Tag Archives: Wisdom

Bible Studies

Solomon, The 2nd Time Around

 

 

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Twice blessed…

Solomon had his first major encounter with God.

“In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, ‘Ask what I shall give you.’

Solomon said to God, ‘You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place.  Now, O Lord God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?’ God said to Solomon, ‘Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king,  wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you (2 Chronicles 1:1-12 NASB).”

The 2nd time around…

“Now it came about when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all that Solomon desired to do, that the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. The Lord said to him, ‘I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

‘But if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight. So Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be astonished and hiss and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them, therefore the Lord has brought all this adversity on them (1 Kings 9:1-9 NASB).”

 

 

 

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

SIT UP & BEG

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Sit…

Speak…

Shake…

Fetch…

Stay…

Roll over…

It IS hard to each an old dog new tricks; especially if I’m the old dog.

I’m on & off the computer daily.

As long as I use functions I’m familiar with I manage fine. Move me out of my comfort zone  and I’m ready to sit up and beg…

Help; I need a teacher!

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye (Psalm 32:8 NKJV).”  

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Good Advice

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Want some good advice?

Turn to the LORD for guidance.

“How happy is the man
who does not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path of sinners
or join a group of mockers!
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside streams of water
that bears its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment,
and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin (Psalm 1:1-6 HCSB).”

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Prayer

Solomon Prayed…

“Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house (2 Chronicles 7:1 KJV).”

When hearing the name of Solomon, the first word that pops into my mind is wisdom. SEPTEMBER 2014 002

 
“In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants (1 Kings 3:5-15 KJV).”

 
After reading the 2 Chronicles passage, I am adding prayer to my memory bank.

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Pam’s Penny Candy

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Long before there were Super Stores…

Shoppers purchased groceries and more at the mercantile or SEPTEMBER 2014 002general store.

The ‘Mom & Pop’ groceries stores offered basics and old-fashioned friendly service.

In my case, it is not a ‘Mom & Pop’ that I am remembering. It is an ‘Aunt & Uncle.’

My Aunt Dorothy Rice Ford & Uncle Alex Ford owned and operated ‘Rice’s Grocery,’following the death of her father.

Dwarfed in size to today’s Super Stores, it had ample penny candy variety. Making my selections easily occupied me while Mom and Dad shopped for our week’s groceries.

*Gumballs
*Fireballs
*Licorice
*Tootsie Rolls
*Root-beer Barrels
*Lollipops

The Bible is not a Mom & Pop grocery or a Superstore.

It is a storehouse of wisdom.

Peer through the looking glass of Proverbs…

Choose a daily selection from its thirty-one chapters.

My favorite scripture passage is contained in chapter three.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).”

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Fatherly Advice

Pam Ford Davis

 

 

We respect our parents and value their opinions; the prudent treasure fatherly advice when shared by a wise and loving dad. Many of our parents have learned valuable lessons through the school of hard knocks; they are eager to warn us of dangers in our path.

Wisdom seekers find jewels in the book of Proverbs; chapter three has a tone of fatherly advice. “My child, remember my teachings and instructions and obey them completely. They will help you live a long and prosperous life (Proverbs 3:1-2 CEV).”

We spend billions grasping for a long and prosperous life. Should we heed the scripture? “With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow (Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV).”

I often find barriers on life’s road; I stumble and fall. Our loving Father comforts me with his promises to both lead and clear obstructions from my way. Worries and fears may become insurmountable roadblocks; he pulverizes them! Father, I welcome your advice.

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