The Temple in Which God Reigns....

I’ve always wondered why things happen. Why good people suffer? Why bad people seem to prosper? Why haters of God are allowed to live and continue to curse Him and go unpunished? Then I read 2 Chronicles chapter 7. It doesn’t fully explain the “why”, but it does tell us how believers are to respond to these events when they occur. We are to call upon God during these times. We are to turn from our wicked ways (probably the reason for the calamity). When we repent and become believers in Christ Jesus, our hearts become the Temple in which God reigns, and it is our hearts that are dear to His own heart. This is where we go to Meet with God, His Temple, too pray, interact with, and worship. If we continue to live a life void of His presence, it will only be because of our own rejection of Him. When people see our demise, those closest to Him will know the reason. It will be because of our abandonment of the Lord, in favor of other gods. Idolatry is the #1 sin in America. It can all be avoided by walking daily with the Lord. And it can be forgiven and made right through repentance. The problem is some refuse to go there, then wonder why things happen. So the next time you wonder why things are happening, instead of trying to figure out the answer, go to God in prayer, humble yourself, and if any sin is being practiced in your life, turn from it. Then the answer will come in the form of “opening my eyes, and focusing them back on the Lord”.

11 So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace. 12 Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. 14 Then if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 16 For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy–a place where My name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to My heart.17 “As for you, if you faithfully follow Me as David your father did, obeying all My commands, decrees, and regulations, 18 then I will establish the throne of your dynasty. For I made this covenant with your father, David, when I said, ‘One of your descendants will always rule over Israel.’19 “But if you or your descendants abandon Me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, 20 then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor My name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. 21 And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’22 “And the answer will be, ‘Because His people abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why He has brought all these disasters on them.’ ” 2 Chronicles 7:11-22

Pray Not For Less Fear, But More Love....

The thing that confuses most modern day believers is how to handle opposition. Here is a clear example of how we are to confront those diabolically opposed to the Gospel. Call them out. Tell the truth. Do it with gentleness and respect, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because if you don’t, their agenda will prevail and prevent others from believing. Pray not for less fear, but more love. This will help you be bold and overcome your fears. It will help you save more souls.

6 Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.9 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. 10 Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? 11 Watch now, for the Lord has laid His hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.12 When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. Acts 13:6-12

Above the Law....

When Solomon prayed in the Temple when the ark was moved and the Lord’s presence filled the place, his prayer revealed the core of our relationship with God. It’s all about having a heart right with Him. When we sin and repent, God forgives. Knowing this frees us from the dominion of sin. It doesn’t give us license, rather freedom to live out the commands of God. Not the 10 Commandments, but those above the law; to love, to serve, to bless, to do what Jesus did. For these things have no law. Today, we have a choice: to live under the law, or to live above it. Knowing this, choose wisely.

14 He prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You in all of heaven and earth. You keep Your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before You in wholehearted devotion. 15 You have kept Your promise to Your servant David, my father. You made that promise with Your own mouth, and with Your own hands You have fulfilled it today.16 “And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise You made to Your servant David, my father. For You said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow My Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ 17 Now, O Lord, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to Your servant David.18 “But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain You. How much less this Temple I have built! 19 Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is making to You. 20 May You watch over this Temple day and night, this place where You have said You would put Your name. May You always hear the prayers I make toward this place. 21 May You hear the humble and earnest requests from me and Your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where You live, and when You hear, forgive. 2 Chronicles 6:14-21

30 then hear from heaven where You live, and forgive. Give Your people what their actions deserve, for You alone know each human heart. 31 Then they will fear You and walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land You gave to our ancestors. 2 Chronicles 6:30-31

38 If they turn to You with their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity and pray toward the land You gave to their ancestors–toward this city You have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor Your name–39 then hear their prayers and their petitions from heaven where You live, and uphold their cause. Forgive Your people who have sinned against You. 2 Chronicles 6:38-39

Transforming My Attitude, Changes My Perspective....

God loves to be praised. Yet I find myself doing it less and less. Why is that? My thinking is because I’m too focused on myself. I don’t make the time to sit and be still throughout the day. If I would just stop, stop my thinking, and get the focus off “me”, it would free up my biased sight to reveal all that God has done, continues to do, and will do in my life. It’s almost if I were flying a drone. The second it takes off the view is of me (I fill the frame), as it flies higher I get smaller and smaller and the view expands to include more and more. Eventually I’m a dot in the view of many miles of territory in which God has made. This “big picture” is exactly what we need to see everyday in order to keep the proper perspective in life. God is the only “WAY” we can stay/remain/become humble. When we praise Him, His presence is felt. When Solomon was moving the ARK to the finished Temple, they were praising God with music and song. They praised Him, and His presence filled the Temple. Their praise was rewarded with His presence. Isn’t that the greatest blessing here on earth? His nearness to us is our good. Praise Him today. It’ll transform your attitude by changing your perspective.

13 The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: “He is good!His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. 14 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14

Praise, Pride, and Arrogance....

I don’t want to sound pious, or religiously superior, so please don’t take this the wrong way. When will people get it? When will they understand that pride and arrogance don’t help people. When a man exalts Himself, He will eventually be humbled. It only because of God’s patience and grace that a man is not wiped off the face of the earth we he accepts undue praise from people. I’ve always told myself, “humble yourself, so others won’t have to”. God will not share His glory with anyone. I agree whole-heartedly. Do you?

20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, 21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. 22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died. Acts 12:20-23

True Blessings....

People often mistake blessings as accumulating money, success, fame, and power. What these people miss is true blessings are those that bring us closer to God. The above mentioned things only separate us from God, because they take our focus off Him, and place it on ourselves. Having sight and hearing that is able to discern truth in a world of lies is the real blessing. We need to ask God for spiritual sight, and the ability to truly listen. Then we can decipher truth from falsehood. And no amount of money, fame, or power can earn that.

12 Ears to hear and eyes to see–both are gifts from the Lord. Proverbs 20:12

What Does God Mean to You?

As I continue to read about Solomon building the temple, I can’t help but think of the value put into its construction. David refused to give to God anything that cost him nothing. His son, Solomon used 23 tons of gold just for the inside of the temple. These are examples of how much God meant to them. This begs the question, what does God mean to me? Do I give Him my best in all I do? Do I give my resources to help further His Kingdom? Yes, David and Solomon gave out of their abundance, but do I give out of my lack of abundance (like the poor widow giving all she had)? I’m a little depressed now when I answer these questions. I have a long way to go. My treasure isn’t fully aligned with my heart. Is yours?

8 He made the Most Holy Place 30  feet wide, corresponding to the width of the Temple, and 30  feet deep. He overlaid its interior with 23  tons of fine gold. 9 The gold nails that were used weighed 20  ounces each. He also overlaid the walls of the upper rooms with gold. 2 Chronicles 3:8-9

God Knows Everything, He Can Be Trusted....

Have you ever wondered about how God knows everything: past, present, and future. Here’s an example, covering a large timespan. As we read about Solomon building the temple on Mount Moriah, I can’t help but think about all the things that took place here to solidify its significance. David had to purchase the site from a Jebusite. He paid about 15 pounds of gold for it. In today’s terms, that would equal about $300,000. He told the seller that he wouldn’t make an offering to the Lord that cost him nothing (the Jebusite had offered it to him for free). Then going back even further we read of Abraham taking his son Isaac up on the mountain. When Isaac asked his father, “where is the sacrifice?”, Abraham replied, “the Lord will provide”. And He did. That was On Mount Moriah. Now we have Solomon building the Temple on that same mountain. This same hill, said by some, is the crucifixion sight of Jesus. I don’t know how God knows, or how He orchestrates His plan, but I do know that He has it worked out in advance. If He wants me to trust Him, instead of trusting myself, I don’t have a problem with that. I just have to continue every day to fight my resistance to Him. Trusting God is the right thing to do. He’s proven Himself to be true to His Word. Trust Him.

1 So Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David, his father. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected. 2 The construction began in midspring, during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign. 2 Chronicles 3:1-2

Battling Our Sinful Nature.....

As long as we live on this earth, we will be sinners. The only difference is some will be saved, headed toward Heaven, and the rest will be lost, doomed to Hell. As this proverb reminds us, as long as we breathe air in this life, we will have to continue to constantly be battling our sinful nature, one day at a time.

9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”? Proverbs 20:9

If God Asked You What You Wanted.....

If God asked you what you wanted, and guaranteed to give it to you, what would your answer be? Would it be all about you? Riches, fame, or a long life? Would it be the destruction of your enemies? Or would it be like Solomon’s answer? Think about that. When you come up with the answer, it will reveal a lot about where you are in your walk with God. It will reveal what you truly treasure.

7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”8 Solomon replied to God, “You showed faithful love to David, my father, and now You have made me king in his place. 9 O Lord God, please continue to keep Your promise to David my father, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth! 10 Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of Yours?”11 God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern My people–12 I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!” 2 Chronicles 1:7-12

Real Change....

People want equality. People want to be treated fairly. People want to be valued and know they are significant. People want “CHANGE”. We had a recent president run a campaign based on the concept of “CHANGE”. When you think of that word it means many things to many people. That president certainly brought CHANGE to America, but it wasn’t the kind of CHANGE people wanted, that brought about equality, fair treatment, or significance. The only CHANGE that can bring about those things is an exCHANGED heart, a heart-swop with the Lord Jesus. It’s not until you are transformed by the renewing of your mind that true CHANGE can take place. Here in Acts chapter 10 we see a clear example of a CHANGED HEART. Peter learns that God doesn’t play favorites. He realizes that God chooses to work with gentiles as well as Jews. God accepts people from every nation that fear Him. If the world wants equality, fairness, and true significance, it needs to understand that the CHANGE it seeks, only comes from an exCHANGED HEART. And that is only possible through surrendering to God’s purpose. It starts with repentance. Is this the kind of CHANGE you seek?

34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation He accepts those who fear Him and do what is right. Acts 10:34-35

The Most Important 9-Letter Word....

The most important nine-letter word in the English dictionary: INTEGRITY. Walk in it, and you’ll be respected and blessed. And more important, you’ll bless the children who follow you.

7 The godly walk with integrity;blessed are their children who follow them. Proverbs 20:7

Everything Belongs to God....

Everything belongs to God. It’s not until we see and understand this that we truly learn to hold loosely our possessions and not allow them to possess us.

Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours, O Lord, and this is Your kingdom. We adore You as the One who is over all things. 12 Wealth and honor come from You alone, for You rule over everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and at Your discretion people are made great and given strength.13 “O our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name! 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to You? Everything we have has come from You, and we give You only what You first gave us! 15 We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.16 “O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor Your holy name comes from You! It all belongs to You! 17 I know, my God, that You examine our hearts and rejoice when You find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched Your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.18 “O Lord, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make Your people always want to obey You. See to it that their love for You never changes. 19 Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all Your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.” 1 Chronicles 29:11c-19

Dedication to God...

The one thing you have to admire about David was his dedication to God. Even though he wasn’t allowed to actually build the Temple, he did everything in his power to prepare the materials, draw up the design plans, and instruct and motivate his son, Solomon, to build it. Do you live your live your life like that? Do you serve God with all of your heart even if you’re not allowed to serve in the manner you want? What are you doing to prepare the next generation to do the work of the Lord?

11 Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary–which was the place of atonement. 12 David also gave Solomon all the plans he had in mind for the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple, the outside rooms, the treasuries, and the rooms for the gifts dedicated to the Lord. 13 The king also gave Solomon the instructions concerning the work of the various divisions of priests and Levites in the Temple of the Lord. And he gave specifications for the items in the Temple that were to be used for worship.14 David gave instructions regarding how much gold and silver should be used to make the items needed for service. 15 He told Solomon the amount of gold needed for the gold lampstands and lamps, and the amount of silver for the silver lampstands and lamps, depending on how each would be used. 16 He designated the amount of gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed and the amount of silver for other tables.17 David also designated the amount of gold for the solid gold meat hooks used to handle the sacrificial meat and for the basins, pitchers, and dishes, as well as the amount of silver for every dish. 18 He designated the amount of refined gold for the altar of incense. Finally, he gave him a plan for the Lord’s “chariot”–the gold cherubim whose wings were stretched out over the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant. 19 “Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord.”20 Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly. 21 The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are at your command.” 1 Chronicles 28:11-21

An Act of Will with an Honest Heart...

The question or act of will that every person on earth will have to decide on is this: will you surrender to His design? It’s everyone’s calling. It’s what people call “soul searching”. It’s not until you come to know the God of the Bible, that you can truly know yourself. It’s takes work. It takes effort. It takes consistency. And more so than all others, it takes an honest heart; one willing to accept the truth and make do with whatever it entails. The Bible calls it surrender. Some will respond, some won’t. The question is, will you?

9 “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek Him, you will find Him. But if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 10 So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as His sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.” 1 Chronicles 28:9-10

Sowing and Reaping....

You reap what you sow. If you’re not reaping, there will be nothing to sow. If you’re not planting how can you expect a harvest. God has given each of us a talent, a personality, a gift. Each gift is arranged to perform a function. Each function when done collectively in a body sustains and nourishes the body. Never think you are unimportant. Never think you don’t serve a purpose. Never forget that purpose takes time to cultivate, develop, and mature. If you are not working on your talent, your purpose, what you are best at, then don’t expect to reap anything. Plug into God today. Ask Him to help you to start cultivating your talent, so that when harvest comes, it’s bountiful.

4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest. Proverbs 20:4

Saul is the Perfect Example....

Other than meeting Jesus Himself, there’s no greater effective witness than a changed life. Saul is the perfect example of this.

Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Acts 9:19c-22

The Best Advice You Can Give....

Here’s the best advice you can ever give someone (especially your children): seek the Lord with all your heart. It will bring satisfaction for your soul, more than anything else can. And more importantly, the end result (when you find Him) will be the blessing and salvation of your soul. These are the words of David to his son Solomon. Come to know them, and share them with everyone.

Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. 1 Chronicles 22:19a

A Healthy Balance of Fear and Love...

The one thing that sets David apart from others was his healthy respect and love for God. David feared God and loved Him at the same time. This healthy balance kept him honest about his sin (even though he didn’t always recognize it immediately), and his love for God kept him honest and responsible to God as well. David loved God and he pursued knowing Him. Even though he feared God, he would rather be disciplined by Him than fall into human hands. David knew God’s justice and fairness. He also knew God’s Mercy and Grace. He knew that God always does right, so his sin was best judged and disciplined by God and not by man. How many people can say this about themselves? Can you? Does your relationship with God have this healthy balance of fear and love?

13 “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” 1 Chronicles 21:13

24 But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it for the full price. I will not take what is yours and give it to the Lord. I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing!” 1 Chronicles 21:24

The Balance Between Prosperity and Adversity....

There must be a balance between prosperity and adversity. God knows this, even though we don’t. Ask yourself this question: when in your life have you grown the most? I mean, when has your character been stretched and developed the most? Was it when you won a game or passed an exam or got something you desired? Or was it when you experienced some adversity and suffered some setback? When we align our outlook and desires with God, we start to see this as an unalterable happening. A life without God seeks prosperity, seeing it as the ultimate goal. People on this pursuit of prosperity end up dissatisfied because they eventually realize things don’t satisfy. Getting that raise at work, a “better” this or that, going on a better vacation, or even pursuing a “better” relationship at the expense of the one you currently have, won’t satisfy the longing of the soul for significance that only God can bring. It’s understanding your place, role, and purpose, where true significance is found. “Getting what you want” isn’t always a good thing. It won’t change a hardened heart. It won’t bring the satisfaction you think it will. Here’s a perfect example of this. The Israelites were complaining about wanting food. God reigns down bread from Heaven. Then they complain about wanting meat. God gives them meat. They weren’t satisfied or grateful. Their hearts were hard. Nothing can satisfy the soul like the presence of God. And we will never see that until we realize this truth. The most important things in life are not things. And until we see God as our One and only source of significance, we will always be tempted to believe prosperity is the “ultimate goal” in this life.

But He commanded the skies to open;He opened the doors of heaven.24 He rained down manna for them to eat;He gave them bread from heaven.25 They ate the food of angels!God gave them all they could hold.26 He released the east wind in the heavens and guided the south wind by His mighty power.27 He rained down meat as thick as dust–birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore!28 He caused the birds to fall within their camp and all around their tents.29 The people ate their fill. He gave them what they craved.30 But before they satisfied their craving,while the meat was yet in their mouths,31 the anger of God rose against them,and He killed their strongest men. He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men. 32 But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite His wonders, they refused to trust Him.33 So He ended their lives in failure, their years in terror. Psalms 78:23c-33

God’s Will For Our Lives.....

08232020 There are so many things out there that I’m not sure of, but there’s one thing I’m certain of no matter what; establishing God’s name and honoring Him with all your heart is our purpose in life. It may come in many forms (the honoring part), like loving your neighbor, standing up for what is right, or merely acknowledging His name in front of people. In the end what God blesses, He blesses eternally. If you ever wonder what God’s will for your life is, and many do including me, just remember whatever the circumstance you are going through (or about to go through), honor Him in it. That is God’s will for you. The blessing will be eternal.

23 “And now, O Lord, I am Your servant; do as You have promised concerning me and my family. May it be a promise that will last forever. 24 And may Your name be established and honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And may the house of Your servant David continue before You forever. 1 Chronicles 17:23-24

27 And now, it has pleased You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it will continue forever before You. For when You grant a blessing, O Lord, it is an eternal blessing!” 1 Chronicles 17:27

Why the Gospel is Met with Opposition....

The reaction to the Gospel (God’s truth) has one answer as to why it’s met with anger, hostility and rejection: GUILT. if people weren’t guilty, they wouldn’t react to God’s prompting of the Holy Spirit.

51 “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One–the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. Acts 7:51-60

God’s Ways Always Prevail....

Never forget that God’s ways will always prevail. Never allow yourself to stray away from God being the priority in your life. If your plans put God in the back burner, don’t be surprised when the food your cooking doesn’t taste as good as it should.

21 You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:21

Giving Your Heart....

The bottom line in life is all about how we see and relate to God. Some would call it submission (the reason many don’t), but I would call it “giving your heart” to God. Just keeping this simple, knowing God, our Creator, is the only way to truly know ourselves. Without His truth, we spend our entire lives pursuing things, thinking we will find ourselves, only to discover it never delivered on its promise. The only way to truly know yourself is to know the One Who made us. His reasons, purposes, and character qualities show us our reasons, purposes, and character qualities. It’s like looking into a mirror; you can look into a reflection of glass, or water, or something else, but it will not compare to the clarity a full-fledged, silver-backed piece of glass reflection that a genuine mirror produces. When we fully give our hearts to God, we get back a heart that knows the “Why” of life. We may not know all the answers, but we do know where our significance comes from. We know Who to rely on, allowing us to stand on solid ground in tumultuous times. It gives us hope, not in ourselves, but confidence in the One Who doesn’t change and always does what He says He’ll do. It brings peace knowing He has our best interest at heart. And most importantly, when we give our hearts to God, He transforms them from a stony heart, with a limited ability to love, into a living, heart of flesh that has the capacity to love beyond its sinful limits; a true, real, and rewarding kind of love. Giving your heart to God may seem scary to some, but I know it’s the only way to live. And it’s exactly what He wants from all of us.

8 Then they will not be like their ancestors–stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God. Psalms 78:8

Reminder of Proper Fear....

Having a proper fear of God is necessary. It keeps God in His rightful place, and puts you in yours. We as humans, have a tendency to forget, so we often times have to be reminded we don’t have it figured out. The Good News about this is, we do know Who does. Here, David is angry at God for taking Uzzah’s life, but he realizes God can do as He pleases. David’s goal of moving the ark to Jerusalem, wasn’t in God’s timing at that moment. They were not moving it in the prescribed manner in which Moses had instructed. Plus, no one was allowed to touch it. They were supposed to be carried by the poles created for that purpose and be carried only by the assigned Levites. David’s angered soon turned to fear when he realized this. His fear of God was necessary to turn his priorities back around to their proper place. And the Lord rewarded him for it with victories in battle. Do you have a proper fear of God? Some might call it the proper reverence and respect He deserves. It’s necessary for all human beings.

9 But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark. 10 Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and He struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.11 David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.12 David was now afraid of God, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?” 13 So David did not move the Ark into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. 14 The Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned. 1 Chronicles 13:9-14

17 So David’s fame spread everywhere, and the Lord caused all the nations to fear David. 1 Chronicles 14:17

Lending to God....

When you help the poor, you are lending to God. Never forget this.

17 If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord–and He will repay you! Proverbs 19:17

A Non-Detectable Path.....

Sometimes following God involves trusting Him to provide a path that we can’t even see; a non-detectable path that was always there.

19 Your road led through the sea,Your pathway through the mighty waters–a pathway no one knew was there!20 You led Your people along that road like a flock of sheep,with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds. Psalms 77:19-20

The Difference Between Serving and Being a Slave...

When you rebel against God, in whatever way you think is okay, He will show you the difference between serving Him, and serving those of your disillusioned choice. You can either serve Him willfully, or be shown to be a slave to that which you think you serve.

5 The prophet Shemaiah then met with Rehoboam and Judah’s leaders, who had all fled to Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah told them, “This is what the Lord says: You have abandoned Me, so I am abandoning you to Shishak.”6 Then the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is right in doing this to us!”7 When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah: “Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief. I will not use Shishak to pour out My anger on Jerusalem. 8 But they will become his subjects, so they will know the difference between serving Me and serving earthly rulers.” 2 Chronicles 12:5-8

If Our Leaders Followed God...

I wonder what America would be like if our leaders followed the instructions of God?

1 When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and Benjamin–180 ,000 select troops–to fight against Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself.2 But the Lord said to Shemaiah, the man of God, 3 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin: 4 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home, for what has happened is My doing!’ ” So they obeyed the message of the Lord and did not fight against Jeroboam. 2 Chronicles 11:1-4