This only I have found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes. King Solomon, Ecclesiastes 7:29 NIV
This morning after having completed my devotional period of reading, I found myself in search of a thought upon which to start this small page. I looked in Job, Psalms, Song of Songs, and ended up in Ecclesiastes. This saying of Solomon reminds me of something we read at every AA meeting, We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. God has given us the easier softer way. When we go in search of many schemes, we always come to a point where the soft path we took becomes a rocky road, or a hard row to hoe. God has given us many tools that we can use as we travel on our path of life. Some of these are: the witness of friends when they share their experiences; our own personal experiences that have taught us how to choose properly; the fellowship of other believers; and the written Word of God and prayer. When we lay down out tools and head a direction we think is easier, we find ourselves with nothing to dig the rocks out of our path with. I could not even think about putting in a garden this spring without the proper tools. Of most importance is my hoe. I use it for laying out my rows and digging the holes for the plants, and also for coming along later and digging out weeks and unwanted rocks. I might get a few blisters on my hands, but believe me it is the easier softer way. The results are in what is produced. May I always remember that the easier softer way requires some work and pain. Thanks for letting me share, God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it, then you are ready to take certain steps. At some of these we balked. We though we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.
Alcoholics Anonymous, page 58
For me the key is to let go absolutely and follow Him .JRE
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Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow, and to love Him as they love their cow, for the milk and cheese and profit it brings them. This is how it is with people who love God for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort. They do not rightly love God, when they love Him for their own advantage. Indeed, I tell you the truth, any object you have in your mind, however good, will be a barrier between you and the inmost Truth. Meister Eckhart
This morning after having completed my devotional period of reading, I found myself in search of a thought upon which to start this small page. I looked in Job, Psalms, Song of Songs, and ended up in Ecclesiastes. This saying of Solomon reminds me of something we read at every AA meeting, We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. God has given us the easier softer way. When we go in search of many schemes, we always come to a point where the soft path we took becomes a rocky road, or a hard row to hoe. God has given us many tools that we can use as we travel on our path of life. Some of these are: the witness of friends when they share their experiences; our own personal experiences that have taught us how to choose properly; the fellowship of other believers; and the written Word of God and prayer. When we lay down out tools and head a direction we think is easier, we find ourselves with nothing to dig the rocks out of our path with. I could not even think about putting in a garden this spring without the proper tools. Of most importance is my hoe. I use it for laying out my rows and digging the holes for the plants, and also for coming along later and digging out weeks and unwanted rocks. I might get a few blisters on my hands, but believe me it is the easier softer way. The results are in what is produced. May I always remember that the easier softer way requires some work and pain. Thanks for letting me share, God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it, then you are ready to take certain steps. At some of these we balked. We though we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.
Alcoholics Anonymous, page 58
For me the key is to let go absolutely and follow Him .JRE
********************
Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow, and to love Him as they love their cow, for the milk and cheese and profit it brings them. This is how it is with people who love God for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort. They do not rightly love God, when they love Him for their own advantage. Indeed, I tell you the truth, any object you have in your mind, however good, will be a barrier between you and the inmost Truth. Meister Eckhart
