Prov 4-6; Romans 8

 As we read through Proverbs 4 there is a main theme we can see here and this is that the condition of our heart will effect everything else in our lives. Things like putting other people before ourselves, living in wisdom & staying focused on the Lord are all sighted here in these scriptures. The condition of our heart and the choices we make will all culminate in the direct outcome of our spiritual lives.. "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

Take a look at our world; I would say many of us have car alarms (most cars come with them built in these days)  yet a car alarm only works if we respond to the sound of the alarm. Sometimes those things will go on for hours without anybody even turning a head. How about our spiritual alarms? Shouldn't we be even more sensitive to the alarms that go off inside us? That still small voice. Isn't there more importance in these eternal matters than the physical property we have? Having all the wisdom of Solomon doesn't help if we don't listen to the alarms going off. What comes to mind here is; "discernment" - the ability to determine and choose the good from the bad, the right from the wrong.

While as infants we lack discernment, as we grow up we develop this trait. Sometimes as adults even though we have developed discernment and can clearly speak to friends about the choices they should make we still have a hard time "discerning" what is good for our hearts.

Consider this... If you have alarms going off, maybe even some that have faded to the background because you have ignored them for so long, consider listening a little more carefully. Take the triggers of those alarms and present them to God. Bring forth a repentant and broken heart. Let's ask Him to create in us a "new heart". Let's place our hearts at the foot of the cross  and experience the forgiveness God purchased for us there. Then, let's watch over our hearts with all diligence; because from it flow the issues of life.


Blessings my Friends,
Pastor Jason

Next Reading: Prov 7-9; Romans 9

1 Kings 10,11; 2 Chronicles 9; Romans 6

^"The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country." 1 Kings 10;14-15

Wow "666" Talents of gold! I think that alone should have been a warning that this wasn't going to end well!  Seriously friends, Solomon may have amassed a huge wealth and loved the Lord, and he even showed great wisdom that drew the attention of people like Queen Sheba. Unfortunately in the end his desire got the best of him as he didn't follow the Lords instruction. "But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love." 1 Kings 11:1-2 Unfortunately Solomon took his eyes off the mark and his heart grew cold to the Lord. "Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant." 1 Kings 11:11

There is a spiritual excellence in heavenly things, and in walking a good life before Christ. Remember when we offer up things to the Lord whether it be our time, our resources, our worship or anything given with a right heart, it isn't because Jesus needs them, instead He allows us to give these things to express our gratitude. Take some time today and ask yourself where does your focus on other things pull you away from God. Is there anywhere in our lives that we can/should consider handing over at the altar?

When it was all said and done King Solomon died leaving all the treasure he amassed here on earth, and all the wives that his desire drove him to didn't help him in the end.

Lord help us all daily see the areas we need more of you and less of us....AMEN!

Blessings Friends,
Pastor Jason

Next Reading: 1 Kings 10,11; 2 Chronicles 9; Romans 6

2 Samuel 8, 9; 1 Chronicles 18, 19; Matthew 21

“So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually." 2 Samuel 9:7

In 2 Samuel 9, David sets out to discover if there are any left from the house of Saul. Do you remember that Jonathan and David had made a friendship pact between them? This pact was that they would do good and show kindness to each other and to each other’s future offspring, forever. Now David, established as king, wants to make right his promise. He finds out that there is a son of Jonathan’s, Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was only five years old when his father was killed in battle with his grandfather Saul. When this young boy’s nurse heard that the Philistines had taken Jonathan and Saul in battle she became very afraid. She picked up the young son of Jonathan and ran in fear to flee. As she was running, she dropped the young child and broke both of his legs and he became crippled. Mephibosheth, connected by birth with the house of David’s enemy is helpless and in circumstances of destitution but comes in to the presence of the king who has the desire and the power to show him the kindness that he himself had received from the Lord. David brings Mephibosheth in to his house and honors him all the rest of the days of his life. The son of Jonathan eats at the king’s table and has his needs provided. In chapter 9, we see that David has a desire to express the kindness of his God to others. How precious are these words…”that I may show the kindness of God…” It is no wonder the enemy tries to keep us from experiencing all of the greatness of our God because when we experience His kindness, mercy, love, grace and all He has for us, we just cannot help but pass it on. When we allow the fruit of the spirit to flow through our life (Galatians 5) we become the best version of ourselves as Pastor Rick calls it, “Youier”. May all of the goodness of God be evident in your life today as you minister the love of Jesus. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

Blessings in Him
Carol Danna

Next Reading: 2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 19, 20; Psalm 20, Matthew 22