Food For Thought
Therefore, let anyone who thinks he is standing up be careful not to fall!
I Corinthians 10:12

      Unless otherwise indicated the collection of scriptures found in Food for Thought are quoted from the Jewish New Testament translated by David H. Stern, pub. by Jewish New Testament Publications, Clarksville, MD, 1994; and the Tanakh, The Holy Scriptures, (Old Testament) pub. by, The Jewish Publication Society, New York, 1988.

~ Meditations ~
~ From the Word of God ~
(Meditations are meant to be
pondered carefully.)

~ Worship ~

         “A woman...came to draw some water...
         “‘Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you people say that the place where one has to worship is in Yerushalayim’ (Jerusalem). Yeshua (Jesus) said, ‘Lady, believe me, the time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Yerushalayim. You people don’t know what you are worshipping; salvation comes from the Jews. But the time is coming --indeed, it’s here now -- when the true worshippers will worship the Father spiritually and truly, for these are the kind of people the Father wants worshipping him. God is spirit; and worshippers must worship him spiritually and truly.”’
(John 4:7a,20-24)

~ The Words of King Solomon ~

“Utter futility! All is futile!
What real value is there
for a man in all the gains
he makes beneath the sun?
“One generation goes,
another comes,
But the earth remains
the same forever."
(Ecclesiastes 1:2-4)

         “For all this I noted, and I ascertained all this: that the actions of even the righteous and the wise are determined by God. Even love! Even hate! Man knows none of these in advance -- none! For the same fate is in store for all: for the righteous, and for the wicked; for the good and pure, and for the impure; for him who sacrifices, and for him who does not; for him who is pleasing, and for him who is displeasing; and for him who swears, and for him who shuns oaths. That is the sad thing about all that goes on under the sun: that the same fate is in store for all. (Not only that, but men’s hearts are full of sadness, and their minds of madness, while they live; and then -- to the dead!) For he who is reckoned among the living has something to look forward to -- even a live dog is better than a dead lion -- since the living know they will die. But the dead know nothing; they have no more recompense, for even the memory of them has died. Their loves, their hates, their jealousies have long since perished; and they have no more share till the end of time in all that goes on under the sun.
         “Go, eat your bread in gladness, and drink your wine in joy; for your action was long ago approved by God. Let your clothes always be freshly washed, and your head never lack ointment. Enjoy happiness with a woman you love all the fleeting days of life that have been granted to you under the sun -- all your fleeting days. For that alone is what you can get out of life and out of the means you acquire under the sun. Whatever it is in your power to do, do with all your might. For there is no action, no reasoning, no learning, no wisdom in Sheol, where you are going. I have further observed under the sun that

“The race is not won by the swift,
Nor the battle by the valiant;
Nor is bread won by the wise,
Nor wealth by the intelligent,
Nor favor by the learned.

“For the time of mischance comes to all. And a man cannot even know his time. As fishes are enmeshed in a fatal net, and as birds are trapped in a snare, so men are caught at the time of calamity, when it comes upon them without warning.”
(Ecclesiastes 9:1-12)

         “Send your bread forth upon the waters; for after many days you will find it. Distribute portions to seven or even to eight, for you cannot know what misfortune may occur on earth.”
(Ecclesiastes 11:1-2)

         “O youth, enjoy yourself while you are young! Let your heart lead you to enjoyment in the days of your youth. Follow the desires of your heart and the glances of your eyes -- but know well that God will call you to account for all such things -- and banish care from your mind, and pluck sorrow out of your flesh! For youth and black hair are fleeting.
         “So appreciate your vigor in the days of your youth, before those days of sorrow come and those years arrive of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.”’
(Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1)

“A further word:
Against them, my son, be warned!
The making of many books is without limit
And much study is a wearying of the flesh.”
(Ecclesiastes 12:12)

         “The sum of the matter, when all is said and done: Revere God and observe His commandments! For this applies to all mankind: that God will call every creature to account for everything unknown, be it good or bad.”
(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

                  SAW

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