Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That’s what the Quester says.] There’s nothing to anything—it’s all smoke. What’s there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone? One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes—it’s business as usual for old planet earth. The sun comes up and the sun goes down, then does it again, and again—the same old round. The wind blows south, the wind blows north. Around and around and around it blows, blowing this way, then that—the whirling, erratic wind. All the rivers flow into the sea, but the sea never fills up. The rivers keep flowing to the same old place, and then start all over and do it again. Everything’s boring, utterly boring— no one can find any meaning in it. Boring to the eye, boring to the ear. What was will be again, what happened will happen again. There’s nothing new on this earth. Year after year it’s the same old thing. Does someone call out, “Hey, this is new”? Don’t get excited—it’s the same old story. Nobody remembers what happened yesterday. And the things that will happen tomorrow? Nobody’ll remember them either. Don’t count on being remembered.
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4 Days
Spend four days with Dr. Ramesh Richard, president of RREACH (a Global Proclamation Ministry) and professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, as he offers pastoral insights on how to have a purposeful, meaningful and useful life. You have an immediate and astounding opportunity to build a worthwhile future, beginning now. You may also enjoy the companion plan, “Jesus: Your Soul’s Sole Passion.”
Are you waiting for God to answer your prayers? Yeah, me too. It can get hard to not question if He hears you, if He cares, or if He will ever do it. You can find yourself even sometimes wanting to just give up. How can we find hope? I pray this devotional guides you on a path of hope in your wait.
5 Days
Beloved Child of God, what do you do when loss ambushes your life? Are you tempted to believe its defiant taunts? Ruth, former widow, and refugee turned great grandmother of King David, understands what it is like to walk through and overcome gut-wrenching seasons of change and loss. Let God’s grace, seen in Ruth’s life story, encourage you. You are not forsaken. Your Redeemer loves you. Redeemed Is Your Name!
In Ecclesiastes, the author attempts to find meaning and purpose in life. As we read, we see anguish and regret over failed attempts at happiness through wealth, fame, and achievement. Ultimately, he realizes that the purpose of humanity is to know God and enjoy what God has given us. Only God can provide the fulfillment for which our hearts and souls long.
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