October 8
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ECCLESIASTES 12
9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. – Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
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ECCLESIASTES 12 ANTIDOTES TO VANITY
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
We can work hard to pursue things and do our best
But if it is to satisfy our own desires, it is pointless
If we exist only for the purpose of following our cravings
We are just living our lives without depth and meaning
There are antidotes to vanity: fear God and follow his laws
When we live in the fear of the Lord, we will honor his word
Everything we do when we love our Maker will now make sense
We will not have the emptiness inside as he fulfills his promises.
There is nothing more important in our lives than to please him
It will make us faithful to obey his word so we won’t habitually sin
The fear of the Lord is the purpose of our lives, it’s the source of wisdom
As we honor our majestic God, he will faithfully lead us to freedom
No longer will we follow our sinful nature, be indifferent or shallow
We will hunger for his presence always and begin to mature and grow
The whole duty of man is to obey his commands and to fear the Lord
Without these antidotes, we will continue to be vain and immature.
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REFLECTION
• How is fearing the Lord and obeying his commands antidotes to vanity?
• What kinds of vanity do you see in your community that keeps man from doing their duty of fearing God and keeping his laws?
Tag Archives: ILMA BARAYUGA-DOHERTY
ECCLESIASTES 12 SIGNS OF AGING & TOWARDS THE END
October 7
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ECCLESIASTES 12
5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
– Ecclesiastes 12:5-8
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ECCLESIASTES 12 SIGNS OF AGING & TOWARDS THE END
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
In our young age, we did a lot of discoveries
We were brave and took risks and made choices
It may have brought us to where we are now
But this world is not really where we ought to go
As we mature and grow old, we become more fearful
Once we were brave but our boldness has dwindled.
As we look at our faces, we see sagging and wrinkles
Our tresses once dark, are now grey or white as snow
Towards the end of life, we become weak and sleepless
It is hard to get rest as we easily awake many moments
Our eyes are not as sharp and are now dim and hazy
Even heights that used to excite us are now a challenge.
In the morning we wake up with aches here and there
Our activities are limited as our bodies deteriorate
Our friends start to die and funerals are on the go
We begin to think if our lives are truly meaningful
Did we really make a difference in this existence?
Did we truly live our lives in the likeness of God’s image?
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REFLECTION
• What does verse 7 remind us of this life that we live?
ECCLESIASTES 12 REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR!
October 6
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ECCLESIASTES 12
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—
– Ecclesiastes 12:1-4
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ECCLESIASTES 12 REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR!
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
In the midst of this busy worldly life, do not forget your Creator
Especially when you are at the prime of your life and have so much ambitions
Do not wake up each day filling your time with much fussing and working
Instead, make time for rest and honor the Lord by worshiping him.
Busying yourself with the concerns of this world causes you to forget God
Prioritize your Creator so that your life will not be meaningless and vain
Your Creator made you so that you will be in relationship with him
Do not forget all the things he did for you so you can be free from sin.
If you live for this world, you will definitely have no time for the Lord
Your life will be pointless if you forget God and be consumed by this world
Since you do not know when your life will end, why not praise your Creator?
You won’t want to be too weak and old before you thank your Maker.
As you grow old, your eyes are dimmed and you won’t enjoy your surroundings
Your knees and feet won’t allow you to look and magnify him in His creation
So, it is best to remember your Creator while you are still in your younger years
This way, you can have a meaningful and fulfilling life you were designed for.
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REFLECTION
• What did Solomon meant when he admonished us to “remember our Creator?”
• What can hinder us from remembering our Creator?
ECCLESIASTES 11 SAFETY NETS CAN LIMIT POSSIBILITIES
October 5
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ECCLESIASTES 11
5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. – Ecclesiastes 11:5-10
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ECCLESIASTES 11 SAFETY NETS CAN LIMIT POSSIBILITIES
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
If you live in a bubble where everything must be safe
You are withholding joy and peace in your life
You cannot know and understand all things
Only God is omnipotent and omniscient.
To live in the fear of not knowing and being safe
Deprive one of the many possibilities in life
Creating safety nets is like putting yourself in prison
It takes away your freedom when you live in limitations.
To constantly stay safe and comfortable is no way to live
Risks and dangers grow our character and resilience
Without taking wise risk, there won’t be fruits to reap
Embracing safety nets can be an excuse to live idly.
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REFLECTION
• Can someone who constantly want to play it safe live a full life? Why and why not?
• What do you think Solomon mean in verses 5 & 6?
ECCLESIASTES 11 DO SOMETHING & TAKE WISE RISKS!
October 4
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ECCLESIASTES 11
Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.
2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,
for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
– Ecclesiastes 11:1-4
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ECCLESIASTES 11 DO SOMETHING & TAKE WISE RISKS!
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
What prevents man from taking risks?
Is it the fear of failure or not being perfect?
God gives us gifts so that we can be his vessel
But we make up excuses not to use it to praise him
Many of us do not even see the gifts the Lord gave us
So, we limit ourselves and make sure we stay very safe.
We don’t want to do something that will make us look weak
Yet in weakness, God said that he will be our strength
We worry, overthink and analyze way too much
That’s why we miss out on opportunities that arise
We don’t invest on growing endurance and steadfastness
Instead, we live in our comfort zones and safety nets.
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REFLECTION
• What do you think Solomon meant when he said “cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days?”
• Why is it important for us to take wise risks? What happens when we don’t?
ECCLESIASTES 10 WHEN RULERS RULE WITH WISDOM
October 3
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ECCLESIASTES 10
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
and your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
19 Bread is made for laughter,
and wine gladdens life,
and money answers everything.
20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,
nor in your bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.
– Ecclesiastes 10:16-20
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ECCLESIASTES 10 WHEN RULERS RULE WITH WISDOM
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Let us pray for our rulers that we may have peace in our land
For a land who have immature and selfish leaders is doomed
When kings rule with his constituency’s welfare in mind
His people feast and peace will reign in the land.
But if a ruler is selfish and only thinks of pleasuring himself
There’ll be a breakdown in his nation from his idleness
But even if your leaders are corrupt, do not be insubordinate
Follow them as if you are serving and following your loving God.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it essential for all of us to pray for our leaders?
• Should you talk against leaders that you are subject to? Why or why not?
ECCLESIASTES 10 THE FOOL’S TONGUE
October 2
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ECCLESIASTES 10
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor,
but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
and the end of his talk is evil madness.
14 A fool multiplies words,
though no man knows what is to be,
and who can tell him what will be after him?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him,
for he does not know the way to the city.
– Ecclesiastes 10:12-15
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ECCLESIASTES 10 THE FOOL’S TONGUE
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
In this corrupt world, we can hear the fool’s tongue blabber on
There is no stopping to their boasting and their presumptions
The world is a stage for the foolish to talk big about themselves
Not knowing that their tongues only lead them to destruction.
While the wise concern themselves with what is true and sensible
The foolish person continually presumes that he is knowledgeable
He twists the little knowledge he knows and pretends to understand
But behind his blabber is nothing close to the truth and wisdom.
The fool’s tongue is like fire, full of unrighteousness and evil
He will utter all kinds of deceptions and lies that are from the devil
He spreads rumors and gossips like a wildfire that starts from a small part
Its effect is so destructive and diabolical that it always hurts many humans.
While the wise man’s lips utter only what will benefit others
The fool’s tongue consumes him and pulls him down more and more
The fool continues to work himself up to get on an advantage
He cannot even see how lost he is for he is obsessed with getting ahead.
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REFLECTION
• How did these following verses reverberate in James 3?
ECCLESIASTES 10 THE BLUNDERS OF FOLLY
October 1
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ECCLESIASTES 10
8 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.
– Ecclesiastes 10:8-11
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ECCLESIASTES 10 THE BLUNDERS OF FOLLY
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Those who rely on their own strength and understanding
They will open up themselves to all kinds of humiliation
When a fool plots to put down someone
He himself will be snared in his own doing
When a fool schemes to violate someone’s boundaries
He digs himself a pit that he will fall into effortlessly
The foolish thinks that they can manipulate others
Only to be deceived by their own traps later.
Because a fool does not care for others, he is isolated
Unless he gains a profit from them, he will stay secluded
While the wise continue to grow in their pursuits
The fools stay in their futility and mindless doings
The errors of folly are so apparent and clear to others
But to himself, he cannot even see his own blunders
They continue to chase their own tails in a circle
While the wise are able to grow in all their endeavors.
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REFLECTION
• Share some of the blunders of folly that you have encountered in your lifetime.
ECCLESIASTES 10 ON FOLLY, WISDOM & CALMNESS
September 30
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ECCLESIASTES 10
Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool’s heart to the left.
3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place,
for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
– Ecclesiastes 10:1-7
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ECCLESIASTES 10 ON FOLLY, WISDOM & CALMNESS
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
The heart is the source of our words and actions
When the heart is upright, it will manifest wisdom
A fool’s heart is inclined to do thoughtless things
It feeds the pleasure-seeking selfish nature to sin
Folly is like the stench of dead flies over a perfumed area
No matter how little they are, it pollutes the fragrance
Folly is so obvious that you can spot it very easily
Fools lack sense and just do things out of recklessness
They don’t look, hear or use their minds when they do or say things
They are automated to follow their self-centered desires and motives
The wise exudes their wisdom and it always makes sense when they speak
They are good listeners and talk very little; they think before they open their lips
The wise do not react and let their feelings stir them up; they are calm
Their calmness pacifies even the maddest person and quiets their soul.
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REFLECTION
• What are the traits of foolish people that are easy to spot?
• How can calmness pacify even the angriest person?
ECCLESIASTES 9 THE POOR WISE MAN
September 29
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ECCLESIASTES 9
13 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. 14 There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. 15 But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. 17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. – Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
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ECCLESIASTES 9 THE POOR WISE MAN
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
In a city full of sinners came a poor man who confronted sin
He was bold and wasn’t afraid to expose the evils around him
Out of his love for these sinners, he gave up his life
He delivered the city from their bent nature to sin
Yet his sacrifice was not received by many
They didn’t recognize their need for being rescued.
The poor wise man spoke of truth that will free them
Yet these fools didn’t comprehend his wisdom
Instead, they continued to clamor for honor
They were all obsessing for greatness and power
Not knowing that these things won’t last forever
They stayed foolish in thinking they are respected.
The words of the poor wise man were finally heard
A chosen few listened carefully to each word he said
They realized and saw how these words changed them
They began to hunger for them and be transformed by it
Though there were few who remembered the poor wise man
They were bearing fruits from his word and they were never the same.
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REFLECTION
• What do you think Solomon was referring to in verses 14-15?