2 Chronicles 2:5 April 30, 2013

Anonymous 2 Chronicles 2:5

And the house I build is great; for great is our God above all gods.

Since God did not want his temple to be built by a warrior, King David was denied the privilege of doing so. His son Solomon was given the assignment. Solomon's desire was to build "a wonderful temple because he is a great God; greater than any other."

We are often criticized for being narrow-minded and claiming that Christianity is the only "true" religion. Solomon was very bold in making a similar claim when he wrote to King Hiram regarding the purchase of materials needed to build the temple he had in mind. To proclaim that Jesus alone saves is not narrow-minded. It is a simple statement of revealed truth. We must be as honest as Solomon in our witness to the Lord.

Even though Solomon's reign was the true golden age of Israel: marked by peace, by unmatched prosperity, by unequaled fame, by great literary accomplishments; God regarded the building of the temple the most significant event of Solomon's reign. We should give the spiritual similar priority in our lives. We may go to church to meet with the Lord. But we never leave Him there!

Prayer. Dear Lord, may our new buildings inspire us to think along the same lines as Solomon in being a place for celebration and joy; remembering your greatness and your goodness with thanksgiving.

1 Corinthians 3:10 April 28, 2013

John Hendrickson
1 Corinthians 3:10

"According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build upon it. " (NRSV)

The apostle Paul is specifically addressing the divisions and controversies plaguing the 1st century Church in Corinth. But, there are layers of meaning in Paul's words which apply to us as "God's Builders".

The imagery of a physical building is a good symbol for the Church, but the church isn't concrete and steel. It's the people, of course. Both as individuals and, more importantly, collectively as a congregation we are Christ's church. We are called to build upon the foundation of our faith; Jesus Christ. The foundation is not the congregation, nor the Pastor, nor the Session, nor the wrinkles of theology we cling to, but Christ, in all things.

Lord, help us to be your builders. Help us build your church upon a solid foundation in Christ.

1 Timothy 6:17 April 26, 2013

Rev. Tom Wood 1 Timothy 6:17

"As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment"

The letters to Timothy are in the form of notes from Paul to his "loyal child," a younger man to whom Paul is passing on the work of spreading the good news of Jesus suffering and resurrection on our behalf. In this passage Paul reminds Timothy to focus the minds of the people, here in particular the wealthier among the churches, not on the uncertainty of riches but on God who provides so richly for us.

What has God provided that is of such wealth? It is nothing less than our rescue from sin and death by the sacrifice of Jesus, which we mourn today. Jesus asked his Father to take the cup of suffering away but trusted God to do what was right and necessary. He suffered that we might have this rich provision of eternal life with God, He willingly endured torture and death on the cross for us.

So let us free ourselves from focusing so on the world and recall Jesus' suffering and death that we might live. Now we go from this dark valley to the mountaintop joy of resurrection and God's rich provision of everything we need to glorify God and enjoy God forever.

Prayer: Please loving Father; help us not to turn away from the suffering of your son. Help us to remember the costly price he paid that we might be richly provided life. Help us to live lives of love and sacrifice worthy of) son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen

*edited for timeliness

1 Thessalonians 4:13 April 25, 2013

Frank Bibb
1 Thessalonians 4:13

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. "

As is frequently the case in Paul's letters, he is trying to correct some misunderstanding under which the recipients are laboring. There is no clear statement as to exactly what this misunderstanding is. However, it is evident from subsequent verses, where Paul describes the resurrection at Christ's second coming in some detail, that the Thessalonians feared that those who had died would not share Christ's saving grace in the same manner as those who are alive at His return. Indeed, it is possible that they doubted the resurrection of the body altogether. Paul had to address this doubt at other times and places as shown in his statement in 1 Corinthians 15:12 "Now if we preach that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, how can some of you keep claiming there is no resurrection of the dead?" You can understand how the Thessalonians might doubt the resurrection since it was a radical idea not common to their Greek culture. We, on the other hand, have the benefit of a long and rich heritage, inspired by Paul's teachings to bolster our faith in the resurrection. This faith can comfort us as we suffer the loss of loved ones and as we contemplate our own death. It also gives us the courage to face life's trials knowing that whatever may befall us, we can look forward to a glorious future communing with our Lord.

Prayer: Lord I praise you and thank you for the gift of resurrection you gave us through the sacrifice of your Son. It is a gift of unimaginable worth not only in the future when it occurs, but also in the present where the sure and certain knowledge of it can provide peace in times of grief and hope in times of trial. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.

1 Peter 2:3-5 April 24, 2013

Anita Errickson
1 Peter 2:3-5

As you come to Him, the living stone . . . rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him .. . you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

In 1997, Madeline L'Engle co-authored a book with her editor, Lucy Shaw, entitled "Friend for the Journey." The book is filled with wonderful stories of an enduring and often long-distance friendship shared by the two as they navigated the everyday changes of life and the sacred moments of worship together. For more than forty years, they enjoyed the benefits of complimentary personalities. They were comfortable with each other, no matter the circumstances, as they walked together in this friendship.

One afternoon as they traveled together in the New England pastoral countryside, they came upon a series of low fences made of fieldstones. They speculated that these stones might have been made into a fence as a means of getting them out of the field. But, then Lucy had an "ah-ha" moment, an epiphany even. She noted that the convexity of one stone fit perfectly into the concavity of its neighbor. The fence was built because the stones fit so well; even the gritty surfaces served to help keep them in place. Stones of different sizes and shapes, held together, not by mortar, but by the careful fit of each stone in its place; the way God puts us together, even today, to form His Spiritual House.

We fit together, here at Westminster, not by chance, but by His Divine Orientation. We all have gifts and talents, as God Himself has seen fit to give us. It is up to us to discover what they are and how to use them for his honor and glory. Each of us is like one of those fieldstones, some surfaces being grittier than others; but that only serves to keep us strong, headed in the same direction, and focused on Him.

Gracious Father, thank you for building us into the household of faith; for allowing us to serve as living stones built upon your firm foundation. Help US ton be mindful of the needs of those you place so intentionally next to us, so that in serving each other, we bear witness of your love to the world and thereby serve you with our very lives. AMEN.

*The Present Word   Summer 2006

1 Peter 1:21 April 23, 2013

Alfred Shropshire 1 Peter 1:21

"Through him, you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God."

Human beings cannot live without hope. The first question we ask when we receive bad news — whether it has to do with a loved one who was in an accident, or news of a serious illness we have contracted - is simply, "Is there any hope?" With Jerusalem destroyed and many of the people taken captive and involuntarily relocated to foreign lands, there seemed to be no hope for that once-great nation. But, the prophet Jeremiah offered God's people hope for a brighter tomorrow.

A line from a song in the musical Oklahoma states, "I'm stuck like a dope with a thing called hope." Christians are called to live with the hope and anticipation of greater things to come. "This secret plan . , . is Christ living in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Life on earth does not represent the totality of our journey; it is only the very beginning of it. ... It is a journey in which we anticipate greater things to come because Christ lives in us. Who or what in your life brings you hope? *

Prayer: Glorious Lord, fill my life with strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Amen.*

*2011 Advent Calendar of Devotions. © 2011 Abingdon Press

Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1 Peter 1:13 April 22, 2013

Alfred Shropshire
1 Peter 1:13

"So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing, which will be given to you when Jesus Christ is revealed."

John is called the apostle of love. Paul is called the apostle of faith. Peter is the apostle of hope, and this letter was written simply to explain the Christian life and to encourage the followers of Jesus in living it.

In this verse, which has been called the antidote to materialism, Peter says to Christians, "Because you have the promise of Cod and the inheritance of eternal life to look forward to, live accordingly." He reminded them that God saw how they lived and therefore they should not be careless about living a holy life. For us, church attendance, prayer, and expressions of piety may be demonstrations of a holy life. But, how we behave daily demonstrates who we are. We are to consciously focus on Jesus' coming and dedicate ourselves to holiness.

Peter also says because you fix your hope on the grace of Jesus Christ "have your minds ready for action." One of the glories of the Christian faith is that we are called to worship God with our minds as well as with our hearts. Raising questions about what we believe or about what God is doing enables us to explore and strengthen our faith.

Even with a strong faith, in the midst of toils and troubles, it is easy to get off track when our faith is severely tested. Although we are assured that God's faithful care for us can be counted upon until our salvation is fully revealed, Peter makes it clear that our faith is not dependent upon everything going well with us here and now. He reminds us that we may suffer now, but glory follows.

Prayer: Father, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, may we be more aware than usual of the hope of Christ's return in glory. Amen.

1 Peter 1:3 April 21, 2013

Sarah Whitley 1 Peter 1: 3

".. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Today we read a word of hope from the letter written by the apostle Peter. One does not have to look very far to find someone who seems hopeless. There are people close to each one of us who have received devastating blows to their hearts and souls. These blows may have come in the form of the loss of a job, the foreclosure on a house, the death of a child, the suffering of a loved one, the loss of a marriage, and the list could go on and on. Yet, in all of these circumstances, God is with us. God is revealing himself to us if we but open our eyes and ears and see and hear his Good News. The Good News that Peter shares with us is that God has given us a new birth into a living hope. This hope is not something we can order up or even understand. This hope is beyond our ability to explain. It is one of the mysteries of our faith. Hope is not wishful thinking, but, like faith, it is the assurance that God is in control, doing something mysterious that we might not understand until we see it in hindsight. Peter tells us we have a living hope through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Frederick Buechner writes, "Here and there even in our world, and now and then, even in ourselves, we catch glimpses of a New Creation, which, fleeting as those glimpses are apt to be, give us hope both for this life and for whatever life may await us later on." Let us hang on to the promise of that living hope given to us through the resurrection that makes possible those fleeting glimpses of the New Creation. Even when all hope seems lost, God was at work ushering in the day of gladness, the New Creation in Christ our Lord.

Prayer: Almighty God, grant us the peace that passes understand­ing as we put our hope and trust in the promise of new birth and the New Creation. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.

edited for time specific material.

1 John 2:7-8 April 20, 2013

Brad Barris
1 John 2:7-8

"Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining." NIV

We've often wondered where God was when darkness shrouded our lives The loss of loved ones, financial ruin, addictions, divorce, human tragedies caused by war, earthquakes, floods, fires, and disease.

It is always amazing to me to quietly reflect back in my "perfect hindsight" to those periods of darkness in my life. I can see and feel the results of God leading me through the dark even when I stumbled and fell in the darkness He lifted me and carried me to the light.

Sometimes when things are going wonderfully, I forget to let Him lead me and begin to rely on my own strengths to find the way Based on my "perfect hindsight" darkness is usually right  around  the  corner. I  need  to  rely on  God's  "perfect foresight" for my life's journey.

I've noticed that a bird with a broken wing won't try to fly out of my hands, Hmmmm Sounds familiar doesn't it.

Dear Lord, Help me realize that you will provide all things eternal that I need to get through each day and thank you for fixing my broken wing Amen

1 Corinthians 5:7 April 19, 2013

Frank Bibb 1 Corinthians 5:7

"You must remove the old yeast of sin so that you will be entirely pure. Then you will be like a new batch of dough without any yeast, as indeed I know you actually are. For our Passover Festival is ready now that Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."

In the ancient Jewish tradition, yeast or leaven was associated with decay and became a symbol of sin, Here, Paul elaborates on this analogy. Just as a small portion of yeast contained in a "starter lump" of dough can grow and spread through any amount of unleavened dough, a small sin, left un-repented, can grow and spread. In this passage, Paul is confronting a situation in the Corinthian church where one member persisted in committing a particularly heinous sin. Paul insisted that the congregation address this situation by removing him from the church to prevent sin from permeating the congregation through their attitude of permissiveness. However, the yeast analogy applies on a personal level as well as it does on the corporate level. A small sin, which we do not confront and from which we do not repent, can grow and spread to other areas of our lives. Thus, Paul's exhortation applies to us individually today as much as it did to the Corinthian church. The good news comes in the second part of the passage. The Passover Festival to which Paul refers included unleavened bread (i.e. without yeast) as a reminder to the Israelites of the bread that was eaten by the Jews prior to their escape from Egypt. They did not have time to wait on yeast to rise, so they ate un-leaven bread. But this festival is also a reminder and a celebration of their salvation from slavery in Egypt. Paul is taking that term and applying it to the salvation provided by Christ's sacrifice for us, which removes the leaven (sin) from us and frees us to live new lives.

Prayer: Lord, thankyoufor the sacrifice you made to cleanse me of my sins. Help me to remember and appreciate daily all thatyou have done for me. Help me to turn that gratitude into action to further the advance of your Kingdom. In Christ's name, Amen.

1 Corinthians 3:14 April 18, 2013

Sue Howel
1 Corinthians 3:14 (NIV)

If anyone's work which he as built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.In writing this devotion on this bit of scripture, I am reminded of our church's construction project and our purpose for the building. In any type of construction, be it buildings, roads, etc., there has to be a stable foundation. Else, buildings fall and roads crumble. Not only does our building have a stable foundation, but being led by the Holy Spirit, we are building it in order to have more space in which to glorify our Lord and Savior. That is the reason and the foundation for the building.

I am also reminded that we should live our lives to glorify God and that can sometimes be very difficult. As Christians, we face many challenges and trials along life's way. We need to remember that with God as the foundation for our lives we can face the challenges with assurance that he is always there with open arms to pick us up and love us regardless of our mistakes. We are assured of pardon and are promised life eternal with him. I think of the familiar hymn, "Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation."

Dear God, be with us in all that we do. AMEN.

1 Corinthians 15:19 April 17, 2013

Joan Brock
1 Corinthians 15:19

"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."

Why does Paul say we should be pitied if there were only earthly value to Christianity? In Paul's day, Christianity often brought a person persecution, ostracism from family, and, in many cases, poverty. There were few tangible benefits from being a Christian in that society. It was certainly not a step up the social or career ladder. What then was the true benefit from being a follower of Christ? 

Today, many think that by professing to be a Christian, their lives will be perfect. "Tebow-mania" has been the rage during this professional football season. Many felt that because he was a Christian, then he would surely take his team to the Super Bowl! Is this the same shallow thinking Paul saw in the people of Corinth? If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we're a pretty sorry lot!

We will face hardship, sadness, joblessness or poverty, and our team may not go to the Super Bowl. But, the good news is that because we are followers of Christ, we are a new creation. We are born from above and changed from within with values and life-styles that confront the world and clash with accepted morals. Christ has been resurrected from death, and we as Christians have been forgiven for our sins and we have hope for eternal life. And that my friends, is better than going to a Super Bowl any day!!!

Prayer:  Help us to live each day with the promise that in you we have a life of hope for eternity! Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:7,13 April 16, 2013

Joel Turner
1 Corinthians 13:7,13

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Hope is mentioned in over one hundred places in the Bible. I believe that a good definition of hope for our purpose is the following. Hope is defined as reliance on God's blessing and provision, the expectation of future good.

In the verse under consideration, Paul tells the citizens of Corinth that hope is one of the great virtues. Faith, hope and love are intertwined. Love is the supreme virtue, but that does not imply that Christians can dispense with faith and hope. True love is both hopeful and faithful.

Our hope of immortality is assured not in any estimate of the nature of the soul, but in what we know about God, especially as revealed in Jesus Christ. The essence of heaven has been described as even with all man ever learns about the infinite being who created everything and who gave him life, and whose loving kindness is greater than life, there is still more to know. This is the basis of hope that abides.

Prayer: Lord, we pause and acknowledge you as God, and we can only partially understand your power and love. Help us as we continue our journey to learn more about you, and thank you for sending Jesus Christ to show us to the way to salvation. Amen.

1 Chronicles April 15, 2013

Dave Henley 1 Chronicles 29:16

0 Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. 

Most of us are collectors, in some fashion or another. As children it was possibly baseball cards or dolls, and as adults we switched to old coins, books, etc. Humans just like stuff, we worked hard for it and paid for it with our hard earned money from our job that we are so proud to have. I do try to enjoy my stuff, but I also strive to remember that pride is a sin. I keep the frame of mind that God has allowed me to find or have things, and that I am just a temporary caretaker of them.

Without God, nothing is possible; and everything exists because of Him. God has blessed us with our tasks in life, and whatever we earn is all from His doing. Therefore our tithes should come right off the top without a second thought, long before we think about what to save, invest, spend, etc. In turn, those tithes will be building His church and buildings and ministries. I'll repeat, His church! It seems that frequently we may interject a little too much of our own wants and desires in managing God's grounds.

1 Chronicles 28:10 Sunday April 14, 2013

Beth Williams

1 Chronicles 28:10

Take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary; be strong and act.

I often make excuses for not doing something that I know should be done. "I'm too busy." "I don't speak in front of adults." "I've never done that before." "It's too late." The list could go on.

This verse, although directed towards Solomon, reminds me that God has already given me the skills necessary to get the job done - whatever that job may be. It reminds me to have faith in God to provide me with guidance along the way - he will not leave me. With this reminder, there is no reason (nor room) for excuses. God will provide for those who follow his direction.

As we watch our building grow, I'm sure that we will have opportunities to follow God's direction. I'm also sure that we will hear excuses along the way. I pray that we will have the strength to act in faith, to heed God's call, and to do the things that need to done.

Dear Lord, I thank you for today and for the many gifts you have given me. I pray that you will strengthen me and enable me to take the action needed to do your work - whatever that work may be. Amen

1 Chronicles 22:19 April 13, 2013

Dan Sweitzer 1 Chronicles 22:19

Now set your heart and soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord your God. . .

King David had planned and prepared for many years to construct a temple to the Lord. He had arranged for a multitude of stonecutters and masons, carpenters and ironworkers, and had gathered cedar lumber, bronze, stone and nails in sufficient quantity to build the greatest house ever constructed for God.

But the Lord told David that it was not His plan for the king to begin this construction. I imagine David was extremely disappointed, and probably angry, to have his great plans and preparation negated by the word of God. But David was certainly appeased and grateful as the Lord shared his plan for the temple with David, announcing that he would have a son, Solomon, who would complete the work he started.

We at Westminster have listened carefully for the word of God as we studied the needs of our congregation and our community for worship, educational, fellowship and outreach facilities. Through individual and congregational prayer and in small and large group meetings and discussions for over fifty years we have asked the Lord to show us His plans for our church. None of us could have envisioned how these many construction projects would transform our church. Fortunately for us, we have always had a Heavenly Architect to lead our work.   Like the Temple of Solomon completed over 30 centuries ago, Westminster serves God both as a symbol of our love and obedience to Him and as a resource for His children to serve and witness to His community. If we ask, He will always tell us when and what to build, and ensure that we have the resources to complete His plan.

1 Chronicles 22:6 April 12, 2013

Tom Sipp

1 Chronicles 22:6

"Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel"

As we take on the task of our Building Project let us not lose sight of God's call to build ourselves to him. With God's grace and forgiveness we can establish a foundation in our faith. On top of this we grow to know God's love and using this as the bricks and mortar to hold our life together and be an example for others. Through our works and dedication we build a life of service to our family and community in gratitude for the kingdom that he offers us.

Building ourselves as his house is important for providing security and a sanctuary for our spiritual life. This is done through regular practice including prayer, meditation, scripture study and worship. By nurturing and being open to his spirit that dwells within us, we receive God's guidance and direction. Build your house for the Lord!

Dear God, Open my heart to your love and grace so that it will be the foundation for a life close to you. Thank you for the chance to build myself to your glory. Please work through me to construct a world that will allow me to serve and spread your love. May your spirit dwell in me, guide me and allow me to transcend this world to your eternal kingdom. Amen

1 Chronicles 17:25 April 11, 2013

Beth Frost

1 Chronicles 17:25

For thou, O my God, hast told my servant that thou wilt build him an house; therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.

Although David wasn't thinking of a fellowship hall or kitchen in this text, he was thinking of building. He had built a house for himself and realized that the Ark of the Covenant was still housed in a tent. Yet, through Nathan the prophet, the Lord told David that a house would be built at a later time by one of his sons and the kingdom would be given to David's descendants. Of course, this is not the answer David was expecting. But, his reaction is to go into the Tent of the Lord's presence and pray "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" In other words, "I am not worthy of what you have already done for me, Lord God, nor is my family." David realizes that God's plan for David and his descendents is much larger than what David has in mind. David the servant accepts God's plan "in his heart."

Originally, I had written a cute first paragraph for this discourse. But, after reading it typed and on screen, I had second thoughts and began to look deeper into the passage. My original thoughts were about the new physical building and praying for its completion. Then, going back and reading more of the biblical text, I saw more of what was feeling as he questioned God's decision and his acceptance of that decision. Any of us could ask God the same question that David asked. Even though we don't find ourselves in the position of being the servant that David was, accepting God's will in our hearts is just as important today as it was in David's time. The key to this passage is not the timing of a new building, or being a perfect servant, but strength of heart and mind to pray and believe in God.

Dear Lord, strengthen each of our hearts to pray for the building of your new house physically and spiritually.

1 Kings 9:15 April 10, 2013

Alfred Shropshire

1 Kings 9:15

And this is the reason of the levy which King Solomon raised: for to build the house of the Lord, and his own house . . .

There is an old adage which says that the two thing one cannot avoid are death and taxes. King Solomon used both to insure the availability of funds to build the temple and his palace, to repair city walls, and to build other cities in his kingdom. On seeing the destruction fostered on other places by Solomon's army, neighboring kings were more than willing to supply Solomon with gold, material and labor for his building programs.

No subject, today, raises the ire of most people as much as that of taxes, whether it be a raise or cut, or intended purpose of that rise or cut in taxes. Worry and anxiety usually are an accompaniment of tax talk. After all, the more I pay in taxes, the less I have to spend on my wants and needs.

In Luke, 12:22 and 12:31, Jesus says "Therefore, I tell you, do not •worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear . . . Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given you as well. "

In telling the disciples not to worry, Jesus was not denying that human beings need basic necessities of food, clothing, shelter, etc. Jesus drew a contrast between what can be an endless anxiety over food and clothing, and a simple trust in God's providential care. It won't be east, but we need to conquer anxiety by realizing that our lives are not defined by our circumstances or possessions, but by God's favor.

Prayer. Thank you Father for your gifts to us and for the greatest gift of all, Jesus the Christ. May we live in ways that reflect your love and his sacrifice. Amen.

1 Kings 8:18 April, 9 2013

Sarah Whitley

1 Kings 8:18

But the Lord said to my father David, "Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart." 

David had it in his heart to build "The Temple". The Temple of the Lord God was to house the Ark of the Covenant and serve as the earthly dwelling place of the Most High God. What David had in his heart was not to be.

There is something about building that speaks to our souls. Whether we are a church building a fellowship center, an architect building a bridge or a sky scraper, a farmer building a barn, a businessman building an empire, a family building a home, or a child building a sand castle, that process of building says something about the nature of our souls. If we are building we are moving forward -accomplishing - growing. There is an element of pride in building. A building says, "We were here".

David had building the temple in his heart but God denied him. Perhaps it was not the right time. Perhaps the beloved David's hands were too dirty. Perhaps David's motivation was wrong. Building the Temple of the Lord God was not about David or what was in his heart. It was about God and His will and His way.                                                                                                                                                    Let us listen closely to God as he speaks to our hearts about building buildings, building programs, building community, building the network of love that is God himself.
                                                                                                                                                            Eternal God, lead us and guide us in all our efforts to build. Teach us how to build up this Christian community with your love so that all our physical structures will house your children of light in this time and this place. Teach us to live and love as Christ lived and loved among us.

1 Kings 8:17 April 8, 2013

Ken McKenzie

1 Kings 8:17

And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the Lord God of Israel.

Solomon was reportedly the wisest man ever to live. Though he was wise in many ways, his statecraft left much to be desired. He made alliances with neighboring countries which introduced idolatry into God's chosen kingdom and eventually brought about the demise of Israel. In this verse, Solomon remembers the dream of his father, King David, to build a house for God. It was a dream which was to be deferred until the reign of Solomon, but finally realized in the glorious Temple which was considered to be one of the most magnificent houses of worship ever built.

You and I are also in the building business, if you stop and think about it. Each day we are called to answer God's call to build a house for Him. Some days we do well with that task; we adorn the walls of our souls with devotion, faith, hope and praise.   Other days, we smash the foundations with our self-centeredness, greed, anger and guilt.   One thing is for sure: Each day brings its own change-order in the construction of God's house in our hearts.

Consider today what kind of builder you will be for the Kingdom of God. Will you build up or tear down?   Be sure to consult the Architect daily before you do anything!

Prayer: Holy God, I praise you for this day. Help me to make decisions, perform deeds, and share words which will build my soul and Your Kingdom. Keep me from doing damage to the bedrock of Your holy Gospel, that all of our spiritual houses may be kept secure and holy. Amen.

Proverbs 22:19 April 5, 2013

Jennifer Jones

Proverbs 22:19

"That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee."   KJV

"So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you." NIV

Whom do you trust with your questions? Whom do you trust to give you good advice? Your most trusted friend is_the Lord. The person that the Lord trusts to believe in him is "thee." The Lord trusts us to acknowledge that the gifts we have come from him. The Lord trusts us to listen for guidance from him and learn from the teaching of Jesus and others that the Lord has sent to us. When is this trust? Today! The Lord is here today and every day after that. Listen to the Lord in your daily life and learn from the scriptures to TRUST the Lord.

Prayer: Our heavenly father we acknowledge that you created the world and all that is in It; that you, Lord did send Jesus to help us be aware of the trust that we should have in you. We pray for our deeper understanding of the scriptures and increased trust in you, our heavenly father.