Solomon's Prayer
Talk about an incredible moment in a person's life. Solomon, after seven years, builds the temple made to glorify God, stands and prays. Have you read that prayer lately? This is where we then read in 2 Chronicles 7 about "humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God's face and asking God to forgive - the promise is that God will do it. This is a historic moment for the Israelites and God's people. Peace reigns, Solomon rules justly, celebrations unfold and sacrifices are made. Did you catch the 2 Chronicles 7 begins with, "When Solomon finished praying, fire cam e down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, adn the glory of the Lord filled the temple". Have you prayed earnestly about the same things that Solomon prayed? Have you brought yourself before the gracious God that loves you and wants to fill you with the fire of His presence? Take a step, move out in faith, trust God (like Romans 4 states about Abraham) and if God truly honors genuine faith - the when you pray.....check for burn marks of His presence. Pastor Jeorge

Solomon builds the temple

The incredible plans to build a building that would house, in a unique way, the presence of God. Solomon charts out the course, calls other tribes, leaders, craftsman and teams together - 7 years later, whoola - the temple is complete. Seven years of hard labor, teamwork, vision as the 'day to day' operations of life continued. What captures my attention is the incredible detail of each room, the furnishings and artwork that Solomon instructed for the gifted to work on and complete. I guess anytime we set the course to build we need to prayerfully consider the following: 1) the materials, 2) the craftsman, 3) the people, 3) the detailed plan, 4) the day to day care of indivdiuals 5) the casting of vision to complete 6) the acknowledgement of "everybody" 7) the resting when finished. What are you building in your life? What spiritual project are you working on that takes this kind of detail and hard work? As Solomon was building the temple, God was continuing to build his people. As we are "temples" of His presence now, as believers in Jesus, we must also take pride in our own life, work in the details of holiness and hold to the vision that God will complete the work He has started in us. What a great encouragment, "God finishes what He starts". Pastor Jeorge

A cry for wisdom

The prayer and hearts desire for Solomon was simply "wisdom and discernment" to rule or lead the nation of Israel as their King or Leader. Amazingly to me, he does this as he is building unhealthy alliances with other nations by taking a wife of another country. God grants his request and gives him such favor that is really unheard of in the OT. Not only wisdom and discernment to rule over a nation but also to have other nations and leaders coming to gleam from his life and mind, based upon his relationship and favor from God, anything they could so that they too could have wisdom to live out their lives.

Our culture and time cries out for the same......wisdom Lord....for a job, a relationship, a decision, a type of Bible to buy, school to attend, what to eat or not too, reconciliation, means of healing, etc. The list is endless. We must cry out to God and "ask"! He grants what we need for that moment and for a lifetime. Solomon, as we read on, made many mistakes and sinned a great deal. This just tells me that everyday in new......everyday is a day for wisdom. To know that our choices matter to God and that consequences are real.

May God's grace just continue to flow into his people, as they seek him for wisdom and discernment in our times. I'm praying for the same as Solomon.....though riches and possessions may be apart of life's journey....there's nothing like a "wise decision" in times that require it.

Solomon asked for wisdom, even in the midst of his faults. This reminds me to keep asking for wisdom because, James, in the NT, picks up this principle of wisdom too when he writes, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding falut, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

A cry for wisdom! Pastor Jeorge

God's Temple

God was building a place to house His presence. It is profound that there was such precision taken in the building of the temple. Building of the temple was in fact great worship to God. I think it is a challenge for us to use more “precision” in our life of worship to God. Solomon knew what His calling was, and he acted on it. In the same way, our lives are to be lives of worship to God. Not necessarily with a properly measured wall or gold ornamentation, but with a discovery of what God wants for us. We then respond in obedience and with focus; even with precision.

Pastor Brian

Good Reminders

Sometimes we know something, but we need a good reminder. I thought the study in 1 Thessalonians had some great practical insight in it. Things like “stay calm” and “do your job” hit me just right this morning. I also enjoyed the scripture about meeting Jesus in the air. If you didn’t get to read it in the Message translation and want to, here it is:

1Th 4:14 Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus.
1Th 4:15 And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence--we have the Master's word on it--that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us.
1Th 4:16 The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God's trumpet blast! He'll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise--they'll go first.
1Th 4:17 Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master.
1Th 4:18 Oh, we'll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.

Pastor Brian

What a great promise from God to David - you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest! (1 Chron. 22:9). What a great promise. David responses by praying for and blessing his son, Solomon (22:11-17). David commands all the leaders to follow Solomon's lead in preparing to build the temple. He gathers all the workers, servants, priests and those gifted to work hard and dedicate themselves to the Lord's temple work. Here we see the great "heart" and dedication of King David, passing on an incredible legacy to his son. We need to try our best, in our circumstances and life, to pass on our best to our children, a legacy, a path worth following, a heart after God, God's blessing to our children. It's amazing what happens when we personally take our children aside, grab their hands or put our hands on their shoulders and actually pray God's blessing and care over them, as we then tell them we love them and want success to come to them in life and trust the Lord - no matter what they face! As we read the NT - Paul also talks about trials and times that he was delayed. He wants the believers to be strengthened and encouraged in their faith even through the trials that he is facing - in other words - don't give up! (1 Thes. 3:1-6). He even prays for them that "their love would increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else.......what a great pray for Highland! Do it Lord. PJ

David takes things into his own hands and takes a census of his military might. Wrong thing to do, at this time with God. David, tempted to trust in his own military might, doesn't ask God to take the census, avoids taking godly advise and moves forward. This only takes more than nine months to find out that there are over a million soldiers under David's command. Here we see the prophet come, named Gad, and give David a striking word of judgment from God. Can you imagine the impact of this judgment (70,000 dead)? I don't fully understand this passage but I think it is a strong challenge for us who are under the new covenant. Don't assume that every plague or attack is from the Devil. The enemy can strike because of sin or faithfulness, but not without God's knowing and giving His permission. A tough time for David to have others suffer because of the consequences of his leadership example. It's recorded in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles concerning David seeing the Angel of the Lord at the threshing floor. The cool thing is that as David submits himself to God again, builds an altar, offers sacrifice and prays - God answers. If we offer ourselves, humbly repent, worship God and pray.....I would not be surprised if God doesn't lift some of the heaviness that we are living in either.

As far as the "thinker" comment on how we esteem David so much even though he was an adulterer, murderer and prideful guy is simply this......he was also a man after God's heart, imperfect, able to take responsibility for his actions and understand that God was present, giving him the freedom to sin or not to sin. David always seemed to point us back to God, the sustainer of our lives, the forgiver of our sins and the peace we desperately need. David, though not perfect by any stretch of the word, was a man seeking to be sold out to God. He failed, but each time he did, he was willing to own it, ask forgiveness and move forward. I can't say that I'd be the same with someone today. The incredible grace that we walk in is simply amazing. We all struggle with pride, lust, idolatry, sinful patterns, anger, gossip, etc. It's hard when these enter into the real physical world and we act on them. I guess the question may be, "How far does the forgiveness of God go"? I actually think it stretches farther than any of our human efforts but I'm not also saying, "lets' go sin to find out". The value of walking in God's holiness along with walking in God's grace are not that easy for any of us. It is also easier for us to judge than to grant mercy. I see, even in our readings today, that God was willing to temporarily judge (plagues, etc.) but also offer forgiveness and reconciliation to those who ask (David). Hope this helps.

2 Samuel 17-18 - simply amazing stuff. Giving wrong advise to deceive (Ahithophel to Absalom) and Absalom checking with top advisors and then shifting gears to then go into battle against his father, David. Her is recorded a suicide, in Scripture, when deceit doesn't work.....he felt that he would be found guity of treason and hung himself. How sad! Absalom gets caught in an oak tree, hanging, because of his hair and David's men kill him. David is devastated and even would have liked it to have been him instead.....a father's love. In the NT reading (Mt 25-26) we go through the Last Supper, the betrayal, the arrest and the denial. We, as humans, are just amazing aren't we. God is incredibly faithful and I'm just amazed at how he puts up with us. Jesus, the Son of God, literally is "overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" as he prays for "his cup" to pass from him to the Father. God, please help each of us pull together and trust you rather than move toward deceit, trying to make something happen (Judas). Help us Lord, to say yes to you, with others and not find the tendency to deny (Peter). Ouch, Lord....sorry!

The Bible never hides the facts concerning issues in peoples lives. In 2 Samuel 15-16, we read about David's difficulty with leading Israel and his own family. His son Absalom conspires against him, gains favor with God's people and literally seeks to take the thrown from his father. There must have been some major issues of hatred, pride and arrogance in the house of David during this time. David leaves town, with his followers and Absalom moves in, sleeps with David's 10 concubines (women) on the roof so Israel can take note. What a tragic setting in the lives of people who are trying to get along. This just brings me back to the "sin nature" in all of us. Where would we be without God's grace - completely and utterly lost! God is incredibly gracious to David and ultimately brings justice but it sure looks like a tough time. My thoughts are to press into God's power (His Spirit) and be willing to make tough decisions, judge wisely and trust God.....don't hide, cover or shy away from difficult conversations - as uncomfortable as they are - we must. Then sin can be dealt with, confessed, forgiven and a clear path for God to shower us with his favor. This theme is picked up when Jesus addresses the story about the 10 virgins and the talents. We have to know that we need to make choices wisely and godly today, because it will impact our future. I want to do my best to hear "well done" from Jesus as I try to reach out to the "least of these, you did for me" (Matthew 25:31-46). Lord, help me balance my life so that I can confront when necessary, confess when needed and have confidence that You will grant me the power to honor you. What say ye?

Forgiveness/Rapture

It seems like there is a lot here today about forgiveness. The interesting thing to me is how long it took for there to be any reconciliation between Absalom and David on this death. This is definitely something that God needs to speak to us about. We all get hurt, and sometimes we have a real hard time being around that person.

The scripture in Matthew made me think of this video. Not quite as scary as some of the ones I saw as a kid in church, but it gets the point across:

Pastor Brian

As the story unfolds with Tamar, I just have to cry because of the intense lust in Amnon's heart. To take counsel from a crafty brother, bring your sister into your bedroom, deceive and then take and rape her - wow......The dysfunction that was going on in David's home is really overwhelming at times. She mourns, Absalom plans murder, carries it out, flees from family and David really doesn't do much about it. Because of David's lust and adulterous affair with Bathsheba, God cursed David with knowing that a "sword" would be apart of his household from that point on......Prophecy, from Nathan fulfilled right here. This story plays out much like any rape or abuse. Power, struggle, selfishness, pride and then disgust. Here's again an example of "what goes around - comes around". Even the plan to bring Absalom back to David is steeped in lies, deception and craftiness. We have to watch our motives and intentions so carefully. We to can bent the truth, manipulate the situation to then justify the end. Galatians refers to the command of God to "love your neighbor as yourself". It goes on to say, "If you keep on biting and devouring each othe,r watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." After reading 2 Samuel 13-14, it sadly is true of them and us. May the Lord help each of us "hold fast to the truth".

Another note, What did you think of Matthew 24 where Jesus is teaching about the "end-times" unfolding? Love to hear your thoughts - Blessings, PJ

It's Tuesday and, for the last few days, I've been through some of the highest heights in David's life, (worshipping and dancing before the Lord, victory over enemies) to his lowest of lows (affair, murder, judgement by God and the death of his son with Bathsheba). Reading Psalm 51 really gets to me and drives me deeper into relationship with Jesus. I don't know about you but it really helps me value "grace" rather than "judgement". When Jesus addresses the religious hypocrites, in Matthew 23, I just have examine my own life and cry out, "Keep it real". Hard statements from Jesus but life-changing to apply. Keep reading & enjoy the Journey - PJ

I Started Today

Well it's May 1st and I started my Life Journal. I have always enjoyed reading about David. It is cool how he sought God's direction before he went forward in life. I want to do the same.

Pastor Brian