1 Kings 15-16, 2 Chronicles 17: It has taken me years of reading the Bible through to finally get the difference between Israel and Judah. Under King David they were one, but as his descendants got further away from God, God allowed parts of the kingdom to be torn away from their hands. The end result was two kingdoms and two kings. Israel, the northern kingdom went further and further away from God. The end result for them was they worshiped many foreign gods. Many might recognize the name of Samaria, which became their capitol. In our scripture today we see where the land was bought and the city built. I can’t help but wonder if God did not smile thinking about what would happen between His Son and a woman at a well one day. There was hope even if many turned away for one day His Son would right in the midst of those people and share the good news.
In Judah God continued to place one of David’s family line on the throne. Though they never got as far off track as the Northern Kingdom, they still would wonder away and then one would come who remembered how God had blessed their ancestor David and they would return. In today’s passage we read of Jehoshaphat and how he returned to God with a whole heart. The other thing he did was to send out men to teach the people the word of God. This was a first in a long time. The priests would read the word to the people and teach them how to walk in the truths they read. We will read more in days to come of how this helped the people have faith in God during a time of great anxiety and unrest. There were many other benefits of hearing and following the word both personally and as a nation.
God is still looking for those who will follow after Him with a whole heart. Although we may not understand all we read in His word, as we read time and time again somethings finally click. (I am a slow learner) As we learn we apply what we learn we too find great strength, peace in times of conflict, and joy in the midst of the journey. Keep reading my friends, keep following and refuse to let the enemy win by telling you that the Bible is too hard to understand or just not applicable. He is a liar! He knows there is power in the Word!

1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10: Who do you take advice from? If your answer is no one, you make be in trouble. 🙂 Being wise in who you take advice from is paramount in making wise decisions. In today’s passage, Solomon’s son Rehoboam did not choose wise counsel. He asked the older and wiser counselors who had served his father their counsel on how to deal with the people. Then he asked his friends and those of youth who had little to no experience. In the end he took the counsel of the younger group though they played on his pride. The cost of taking the wrong advice was that most of the kingdom revolted and was ripped from his hands.
Who we take counsel from matters. To take counsel matters! There is wisdom in listening to the advice of people experienced in what you are attempting to do. It is not about age as much as experience and track record. When looking for wise counsel here are somethings you may want to consider.
* Do they walk in a relationship with Christ?
* Do they have experience in what I am I am attempting?
* Do they have a track record of good decisions?
If the answers to these questions are yes then you may want to take their counsel. If the answer is no you may want to listen but remember they are not the one who is the wisest to follow. In the end, spend more time in prayer than listening to the voice of men and follow His commands.

1 Kings 10-11, 2 Chronicles 9, Proverbs 30-31: So close and yet so far. That is how I would characterize Solomon. He started well. He had a heart for the things of God. He built the most amazing temple to honor God. He had all of the wisdom in the world. People, including the Queen of Sheba were amazed his wisdom and honored God because of it. And yet he faded away into disobedience. His kingdom fell in the days of his son because Solomon though at one time close to God in his adulthood slowly but surely, one decision at a time drifted. His departure from the things of God started by his disobedience with women. He married probably for political reasons, but his heart was drawn away and he began building altars and places of worship for his wives who worshiped other entities. In time he too found himself offering sacrifices to other gods. This displeased God greatly. Though he knew better, he chose a path that led him far away. God is a jealous God not that other gods in any way could compare, but He is jealous for us to serve Him alone. He alone is The Way, The Truth, The Life. All others are poor substitutes. Because of this to exchange His glory for anything or anyone else is to choose a dark road and a dangerous path.
When Solomon lived in God’s wisdom and obeyed God, others glorified God. Others were drawn to Him and obedience in Him.
1 Kings 10:8 Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9ch. 5:7 Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.”
Are you following the paths God has for you? Are you close to Him and clean before Him? Have you faded in your faith or just drifted from your once passionate love for Him? It’s not too late. Come back, confess, repent and return to the joy of His salvation. Make Him known in all you do and the end result will be that others will be drawn to Him.

Ecclesiastes 7-12: The words that are resounding in my heart today are CHOOSE JOY! As I read Solomon’s journal he has found much to be dissatisfied with. I get the strange feeling he was looking at the next generation and thinking I have worked myself hard to have so much and what will happen? I will die and leave it to people who didn’t work for it and won’t appreciate it. He probably experienced frustration as a leader and poured his wisdom and time into others just to see them not appreciate him or the benefits from the hard work that comes from working together. As he looked around at the stuff, that really is all it was to him….just stuff. (I bet he could have had a great garage sale. lol) He seems joyless. In the end he finally comes to speak the only thing worth living for.
Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
And then his final words of wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 12:13The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, whether good or evil.
In my years I have found a question I ask myself very helpful. “In the light of eternity, is this really going to matter?” I have applied that question over everything from a broken favorite dish to stances on social issues. It is a great reminder because so much of what we “value” is really as Solomon said, vanity, meaningless and in the realm of eternity truly meaningless. But there are some things that are eternal. People and how we love them and deal with them is a major one. Telling others about Jesus is another that must be paramount in my life. Using things and loving people brings great joy. One day the things will be gone, but those I have loved and that have brought me joy will go from here to heaven with me. So I choose to remember my Creator and fear Him as I look to eternity and live choosing Joy.

1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Proverbs 25-26: I don’t know about y’all but I have sure been thankful to be reading through Proverbs during this season of our country’s life and my life. Wisdom is what it has taken to make any life and nation great. Without it both the person and the nation will perish from within. As I have prayed for this country that I love and those of every culture and skin color that are a part of my family of love I am drawn to remember how precious a gift each one is. So here are some proverbs I hold dear and try to live by.
Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
25:28 A man without self-control
is like a city broken into and left without walls.
26:17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
26:20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
Wisdom comes from fearing God and living according to His principles. Using wisdom in relationships allows us to have rich full lives. Speaking words of kindness, showing a smile on your face and minding your own business are three great ways to spread wisdom. Choosing not to meddle in someone life where it is not your business and not talking about others are two other really wise choices. Choosing to allow some words go without a reaction or response can be wisdom too knowing sometimes people don’t really mean what they are saying. They are just angry, hurt or working through their own stuff. Wisdom says, choose self control yourself and allow others the margin to sometimes not be okay with things going on around them but not joining them in a critical heart attitude. Instead, speak life and truth. Love deeply and you will be amazed how much better the relationships you have with others will be. Practice Jesus style love!

1 Kings 7-8, Psalm 11: I love Solomon’s prayer because He was real and honest in saying he knew that Israel would not always do what they were supposed to do. Yet in the prayer he asked God when they repented and turned back for God to restore them and their land.
Mercy how we need this prayer even today. Sin does abound in our country as well. God’s prescription for restoration has not changed. God’s people must humble themselves, call out to Him, repent and come back into obedience with Him. I find myself repenting of my own sin because that is where I need to start. I repent of my own selfish desires and pride, but I move on to praying for my nation. I ask God to forgive our lack of love and some even hatred towards others. I confess our lack of concern and killing of the unborn. I wonder if the unheard voices have cried out to Him and He is allowing disaster to befall us because of that. I confess that our nation is rich beyond measure yet there are still those who are hungry. I confess that at times our leaders are more concerned about their own reputations and political games than doing what is best.
I know there are many who claim the name of Christ who are walking in disobedience to Him thinking that because He is a God of love He will not punish. We could not be further from the truth. We are a spoiled child tramping on the good gifts our Father has given to reach for what we want and our loving Father has had enough and is saying no. May we learn quickly. May we the church repent of our ways and when we do I pray that the Spirit will fill our churches so full that it is apparent to all.
1 Kings 8:10And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
Please join me today in a day of repentance. Anything that comes to your mind that is sin that you have committed or our nation and churches have committed confess these things to God and ask for forgiveness. That is one of the only ways that evil doesn’t win.

Proverbs 21-24: Anybody out there have some projects that are just take time to complete and so you try to hurry through only to find because you are shortcutting you have messed it up?
Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
My mom has always said, “haste makes waste.” When I have those projects I am running to complete and I mess something up I can hear her voice in my head lol. Yes mom, you are right in my haste I have gotten ahead of myself or left something out just to have to sit down long enough to take the stupid thing apart and do it again. lol Maybe you have been there…
I wonder if many of us don’t try the same thing in our spiritual lives. We speed read through our devotion passages for the day not allowing the words to penetrated our hearts and in our haste we miss the purpose we are reading for. Or maybe in relationships you do what you need to do, but you don’t see the one you are doing it for. Another opportunity is missed.
The writer gives us the key at the beginning of the verse, the diligent one. The one who is vigilant and enduring to get the things done they need to do but doing it focused on this project not running to the next or the next person. Attention is hard to give many things at once, so do well what you are doing so you can go to the next. Love the person in front of you well then you can go to the next. Listen to God speak then head out to your day. it is not just about checking the boxes, it is about doing what needs to be done with care.

Proverbs 17-20: Yesterday was an emotional day for me. I am fine, just walked through lots of sweet memories. Yesterday we cleaned out my Granny Lois’ house in Coffeeville Ms. Granny was a chosen grandmother. She and Papa Spearmin her husband were only children and never had children. So early in life they “adopted” my mom as their chosen child. She would go to Coffeeville and spend a couple of weeks each summer with them. They owned the movie theatre there in Coffeeville so to go to Granny’s was a highlight! They treated my mom as their own child in every way.
Fast forward 30 years and when I was in college I went to live with Granny one summer to be the youth minister at the church there. That summer we too laughed and had a great time. The theatre was closed by then, but Granny was open for business in the match making department. She had a grocery store assistant manager she wanted me to meet. Yep, it was Les Hughes and well you know the rest of that story… but our courting was done at Granny’s. I wept yesterday as I stood in the spot where Les called me the first time. It was the same spot months later he would receive a call that his grandfather had died. That house held so many sweet memories. As we parceled out the last of the furniture and collectables my heart was so sad. It wasn’t about the stuff. Though nice, the value is not a great amount. It was the sadness of losing the memories. My sister Dawn Beam too had her years of living with Granny and her match making magic. lol. She has her own stories to tell. All three of us mom, Dawn and I sat there yesterday on the porch weeping our own tears of missing Granny and the many wonderful memories shared there. When I read this verse
Proverbs 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.
I could not help thinking even chosen grandchildren can be that crown of the aged. Granny has been gone now for many years, but as long as we had the Coffeeville house it was as though we had a part of her. Any of you who have lost a loved one and been through this, I know you know what I am feeling. I come away just so grateful to have had a Granny who loved us. Who showed her care. Who was much more than stuff and yet the stuff makes me think of happy days and her vibrant spirit. Lord, thank you for Granny and for the many people who have chosen children just like me. Thank you for precious people who make you know you are special and loved.

Song of Solomon 1-5:1: Those of you who know me well know I struggle with this book. I say it every year as we read through. I don’t struggle because of the beauty of Biblical “Hallmark” story. I struggle knowing that Solomon had so many wives and concubines. Marital love is meant to be shared by one woman and one man for a lifetime. If we wear those glasses as we look at this love story I can sure understand how two young lovers long for each other. In the middle of the story a couple of times the woman warns, “don’t awaken love before its time.” I want to shout that to the young and old today. I wonder how many people watch television programing, not just Hallmark and long for what they see on screen. The problem with comparing our lives to these shows is that no one ever does laundry, really works, has real life families on them. If they showed any of these it would really be reality TV and few people would really want to get married. The reason why? Because married life and even dating years can really be tough and messy. When you get two real people with real struggles together it is not always a highlight real.
Therefore I would say, wait on the Lord to bring the right one. When He does, keep your eyes wide open and learn to work through the hard things. Don’t just sweep conflicting opinions or beliefs under the rug to enjoy the “fun” of being together. Choose moral purity knowing that when the time is right and you have said I Do that part of your life will be even better. When you choose to commit to one another for a lifetime you will be ready for love to awaken and chase out the “little foxes” that try to wreck and ruin a marriage and love story. God’s plan is good and He wants good for you!

1 Kings 1-2; Psalms 37, 71, 94: With today’s reading came a rush of emotions. The month of May over the last 5 years has come with some serious life changing events. We resigned from Highview in the month of May breaking my heart. I was fearful with no place to go and leaving the pastorate for the time. We were battered and bruised, but God was so gracious and gave us what we needed at the time. The job Les eventually accepted was in the business world working with a company that wanted to help people see how to live their faith while being a christian businessman or woman. The work was new and different, but Les was able to build with the help of many good friends and supporters an organization to meet the needs of many business people. That was until May a couple of years ago when the owner of the company called to say they were taking the company in a different direction and money used to pay his salary was no longer there. Though he had signed a contract that would have given us severance he informed us that week’s check was the last we would receive. WHAT???? I remember so clearly laying in bed reminding the Father that we had been faithful in both instances and people who were supposed to walk with Him had let us down. We had done nothing ungodly or unethical and now we were once again facing joblessness and possible financial ruin which brings me to Psalm 37 where David writes:

Psalm 37:1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;

be not envious of wrongdoers!

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

4 Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him, and he will act.

God was reminding me that none of this was upsetting to Him. He had a purpose and plan for our lives and He had not changed His mind. He would come through. My job was to not fret, trust Him, walk faithful, stay in His word and live out what He said. He would take care of us and our needs.

Psalm 37:23The steps of a man are established by the Lord,

when he delights in his way;

24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,

for the Lord upholds his hand.

25I have been young, and now am old,

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

or his children begging for bread.

26He is ever lending generously,

and his children become a blessing.

I found myself quoting these scriptures to the Lord over and over! But you know what…. He is faithful and He is generous to us. He has restored Les to pastoring and my heart sings with delight. We have a deeper compassion for those going through joblessness. Les is still helping people work as unto the Lord and coaching many not just pastors but Christian business leaders wanting to change their world for Christ. Not one hurt has been true loss, but just the way the Father has prepared us to treasure Him not things, His ways not a position or title, and cling to Him for our every need.

Sorry this is so long, but I have a feeling there may be a few of you who read it who have been hurt. Some may be jobless right now and trying to figure out the way. Some may be fretting. Please go read Psalm 37 and find your verses to hold on to. Please also allow me to pray for you. Message me your prayer needs. I will be faithful to pray.