Author: Norm

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ezra 2 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: When they arrived at the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders made voluntary offerings toward the rebuilding of God’s Temple on its original site, and each leader gave as much as he could. [Ezra 2:68-69] Have you ever wanted to contribute…

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ezra 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. And all their neighbours assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies…

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 12 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. [Ecclesiastes 12:6] I have met…

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 11 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. [Ecclesiastes 11:5] The Teacher makes some very basic observations, yet shares them…

SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 10 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said. [Ecclesiastes 10:20] What goes on inside of us will come out, one way or another. Our wisdom…

SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 9 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favour. The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same…

SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 8 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. I have seen wicked people buried with honour. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their…

SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 7 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “This is my conclusion,” says the Teacher. “I discovered this after looking at the matter from every possible angle. 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…

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 6 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: All people spend their lives scratching for food, but they never seem to have enough. So are wise people really better off than fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others? Enjoy what you have…

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 5 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. 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…