Change In Plans

OK . . . so even though II Chronicles is very much a story and not genealogy . . . I've . . . ah . . . no desire to read it. Yeah . . .

It's kinda funny because I want to read it but just not now . . . I was so conflicted because I thought, OK, so why do I not want to read this . . . ? I felt kinda guilty because I kept skipping around and would end up just reading Psalms (not that there's anything wrong with that . . . but I felt bad because I wasn't sticking to my plan). Then yesterday, I just felt really drawn to read Galatians. I realized II Chronicles wasn't going to work.

Choosing to read Galatians was the best decision I made yesterday ; ). I'm not sure if I've ever read it before but I am now and it's really coming alive for me.

Lately I've been realizing that we are here not for popular approval but to show God to the world. I know, we grow up knowing that in the Church but there's nothing like the moment when a truth you've known all your life becomes personal. Yesterday as I was reading Galatians that point just popped off the pages in verse 10 of chapter one.

"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Galatians 1:10 NKJV

I really like how the Message Bible put it also.

"Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate crowds? Or curry favor with God? Or get popular applause? If my goal was popularity, I wouldn't bother being Christ's slave."

So that's it!

Well . . . actually today I read about how we are justified and that it's not by works. But since I'm only making one point per post . . . I'll save that for another time. ; )

And Solomon Named the Pillars

I thought this was an interesting facet of the chapter. In the last verse of chapter three, which is about Solomon building the temple, it says "Then he set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left; he called the name of the one on the right hand Jachin and the name of the one on the left Boaz."

Hmmmm . . .

Well, Jachin means whom God strengthens. (Makes sense for that to be the name of a pillar.)

And Boaz means fleetness. (And fleetness . . . for those of you—like me—who have never heard that word before . . . means "fast and nimble in movement." Thank you dock dictionary!)

Back To II Chronicles

So this morning I decided I need to actually start reading the book I said I was reading: II Chronicles. But today, I'm back.

And today Solomon wrote the King of Tyre a letter asking for cedars of Lebanon and a man who was skilled in working with various precious metals and cloths. It was a nice letter. But what really stood out to me was how the King of Tyre started out his letter.

He said, "Because the LORD loves His people, He had made you king over them."

Isn't that the most awesome thing to say to someone?! Because God loves His people, he has made you their leader. Because God loves this company, He has made you the president. Because God loves this school He has made you the principal.

Who says stuff like that? I've never heard that said before. But what an honor!

I mean, it's Romans 13:1b that says, "For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."

And it's a well known fact that people live up to the expectations others have for them, so why not let them know we expect them to lead as if they are indeed a blessing from God? Hmmm . . . not really sure what this would look like, but it's just a random thought.

Justified

Romans 5:1

"Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ."

[I'm still skipping around II Chronicles . . . don't know why, it isn't full of genealogy like the first one was . . . lol]

Awaken the Dawn

Lately I've been wandering around from the actual book I'm supposed to be reading. This morning I read Psalm 108, which has the phrase I have taken for the title of my blog.

It was so encouraging to read this verse to day, and this whole chapter really, because it talks about God just totally being there for you and helping you overcome your enemies. Not that I have enemies that need overcoming, but I do have big projects and deadlines that need overcoming, and I'm glad that God will be there for me the whole way!

"For Your mercy is great above the heavens, and Your truth reaches to the clouds." Psalm 108:4.

Heal the Wound but Leave the Scar

This morning for my devotional time I decided to do something a little different . . . well . . . I didn't really plan it, it just sort of happened. Instead of reading from II Chronicles, I just focused on a song that meant a lot to me and why it meant so much . . . here is the story. : )

When I was a kid, probably about three years old, I remember my parents telling me that when we go to heaven we won't have any scars because Jesus is going to give us new bodies. This should have made me happy but instead I was really sad and upset about it. I didn't want to give up my scars. Those were my bragging rights! I've always loved telling stories and scars were like an automatic story just waiting to happen.

"Hey, where'd you get that?"

"Well, let me tell you about that day . . . "

As I got older my sentiment didn't really change about my physical scars, but instead of making blunders of the klutzy kind, I started making mistakes that didn't leave physical wounds but emotional. Whether that was a fight with a friend or just saying or being or doing things that weren't too smart. Those scars I could do without. Yet I realized that even though these new scars weren't as cool, they still told a story of how I was growing and maturing . . . and how God was working in my life whether I cared or not.

I don't really mind as much today; not being able to take my scars to heaven. That's because I already have scars in heaven. And those scars have a really cool story that go with them. Those are the scars Jesus has in His hands, feet, and side. They were meant for me. But so I could live in heaven with Him forever, He endured the pain that created those scars . . . for me—and you. And forever and ever, I will be able to tell the greatest scar story (which is really the greatest love story)—starting now!

This is the song that brought this all to mind one day . . . Heal the Wound but Leave the Scar by Point of Grace.

Chronicles the Second Time Around

Here we go again . . . I've decided to read II Chronicles for my next book. Actually I've already started. hehe . . . I've been a little worded out lately, but I'll do my best to keep this blog updated regularly with my most recent adventures through . . . not genealogy . . . but the beginning of Solomon's reign and the building of the temple.

In flipping through the book I've not noticed any genealogy yet . . . hmmm . . . we'll see. Perhaps it's all story. That would be cool . . . as much as I do enjoy learning the meaning to those hard-to-pronounce Biblical names. lol. (Btw, I wasn't be sarcastic . . . I do like learning name meanings.)

OK, well, let me say a little bit about what I read yesterday in chapter one.

The first chapter of II Chronicles begins with the famous story of God asking Solomon what he would like. Solomon didn't ask for riches or honor, he asked for wisdom. I never knew this before, I don't think any pastor has ever brought this up in a sermon I've listened to, but Solomon was seriously nervous. He didn't know how he was going to lead the nation he had just been made king over.

Just before God asked Solomon to name anything he wanted, Solomon had been seeking God with his assembly of captains and leaders of Israel. They went up to where the ark of God was and Solomon "offered a thousand burnt offerings on" the alter there (1:6).

That night is when God appeared to Solomon said, "Ask! What shall I give you?" (1:7.)

Imagine God asking this? I remember as a kid how my friends and I would always ask each other what we'd say if we were granted one wish.

"I'd ask for a thousand more!" Came our "clever" response each time. Thankfully Solomon was more mature than us.

If you read the chapter you can hear the uneasiness he is feeling at taking up the leadership of Israel.

He said to God, "You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude" (1:9).

I'd be overwhelmed too!

And so he asked for the one thing he knew he couldn't survive being king without . . .

"Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?" (1:10.)

Now . . . here's the cool thing. Because he didn't ask for riches or glory, God gave him those as well.