September 17
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DEATH COMES TO ALL
A poem by ILMA
Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands,
No one knows whether God will or will not show them favor
The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked
Good people receive the same treatment as sinners.
It seems so wrong that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate
Twisted by evil, people choose their own mad choices and have no hope
There is nothing ahead but death and there’s hope only for the living
As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!”
The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing
They have no further reward, nor are they remembered
Whatever they did in their lifetime—is all long gone
They no longer play a part in anything here on earth.
Whatever you do, do well, you only live once.
When you go to the grave, there’ll be no work or wisdom.
The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race
The strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle
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MEMORY VERSE
The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. – Ecclesiastes 9:5
Read: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12
Death is something that will inevitably come in our lives. Some people avoid this topic because they don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ who has overcome the grave and has resurrected. They think their existence ends in physical death. Jesus promises eternal life for those who believes him.
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REFLECTION
• What is the reason behind the “fear of physical death?”
• Why do people who don’t know Jesus lose hope when someone dies?
Tag Archives: spoken word
THE WICKED AND THE RIGHTEOUS Poem Devotional
September 16
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THE WICKED AND THE RIGHTEOUS
A poem by ILMA
I have thought deeply how people have the power to hurt each other
There are wicked people who commit crimes and hide them to appear right
If a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong
Those who fear God will be better off than those who live long in sin.
The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God
Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows
In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked
While the wicked are often treated as though they were good.
So, I recommend having fun, because all these things are meaningless
Experience some happiness along with all the hard work and you’ll be satisfied
In our search for wisdom and watching people’s burdens here on earth,
I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night.
I found out that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun
Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim
So, all this comparison with the wicked and the righteous are all meaningless
Live for the Lord and you will find meaning and purpose in your life.
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MEMORY VERSE
I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim. – Ecclesiastes 8:17
Read: Ecclesiastes 8:9-17
The world we live in is full of comparison mostly of good and evil. The author of Ecclesiastes expounds on the futility of comparing the life of both the wicked and the righteous. He emphasizes that those who fear God are better off than those who live long in sin. We cannot totally comprehend what God is doing and no one can actually understand it and boast that they know things.
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REFLECTION
• Why is enjoying your life essential in life? What happens when you don’t?
LIMITS OF HUMAN WISDOM Poem Devotional
September 15
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LIMITS OF HUMAN WISDOM
A poem by ILMA
Most things are meaningless including the death of good young persons
Another thing that’s pointless is the long life of wicked people
Don’t be too good or too wise! On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either
Why die before your time? Anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.
One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!
Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins
Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear others curse you
For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.
I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions
I said to myself, “I want to be wise.” But it’s always distant and difficult to find
I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and understand things
I was resolute to prove that wickedness is stupid and foolishness is madness.
Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for
Only one out of a thousand men is virtuous, but not one woman!
But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous
But people have each turned to follow their own downward path.
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MEMORY VERSE
God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path. – Ecclesiastes 7:29
Read: Ecclesiastes 7:15-29
One of the things humans pursue in their lives is to understand things and be wise but the author of the book of Ecclesiastes discusses in this chapter how human wisdom is very limited. We try to find things to do that we think is meaningful, but we often miss out on what we were created for. God created us all to be righteous but we almost always follow our sinful human nature.
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REFLECTION
• Why do people want to understand and take control of meaningless things?
WISE WORDS TO LIVE BY Poem Devotional
September 14
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WISE WORDS TO LIVE BY
A poem by ILMA
A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume
The day you die is better than the day you are born
Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties
After all, everyone die, so the living should take this to heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us
The wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fools think only of good times Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool
A fool’s laughter is quickly gone, like thorns crackling in a fire.
Extortion turns wise people into fools and bribes corrupt the heart.
Finishing is better than starting and patience is better than pride.
Control your temper for anger and don’t dwell on the good old days
When you manage your emotion, you will benefit in life.
Wisdom and money can get you anything but only wisdom can save you
Accept the way God does things for who can straighten what he’s made crooked?
Enjoy prosperity when while you still can but realize that both come from God
Remember that nothing is certain in this life; everything is in the Lord’s hand.
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MEMORY VERSE
Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.
-Ecclesiastes 7:12
Read: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
Most people live their lives carelessly without much thoughts on things that they should care about. They get all wrapped up in the world’s system and standards that God’s truth and his words are not important to them.
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REFLECTION
• What wise words touches you in this chapter of Ecclesiastes?
• Why is it important for us to be in touch with truth instead of focusing and believing the lies surrounding us?
• What do you believe is the key to a successful and joyful life?
THE FUTILITY OF WEALTH Poem Devotional
September 12
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THE FUTILITY OF WEALTH
A poem by ILMA
Don’t be surprised if you see someone being oppressed by the powerful
Or if justice is being miscarried throughout the land
All officials takes orders from the higher up
Matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.
Even the king milks the land for his own profit
Those who love money will never have enough
How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!
The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it.
So, what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!
People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much
But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep; hoarding riches harms the saver
Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost.
In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children
We all come to the end of our lives as naked as on the day we were born
People leave this world no better off than when they came
All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind.
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Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So, what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers.
– Ecclesiastes 5:10-11
Read: Ecclesiastes 5:8-15
The world has twisted our value system by putting so much emphasis on wealth. Many people desire to be rich so they can have the respect of others. Many people chase money and they don’t realize the danger of this obsession.
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REFLECTION
• What happens to people who is in pursuit of money?
• Why does the book of Ecclesiastes think that wealth is meaningless?
HONOR YOUR SPOKEN PROMISES Poem Devotional
September 11
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HONOR YOUR SPOKEN PROMISES
A poem by ILMA
As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut
It is evil to make mindless offerings that are dishonorable to our Lord
Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before him
After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth; let your words be few.
Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool
When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through
God takes no pleasure in fools so keep all the promises you make to him
It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.
Don’t sin by defending yourself that the promise you made was a mistake
That would make God angry, and wipe out everything you have achieved
Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities
Fear God instead and make sure you honor your commitments.
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MEMORY VERSE
It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. – Ecclesiastes 5:5
Read: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
Many of us who have experienced being a victim of broken promises would be glad to hear this verse from Ecclesiastes. When you hear people commit to something and not do it, it compromises their integrity and makes others distrust them when they don’t follow through with their commitments. God is a promise keeper so he wants us all to be like him when it comes to following through our vows.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to honor what you promise?
• Who is the best promise keeper?
• Why does God want us not to promise anything we can’t keep?
• How does a broken promise affect the one who gave the promise and the one who receives it?
• How are broken promises different to lying and dishonesty?
POWER OF MORE THAN ONE Poem Devotional
September 10
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POWER OF MORE THAN ONE
A poem by ILMA
Another example of something meaningless under the sun is being all alone
He is without a child or a brother but works hard to be as rich as he can
He asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why do I give up pleasures?
It doesn’t make sense; It is all so meaningless and depressing.
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed
If one person falls, someone is there to help the other
But someone who falls alone is in real trouble, they can’t get help
They end up suffering more since there is no one to support them.
Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm
But how can one be warm alone? They will find it hard to stay heated
A person standing alone can be defeated but two can stand back-to-back
Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
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MEMORY VERSE
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.
– Ecclesiastes 4:9
Read: Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
In these following verses, we see another futile and meaningless thing to do. Being alone and isolated is worthless. There is nothing more pathetic than to be all alone and not connect or be able to reach out and be with others. Isolation is the tool of the enemy to keep us away from others so that we will become more self-focused and self-absorbed and indulgent. God didn’t design us to be alone. When we do this, we are destroying the image that he created us to be.
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REFLECTION
• How do you know if you are isolating yourself from others? What might be the reason behind such decision to keep yourself away from others?
• Why do you think many mental and psychological illnesses associated with isolation?
• What are the effects of being with others as opposed to being isolated?
THE INJUSTICES OF LIFE Poem Devotional
September 9
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THE INJUSTICES OF LIFE
A poem by ILMA
I noticed that under the sun there is evil and corruption in the courtroom “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”
I also thought about how God proves to people that they are like animals
For people and animals share the same fate, both breathe and both must die.
So, people have no real advantage over the animals; how meaningless
Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust
For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and animals goes down
So, I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work.
That is our lot in life; no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die
Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun
I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them
The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.
So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living
But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born
For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun
Then I saw most people want success because they envy others.
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MEMORY VERSE
Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. – Ecclesiastes 4:4
Read: Ecclesiastes 3:16- 4:6
As long as we are alive, we will be witnesses to the many injustices in this world. This chapter of Ecclesiastes tells us how meaningless life can be and how chasing success is futile and worthless.
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REFLECTION
• Why do people chase success in this life?
• Why do you think God allows injustices to happen even in the lives of good people?
• What should be the focus of a believer’s life?
A TIME FOR EVERYTHING Poem Devotional
September 8
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A TIME FOR EVERYTHING
A poem by ILMA
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven
A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to harvest
A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up
A time to cry and a time to laugh; a time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter and to gather stones; a time to embrace and turn away
A time to search and to quit searching; a time to keep and to throw away
A time to tear and a time to mend; a time to be quiet and a time to speak
A time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.
What do people really get for all their hard work?
God has made everything beautiful for its own time
He has planted eternity in the human heart
But people can’t see the scope of God’s work from start to end.
So I concluded there’s nothing better than to be happy and enjoy life
And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor
For these are gifts from God and his purpose is that people should fear him
What happens in the future has happened before for God makes the same things.
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MEMORY VERSE
And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. – Ecclesiastes 3:13
Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1-14
Timing is essential in our lives. The book of Ecclesiastes stresses the importance of this. There’s a time for everything and so we need to be able to respect such boundaries. There is no reason to hold on to a season since God wants us to move back to the next season he has opened for us.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for us to be able to live in the timing that we are brought into?
• Why do some people hold on to a time in their life and get stuck?
• Why do we need to enjoy life and fear God as well?
THE WISE AND FOOLISH AND FUTILITY OF WORK Poem Devotional
September 7
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THE WISE AND FOOLISH AND FUTILITY OF WORK
A poem by ILMA
I said “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness
For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark”
Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate
Both will die. So, I said to myself, what’s the value of all my wisdom?
This is all so meaningless”; the wise and the foolish both die
The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool
In the days to come, both will be forgotten, so I came to hate life
Because everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
I learned to hate my hard work here for I must leave everything I’ve earned
And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish?
Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work
How meaningless! So, I gave up questioning the value of hard work in this world.
I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy life and be satisfied with work
Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God
For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?
God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him
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MEMORY VERSE
So, I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. – Ecclesiastes 2:24
Read: Ecclesiastes 2
King Solomon presents nothing different between the wise and the foolish. They both end the same. He also emphasizes the futility of work and how important it is for us to enjoy life and our work for everything comes from the Lord and he is the one who gives wisdom and blessings to those who please him.
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REFLECTION
• Why does the world think that wise people are better of than those who are foolish? What do you think is God’s perspective on this?