Hand It Down – 2 Chronicles 6:8-9

8 but God told him, 'It was good that you wanted to build a temple in my honor - most commendable! 

9 But you are not the one to do it. Your son, who will carry on your dynasty, will build it for my Name.'

– 2 Chronicles 6:8-9

Hand It Down

We all want to honor God.  We all desire to show Him how much we love Him and are devoted and grateful to Him. And we all have an idea of how we think we can use our talents, resources, abilities, and efforts to express that love, devotion, gratitude, and honor to Him.  All very good and commendable things in the eyes of God to be sure.

But . . . I believe the greatest way we can honor our Heavenly Father is by passing on our legacy of love, devotion, gratitude, and honor to our children and to the next generation.  We have a responsibility, especially as parents, to be willing to see our sons and daughters become greater than we ever could.  Greater in their devotional life, greater in their Spiritual life, and greater in their accomplishments for the Kingdom.  Our legacies – our dynasties (if you will) – should be that we've raised a generation who love God more than anything; who know Kingdom-building principles and are excited about spreading the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, and who understand and practice the importance of giving and receiving in God's economy.

In this generation of entitlement, instant gratification, and self-love, we need to persistently pour our hearts for God into the youth of our churches, our neighborhoods, and our world.  We need to show them how to live holy, and how to be humble, and how to serve others without the need for recognition or applause.  We need to help them understand that there is only One worthy of being idolized, and His name is Jesus, the Risen Christ, our God, our Redeemer, our Everything and All-in-All.  We need to be willing to deny our own ideas and let God direct us in passing them on and we need to be OK with letting and watching someone else build the dreams we hold so dear.

I believe that God will honor our heart for building His temple by the youthful enthusiasm and determination of the next generation that are God's children.  Our legacy will be that of servanthood to the greater purpose – HIS purpose – and our God will be honored, and His Glory lifted up, all because we were willing to carefully, and purposefully hand it all down to our sons and daughters . . . for Him.

Prayer

Father, You have given us so much, and in our gratitude we desire to build a temple of honor to Your Name and for Your Glory, but Your ways oh Lord, are not our ways, and sometimes You want us to lay aside our own plans for something greater.  Father help us to be willing.  Help us to lay down our pride and to pass on our dreams and our purposes to this next generation.  Help us to teach them how to build that temple of Honor, with the freshness of young minds and the abilities of young hearts.  Help us Lord, to build Your kingdom, Your way.

Have a blessed day everyone!

. . . and tell a young person how much God loves them today.

– Richard

The Art of Preparation – 2 Chronicles 3:2

2 He broke ground on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his rule.

– 2 Chronicles 3:2

The Art of Preparation

How many of us would be OK waiting 4 years, 2 months, and 2 days to kick off our ministries?  Not many I think . . . including myself!  But in today's scripture, Solomon, who was anointed by God to build His temple, took exactly that long before breaking ground.  If it was me, I would have broken ground first, and then, after the big kick-off celebration and the fanfare died down, I would have been all stressed out trying to figure out how I was ever going to be able to pull this off!  I know, because I've actually done it before!

But in his wisdom and knowledge (that God blessed him with), Solomon knew that in order to do anything for God, everything had to be perfect. Every detail, every contingency, every color of every thread of every fabric had to be designed, redesigned, and then prototyped and tested, before construction could begin.  There had to be meetings (many, many meetings), and brainstorming sessions, and focus groups, and assigning of duties, and approving of ideas, and most of all . . . there had to be prayer . . . LOTS of prayer and quiet reflection with God.

How many of us start a ministry, or a Bible study, or a Sunday School class, and we just order the materials, put out a sign-up sheet, and dive right in with barely even gaining full understanding of the material we will be using.  We scarcely prepare for  our meetings, and then we wonder why things didn't go very well and the response was underwhelming (ashamedly, I must admit that I've done this one before as well).  Or here's another scenario . . . you feel God has called you to start a particular ministry so you go to your Pastor to get his permission to get started, but instead of being all excited about your new passion, he pulls the brakes and asks you to hold off for a while because the timing just isn't right.  WHAAAT?!  Time to find a new church, right?  Time to go ahead and do what you want anyway, whether the Pastor likes it or not, right?  Sadly . . . "been there done that" one too.

God requires our very best because He's given us HIS VERY BEST!  He doesn't need our half-baked, ill-prepared, luke-warm efforts to the great ministry potential He's birthed.  When He gives us an assignment, He expects that we will give Him our best effort to make sure that He is honored and that He is presented with excellence and that His Word and His Purpose are being executed with full wisdom and knowledge of HIS Love for people.  We must take the time necessary to prepare the way for the Lord to move.  We must make preparation more important than self gratification, or accolades, or recognition for serving.  We need to make sure every word of God, every worship note, each Bible study class, and ALL outreaching hands, are being presented with the authority of a fully-prepared heart . . . no matter how long it takes.

God doesn't need or want our efforts . . . He wants us to understand and to know Him, and He wants us to be excellent when we represent Him.  So starting today, let's honor our Father with the gift and the art, of preparation.

Prayer

Father, the Bible says that You have prepared a place for us in Your house.  Thank You for the preparation.  Thank You for the planning and the thought and the detail that has gone into that place.  Forgive us for treating You and Your work with half-hearted efforts and little or no preparation.  Help us to make preparation a habit and a priority so that everything we do in Your name, will be received in the manner most worthy, and so that Your Name will be Glorified and Lifted Up!

Have a Blessed day everyone!

– Richard 

Get A Grip! – 2 Chronicles 1:1

1 Solomon son of David took a firm grip on the reins of his kingdom. God was with him and gave him much help.

– 2 Chronicles 1:1

Get A Grip!

When God gives you an assignment, He expects that you will have the faith and the confidence – the faith and confidence that HEs already given you – to fully complete the task to the fullness of His glory. I think we can all agree on that point, right?  Well then . . . why is it that when our ministry stalls, or we don't get the results we were expecting (for ourselves), or we run into some kind of opposition, we blame everything and everyone . . . but ourselves?  Harsh words?  You bet they are!

God deserves . . . NO! . . . God DEMANDS our best . . . our VERY best!  He expects that the Power, and the Grace, and the Anointing that HE has solidly placed, firmly on our shoulders will give us the confidence and the faith in HIM, to carry our our assignment.  He expects us to take a firm grip on the reins and take command, with ALL authority and purpose, and to be worthy of the calling as His child and His anointed.  

God doesn't deserve excuses.  He doesn't deserve delays.  He shouldn't have to watch us fizzle, and fade out, and give up at the first signs of trouble.  Our Father, who hand-placed each star in the sky, and which stars shine confidently and purposefully, fulfilling their assigned mission, doesn't deserve for those who claim to love and adore Him and to have full faith in Him, to show the world that our God can't do what He says He'll do.  He deserves so much better than that!

The world needs to see that we are powerful!  They need to see that our God IS God!  They need to desire the Victory that we have in Jesus and they definitely need to see that the God we claim to love – the God of the Angel Armies – the Creator of Heaven and earth and everything and everyone in it, can accomplish amazing things through those who call Him Father.

So how about it?  Let's show God that we know and understand who He is in our lives.  Let's make our Papa proud today, and tomorrow, and the next day, and every day after.  Let's show the world that we aren't quitters, or doubters, or wishy-washy – hot-and-cold – off-and-on "Christians." Let's take the reins and charge into our assignments, fully expecting miracles and resounding success!  Let's prove to our Father that we are Generals in His army, leading the charge under all authority and confidence . . . in Him!

Prayer

Father, thank You for reminding us today that we need to take charge of our lives, our assignments, and our ministries.  Thank You for providing the Victory and the Success before we even start.  Help us to doubt the doubters and to prove wrong the nay-sayers.  May we show You that we know and understand that YOU are our God, our beautiful Father!

Have a Blessed day everyone!

– Richard

The Attitude of Giving – 1 Chronicles 29:14

17 I know, dear God, that you care nothing for the surface – you want us, our true selves – and so I have given from the heart, honestly and happily. And now see all these people doing the same, giving freely, willingly - what a joy! 

– 1 Chronicles 29:17

The Attitude of Giving

I have learned over the years that I derive the greatest joy by giving to the Lord – giving of my time, giving of my talents, and giving of my finances – giving from all that I am . . . from the heart, if you will.  It has become so ingrained in me that it is really more of an instinct than a conscious effort.  I just want to bless others and to let them see that there is such a thing as "no-strings-attached" generosity – a blessing from God, through my willingness to give.  But I had to develop my attitude of giving because some areas were easier to give from than others.

It was easy for me to give money.  I mean, the Bible said do it, so I just did it and I saw the generosity of God in my life and I experienced first-hand how He took my little tithe and blessed me to the point where I tithe more now in a month than the amount of my entire monthly earnings when I first started tithing!  Giving of my talents was also easy.  As an artist (and like all artists), displaying our talent is kind of what we're called to do, but I had no idea how God would take the talent I thought I had, and take it to places I never could have imagined.  He gave new life to my art and showed me how it ministers to people!  

But of all of them, I think that giving of my "Time" was the most difficult "Giving" habit for me to develop.  I am a fairly private person (or I used to be), and I used to relish those days when I could just spend hours of "me" time – away from idle conversations and shop-talk; away from the pressure of having to be "on" all the time, and away from people's expectations.  I could spend hours doing nothing, and to me, that was peace . . . but I was miserable.  But by opening myself up and getting involved, God has taken this "lone ranger" from days past, and He's given me a servant's heart, and now my days are filled with God conversations, and ministering opportunities, and life, and joy, and even though I'm busier now in my 50s than I've ever been . . . I'm more at peace than I've ever been.

So I want to encourage you today – whatever area of "giving" you struggle with, the key is to keep working at it and soon it will become a part of you, and you will become the giving being that God created you to be.  Your weakest area will become one of your strongest, and I'm confident that soon you will be giving all of yourself to God and His work, and you'll be doing it honestly and happily as well.  The great thing about it is that your transformation will be evident to the people who know the old you, and they will see how God is blessing everything you give of yourself to do, and THEY will start doing the same thing . . . giving to God, freely and willingly . . . from their true selves . . . honestly and happily . . . what a joy!

Prayer

Father, Thank You for giving so freely to us!  Everything we have; everything we can do; everything we are, comes directly from You and your gracious hand.  So now we give back!  We give back from our time, and our talents, and our finances Oh God, with glad and honest hearts, to honor Your example of giving.  What a joy it is to bless others by first blessing You.

Have a Blessed and Giving day everyone!

– Richard

Give Faith Your All! – 1 Chronicles 22:13

13 That's what will make you successful, following the directions and doing the things that God commanded Moses for Israel. Courage! Take charge! Don't be timid; don't hold back.

– 1 Chronicles 22:13

Give Faith Your All!

God has created you to be a champion – a mountain mover and an earth shaker – so why are you sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone else to take the lead (you know who you are)?

The gifting and the ministry that God has anointed you with is waiting to spill its banks – to overflow and flood the land with the Power of the Holy Spirit!  The only thing holding it back is your reluctance to see the Authority that God has already given you, but that you've yet to discover because of a timid heart.  I'm not saying it's going to be easy.  I'm not saying it won't be without its obstacles and trials.  I'm not even saying that you won't face quite a bit of opposition from some pretty impressive people . . . but what I am saying is that by Faith it's yours!  By Faith it's there for the taking!  By Faith you will change this world . . . by Faith!

Every hero of the Bible was reluctant and timid at one time or another.  They doubted, and they feared, and they made mistakes, but when they could no longer deny the Power and the Presence of God in their lives, by Faith, they took Courage, and the set aside their timid hearts, and they didn't hold anything back!  And because of their faithfulness, God used them to touch the heart of man!  He used them to present His Truth of Love, and Grace, and Forgiveness to the lost generation of their time.  Their Faith was so strong, and their success so overwhelming that they are still changing the hearts of man today – thousands of years later.

God wants you to BELIEVE!  The assignment He has placed inside your heart WILL succeed!  The passion that has been burning inside you but that you've kept bottled-up is getting ready to explode with the full backing of God Himself!  But you've gotta have Faith!  You've gotta Believe!  You've gotta make the first (and most difficult) step!  It's up to you . . . no one's gonna do it for you because the task is not theirs to do . . . it's YOURS!

So follow God's direction:  Courage!  Take charge!  Don't be timid!  Don't hold back!

SEE what God will do through you!  SEE what God can do through your willing heart . . . and your unwavering Faith!

Prayer

Father, I pray for this person who needs to release the Power of Your Holy Spirit and step forth in Faith!  I pray for Confidence, and Courage, and Boldness that can only come from You!  Show them the way as they step forth and live the life You have called out for them.  I stand beside them in unified brotherhood, ready to hold them up and to help them to remain steadfast and true to the calling You have placed on their ministry and their life!

Have a blessed day everyone (You know who you are)!

– Richard

Look At ALL My Stuff! – 1 Chronicles 21:1

1 Now Satan entered the scene and seduced David into taking a census of Israel.

– 1 Chronicles 21:1

Look At ALL My Stuff!

Pride is a funny thing.  It is the great chameleon of sins and the devil knows that if he can just get us to take our eyes off God for just a second, he can start us looking at ourselves and our "stuff," as accomplishments instead of as gifts and blessings from our Father.

Now please know that if David, a man after God's own heart, the mighty warrior of God, the King of Israel, and Commander of massive armies, blessed, and anointed by God, and talked about to this very day – if HE could be seduced by Satan . . . you and I don't stand a chance.  No one does, and I believe God wants it that way because it keeps us in a constant state of needing to deepen our love relationship with Him.

Remember . . . it's only when our eyes, ears, hearts, minds, objectives, motives, and desires are diverted away from God, that the ever-patient enemy can get us to thinking about how good we are, or how much we've accomplished, or how talented we think we are, or in this case with David . . . "Look at how much "stuff" I've collected - MAN, I've done a great thing."

Man's greatest falls have come right after the greatest accomplishments and the biggest victories.  We let our guards down and we stand back with our chests out and our hands on our hips, and we say "MAN, I've just come through a tough battle!"  or "WOW!  Look at what I've done"  or how about this one . . . "Look at ALL that God has blessed me with – I sure am blessed!"

Yes, if we're not careful, counting our blessings can be very prideful and can be just the opening—the proverbial "chink" in the armor—the enemy needs to bring us down hard!

Se let's be mindful of where our blessings, our accomplishments, and our victories come from today.  That means that our minds need to be FULL of God.  They need to be saturated and totally focussed on Him.  We have to seek after that love-relationship with our Father with every fiber of our being so that we don't give the devil an opportunity to seduce us with . . . well . . . with "US"!

God loves to bless His children, and I know first-hand that His children LOVE to be blessed.  We just need to remember that without Him, we would have no blessings.  Without His Love, we would all be left to ourselves, and I also know from first-hand experience, that THAT is not a good thing at all.

So let's keep our eyes on Jesus today.  Let's develop a deep and meaningful love-relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Let's walk in the Power and the Direction of the Holy Spirit.  Let's let our boasts be only in and of the Lord.  I think He would be blessed by that . . . don't you?

Prayer

Father, Thank You for ALL You have given us.  Thank You for Your Love, and Grace, and for the Victories and the Blessings that You have so freely given.  Forgive us for the times when we take our eyes off of You and we start looking around and thinking that we've accomplished something.  Forgive our pride Lord.  Help us to keep our minds, and our hearts focussed fully on You.

Have a Blessed day everyone!

– Richard

Thank God! – 1 Chronicles 16: 8 - 36

– 1 Chronicles 16: 8 - 36

Thank God!

8 Thank God! Call out His Name! Tell the whole world who He is and what He's done! 

9 Sing to Him! Play songs for Him! Broadcast all His wonders! 

10 Revel in His holy Name, God-seekers, be jubilant! 

11 Study God and His strength, seek His presence day and night; 

12Remember all the wonders He performed, the miracles and judgments that came out of His mouth. 

13 Seed of Israel His servant! Children of Jacob, His first choice! 

14 He is God, our God; wherever you go you come on His judgments and decisions. 

15 He keeps His commitments across thousands of generations, the covenant He commanded, 

16 The same one He made with Abraham, the very one He swore to Isaac; 

17 He posted it in big block letters to Jacob, this eternal covenant with Israel: 

18 "I give you the land of Canaan, this is your inheritance; 

19 Even though you're not much to look at, a few straggling strangers." 

20 They wandered from country to country, camped out in one kingdom after another; 

21 But He didn't let anyone push them around, He stood up for them against bully-kings:

 

22 "Don't you dare touch My anointed ones, don't lay a hand on My prophets." 

23 Sing to God, everyone and everything! Get out His salvation news every day! 

24 Publish His glory among the godless nations, His wonders to all races and religions. 

25 And why? Because God is great - well worth praising! No god or goddess comes close in honor. 

26 All the popular gods are stuff and nonsense, but God made the cosmos! 

27Splendor and majesty flow out of him, strength and joy fill his place. 

28 Shout Bravo! to God, families of the peoples, in awe of the Glory, in awe of the Strength: Bravo! 

29 Shout Bravo! to His famous Name, lift high an offering and enter His presence! Stand resplendent in His robes of holiness! 

30 God is serious business, take Him seriously; He's put the earth in place and it's not moving. 

31 So let heaven rejoice, let earth be jubilant, and pass the word among the nations, "God reigns!" 

32 Let Ocean, all teeming with life, bellow, let Field and all its creatures shake the rafters; 

33 Then the trees in the forest will add their applause to all who are pleased and present before God - He's on his way to set things right! 

34 Give thanks to God - He is good and His love never quits. 

35 Say, "Save us, Savior God, round us up and get us out of these godless places, So we can give thanks to your Holy Name, and bask in your life of praise." 

36 Blessed be God, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 

Then everybody said, "Yes! Amen!" and "Praise God!" 

Have Blessed day everyone!

– Richard