As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2Donʼt make rash promises, and donʼt be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. ~ Ecclesiastes (NLT)

Take the cotton from your ears
so you can hear God.
Put cotton in your mouth
for you have nothing to teach Him. When did Sunday dresses
become t-shirts and cut-off jeans? Who let people start applauding in church? Holy, holy, holy.
Holy is his name.

Lord God, teach me to pray,
and teach me that listening is worth more than telling in prayer.

64

A Time for Verse

As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many

5.3
words.

5.4-7

When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 7Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.(NIV)

Poetic Ponderings on Ecclesiastes 65

Sleep like a baby.
Two hours, cry, attention, sleep. Restful? Well, yes.
For a baby’s sleep lacks fear, prospers in trust.
An infant’s sleep escapes care, nestles in faith. Promises unkept, debt unpaid, what could that mean?
We sleep to nightmares then cry for our missteps until from humbled hearts our cares fall away
when we stand in awe of God.

God, I’ve messed up my life. Fix it, please. Show me again the peace, trust, and love I once felt
before I tried to run my life.