tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82537484721833056942024-03-13T12:15:33.132-07:00blush girlrandom writings, thoughts, observations, occasional questions with or without answers, a bit of poetry, some praise, an encouraging word, ponderous things and who knows? a slice of life in a blog-format. warning: definite Christian orientation, so Bible is a Good Word...honor, noble, true, pure, admirable, virtuous, victorious are some of the things to which i hope to give a stage.Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.comBlogger775125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-36299263920272374272012-11-21T11:23:00.000-08:002012-11-21T11:23:11.033-08:002 Kings 25<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah
before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in
chains and took him to Babylon. … And the king of Babylon struck them
down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was
taken into exile out of its land.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Please Father, help me to remember that it is spiritual warfare – it
is ugly and costly and painful. Let me not be flattered and complacent
with “gracious freedoms” while I (my thoughts, emotions, etc.) or those
in my care are still in the custody of the enemy. Hearten me for this
thing called war, strengthen my hands, my heart and my mind with Your
presence. Oh Warrior Lord, teach me in the ways of the wise and the
warrior, for Your Kingdom sake.</span></span><br />
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-28870387380604548822012-11-20T11:03:00.004-08:002012-11-20T11:03:54.630-08:002 Kings 24<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This sets the stage for the story of
Daniel: Jewish kings who had done evil in the sight of the Lord being
puny and dispensable vassals for enemies’ kingdoms rather than abundant
life in the Promised Land and sweet “real-ationship” with the Most High
God. The Lord sets up kings in any time and any place and He deposes
them. And when the time is ripe for Your anger, You cast them out from
Your presence. I wonder if the people felt the relentless change of
power as a threatening thing or as a welcome relief? Were they hoping
for a better life with each new ruler? Or did the shifts foster an
apathetic mindset which lent itself to living for self? It seems the
state of the union faltered more and more with each wicked leader…the
leaders led the people to increase in the sin, (granted, with the
occasional generational respite of a godly leader) and so the nation
goes.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">These circumstances cause me to reflect on my home, America. The
people, my people are pursuing sin and evil in increasing manner, apart
from a few, the leaders seem to open the gates to the floods of
immorality, perversion and laziness. Lord, 200+ years ago we began in
tough circumstances and yet, You prospered us. We had abundant life and
freedom to the “real-ationship” with You; and we have been slowly
squandering the privilege on the pride of life, the comfort and lust of
the flesh, and the lust of the eye. Whatever we want, however we can
get it. How have we so cheapened ourselves and our voices that we can
be bought for a cell phone? How can we be so deceived that we choose to
live in extravagant comfort now without regard to our children and our
children’s children? We choose to live now and don’t give thought to 10
years from now. God, help us. I know that Daniel is a great story of
Your presence and faithfulness; please Father, raise up Daniels and
Daniellas in our time. Please don’t let what began in pursuit of You
end without You – not everyone chooses a life without You. Please help
us to bless Your Name, to love You with all our essence, to be a true
friend to Your people, to obey Your Word – like Daniel, Azariah, Meshael
and Hananiah. Please let us choose You over ourselves, and any thing
which would set itself up against You. You and You alone, Lord God.
Please don’t any of our children be cast away from Your presence. Help
us to be useful to Your purposes…good examples and not terrible
warnings. Let us use our choices and voices with Kingdom purpose,
divine discernment and godly wisdom.</span></span><br />
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-32363193887895113532012-11-19T08:26:00.002-08:002012-11-19T08:26:28.415-08:002 Kings 23<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Your people had mind-boggling ways to worship lesser gods. So many places, so many names, so many styles. You created humankind for worship - something in us draws us toward expressing ourselves, relating in that fashion. You made people with a desire for the divine, the supernatural, the holy. That appetite will not go unaddressed or unremedied, it will work its way into decisions, affiliations and lifestyles. Holy Spirit, cause me to cooperate with Your perfect purpose, keep my focus on the God Most High. Please, grant discernment to distinguish clearly between worlds that I would have such a distaste for the natural, the worldly, the evil that I will be unable to tolerate inaccurate worship, inappropriate meditations, and inapposite praise. The plethora of places, priests, and so-called sacred spots causes me to wonder how have I decorated my life with similar things; allowed worldly ways to encroach on my patterns of life and embraced an unclean inheritance of my family. Please strengthen my hands and my resolve to tear down, burn down and destroy those things which are not God-approved and God-centered. Let me not work in mercy as I seek to purge my life of those despicable high places. Holy Spirit, may my gift of worship be always and only offered to my God and Lord. </span></span></i></div>
Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-84028628934847602922012-11-18T14:42:00.004-08:002012-11-19T07:27:36.132-08:002 Kings 22<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;">because your heart was penitent, and you
humbled yourself before the Lord … when you heard how I spoke … I also
have heard you, declares the Lord.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">thank You Lord for Your grace, for Your love which hears me, for Your
sacrifice which saved me, for Your purpose which includes me. Holy
Spirit, please lead me in the way of humility, of penitence of right
response to You. To You.</span></span></div>
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-68176361239826597562012-11-17T14:21:00.000-08:002012-11-17T14:21:04.701-08:002 Kings 21<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: red;">Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another …</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: red;"> </span><br />
This strikes me as a description of abortion, terrible and fatal
violence on the innocent, real pro-choice results. Lord, if you do
nothing else for America, please remove this practice from our land.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Lord, two more things really call to me from this passage; one is
that Manasseh burned his son in the fire as an offering……what does that
do to the other children? What on earth? God help me to be an
instrument of Your peace, a Spirit-bearer who brings Your grace, Your
comfort, Your healing rather than stoking a ravenous appetite for
destroying life. The second call came from <span style="color: red;"> “In this house, and in
Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will
put My Name forever.”</span> God, where do I place wrong things in the house
in which You have placed Your Name? How do I corrupt the holy with the
idol? Please, Holy Spirit, guide me into all Truth that I may only make
Your Name more glorious in my life, in my worship, in my mind. You and
You alone. And I pray for Jerusalem, please make Your Name and no one
else’s (real or demonic) known there again.</span></span><br />
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-27448081773514933672012-11-16T08:40:00.002-08:002012-11-16T08:40:27.715-08:002 Kings 20<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me…?”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lord, You are worthy of obedience and what You say happens because it
can’t not happen…all creation testifies to You. I am bothered that
Heze took Your word for his passing; but wanted a sign (other than the
healing, I guess) that You would be good for Your word. Where do I act
like that? How do I focus or only take You seriously on half of what
You say to me and ask for proof for the rest? Help me to receive Your
words and respond in faith to all of them…walking in the confident hope
of a daughter of the King. Thank You</span></span><br />
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-90079175490763436102012-11-15T13:28:00.001-08:002012-11-15T13:30:17.861-08:002 Kings 19<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">(from <span style="color: #0c343d;">Assyrian en<span style="color: #0c343d;">voy): <span style="color: red;"> </span> <span style="color: red;">"</span></span></span></span>Do not let your God in whom you trust
deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand
of the king of Assyria. Behold, you have heard what the kings of
Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall
you be delivered?" </span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">… declares the Lord. “For I will defend this city to
save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Let me not question what You have done or said; but let me stand
firmly on exactly what You have said confidently remembering what You
and You alone have done. May my life bring You glory and praise. None
other; but You. And thank You for what You do for Your Own sake and for
Your servant David. I praise You and thank You for allowing me to be a
witness to You and Your mighty works.</span></span><br />
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-19217364134896834592012-11-14T14:11:00.004-08:002012-11-14T14:11:43.981-08:002 Kings 18<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah,
began to reign…. He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that
there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor
among those who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank You for this story which shows that no matter how messed up the
parent is, You can still redeem the child. I pray that my children and
those spiritual children of my heart would trust in You more so than
any of their ancestors, may they hold fast and tight and long to You –
for You have them. May they bring You praise and make You famous in
their lives.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lord God, the Assyrian king’s words (verses 31-32ish) sounded so much
like Your words of the Promised Land. Help me to really recognize the
origin of familiar words lest I be led astray in my laxness. This is
war, I can’t afford to be careless in my assenting. Your Word, oh Lord,
Your Word and no other. Help me today to experience more of You.</span></span><br />
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-8120728431138704742012-11-13T18:50:00.005-08:002012-11-13T18:51:05.814-08:002 Kings 17<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They went after false idols and became
false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning
whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They went after the false and became false themselves. God help me.
I will become like what I worship, I will be as what I follow. Help me
to see, to pray, to intercede, to seek the true, the True. May I lose
myself in You and Your truth, never the false nor the deception. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They also feared the Lord and appointed from among themselves all
sorts of people as priests of the high places …. So they feared the Lord
but also served their own gods….</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">May I fear You, Lord, so that completely and deeply that I am not
able to serve a lesser god, my own god or any of the all sorts of
lower-case-g-o-ds that is set up and appointed. Only You. Only, ever
You. May I never dilute, dispute or recompute You. You are worthy.</span></span></div>
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-49347428512945582072012-11-12T07:55:00.004-08:002012-11-12T07:55:57.976-08:002 Kings 16<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: red;">He (Ahaz) even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.</span><br /><br />Lord God, Jotham's grandson was burned as an offering. Jotham who did what was right yet failed on the high places loses a grandbaby to the lesser gods. God, for the sake of my children and their children, please show me my blindspots and help me to annihilate them, in Your Name. <br /><br />Ahaz took the right instruments and created his own way to You. or to himself. Lord, help me to see where I dawdle long at a self-serving idea. Lord, I don't easily die to myself, Holy Spirit pierce through the tough membrane of my soul that my flesh, my pride, my self-stuff may be exposed to Your all-consuming light and be eradicated, exterminated and obliterated. today. I need this today. thank You.</span></span></div>
Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-21375152670114240452012-11-11T04:14:00.002-08:002012-11-11T04:14:42.817-08:002 Kings 15<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: red;">The Lord afflicted the king (Azariah/Uzziah, King of Judah) with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. Jotham the king’s son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. ... Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign. ... He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord ... The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the Lord. ... Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, the city of his father. </span><br /><br />Again, Lord, may I thank You for the peaceful change of hands our government experiences compared to what could be going on within the White House walls. Father God, please keep me from doing what is right in Your eyes, taking care of family needs, rebuilding devastated places and having success in my career but not tearing down the high places. The high places were never long destroyed; they were a constant snare to Your people, an enduring legacy and temptation to the ways of lesser gods. And Your kings, even when they did what was right in Your sight, managed to not remove them. I can't imagine that You gave them peace about this or that they thought those places were okay. But did they think about them? Did they ask You? Were they truly careful to do all that You asked? Were they blinded to these high places? Where these ancient sacrificing spots just some leftover hangouts and relics from previous generations which seemed to pose no harm, under the deceptive guise of how the folks liked to celebrate? Were they, in truth, spiritual boundary markers of the enemy, dedicated evil areas which continued to influence Your people and draw them away from the pure worship and relationship You offer. Were these the football stadiums, the malls, the buffets, the internet, the concerts, _______ parties, sleeping in ... the shrugging-off of gluttony, infidelity, abuse, pride, prejudice, critical spirits and anger issues because that's how momma or daddy did it? Were these persistent thorns the excuses we give and cling to for our families' perpetuation of brokenness - that's the way this family rolls? God help us. Help me to see the high places in my life, to be a tearer down of those poles and altars which call to the flesh, where sin and the soul commune. Lord, I need Your perspective on everything; especially the things I wrongly view as spiritual comfort food but which draw me away from You - even when it is merely a mindless activity. Time is not mine to gamble with, it is a gift, a trust You bestow on me to steward well. Show me the high places and fix in my heart and hands that which I need to decimate them, to the praise of Your Name and the release of Your power in long held enemy strongholds. You are my Stronghold, I need no other. I desire none other.</span></span></div>
Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-70073968960759642132012-11-10T07:53:00.001-08:002012-11-10T07:53:13.800-08:002 Kings 14<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;"> Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”</span><br /><br />Father, this makes me think of the church and how one part attacks another in the Body - without regard to the divine nature of what You have established. One denomination versus another, one layperson against a leader or another layperson. It's like the elbow wants to pick a fight with the ear. God, help us to all remember we are on the same side, and it's not any of our sides - it is Your side. Lord may we treat well all the members of Your Body, Your Bride and be gracious that the world would know us by love and not sarcasm, backbiting nor treachery. May we walk in the freedom from this world which You paid so dearly for. Help us to be careful in our gathering with each other (not that this seems to be a problem; but let us not rest carelessly because of that), help us to be faithful intercessors for the rest of the Body throughout the world. To the praise of Your Name.</span></span></div>
Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-19176235841610672002012-11-09T10:58:00.001-08:002012-11-09T10:58:49.491-08:002 Kings 13<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lord God, I have a couple of superficial
responses to this chapter: all of these J names are confusing (and
remind me of a pop-culture family with more than a dozen and half kids);
Aram, Arameans, Aramaic the language of the New Testament – I hadn’t
recognized how long-standing and prevalent their influence/rivalry was
on Israel and Judah – nor how much Israel’s sinfulness welcomed the
enemy……the sins of leadership which led the people astray, the seemingly
small things which yielded huge consequences. It’s interesting to me
that Your holy words are preserved in the language of the enemy. Is
that so all would have a chance to know – the captive and the captors
alike?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck
the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and
completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On a more serious note, Lord, even though Elisha’s directions seem a
bit capricious, he is almost always referred to as “the man of God” in
Your Word, by You. Underscoring that Elisha does speak and act on Your
behalf, he does bear Your anointing, he does obey and honor Your Name.
What a privilege to be called “the man/woman of God.” Holy Spirit,
please help me to follow that hard after You, to walk worthy of the
anointing, to present myself as “one of God,” to the praise of Your very
great Name. Help me to keep doing what You told me to do until You
tell me otherwise (to not grow weary in well-doing or ground-striking or
faithfully presenting myself to You), that the destruction of the enemy
may be thorough because the defeat is complete. Keep me from
mediocrity in obedience that excellence may mark the triumph, for You
are worthy, O Lord, my God and my Warrior-Lord. And help me to strive
for that virtue of superbness in the times of suffering. I appreciate
that Elisha who had twice the anointing as Elijah is suffering from the
illness which kills him without whining about how Elijah got to leave
this world and how the people keep coming to him for help. He walks the
narrow road in his personal disciplines. Thank You for this example
and for Your enabling others (me, included) to walk in that noble and
godly fashion.</span></span></div>
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-50989688626991652752012-11-08T08:07:00.005-08:002012-11-08T08:07:50.233-08:002 Kings 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But Joash king of Judah took all the sacred objects … and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew from Jerusalem.<br />
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant,
abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless,
unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather
than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its
power.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">God, as I read how King Joash, (as he was so intent on rebuilding the
temple – sort of, v. 6) sent away the sacred objects, the treasures
from Your temple and the palace, I was reminded of this second verse.
Not that he was abusive or brutal or treacherous, or even disobedient to
his parents or his priest. He may not have been heartless or
slanderous nor uncontrolled; but he (and probably with good intentions)
paid off King Hazael (how long does this guy get to trouble Your
people?!) with Your stuff. Even the palace stuff was Yours; but he
didn’t check with You. It seems he thought financial might, economic
savvy, pretty shineys were the way out of this trouble. I am saddened
that he appears to love the power of money and not You. That he never
sought Your answer. That his answer came from a place which did not
love Your influence in all matters – he had the form of godliness; but
he denied its power as he did not acknowledge You nor Your power. He
did it man’s way. Okay, I’ll stop. It’s just that I see my tendency in
this scenario, to want to handle the daily affairs as a delegator (fix
the temple, do your homework, make good choices) and not as one who is
involved in the process enough to ensure that the matters are resolved
(having milestones for accountability for temple assembling, let’s try
factoring that polynomial this way, what are good choices today?). I
don’t want to solve anything that You do not author or authorize; but I
still do. Help me Holy Spirit to see again and afresh my desperate
dependency and soul-deep need for You, Your power and Your answers to
all things – really all things, moments, interactions, circumstances,
thoughts, plans, reactions, encounters, etc. I cannot do this on my
own, and I don’t want to – grant me vision to see where I am deceived
and choose to bust a godly or goldly move without You. Holy Spirit,
rise up in me with the spiritual discipline to stop the foolishness and
wait for You. Thank You! And thank You that You speak to such a
wayward soul as me.</span></span><br />
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-9339855905860903282012-11-07T05:05:00.001-08:002012-11-07T05:05:07.628-08:002 Kings 11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <i><span style="color: red;">But Jehosheba ... took Joash .... She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.</span></i><br /><br />Lord, on this post-election day, I thank You and praise You that our change of leadership is not like the histories I have read in Kings. Thank You for the peace and orderliness of the elections. May I be like Aunt Jehosheba, brave, loving, determined, taking the opportunities You provide me to snatch others from the path of destruction and hatred, lead them to You and help them to be hidden in Your sacred presence - even though the enemy still rules the land, the air and the darkness. No life is insignificant, You desire all to be saved, and You remember mercy. May my life bring You glory as I live as a reflection of Your priorities, may I operate with the spiritual discernment and power to accomplish the feats You have assigned to me, and may I trust all the more when it is scary and the the resolution takes a long time to appear. Life or death. That's really what's at stake. Thank You.</span></span></div>
Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-71095466832559752312012-11-06T10:23:00.000-08:002012-11-06T10:23:09.948-08:002 Kings 10<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now the royal princes, seventy of them,
were with the leading men of the city, who were rearing them. When the
letter arrived, these men took the princes and slaughtered all seventy
of them. …. They (Jehu’s contingent) demolished the sacred stone of Baal
and tore down the temple of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine
to this day.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Again, today, may I count willingly, intentionally and graciously,
everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of You, knowing You
and serving You. I know this is a physical scenario which addresses
the spiritual; but I don’t want to be a wimp and chicken out of doing
the hard or even impossible for me (according to the way You have made
me) things You call me to perform. Lord, where a spiritual thing needs
to go, something which is reminiscent of ungodliness, an heir to
rebellion or a scion of sin, please help me to know that and to
annihilate my ties to it or, if appropriate, to utterly destroy it.
Allow me to trust the spiritual senses You have given and empowered in
me to slaughter anything which You call me to vanquish and vaporize lest
I miss Your purpose for my life because I wrongly believe I am not
strong enough to obey. Grant me eyes to see what idols I keep close,
keep on and keep track of. May they and their influence be demolished
by Your power and Spirit that I may be more fully and completely devoted
to You. And, Holy Spirit, when I have done the big things, the
challenging things, the eradicating things, please help me to continue
to walk in obedience to You. Please keep me from slipping into
mediocre, comfortable, lazy, convenient, self-centered service to You.
You Alone. No other…especially not me. I do not want it said of me
that I was not careful with all of my heart to pursue, obey and honor
You.</span></span><br />
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-45331106437931761112012-11-05T20:42:00.000-08:002012-11-05T20:42:04.326-08:002 Kings 9<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: red;">When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this maniac come to you?” ... Jehu said, “Here is what he told me: ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’” They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”</span><br /><br />Lord God, they called Your man a maniac and then believed exactly what You said through him. I am not sure how to pray about the name-calling ... but you do call Your people to be distinctive and different from the world, so may I also live a life which fosters that same reputation - uniquely Yours and faithful to Your commands, known to be true to You and not swayed by man's verdicts, obedient and well-used by You. I know it made no difference to the verity of the situation; but how they responded to the words displayed their belief. The name-calling was rebooted by their reaction. Your Word weighs that much, no matter how or from whom it is delivered. Father, help me to treat Your Word with deliberate reverence, to believe with cloak-spreading conviction and words to match and to walk in the authority You provide me through Your grace and adoption. You created the heavens and the earth, You set up kings and You depose them, You are God in Heaven and here am I on earth: Let my words be few - that Your Words may echo, thundering throughout this dusty timeline and into eternity demonstrating Your majesty, Your omniscience, Your omnipotence, Your love and Your ever-loving, everlasting, ever-wondrous Name. </span></span></i></div>
Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-31580141456676425242012-11-04T11:27:00.001-08:002012-11-04T11:27:12.070-08:002 Kings 8<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lord, I see favor in the form of a warning given to a woman who serves Your prophet, I see answers without warning given to kings. I see tears over what is coming and a trusted counselor committing murder. I see a traitor who doesn't kill the one who knows his plan. I see complicated kings, kingdoms and relatives. Battles, wounds, elaborate gifts and abundant restoration. But in the midst of all of these various circumstances I see You, nevertheless, for the sake of Your servant David, not willing to destroy Judah because You promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever. You are faithful, promise-keeping, steadfast and true to Your Word. With all the treacherousness and betrayals, famines and rebellions, commoners without names and too many named kings, You are the ever-steady thread, the cord of constancy who never changes or hedges on Your Word. I praise You for Your faithfulness and great is Your faithfulness, Lord unto everyone and unto me. Thank You Father for Your amazing, gracious, immutability. Worthy, You are!</span></span></i></div>
Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-41959226379899182112012-11-03T11:28:00.000-07:002012-11-04T11:28:59.651-08:002 Kings 7<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Oh Warrior God, what a tremendous story of victory and provision without
bloodshed. I lift those who struggle with oppressive thoughts and
dire circumstances and ask that You would send the evidence of Your
spiritual might and victory to their minds and souls that those
parasitical imaginations would disappear in the darkness, even as the
Arameans did the night of their despoiling. God, teach me the spiritual
warcraft of plundering the enemy in absentia in Your Name for the
praise of Your Name. Also, I can see the officer who questioned the
promise may not have thought his inquiry offensive; but Lord, don’t let
me follow his example. Oh, may I receive and believe the wholeness of
Your words and promises. Holy Spirit, help me to respond in faith and
not even pick at a hangnail of doubt. You are Lord over all, the
physical, the spiritual, the eternal and every other realm about which I
can’t imagine…I trust You. I trust YOU. You are True.</span></span></div>
Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-87343777767799150342012-11-02T14:23:00.004-07:002012-11-02T14:24:09.858-07:002 Kings 6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Please help me to always be graciously inviting others, even those in
ministry. Let me know make assumptions about anyone’s attendance to
Your work, Your gatherings or Your opportunities. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Father, this is the king who allowed Naaman to go with treasure for
healing from You. Naaman was healed, his life and heart were changed –
his worship was transformed. He knew it before he left. Somehow, this
co-worker-king of his didn’t respond to You and receive his own
provision. Help me to be more faithful, more honest and more of a
poster girl for You. I don’t want my co-workers, relatives and
neighbors to continue to be deceived. Also, I see a connection for the
peace of Israel to be promoted, so please help Your Bride to impact the
world in this way that peace, Your peace may come to Israel in our
lifetime.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And I praise You that You concern yourself with axeheads and car-keys
while You maintain Your glory throughout the universe. Thank You!</span></span></div>
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-17780120514461642172012-11-01T13:43:00.000-07:002012-11-02T14:08:53.939-07:002 Kings 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;">So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”</span><br /><br />Holy Spirit, help me to remember that what You offer has no price, may I authentically bear witness of that truth in my life. You alone heal, You alone. May I be Your conduit for healing in this dusty life - that others may know and see You as the Healer and the One Who Can't be Bought.<br /><span style="color: red;"><br /> As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”</span><br /><br />Lord God, as I seek what You have for me in life, may I not whine and resist that which and whom You bring to me. May I recognize holy interruptions, divine opportunities and sacred appointments in what seems to be smelly people, prickly situations and tough circumstances. May I always be mindful and believing actively that this life is not about what I see and smell, touch and dread, feel and fear; but You, Your glory and Your Kingdom purpose. You died for people. For eternity sake. Let that shake the selfish out of my schedule, priorities and plans.</span></div>
Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-71250101840948096892012-10-31T13:42:00.000-07:002012-11-02T13:43:17.835-07:002 Kings 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha …</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lord God of the Universe, Who keeps the planets spinning and the
stars shining, I thank You that You don’t vaguely recollect me, that You
don’t quite know if we’ve met, that You aren’t sure where You’ve seen
me before; I thank You that You know me, You know my name, You have
sought me out and lift up my face when it is downcast. You are the One
Who sees me, You called me out of darkness, You planned for me and kept
to Your plan – even as I cost You so dearly. You know my name. I
praise You today for that precious thought.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? …”</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Precious Father, In light of all that You have done for me, how You
esteem me and what You have paid for me – may this be my attitude to
the Kingdom and the world, rather than “what do you want?” Please help
me not grow weary of doing good. To the praise of Your very great and
priceless Name.</span></span></div>
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-38222283015726011032012-10-30T06:15:00.002-07:002012-11-04T11:29:17.183-08:002 Kings 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;">Nevertheless he (Joram) clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat ....</span><br /><br />Father, Jeroboam has been gone a long time; but he is still identified as the one with the sins which turned Israel away from You. God, please help me not be that kind of example in any way. Please help my choices never cause another to stumble or turn away from you. Rather help me be an encourager of Your people, a lover of Your Word and a doer of Your Will. May my example lead others to You and discourage them from You. You only are worthy of obedience and worship; Holy Spirit guide my life so that it reflects those priorities well. Please don't let me wander off, turn away or sit down on the craggy mountain peaks looking around. I want to keep steady and pace with Your plan for me. Thank You.</span></span></div>
Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-28893476174946637272012-10-29T12:26:00.000-07:002012-10-29T12:26:02.073-07:002 Kings 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;">“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”</span> focus on the important things, not chatter about the important things.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;">“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.</span>
seek spiritual gifts, ask boldly, for as much as I can imagine as He
does far more than that.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes and amen, my Lord, help me to focus on worthy things, not merely
chit-chat about such possibilities. Lord, teach me to desire the
spiritual, to consider the eternal, to desire the sacred and ever-after
more highly than I do the temporal, dusty, wash and wearing out world I
am surrounded by. Grant me vision for the unseen, heart for the
invisible and strength for that domain. Grow me up in You, Lord Jesus,
grow me up. Thank You.</span></span><br />
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Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8253748472183305694.post-77197615837328802292012-10-28T13:23:00.003-07:002012-10-28T13:23:46.470-07:002 Kings 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank You Father for Your privilege and provision for prayer and intercessors. Thank You Jesus that You intercede for me and thank You Holy Spirit for Your intervention, too. Thank You my God for Your revelation of Yourself to me, of drawing me to You and giving me faith to come to You. I thank You that You distinguish Yourself from the lesser gods in this world., that I don't have to "send out" to another region for wisdom, that You are the Most High God, King of the Universe and All Creation and that You are mine and I am Yours. Please help me not to seek my answers from You in a second-hand fashion, though. When I need an answer, may I go directly to You, Your Word and Your Spirit for the response. Please help me to be transparent and humble to ask others for help in praying; but not for them to be responsible for my direction. </span></span></div>
Graced!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03959209141567660247noreply@blogger.com0