Grace 809

Transcript

Today is Poetry Thursday and we are going to begin the book of Ecclesiastes with the reading of chapters 1 and 2. I’ll have a short introduction before reading the chapters, then some comments after we’’re through. Then there’s an on this date in church history. I’m calling today’s episode “Catch the Wind.”

Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon, the same King Solomon who wrote the book of Proverbs. Like Proverbs, Ecclesiastes is classified as a book of wisdom. But you will very quickly see that Solomon’s approach is much different here. I don’t want to give away too much right now, but I do want to say that it is important to stick with this book right up to the end. Don’t bail early, and don’t draw conclusions early. This is a book that requires patience on the part of the reader. 

So what do you think? Solomon sounds jaded and world-weary, doesn’t he? Almost makes you want to just give up, right? Well, don’t bail on him just yet. There is a reason that Ecclesiastes is in the Bible, but it takes a little while to discover it. It’s not a long book. There are only 12 chapters.

For those who may not know, Solomon was the son of King David. That’s the David of the David and Goliath story. After David slew Goliath, he grew up to become King of Israel. Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, became King after David died in his old age. When he became King, he asked God not for military might or great wealth, but wisdom in order to rule Israel well. God was pleased with this prayer, and he not only made Solomon the wisest man that had ever lived, but also the richest, with every other gift that could be desired.

As he writes this book, he is well along in years, and he has seen it all, and with all of his wisdom and all of his wealth and possessions, he has found that life is empty. Money, fame and power have not brought him happiness. Beautiful homes, good wine, the ability to have anything that his heart desired have only made him angry and sad. The thought of working his entire life to achieve these things, only to have to leave it all behind for someone else who didn’t work for them, is almost more than he can bear.

And so he sums it up by saying that it is all useless. Something tells me that Solomon would probably not be invited as guest speaker to many places.

Well, as I said. Hang around to see how this progresses. And please, don’t let Solomon depress yo

During his more than 20 years as a homicide detective, J. Warner Wallace investigated several “no-body, missing person cases.” He successfully helped identify and convict killers, even without evidence from the scene. He utilizes these same detective skills and techniques to investigate the historical life and actions of Jesus – using the evidence of history alone to confirm the historicity and deity of Jesus. In this interview, Wallace will share about his faith journey and his fascinating detective research proving the claims and historical authenticity of Jesus.
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J. Warner Wallace explains how there is an insurmountable amount of evidence to support the life that Jesus lived according to the Gospel writers.
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A person with no input from God has the vibrancy of Shafter Lake. It languishes a few miles west of my West Texas hometown. Envision a brackish mud puddle the size of a football field. Unlike true lakes, Shafter has no pure source. No river fills to flows through it. Gas, oil, and saltwater puddle and fume. Not a pleasant sight. The lake without an entrance or exit stinks.

So does the life with no divine source. Hence the invitation of Jesus. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way” (John 7:37-38 MSG).

Like a plant absorbs light from the sun, the believer absorbs spiritual power from the divine.

Read more Unbreakable Courage

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Timothy LaFontaine

Today is Psalms Wednesday, and we’ll read chapters 122-124. I’ll have a short introduction before reading each chapter, then some comments after we’ve read all three. Then there’s an on this date in church history. I’m calling today’s episode “Ascents Part 2.”

I have been a lover of birds since I was three years old when my mom gave me a parakeet. When I was in college, my biology professor introduced me to bird watching, or birding. So far I have 82 different species on my life list of birds that I have personally seen. The latest addition was just a couple weeks ago. It was a Bullock’s Oriole taking a drink from the fountain on my front patio, in case you’re interested. If you’re a birder, let me know in the comments on the show notes page. 

So verses 6 and 7 got my attention: 6Praise the Lord, who has not let us be ripped apart by their teeth. 7We have escaped like a bird from the hunter’s net; the net is torn, and we have escaped. 

Charles Spurgeon: “As the bird could not get out of the snare, so the soul cannot escape from temptation; but God can bring it out, and he works the rescue. Hear this, ye that are slaves to drunkenness: God can deliver you. You that have fallen into licentiousness hear it – God can deliver you. Whatever the sin that has birdlimed (trapped) you, that gracious hand which once was nailed to the cross can set you free.” 

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. HCSB

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God can deliver you.

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This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in

Christian apologist J. Warner Wallace shares why the timing of Jesus’ arrival on earth is so significant.
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During his more than 20 years as a homicide detective, J. Warner Wallace investigated several “no-body, missing person cases.” He successfully helped identify and convict killers, even without evidence from the scene. He utilizes these same detective skills and techniques to investigate the historical life and actions of Jesus – using the evidence of history alone to confirm the historicity and deity of Jesus. In this interview, Wallace will share about his faith journey and his fascinating detective research proving the claims and historical authenticity of Jesus.
Receive a copy of the Helping Kids Through Life’s Changes bundle and an audio download of "Person of Interest" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.
Get more episode resources 
Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly!
If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Do you feel isolated from family and friends? Perhaps your isolation is less geographical and more ideological. Do you feel alone in your opinions and concerns? When we follow the crowd, we feel safe.  When we swim against the tide, we need strength.

Turn to God as your best friend. Find what it means to walk in the Spirit, to lean on and lean into him as your comforter. Meditate on Scripture. Read inspirational books. Enjoy times of worship. Lay claim to a quiet spot where you can hear God’s voice. Speak less when you are in his presence.

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NKJV). Learn to savor the stillness. Trust God’s stops as well as God’s steps.

Read more Unbreakable Courage

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

A servant of Christ from somewhere in the North country.

Sean of San Pedro

Rob Brink and Kevin Schneider

This is the 300th episode of the 12th season of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Today is History Tuesday. Our reading is 2 Chronicles 25-28. I’m calling today’s episode “Legacy.”

In these chapters we read of the reigns of Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz. 

Each of these kings were descendants of David, and as I have said in previous episodes, coming from a believing family does not mean that the next generation will follow God. The opposite is also true. Coming from a non-believing family does not mean the following generation will not follow God. We saw that in these kings, and I’m sure most, if not all of us have seen this in our own families. 

The reason I’m pointing this out is that I believe that many of us, especially those of us that are parents, take it for granted when raising our children in a believing home, that they will follow us in accepting Jesus as their Savior. Beloved, if we do that, we make a terrible mistake. We can never assume that our kids will absorb our faith as their own. There will come a time when they must choose to believe. Just as we chose to believe, they will have to choose. As parents, we have to be very deliberate in showing them in a thousand different ways why believing in Him is the very best thing they could ever do. We have to let them see that our faith is real, that Jesus is the center of our lives, and that He matters. Not just on Sundays, but every day. And we have to talk to them about our faith…and our talk has to match our walk. Our children are our most important missions field. 

Now back to today’s chapters…

As is common to most people, the first two of these kings, Amaziah and Uzziah, had their good points and bad. Their spiritual victories and spiritual failures. Each of us has strengths and weaknesses. It’s the human condition. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Anything less than perfection, anything less than a completely sinless life means that we fall short of the glory of God. That’s why we all need a savior.

There is a common thread that was evident in the chapters we read today with the failures of Amaziah, Uzziah and Ahaz. Each one of them sinned

Ashley Willis discusses the importance of letting God be your authority.
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