II Timothy

II Timothy

Summary: Nero had become the Emperor of Rome. His gardens were lit with the faith tarred and on set ablaze. The coliseums where filled with lions, fires and gladiator events fueled by Christians. And it was under this tremendous persecution that Paul was arrested again and sentenced to be executed. As Paul prepared for his final days with his last words to the next generation. II Timothy is just that a passing of the torch and final wisdom; filled with encouragement and teaching. 

Things I Noticed:

1. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2. By the Holy spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted in you.

3.You then, my child be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

4. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 

5. Charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 

6. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

7. Having nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 

8. The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,  correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by hime to do his will.

9.  Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 

10. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 

11. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.
12. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproofing, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
13. Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.
14. Fro the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
15.As for you, always be sober-minded, enduring suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.  

The book of Hebrews is where I and headed next to as I travel through the times after Jesus. Right now I am pondering through David's Psalms finishing the first book of them which is up next on the blog spot.  Till then, Read up, Post up, and Shalom.

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes

Summary: Summary: When Solomon was granted wisdom and the throne by God he success shot him to the top of the world. Being King he saw the worst as judge, the best as dignitary and life through the eyes of a wise man. After a life time of experience one can only image the dark day Solomon was in when he put ink to scroll to pen Ecclesiastes. Filled with wisdom masked in the highs and lows of a kings emotional journey the reader is brought to a summation of fear God and keep his commandments.

Things I Noticed:

1. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 

2. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 

3. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increase knowledge increases sorrow. 

4. Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.

5. sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

6. There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. 

7. For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. 

8. I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it so people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; God seeks what has been driven away. 

9. All are from the dust , and to dust all return. 

10. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving wind.

11. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for there toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up... a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 

12. Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. 

13. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are in earth. Therefore let your words be few. 

14. Let not your mouth lead you into sin. (The tongue is a mischievous thing)

15. Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little to much, but the full stomach if the rich will not let him sleep.

16. As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his band. (Job made reference to such wisdom)

17. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God. 

18. A good name is better than precious ointment. 

19. It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. (I think this is forgotten and now a days people ignore rebuke and dance to a fools tune.)

20. Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preservers the life of him who has it. 

21. In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. 

22. Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

23. Do not take to heart all the things that people say. 

24. See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

25. For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"

26. The wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. ( This can be applied to love and a relationship.)

27. For the living dog is better then a dead lion.

28. The words of the wise heart in quite are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

29. Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. 

30. Much study is a weariness of the flesh.

31. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing whether good or evil. 

We will be seeing Timothy's second letter up next on the blog. While I will pen my next entry I will be visiting the Psalms of David which is as large of a roller coaster emotionally as Ecclesiastes.  Till then, Read up, Post up, and Shalom.