Now, if we're honest, reading the Bible consistently can be a challenge, but know that it's never too late to start and we're in this together.

Thanks for journeying with us.

And here's your host, Emma, daughter.

Thanks for joining.

Today, we are reading Ecclesiastes 9 through 12, and I am back in the podcast studio with a guest who's been here before.

It's Cecil Blanton.

Hi, Emma. How are you?

I'm very well, Cecil.

It's good to have you back.

I am so glad to be back. I really am. Thanks for inviting me back.

You're so welcome.

Since you've been on a few times, we're going to link your past episodes in the description. So if listeners haven't heard you and they

want to learn more about your story or even just hear more great truth from your mouth, they can

check out those episodes. But today, we're in Ecclesiastes and we gave you a very specific

question coming from today's text. And that question was, should I be scared of God bringing every deed into

judgment? But before you answer that question, why don't you just give us a quick flyover of today's

chapters? Frame them up for us. Yeah, excellent. Be more than happy to do that. Thank you. So starting

with chapter nine, the teacher, which in this case is Solomon, reminds us that death comes for everyone, no matter how righteous or wicked we are. But instead of giving into hopelessness, the teacher encourages us to enjoy the life we've been given. Eat, drink, love well, and do work with all your heart. And then as we

move on to chapter 10, it talks about wisdom. It shows how just a little foolishness can outweigh a lot

of wisdom and how the world can feel pretty upside down at times. Still, wisdom matters, even if it's not loud or flashing.

Chapter 11 pushes us to live with courage.

Since we don't know what's coming, we're told to take risk, be generous, and enjoy life,

...