.
Prayer:
Loving God, all scripture guides us to You, our Mighty God and Savior of our souls. May we never think we are our own beings, for we belong entirely to You, our Maker, Protector, Savior, King, and Love of our souls. Amen.
October 20 Scripture (Proverbs 15:2-33)
Whoever ignores instruction despises himself; but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
The book of Proverbs contains many such juxtapositions. One part of the verse addresses the negative, the other part shows its opposite. These two verses are just two examples. These sayings were attributed to wise Solomon. Mostly, they are good advice. Reading one daily chapter of Proverbs is a good monthly practice for a family, giving opportunities for discussion and example sharing. Women, Chapter 31, the final one, tells us how to live a godly life!
Cable channel news broadcasts continuously spout controversy. They broadcast negativity, critical comments, “gotcha moments” and statements taken out of context. They draw us into arguments, promote political opposition, or cover local events not deserving national attention. Shootings or tragedies dominate. I contend that when we listen to controversy, it grows nettles and thorns like weeds causing aggravation, irritation, negativity which Solomon in all his wisdom could not have predicted. Agreed?
Prayer:
Lord, God, in this time when information is thrown at me constantly by TV, podcasts, advertising, and influencers, protect our minds and help me make intelligent choices so my mind is stayed on You. Solomon could not have imagined what I am facing daily, but You can protect me and keep me focused on things above and lead me on paths of righteousness.. Give me clarity of vision, to focus on You, Your kingdom, and Your purpose for me in Your kingdom. Amen.
October 21 Scripture (Proverbs 15:1)
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Continuing with the previous entry from chapter 15 of Proverbs, here’s a personal example. Chapter 15 begins with this proverb. I remember my dad’s application of this. verse’s advice. I never saw him angry. He lived by and tried to teach the four of us this truth: “If you can’t say something, nice, don’t say anything at all.”
Just imagine with me if this positivity dominated our entertainment, decision-making in multiple boardrooms, organizational business meetings, the President’s cabinet meetings, or our own “family councils” how much better our attitudes would be if we followed this advice.
By contrast, here’s what Colossians 16 says: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Prayer:
Lord, help me to concentrate on the good things You provide and not get bogged down in the negativity often spewed by TV, influencers, and others who try to mire me down, creating anxiety and discomfort. It’s a constant battle, Lord, for me to keep my head above water. Controversy and negativity drown me daily, if I allow it in.
Lord God, keep my mind focused on You, for Satan is trying to undo me. Thank You for warning me about this, even from the words of Solomon so long ago. How could he have predicted today’s world? Be still, my soul! Amen.
October 22 Scripture (Proverbs 1:106)
To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity, to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying the words of the wise and their riddles.
Every new venture needs a mission statement. When Solomon, son of David and King of Israel, the one who asked God for only one gift, that of wisdom, began the book of proverbs, this was his purpose. He offered this truth, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: fools despise wisdom and instruction, he wrote.
We learn from our errors. We learn from history. We learn from our family’s values. We learn from the church’s instruction. But the biggest teacher of all is our own life experiences. When life takes negative turns, wisdom says, look for alternatives, right? So Solomon, in his wisdom, gives alternatives in each proverb. He shows the positive, but then shows the negative. Example: For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it. (Proverbs 2:21-22)
Prayer:
Almighty Lord, Precious Jesus, Guiding Holy Spirit, I thank you for the wisdom Holy Scripture. Let me heed Your advice and live by Your principles applying Your truth and teaching Your ways to others. when I am given opportunities to share Your wisdom. Let me take joy in always seeking Your advice and counsel and then pledging to follow it. . Amen.
October 23 Scripture (Proverbs 2:1-5
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to
wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
This is God’s instruction manual, pure and simple. Wisdom is precious, and seeking it as God’s children, we will grow up with its benefits. This is the basis for discovering the wealth of the Gospel message—that God loves us enough to guide our instruction. Jesus called it the abundant life. That means that we learn from experience, we are comforted and guided by God’s laws and principles which set our boundaries, and that He loved us enough to recognize that Satan will try to undo us and tempt us and even allow struggles to sometimes overwhelm us, but when we turn to the Lord, we will redeem those experiences and live victoriously. And when our life battle is over, God will welcome those who love and follow Jesus into eternal fellowship with Him. That’s what Jesus’ atonement means. While Solomon preceded the life-walk of Jesus, God taught Solomon’s inspired proverbs beginning where we all begin: that the ‘fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.’
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, how privileged I am to walk in Your way, for I know through You more about the character of God that even Solomon in all His wisdom could fathom. I know that You are the source of my joy, and I know the treasure of worshiping You. Amen.
October 24 Scripture (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and He will make straight your paths.
I remember mother’s joy when my away-at-college son wrote me an email and at the signature place, he quoted this verse. He was asking me some trivial question or reporting on some class he was taking—I don’t remember the content—but at the close, he signed it, Love, Paul with this verse at the bottom.
Solomon taught us all this principle. If we focus on God and not ourselves, we will not stray from His hold on our lives. When we take confidence in our own abilities, if we stray too far, God will bring us back to the truth of this dependence on Him.
We cannot earn our way to salvation; it is solely God’s gift by grace that we follow Him. But once we do, and constantly seek His guidance, we will be on the right pathway, and He will be with us in all our days and through eternity. Solomon continues: My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of His reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom He delights.(3:11-12)
Prayer:
Almighty Father, keep me from pride that says I no longer need to seek Your counsel or even ask for forgiveness for my self-centeredness. I commit to pray continuously for Your guidance. Thank You for the hedge of protection You provide so I stay on Your narrow pathway that leads to a life fully committed to You and Your purpose for my life. Humble me so that I depend on You. Amen
October 25 Scripture (Proverbs 3: 13-14)
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
The more we observe our world, the more we explore nature, the more we explore the universe, the more we unlock the secrets of the mind and develop things like AI, the more we celebrate the wisdom of God in creating this magnificent world and all that is in it. We stand amazed.
Can we fathom the act of creation? As we learn more about the synapses and dendrites, the fissures in the earth beneath our feet, the more we debate the age of the earth or how so many varieties of plants exist, the more our faith in our Creator increases. And now, as we seek to use “artificial intelligence” as a tool, can man truly understand mysteries formerly attributed by believers to our Almighty God, creator and sustainer of the universe?
Prayer:
Lord, I pray Psalm 8:3-9 back to You. ‘When I look at your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of Your hands. You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the filed, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whether passes along the paths of the seas. seas. O Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth’ Creator, Sustainer, and Abba Father, I praise Your Name and you’re Your praise. Amen and Amen.
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