My Faith View from Here - Daily readings and thoughts

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) 1 Chronicles 6, Song of Solomon 1:1-7, Daniel 9:1-19, 1 Thessalonians 1 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%206%2C%20Song%20of%20Solomon%201%3A1-7%2C%20Daniel%209%3A1-19%2C%201%20Thessalonians%201&version=NASB1995 Hopeful Romantic A few months ago, my brother and I were talking on the phone.  We were discussing some of the scripture that I have been writing about in this blog.  He was kind of poking fun at what I might say when we get to reading the Song of Solomon.  So here we are.  Dan (my brother) I’ll happily give you a few tips on romance here! “The Song of Solomon is a lyric love poem in the Hebrew Bible that celebrates romantic and marital love between a man and a woman” (google AI overview).   Romance is something that I figured I’d be pretty good at when I was in my teens.  Unfortunately, I’m not a great romantic.  It’s probably one of the things that is most disappointing to m...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) 1 Chronicles 4:24-5:26, Ecclesiastes 12, Daniel 8:9-27, Colossians 4 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%204%3A24-5%3A26%2C%20Ecclesiastes%2012%2C%20Daniel%208%3A9-27%2C%20Colossians%204&version=NASB1995 Add a Little Salt Solomon finishes his speaking with the statement “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 12:8).  “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is:  fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.  For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14). When I am in one of my more introspective moods I sometimes wonder what is the point of all our labours of life.  We start working after we have finished our schooling, whether early in life or after higher education.  I worked in full time work for 44 years or 385,440 hours, so if my calculation is correct, I worked for somewhere around 9...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) 1 Chronicles 3:1-4:23, Ecclesiastes 11, Daniel 7:15-8:8, Colossians 3 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%203%3A1-4%3A23%2C%20Ecclesiastes%2011%2C%20Daniel%207%3A15-8%3A8%2C%20Colossians%203&version=NIV Enlarge My Border Back in the year 2000, Bruce Wilkinson wrote a book called The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking through to the Blessed Life. His book sold millions of copies worldwide, and it was simply based on the verse, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NASB1995).  It seemed everywhere you looked Christians were talking about and praying the prayer of Jabez.  The reader was challenged to pray the prayer word for word for 30 days, and it would be found to be a spiritual key to God’s hidden blessings and expand their life and influence. Sylvia and I were running the bed and break...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) 2 Chronicles 2:9-55, Ecclesiastes 10, Daniel 7:1-14, Colossians 2 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%202%3A9-55%2C%20Ecclesiastes%2010%2C%20Daniel%207%3A1-14%2C%20Colossians%202&version=NASB1995 (Please note:  They’ve changed Bible Gateway.  Watch to ensure you read the complete reading.  They don’t spell out the full reading without pressing the link that says “read full chapter.”) Stress Gone I write this blog several days ahead so that I ensure a blog post is ready by 8 AM every day.  Yesterday for me was Thursday, and Thursday was a very busy day for both Sylvia and myself. I was asked to work yesterday, so I did.  Thursday is normally our date day, but with renos and ongoing life expenses, a few extra dollars are always beneficial.  I worked 8 AM to 3:30 PM.  At 3:30 PM, I quickly went home to get Sylvia and then we went to pick up the dog from daycare, knowing that we had to be back a...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) 1 Chronicles 1:1-2:8, Ecclesiastes 9, Daniel 6:16-28, Colossians 1 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%201%3A1-2%3A8%2C%20Ecclesiastes%209%2C%20Daniel%206%3A16-28%2C%20Colossians%201&version=NASB1995 God Used Daniel I haven’t spoken much about our reading in Daniel, but I must say, Daniel is one of my favourite books in the Bible.  Today we read about Daniel being delivered from the lions. Daniel is serving the third king, Darius, who reigned in Babylon since Judah had been taken captive.  Daniel had begun “distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because of his extraordinary spirit.”   I believe that spirit was the Holy Spirit.  Out of envy and jealousy, the commissioners and satraps came up with a scheme to get Daniel thrown into the den, thinking the lions would instantly eliminate what had become a problem to them.  The king had been tricked into writing an injunction that “any m...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) 2 Kings 25, Ecclesiastes 8, Daniel 6:1-15, Philippians 4 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2025%2C%20Ecclesiastes%208%2C%20Daniel%206%3A1-15%2C%20Philippians%204&version=NASB1995 But I Wanted a New Truck “In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”  (Philippians 4:12,13). I heard a story about someone at an event where the scheduled singer was unable to perform.  The person quoted, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me,” and got up and started to sing.  Unfortunately, the verse doesn't mean God will give us the ability to accomplish whatever we decide to do.  Needless to say, the person could not carry a tune if their life depended on it.   What Paul was really saying is that whether he had plenty or was suffering from need, he had learned...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) 2 Kings 23:34-24:20, Ecclesiastes 7, Daniel 5:13-31, Philippians 3 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2023%3A34-24%3A20%2C%20Ecclesiastes%207%2C%20Daniel%205%3A13-31%2C%20Philippians%203&version=NASB1995 The Goal I’ve often heard the statement, “If you have no goals, you will achieve them.”  I have been questioned often in my life about what my life goals are and I’ve never been able to articulate them.  I have many dreams of life that I have imagined but dreams are not goals. I once had a very narrow perspective about who is a Christian.  I had it defined right down to someone who has said the “sinners prayer.”  So I said the “sinners prayer.”  I said it when I was eleven years of age and then in a way I saw myself as signed, sealed and delivered.  I was a child of God, I signed on the dotted line (said the “sinners prayer”) and delivered.  I had my kingdom passport. If you are not sure what I ...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) 2 Kings 23:4-33, Ecclesiastes 6, Daniel 5:1-12, Philippians 2:19-30 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2023%3A4-33%2C%20Ecclesiastes%206%2C%20Daniel%205%3A1-12%2C%20Philippians%202%3A19-30&version=NASB1995 I Can’t Get Me No Satisfaction “ If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, “Better the miscarriage than he” (Ecclesiastes 6:3). I’m happy there is more to Ecclesiastes than chapter 6.  Solomon is painting a picture of life that has little purpose.  He’s basically saying that if your soul is never satisfied, even a long life filled with children and possessions can be so empty that it would seem better never to have lived. There are times when my soul is not satisfied.  I have dreams.  I am one of those people who have dreams of many different things.  Just this mo...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) 2 Kings 21:19-23:3, Ecclesiastes 5, Daniel 4:19-37, Philippians 1:21-2:18 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2021%3A19-23%3A3%2C%20Ecclesiastes%205%2C%20Daniel%204%3A19-37%2C%20Philippians%201%3A21-2%3A18&version=NASB1995 I Enjoy a Good Apple I am not a wealthy person but neither am I poor.  I have been gifted with some skills that I’ve been able to use to make every home we’ve owned comfortable.  Sylvia and I own 8 acres of land that is on the shore of the Bay of Fundy.  We have 2 vehicles, a 21 foot RV, a tractor and an awesome zero turn mower for cutting approximately 3 acres of grass.  We have enough money in investments to augment our government pensions and live comfortably.  I am very aware that there are many people who are much wealthier than I and there are very many people who do not have what we have. Having money is not bad in itself.  We do know that “the love of money is a root of all ...