The Most Beautiful

2 Chronicles 6-8

I sat here this morning trying to picture the dedication of Solomon’s beautiful temple. All that gold, the fanfare, the crowds, the excitement and wonder, God’s Presence so powerful everyone stopped in awe of Him. I think of the emotion, the uplifted hands, the bowing low before a Holy God. I think of the sacrifices and the singing. I imagine hearts devoted to God, determined to obey Him, loving Him, and praising Him.

This went on for seven days! That amazing temple, built for God, was reason to celebrate. I wish I could have seen it first hand.

And yet, I am reminded that I am the temple of God in 2026. God Himself has built this temple named Connie for Him to live in. I might look in the mirror and think He didn’t build a very beautiful home for himself. But in reality, there is nothing more beautiful than a heart where Jesus is. There is nothing more worthy of celebration than a heart cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb.

People may have looked at Solomon’s temple and said, “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” But when God looks at me through the precious blood of His Son, He says the same thing.

Praying Scripture

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1 Chronicles 29:10-13

Way too often when I pray I jump right into the “I wants” or the “I needs” without stopping and at least acknowledging who I’m speaking to. I might start out with a “Dear God,” and I might even throw in a “Thank you for this day,” but pretty much the bulk of my prayers can read like a ransom demand.

Today, I read how David began his prayer and wondered how my prayer life would change if I did the same. Sometimes as I’m praying a verse will come to mind and I’ll pray that back to the God. I think that pleases Him.

So I’m going to attempt to memorize these four verses and get in the habit of praying them back to God when I go to Him, before I lay my requests at His feet. I’m convicted by the thought that my prayer time ought to be a time of praise and adoration much more often than it is right now.

Does God know how much I love Him? Of course. But I think He’d like to hear me express that once in a while, too.

My Prayer for Parents

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1 Chronicles 22

Here is a father’s heart.

In David’s charge to Solomon we see a man devoted to the work of the Lord. Yes, he would not build the temple, would not realize his longing to do something amazing for God. So instead, he poured out his heart to his son and challenged him to carry on.

“I’ve provided what you need, son. Now go do something amazing for the Lord. You will succeed if you carefully follow God’s law. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.” (from 22:13)

Parents, do you recognize your own heart’s desire here? Are you devoted to the work of the Lord? Do your children see your passion for the Truth, for the Gospel to reach lost souls? Do they see you actively taking part in the Great Commission? And are you equipping your children to carry on when you are gone? Can you honestly say you are giving them a firm foundation on which to build their lives and ministry?

I think it’s a bit like teaching your child to ride a bike. Do you remember what that was like? You probably provided them with training wheels at first and let them get used to maneuvering the bike with the help of four wheels instead of two. Did you talk to them about balance and show them how to move the handle bars to control the direction of the wheel?

Then the time came for removing the training wheels. Did you grab the seat and run along side the wobbly bike for a distance until you felt your child was balancing the bike on their own? What was it like to finally let go and watch that precious one take off? “Don’t be afraid,” you might have said. “I’ve given you everything you need to be successful. Be strong and courageous.”

Parents, spend time with your children. Read the Bible with them. Talk about what you are reading. Answer their questions. Show them what serving God looks like. Go to church with them and teach them reverence for God’s house. Because one day that child will get on that bike and ride away. He or she will walk out your door and head toward a life you can’t control.

My prayer is on that day, you’ll be able to say, “I’ve given you what you need. Now go do something amazing for the Lord. You will succeed if you carefully obey God. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.”

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

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1 Chronicles 12-15

What is the difference between worship God accepts, and worship God rejects?

Obedience.

It has nothing to do with the music or whether or not hands are raised and people are singing with smiles on their faces. Read about these two examples of identical expressions of worship. (13:8; 15:28)

Worship leaders, stop emphasizing the outward expressions of worship. Stop going for the emotion. Stop worrying about “Bubba” and worry more about whether or not God is accepting our worship. So many of you seem to try so hard to get people engaged. The question you should be asking is, “Is God engaged?”

I’ll tell you right now, He isn’t engaged with expressions of worship coming from unrepentant hearts. That kind of worship makes him sick. That kind of worship makes him angry. That kind of worship ends in death.

Just this morning I heard Josh Howerton, a young paster I respect, defend popular Christian singer, Brandon Lake who is being criticized for saying that when our worship services begin with “Holy, Holy, Holy,” Bubba can’t worship because he doesn’t understand what the song is saying. I guess these men believe we should dumb down our worship so the regular people are satisfied.

My question is: are we worshiping people or God, because I’m pretty sure God understands “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

Worship leaders, please spend more time preparing hearts to worship God. Talk about the importance of presenting clean hearts to the Lord before we sing a note. Talk about the danger of offering worship God can’t accept. (Think about Nadab and Abihu who tried to offer unauthorized fire to the Lord).The people sitting there in that room need to understand that offering worship God can’t accept not only makes God sick, it angers Him, and ends in death. Yes, dear worship leaders, you might be leading someone in that direction.

Worry less about the outward expression of worship and more about the holiness of the people who are there to worship. Worry less about generating an emotion and more about the Holy God to whom we offer our worship. Because God doesn’t accept counterfeit worship, no matter how good it looks or makes us feel.

All that glitters is not gold.

Does Old Testament Genealogy Matter?

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1 Chronicles 7-11

Some people consider reading these difficult-to-read names tedious at best, and a waste of time at worst. But, friend, let me remind you these are God’s Words! If God Himself were sitting with you, reading these chapters to you, would you still consider it tedious, a waste of time?

These names tell a story and with it comes a lesson with the potential to grow us.

This morning as I read, I saw a few hundred names among billions of people who have inhabited the earth. Each individual is recognized as having a part in the unfolding of God’s plan. Some are listed as warriors, giant killers, gatekeepers, chiefs, and Levites. Some are listed as dads and sons. There are even some moms and sisters thrown in. But each name represents a person who played a role in the history of God in Israel.

I wonder if God were writing the genealogy of His New Testament kingdom today, where would your name be listed? As a warrior, a gatekeeper, a giant killer, a parent? Or would your name be listed at all?

The question I think God is asking me today is, am I actively involved in the unfolding of God’s plan in 2026? Are you?

Given

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1 Chronicles 6

When it says these towns and pasturelands were “given” to the Levites, I wonder what that looked like. Were the residence of the towns agreeable? Did they have to give up their homes to make room for the new residents? Surely there were shepherds already using that pastureland. I wonder what they thought.

And who did the “giving” anyway? Was it decided in a boardroom? The US is rearranging voting districts in some states. Lots of red tape. Lots of debate. Lots of anger. I know God was in the assignment of land as we read in Chronicles. But there were people involved, too. I wonder what that looked like.

And… what would God say to us through the oft repeated genealogy and geography lesson?

First, I am reminded that the “giving” was not earned. The very fact the Jews were living in the Promised Land is a picture of God’s grace. God had the authority to give and take, assign and reassign according to His will for His children. Not because they deserved it. But because He is who He is.

Secondly, it reminds me that God has a place in His kingdom for all of us who are His through the blood of Jesus. None of us deserve what is given us. Yet because our gracious God has showered us with blessings, we are free to serve Him.

These chapters might be tedious reading, but it’s also beautiful! It shows us that God is intimately, personally involved in each of our lives. He knows us by name, and He has given us real estate in His kingdom. You are where you are today by the grace of God, and this little mission field you have has been given to you for a reason.

I’m thanking God for grace today. I’m thanking Him for allowing me to live in this part of His beautiful creation. And I’m thanking Him that not only does He know my name, but He is with me to use me right here for His glory.

What God has “given” me, I give back to Him to be used as He desires. May He be glorified today.

When I Die

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2 Kings 12-14

Elisha, one of the greatest Old Testament prophets, died and was buried. That’s all Scripture says about it. No fanfare. No public display of mourning recorded. Just he died and was buried.

That’s actually what I’d like my own passing to be.

Sometimes people go to great lengths planning their own funeral or celebration of life. Some write their own obit. Some spell out every song, every testimony, every moment. Some make demands about what to do with their ashes. If that’s you, I hope your loved ones follow through.

Other times a person’s loved ones will plan elaborate ceremonies and wakes or proper send-offs to honor the dead. I’m not saying that’s wrong, if that’s what you need.

I tell my family that if they want to have a service, that’s fine. If they don’t, that’s fine, too. I won’t be there!

More than a funeral or a celebration of life, this is how I want my passing to go: she died, and she was buried.

After Elisha was dead and buried, an Israelite was being buried when a raiding party showed up. In a panic, his friends threw the dead man’s body on Elisha’s bones – and the guy came alive!

My prayer is that after I’m gone, people I love will continue to be influenced by the life I led, the words I said, the choices I made, and the evidence of Christ in me. I pray that even after I’m gone, someone dead in their sin will find life because my life touched their’s for Jesus’ sake.

I pray that God will be glorified with every breath I take in this lifetime so that after this body dies, God will continue to be glorified through the memory of me.

When Plans Fail

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2 Kings 6-8

Don’t you hate it when you make plans only to have them blow up in your face because someone else had plans of their own? The King of Aram had plans, but Elisha ruined them. So the king wanted to go to war against Elisha.

Here’s the thing. The king’s plan was wrong. It needed to be stopped. And fighting against Elisha was fighting against the armies of God.

Sometimes we get so fixated on our own plans, what we want, how we think things ought to be, that when our plans meet roadblocks we want to fight. We might direct our anger toward another person, at the unfairness of life, or at ourselves without considering that it just might be God’s loving hand that was preventing us from a world of hurt.

It’s not wrong to make plans. They can act as a rudder on our ship. But with every plan must come “Yet, not my will but Thine be done.” If our plans succeed, we ought to acknowledge it as from God. If they fail, we ought to acknowledge that from God, too.

So, the journal I use to write my thoughts about the Scripture passage I read each day has a Bible verse at the bottom of every page. Listen to the one I discovered at the bottom of the page I used today:

“I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 9:11)

I am so thankful that God has plans for me. I gladly surrender my own plans into His capable and loving hands, knowing that He knows what He’s doing, and it’s all for my own good.

God Forgives

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1 Kings 8-9; Psalm 86:5

Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple spoke to me today. He must have looked out at the crowd of eager worshipers and realized their excitement at the moment wouldn’t last. When life happened, they would sin, and God would punish them for their sin.

Solomon prayed that when God allowed war, or famine, or captivity, or drought, or pestilence, mildew, and locusts, and when His people repented of their sin, God would hear and forgive. We will sin, Solomon admitted. But “when (we) return to you with all (our) hearts and all (our) soul…” please forgive us. (8:48)

Several weeks ago I was challenged to ask God to help me memorize a Bible verse a week. I’m old. So I will admit I was skeptical. But God is answering that prayer. I’m on week 9! Nine verses I have hidden in my heart, some of which I remembered from my youth, and some that I’ve never memorized before. I love how God continues to use these verses throughout the week. Like today.

Listen to the verse I started memorizing just yesterday, as it applies to Solomon’s prayer I read today.

For you, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, abounding in faithful love to all who call on you. Psalm 86:5

Solomon knew the people would sin. But he also had faith that when they sinned, they would eventually repent. And he had faith that God would hear their prayers, and forgive. I think he knew what the psalmist knew: God is kind and ready to forgive!

He is kind and ready to forgive you, too. If you know the Old Testament history of the relationship between God and the Jews, you know the cycle. You know that time after time they would sin, He would punish, they would repent, and He would forgive. Time after time.

Been there. Done that.

I am so thankful how God uses His Word to amplify His Word. What was true for Solomon, was true for the psalmist, and is true for you and me.

God forgives. He is ready and eager to forgive when we go to Him with all our heart and all our soul. And he is abounding in faithful love toward all of us who call on His Name!

Hallelujah!

alighttomyway

LOVING God's Word, LISTENING to God's voice, LEADING others to God's Son, Jesus Christ

The Most Beautiful

Praying Scripture

My Prayer for Parents

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

Does Old Testament Genealogy Matter?

Given

When I Die

When Plans Fail

God Forgives