1 Kings 3:5 "What can I give you? Ask." I wonder if God came to us in a dream and asked us that question what our response would be? Solomon answered: "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. I don't know the ropes, hardly know the 'ins' and 'outs' of this job. 3:9 says "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." I'm so touched by God's response---"I'll give you what you've asked for...and I'm giving you the wealth and glory you didn't ask for." How awesome is that? So makes me want to "let go" of my plans for what I think I need and ask for God to glorify Himself in and through me.
I Kings 4:29 - God gave Solomon wisdom—the deepest of understanding and the largest of hearts. There was nothing beyond him, nothing he couldn't handle. So what happened in Solomon's heart to lead him to take 700 wives. That's horrendous. 66 LL says: "When efficient management trumps holy living, the lack of holiness is either not recognized or is not seen as a terribly serious problem... . The center of My plan has nothing to do with well-managed families, ministries, or careers. When the center of My plan is not the center of your hope, your interior world is unstable, and your soul is weakened. Solomon's priority on power made him vulnerable to the demand for pleasure... . Solomon married many wives and effectively managed those relationships by giving their false gods a place in Israel's worship." So what about my interior world? What does it look like at 2am? Do I live an unexamined life? Do I allow people to speak deeply into the fray of my heart and receive it as from God? What a beautiful thing to be loved by a God Who accepts us & delights in us this day just as we are---whether we have hundreds of idols or just one.
Human hands built this home for God. It's beauty must have been amazing.
ReplyDeleteAll I can think of is how beautiful heaven will be, built by God's hands.
Same thing with my heart. When I allow God to create in me, in my internal place, He makes beauty out of my life.
Failures can be redeemed!
Our hearts are changed from hearts of stone!
He puts a song in our heart and changes every disappointment into His divine purpose.
"A God listening heart"(1 Kings 3:9) to be able to hear whenever and wherever He is choosing to speak to me and then respond for His glory and my greater good.
ReplyDeleteI've always been a little confused by Solomon. The wisest man who ever lived yet he had so many wives, which was a direct violation of what God had commanded. I didn't understand how he could be given this ability to discern the difference between good and evil and yet his personal choices were in the evil category. Not evil according to the culture, of course, but evil in God's eyes. And they ultimately led to the downfall of Israel. If wisdom is applied knowledge, Solomon doesn't seem very wise in his own life and family.
ReplyDeleteI am truly amazed by God's generosity and his delight in Solomon.
It's probably my perfectionist, black and white thinking, but I was surprised by the timing of God showing up in Solomon's dream, asking what he could give him. In the previous paragraph, (1 Kings 3:3) it said, "Solomon loved God and continue to live in the God-honoring ways of David his father, except that he also worshiped at the local shrines, offering sacrifices and burning incense." Seems like a big "exception" to me. I'm so glad God is not like me!
I'm grateful that God sees the heart and delights in giving good gifts to His children. He is so worthy of my devotion and praise. He does not require perfection, as we've seen over and over again with David and now Solomon; He only asks for a heart fully devoted to him.
I so desire to love and serve My Awesome God with my whole heart. I pray, God, that you will continue to teach me to value holiness more than success or effectiveness. Please reveal my sin in these specific areas.
Bev,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for facilitating this blog. I cannot begin to tell you as well as my other friends on this blog what a difference reading The Message, 66 Love Letters and everyone's comments means to me. This is real life. Thank you all for being here.
Early on in our read God has called each of us to Holiness. I was aware of it before I started this blog but over these three and half months I am beginning to focus more on holiness.
66 LL says on p. 48 "Your desire to be effective, to depend on biblical priniciples for success in your family, church, career, and friendships, is legitimately strong. But when that desire is stronger than your desire to be holy and to depend on My power for becoming more like My Son, whether you succeed or fail in other ways, then you will not advance My plan, no matter how carefully you follow My principles or how much apparent success you enjoy. And you'll be especically vunlnerable to serious sin."
In the business, church and personal world we all live in success is so important. I am so thankful for this read as it becomes clearer to me when I have challenges this is a call to my character for building more holiness into my life. To realize that no matter what when I trust God I will eventually triump with HIM as his child.
This is a Song I Must Sing.
Love you dearly,
Sylvia
My Precious String of Pearls,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your prayers. I want you to know if I haven't said it before...I am healed from my arthoscopic knee surgery of Dec 28th and the diagnosis as a result of the surgery Jan 5th of this year. That is God's grace and mercy in my life. The doctor has also allowed me to get off the medication I was taking and I am doing just fine. Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!!!
I know that going forward even though God has healed me I must change some deep embedded habits to remain healthy like slowing down. I am learning to seek God before I accept an activity in my life. As I am doing this I realize even if God has called me to this activity, I must constantly listen to HIS Voice and BE OBEDIENT.
Last weekend I was one of five hostesses for a bridal shower I knew God had called me to help provide for my daughter's lifetime friend. I was thankful to be able to do it. However, in the process I overdid it. I must be obedient to speak up even when I don't want to if God has given me directions.
I Praise God for each one on this blog. Thank you for blessing me with your prayers and comments.
A Song I must Sing,
Sylvia
God is truly amazing, He gave Solomon the gift of wisdom, something which should be the most important gift of all. So many times I think if I had only known what I know now, life might be different. However, what we do with the wisdom we have is the key. Solomon knew having over 700 wifes wasn't right but he did it anyway. It was probably to create alliances with other countries and tribes, but it caused problems and discord in the end. I love what Sylvia always says, May God Make us smarter than we really are. That is my prayer today.
ReplyDeleteDear Siestas on this String of Pearls,
ReplyDeleteOh how I love each one of you.
Annette, I continue to pray for your healing from last week's surgery. May you experience HIS HOLY PRESENCE with Strength and Courage as you progress through the pain of recovery. As you are resting I pray God will reveal His plan for for you and your family in the preparation for the upcoming wedding of Lauren.
Thank you for sharing your writing talent with your comments that bless and encourage me so from the very beginnnig.
Bev, I pray for Britt as he goes forward with His higher education plans that He will see brightly and very vividly The Hand of God in everything.
Bev, I pray continued healing from Jehovah Rophe, The God who Heals for your body and a Holy Presence of His Grace and Mercy as you walk through the process. I pray Jehovah Jireh for your financial situation. May you continue to receive double portion of blessings as you pour out your heart to Him and obey His voice.
I pray Jehovah Jireh, The God who Provides for Bev and Bob to be even more aware of God's Holy Presence in all the possibilities that are available in your lives and your family.
Twinkle, I know the Holy Father is hovering over, under and beside you as you honor HIM during this season of your life. You encourge me greatly with your comment entires, your blog and Spirit that comes through it.
Cici, I am so thrilled for the restoration of relationships that is happening in your life.
Ang, I pray God's Amazing Grace and Mercy as you enter a new phase of your business life. You were blessed with such a sweet business family for so many years. This may have been preparation for the new season you are now entering. I am so thankful for our meeting in January and your encouragement as you have assisted me in learning to blog Sylvia's Song.
Nise', your comments bless me and I desire to know you better.
Elizabeth may God continue to grow you deeper in HIM,
Abba's Girl, I pray for complete recovery from your respiratory issues of recent. Thank you for your insights.
Mary Lou, You just bless me richly with such wisdom and desire to know HIM better each day.
FG a.k.a Anonymous, thank you for your input and allowing me to trust God more as you contribute to this String of Pearls. I am Forever Grateful too.
JhPainter a.k.a Wonder Woman I know as you do, God is working a miracle with your family as you experience the myriad of challenges that come your way on a daily basis. What a beauty you are not only to HIM but to us as well.
God has moved my time in other directions that make it difficult for me to comment on this blog when I want to.
I pray by the end of this month I will be able to give comments more often as I read the entries from these Amazing String of Pearls.
I may have missed someone, it is not intentional. You all bless me so richly. This Song I must and had to sing.
A Song of Love to you my Precious Pearls.
Sylvia
I realized this week that I have been going to people who will say what I want to hear. Just my way of trying to "efficiently manage" things well. No holiness there.
ReplyDeleteToday I read: "Solomon loved God and continued to live in the God honoring ways...EXCEPT..." (1 Kings 3:3) Solomon made exceptions..."lost his center" and lost his devotion to the one true God.
It seems like a little thing. EXCEPT. So, last night I let my husband speak to my heart. Stay on course...keep my eye on the life-map and the God signs.(1Kings 3:14) Let God speak through my husband and be willing to examine my heart. Is God exposing my selfishness, or is this a place we aren't called to.(concerning a place of ministry) I don't want to turn my husband's heart from what God might be calling him to do.
I think I'm struggling with filling a NEED when I don't feel a CALL.
I wish we could sit down together and talk. I might make more sense!
Sylvia, so glad you've been able to get off your medication. Take care of that knee! Thank you for your seet prayers.
Bev, praying that God will make darkness light and crooked places straight for your family. He will not forsake you. (Isaiah 42:16)
Annette, you are missed! Praying you will continue to be immersed in His tender love and care.
FG Forever Grateful
Sylvia, I meant sweet, not seet!
ReplyDeleteOh, how I am so thankful that through the blood of Christ and by His Holy Spirit that we have God's wisdom available to use as we pray and request it.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you to everyone who contributed to today's message. You have truly challenged me in looking deeper into this scripture. And THANK YOU Bev for your last line, "What a beautiful thing to be loved by a God WHO accepts us and delights in us this day just as we are" - those are words I understand and can rejoice in, and I thank you for encouraging us.
Love You All,
Kim D.