Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

WAR—A WAY OF LIFE FOR A DIVIDED KINGDOM

Posted on December 1, 2025 by randscallawayffm

A war of words, sneaky betrayals, and common gossip happens when God’s church divides into cliques who seek their own arrogant powers of influence while holding tightly to religious traditions—as if traditions are what saved them for eternity. Yes, read that again. Our traditions in the church we call “our home church” does not save us from our sins—only Jesus saves us and sets us free! Our one and only job given to us following our redemption and removal of our sins is to go and teach others this Good News of salvation! All the rest is merely activities that lead to the mission—or not.

For example, years ago, in a new pastorate, we soon discovered a very angry couple who would not talk to us during the Easter season and a few months afterward. After prodding we learned that there was a cross stored in the basement that was “always brought out” and placed near the organ during the Easter season—but it wasn’t that year—because no one told us! We were gossiped about with a bit of slander over the wooden cross that was not put into place as a holy tradition in the eyes of the people. The cross itself, as a sign of redemption of Jesus sacrifice, did not save people from their sins! Only Jesus saves. In that same season, people came forward to be saved by in the Name of Jesus; but the emphasis was on more on their tradition that was not accomplished. How God must sigh in grief over the silliness of His people.

The way we “do church” with programs or no programs with order of worship; hymns with chorus or no hymns with only praise songs; worship teams that raise their hands or quiet teams who simply sing the song; those who feed those in need but following guidelines or no requirements at all become traditions. Traditions form within the Body of Christ; but they are not the answer for our internal sin problem we keep hidden so others will not know how addicted we are to them. Some addictions are wanting our own way like a toddler who demand the attention of others. More emphasis needs to be made on being the church in unity with God. May God’s Kingdom thinking come and reside in our hearts, minds and souls. “Not my will, but His be done”—another prayer lesson from Jesus. These are the prayers and behaviors of those seeking unity while avoiding division within the Body of Christ who is the Head and Cornerstone of His church.

This son of Rehoboam was handpicked by his father because of his proven ability (11:22), but he was not a godly man (1 Kings 15:3). He reigned only three years. He was from David’s line through both parents because David’s infamous son, Absalom, was Abijah’s maternal grandfather or great-grandfather. (1 Kings 15:2; 2 Chronicles 13:2). Abijah may have had David’s blood flowing in his veins, but he didn’t have David’s heart beating in his breast!

Abijah’s father, Rehoboam, had kept up a running war with Jeroboam, and Abijah carried on the tradition.

2 Chronicles 13

Abijah King of Judah

In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah, ²and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maakah, a daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.

There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. ³Abijah went into battle with an army of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops.

⁴Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Jeroboam and all Israel, listen to me! ⁵Don’t you know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt? ⁶Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled against his master. ⁷Some worthless scoundrels gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them.

⁸“And now you plan to resist the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hands of David’s descendants. You are indeed a vast army and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods. ⁹But didn’t you drive out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods.

¹⁰“As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the Lord are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. ¹¹Every morning and evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the Lord. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the Lord our God. But you have forsaken him. ¹²God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”

¹³Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush was behind them. ¹⁴Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets ¹⁵and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. ¹⁶The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. ¹⁷Abijah and his troops inflicted heavy losses on them, so that there were five hundred thousand casualties among Israel’s able men. ¹⁸The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

¹⁹Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took from him the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah and Ephron, with their surrounding villages. ²⁰Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah. And the Lord struck him down and he died.

²¹But Abijah grew in strength. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

²²The other events of Abijah’s reign, what he did and what he said, are written in the annotations of the prophet Iddo.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

War become a way of life for the divided nation of Israel. But a divided church is not God’s design in the New Covenant that includes whoever believes! This truth is expressed by the prayer of Jesus for all believers to come after His days on earth. Jesus compassionately prayed asking God that all who believe be One in unity. Jesus uttered these powerful, loving words to God before going to the cross to redeem us by paying the debt of all the sins of the world with His own life!

Jesus prayed before dying to save us;

“My prayer is not for them (His present disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”—Jesus, John 17:20-23

BECAUSE of God’s Love, the same love demonstrated and defined as giving His One and Only Son to save whoever believes is real and eternal, relentless and unchanging. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Jesus and God—united and unbreakable—until that moment in time when Jesus took all the sins of the world upon His shoulders and willing laid down His life to rid the world of sin once and for all! Our Perfect and Holy God turned His face on the sins of the world that Jesus carried to the cross. For God and sin cannot occupy the same place. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” was the passionate cry of One separated for that moment from His Father to complete the mission to die for our sins to save us for eternity. Jesus then gave up his last human breath and died a human death on earth. The holy sacrifice willingly and obediently finished to remove sin.

Jesus, without sin before the cross carried the sins of the world to the cross for you and for me. Sigh, let that sink in.

So, when we repent in Jesus Name of our sins; the only One who can, removes our sins— “as far as the east is from the west” to be “remembered no more.” (Psalm 103:12) Nobody but Jesus could do this for us. It is God’s gift to us. We cannot do it for ourselves. We don’t deserve it and we certainly cannot earn, no matter how hard we try. This is God’s gift given His Way so that no human would have right or reason to boast! Only Jesus is the Way to God. Only Jesus removes all our sins so we can be one with Him. Accept Him.

SO THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW—

Jesus prays that his followers may be united in the same way he and the Father are one. He asks that believers be united “as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You” and “that they may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me”. This unity is a spiritual and relational oneness, meant to be a testimony to the world of God’s love and the truth of the Gospel.

Interestingly, Abijah knew his history and had faith in what God had said to Moses and David. He had the courage to preach a sermon to Jeroboam and his army of 800,000 men (twice as large as Judah’s army), reminding them of the true foundation for the Jewish faith. Abijah opened his sermon by reminding Jeroboam that David’s line was the true royal dynasty as stated in God’s unchanging covenant with David. (See also 2 Samuel 7).

Abijah reminded Jeroboam that only the sons of Aaron could serve in the temple. Judah worshiped the one true and living God, while Israel worshiped two golden calves. Israel’s priests were hired by their king; not divinely appointed servants of the Lord. In Judah, the people honored the Lord God Jehovah— “God is with us!” If Israel were to attack Judah, therefore, Israel would be fighting against the Lord!

In division, God has not left the building nor has He given up His Authority—

“The Lord acted as He did for the glory of His own name. Abijah isn’t marked out as a godly ruler, but we commend him for his understanding of God’s truth and his faith in God’s power. Abijah was no Joshua, but the God of Joshua was still the God of His people, proving Himself faithful. Abijah became more and more powerful, fathered many children, and helped to continue the dynasty of David. God uses imperfect people to do His will, if only they will trust Him.”—Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe Study Bible

God’s Truth can get lost or be put aside in the busyness and business of maintaining human traditions. As the “Word made flesh moved into the neighborhood” (John 1, MSG) of humanity; Jesus first reprimands the religious community as those who should know better but “their hearts were far from God.”

As the Body of Christ, let us strive with our hearts, minds and souls to be aligned and attached to Truth. May we avoid war with each other as a way of life. May our desire be all God desires us to be—so that the lost world around us sees the Light and Love of God in us like a high beam that does not blind but guides the lost to Jesus Christ, “God with us, who saves us from our sins.”

Jesus saves. We do not.

Lord,

Traditions are fruitless if they only define us as a club with similar tastes in doing church. Let us fully set our hearts on you for your direction and guidance. May your Kingdom come; Your Will be done. Help us to BE the church united because we are united with you!

In Jesus Name, for our good and most of all for your glory, Amen

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ON GOD’S LAST NERVE IS NOT A PLACE TO BE

Posted on November 30, 2025 by randscallawayffm

As an eight-year-old trying to grow up, I mostly knew where the “line” was; but that didn’t mean I didn’t try to test the limits of the line and cross it from time to time. Most times, as the compliant, oldest child I didn’t approach the line. In fact, if I thought I did, I would send myself to my room as self-punishment before my parents could deliver their punishment. On rare occasions, I would try to hide crossing the line; but that never worked either. Parents know by instinct.

Mom’s intuition one day caught me in the act of doing exactly what she told me not to do! On her way outside to do yardwork, mom said, “And don’t go looking for your birthday presents; that will take all the fun out of being surprised.” For some reason, her words translated in my mind as a challenge. My birthday presents were hidden in an upper closet atop their regular closet in their bedroom. To mom that was a great place to hide things out of the reach of her super short kid. Ah, but no. When I saw she was knee deep in removing weeds in her garden; I made a plan to reach that high shelf and get a peek. I drug a chair from the kitchen table and place it at just the right spot. I climbed up but it was not high enough. So, I placed the large Oklahoma City phonebook on top of the chair but it was still not high enough. Books from mom’s bedstand were placed until a staircase to the prize was created.

Finally, I was ready to open the doors. Then suddenly mom’s strong adamant voice came for the window where she stood watching. With “line crossing compassion” she shouted; “What do you think you are doing? Get down from there right now!” Sudden fear gripped my whole being and I almost fell as I scrabbled down my tower of books! Caught in the act—Not a good place to be!

My mom turned away and said no more feeling confident she had done what needed to be done. She was right. I think mom saw that the fear and surprise of being caught was punishment enough. I also think I saw her smile and chuckle as she went back to yardwork, mumbling, “that child, getting on my last nerve”, Lord, help us”. I quickly dismantled my tower and put every book back where I found it. Then joined her in pulling weeds as penance. Her love for me did not change.

Could it be parents and grandparents know where the line is because they had crossed it and knew the consequences of doing so when they were kids? It’s hard to image our parents and especially our grandparents being kids who misbehaved and did stupid stuff like the generations before them—but alas, as Paul writes to the Roman believers; “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 However, we also learn that redemption for our sins “to be removed and remembered no more” is made possible by Jesus Christ as a “GIFT!” (Romans 3:24) This gift is not earned and is so undeserved; but is God’s great gift of His love, mercy, and grace demonstrated by His Son. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Jesus’ willing, humble and obedient sacrifice on the cross redeemed humanity from the debt of sin all because of His great love for each one of us! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.” Lamentations 3:23-24

King Rehoboam showed wisdom after Israel and Judah split. He sought to honor God as his father and grandfather had done. But after becoming well established, this pages tell us that Rehoboam stopped depending on God. So God used the ambitious king of Egypt to cause Rehoboam to look to Him again. But the consequences of Rehoboam’s decisions still followed him and affected the whole nation.

No matter what circumstance or temptation causes us to drift away from God, He still loves us and wants us back. Don’t forget this truth! God forgives us and calls us back to himself. Sometimes God uses a difficult situation to call us back, as in the case of Rehoboam.

2 Chronicles 12

Shishak Attacks Jerusalem

After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord. ²Because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam. ³With twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen and the innumerable troops of Libyans, Sukkites and Cushites that came with him from Egypt, ⁴he captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

⁵Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak.’”

⁶The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is just.”

⁷When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. ⁸They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.”

⁹When Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem, he carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields Solomon had made. ¹⁰So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. ¹¹Whenever the king went to the Lord’s temple, the guards went with him, bearing the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.

¹²Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.

¹³King Rehoboam established himself firmly in Jerusalem and continued as king. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. ¹⁴He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.

¹⁵As for the events of Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer that deal with genealogies? There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. ¹⁶Rehoboam rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And Abijah his son succeeded him as king.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

TRUTH: When we repent, we may still bear the consequences of our sin, but God forgives and restores us. When we humble ourselves before him and ask for His forgiveness with a sincere heart He removes our sin from our hearts. We don’t deserve it and cannot earn it nor can we remove our sins—Only God through Jesus His Son does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Jesus is the only Way to complete pardon from God immediately followed by full access to His throne.

Warren Wiersbe comments;

“Were it not for the overruling hand of a sovereign God, the Israelite nation could never have accomplished what God had called them to do: bear witness of the one true and living God, write the Scriptures, and bring the Savior into the world. The nation had divided into two, and leaders and common people in both nations had departed from the Lord to serve idols. Although the priests still carried on the temple ministry in Judah, during the 345 years from Rehoboam to Zedekiah, only eight of Judah’s nineteen kings were classified as “good.” As for Israel’s twenty kings, most were self-seeking men, classified as “evil.” Some were better than others, but none was compared with David.”—Wiersbe Study Bible

There is no one like our God! Believe, repent, and be saved for Life eternal!

Lord,

Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls, and restore the joy of you in us and us in you. Lead and guide all we think, say, and do all day long, in and through all circumstances, until we lay our heads down to sleep tonight.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE SHIFT FROM SELF TO GOD

Posted on November 29, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“You have heard it said; but I say unto you…”—Jesus, (Matthew 5-7)

Every person on the planet as done it more than once—followed our own hearts! Yes, this is the popular mantra of worldview thinkers, but it is a lie. We discover quickly that when we follow our own hearts; life falls into confusion and chaos. We blame others first for not jumpy on the bandwagon of our hearts leading. Then we wonder why our plan fell apart.

Jesus, who is the Word made flesh teaches a different way to think and live. He says to seek God first and follow His heart. This truth makes perfect sense! God knows what we need at just the right time—most times before we even know what we need it! God created the uniververse and everything in it. I’m sure He who is all-knowing, all-seeing, all powerful will have the answers we need! “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”—Jesus, Matthew 6:33

“All these things” are the compassionate pursuits of our hearts. So, who or what are we pursing to fill our emptiness? God’s heart or our own? Mm. God, in his unfailing faithfulness and relentless love for us is ready to guide us with His wisdom. We just need to ask. Jesus goes on to say; “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) If our pursuit is God; we have “all these things” He knows we need for Life! God never fails, never gives up, and can fulfill every need in good times and challenging times. Truth: God is faithful even when we are not. His will and purpose prevail through it all as our faith in Him matures. We are overcomers when we trust in Jesus who Overcame death and removed our sin by His sacrifice!

But when our human eyes, like Rehoboam the king, see what possibilities lie ahead; fear rears its ugly head. We might panic first then try to muster up courage driven by our own pride and decide for ourselves what we must do about these imagined impending dangers that could serve to destroy us and those we love. We imagine all possible outcomes before the circumstances are even formed!

It is this faulty human thinking with fallible minds with even weaker resolve that lead us to shift our thinking from God to self which leads to more trouble than we had imagined! Fortunately, for believers, God steps in to correct and divert us back on His path of Life. God’s Voice of reason and direction will always provide the wisdom we need. If we listen to Him, trust and obey what He says to be and do; we can avoid the traps set by evil. In King Rehoboam’s case in point—war is avoided.

2 Chronicles 11

When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered Judah and Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam.

²But this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God: ³“Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, ⁴‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the words of the Lord and turned back from marching against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

⁵Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah: ⁶Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, ⁷Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam, ⁸Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, ⁹Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, ¹⁰Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. ¹¹He strengthened their defenses and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, olive oil and wine. ¹²He put shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his.

¹³The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with him. ¹⁴The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the Lord ¹⁵when he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made. ¹⁶Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. ¹⁷They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, following the ways of David and Solomon during this time.

Rehoboam’s Family

¹⁸Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab. ¹⁹She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham. ²⁰Then he married Maakah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. ²¹Rehoboam loved Maakah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

²²Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maakah as crown prince among his brothers, in order to make him king. ²³He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and took many wives for them.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

King Rehoboam showed wisdom after Israel and Judah split. He sought to honor God as his father and grandfather had done. But after becoming well established, Rehoboam stopped depending on God. His thinking shifted from God to self because of the pride that plagued many kings then as it destroys the effectiveness of leaders today.

Max Lucado writes—

“No matter what circumstance or temptation causes us to drift away from God, he still loves us and wants us back. God forgives us and calls us back to himself. Sometimes God uses a difficult situation to call us back, as in the case of Rehoboam. When we repent, we may still bear the consequences of our sin, but God forgives and restores us.

A lot of us live with a hidden fear that God is angry at us. Somewhere, sometime, some Sunday school class or some television show convinced us that God has a whip behind his back, a paddle in his back pocket, and he’s going to nail us when we’ve gone too far. No concept could be more wrong! Your Savior’s Father is very fond of you and only wants to share his love with you.

Could you use the genuine fresh air of God’s forgiveness? Would you love to stand in the approval of God again? How do you do it? By genuinely admitting to God that you’ve made a mistake, knowing that God loves you more than he hates your mistakes. And knowing that he will forgive those mistakes.

Does the Word of God say, “There is limited condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”? No. Does it say, “There is some condemnation”? No. It says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, emphasis added). Think of it—regardless of our sin, we are not guilty!

By his nature God wants to forgive and restore you. He wants to meet your deepest longings. He is fond of you. What does it mean to you that your Father is very fond of you? Think about that through the next day. Then, think of at least one person with whom you can share this good news.” –Lucado Encouraging Word Bible

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:11

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Let us pursue the One who loves us most and died to save us. Be blessed by “all these things” God will do in and through us for our good and His glory!

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us your word with your thoughts guiding us to all that is truth. Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls, as you continually restore the joy of you in us and us in you. Help us today to pursue You and your Kingdom thinking! You make everything new and our relationships with each other better because of knowing your love. I’m Yours and I’m listening for You.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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NEW RULER; NEW RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

Posted on November 28, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Each generation comes into relationships with what they have learned and seen demonstrated from their parents and grandparents. It’s all we know, it’s our natural “go to” response—until we see what others do. As we watch others who we want to please and be like; we begin to take on the ways and norms of what they demonstrate when handling life’s circumstances and relationships. We form new rules of engagement—even if it does not follow the wisdom of our fathers and mothers—or of God, Himself.

King Solomon died. Rehoboam, the son of Solomon whose wisdom was known around the world, has taken his place on the throne as king—but without his wisdom and good judgement. Abounding in pride, the young king turned down the wisdom of older counselors and then to his contemporaries. The outcome of his mistake in judgement resulted in dividing the nation of Israel!

But God…intervened. God will use King Rehoboam’s pride to accomplish his divine plan. Due to Solomon’s sin, (of which pride was the motivator of his sins), God planned to divide the kingdom. God uses sinful decisions to accomplish his plan. There is no one like our God!

2 Chronicles 10

Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam

Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. ²When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. ³So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: ⁴“Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

⁵Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people went away.

⁶Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

⁷They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”

⁸But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. ⁹He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

¹⁰The young men who had grown up with him replied, “The people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. ¹¹My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

¹²Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” ¹³The king answered them harshly. Rejecting the advice of the elders, ¹⁴he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” ¹⁵So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

¹⁶When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share do we have in David,
what part in Jesse’s son?
To your tents, Israel!
Look after your own house, David!”

So all the Israelites went home. ¹⁷But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

¹⁸King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. ¹⁹So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We need to understand more fully how God works as His will is done for our good. When we sin or others sin against us—all is not lost. God knows and God will intervene on our behalf when we ask Him. Life isn’t fair; but that doesn’t mean God has given up his sovereignty and authority.

Let’s step back to Genesis to recall the story of Joseph—

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”—Joseph, forgave his brothers who sold him into Egyptian slavery. At the point in the story God made Joseph ruler and advocate for Israel! Genesis 50:20. Read the whole amazing story of God in Joseph!

God has done it before and He will do it again—and again! It is God who uses the evil in our world intended for bad; turn life upside down and all around to accomplish a good outcome. Only God. Though humans have bad intentions or commit evil acts; God can work through those events to bring about ultimately a good result, often one that we never dreamed possible or foreseeable.

Who do we listen to when we need help in decision making when our world has been turned upside down? How great are our own listening skills?

“What the world needs now, is love, sweet love.” This popular song comes to mind at the moment and I’m smiling. Could it be that God’s Holy Spirit is convicting and correcting me in my skills as a listener? The lyrical meaning of this song needs to be expanded to what the world needs desperately now is someone who will truly listen before responding.

We tend to snap judgements based only on what we perceive to know about the person talking in front of us. Since our time is deemed more precious; we listen halfheartedly with a greater desire to move with our own lives so we offer lame advice with catchy church phrases. Yikes, our listening skills need to be honed by God who is Love.

“What’s love got to do with it?” (Yes, another popular song!) Real listeners with the love of God in their hearts have a desire to understand what is really being said. God’s love in us not only helps us listen to their words; we seek to know and listen to their hearts. We may or may not know immediately how to meet a need; but that should not deter us from listening.

God’s loving listeners close the laptops, look into the eyes of the person speaking to pause to truly hear with compassion.

Our desire is to help them with their need not wave them away with a quick response. And guess what; we don’t have to know all the answers! “I don’t know” is an viable, honest response. God does not expect us to know what He knows. Added to our “I don’t know;” can be “but let’s search God’s Word for the help.” A bonus way to really seek the answers needed can be; “let’s go together to those who love and know God’s Word for help.” The bottom lines is this: People want to be seen AND HEARD. Most times, just being heard is all they need. I’ve seen and heard it with my own eyes and ears! Listen closely, prayerfully, for a quick piece of advice can hurt more than it helps.

Ask God for the opportunity to spend time with someone this week who needs a listening ear. Ask God’s Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in all our responses. Then be prepared to respond when God sends someone. “The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them.” Luke 12:12

And what about this king who listened to bad advice? What life does to us depends on what life finds in us. Life’s pressures bring out the best or the worst in people. During Rehoboam’s reign of seventeen years, the way he responded to situations revealed what kind of a person he really was. What we truly believe is expressed in our behaviors in all kinds of circumstances.

Lord,

Cleanse our hearts, remove all that does not belong. Open our eyes to see your glory at work all around us—and in us. Open our ears to hear You first; then respond with listening ears to others. Renew our minds to think more like you. Refresh our souls with your new, tender mercies for today. Restore the joy of your salvation at work within us to make us holy before you. Guide us in all we think, say, listen to, and then do. Help us to be still, hear you to know You.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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AKA—ALSO KNOWN AS

Posted on November 26, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Who are we also known as (AKA) in our world? In our family for example, one is known for baking great cookies of all kinds, one is known for great casseroles and salads, one is known for bread making, others are known for creating sumptuous desserts no one else would try. I think of this as the family lists all they will bring to our Thanksgiving meal tomorrow. It is easy to become known for what we do. But we are also known for who we are! Who are we to the world around us? Do others see us as God sees us? Are we consistently demonstrating the love of God? Who are we also known as?

King Solomon’s name is synonymous with wisdom. He didn’t ask God to make him a great contractor and builder of the temple from the plans his father gave him. It wasn’t “make me rich enough to pay all my bills” as king. It wasn’t “let me live in peace.” It wasn’t “keep me fit physically” to do the king’s work. And it certainly wasn’t “help me to please all the people in my kingdom.” No—it was “Lord God, give me wisdom to rule over all the people you put in my care.” This plea was delivered with a heart humbled before God. This request pleased God so much that He gave Solomon extreme, Godly wisdom, wisdom beyond what the known world had ever heard or seen! Why? Because this was the first and only thing King Solomon asked of God as he came to the throne after his father King David. At that time, the young king had his father, King David’s heart for God.

Even those who are not Bible readers or faithful God believers know or have heard of the wisdom of Solomon! The stories of God in ordinary people are also known for what God did in and through them. From Adam to King David to Joseph and Mary also known as the earthly mother and father of Jesus, God Hand is in us all. Jesus is also known as Messiah, Redeemer, Deliverer, Savior, and Lord! We too, are known also as who we are in relationship to God through Jesus, His Son.

Over time, people who have only heard bits and pieces, take the stories of real people who lived and use their character to describe each other…with a bit of sarcasm thrown in. For example, when someone comes into a large gathering expecting to be served and their every need met; we might hear, “Who are you, the Queen of Sheba?”

But, here’s the real story. The Queen of Sheba was a woman seeking wisdom. King Solomon was given great wisdom from God. When she met him, talked with him, she knew his God had indeed given him the wisdom she was seeking. She exclaimed, “I’ve seen it with my own eyes”! Then she praised God! Go on…read it for yourself!

2 Chronicles 9

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon

When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind. ²Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her. ³When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, as well as the palace he had built, ⁴the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.

⁵She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. ⁶But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard. ⁷How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! ⁸Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the Lord your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.”

⁹Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

¹⁰(The servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon brought gold from Ophir; they also brought algumwood and precious stones. ¹¹The king used the algumwood to make steps for the temple of the Lord and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah.)

¹²King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.

Solomon’s Splendor

¹³The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, ¹⁴not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders. Also all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the territories brought gold and silver to Solomon.

¹⁵King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold went into each shield. ¹⁶He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three hundred shekels of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.

¹⁷Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with pure gold. ¹⁸The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. ¹⁹Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom. ²⁰All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s day. ²¹The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by Hiram’s servants. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.

²²King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. ²³All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. ²⁴Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.

²⁵Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. ²⁶He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. ²⁷The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. ²⁸Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all other countries.

Solomon’s Death

²⁹As for the other events of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat? ³⁰Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. ³¹Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Who do we want to be known as? We are known more for who we consistently and faithfully are than for what we do. For Who and what is in our hearts will be displayed in our behaviors—Jesus said. That’s why, as believers we must guard our hearts, keeping them spiritually healthy. This is done only by surrender to God daily. (Romans 12:1-2)

The Psalmist teaches us to be still, let go of our will and worries, and really get to know God. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 For there is no one like our God! God created all, owns all He has given to us to manage, is in all, and over all His creation! God is love and real Love is God. (1 John 4:7-8) To know God is to know Love for God is also known as Love.

To know God is to talk to Him as we would a best friend. Complete the communion with Him by listening to what He tells us as a Friend who wants the best for us. His Word is His love letter with ways to love to all who read it! Then, throughout the day listen for Him and watch His glory at work in our world as we walk humbly with Him with grateful hearts. God does not disappoint! Ever!

As we know God more; we become known more as one who knows God because of our desires to become more like Him in His character and ways. People notice as they are seeking God, too! The more we commune with God we notice that we are more forgiving of others as we remember all that we are forgiven of by Him. The more we realize the depth of love God for us—the greater depth our love is for others in the same way.

Jesus and his disciples after Him were known for consistently preaching, “Guard your heart and keep it holy.” Jesus also added; “don’t follow your heart, for our hearts are deceitful.” Instead, run after and follow the heart of God! King David was known as “a man after the heart of God.” Are we?

Warren Wiersbe writes of the dangers of letting our hearts go unattended while growing spiritually complacent and ill. Life becomes “meaningless” as King Solomon will contend later after “having it all” while forgetting Who owns it all. Wiersbe comments;

“See 1 Kings 10:1–13. The queen of Sheba couldn’t contain herself (2 Chronicles 9:5–8). She announced publicly that Solomon and his servants had to be the happiest people on earth, yet it was Solomon who later wrote the book of Ecclesiastes and declared, “all is vanity” (Eccl. 1:2). We wonder if Solomon’s officers and servants didn’t gradually grow accustomed to all the pomp and circumstance of court life, especially the gaudy display of wealth. One of the dangers of living in that kind of situation is that we begin to take our life and livelihood for granted; then, before long, we don’t value them at all. This can apply to spiritual treasures as well as material wealth.”—Wiersbe Study Bible

Oh Lord,

Cleanse our hearts. Remove all that does not belong. Renew our minds with a desire for your wisdom. Refresh our souls with your tender new mercies. Restore the joy of your salvation within us. May your Holy Spirit makes us holy by capturing every thought and guiding us in all we think, say, and do today. I want to be known as Yours. I be more like you today and every day until I see you face to face! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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SETTLING AND SUSTAINING

Posted on November 25, 2025 by randscallawayffm

When a home structure is built and “in the dry” there is still much more to do as you move and settle in. All your belongings are unpacked and sorted as they are placed in appropriate places for ease of use. Landscaping, if not included in the contract with the builder, must be done before winter. We meet our neighbors and hope for good relationships with them. We fortify our surroundings in ways that protect our property. Sometimes a fence is erected to keep pets in and unwanted animals out. So, we discover the work to be endless as we move in and our lives take on new activities.

So it is with King Solomon. He doesn’t take a holiday when the Temple was finally complete along with his own home! Solomon built Israel into a wealthy and powerful nation. Neighboring rulers came to visit him and sought to learn from his great wisdom. This passage introduces the beginning of his work to rebuild and restore all the surrounding towns for the protection of Israel.

2 Chronicles 8

Solomon’s Other Activities

At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the Lord and his own palace, ²Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them. ³Solomon then went to Hamath Zobah and captured it. ⁴He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath. ⁵He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities, with walls and with gates and bars, ⁶as well as Baalath and all his store cities, and all the cities for his chariots and for his horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.

⁷There were still people left from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites). ⁸Solomon conscripted the descendants of all these people remaining in the land—whom the Israelites had not destroyed—to serve as slave labor, as it is to this day. ⁹But Solomon did not make slaves of the Israelites for his work; they were his fighting men, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and charioteers. ¹⁰They were also King Solomon’s chief officials—two hundred and fifty officials supervising the men.

¹¹Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, “My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the Lord has entered are holy.”

¹²On the altar of the Lord that he had built in front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord, ¹³according to the daily requirement for offerings commanded by Moses for the Sabbaths, the New Moons and the three annual festivals—the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. ¹⁴In keeping with the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their duties, and the Levites to lead the praise and to assist the priests according to each day’s requirement. He also appointed the gatekeepers by divisions for the various gates, because this was what David the man of God had ordered. ¹⁵They did not deviate from the king’s commands to the priests or to the Levites in any matter, including that of the treasuries.

¹⁶All Solomon’s work was carried out, from the day the foundation of the temple of the Lord was laid until its completion. So the temple of the Lord was finished.

¹⁷Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and Elath on the coast of Edom. ¹⁸And Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own men, sailors who knew the sea. These, with Solomon’s men, sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

King Solomon was great in wisdom—because he asked God for it and God gave it willingly. However, we will soon learn that God’s gifts of wisdom and great wealth will seem meaningless to him after Solomon marries pagan women who are ungodly worshipers of idols and help to turn the king’s heart for God to everything but God.

When Solomon’s heart was following God’s leading—all was well and good and done for the glory of God. When Solomon’s heart turned from pleasing God and obeying all His commands to pleasing his pagan wives instead who followed evil ways; all of life became meaningless to him. All was not well with his soul.

So, how do we respond when all is going well?

Does God receive all the glory?
Do we live in gratitude, thanking God with every breath we take, for all He has done in and through us?
Do we live to please God in all we think, say, and do?
How do we respond to God’s daily manna given for our needs as He perceives them to be?
Does life become meaningless because we think we deserve more?

Solomon used his God-given wisdom to make Israel strong. But as Solomon became wealthy, he grew distant from God. Max Lucado writes of King Solomon’s appetite for greed with a warning for all believers;

“Greed comes in many forms. Greed for approval. Greed for applause. Greed for status. Greed for the best office, the fastest car, the prettiest date. Greed has many faces but speaks one language: the language of more. Epicurus noted, “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.”

Wise was the one who wrote, “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

Greed has a growling stomach. Feed it, and you risk more than budget-busting debt. You risk losing purpose.

Is wealth your aim? Put that dream aside and give priority to God. Do something today to curb the appetite for money and be content with what you have.”—Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible

Real contentment is knowing God intimately in a growing relationship with Him, trusting He will provide all we need when we need it most for our good and His glory. To strive to provide for our families is pleasing to God who provides for us. God owns it all! Before we went to work; God provided the work! This is how it works. We must remember to put God first and listen to what He says. Then He will add “all these things” that He knows we need to farm the fruits of His Holy Spirit within us! How do I know—Jesus said and lived it for us and I’ve seen it with my own eyes! I trust Him completely for the wellness of my soul!

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”—Jesus, Matthew 6:33 ESV

To clarify, Mashall Segal, CEO of Desiring God, writes;

“Contentment is not simply about settling for what we have, but trusting in what God has said. Both anxiety and greed rise in our hearts as God’s words fall.

When the author of Hebrews wanted to teach his readers about contentment, he told them an old story with a familiar refrain. He quieted their fears and quenched their greed by reminding them what God had said. “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). Which prompted Charles Spurgeon to ask,

Will not the distresses of life and the pangs of death, will not the internal corruptions and the external snares, will not the trials from above and the temptations from beneath all seem but light afflictions when we can hide ourselves beneath the bulwark of “he has said”?

The seed of unnecessary fear in the heart of a Christian is forgetfulness — an inability to remember and trust what the God of the universe has said and done. No one has ever had any grounds to accuse God of not following through on his word. Not even one phrase in any sentence in any statement he has ever made has failed (Joshua 21:45).

We will only be truly content with what we have when we know that we have Him. And we will remember that we have Him when we hear and believe his voice. —Segal, Desiring God

As I write this, the old hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” is playing in the background of my mind along with knowing the story behind the composer’s words. In 1883, the ship carrying his wife and children went down and they drowned. In overwhelming grief, as his ship passed over their watering grave, passing through the deep waters, Horatio Spafford wrote this hymn of praise to God;

“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain: It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord! Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.”

Lord,

This is my prayer of praise to you with thanksgiving in my heart for you! It is indeed well with my soul all because of You.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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FIRE AND GLORY

Posted on November 24, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“What a day that will be, When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand, And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.” (Composed by Jim Hill, 1955)

Are we truly ready for that day? When Jesus comes to take us to our forever home, what will be our instinctive response? Will we truly be in awe as we gaze on the glory that surrounds Him? Will our mouths utter praise immediately? Or will we automatically say, “oh, wait a sec, I’ll be right there, I just have to finish this.” Mm.

Even though King David followed by his son, King Solomon were historical factual people, living in the old covenant days, God’s story with their responses and their actions of obedience to God are used to teach and represent the character of God to us. Reading the Old Testament, as we have been doing over the past few months, give us all the details of how to worship God alone.

With specified details for God’s anointed priest advocates; they received offerings of sacrifice to cover over the sins of the people. The process was called atonement. The process was detailed for quality control purposes. Animals such as lambs, goats, bulls, and birds had to be “without blemish; the first of the flock” to be acceptable in the eyes of the Lord. (See Leviticus) The sacrifice had to cost the giver. Then designated priests were given detailed instructions to ceremoniously place the sin of the people on animals. Depending on the sin or kind of offering depended on the actions taken.

The animal offerings were put to death quickly, the blood drained, then the meat burned on a roaring fire. This was “an aroma pleasing to God.” Only then could the sacrifice for sins be complete and the forgiveness of God be given. Sin cannot be in or occupy the same place where God resides and abides. One must go and that one is sin—Sin repented and atoned.

God had a continual plan of redemption for sin. Later, in the New Covenant, it would involve giving a part of Himself as the once and for all sacrifice for all the sins of the world. God’s New Covenant with His people would remove sin, “to be remembered no more”! Jesus, His Son was that Plan. Jesus, came down from heaven and was born to a virgin, Mary espoused to Joseph. He grew in stature and loved to be in His Father’s house, The Temple, deemed by Him as the “House of prayer for all nations.” Known as the Son of Man but also the Son of God, he began to preach Truth to a dark, confused world in ways they had never heard before!

Even religious leaders who sat and debated scripture all day long were confused and lost because they didn’t really know God; they just knew of God. That’s why most didn’t recognize Jesus when He came and moved into the neighborhoods of humanity to love, serve, heal, and teach who God really is and what He expects from His people. And who they didn’t know—they feared—so they plotted against Him.

Only Jesus, who knew no sin, would then be the perfect candidate to be the perfect sacrifice for the removal of sin. It would cost God His one and only Son, to remove the sins of you and me and everyone else in the world who believe Jesus was the one to save us from death! But His love led the Way to be saved!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Jesus, “alpha and omega,” was with God at the beginning of creation and He will come back at the end of the age with fire from heaven with the Word of God (the sword of truth) in his mouth! As God’s Son, Jesus was/is/always will be the promised Messiah, proclaimed by the prophets of God centuries earlier as The ONE who will save us. He did and He will come back soon. Jesus ties the work of the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. The Old Testament continually and repeatedly points to Christ. God’s Word says we won’t know the time or the place; but all who believe will immediately recognize Him when He comes.

God’s people saw and recognized the glory of God filling the new Temple! The Lord answered Solomon’s request by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifices on the altar, and once again the glory of God filled the house. God responds in power—always has and always will! And He’s doing it again! God had sent fire from heaven when Aaron the priest had blessed the people (Lev. 9:23, 24) and when Elijah the prophet had called upon God (1 Kings 18:38). Here God sent fire when Solomon the king offered his prayer and his sacrifices to the Lord. The people all responded by bowing to the ground in reverence to God. Imagine the sound of thousands of people shouting, “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever” (v.3). God had accepted the prayer of the king and the worship of the people!

2 Chronicles 7

The Dedication of the Temple

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. ²The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. ³When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,

“He is good; his love endures forever.”

⁴Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. ⁵And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. ⁶The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the Lord’s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.

⁷Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.

⁸So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. ⁹On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. ¹⁰On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the Lord had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel.

The Lord Appears to Solomon

¹¹When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, ¹²the Lord appeared to him at night and said:

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.

¹³“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, ¹⁴if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ¹⁵Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. ¹⁶I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

¹⁷“As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, ¹⁸I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’

¹⁹“But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, ²⁰then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. ²¹This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ ²²People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

I’ve read recently how one believer responded to our world’s current condition by composing a song meant to be praise to God with hope for us as we wait on the return of Jesus! “Days of Elijah” stirs our hearts as we wonder at times just how bad and sinful will the world be before Jesus comes? But when we read of the “old days” in the Old Testament and into the New Testament and learn of extreme oppression with violence, and persecution that lead to death for those who believed; we realize it is beginning to happen but has not fully arrived yet. “Be aware,” says the Word who is Jesus; and “guard your hearts”! The best stand to take in our world is to focus on WHO’S coming back and set our hearts, minds, and souls firmly on Him who delivered us by paying our debt of sin in full! Trust and obey Jesus, for there really is no better way to live!

“These are the days of Elijah, Declaring the word of the Lord
And these are the days of your servant Moses, Righteousness being restored
And though these are days of great trial, Of famine and darkness and sword
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying, Prepare ye the way of the Lord

Behold He comes riding on the clouds, Shining like the sun at the trumpet call
Lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee, And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes!”

The words of the composer, Robin Mark, “Days of Elijah” explains;

I found myself despairing about the state of the world and, in prayer, began asking God if He was really in control and what sort of days were we living in. I felt in my spirit that He replied to my prayer by saying that indeed He was very much in control and that the days we were living in were special times when He would require Christians to be filled with integrity and to stand up for Him just like Elijah did, particularly with the prophets of Baal. “These are ‘Elijah’ days.” Elijah’s story is in the book of Kings and you can read how he felt isolated and alone in the culture in which he lived. But God told him to stand up and speak for Him.

We also needed to be a holy and just people and hence the reference to the “days of your servant Moses,” meaning that righteousness and right living was important in all our attitudes and works. Now, we are under grace and not under law, but the righteousness that comes by faith can be no less than the moral law that Moses brought direct from God. It has not been superseded. In fact Jesus told us that our “righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees”, who were the most ardent followers of Gods laws as presented by Moses. Jesus was after righteous, servant hearts, of course, that desired to live holy lives for Him.

“Days of great trial, of famine, darkness and sword” is a reflection of the apparent times in which we live when still thousands of people die every day from starvation, malnutrition and war. In the midst of it all, we are called to make a declaration of what and who we believe in.

The second verse refers to the restoration of unity of the body, what Jesus prayed for – “that they may be one even as I and the Father are one…” by reference to Ezekiel’s prophetic vision of the valley of the dry bones becoming flesh and being knit together. There are lots of interpretations of this picture, but one of a united church rising up in unity and purpose, is a powerful call on us in these days.

The restoration of praise and worship to the Church is represented by “the days of your servant David”. Some folks use the term “Restoration Theology” to describe this restoring of attributes to the church. But in the song it’s mainly a picture of worship

Of course David didn’t get to build the structural temple (that’s why the word in the song line is “rebuild”), that was left to Solomon his son, but David was used by God to introduce a revised form of worship, praise and thanksgiving into, firstly, his little tent which he pitched around the Ark of the covenant (the presence of God) and then the temple that Solomon his son built.

This worship, unlike the Mosaic Tabernacle, involved many people being able to come into Gods presence and worship him openly. (In Moses time only one man, the high priest, could enter the Holy of Holies, once a year. David’s tent was a picture of how Christ would enable us to come right into Gods presence, through his sacrifice, and worship openly there). –Robin Mark, Composer

“And these are the days of Ezekiel, The dry bones becoming as flesh
And these are the days of your servant David, Rebuilding a temple of praise
And these are the days of the harvest, Oh, the fields are as white in Your world
And we are the laborers in Your vineyard, Declaring the word of the Lord

Behold He comes riding on the clouds Shining like the sun at the trumpet call
Lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes!”

There is no one like our God!

Lord,

Each day I come to you with a mind to learn; you teach me and fill the temple of my heart with your glory! Thank you, thank you, thank you! And you do it again and again and again! There is no one like You!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE DEDICATION

Posted on November 22, 2025 by randscallawayffm

A long time ago, in galaxy far, far away, in my church going childhood; I encountered a man who came occasionally to our church. It was rumored that this man had an alcoholic addiction that kept him from pastoring a church; but deep down he passionately wanted to be known as one who believed in God. As children, however, we cringed and groaned when this man was called on to pray to close worship for the morning. Why? Because he “preached” his prayers which meant they were long and loud and included every Christian phrase known to man! It was a sermon after the sermon!

This soul prayed for the deliverance of mankind “from the lowly janitor to the elders and preachers who led the congregation of worshippers and on to the leaders of our nation.” He included all the prayer requests uttered by people over the past six months or so, naming the ailing people one by one with how God could heal them by “His mighty hands and outstretched arms” as the “Great Physician” who can indeed heal and forgive. After a huge sigh, taking a big breath, he would then preach about the lost, noting all the ways that sin brought them low; then prayed for their deliverance as most moms wondered if the roast or chicken would burn in the electric skillets put on hold.

After a while however; God’s Holy Spirit got a hold of me and reprimanded me. As I got older as a believer saved by grace, God told me to extend His grace to this man. Later I began to notice him more closely after his extensive prayers and realized this man, with tears streaming down his face, seemed to be in torment over his own weaknesses and propensity to sin. In his prayer to God; he was probably closer to the Almighty than the rest of us waiting for his prayer to end so we could get to Sunday lunch! God told me to pray for him as he prayed instead of judging his words! I will never forget this man and his prayer for forgiveness. This man was a true worshipper of a God whose habit in sincere worship is forgiveness.

The dedication prayer of Solomon is also long and passionate as he is inviting Almighty God to come and dwell in the new Temple constructed to give Him honor, glory, and praise. But notice this; King Solomon goes before the people on the platform and humbly kneels before God and in front of the whole assembly of Israel! Imagine a powerful, earthly king kneeling before God and His People!

With hands toward heaven; King Solomon passionately asks God with every breath, thought, and word uttered to hear and forgive all who come to Him in prayer now and in the ages to come. This prayer is prophetic as Solomon speaks of future enemies, captivity, possible sins, a turning from God to the Enemy of God. Solomon attempts to include and request God’s forgiveness for all. Solomon then reminds the people of the promises of God that do not fail and that He will always be with them. From heaven to earth, for generations to come—His Presence will always be with those who call on His Name with sincere hearts. “There is no one like our God” he declares for all to hear!

AND, stay turned, you won’t believe what happens after the prayer! It’s way better than a fireworks show after the ballgame!

2 Chronicles 6

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; ²I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”

³While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. ⁴Then he said:

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, ⁵‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. ⁶But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’

⁷“My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. ⁸But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. ⁹Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’

¹⁰“The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹¹There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

¹²Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. ¹³Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. ¹⁴He said:

“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. ¹⁵You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

¹⁶“Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.’ ¹⁷And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.

¹⁸“But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! ¹⁹Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. ²⁰May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. ²¹Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

²²“When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple, ²³then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty and bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.

²⁴“When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple, ²⁵then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.

²⁶“When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, ²⁷then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

²⁸“When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, ²⁹and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple— ³⁰then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart), ³¹so that they will fear you and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.

³²“As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, ³³then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

³⁴“When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, ³⁵then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.

³⁶“When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; ³⁷and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; ³⁸and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; ³⁹then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.

⁴⁰“Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

⁴¹“Now arise, Lord God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.
⁴²Lord God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God not only graciously dwells with His people, but He also gives them His Word and faithfully keeps His promises. That’s the major theme here! King Solomon glorified Jehovah by reviewing the history of the building of the temple with future possible occurrences that would require God’s forgiveness.

Solomon knelt on the special platform near the altar as he prayed, his hands lifted to heaven. Our traditional posture for prayer (“hands folded and eyes closed”) was unknown to the Jews. Their posture was to look up by faith toward God in heaven (or toward the temple) and lift their open hands to show their poverty and their expectancy as they awaited God’s answer (See Ex. 9:29, 33; Ps. 63:4; 88:9; 143:6). This practice was carried over into the early church (1 Timothy 2:8). Remember it is the heart that God sees as we posture ourselves in prayer.

Warren Wiersbe, Bible scholar comments;

“Solomon closed the prayer with a plea that the Lord not reject him, the anointed king, David’s son and heir. The statement, “Remember the mercies of Your servant David” refers to God’s promises to David in the covenant (2 Sam. 7; Ps. 89:19–29). “The sure mercies of David” (Is. 55:3) include the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, to be the Savior of the world (Acts 13:32–39).

Humanly speaking, the nation of Israel would have perished quickly had not God been faithful to His covenant with David, who was “the lamp of Israel” (2 Sam. 21:17). No matter to what depths the kings and people descended, the Lord preserved a lamp for David and for Israel (2 Chr. 21:7; 1 Kin. 11:36; 15:4; 2 Kin. 8:19; Ps. 132:17). Whether they recognized it or not, the Israelite people were heavily indebted to David for their temple, the instruments and songs used in the temple, the organization of the temple ministry, and the protection from enemy nations. Today we are indebted to the Lord for keeping David’s light shining so that the Savior could come into the world. God chastened His people, but despite the nation’s sins, He did not break His covenant or take away His mercy (1 Kin. 3:6; Ps. 89:28, 33, 49). –Wiersbe Study Bible

Indeed, there is no one like our God! “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you! We find our story in Your story of love and forgiveness for that is who you are and what you give continuously. Cleanse our hearts, remove all that does not belong. Renew our minds with higher thoughts of your love. Refresh our souls with your new mercies this morning. Restore the joy of your faithful work of salvation within us. Thank you for loving and caring for us that way you do. Great is your faithfulness!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE FILLING OF GOD’S PRESENCE

Posted on November 21, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“Move that bus!” was the shout of the contractor and show’s host. A new home had been built. The family’s things moved back in with new things made just for them. Tears flowed from family to those in our homes watching their reactions! We loved watching Extreme Home Makeover as gifted artisans and designers of all kinds would come together to build a home with attention and meaning to every detail.

Their goal was to lift up and encourage the family after being knocked down by life circumstances, replacing despair with hope. We looked on as each artisan and decorator would interview family members to understand who they were for the purpose of discovering their likes and needs. Their goal was to please the new homeowners with all they would need to live a life with greater hope for their future. Wow! To watch the family see it for the first time and walk their every room stirred our hearts. All those who had a part in the work watched anxiously and excitedly as each family member looked in awe at what had been done for them. Love immediately filled each room because of the family’s gratitude for the workers who provided what they needed most—someone to care! (What if the church were that attentive to those knocked down by life? Just wondering, many are attentive, loving and kind, some even do something about it; but some of us are too wrapped up in our own stuff of life.)

God didn’t need a house to live in because God is everywhere. God declared it; David knew it. But God in His great love, bent down to listen to David, a man after the heart of God from shepherd boy to king. King David was determined to honor God by replacing the Tent of Meeting with a glorious, grand Temple. Deep down, David knew he could not repay or out give God; but still his desire to please God drove his Temple dreams. David dreamed of a magnificent monument of worship to God, a holy place for God’s Presence, a place pleasing to God. It was to be a place for all people to come and be in awe of God, bowing before Him, praying to God and listening for Him through the priests, and most of all, to know and receive God as the One and Only God of all.

Because of David’s past; he would not be the builder—only the designer. The build would be the responsibility of this son, Solomon. David accepted God’s decision and gathered resources. Upon David’s passing; King Solomon came to the throne and took his responsibility seriously, going far beyond what was needed. Because Solomon asked God for wisdom to lead His people; God answered with more wisdom, power, and resources than any other man or woman in the world at that time.

Now the Temple is complete, the furnishings are all moved in, it is time to celebrate! And what does God do? He fills the Temple with the Glory of His Holy Presence!

God moved in!

2 Chronicles 5

When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated—the silver and gold and all the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of God’s temple.

The Ark Brought to the Temple

²Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. ³And all the Israelites came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month.

⁴When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, ⁵and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priests carried them up; ⁶and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

⁷The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. ⁸The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. ⁹These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. ¹⁰There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

¹¹The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. ¹²All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. ¹³The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

“He is good; his love endures forever.”

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, ¹⁴and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

It’s not about you. It’s all about God. These are the first words of Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life.” God created every human being with purpose. Yes, but all began with God! “In the beginning God…” the first four words of God’s Word to us confirms it all! (Genesis 1:1)

Solomon fulfilled his purpose. Then he dedicated the new temple in Jerusalem. What a glorious “move in” day! He invited tribal elders and chiefs from throughout Israel. While the sacred furnishings from the tent of meeting were moved inside the temple, sacrifices began. Amid song, praise, and music, God’s glory filled the temple!

Over the past few months of reading and studying Kings and Chronicles we see God at work giving each man and woman a purpose to fulfill. We can go back to the beginning and see what God did as He created the earth and every living thing on and above it! God created the first humans, Adam and Eve made “in the image of God.” Then He gave them purpose—take care of the Garden I have given to you to enjoy. When their eyes were distracted from their purpose to considering they were gods; their purpose was redesigned but still their purpose remained—take care of the earth, work the ground, reproduce. They still had purpose. As God takes us on a journey through His Word from Adam to Abraham to Moses, through all the prophets and kings, all flawed people in a corrupt world; we discover God is still God. He has not changed. His love had not changed for us nor His faithfulness to us. We were all born with purpose and a longing for Him. God’s love, mercy, and grace remains.

We are empty, desolate, hopeless without God. God knew. So, God sent Jesus, with one distinctive purpose and mission, to fill the Temple of our whole created being with His Holy Presence. When we receive Jesus, repent of our sins to Jesus, God moves into our whole being—His Temple, made ready for Him to dwell!

The Lord appeared to Solomon and told him that his work on the temple pleased him. He said that if his judgment fell on the nation due to sin, they could turn to the Lord in repentance. The Lord would then respond to true repentance by forgiving their sin and healing their land.

We are flawed for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” but we are also perfectly forgiven when we repent in Jesus Name. When we fall, we can dismiss it. We can deny it. We can distort it. Or we can deal with it. Dealing with confessing our sins to God who already knows. Confession is simply agreeing with God that our acts were wrong. It is God’s desire to forgive your sinful deeds and thoughts through his wonderful grace. We just need to ask.

Let God move in!

Lord,

Fill the Temple of our hearts with Your Holy Presence as we ask for the forgiveness of our sins. Cleanse our hearts, remove all that does not belong. Renew our minds, refresh our souls. Restore the joy of your salvation at work within us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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CARE AND DETAIL IN ALL THINGS

Posted on November 20, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Momma said, “If you’re going to do it—do it right!” I heard this so many times in my life from childhood through adulthood that I still hear her voice, like a recording in my mind. My mom, an executive secretary for an oil company in Oklahoma City, worked hard to do the tasks she was given to do—correctly and neatly—going beyond what was required of her.

As a young college student on summer break, her company asked if I would be the front reception in my time off until they could find a replacement. Mom encouraged me to do it even though I had no experience. “I’ll teach you,” she said, it’s not that hard. (Yes, to her maybe!) Indeed, she taught me not only to do it but to do it right. I thought I would merely be answering the phone; but many other details were involved in greeting clients at the door with a smile to give a good first impression to making sure the oil field executive salespeople had all the information needed to do their job. There were so many details I didn’t know existed until I got into the work. Soon, I became more comfortable doing the tasks as I developed skills beyond what I had before coming to the job.

What I learned most from mom was how she did her work! She was the ultimate professional in all she did and gave all she had to the work so others could accomplish their work. As a support to the executives; she knew at any given moment where all her bosses would be in the field or enroute to anther field. She was amazing not only in the work but how she related to all other workers in the office. I watched others have a deep respect for my mom who “did it right” so the work was done well by all.

Observing my mom at work, caused my respect and pride for her to grow deeply within my heart. She became “wonder woman” to me! Her work and spiritual habits were engrained in me as I would later be led of God to do works beyond what my abilities could muster. Her favorite scripture that guided her life was, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 From office work to church work to being a mom and wife, all at the same time; she trusted, obeyed what God said was right and good from His Word, giving her best to Him. She sought to fulfill what the Lord required of her, “seek justice, move mercy, and walk humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8) I’m sure mom was receive with God’s “well done, good and faithful servant.”

Before he died, King David told his son, Solomon; “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” (1 Chronicles 28:20)

2 Chronicles aligns with the directions given to Moses from God centuries earlier about what the Tabernacle, (Tent of Meeting) should look like and what materials to use for all the tools to be used in the burnt offering sacrifices. King David did not “reinvent the wheel” in his design for the Temple. But King Solomon embellished what the directions!

King Solomon leads all the artisans of the temple work with the words of his father. “Do the work—right!” He goes over and beyond what is required of him because of all the resources his father provided for the work, along with skilled people to do the work!

2 Chronicles 4

The Temple’s Furnishings

He made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high. ²He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure around it. ³Below the rim, figures of bulls encircled it—ten to a cubit. The bulls were cast in two rows in one piece with the Sea.

⁴The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center. ⁵It was a handbreadth in thickness, and its rim was like the rim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held three thousand baths.

⁶He then made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. In them the things to be used for the burnt offerings were rinsed, but the Sea was to be used by the priests for washing.

⁷He made ten gold lampstands according to the specifications for them and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.

⁸He made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold sprinkling bowls.

⁹He made the courtyard of the priests, and the large court and the doors for the court, and overlaid the doors with bronze. ¹⁰He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner.

¹¹And Huram also made the pots and shovels and sprinkling bowls.

So Huram finished the work he had undertaken for King Solomon in the temple of God: ¹²the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars; the two sets of network decorating the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars; ¹³the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network, decorating the bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars); ¹⁴the stands with their basins; ¹⁵the Sea and the twelve bulls under it; ¹⁶the pots, shovels, meat forks and all related articles.

All the objects that Huram-Abi made for King Solomon for the temple of the Lord were of polished bronze. ¹⁷The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Sukkoth and Zarethan. ¹⁸All these things that Solomon made amounted to so much that the weight of the bronze could not be calculated.

¹⁹Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in God’s temple: the golden altar; the tables on which was the bread of the Presence; ²⁰the lampstands of pure gold with their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed; ²¹the gold floral work and lamps and tongs (they were solid gold); ²²the pure gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers; and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God knows what we need to do His work His way. When God guides; He always provides all we need to accomplish His work He has invited us to join Him in doing. But to do the work well; we must go to Him daily for each step of the work. Going to God daily for instructions develops our attitudes in the work. We must BE with God before Doing anything for God.

At any time, did the details overwhelm King Solomon who oversaw all the work of the artisans? The furnishings of the temple were important to the priests, for without the divinely ordained furniture, they couldn’t do their ministry or please the Lord. How did King Solomon know how important each detail was unless he was taught by his father who learned by reading God’s Law?

The tabernacle that Moses constructed had only one table for the loaves of bread and one golden lampstand with seven lamps on it, but the temple had ten golden tables and ten golden lampstands in the Holy Place, five each along the north wall and five along the south wall. The lamps provided the light needed for the ministry in the Holy Place. King Soloman did indeed go beyond what God had given to Moses to accomplish; but he had the resources to do it! Each day and age is different but truth does not change. God knows exactly what His People need when they need it most. God uses everything in our lives (good and bad) to grow our relationship with Him more intimately and resolutely. We learn from experience, that it isn’t as much about accomplishing all the work given to us in all the right ways in every detail; but more about Who we learn from and become as we fully trust and obey God with all our hearts, minds, and souls.

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ⁸Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.” Ephesians 6:5-8 NLT

Written by Paul to the church in Ephesus; the word “slaves” undoubtedly refers to Christian servants, but we can certainly apply these words to Christian employees with bosses today. Doing a good job is the will of God! Christianity knows nothing of sacred and secular. A Christian can perform any good work as a ministry to Christ, to the glory of God no matter what our vocation in life! For this reason, the worker must do his/her job “as though employed by God Himself,” since we are serving Christ, the will of God.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Ah, Mom, I get why you said it so often; “If you’re going to do the work, do it right—as unto God!” It wasn’t to please you but God!

Lord,

Thank you for memories of past lessons that still apply today. Thank you for leading us to your purpose with attention to detail so all is done to give you glory! Cleanse our hearts and renew our minds daily so that our attitudes in the work are pure and enthusiastic! Refresh us with your tender mercies that encourage to give you our best. And may the joy of your salvation at work within us put a smile on our faces as we do your will. To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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