Follow Through

Some of the Old Testament methods are hard to understand, like in today's reading in I Kings 20 where the Prophet condemns Ahab. The prophet asks one of his companions to strike him with his weapon and when the guy refuses, he tells him that a lion is going to kill him! And a lion does!!! Yikes!!! But regardless of whether we can relate to that stuff or not, the main point is the importance of FOLLOWING THROUGH with COMPLETE obedience to the Lord. We often partially obey with the stuff that we want to do or makes sense to us, but fail to follow through with everything that the Lord instructs us to do. In Ahab's case, it cost him big time! His evential humbleness saves his life, but there is still a price to pay. "I will not bring this disaster in this day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son". Can you say, "gee thanks dad.....Happy Father's Day"!!!!

Today, we live in "Grace", but there is still a price to pay for not following through with complete obedience to our Lord and Savior. Sometimes we pay that price, sometimes it is our families that pay that price.

Lord, help us to follow through with complete obedience, even when we don't like it, or understand your commands. May we never cause pain and consequences for those around us by our failure to follow through with full obedience to You.

Pastor Bill

Bumper Stickers

Don't you find all of the wisdom in Proverbs a little overwhelming? I was thinking today that a lot of this wisdom would make some great bumper stickers. "
Don't respond to the stupidity of a fool; you'll only look foolish yourself. " Proverbs 26:4 - well maybe that could be a t-shirt. It really is amazing how much we listen to the the words of a fool. Do you ever find yourself repeating something foolish you have heard only to later realize that you gave some really bad advice? I know I have! God give us your wisdom - help us not to be overwhelmed with your profound book of Proverbs.

Pastor Brian

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