You are currently browsing the daily archive for February 6, 2012.
The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. "Now, lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 1 Kings 3:4-9
Solomon said, "You were extravagantly generous in love with David my father, and he lived faithfully in your presence, his relationships were just and his heart right. And you have persisted in this great and generous love by giving him-and this very day!-a son to sit on his throne. "And now here I am: God, my God, you have made me, your servant, ruler of the kingdom in place of David my father. I’m too young for this, a mere child! I don’t know the ropes, hardly know the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of this job. And here I am, set down in the middle of the people you’ve chosen, a great people-far too many to ever count. "Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?" 1 Kings 3:6-9 MSG
i love how The Message bible puts it – give me a God-listening heart.
i pray that i would have a God-listening heart, not only to make me a better leader, but a better woman and child of God.
When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ 1 Kings 2:1-4
Do what God tells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for life set out in the revelation to Moses; then you’ll get on well in whatever you do and wherever you go. (1 Kings 2:3 MSG)
these are the first and foremost instructions that David gives his son.
the path to success and satisfaction is found in following God, obeying His commands, walking faithfully with Him.
sage words for a man that lived it and also lived against it. through experience David learned what really matters.
integrity.
faithfulness.
obedience.
commitment.
courage.
these things really do matter. they do lead to success. there are heaps of self help books and 7 steps to successful living guides, but seriously, there is a way that is right to live and a life pleasing God will be a rich life of satisfaction. i’m not going to say a life of happiness and happy happy joy joy, of ease and comfort… but it will be satisfying and i believe successful.
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5
our lives are not our own, they are for the glory of God. i want to be someone who walks with God.
how do we walk with God?
1/ practice the presence of God
2/ pursue His priorities
3/ pour out for His people
as christians its so important to pass on our wisdom and strategies to the next generation. we saw in joshua how important it was to pass on our faith to those following after us. we can share our life story, share our successes and failures, share what we’ve learned, share how God was and is real in our lives.
Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.
Psalm 78:5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so that the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
Psalm 71:18 Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.
Psalm 79:13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you for ever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise
Psalm 102:18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
Psalm 145:4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
Be joyful: Intentionally look around for measures of joy each day. There is joy in simply being alive and in being redeemed by God. Remember, joy is a choice we make, not a feeling we hope to get from our circumstances. It’s good to look for the good, to celebrate it even in small ways. Doing so is a moment of victory. Lysa TerKeurst
“Too often I miss Him, oblivious, blind. I don’t see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, He is everywhere, always. Before I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the things I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me.” Ann Voskamp
1945. brimming with gratitude for how God is intervening with my family in a desperate time and that its okay to cry in the toy section of kmart while on the phone to my sister hearing good news
1946. the last official day of school holidays today – waitangi day – so apart from some relaxing, and dying my hair, i’m doing some baking and got the school uniforms out and ready to go.
1947. taking the kids on a surprise YOU CAN SHOP trip and there is a 20% off toys at the warehouse!
1948. new star wars lego sets out today!
1949. happy whistling from my sons end of the house
1950. the power of encouragement
1951. had an awesome first night for our housegroup on wednesday night – good people, good waffles, good conversations. we had 19 people, including tony and i, including 5 new people. not sure how many of the newbies will stay (one at least was the boyfriend of one of my chicks who is well planted in another chuch, always love having him come along) but is always good having “new blood”
1952. our local chinese takeaways shop can make egg free fried rice. seriously i am so happy!
1953. more old books from Trade Me – books that i read as a new christian that profoundly affected my relationship and understanding with Jesus – books i can share, like IN HIS STEPS, THE HIDING PLACE, THIS PRESENT DARKNESS…
1954. hugs
1955. the grace of God
1956. the drawing and leading of God
1957. JustONE women’s online conference by Leading and Loving It – God breathed confidence and newness into my heart – was a just at the right time message
1958. the ministry connector that a waffle maker is. over the christmas holidays we’ve, instead of kicking housegroup off in mind jan – have had most everyone round for waffles in small groups – good times to really talk, really connect, really share. waffles are a gift from God.
1959. great conversations about God
1960. worship
1961. listening to people talk about how real God is
1962. lying in bed and talking to God about people and stuff and Him speaking and giving answers to my questions
1963. Ezekiel
1964. words with friends
1965. new baby smell
1966. the comfort and hope of God, no matter the distance and obstacle
1967. E100
1968. our mums group starts up this week!
1969. happy moments hanging out with antonio watching fringe S2 at night
1970. relaxed morning times during the school holidays – esp cos my kids are good sleepers. the earliest they’ve woken is 7.30 and the lastest is 9.30. yes. really. no drugs involved.
1971. expectation and dreaming
1972. its our wedding anniversary next week – eleven years!
1973. morning snuggles with my daughter
1974. the growing heart of worship in my son
1975. public holidays and pj days
1976. bacon and waffles
1977. 2 months today since tony’s dad died. grateful for the support of family and friends and the comfort and hope and peace that God lavishes on us.
1978. watched FIREPROOF with my husband the other night. what a good movie with a great challenge and message.
“Never ever leave your partner—especially in a fire.”
“Fireproof doesn’t mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it.”
“You can’t just follow your heart. Your heart can be deceived. You have to lead your heart.”
Some of the Love Dare Wisdom:
- Although love is communicated in a number of ways,our words often reflect the condition of our heart.
Resolve to say nothing negative,If the temptation arises,choose not to say anything.
It’s better to hold your tongue than to say something you’ll regret.
Be quick to listen,slow to speak and slow to get angry.
Do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.
Whatever you put your time,energy and money into,it will become more important to you.It’s hard to care for something you’re not investing in.
When a man is trying to win the heart of a woman, he studies her.He learns her likes, dislikes,habits and hobbies.But after he wins her heart and marries her,he often stops learning about her.It is a lifelong journey that draws his heart ever closer to hers.
You can’t love her,because you can’t give her what you don’t have.
1979. hot cross buns – delish!
1980. new stationary
1981. revelation
When we’re living our lives with intentional gratitude we’re fixing our eyes upon Jesus and agreeing YES He is good and YES He is faithful and YES He is Lord and YES He is the one who loves us! Gratitude is an expression of faith.
so there we go. venturing on in life to 2000 things that i am grateful for…
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