From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 5:45 AM

Subject: 2-20-24 THOUGHTS

2-20-24   THOUGHTS

Consider the circles of life.  I have always been humbled by the book of Ecclesiastes.  “There is no new thing under the sun.”  That includes me.  The book teaches me that every man that has ever lived was special to himself!  I have a commonality with all men.  Song writer Collin Raye used the words,  “I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry...  And I know you do the same things, too,  So we're really not that different, me and you.”  Generation after generation comes and goes.  Some men are good, most don’t do so well.  “There is none righteous, no not one!”  Rom 3:10  The “VANITY” of Ecclesiastes is serving the world and pursuing the things Satan presents to us. Mark 8:36   "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?   Ps 90:12  So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Eccl 1:1-11     The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.  2  "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity."  3  What advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun?  4  A generation goes and a generation comes, But the earth remains forever. 5  Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; And hastening to its place it rises there again. 6  Blowing toward the south, Then turning toward the north, The wind continues swirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns. 7  All the rivers flow into the sea, Yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, There they flow again. 8  All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing.  9   That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.  10  Is there anything of which one might say, "See this, it is new"? Already it has existed for ages Which were before us. 11  There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur,  There will be for them no remembrance Among those who will come later still.

My Prayer:
Lord, teach us true profit as we participate in our own eternity.  At all times, turn us from the vanity of this world.  May we always see Your big picture.  Help us to rejoice as we share in Your great love.  Teach us to rejoice as we share Your great love for us in Jesus, with the world.  Help us to see how small we are in Your grand eternal design.  May we learn how much You love our little selves.  May we live in the shadow of the cross.  May our hearts dwell on the power of the resurrection.  May we be motivated always by the power of Your love.  
In the name of our Savior,     Amen.