Feb 22, 2023·edited Feb 22, 2023Liked by Donny Mac
I went back and just finished reading Ecclesiastes and the book of James. I'm glad you suggested that. There were two phrases commonly used in Ecclesiastes of "chasing the wind" and to "Fear God." Chasing the wind reminds me of us being in the flesh chasing our own selfish ambition or desires and not God's. In relation, to "fear God" to me reminds me to humble and surrender myself to God.
We all have our journeys and grow in our faith accordingly. We are all created uniquely in that way. That's why when we stumble along the way and God allows that to happen, it's usually for our good to make us stronger in our faith and increase our reliance on him. God allows things to happen to test us to grow from them. Ecclesiastes 3:18a (NLT) states - "Then I realized that God allows people to continue in their sinful ways so he can test them." James 1:3 (NLT) states - "For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."
Two things I pick up strongly on this prayer walk in reading this scripture, is "Surrender" and "Trust." Also, obedience and humbleness should be mentioned. Psalm 37:4 (NLT) states - "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires." Psalm 37:5 (NLT) states - "Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you." Lastly, Psalm 37:7a (NLT) states - Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act."
When we pray, yes, I agree pray boldly for the things we would like, but do so within the will of God. At least, that is what I try to do. Even if I pray for something for myself, healing for someone, I pray for God's will to be done and "HOPE" it is for complete healing, etc. For me, I'm praying now for God to guide me to show me his will after retirement and/or to lose the rest of this weight. Patience is absolutely what I'm NOT good at, but I know HE knows what's best for me, and he is ultimately going to show me. Personally, the journey he has and is currently taking me on, I could NOT have done before now. My faith was not where it should have been as I truly believe He knew I was not ready. When I tried to lose weight in the past, I failed because I selfishly did NOT place God first. This time around is different in that respect because of being obedient and vulnerable to accepting He knows what is best for me.
All in all, when we let the flesh (ourselves) and pride overrule God's will, that's when he may allow us to be tested. But when we totally surrender to him day by day, hour by hour, and pray accordingly for things to happen in His will and His timing, that's where the difference lies.
No matter our age or how it long it takes, God will answer our prayers, but it will always be in His timing and according to HIS will. I don't want to be "chasing the wind." Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NLT) sums it up - "Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person."
Thank you Donny for the homework assignment. When re-reading Ecclesiastes especially, I never realized until today how often those two phrases were used and never really took the time to really stop and think what I could personally take from it. Thank you for challenging us to do this. I'm so glad I took the time to do that as it really reminded me to trust him in everything. He knows what's best for each of us.
It was great to read the books of Ecclesiastes and James together and see so many similarities.
That's why I love the prayer walks, I have a few years of conversion and “church”, but it's so amazing how God has used the walks to speak to my heart and learn so many things from you, Donny, and your simplicity as an evangelist.
On another walk I had already commented on “running after the wind” which is my favorite quote from Ecclesiastes, so today my highlights are 4 words that are pointed out in both books: Patience, Perseverance, Trial and Fool.
And, of course, my favorite verse from Ecclesiastes 1:17: I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind”.
I think I have a tendency to "fight the windmills" - here's a quote from the poem Catley Cone published this week - and "chase the wind" in some areas of my life, so I've been prayed God:
“Give me courage to be still
And trust you
Teach me to listen to your Spirit”
A little snippet of a prayer I wrote in “poem” form – dare I say it's a poem – LoL - but I'm hoping this could be my new skill – LoL.
P.S.:
- Cathey Cone, thanks for encouraging me to keep writing...
- Donny,thank you for blessing me with your reflections and simplicity - maybe here is your "success", the one that reverberates in heaven!
- Ah, this "poem" is influenced by the song "Teach Me To Love" (but, it's not plagiarism - lol)
Enjoyed your Prayer Walk today. I will read James and Ecclesiastes. Scriptures can reach out to us when we really need it. We just have to listen. Today is Ash Wednesday. The service tonight was different than the ones I have been to before. There were different stations that we went to. First station-- we dipped our hands in the bowl of water with anointing oil remembering both the gifts of the Magi brought and the spices used at Jesus' burial. "Remember your baptism and keep it holy". Second station--We ran our fingers through the sand in the bowl to remember the impermanence of life. Our earthly lives are temporary, and we remember that to inform how we live and love and order our lives to honor God. Third station--Ashes, representing that God made us from dust, and that we will return to dust soon. "From dust you come, to dust your will return. Repent of your sins and believe on the gospel". (A sign of the cross was placed on our forehead). Forth station--Nail, a common nail to represent common people whose sins nailed Jesus to the cross. (Each person took a nail as a reminder of Jesus nailed to the cross). It was a very moving service. Listening to your Prayer Walk and then going to our church for our Ash Wednesday Service made this day very special. Jesus died for our sins. He is our strength and our comforter. He will never fail us.
Just finished watching this Prayer walk and so haven't had a chance to do the reading. However I just want to say that one thing I am always asking God for is a real sense of his Presence and love. I have only really felt His love once and that was the night my 1st grandson was born and as I looked at him in the intensive care nursery (he was 10 weeks prem) I felt a wave of love flow through me. I know it was God's love for this child as God knew he was going to need it for his short 9 years of life. Never felt that before or since and it seemed to have left once my grandson went to be with Jesus.
I learned something years ago from an older lady when my daughter was a little girl. The lady’s name was Nrs. Dot. She had that faith like the mustard seed. She said that when it came to prayers for herself she would trust a child to do that for her. Children trust without doubting God. There was another young woman who was blind and did not want her sight because she wanted the first face she saw when she died would be Jesus. I don’t think I pray for myself well so I give them away to pray for me because maybe I don’t really see what I’m praying for and I’m not childlike enough to trust God with my self prayers. I don’t want fame but a little extra money to share with others is my only goal. I do know God may not give me lots of money because I prefer to give it away. What I do love is allowing God to open my eyes to others hearts and ask God to fill their needs according to His riches. When I do pray I use the Our Father that Jesus taught so I remain focused on why and who I’m praying for. God showed me Graham to pray for and how I could. He used Graham to show me to you. I will go to God as a child in faith and pray that you see His face in your pursuits and all those on this place for the same.
I haven't read either of these yet. But I wanted to say how very many thoughts went through my head as we walked around this beautiful place. Thoughts about my moving to the Beach which I talked to God about for over 2 years, and my thoughts about talking to God about you moving permanently to Nashville. I don't believe "Fame" and "Fortune" is your thing. I remember the day I met you in person at Anne's, saying to you as you started to play music, remember us peons when your famous. You turned to me immeditately and said "thats not me. Thats not how I am". I will never forget that. I know without a doubt that you definitely are not like that. But teaching people how to pray and talk to God is definitely on your work list. God may not "need" you to do, but I think he loves the fact that you've brought so many of us to him. Made our faith stronger. As for myself, I think God decided my move to the beach was a healing factor after the loss of my husband. But it took a lot of time for it to happen. I will now read Ecclesiastes and James. Todays walk was excellent. Thanks Donny.
This one really shook me. Thanks Donny sometimes I need affirmations that God’s answer isn’t always my answer. I do pray for others often and I’ve realized that I’m beginning to pray for myself more now which I know I should do more. After readings Ecclesiastes and James the following verses stood out:
“There is more gain in lightness”
“For everything there Is a season”
“A time to keep the silence”
“All is vanity”
“Let your words be few”
“Who can make straight what HE has made crooked”
“Do not take to heart all the things you hear people say”
“Life is sweet”
“Put away pain from your body”
What was laid on my heart was to be still and to acknowledge that God has a path destined for me and though it may be a broken road, there is always light on this journey and with Faith all the pain we suffer will become no more. I will have my time to shine and it will be in His time Not mine...
thank you again for always giving us words of wisdom and inspiration to know we are loved no matter what we face on our journey!! 🙏
Donny, as always another inspiring prayer walk to dig deeper into the scriptures. This week has been a hectic one for me..am still trying to read and digest the readings you recommended.
As for what am I really asking for when I pray had changed over the years, the one constant has been I don’t ever recall praying for material things, more often it is “ why” things happened to me. There were even a times in my younger years when it was why did this happen to me not someone else. I now know if those events/ things hadn’t happened I wouldn’t be where I am today. When I was very angry at God, not really praying, my life was just going through the motions, there was no joy. Only after I found my way back did I slowly find joy again. Even on my busiest days, I now take a few minutes to give thanks for another day and ask God to walk with me.
Am going to read James & Ecclesiastes to reflect on your questions. Continued blessings to you Donny...
Feb 25, 2023·edited Feb 25, 2023Liked by Donny Mac
Stanley Park was beautiful! We had a sea wall to walk in West Seattle when I was a child. Alki Beach had the sound of the birds and ships on the bay.
I listened to David Suchet read Ecclesiastes on Spotify, then read it in my NIV Bible. Listening to it painted quite a word picture for me, and I noticed things I hadn't picked up on before. Ecclesiastes Ch 12: 1-8 draws quite a bittersweet picture,
"when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades;
when men rise up at the sound of birds but all their songs grow faint..."
Decades ago, I remember focusing on the 12:13-14 "the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." A profound thought to carry around that never gets old.
A favorite part of James that I have been meditating on lately is "be quick to listen and slow to speak" and "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
These simple phrases challenge me to examine my actions and motives.
Oh yes, my logical mind says there’s no cause & effect. My logical mind even questions if there is a God sometimes. But since I definitely “know” there’s one, I’m always noticing His presence. You are right, however, these may not have been God’s answers -- just coincidences...
Feb 24, 2023·edited Feb 24, 2023Liked by Donny Mac
Hi Donny ~
Sometimes I’m afraid to pray.
…Once I asked God if there was anything else He wanted me to do. The next day the principal asked me to be the guidance counselor for 800 students. The job was brutal.
…Once I asked God to help me because I was exhausted advising the Jr- Sr Prom. The next day I stepped on a nail at work night & was hospitalized with blood poisoning.
…Once I asked God to help me when my husband’s father, who was mentally ill, came to live with us. The next day my father-in-law died from a stroke in our guest room.
What was I really asking for? Sometimes I’m afraid to pray.
Thank you Donny for another thoughtful prayer walk. Ecclesiastes and James both address the realities of the world without God. Worldliness, apathy, greed, uselessness, hopelessness. The phrase “under the sun” is used frequently in Ecclesiastes to paint a vivid picture of life without God and His revelation. James discusses behaviors driven by the absence vs the presence of God in our lives. When I relate these teachings to how I pray and petition God, ideally my prayers should be pleasing to God, with a purpose to move me forward in my journey with God. I pray in Jesus’s name in my desire that He will hear and answer my prayers. He knows my heart, He knows if my motives are pure or selfish. We are taught to “Be joyful always, pray continually” 1Thes 5:16,17, “Ask and it will be given to you..” Matt 7:7. There are often times I feel I am praying a selfish prayer. I may not see the Godly motive in it but my human nature still persists. God often has answered those prayers in an unexpected manner, but clearly, over time, shows me His hand in those answers. Thank you Donny for bringing this subject to us this week. Life without God is undeniably meaningless, a chasing after the wind. God bless you on your continued journey.
No joke Donny I watch the video today for the third time and finished reading book of James and book of Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 . After our bible study last night I dive reading Ecclesiastes and what stood out are patience and hard work always pay off as long as we are with the Lord. No amount of riches can make us happier. It is how we obtained it that gives us the confidence to enjoy,considering that it determines what kind of person we are and how we care for those affected by our deeds. If our actions are anchored on Gods guidance , all in good no questions ask. Thank you for this prayer walk as my mind we’re somewhere this past two weeks until we receive the news this afternoon. Please say extra prayers for my husband until we meet all four panels of surgeon April 20-25 . I have my two days torture appointment on 4-20-21 and he had his also. I am leaving everything to God he had better plans for him. 🙏❤️🙏❤️
I went back and just finished reading Ecclesiastes and the book of James. I'm glad you suggested that. There were two phrases commonly used in Ecclesiastes of "chasing the wind" and to "Fear God." Chasing the wind reminds me of us being in the flesh chasing our own selfish ambition or desires and not God's. In relation, to "fear God" to me reminds me to humble and surrender myself to God.
We all have our journeys and grow in our faith accordingly. We are all created uniquely in that way. That's why when we stumble along the way and God allows that to happen, it's usually for our good to make us stronger in our faith and increase our reliance on him. God allows things to happen to test us to grow from them. Ecclesiastes 3:18a (NLT) states - "Then I realized that God allows people to continue in their sinful ways so he can test them." James 1:3 (NLT) states - "For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."
Two things I pick up strongly on this prayer walk in reading this scripture, is "Surrender" and "Trust." Also, obedience and humbleness should be mentioned. Psalm 37:4 (NLT) states - "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires." Psalm 37:5 (NLT) states - "Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you." Lastly, Psalm 37:7a (NLT) states - Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act."
When we pray, yes, I agree pray boldly for the things we would like, but do so within the will of God. At least, that is what I try to do. Even if I pray for something for myself, healing for someone, I pray for God's will to be done and "HOPE" it is for complete healing, etc. For me, I'm praying now for God to guide me to show me his will after retirement and/or to lose the rest of this weight. Patience is absolutely what I'm NOT good at, but I know HE knows what's best for me, and he is ultimately going to show me. Personally, the journey he has and is currently taking me on, I could NOT have done before now. My faith was not where it should have been as I truly believe He knew I was not ready. When I tried to lose weight in the past, I failed because I selfishly did NOT place God first. This time around is different in that respect because of being obedient and vulnerable to accepting He knows what is best for me.
All in all, when we let the flesh (ourselves) and pride overrule God's will, that's when he may allow us to be tested. But when we totally surrender to him day by day, hour by hour, and pray accordingly for things to happen in His will and His timing, that's where the difference lies.
No matter our age or how it long it takes, God will answer our prayers, but it will always be in His timing and according to HIS will. I don't want to be "chasing the wind." Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NLT) sums it up - "Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person."
Thank you Donny for the homework assignment. When re-reading Ecclesiastes especially, I never realized until today how often those two phrases were used and never really took the time to really stop and think what I could personally take from it. Thank you for challenging us to do this. I'm so glad I took the time to do that as it really reminded me to trust him in everything. He knows what's best for each of us.
It was great to read the books of Ecclesiastes and James together and see so many similarities.
That's why I love the prayer walks, I have a few years of conversion and “church”, but it's so amazing how God has used the walks to speak to my heart and learn so many things from you, Donny, and your simplicity as an evangelist.
On another walk I had already commented on “running after the wind” which is my favorite quote from Ecclesiastes, so today my highlights are 4 words that are pointed out in both books: Patience, Perseverance, Trial and Fool.
And, of course, my favorite verse from Ecclesiastes 1:17: I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind”.
I think I have a tendency to "fight the windmills" - here's a quote from the poem Catley Cone published this week - and "chase the wind" in some areas of my life, so I've been prayed God:
“Give me courage to be still
And trust you
Teach me to listen to your Spirit”
A little snippet of a prayer I wrote in “poem” form – dare I say it's a poem – LoL - but I'm hoping this could be my new skill – LoL.
P.S.:
- Cathey Cone, thanks for encouraging me to keep writing...
- Donny,thank you for blessing me with your reflections and simplicity - maybe here is your "success", the one that reverberates in heaven!
- Ah, this "poem" is influenced by the song "Teach Me To Love" (but, it's not plagiarism - lol)
Thanks for the walk!
Enjoyed your Prayer Walk today. I will read James and Ecclesiastes. Scriptures can reach out to us when we really need it. We just have to listen. Today is Ash Wednesday. The service tonight was different than the ones I have been to before. There were different stations that we went to. First station-- we dipped our hands in the bowl of water with anointing oil remembering both the gifts of the Magi brought and the spices used at Jesus' burial. "Remember your baptism and keep it holy". Second station--We ran our fingers through the sand in the bowl to remember the impermanence of life. Our earthly lives are temporary, and we remember that to inform how we live and love and order our lives to honor God. Third station--Ashes, representing that God made us from dust, and that we will return to dust soon. "From dust you come, to dust your will return. Repent of your sins and believe on the gospel". (A sign of the cross was placed on our forehead). Forth station--Nail, a common nail to represent common people whose sins nailed Jesus to the cross. (Each person took a nail as a reminder of Jesus nailed to the cross). It was a very moving service. Listening to your Prayer Walk and then going to our church for our Ash Wednesday Service made this day very special. Jesus died for our sins. He is our strength and our comforter. He will never fail us.
Just finished watching this Prayer walk and so haven't had a chance to do the reading. However I just want to say that one thing I am always asking God for is a real sense of his Presence and love. I have only really felt His love once and that was the night my 1st grandson was born and as I looked at him in the intensive care nursery (he was 10 weeks prem) I felt a wave of love flow through me. I know it was God's love for this child as God knew he was going to need it for his short 9 years of life. Never felt that before or since and it seemed to have left once my grandson went to be with Jesus.
I learned something years ago from an older lady when my daughter was a little girl. The lady’s name was Nrs. Dot. She had that faith like the mustard seed. She said that when it came to prayers for herself she would trust a child to do that for her. Children trust without doubting God. There was another young woman who was blind and did not want her sight because she wanted the first face she saw when she died would be Jesus. I don’t think I pray for myself well so I give them away to pray for me because maybe I don’t really see what I’m praying for and I’m not childlike enough to trust God with my self prayers. I don’t want fame but a little extra money to share with others is my only goal. I do know God may not give me lots of money because I prefer to give it away. What I do love is allowing God to open my eyes to others hearts and ask God to fill their needs according to His riches. When I do pray I use the Our Father that Jesus taught so I remain focused on why and who I’m praying for. God showed me Graham to pray for and how I could. He used Graham to show me to you. I will go to God as a child in faith and pray that you see His face in your pursuits and all those on this place for the same.
I haven't read either of these yet. But I wanted to say how very many thoughts went through my head as we walked around this beautiful place. Thoughts about my moving to the Beach which I talked to God about for over 2 years, and my thoughts about talking to God about you moving permanently to Nashville. I don't believe "Fame" and "Fortune" is your thing. I remember the day I met you in person at Anne's, saying to you as you started to play music, remember us peons when your famous. You turned to me immeditately and said "thats not me. Thats not how I am". I will never forget that. I know without a doubt that you definitely are not like that. But teaching people how to pray and talk to God is definitely on your work list. God may not "need" you to do, but I think he loves the fact that you've brought so many of us to him. Made our faith stronger. As for myself, I think God decided my move to the beach was a healing factor after the loss of my husband. But it took a lot of time for it to happen. I will now read Ecclesiastes and James. Todays walk was excellent. Thanks Donny.
This one really shook me. Thanks Donny sometimes I need affirmations that God’s answer isn’t always my answer. I do pray for others often and I’ve realized that I’m beginning to pray for myself more now which I know I should do more. After readings Ecclesiastes and James the following verses stood out:
“There is more gain in lightness”
“For everything there Is a season”
“A time to keep the silence”
“All is vanity”
“Let your words be few”
“Who can make straight what HE has made crooked”
“Do not take to heart all the things you hear people say”
“Life is sweet”
“Put away pain from your body”
What was laid on my heart was to be still and to acknowledge that God has a path destined for me and though it may be a broken road, there is always light on this journey and with Faith all the pain we suffer will become no more. I will have my time to shine and it will be in His time Not mine...
thank you again for always giving us words of wisdom and inspiration to know we are loved no matter what we face on our journey!! 🙏
Donny, as always another inspiring prayer walk to dig deeper into the scriptures. This week has been a hectic one for me..am still trying to read and digest the readings you recommended.
As for what am I really asking for when I pray had changed over the years, the one constant has been I don’t ever recall praying for material things, more often it is “ why” things happened to me. There were even a times in my younger years when it was why did this happen to me not someone else. I now know if those events/ things hadn’t happened I wouldn’t be where I am today. When I was very angry at God, not really praying, my life was just going through the motions, there was no joy. Only after I found my way back did I slowly find joy again. Even on my busiest days, I now take a few minutes to give thanks for another day and ask God to walk with me.
Am going to read James & Ecclesiastes to reflect on your questions. Continued blessings to you Donny...
Stanley Park was beautiful! We had a sea wall to walk in West Seattle when I was a child. Alki Beach had the sound of the birds and ships on the bay.
I listened to David Suchet read Ecclesiastes on Spotify, then read it in my NIV Bible. Listening to it painted quite a word picture for me, and I noticed things I hadn't picked up on before. Ecclesiastes Ch 12: 1-8 draws quite a bittersweet picture,
"when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades;
when men rise up at the sound of birds but all their songs grow faint..."
Decades ago, I remember focusing on the 12:13-14 "the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." A profound thought to carry around that never gets old.
A favorite part of James that I have been meditating on lately is "be quick to listen and slow to speak" and "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
These simple phrases challenge me to examine my actions and motives.
Oh yes, my logical mind says there’s no cause & effect. My logical mind even questions if there is a God sometimes. But since I definitely “know” there’s one, I’m always noticing His presence. You are right, however, these may not have been God’s answers -- just coincidences...
Hi Donny ~
Sometimes I’m afraid to pray.
…Once I asked God if there was anything else He wanted me to do. The next day the principal asked me to be the guidance counselor for 800 students. The job was brutal.
…Once I asked God to help me because I was exhausted advising the Jr- Sr Prom. The next day I stepped on a nail at work night & was hospitalized with blood poisoning.
…Once I asked God to help me when my husband’s father, who was mentally ill, came to live with us. The next day my father-in-law died from a stroke in our guest room.
What was I really asking for? Sometimes I’m afraid to pray.
Thank you Donny for another thoughtful prayer walk. Ecclesiastes and James both address the realities of the world without God. Worldliness, apathy, greed, uselessness, hopelessness. The phrase “under the sun” is used frequently in Ecclesiastes to paint a vivid picture of life without God and His revelation. James discusses behaviors driven by the absence vs the presence of God in our lives. When I relate these teachings to how I pray and petition God, ideally my prayers should be pleasing to God, with a purpose to move me forward in my journey with God. I pray in Jesus’s name in my desire that He will hear and answer my prayers. He knows my heart, He knows if my motives are pure or selfish. We are taught to “Be joyful always, pray continually” 1Thes 5:16,17, “Ask and it will be given to you..” Matt 7:7. There are often times I feel I am praying a selfish prayer. I may not see the Godly motive in it but my human nature still persists. God often has answered those prayers in an unexpected manner, but clearly, over time, shows me His hand in those answers. Thank you Donny for bringing this subject to us this week. Life without God is undeniably meaningless, a chasing after the wind. God bless you on your continued journey.
No joke Donny I watch the video today for the third time and finished reading book of James and book of Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 . After our bible study last night I dive reading Ecclesiastes and what stood out are patience and hard work always pay off as long as we are with the Lord. No amount of riches can make us happier. It is how we obtained it that gives us the confidence to enjoy,considering that it determines what kind of person we are and how we care for those affected by our deeds. If our actions are anchored on Gods guidance , all in good no questions ask. Thank you for this prayer walk as my mind we’re somewhere this past two weeks until we receive the news this afternoon. Please say extra prayers for my husband until we meet all four panels of surgeon April 20-25 . I have my two days torture appointment on 4-20-21 and he had his also. I am leaving everything to God he had better plans for him. 🙏❤️🙏❤️