Why should anyone read the book of Ecclesiastes? 

Because the word Ecclesiastes means “one to convene an assembly.” Apparently, King Solomon, the author, had something to say so he convened an assembly. What was his message?

Here’s a clue:

• The word “meaning” is used 36 times.  
• The word “time” is used 22 times.  
• The word “wisdom” is used 25 times.  

Ecclesiastes feels like a bad news/good news story. More often than not, Solomon’s words sound like a lot of bad news.

Everything is meaningless.

There is nothing new under the sun. 

When I looked, I saw all the oppression that was taking place.

However, if you are willing to dig,  you will actually discover good news too.

God has made everything beautiful in its time.

Everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing

taken from it. 

The word meaningless in Hebrew is hebel. It is defined as “a vapor or breath; something that does not last.” By using this word, Solomon is reminding us the things we spend our time doing — work, health, pleasures, worldly treasures — do not last on this earth.

If you try to make a list of the things on this earth that are forever, it will be difficult to find much of anything that truly lasts. This sounds like bad news.

Thankfully, Solomon’s message tells us that God has set eternity in our hearts reminding us our relationship with God lasts forever! And this is good news!

It is true, life will have obstacles and challenges which sometimes make it a struggle to find meaning and purpose. The wisdom found in the book of Ecclesiastes encourages us with this truth:

We find true meaning when we put our faith in God.

As you read Ecclesiastes, ask God what He wants you to know about Him by reading this book. Jot down what you discover about true purpose and time well-spent while on this earth. I think you’ll be surprised by the gems you find in this ancient book of wisdom.

 

“I know that everything God does will endure forever, nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will revere Him,” (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

 

If you are reading the Bible with me, here is the link to the 2023 Reading Plan. It’s not too late to join me.

Some things are good, but honestly, some things are better. For example, vanilla ice cream is good. But frozen Snickers bars are better.

When someone asks me what I think is the best book of the Bible, my response is, “They are all good!” However, I do enjoy reading the book of Exodus alongside Hebrews because they speak of good and better. Together, they give such a rich picture of God’s redemption story.

Exodus is the visual backdrop of God’s big, beautiful, love story. It takes you on a physical journey though God’s redemptive plan and points always to Jesus. As you observe the physical people, places, and things in Exodus, watch how it points to the better things Jesus fulfilled through his life, death and resurrection described in the New Testament and specifically in Hebrews.

Hebrews shows us no man, action or law described in Exodus could completely redeem us. It reminds us we would need something better – a Savior. Hebrews clearly states Jesus is better.

For example:

Exodus introduces Moses — a servant in God’s house. Hebrews describes Jesus as a faithful Son over God’s house.

Exodus introduces Passover — a perfect lamb sacrificed; whose blood on the doorpost would save the firstborn. Hebrews reveals Jesus; a perfect sacrifice for sin, saving us once for all.

Exodus introduces the Law (Covenant) — a set of standards, written on stone tablets, for daily living and worship. Hebrews points to Jesus; the guarantee of a better covenant because the law would now be written on our hearts.  

Exodus introduces the Tabernacle  — where God would dwell with man. Hebrews claims Jesus is the tabernacle and dwells with us eternally. 

Exodus introduces the priesthood — priests appointed by men who mediated between man and God. Hebrews names Jesus as our great high priest; appointed by God as the eternal mediator between us and God.  

Even the furnishings of the tabernacle described in Exodus point to Jesus (here are a few):

The golden lamp stand: Jesus is our eternal light in a world of darkness

The altar of incense: Jesus is our intercessor who prays for us always

The table of shewbread: Jesus is our daily bread who gives us provision in every circumstance.

When I read Exodus and Hebrews together, I find it both reassuring and comforting to see God has had a plan for us since before the creation of the world. That plan is and will always be Jesus.

Easter is a wonderful time to read Exodus and Hebrews because we see both the promise and fulfillment of Jesus steeped in the stories and pages. It becomes abundantly clear that Jesus is better because He is the ultimate revelation of God’s mercy and love.

As you read these two powerful books, here are a few tips to help you see the richness of God’s plan told through the story of Jesus. He was foretold in Exodus though buildings/furnishings, laws, and people and fully revealed in Hebrews:

• When you read about the passover lamb, think about how Jesus is your Passover Lamb. (Hebrews 10) 
• Ponder the tabernacle building process and imagine all the ways Jesus fulfills it in you. (Hebrews 8-9) 
• The priesthood was established in Exodus. List how Jesus is your great High Priest. (Hebrews 4-8)
• Keep a log where you see Jesus in the book of Exodus and praise Him each time you see His fulfillment in Hebrews.  
• As you discover the sacrifices necessary for the atonement of sin in Exodus, thank Jesus for providing a better way for saving you from your sins, once for all. (Hebrews 7:25-28) 

Are you reading along with me this year?

1. How is it going?  
2. What are some things that have been especially meaningful to you in your readings?  
3. Please share your thoughts and observations in the comments section.  
4. Are you behind but want to begin again? Then start where you left off or re-join us where we are. No biggie.  
5. Finally, if you have shared that you are reading along with me, I’m praying for you by name. (If you haven’t told me, reach out and I’ll happily add you to my prayer list!) 

2023 Reading Plan

“This young man grew up in inner city Chicago. His mom left him with an abusive father when she left with his sister. He ran away himself, lied about his age, and joined the military. He was lucky enough to find some people who believed in and loved him. Went on to court and marry a beautiful girl from Nash, Oklahoma, who continued to love him the rest of his life. He’s an amazing turnaround story that left behind three pretty good kids, four amazing grandkids, and now what would be four great grands. What a great legacy for a kid most people would have given up on. (Written by my sister, Mary Myrick on what would’ve been my dad’s 94th birthday.) 

Though his academic knowledge was limited to a high school education, my dad was the wisest man I knew. His willingness to share his wisdom is perhaps one of the greatest aspects of his legacy. His complete honesty with those who asked was such a valuable gift to those who knew him.

Wisdom is a great gift to receive. That is why I love the book of Proverbs. It’s a gift of knowledge I can use in my everyday life. Written in an easy-to-read fashion, its purpose is to present godly wisdom for everyday things of life.

King Solomon asked God for wisdom above all else. Apparently, this request pleased God because 1 Kings 4:29 says, “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.”

Thankfully, Solomon recorded some of this wisdom so we can still benefit from it today.

Solomon isn’t the only person who can ask God for wisdom. You can too! James 1:5 promises, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you.”

We will be reading Proverbs next in the Bible Reading Plan with a break in the middle for Exodus/Hebrews. (If you haven’t joined us yet, it’s not too late. You can start reading this plan anytime of the year. There is a link at the bottom of this post.) 

Proverbs contains thirty-one chapters making it easy to read one chapter each day of the month. As you read this book, my prayer is that you not only gain insightful knowledge, but you will also share it with someone who needs to receive a fresh word from the Lord.

Suggestions as you read each chapter in Proverbs:

• Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a single truth each day.
• Record your truth so at the end of Proverbs, you will have 31 truths.
• When you complete Proverbs, review your truths. See if there is a theme or a particular message from your recordings.
• You now have a truth a day that you can use throughout the year.

I would love to hear your thoughts. Please share in the comments about what you are learning or how God is speaking to you.

2023 Reading Plan

I’ll tell you something which may make you change your mind about how you think of me. It is controversial enough that you may struggle to continue calling me friend (I truly hope this is not the case.). 

Here it is: When I read a book, I almost always read the ending first. 

To explain my reasoning, let me share a great analogy my husband used a few weeks ago. It describes a benefit of knowing the end before a story begins. 

Suppose your favorite football team is playing their arch-rivals and the game is expected to be a nail-biter. Unfortunately, you have a commitment at the time of the game and will miss watching it on TV. So you record the game. Before you get home, your friend calls to congratulate you on the win. Now you know the outcome. But this does not deter you from watching it when you get home. Even though you already know the score and that victory is coming, the game is still crazy good, hard, stressful, and amazing. However, since the final outcome was revealed to you in advance, you watch the game with a different perspective. You have a certain sense of peace. Your team wins. 

This is EXACTLY the case in a life with Jesus and God’s story told through the Bible. God shares the final outcome with us. Jesus wins!

Knowing this truth does not diminish the journey or the story one bit. We still have good days, bad days, stressful days, and amazing days. The only difference is we can always look at tomorrow with hope because God chooses to tell us the end of the story. 

On January 30, I will begin my 2023 reading plan (see link below) by reading the books Genesis and Revelation together. Why? Because these two books tell God’s story from the perspective of the beginning and the end. Or another way of stating it: Genesis is the beginning and Revelation is the end with a new beginning. 

Because of this, I LOVE reading Genesis and Revelation together. 

• In Genesis, we see the introduction of God’s plan.
• In Revelation we discover the fulfillment of God’s plan. 
• In Genesis we see paradise in a garden. 
• In Revelation we anticipate a new paradise where God will dwell with us forever. 
• In Genesis Satan is introduced.
• In Revelation Satan is banished and judged.
• In Genesis death is a result of sin. 
• In Revelation death is overcome and has no more sting.

Through stories of people in Genesis, we meet a sojourner, a doubter, a deceiver, and a dreamer. They had faults. But they also had a whole lot of hope. We can identify with the beginners in Genesis because, like them, we too are part of God’s story.

Our story with God is further revealed in the last pages of the Bible. We are told that we will become victors, over-comers, worshipers, whole, a kingdom of priests, and permanent residents with God.

You see, reading the end of the story is not all that bad. Sure, you are about to discover some hard stuff in both Genesis and Revelation. But hang in there, because as you read, you’ll see a faithful, loving God who never gives up on his people – even to the last pages of the Bible. 

Suggestions for reading Genesis/Revelations:

• Before you begin each day, ask God what he wants you to learn about him.
• Keep a list of all the firsts you discover while reading Genesis and Revelation.
• Write down any common themes in Genesis and Revelation.

2023 Reading Plan

The new year did not start smoothly for me. Nothing tragic or earth-shattering happened: quite the opposite. My husband and I arrived home from an awesome family Christmas in Oklahoma. However, in the following days I had a horrible case of the blahs.

A coffee date with friends after the New Year finally pushed me out of the house. With the sun shining on my face and music blaring in the car, I ventured out for the first time in days. It felt good to just be doing something purposeful and getting out of the house led to a pretty-great afternoon. So why had I stayed cooped up for so long?

The cause of my New Year’s blahs was my daily Bible reading. In 2022, I missed very few reading days with the Lord. In December, I only took a short break but was having a difficult time starting back again in January. I was stuck.

While on my reading break, I awoke one night feeling like the Lord was whispering in my ear. (I think he whispered because it was the middle of the night and he didn’t want to wake my husband who was not having the same blah issues as I – smile.)  Anyway, that night the Lord encouraged me to think about what parts of Scripture stir me, inspire me, convict me, and excite me. It was as if he was nudging me to craft my own Bible reading plan for 2023. 

Thankfully, the coffee date gave me reason to just begin being active after days of loafing around the house. Now, two unexpected quiet days gave me opportunity to remember my midnight reflections. I followed through and wrote my own Bible reading plan for 2023 and on January 30, I will take one more step to beating the blahs and just begin with a brand new Bible reading plan.

Would you like to join me?

Maybe you’ve said, “This year, I want to read my Bible more regularly but don’t know where to start.” If so, I can assist you with an easy-to-follow guide.

All you need to do is click on the link below. If you stick with this plan, at the end of the year, you will have read 23 of 66 books in the Bible! You’ll be challenged, encouraged and inspired each day as you read God’s personal story to you. 

At times, we all get stuck with the blahs. What worked for me was getting coffee with friends and spending a few quiet minutes without distractions.

What do you need to do to get unstuck? Whatever it is, let me suggest the first step is to just begin.

2023 Reading Plan

 

When my husband steps through the back door, he usually peeks in the kitchen sink to discover a clue about the activities of my day. If two coffee cups rest there, he knows I hosted a friend sometime during the day.

True, I could’ve rinsed the cups and placed them in the dishwasher. But for some reason, I like using this as a code for how my day went.

It’s no secret I enjoy coffee, but I especially love it when shared by another. And while I do like the coffee shop experience, the pinnacle of coffee drinking for me is when someone steps into my home and sits at my table. Reader, don’t be alarmed if you are not a coffee drinker. Water, tea, Diet Coke® and often a sparkling water are available. The type of beverage does not dictate the experience. The presence of another person does.

Years ago, I realized I could offer my home, my time, and a cup of coffee to others. It felt like something Jesus might do because he spent a lot of time doing things with people and food. I named this activity, “the ministry of home” because Jesus calls us all into ministry. If that sounds daunting to you, remember ministry is just a fancy word that means “to act as an instrument, agent, or vehicle.”

My friend Shirley models this “ministry” for me. Often, I pop over for an un-announced visit. EVERY time I do, she gladly welcomes me into her home and offers a cup of coffee regardless if she has already had her limit for the day.

My friend Darlene also models this “ministry” for me. Darlene is an excellent seamstress and can make almost anything. Whatever her newest thing involves, I am usually a lucky recipient — soup bowl holders, scrubbies, and beautifully embroidered bookmarks. I rarely leave her home empty handed.

Ministry looks different to different people:

Carolyn likes to take walks with friends.
Becky opens her home for Bible study.
Kenna is great about checking in.

You and I are in the life-improving business to become more like Jesus. How we do that may differ. Please don’t underestimate the value of your ministry because in God’s Kingdom, it all matters.

So if you stop by my house for coffee, leave your dirty cup in the sink. When I eventually wash it, I’ll smile because it will make me think of you once again.