King of ALL kings and Lord of ALL lords!

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” 2 Chronicles 16:9

Can you imagine the eyes of the LORD scanning the earth – looking for a heart that is completely His so that He can fully support and strengthen the person? What a beautiful picture of the intimacy of God!

I have had the pleasure of studying and reading about the kings of Judah for the last several days. There are two kings that I have enjoyed learning about - one is king Josiah.  At the very young and tender age of eight, Josiah became king of Judah! As he reigned in this position, he already was aware of the spiritual sickness in his land. This was his reaction when the Book of God’s Law was read to him:

 “As the Book of God’s Law was read to Josiah for the first time, he was shocked, frightened, and humbled. He realized what a great gap existed between his efforts to lead his people to God and God’s expectations for His chosen nation. He was overwhelmed by God’s holiness and immediately tried to expose his people to that holiness.” Commentary

Although Josiah’s father and grandfather were exceptionally wicked, when Josiah became king and came face to face with the Word of God, he sought after God with all his might! He made drastic changes and the Bible says that there was no king like him!

See below why he was honored by God as the most obedient king!

“His obedience followed this pattern: (1) he recognized sin; (2) he eliminated sinful practices; (3) he attacked the cause of sin. Not only must we remove sinful actions, we must also eliminate causes of sin-those situations, relationships, routines, and patterns of life that lead us to the door of temptation.” Commentary

God made sure that king Josiah will forever be known as the most obedient king – God loves to give honor where honor is due! This is what the Word of God says about king Josiah:

“Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.” 2 Kings 23:25

There is another king that God honored – it was king Hezekiah. King Hezekiah was also a king of Judah and was the great-grandfather of king Josiah.

King Hezekiah was a king with a powerful prayer life and he had a personal close relationship with God.  Hezekiah was aware of the people’s lack of trust in God and made efforts to boldly clean house.

One particular time in king Hezekiah’s reign that shows his great trust in God, was when the king of Assyria came as an enemy against the people of Judah. Hezekiah knew that there is a greater King than the king of Assyria and prayed to the Lord with complete trust and a childlike faith in God’s ability to deliver and his prayer was answered favorably.

This is what the Word of God says about king Hezekiah:

“He trusted in the LORD God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, or who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him…” 2 Kings 18:5-6

“Both Josiah and Hezekiah are praised for their reverence towards God. Hezekiah was said to be the greatest in trusting God (faith), while Josiah is said to be greatest in following the law of God (obedience).” Commentary

How do we want to be remembered?

Are we like king Josiah and deeply humbled to lead people to the true God as we see this world living contrary to His Holy Word?

Do we trust God with all of our heart like King Hezekiah in spite of our current circumstances?

Do we trust that there is a greater King named Jesus Christ?!

We do not have be kings of a nation to change the world around us. We can start making a difference for God right where we are! Let's start with our own families - or at our work place - or even at the market places we visit!

The Bible says that that the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him! (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Oh LORD, may our lives bring you honor!  May we be known as people who love You, trust You and obey You with ALL of our hearts! 

There is a greater King - He is King of all kings and Lord of all lords!

My First Love

"I will sing a new song to You, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You..."Psalm 144:9

This morning as I entered into my time to meet with God, out of the blue a song came to my mind that I have not heard in quite a while. I looked up the song on YouTube to read the lyrics and I was so blessed when I found the writer and his heart for God! I hope that this song blesses you too this morning! 

Oh Lord, You're beautiful

Your face is all I seek

For when Your eyes are on this child

Your grace abounds to me

I wanna to take Your Word and shine it 

all around

But first help me to just, live it Lord

And when I'm doing well, help me to

never seek a crown

For my reward is giving glory to You

Oh Lord, please light the fire

That once burned bright and clear

Replace the lamp of my first love

That burns with holy fear

Oh Lord, You're beautiful 

Your face is all I seek

For when Your eyes are on this child

your grace abounds to me

The LORD is truly beautiful!  No matter what is going on in our lives, during the wonderful times and/or the hard times, let's seek HIS face continually this Christmas season!

Taste and See

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.” Psalm 34:8-10

Both my husband and I had the blessing of having moms who were in our opinions, the best chefs! Our moms took the time each day to prepare a healthy meal for their families  - all in the name of love!

When we began our family, mealtime was also always an expression of our love for our children.  I remember when they were very young, my husband and I received so much joy to introduce solid foods into their diets. We loved to see the expression on their faces, as they tasted for the first time a banana or an orange or the sweet taste of watermelon! We were filled with joy when we saw their reaction to having their taste buds satisfied and when they desired more.

The Bible says, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!”

As we begin this glorious Christmas season and if you have not “tasted” the LORD, I invite you to allow Him to satisfy your soul! By doing so, it will open up your desire to want more of HIM!

“Taste and see” does not mean, “Check out God’s credentials.” Instead it is a warm invitation: “Try this; I know you’ll like it.” When we take the first step of obedience in following God, we will discover that He is good and kind. When we begin the Christian life, our knowledge of God is partial and incomplete. As we trust Him daily, we experience how good He is.” Commentary

As we taste and see the wonderful foods of Christmas, let's not only see the loving hands that prepared it, but let's see the loving God who provided it!

OH, Taste and See that the LORD is good! Those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing!

Disrupt

Are you a disruptor? 

A disruptor is someone who interrupts. We usually think of a disruptor in a negative way but “disruptors” invented some of the greatest inventions we enjoy today.  A disruptive innovation is an innovation that creates a new market by applying a different set of values, which ultimately overtakes an existing market.

For example: E-mail disrupted postal mail because it can send messages over vast geographical distance in mere milliseconds without wasting paper or requiring the spending of money for postage stamps.

Smartphones disrupted personal computers, as they are more portable than traditional PC’s.

In most cases the disruptors were people that were outside of the existing companies. This is because the people who were in the existing companies felt comfortable and did not feel that change was necessary or they perceived that the effort and start up costs were too great.

Disruptors are usually people who see a need or gap that is not being met. A disruptor sees a better way! Disruptors are willing to pay the sacrifice of time and effort to move their ideas forward.

The ultimate disruptor in my opinion was Jesus Christ! God sent His Son into the world to disrupt – to stand in the gap for mankind – to intercede and make the ultimate sacrifice in order to bring salvation to all who accept Him. 

I believe that God wants us to follow his example to be a disruptor in order to partner with Him for the well being of others.

In Ezekiel 22:30 it says, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”

“The wall spoken of here is not made of stones, but of faithful people united in their efforts to resist evil. This wall was in disrepair because there was no one who could lead the people back to God. The feeble attempts to repair the gap-through religious rituals or messages based on opinion rather than God’s will-were worthless as whitewash, only covering the real problems. What the people really needed was total spiritual reconstruction!” Commentary

One effective and powerful way that we can be a disruptor and make a big difference in this world is through prayer! 

“Through intercessory prayer I reach out beyond myself and pray, not for my own needs, but for the needs of those around me. I pray for my family, friends, and neighbors who don’t yet know Jesus Christ. I pray for the needs in the Body of Christ. I bring before God all the various needs of others that have come to my attention.” Chuck Smith

We may never be an inventor that changes markets or industries, but by simply bending our knees and praying for those around us fervently, we can be used by God to disrupt the eternal destiny for those we love one life at a time!

Let’s be a disruptor for Christ! Stand in the gap and make a difference for God and this world!

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much." James 5:16b

When I Rise

“The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger quieter life come flowing in.” C. S. Lewis

Is this true for you as you rise each morning? I know at times it is true for me - all my wishes and hopes for the day rush at me like wild animals. And this is especially true for me during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons when my list for the day is even longer!

Do you know what I have found and I am sure you have found this too - nothing gives our day more completeness, fulfillment and joy than when we talk to our heavenly Father in prayer and listen to Him when we open up His Holy Word.

I admit to you that there are mornings that everything in me wants to grab my purse and run out the door to accomplish a wish or hope I have for the day. But when I shove all those desires back and take the time to listen to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger quieter life come flowing in, I never regret it as I am embraced by the arms of the Almighty!

I believe God’s heart of love says to His children, “Spend time with Me, My love, I desire to give you peace and strength and hope and encouragement and guidance for your day.”

With great anticipation, let’s press towards the goal of letting God quiet our soul and let's sit down, open up the Word of God and enjoy the fellowship with our King!

“I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure.” Psalm 11:162