gifts – Be Still…

1 Kings 10:14-29 – Is It Too Much?

a handful of gold stars all floating up in the air

King Solomon has quite the reputation. More and more wealth continues to flow his way. He is well-respected, helping many nations, not just his own, with the wisdom God gave him.

The lavish appearance of the palace as well as the multitude of horses, chariots, and such seems a bit like overkill to me. I started to ask myself, “is it too much?” Enough is enough. Aren’t there hungry people somewhere that could use support? Covering everything in gold seems a little excessive to me.

Judges 10:17 – 11:11 – The Best Option

Read Judges 10:17-11:11

lots of little papers with the word OPTION on it in different colors and fonts

It was about to get real. The Israelites were going to be attacked, and they had to feel a bit exposed. From our last reading, it would seem that God has left them to fend for themselves. But, the “leaders of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever attacks the Ammonites first will become ruler over all the people of Gilead.” Were they sensing God’s intervention was yet to come, or were they simply looking for the best option for success?

They knew they needed a strong leader. Who would it be? Sometimes our best candidates are those who we have overlooked. Certainly, the individual the leaders chose to recruit was even one who had been shown no favor in the past. How fitting that God would use even the son of a prostitute to rescue his people. He was a mighty warrior after all and well-equipped for the mission.

Hebrews 10:19-25 – Truly Blessed

Read Hebrews 10:19-25

We are free and forgiven. We can boldly come before God because of what Jesus has done for us. Such a gift and a privilege. It’s a day to look forward to and not fear. If we picture Jesus there waiting for us with open arms it is much easier. I certainly don’t want to rush that day to come because there is so much more I want to experience in this life. To have the assurance of life beyond death is something some people don’t have. That is tragic.

God has given us a beautiful world in which to live and enjoy. Sometimes I take that for granted. How about you? Each day is a gift. To be able to open our eyes and see, to listen to the sounds of nature, to smell all the delightful aromas. To let our senses be overwhelmed. For all of that and more, I am grateful. Continue reading “Hebrews 10:19-25 – Truly Blessed”

1 Peter 4:7-11 – End Times

Read 1 Peter 4:7-11

People have been talking about end times for centuries. Even here in our passage today we see, “the end of the world is coming soon.” Over the years, there have been those who have tried to crack the code to figure out when it is actually going to happen. There are some who have been so sure they knew, they based their whole life on being prepared. Then the time came and went without incident. The sun rose and set once again. Life goes on.

The Bible tells us only God knows when. Yet, we know the end is coming, it always has been. What do we do about it? Live expectantly. We should be living our life, preparing for something greater. Whether we see the end of the age during our lifetime or not, we can have the assurance that a much better future awaits us. We can be living and preparing now. Continue reading “1 Peter 4:7-11 – End Times”

Ephesians 4:7-16 – Speak Truth in Love

Read Ephesians 4:7-16

I don’t know about you, but I long for the day when people can speak the truth in love. Sometimes the truth hurts, and that’s okay. It’s the truth. When we can deliver the truth wrapped in love and compassion, it is received so much better. To do a better job of this, we need to become more Christlike in our relationships. So many relationships have been hurt when we miss this crucial piece. Continue reading “Ephesians 4:7-16 – Speak Truth in Love”