Author: Lynden McGriff

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 1-3; John 1 

““But then when the time is ripe, I’ll free your tongue and you’ll say, ‘This is what God, the Master, says:. . .’ From then on it’s up to them. They can listen or not listen, whichever they like. They are a bunch of rebels!””

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭3‬:‭27‬ ‭MSG‬‬

There are several different methods of listening, but two that are very important are active listening and passive listening.  When you’re actively listening, you are processing the words, the context, and the tone of the message. You are engaging in the full context of the message and you are understanding  the information to make an informed decision.

Passive listening is when you are just in the presence of the message and you hear the information, but you are not processing it. If you were asked to give information about the message at a later time you would not be able to relay the information.

In the two passages that we have today, Ezekiel and John, we have two messengers that are given their assignments and they are tasked to relay the information. In Ezekiel, Ezekiel is afraid of the persecution of the individual that he is tasked to deliver this message. He is in the midst of the exiles in Babylon. From my previous writing, we find that the individuals in Babylon were protected by God if they abided by his rules and listened to Jeremiah. 

And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions.[j] Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 2: 5-7

In contrast in John, John the Baptist delivers his message with boldness and confidence that Christ is coming and will be the Savior of everyone.

15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.[e] 

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight[h] the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Behold, the Lamb of God

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son[i] of God.” John 1 : 15-34

The main focus of the message is not the messenger, but on the audience who receives the message. In Ezekiel, God tells Ezekiel that God will protect Ezekiel if he delivers a message. It is up to the people who listen or not listen to except the direction in the guidance.  John the Baptist, tells everyone the good news of Christ.  John the Baptist is overjoyed that he continuously tells the world the good news several times in the first Chapter of John.

 In the  Bible the messengers were limited in their audience.  We currently have the benefit of having the Holy Spirit as our messenger. We all are the audience.  We all have the ability to hear and listen to the message.  This is the Spirit of God or God the Spirit.  We have unlimited access to our messenger. He dwells in us and connects us with God the Father and God the Son. We are in continual communication with our messenger of today.

 Many times in the Bible they were listening for information about the coming of Christ or the deliverance of the people. But now we can listen for guidance, listen for encouragement, listen for healing, and listen for anything that we need from God.

Let’s be  in tune to what God is giving  us and ask him that we may be better at active listening. Such as the example of Elijah. 

“And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Let’s listen for the whisper of God.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 24,27,28,29 and James 4

One of my favorite messages from God is this “ I’ve got you”.  This is one of the most comforting and reassuring messages that God continues to give me throughout my life. In the world where so many things are variable and ever changing, God continues to tell me “I’ve  got you “.  This message doesn’t say that it’s going to be easy or that it’s going to be fair or that I’m not going to have hardships or trials.  It states that he will help us and be there to guide us through everything.

“Then God told me, “This is the Message from the God of Israel: The exiles from here that I’ve sent off to the land of the Babylonians are like the good figs, and I’ll make sure they get good treatment. I’ll keep my eye on them so that their lives are good, and I’ll bring them back to this land. I’ll build them up, not tear them down; I’ll plant them, not uproot them. “And I’ll give them a heart to know me, God. They’ll be my people and I’ll be their God, for they’ll have returned to me with all their hearts.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭24‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“‘I’m the one who made the earth, man and woman, and all the animals in the world. I did it on my own without asking anyone’s help and I hand it out to whomever I will. Here and now I give all these lands over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have made even the wild animals subject to him. All nations will be under him, then his son, and then his grandson. Then his country’s time will be up and the tables will be turned: Babylon will be the underdog servant. But until then, any nation or kingdom that won’t submit to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon must take the yoke of the king of Babylon and harness up. I’ll punish that nation with war and starvation and disease until I’ve got them where I want them.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭27‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“This is the Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God, to all the exiles I’ve taken from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and make yourselves at home. “Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country. “Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you’ll thrive in that country and not waste away. “Make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare. “Pray for Babylon’s well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you.” This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭4‬-‭7‬, ‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭MSG‬‬

In reading Jeremiah, I have a new understanding of God‘s provision for us. In these chapters, we have some of the most memorable verses: 

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope“. 

But when you really dive deep into this, you can see a different story. The majority of my life I have thought of the Babylonian conquest and the Babylonian empire as a season where the Israelites were persecuted and deliberately mistreated. But reading through chapters 24, 27, 28, 29 and actually understanding it in a different perspective, God actually had them covered from the beginning to the end and the exile and the Babylonian conquest. God actually protected the people in their exile. He gave them instructions that he was there in the midst of everything. He instructed them to grow and flourish in this exile from their land. He was putting his hand of protection around them in the midst of their exile. This is a continuation of God‘s provision for us. 

When we look back at the chronicles of the Bible Cannon, we can see how God has protected us in the midst of change and in the  midst  of chaos. 

• Egypt 
• The wilderness 
• Exile 

God is continuously protecting us in these chaotic times. He is allowing us to grow, and he is allowing us to lean into him.  From my own experience when things become chaotic and difficult, I tend to retreat into myself. But as I am reading, and having God mentor me through these passages, I will attempt to lean into him more. I will attempt to not retreat into me, but retreat into Him, and not hinder my blessings that He has in store for me. I will make an effort to not withhold my seeds in time of famine, but just continue to sow them for His growth. He doing an amazing work in me. He is the Gardener and the Protector and the Perfector  of all that he does in me. So I remembered that he’s telling me “I’ve got you”.

Today’s Reading: Habakkuk ; 2 Corinthians 7

The Lord‘s Answer

⁵ “Look among the nations, and see;    wonder and be astounded.For I am doing a work in your days    that you would not believe if told.

Habakkuk : 1:2-5

There are so many feelings and emotions that we have as humans: joy, sadness, anger, disgust, happiness, sorrow, frustration, sadness, and loneliness. One of the hardest and most difficult feelings that I have and has had is loneliness.

When you are lonely, you feel isolated. You feel deserted. You feel separated for everything. The readings from this week echo this loneliness so well. The whole book of Habakkuk is a questioning of God in loneliness. He is screaming his loneliness. He is screaming his distraught. He is witnessing so many things that are going on in the world that he cannot really understand why it is happening.

In each of the responses God is teaching and speaking back. The name Habakkuk in Hebrew is Chavaqqquq which translate into “Embrace.”   At the end of book of Habakkuk, there is a song that is recorded. The time from the beginning enough back to the end of the back is not known but can be over several years. But we can see in the transition that God answers.

We are all going through our own valleys and mountains in our journey, and sometimes in our valley, God actually uses people to breathe life into us.

Just the other day I was going through some highs and lows of my own, and a patient was able to free his life to me. As I counseling my patient, he looks at me and tells me about his life journey. As we were talking, the  patient stated “when I was a young man, I grew up in Mexico, Texas, and Chicago.  I have been all over the country and thought I knew what a “real” man was.  The definition of a real man was the leader of the gang or territory, a real macho man.  But after 70 years of life, I can see the truth in people and what a real man is… You are the definition of a real man.  A person that is comforting and just.  A person who genuinely cares about those around him… his patients and his staff.  For all the years that I have been here, you [Lynden] have shown nothing but the utmost respect for all you encounter. But I have witnessed you in the pharmacy and all you do and you have been the model of a true man. I am thankful that you have been here in. God placed you here in my life and in the life of others that you serve on a daily basis.”  The patient then gave me a name, Papaito, young wise and of knowledge.

He grasped my hands and said the name several more times. He was confirming me and the place that I was in.  He was “Embracing”, me in the time of need.

In the midst of our loneliness or in our isolation God will speak to us in the most profound yet gentle ways. Are you ready to listen?

Today’s Passage: Isaiah 45-48, I Corinthians 13 

In 1983, Tina Turner made the hit with the title  “What’s love got to do with it”.  It is one of her most famous songs,  it is actually so popular that it made the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame.  Today’s passage asks the question “ what’s got to do with it?” and the answer is “Everything”.

In I Corinthians Chapter 13, Paul is trying to relate the fullness of Love.  In this definition Paul is going deeper than romantic love and revealing the essence of Love from the Spirit of God.  When Jillian and I got married the priest went over this passage with my wife and myself.  Throughout the passage, he had us substitute our name for each instance of love. 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Lynden/ Jillian is patient and kind.  Lynden/Jillian does not envy or boast……

But as we grow, and as we mature, we can substitute God for love because Gods is the essence of love as defined by John. 

 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God is kind and patient.  God does not envy or boast… 

All that God has done for us has been out of love.  The true manifestation and representation of God can be seen in the book of Isaiah chapter 45 through 48. Reading Isaiah is one of the most challenging and spiritually stretching exercises that I have done. You cannot just read it once or 100 times, you have to be mentally prepared for the deep dive into these scriptures. 

This past week, Oliver had an experience for outdoor survival and education. This is the culmination of eight years of training at school to be prepared to take care of yourself outdoors. Over the last several weeks we prepared everything for Oliver. We ensured you had the correct clothes, shelter, medicines, and everything to make this week memorable. I also prepared myself by getting my things prepared for him to protect him if he had a seizure while we were at the Outdoor Ed. There was a lot of planning on Jillian and my part to make sure that he had a great time. 

We provide and think and plan and prepare for our kids not just for this current time but also as they grow up. We try to be focused and prepared for their well-being.  As I prepared for the trip, I had an understanding of how God is planning and preparing for us, long before we can even think of it.  In the chapters of Isaiah,  God is laying out his protection and his plan for the children of  Israel, even through their separation and their exiled to Babylon. In these chapters, God spells out how he will protect them and how he will plan for their growth of protection in the midst of their exile.

“Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭45‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

He made plans for the people and showed them 200 years before and shows what is coming. He makes specific decisions and directions for the people who he cares for and has chosen. He has the same level of compassion and love for us as his children.  He has some amazing things ready for us.  He will also protect us from whatever presents a threat to us because he has it all figured out.  We have to allow him to work for us for His good.  Because of love, He has prepared many amazing things for us that we have yet to see. 

 

Today’s Reading: Isaiah:23-25 ; I Corinthians 3

Over the last couple weeks, the season has been transitioned from summer to fall. There are days when we have extreme heat and the next day is extremely cool. This is a great time of year.  All of creation is starting to slow down and starting to get ready for the winter. Today, as I was driving to a pumpkin patch, I saw several furry caterpillars crossing the street. This is nature alerting us, they are getting ready for the winter to come. 

As part of the preparations for fall or autumn, we have started to harvest garden items and the big crop items: corn and soybeans.  One part of fall gardening that is not known as much is the closing or renovating the garden.  This consists of pulling up the expired crops and preparing the garden for the spring or for a fall crop. This process is not easy. It’s the same process that is performed in the spring.  In this process you have to remove the roots and the stems of the previous plants. Then turn the soil and give it more nutrients to prepare for the next harvest. If you are producing a fall crop, you need to plant the seeds before the frost comes. This is a very strategic and a meaningful process that has to take time and effort to execute to ensure that you are a proper steward to the garden. 

“I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In the third chapter of First Corinthians, Paul is using the garden as a metaphor. He uses himself as a sower of seeds. Then he uses Apollos as the waterer of the seeds. He uses God as the gardener. Paul has a great understanding of his assignment or appointment in the grand scheme of the garden of God’s people.  Paul is sent to give the seeds of compassion and love that God has for us. Then Apollos was used to water and cultivate immature the seeds, that planet by Paul. But the true gardener of the seeds is God. Nothing can be done without God‘s intervention into the garden. 

Sometimes we can lose focus on our assignment and what we are here to produce, sometimes we believe that we are the gardeners. Sometimes we believe that we will see the fulfillment of all the things that we do.  We try to own everything that we are given to manage or be stewards over. We forget that this assignment is temporary and that God is the only one that owns the garden and has the full picture of the garden.  

God is graciously giving us an opportunity to see that we may sow seeds and not see the fulfillment or the fruit of those seeds.  Each time we give a smile or a kind word, we  are sowing into people.  I admit that I get in a place that I want to “own” so many things and want to see the results of the seeds that God has allowed me to plant.  Many times I want to see the end result. As I grow,  I know that the good that I give will be rewarded. 

Let us not get caught up in the end result. Let us not get caught up in who is watering or  who is sowing seeds.  Let us not get caught up in thinking about only us. Let us ask God to give us the ability to be the best steward.  

When we need reassurance let’s remember Isaiah 25:

“O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭25‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Today’s Reading II Kings 15-16; Matthew 21

Throughout history, there has always been a struggle of power . This struggle can be between good and evil. The struggle can be between the light and the darkness. The struggle could be between power and submission. There’s always a balance.

In school, there was a quote in science : Nature does not like a vacuum,  it will always have a balance. Throughout the scriptures, we hear about the balance between good and evil. We know that in the midst of a storm we will find refuge and stability. God uses these scriptures to remind us of how good he is in the midst of the good and the bad.

In these chapters of the II Kings, there is a chronological illustration of the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel. The nation of Israel was split after the reign of King Solomon. When Samuel appointed the first king of the combined nations of Israel,  Saul was the king over the 12 nations of Israel. Then in succession the crown and kingdom went to David and then to Solomon . After Solomon’s reign, the kingdom was split into two nations:   Judah ( tribes of Benjamin and Judah) and other 10 nations under Israel. The lineage of Judah is descendants from David. 

As we read in these chapters, we see that the kings of Judah were not perfect, but they tried their best to continue the lifestyle of their father David. They had some hiccups and some bruises, but they continue to strive to be in accordance with God. The kings of Israel did not attempt to stay with the laws of God.  The kings of Israel continued to not have any regard to God.  

In Matthew, Chapter 21,  Christ makes an illustration of the two sons and the vineyard.  The two sons are asked by the father to perform a task. The first son says he’s not going to do it, but actually does the task. The second son says he will do the task and does not do it.   Both of the nations in II Kings came from the same lineage.  One nation tries to follow the commandments of God, that’s the nation of Judah. The other nation of Israel knows what the commandments are as well, but they decide not to follow in the path.

Many times we are presented with good and bad in our lives. Sometimes the bad can become overwhelming as for the kings of Israel. Sometimes we have glimpses of light and hope as with the kings of Judah. But at the end of all of our crying and in our joy, we have to understand that God is in the midst of it all. God‘s hand is in the midst of everything that we go through. God is protecting us and giving us glimpses of hope to hold onto so that we do not become disengaged with life.

May God give us glimpses of light throughout this week and throughout our life so that we can show others in their  darkness light and hope.

 

 

Today’s Reading: Jonah ; Matthew 11

Today’s readings give us a glimpse into our callings or our appointments that God has given to us. One of the biggest discussion points that I have come across in the last several years is “What am I here for?” Too many times we get caught up in searching for “what” we are intended to do. Many times we put too much thought and too much effort into trying to be something that we or others have put on us. By training, trade, and profession I am a pharmacist.  But first and foremost,  I am first a person who is dedicated to helping others. Many times we are held into the profession that we have without expanding who we are. 

In the book of Jonah, God appoints certain elements of His creation to do His will. Each of these elements completes the assignment that God has for them at that given time and moment. God has appointments for us that are not going to be lifelong appointments.  Sometimes the appointments are for a second, a moment, an hour, or more.  We have to be open and obedient to His will to ensure that we can complete the assignment. 

God appointed Jonah 

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.””

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God appointed the wind and sea

“But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.”

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God appointed the great fish

“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.”

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God appointed the plant 

“Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.”

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God appointed the worm 

“But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.”

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The depth and the breath in which God can appoint is truly amazing.  From this brief book of Jonah, we can see that when God appoints anything many things and miracles can happen. As we are presented with this new week,  let us listen to God and see if we can hear the brief or long appointments that he has for us. 

Be blessed 

 

Today’s Reading : I Kings 19-21; II Chronicles 17; Psalms 129; Matthew 1

Perseverance. Integrity. Tenacity.

Sometimes in life, the hardest thing that we can do is to keep going. Sometimes we feel that too much is put on us and we want to give up. We want to stop the course of our race. We want to give into complacency. 

Over the summer we have been able to enjoy the fun filled adventures of sports ball. The girls have been playing softball. Oliver played basketball from October until two weeks ago. The one thing that Jillian and I constantly remind the kids to continue to play and don’t give up. We as a family made a commitment to the teams and to the organizations they need us to stay committed to the team and not give up. 

Many times throughout the summer, the traveling was overwhelming. There are many times that the heat of the event was overwhelming. There were times where we lost multiple rounds of softball or basketball. But we, as a family, decided that we were going to continue to persevere through the hardships of the sport. We would not give up. We will continue to push forward for everything that we stand for. At the end of the season, we all felt accomplished and our integrity for the group didn’t falter because we did not give up.

 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

I Kings 19:3-8

In this chapter of Kings, Elijah wants to give up.  He just completed some of the most grueling part of his ministry. He wants to give up, he runs away and he is given comfort from God in the form of the shade under a broom tree. The broom tree has several meanings in the Bible and it is a focal point of rest, restoration, and resolution.  Even though Elijah wants to give up, he still submits to God‘s will. God understands his heart and his mindset. God allows Elijah to retire from his ministry, but he sets up the way to continue his ministry.

Sometimes we want to give up. Sometimes we want to just let it all fall apart. But if we are in a relationship with God, He will allow us to continue his ministry in a different manner. He will set up everything to make a smooth transition. 

No matter what you’re going through.  No matter what the circumstances are, God has your best mind. God sees and hears what you’re going through. If we continue to connect with Him, he will show us ways to grow and transition to the next level of our ministry and in our lives.

Today’s Reading : I Kings 10-11; II Chronicles 9; I Timothy 6

The wealth and  the beauty of King Solomon have been told so many times it not only transcends to Christian religion, but it goes to other religions. This is a testament of how impactful and how powerful Solomon’s connection with God. Solomon is even referenced by Christ and the beatitudes.  

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Solomon was visited by the queen of Sheba to be a confidant or an advisor for her. Sheba actually is a place that is one of the great empires in the Arabia and African regions during this time. Solomon’s wisdom was reported throughout the land which influence was spread to Sheba, which was a place of prestige and of education.  For the queen of Sheba to come to visit, Solomon was an important meeting. It doesn’t say how long she was there, but it could’ve been for quite some time. From this, we can see that Solomon was a man of wisdom and wealth. The gifts that the queen brought to him was equivalent to $3.6 million during that time. The calculations for our current time are astronomical.

Solomon had wealth. Solomon had wisdom. He was known all over the land for his talents. The most important thing we have to remember, is these talents were gifts from God and that were used for God and the betterment of his glory. Solomon had a great relationship with God.  

“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We don’t have to be perfect, but we must continue to make progress.  When Solomon lost his focus and relationship with God,  he lost his connection.  God tried to re-establish the relationship. Solomon allowed others to influence him and take his heart away from God.  This happens to everyone.  

We now have the Holy Spirit to help us constantly.  The Holy Spirit is also known as God the Spirit.  We now are able to be in relationship with God all of that time.  With this connection and our realization of progress and not perfection we are able to grow with him.  It all starts with the relationship.  With the relationship,  we have the access to all of the riches and wisdom that God has for us.  Let us be aware and ready for what God has for us: wisdom, wealth, and relationships.  

Be blessed 

 

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 29-31; I Thessalonians 4

“Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification;”

“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭1-3; 9‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Many of us know that we need to put God first in our lives. We go to church. We sing songs. We read the scriptures. We do the Small Groups. But are we putting God first? Now many of us have actually been able to reflect and put God first at every point of our daily life and our complete lives.

Even though we might have Him in our first thought of our lives, sometimes we can forget. Sometimes we get busy with other things. Sometimes we get distracted.  God knows that it is hard for us to continue to be in his presence, but He is always open for us to be there. He is a loving God and He wants us to continuously come back and connect with him.

In Thessalonians,  we see where the new church is having the same problems that we are having. Sometimes we put things before God and try to fill his place with the worldly things. But after many times, we find that those worldly items cannot fulfill us the same way that God. God understands our will and our want to connect with him. He is able to give us that fulfillment that these earthly items cannot fulfill. God is also loving the way that he is able to forgive us of all of our mistakes and misdoings.   May we be blessed this week, and give the grace that God has give us in the many times we don’t put him first.