Today, I spent "nap time" at this prayer tower. Instead of napping with my wife and three kids I opted for the small incline walk to the prayer tower on top of the Dunes in Michigan. I decided to read through the book of Ecclesiastes. I like what the "Preacher" (aka Solomon) had to see about everything under the Sun as mere vanity. We are but a vapor, and what we do here on earth should be to the best of our gifts and abilities to eat, drink have joy and honor God (not in that particular order). Some excerpts from Ecclesiastes: 1:12, "And I applied my heart to seek and to search out wisdom all that is done under heaven." 1:18, "For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow." 2:11, "Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind." 2:24, "There is nothing better for a person that he should eat and drink and to find enjoyment." Chapter 3, there is always a time for everything (in God's time). 3:12-13, "I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone shoudl eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil--this is God's gift to man." 3:16, "Moreover, I saw under the sun hat in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of rightenousness, even there was wickedness, I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work." 3:22, "So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work for that is his lot." 4:9, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil...(vs12b)...a threefold cord is not quickly broken." 5:1, "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools...(vs2b) let your words be few...(vs 4b) Pay what you vow." 6:9, "Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite; this also is vanity and a striving after wind (in other words, Lust)." 7:3, "Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad." 7:9-12, "Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools....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..." 7:21, "Do not take to heart alll the things that people say..." 8:3b, "Do not take your stand in an evil cause...(vs 5) Whoever kees a command will know no evil thing." 8:11b, "the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil." 8:12b, "I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him." 9:9, "Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun," 11:5, "As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do no know the work of God who makes everything." 11:9b, "Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgement." 12:13, "The end of the matter; all has been heard, 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 tihng, whether good or evil."
As I ended my time finishing my Bible reading and in prayer, I walked back down the dune and found this plaque (pictured above) and was struck with the amount of prayer that occured at this retreat center. I was amazed at all of God's answered prayers to his believers and the missions and non-for-profits that blossomed through answered prayers. The list is amazing. I am still surprised that, we as Christians, forget the power of prayer. When we pray, in God's will (not ours), he hears our prayers and he will make our paths straight and will prosper his Kingdom.
The quote on the bottom the plaque above, needs to be re-written for our readers (and for some of our readers, that is, our legacy dads) here you go. "Our legacy for our legacy dads is the foundation of www.legacydad.com is our future. This bequest challenges succeeding generations to stand firm on God's Word, and proclaim it without compromise to the world."