1 Kings Eight

As Solomon dedicates the temple, something significant happens in verse 10. God's presence fills the temple. This had to have brought great strength and confidence to the Israelites. Because God was near, they could celebrate.

Today, I am reminded that we have the same reason to celebrate and can have strength and confidence because our God is near. Draw close to Him today and He will draw near to you.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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1 Kings Seven

Yea, well I hope you found this chapter as interesting and life altering as I did. For me I enjoyed the fact that Solomon finished what his father started. Because David was not allowed to make the temple, he started the initial capital fund raising. As Solomon completes construction we se at the end of the chapter that he placed the items David had set apart in the treasury. Solomon could have done anything to those items. He was king and had dominion over life and death. But Solomon knew his integrity was worth more than silver and gold and furnishings.

What is your price tag? For you to abandon your values, what would it take? The payment comes in different scenarios based on the category. Some of you know all to well what I am saying and others are still looking confused at the screen (you may want to stop, your face may freeze like that). There is always a price that either we or the enemy will offer in an attempt to disqualify you from barrier free living with God. Take some time today and ask yourself in the areas that matter most to you, what is your price tag?

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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1 Kings Six

Talk about a church building program. 7 years to complete, I think our society would have moved in by year 2. Its probably good that the general contractor was also a king. The building of the temple was less about giving people a place to go worship as it was about showing God how magnificent He is and giving Him the excellence due to Him. Solomon provided the very best materials as an offering to his King. I believe excellence matters as we give back to our Heavenly Father.

Colossians 3:17 "whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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1 Kings Five

What a great few chapters to read over the last few days. As David passes away and Solomon begins his stewardship as leader of the Israelites to Solomon asking and receiving wisdom and the preparation for building the temple. I find that it is easy to read books like this as if they are fables and stories that we tell kids. Today, I would challenge you to read this as both a history lesson and an applicable principle for life. As you ask God to speak to you through His word, I am confident that He will do just that.

Heart and Soul<
BAG
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1 Kings One

As I sit here typing after reading this chapter I wonder where to actually start. There is so much to write about with each character that is introduced. But, it's Friday, I'm hungry and you are tryin to get out of the office early so I will spare you a long message.

I will say however, on the day we read about Solomon woke up the son of the king and went to sleep as the king. This thought crossed my mind; "What do you do when God's plan comes over you like a tidal wave?" Solomon now has the responsiblity to take care of the people, the authority to call shots in matters of life and death and the expectation to become a king greater than his father. What an overwhelming task when one believes they bear the burden solely.

However, Solomon was wise...VERY WISE. He rode the wave not by himself but with God. There are times in our lives when opportunities are thrusted upon us and it is literally a matter of sink or swim. In those times, acknowledge that God is near and allow Him to bring you strength and insight for the journey.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Job Forty - Two

As our story of Job wraps up, we see the "And Everyone Lived Happily Ever After" tag at the end. Job is restored, his friends are forgiven, and God is glorified. I would, however, like to remind you that as of last week, the outcome was not looking promising.

I believe the same is true of our story. Maybe the storm you find yourself in is at its last stages. Have you considered the possibility that in a few days things will settle and you will experience restoration?

God had a great plan for Job, and it is evident not in the restoring of all Job's stuff and then some (even though that is what we tend to notice as the bow is added to wrap up the story), but, I believe, it is evident in the fact that God knew what Job's friends had said and how the conversation was going. Through the storm... God was there. Through the party... God was there.

And for us, today, He remains the same. He is near. If you look you can see Him at work in your heart and around you. Open your eyes and taste and see that the Lord is good.



Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Job Forty - One

God shares all that insight into the leviathan just to say that He can do all things because He is God. Today, make it a point to keep your eyes open to see Him at work around you.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Job Forty

Job has been saying all this time that all He wants to do is plead his innocence with the Almighty. Here, in chapter 40, he get's his chance. However, after God's entrance and introduction, Job is left with few words. God has shown Job that his perspective is extremely limited in comparison to the omnipotence of the our Heavenly Father. In essence, God tells Job that there are greater things at work than what he is aware of. As a loving Father, God is always in control of our situations.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Job Thirty - Five

Elihu speaks to a reality of God's personality. He shares with the men that even though God does not intervene immediately at the first sight of a storm, He still cares.

I am reading a book right now by Mark Batterson titled, "In a Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day". He shares a similar response and offers what I have found to be good advice on how we react to it. He says:

"We pray for comfort instead of character. We pray for an easy way out instead of the strength to make it through. We pray for no pain, when the result would be no gain. We pray that God will keep us out of pits and away from lions. But if God answered our prayer, it would rob us of our greatest opportunities. Many of our prayers would short-circuit God's plans and purposes for our lives if He answered them. Maybe we should stop asking God to get us out of difficult circumstances and start asking Him what He wants us to get out of those difficult circumstances."

Heart and Soul,

BAG

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Job Thirty - Four

I am chomping at the bit to get to the part of this story when God speaks to the men. It is one of my favorite parts of God's Word. When He speaks, amazing things happen as a result. Today, listen for the words He has for you. Listen both externally and internally. He has something to say.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Job Twenty - Eight

Job is talking about all the good that he did when he had his wealth and his family. It seems to me that he is dancing the line of prideful boasting But then again, he may be holding on to the memories of what he considers better times. For that, I can't fault him. I would be stuck in the middle of a pity party.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Job Twenty - Eight

Job lends insight this morning as to where true wisdom is found. There is a tendency in us all to confuse knowledge with wisdom. They are two separate things. There are such things as wisdom without knowledge and knowledge without wisdom. One can buy knowledge. Universities attest to that reality. But wisdom is intertwined with character. As Job speaks to us this morning, He reveals that wisdom is found in fearing the wonder of our God. So in a large way, wisdom is a gift that God gives His children to navigate the waters of life with certainty that we will arrive at our desired destination.

Heart And Soul,

BAG

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Job Twenty - Seven

Life Application Bible Notes

Notes for 27:13-23

Job agreed with his friends that the end of the wicked will be disaster, but he did not agree that he was wicked and deserving of punishment. Most of the punishments Job listed never happened to him. So he wasn't including himself as one of the wicked. On the contrary, he continually pleaded for God to vindicate him.

Heart and Soul,

BAG

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Job Twenty - Six

I don't know about you but this is starting to read like a Shakespearean play. Blah, blah. Blah, blah. Blah, blah. I think Job should hit someone and there be a great scuffle near a cliff. It would read something like this... "Job punched Bildad right in the mouth, so hard that he almost fell off the edge of the cliff they were sitting near. But at the last minute a hawk swooped by and knocked Bildad back upright saving him from certain death. They named the hawk, Brandon. Because he was just that cool."

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Job Twenty - One

—Life Application Bible Notes
Notes for 21:22

Although baffled by the reasons for his suffering, Job affirmed God's superior understanding by asking, "Can anyone teach knowledge to God?" The way you respond to your personal struggles shows your attitude toward God. Rather than becoming angry with God, continue to trust him, no matter what your circumstances may be. Although it is sometimes difficult to see, God is in control. We must commit ourselves to him so we will not resent his timing.

Heart and Soul,

BAG

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Job Twenty

Zophar comes in this round as the ambassador of compassion. Let's recap all that has happened to Job. His children are dead, the wealth he had amassed has been taken, his body has been inflicted with sores, his wife is nagging him to just die and his friends have come along and are expressing their opinions.

With Zophar's, "You got what you had coming to you" rant, I would not be surprised if Job's repsonse started with something like this: "And Job stood, dusted the ash off his body and punched Zophar in the mouth."

At least that is what I would be thinking.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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