Seek the Lord with all your heart, and prosper!

S - Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly. (II Chronicles 29:36 NKJV)

Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the Lord. (II Chronicles 30:12 NKJV)

The king also appointed a portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and the set feasts, as it is written in the Law of the Lord. Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps. In the third month they began laying them in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. And Azariah the chief priest, from the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance.” and to all who were written in the genealogy—their little ones and their wives, their sons and daughters, the whole company of them—for in their faithfulness they sanctified themselves in holiness. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. (II Chronicles 31:3-7, 10, 18, 21 NKJV)

O - God prepared the people. The events took place suddenly. The hand of the Lord was upon them to give them singlenss of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the Lord. The king appointed a portion of his possessions. The people were commanded to contribute support for the priests, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. The children brought in abundance the firstfruits, abundantly the tithe of everything.  Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough and plenty left. For the Lord blessed the people with great abundance. For in their faithfulness they sanctified themselves in holiness. Every work that he began in the service of the the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek His God - he idd it with all his heart. So he prospered.

A  - This morning I have read this passage twice, then once more to copy these verses. I trust the Lord is speaking to me about our building project in Airdrie - so many directional principles to share.

P - Lord, please help me to communicate well what you have placed on my heart. May I hear clearly, and amplify it accurately. Thank You for the time we have had together this morning. Amen.

Don't Pass It On

S - So these nations feared the Lord, yet served their carved images, also their children and their chldren's children have continued doing as their fathers did, even to this day.  2 Kings 17:41

O - This is a scary observation, how the children and the grandchildren (and perhaps beyond) had followed in their father's footsteps of serving (being enslaved to idols) carved images. 

A - Perhaps this is the old adage of 'more is caught than taught'. Growing up in a religious environment gave way to idolatry. When God is just added in, authentic relationship with Him is lost. He does not want to be our number one, He demands to be our only one.

P - Lord, I thank You for the tremendous grace I saw on Robyn's life yesterday as she gave not only the first 10% of her first cheque to You, but doubled that as a first fruits offering. I see that she has not only caught generosity, but surpassed her parents. May our kids really catch what it means to have You first in their lives, and surpass their parents. I also pray that all of my failings would not be caught by my kids, but rather they would 'chew the meat, and spit out the bones'. 

Faith, Works, Love

S ~If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:15-17 NKJV)

O ~ i am thinking that the giving of food and clothing needs to be motivated out of love. If not, there is no credit in the givers account. And perhaps, the receiver only gets items, not genuine care. 

A ~ This ties in with what I am thinking about my ministry in India. Love is directly connected to ministry, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Faith, demonstrated by works, motivated by love. A transforming way to live.

Prayer ~  Lord Jesus, please help me to live in such a way that these things are evident in my life: Faith, Works, Love.