The Bible says in the beginning was the Word and Jesus is the word. I have found that the only way for me to flourish in my walk with Jesus is to be in his Word daily. John 7 :38 says " He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water". I'm no gardener, but I see that all living things need water to truly grow. I pray this is a space where I can share flesh to these scriptures in a authentic, real way.
“On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the Lord had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people. ” 2 Chronicles 7:10
This scripture comes at the end of a 7 day feast to celebrate the dedication of the temple that Solomon had built. It was the place where God had instructed they go to worship, and offer sacrifices in the OT.
I’m struck today by the way that it says they left. “With joyful and glad hearts” 💕. I remember as a child feeling this way as soon as I stepped out of the doors of the Louisville Methodist Church. Going away with a glad and joyful heart.
In the previous text it also describes fire from heaven and the Lord’s glory filling the house of the Lord. In response to this, they bowed down and worshipped. Awe and reverence. To be in the presence of God😍😭🔥.
When we experience the presence of God in his house, we leave with a glad, joyful heart, awe, reverence for who he is. We leave internally changed.
Can I be honest, and tell you who doesn’t leave changed? The ones who aren’t focused on the presence of God. The person who is immediately offended when they walk in the room. The one who is so focused on their own preferences for praise and worship or the sermon they feel fell flat. The one who surveys the room and starts to feel like an outsider. The one who wonders if any of this applies to them or if it even matters if you’re there. I’ve been that person. Making church about me instead of him. I have left and thought… “Eh”. And I’m broken by that. “Eh”… really.. to the presence of God? On those days, your church didn’t get it wrong. You did. 🫣. Church isn’t about you. It’s about God, and his presence should cause you to have awe, reverence and to leave with a joyful and glad heart. Not bc the music was good, the sermon was fire or you felt seen. Because you fixed your eyes on Jesus and experienced the presence of the Lord. Because HE was there… were you? When I was a small child this felt easier.
I pray you go to church, but that when you do, you lay down everything else and focus on the MAIN thing. I pray when you leave you feel joyful and glad, because you experienced the presence of Jesus.
Father God, forgive me for the times I have made it all about me. Create in me a pure heart oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me so that, I can be fully in your presence today. Holy Spirit prompt me to remain faithful because I am prone to wander. In Jesus name Amen.
I’ve been studying David, which eventually leads to Solomon so that’s where my reading this morning has me.
King David (we all know most famously know him from David and Goliath). Reigned and then his son Solomon took his place. Solomon is called to build a permanent temple where the Ark can be placed. This is a physical dwelling where they can worship God, sacrifice offerings etc. In his dedication he says:
” The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, that he may incline our hearts to HIM, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statues and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.” 1 Kings 8: 57-58
Solomon knows. He knows we need to refocus our hearts TO God. Our hearts are more naturally inclined towards something else. I think for most people it’s inclined towards ourselves. Inward instead of upward. Our desires, needs, wants, dreams, bents, sins, feelings so many feelings. We make even our service about us.
I’m guilty of that. So much of our tension can be solved by repositioning that heart upward instead of inward. My thought pattern gets me. I spend countless hours marinating on questions. “What am I supposed to do? Where should I pour my attention? Should I go here or commit to there? Am I called to?” A million and one questions, and they all have one thing in common. “I”. Those are good questions to ask, but I can get wrapped up in them instead of wrapped up in HIM.
Where is your heart inclined today? Do we need a repositioning?
Later he says “Let your heart therefore be WHOLLY true to the Lord our God, walking in his statues and keeping his commandments, as at this day. ” 1 Kings 8:61
Heavenly Father, my heart is inclined inward. I pray that you will realign my heart to you, that I will not make this day that you’ve graciously given us about me and my wants, desires, pride, offensives, and instead WHOLLY inclined towards you. Holy Spirit prompt my thoughts and my heart towards the Father. In Jesus name, Amen.
I woke up sad today. I think that happens for everyone here and there. My mind wandered to my Grandma Hazel. It was a habit of mine to walk down to her house when I was younger if I felt the need to be loved or seen. My grandma had this way about her, her entire face would light up when she saw you. Her eyes would be so bright and you felt loved and wanted when you were with her. Whether there was an issue at home or school she was the place I could take it to. She didn’t usually offer advice or try to fix it, but she did listen and offer me some mashed potatoes. I found myself this morning wishing I could be transported to her kitchen or walk with her on one of those nice spring days. However, as far as I know time travel is only real in the movies, so instead I grabbed my phone and played a video my cousin Brooke sent to me a few years back. In the video my grandma says my name and says she loves me. That did bring me momentary comfort. The reality though is that she doesn’t actually know my name anymore. My grandma , who has been the most influential person in my life, has Alzheimers now and doesnt know me or recognize my name from anyone else’s. If i’m being honest most of the people in our family are hurt, confused and mad at this reality. So, where’s the silver lining?
We’re in the season of Christmas. People are decorating their homes, baking goods, making lists and hiding weird looking elves all around their house every night (or morning if you forget) for their kids; only for them to wonder how he gets away with dumping powdered sugar everywhere, marking on the toilet seat or building a zipline in the house all without getting grounded. On the flip side of all the chaos is a time we celebrate called Advent. It calls us to slow down, spend time with Jesus and read the word of God. It’s split into four weeks. Each week focusing on a theme. Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Hope is the first week. Biblical hope is different from the way we may view hope. I think that was hard for me to grasp at one point. You’ve probably heard people say “I hope so”, as a reply when you mention the weather being nice for a planned outing or a product being stocked when you walk through the endless aisles at a superstore. The hope in Advent is much different. It’s a confident expectation that you’re certain of. You don’t have to wish that it will come to pass, you know it will. You’re just in a season of waiting for it. You may be enduring a situation currently but you have hope it’s only temporary. You know it will end.
In 2 Corinthians Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. In chapter 4 he addresses the light that the gospel (the good news of Jesus) is to others. He writes about the treasure of it, that has been deposited into us. As well as the fragility of us compared to the power of God. My favorite verses in that chapter though are 16-18. “ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient , but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
When I think about my grandma my flesh responds with anger, sadness, confusion, negativity and despair. The response from the Holy Spirit is Hope. I know what the world sees when they see my grandma. The outer self and the finality of a life that looks much different from the desire or expectation of what we want. But I’ve been given a hope and assurance that promises everything will be made new again. That restoration is imminent and promised. We’re just in a season of waiting. One day Jesus heals her, restores her and she will once again know my name. I have a confident, expecting hope in that. While I’m in a season of waiting (Advent) for this, I cling to the garments of Jesus. Putting all my hope in him. One day he will return and make all things new. Revelation 21:4 says “ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying , nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” As I eagerly wait for this restoration, I walk everyday with a purpose. To share the good news of the gospel to others, to spur them on and point them to a hope that won’t disappoint.
Are there things in your life you’re putting your hope in that wont return on its promises?
Do you have places in your life you are excited or desperate for Jesus to redeem and restore? Maybe you have even given up on the hope he will. He is still in the business of healing hurt, disease, broken things of this world my friend. Take it to him.
While in your season of waiting , how can you give glory to God through it?
John 16:33 says “ I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble . But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
I pray this Advent and Christmas season you will experience the hope, peace, joy and love the birth of Jesus offers.
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” 2 Timothy 1:5
Living -Watered 