THE SOUS CHEF OF PREP WORK     

Posted on November 7, 2025 by randscallawayffm

As anyone knows that any project from painting walls to cooking a huge meal, the preparation can take longer and be more work than the actual project itself.  Walls must be cleaned and most times repaired by filling holes and cracks. Sanding and cleaning again must follow before the paint is even applied!  AND, before you open that can of paint the right brushes and tools must be readied with coverings placed on the floor in case of spills—and spills will happen! This is the science—if you plan on a spill, spills won’t happen! (Or, maybe that’s just me!)  From experience of doing many DIY projects over the years; we learn that good prep work makes the task much easier to complete in the most excellent way!  

As we come close to Thanksgiving, we think of all the prep work that must be done. If you are the main cook for the family gathering for Thanksgiving; you know the extent of preparation that must be done days before the event!  We spend a couple of weeks ahead of TD to buy the groceries needed. We shop early to get the best deals from markets we trust.  We then store all these items so all does not spoil before use.  A timeline is formed of what to do when so it all comes together at the best time for all to enjoy. For example, I have learned over the years to bake the pies early to make room in the oven on the day of for the turkey, dressing, and casseroles. I learned from watching my mom and grandma who were gifted in the kitchen!

And who wouldn’t enjoy “SOUS CHEF” as your right hand!  What is this role?  A sous chef is second-in-command in a kitchen, directly reporting to the executive chef and managing daily kitchen operations, staff, and food production and preparation! The term is French, meaning “under chef,” and the role involves leading by example, solving problems, training junior staff, and ensuring food quality, making them a critical leader and backbone of the kitchen team. The souse chef job of prep is to cut up all the veggies, nuts, and berries ahead of time so putting it all together becomes an easier task on the day of roasting. My husband is my volunteer sous chef who is my veggie cut-up manager.  (Sometimes he just a “cut-up” in the kitchen!) 

Our adult children and even our adult grandchildren now bring in previous prepared items to add to our meal which takes some of the work from our shoulders.  It takes all of us working together to make the meal happen in an enjoyable way.  We appreciate each other’s contributions and love cooking together as we praise and thank God for all He has provided.

King David is commanded by God to be his son, Solomon’s “sous chef” for the building of the Temple! David desired to build with his plan for the Temple. But God…interrupted with new directions and His plan.  David, a man after God’s own heart; trusted and obeyed God.  The following passage tells of David’s prep work of excellence before the first stone for the Temple was put into place!  Notice that prayer is a major part of the prep work!  Read on…

1 Chronicles 22

Then David said, “The house of the Lord God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

Preparations for the Temple

2 So David gave orders to assemble the foreigners residing in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God. 3 He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed. 4 He also provided more cedar logs than could be counted, for the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David.

5 David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.

6 Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God. 8 But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. 9 But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. 10 He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

11 “Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would. 12 May the Lord give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

14 “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them. 15 You have many workers: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as those skilled in every kind of work 16 in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you.”

17 Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. 18 He said to them, “Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hands, and the land is subject to the Lord and to his people. 19 Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

After David’s debacle of counting his warriors to impress people with his power (1 Chronicles 21); God humbled him by discipling David. David repented and is now restored and back to seeking the heart of God and His direction.  David has learned valuable lessons that he will pass on to his son, Solomon.

In service to God, everyone’s job is important. Each person’s part, when done with willing obedience honors God.  David began to enjoy doing the prep work for the Temple instead of being the builder.  Max Lucado gives us a perspective of David that is helpful to our understanding of this King whose will must be set aside for the Will of God.  He shares;

“David had wanted to build a temple. What he had done for Israel, he wanted to do for the ark—protect it. What he had done with Jerusalem, he wanted to do with the temple—establish it. And who better than he to do so? Hadn’t he, literally, written the book on worship? Didn’t he rescue the ark of the covenant? The temple would have been his swan song, his signature deed. David had expected to dedicate his final years to building a shrine to God.

At least, that had been his intention. “I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it” (1Chronicles 28:2).

Plans. Preparations. Architects chosen. Builders selected. Blueprints and plans, drawings and numbers. Temple columns sketched. Steps designed.

“I had it in my heart . . . I made plans.”

Intentions. Preparations. But no temple. Why? Did David grow discouraged? No. He stood willing. Were the people resistant? Hardly. They gave generously. Were the resources scarce? Far from it. David “provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed [and] more cedar logs than could be counted” (22:3–4). Then what happened?

A conjunction happened.

Conjunctions operate as the signal lights of sentences. Some, such as and, are green. Others, such as however, are yellow. A few are red. Sledgehammer red. They stop you. David got a red light.

David’s bloodthirsty temperament cost him the temple privilege. All he could do was say:

I intended . . .

I made plans . . .

But God . . .

What do you do with the “but God” moments in life? When God interrupts your good plans, how do you respond?—Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible

Good questions, Mr. Lucado!  What do we do in those moments when God interrupts our plans? Play the blame game? Insist on moving ahead anyway? Or do we pause to talk it over with God?  (The last one is the right answer!)

Our lives would be more enjoyable if we paused more often to ask God what HE wants every day of our lives. Those holy interruptions are most often opportunities that are for our own good, our growth in faith, with a test of our willing obedience to God with reminders to give God all the glory and honor! 

Pauses in the work to pray are more important than the prep work and the work itself. These pauses reminds us that God is the chef and we are second as we listen to him for direction.  God provides all the resources we will need as He guides us to join Him in His work.  In fact, to reduce it down to a simmer, our main prep work is to pray first then allow room for God to complete His masterful work in us. We have no cause to boast when we walk humbly with our God—the Main Chef of Life!

We become too arrogant and full of pride when we think we are doing all the work, according to our plan, even if we add, “in Jesus Name.” 

I have been in difficult, sometimes torturous, church meetings where plans were laborious created over a great deal of passionate discussion with each other; then we prayed; “God bless our plans.” Yikes!  Nope, this is backwards!  We must seek God first asking for His plan!  David soon learned his lesson and accepted God’s will for his son, Solomon to build the Temple beyond his wildest dreams.  David didn’t sulk but stared the prep work for his son, knowing the prep work would lift the load and encourage Solomon for the work ahead!  King David become great, not as much for his conquests on the battlefield; but because of his faith, trust, and obedience to God. David wouldn’t want it any other way.

This is God. This is how He works in and through us to perfect our faith!  We are more important than the project.  People are always more important than the plan.

Pause to pray, asking God for wisdom and direction.  Then look for opportunities to lift the load off someone else’s shoulders. Most often, this will interrupt our planned day but these holy interruptions will probably help, encourage others in ways we cannot imagine.  God knows and sends His people who listen to help.  Be the one who is listening and willing to pause in holy moments where God intervenes.  God will provide where He guides.  God did it for David and He does it repeatedly for us!

Lord,

Thank you for these thoughts of wisdom from you! Thank you for teaching us how to humble walk in sync with you!  Continue to cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new tender mercies, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within us as we trust in you with willingness to obey what you say!

In Jesus Name, for our good and Your glory, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

“DOWN FOR THE COUNT”

Posted on November 6, 2025 by randscallawayffm

I grew up in a time and place where most people went to a neighborhood church.  Living on the outskirts of Oklahoma City, there were many neighborhood churches from which to choose to attend.  Mega churches had not yet come into existence.  In fact, mega churches of our day were generally formed by a very charismatic preacher whose practices seemed more like cults to be feared and avoided!  Generally, from studies by statisticians who count these things, most churches ranged in attendance from 50-150. Yes, there were churches of 200 or more but they were in higher tier count and there were less of them.

I was raised with the basic practices of church growth of being a people who naturally invited their own relatives first who invited their relatives.  Then we would invite our friends, coworkers, people we met at the local grocery store, etc.  Growth spurts came from “revivals” where attendance nightly for a week was emphasized greatly with the urgent push to invite everyone you have ever known in your life to come!  A visiting evangelist would then pour out his heart for the lost to be saved by Jesus!  Altar calls were the norm with singing as many verses of “Just As I Am” needed to bring all lost souls to Jesus and for the rededication of those within the church Body.

Pastors generally were/are totally dedicated to Jesus’ command, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20-21) They teach their congregations to do likewise. 

As I look back, I confess we sinned, however, when we boasted to other churches with the count of those who came to our church and revival.  And we often failed in the follow up after the lost were saved by Christ by expecting them to automatically be like the “lifers” in church who had overcome their own sins over time.  This led to discouragement of new believers, showing them little mercy in their growth.  We did not follow ALL the command of Jesus to “teach them to obey Jesus” so they may become more like Jesus, our Lord—not us!

God is not pleased with our motivation to count with pride rather than staying the course to humbly walking with Him in obedience to His will.  Just ask David who is “down for the count” by God for his foolish behavior.  David, like a lot of today’s pastors, are tempted by pride from our Enemy to count all the “warriors” we have at our disposal in the battle for the lost.  David’s count was motivated by his desire to impress all the nations around him of his power. Yikes!

Chronicles 21

David Counts the Fighting Men

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”

3 But Joab replied, “May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

4 The king’s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. 5 Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.

6 But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king’s command was repulsive to him. 7 This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.

8 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”

9 The Lord said to Gad, David’s seer, 10 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”

11 So Gad went to David and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Take your choice: 12 three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord—days of plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”

13 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

14 So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead. 15 And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so, the Lord saw it and relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

16 David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.

17 David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Lord my God, let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.”

David Builds an Altar

18 Then the angel of the Lord ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 19 So David went up in obedience to the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the Lord.

20 While Araunah was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the angel; his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21 Then David approached, and when Araunah looked and saw him, he left the threshing floor and bowed down before David with his face to the ground.

22 David said to him, “Let me have the site of your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to me at the full price.”

23 Araunah said to David, “Take it! Let my lord the king do whatever pleases him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give all this.”

24 But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”

25 So David paid Araunah six hundred shekels of gold for the site. 26 David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.

27 Then the Lord spoke to the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 28 At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there. 29 The tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time on the high place at Gibeon. 30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Do you know the first question pastors ask each other when they meet at pastor conventions?  “So, how many attend your church?”  I know because I also attended these gatherings seeking help for our ministry to the lost.  This question, no matter how many were currently attending, became offensive to me. I was drawn nearer to those who asked, “How are you doing?” with the eyes of our Lord’s compassionate love and care for me, with a pause for me to truly answer them.  It was these pastors who encouraged, filled me, and lifted my spirit in my walk with God.  They taught me to more like Christ in every way. They also taught me to pause, inquire, and listen to others in need of care.

God gave David victory over the surrounding kings. David congratulated himself by taking a count of the fighting warriors among the population to portray his power.  This is when it is a sin to count!  Counting to impress others around you is the work of Satan.

David is reprimanded by God’s prophets and he repents.  In repenting, David acknowledged that he would rather fall into the hands of the Lord than the hands of men. He said of the Lord, “His mercy is very great” (verse 13). This is truth!  Great is the Lord’s faithfulness to us—even when we are “down for the count” with pride ruling over us in our unfaithfulness to God!

Mercy is at the core of God’s character as demonstrated through the sacrifice of Jesus to save us from our sins.  As believers, we are required by God to reflect His character this by showing mercy to others!  Mercy is the deepest gesture of love and kindness. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” –Paul to the church at Ephesus, (Ephesians 4:32). 

Mercy is considered a gift from God that cannot be earned and is displayed through acts of grace, comfort, with the opportunity for repentance and spiritual renewal. How great is the mercy of our God!

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

There is no room for pride when we walk humbly with God.  We can count on God!

Lord,

Forgive us our sins as we forgive each other who sin against us. Lead us not into temptations but DELIVER us from evil and all his schemes to distract, deceive, deconstruct, dismantle, and ultimately destroy our lives lived for you. As our Overcomer, may we overcome by your power working within us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

CONFIDENCE BUILDS IN VICTORY

Posted on November 5, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Our confidence quickly enlarges as we overcome our enemies and troublesome circumstances that overcome us in this life.  If God is not given the glory for these victories, another growth spurt takes place.  Along with our confidence growing, seeds of pride can appear in our walk with God. It happens when our humility before God and gratitude to God are set aside to seek the praise of others.  These seeds of pride grow like vines with nasty, spikey tentacles that reach out to strangle our spiritual growth and dull our faith and trust in God alone.

Our pride becomes an inner spiritual battle between the God who gives us victory and we who think we accomplished the win all by ourselves. Pride expects others to notice and give us the praise we think we deserve.  Praises from people become addictive and can destroy us from the inside out. Our thinking becomes arrogant and our words directive. To hang on to our self-induced confidence we say “off with their heads” as we push those out of our circle of friends if they do not honor us consistently with praise.  But have you noticed what can happen with this attitude?  Pride and arrogance cause our circles of friends and supportive alliances to become smaller and smaller.

David and Joab are warriors, becoming more and more confident with every nation they conquer. But are these leaders still giving God the glory? Is the battle for the good of Israel and the glory of God—or for need of praise?  Read on…there is an underlying battle that has not yet come to the surface.  As we study the next few chapters, look for the seeds of pride beginning to sprout within the heart of David and those he commands.  Soon we will say, “we all see it, David.”  But are we looking for the seeds of pride in own lives as we learn from God’s Word?  Come, Holy Spirit, we all need you!      

1 Chronicles 20

The Capture of Rabbah

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces. He laid waste the land of the Ammonites and went to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and left it in ruins. 2 David took the crown from the head of their king—its weight was found to be a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones—and it was placed on David’s head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city 3 and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes. David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then David and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.

War With the Philistines

4 In the course of time, war broke out with the Philistines, at Gezer. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaites, and the Philistines were subjugated.

5 In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.

6 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 7 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.

8 These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

THE REST OF THE STORY—

As we study, Warren Wiersbe, Bible scholar and commentator relates that if we look back in 2 Samuel 11:1; 12:29–31 we discover that this account of the war with the Ammonites is briefly mentioned.  It was going on as David committed a sin against God, one of his own commanders of war by lusting after his wife, Bathsheba. (2 Samuel 11:2—12:25).  David stayed home from war, full of confidence that his men would overcome the enemy, while the Enemy of God conquered him!  “We all see it, David.”

The heart of David who ran after the heart of God, with the confidence of God with him now followed his own heart that was overcome with selfish desire, lust, for another man’s wife with self-confidence, arrogance, and pride.  Sin expands and leads to death.  Our sin blocks our view of the God who overcomes and wants His best for us.  David grieved the heart of God and His Holy Spriit.  This giant addiction overcame the David’s heart.

What are the “giants” we face daily in our own lives?  Pause, pray, ask God to help us get rid of what is entangling us, blocking our view of righteousness, while paralyzing our relationship with God.  Only the resurrection power of God’s Spirit living in us can help us overcome our addictive behaviors of seeking more praise, pleasing people above pleasing God, and satisfying our own selfish desires. 

God knows what we need before we need it and is ready to help.  God is faithful even when we are not.  God loves us when we do not love ourselves.  Turn to God. Repent in Jesus Name.  Believe and be saved from ourselves!  Give God all the glory always! 

David and his men faced actual giants in their lives and defeated them one after another. Once David had defeated Goliath (1 Samuel 17), with God’s strength and mighty help; the giants no longer looked invincible.  This is one of many times in God’s word that encourages us to be spiritually bold in the Name of the Lord!  We also learn that God will most often put us in positions and places so others will gain courage because we have chosen to trust Him in difficult circumstances! 

Boldness with God comes from walking humbly with God.  In this world bold and humble are not used in the same sentence but we are not of this world!  God’s Kingdom thinking is different.  Be boldly different, God helping us!   

Our Giants of addictive sins shrink when measured against God’s greatness. When God is given all the glory and praise in our overcoming of sin; others will begin to see God as we see Him—the One and Only God who reigns and has all authority over all His creation and yet bends down to save us and set us free.

There is NO ONE like our God!

Lord,

Thank you for these thoughts of warning about the enemy’s seeds of pride, arrogance, envy, and self-confidence that replaces our trust and confidence in you. Help us today to rid ourselves of these weeds that entangle us and block our view of You.  Let the beauty of Jesus, who saved us, be seen in us today. To you be all glory, honor, and praise!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

ASSUMING AND PRESUMING—FOOLISH THINKING!

Posted on November 4, 2025 by randscallawayffm

We all do it!  When we assume immediately what people are thinking and presume what they are planning to do to us. However, this instinctive response leads to foolish behaviors. Assuming is falling the lies of the Deceiver who tempts us to see the worst in others. The Deceiver manipulates us to think the worst of others because he is the one who seeks separate us from Truth and those who live Truth so he can devour us like a lion devours a wandering sheep from the herd. Our enemy also uses gossip to command our attention and distract us from truth. “Satan is a liar and the father of all lies!” Jesus warned us of who he is and how he works!  (John 8:44)

Assuming the worst and presuming what others will do to you so you do it first, is one of the Enemy’s oldest tricks in his habitual obsession to destroy healthy relationships with others and dismantle our faith in God.  Why do we fall for him and his foolish tricks? Fear of the unknown shades our responses and reactions to life.  Fear can lead us to fall for the temptations of foolish thinking and behaviors.  Read on…

1 Chronicles 19

David Defeats the Ammonites

In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king. 2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.

When David’s envoys came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, 3 the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.

5 When someone came and told David about the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”

6 When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maakah and Zobah. 7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maakah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle.

8 On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. 9 The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

10 Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. 11 He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 12 Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you. 13 Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

14 Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. 15 When the Ammonites realized that the Arameans were fleeing, they too fled before his brother Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.

16 After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they sent messengers and had Arameans brought from beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophak the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

17 When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan; he advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him. 18 But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak the commander of their army.

19 When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him.

So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Do we realize how truly unnecessary this war between Hanun, the Ammonite king and King David really was?  Thousands of lives were lost all because of Hanun’s foolhardy assumptions and quick presumptions of David. Hanun’s fear increased as his own commanders gossiped about David and what they perceived as his real intention! How the Enemy must have laughed when Hanun and his men fell for his lies.  But God intervened, as He always does, to bring the enemy to their knees while His Truth is revealed.

Our first impressions of people can set the tone for future relationships.  What are the factors that lead us to our assumptions and presumptions? What are we thinking when we meet them?  What causes us to assume who they are merely by what they are wearing, who we think they know, how they talk, or how they respond to our questions? And why do we gossip about someone we do not know? (One of the most destructive sins of the church!)

We need God’s Holy Spirit help for sure! Call on Him for wisdom and discernment! God always answers these prayers asked in the Name of Jesus. The Apostle Paul, inspired by God, writes of this help;

“Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” Philippians 4:4-9, MSG

This is the gift of God’s peace!  Don’t assume the worst which disrupts peace; think the best!  The Holy Spirit who lives in us does not lie and will lead us to Truth.  Ask for His wisdom and discernment and He will deliver—God promises to be with us always and God does not lie!  It’s not in His character.  To be more like God is to know His Son who did exactly what God said to be and do which was to teach us how to be more like Him who created us in His own image.  When we truly believe God wants His best for us and is not against us; a new way of thinking replaces our old natural way of thinking. 

To be more like God we do not assume the worst but think the best of others guided by His love in us.  Jesus taught us and demonstrated for us the way to be more like the Father who demonstrated His relentless and powerfully love for us —”while we were yet sinners; Christ died for our sins.” (Romans 5:8)

God knows, really knows, and sees our hearts. He doesn’t need to fretfully assume what He knows and fearfully presume what we will do next—He knows!  God wanting the best for us, gave His best to us to save us from ourselves and our foolish thinking and behaving. God knows that we are “presumed dead” in our sins until we believe, repent, and decide wholeheartedly to follow Jesus.  When we say yes to Jesus; we are reborn!  A new and forever life begins!  God’s Holy Spirit living in us gives us resurrection power to overcome foolish thinking.  We begin to judge less and love more! With God’s love in us, our punishment from sin paid in full by Jesus, and now God’s Holy Spirit living in us to guide us always to Truth—who could ask for anything more?

There is no one like our God!  His love drives out all our fears!  He is life, real Life! 

Freely give to others what God has given to us!  God’s mercy is the deepest gesture of His loving kindness. Paul equates the two. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians  4:32). 

“Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life” …. (Old hymn)

Lord,

Thank you for your words of Truth that change our thinking, and by your help within us, transforms our behaviors. Lead us to Truth. Give us your wisdom of discernment. Help us to judge less and love more—like you love us.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

GOD WITH US—OUR VICTORY!       

Posted on November 3, 2025 by randscallawayffm

  

When all is well and doing life is not as hard to accomplish; it is easy at these times to be a bit proud of how our lives are going. We might think our small victories in life are a result of our best efforts and great abilities applied to our present troubles.  We even call ourselves “blessed,” in a way “charmed,” when our lives are flowing without obstacles to get in our way. It is also easy in this season to think; “God is lucky to have me as one of His children because of how I’m handling life right now.” (Yikes!)

Then, without warning, skirmishes appear on our radar.  People we thought of as friends betray us. The fires of anger rise within us as difficult and challenging decisions must be made and tasks accomplished or we might be swallowed up these expected life circumstances! Do we react or seek God.  All too often, our first responses are; “Where are you, God?” “Why is this happening to me?” “What did I do to deserve this?” “Still blessed, you say, Lord? I’m just trying to survive!” “Help!”

We have all been there, said, and done that until we settle to be still before God and remember: In good times, God is with us.  In bad times, God is with us.  In the in-between times, God is with us. 

In our daily battles with the Enemy who uses life’s unexpected challenges to distract, deceive, dismantle, destroy relationships, with hopes to defeat us; God is with us.  The victory is ours if we trust God who steps in to provides real victory when our hearts are completely His. 

David is one whose heart is completely committed to doing the will of God.  David’s habit is to “inquire of the Lord” before going to battle.  God responds with “giving him victory wherever he went.”  Battles are bloody and difficult in all kinds of ways. Lives are lost or changed forever.  Relationships are severed.  As we read the words may we remember that victory comes at a great cost.  Remain humble. 

1 Chronicles 18

David’s Victories

In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.

2 David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.

3 Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at the Euphrates River. 4 David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. 6 He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

7 David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Tebah and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles.

9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze.

11 King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.

12 Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David’s Officials

14 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 15 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; 17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Life is not about us nor does the planet revolve around us. Real Life is about God and our relationship to God. Jesus changed everything concerning our relationship with God. It is Jesus who reconciled (reconnected) us to God by removing the sin from us that blocked our path to God.  Jesus paid the high cost for our victory over sin and death while nailed to a cross!  Don’t ever forget what He has done for us! 

David was not a perfect husband, father, king, or child of God. He made mistakes when pride overwhelmed him in these victories. We will read about that this week!  But David never forgot His God who is merciful and Who responds with forgiveness through humbled repentance.  David might have had lapses of foolishness; but his heart came back to God for cleansing. His Psalms of worship include lament with repent, with victory and celebration of joy as he loves and relies on his living God as his enemies ran after him with intent to kill him.  His life was not charmed but blessed by a God who surrounded him with His love, mercy, and grace.

Knowing, believing, realizing the depth of God’s love and faithfulness to us is victory!  Humbly coming before Him to ask for His forgiveness through Jesus, His Son, opens the floodgates of heaven to rain down God’s blessings of relentless love, undeserved mercies, and unmerited grace. THIS is the victory given by God at the cost of His Son, Jesus, our Savior, and Lord— “while were yet sinners!”  (Romans 5:8) God with us wherever we go and in whatever we do in His Name for His glory in all the days of our lives!

Paul said it best—anything less is “garbage!”

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:7-14, NIV

LOSE all that stands in the way of gained victory!

Stop carrying around the trash of the past.

Live, really live a victorious life with Jesus who never leaves us in times of storms, picks us up when we fall, and loves to celebrate His victories in us. 

Emmanuel—God with us. 

Lord,

There is power building inside of me at just reading these words this morning! You are the God of David and you are our God.  You never change in your love for us. You are faithful even when we are not. You are love and compassion and your mercies last a lifetime!  Thank you, Jesus for paying the high cost for my salvation and the salvation for the world who would come to believe in you as Savior and live for you as Lord of our lives.  What a demonstration of Love!  And, You are Life Eternal! There is no one else but you who trust for victory of sin and death!  You are the Overcomer who makes us overcomers with You.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

GOD’S WISDOM TRUMPS MAN’S BEST IDEAS

Posted on November 1, 2025 by randscallawayffm

It is God who gives us creative thoughts and ideas—It is God who created us meticulously and wonderfully!  So it is no wonder that the Creator, who made us in His own image, would give us creative minds to solve problems, make old things new, create all new things on this earth.

Why do you think men and women (my husband and myself included) are drawn to walk through do it yourself places of business?  To form plans to accomplish their creative ideas to improve and invest in their homes, yards, or way of life.  We all do this in some form or another by also walking through Hobby Lobby with the Christian music playing in the background making our ideas seem holy. (I’m smiling, as we might think this is a religious experience!)  Hobby Lobby is my weakness!  We also must go with a calculator in our heads or on our phones to count the cost of fulfilling these dreams as we carefully steward what God has given to us to manage.  We all have a budget—or should before going in!  We all dream of how we could invest and manage; but we need help in accomplishing the goal.

David sought the Lord with a humongous, creative thought!  We need to always seek God first before doing anything of significance, knowing God owns it all and gave us a portion to manage for His glory and our good.  We are not God, so we must inquire of God, like David, to ask the best way with His timing to fulfil the creative ideas that come to mind.

Questions to ask God:  Are these ideas lining up with Your purpose and plan for us? Are the ideas of building on or improving what is already there; merely motivated by impressing the neighbors or other family members?  Will our creative thoughts and ideas bring dividends on our investment of managing what God has given us?  Do we act on those ideas now; or wait to do it in God’s timing as He leads us? When is that, Lord?  We must ask often, “Do we move forward now or wait until later at each step of the process?” Is there something greater that You had in mind, Lord?  What is the best way to honor You in all we think, say, and do? 

The most important question of all for all of life; “God, what do YOU want?”

1 Chronicles 17

God’s Promise to David

After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.”

2 Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.”

3 But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:

4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. 5 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. 6 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

7 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth. 9 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.

“‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: 11 When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.’”

15 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

David’s Prayer

16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17 And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.

18 “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, 19 Lord. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.

20 “There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

23 “And now, Lord, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, 24 so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.

25 “You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. 26 You, Lord, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. 27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Don’t miss the message of David’s prayerful response to God—

King David was thrilled that the ark was in its rightful place, among God’s people. But David was dissatisfied that the ark (representing God’s presence) was in a tent while he lived in a beautiful palace. God knew David’s heart was in the “right place” of His will.  So, God surprised David with a special covenant, promising to establish David’s throne forever.  David’s purpose from God was to reunite Israel.  David became the Shepherd of the Sheep of God’s pasture.  David was not perfect but never stopped loving and relying on God.  God never stopped loving David.

David’s love for God and desire to honor him resulted in God honoring David. David was overwhelmed with humbled gratitude because of God’s goodness toward him.  David could have whined and grumbled that it would not be him to build a glorious Temple of God—but he did not.  David was more than humbled by God’s decision of wisdom to assign the building of a Temple to his son, Solomon.  David, the Shepherd and Warrior King, who united God’s People would give the work of Building a Temple for God’s Presence to his son, Solomon as directed by God. 

David was certainly a creative man who wrote songs of praise with songs of lament and repentance to and for God.  David’s creative ideas were turned over to God, seeking His wisdom, pleasing, and perfect will.

Our response and request of God should be shaped in much the same ways.  How? Begin daily with the words of Paul;

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.” Romans 12:1-3, MSG (For all the holy details, read the whole chapter!)

Just as Jesus Christ had to take on Himself a body to accomplish God’s will on earth, so we must yield our bodies to Christ that He might continue God’s work through us. BE with the Lord before doing anything for the Lord! The Old Testament sacrifices were dead sacrifices, but we are to be living sacrifices.

“If we ever wondered what God meant by calling David someone “after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), this passage provides an answer! With profound humility David accepted God’s covenant and repeatedly turned the focus back to God’s greatness and grace. David understood that God really knew him and yet made the covenant in spite of David’s frailty. He learned the lesson we all need to learn, that life is never about us—it is ultimately about the God who made us and who loves us.” –Warren Wiersbe Study Bible

Lord,

Forgive us when we grumble when our creative ideas take more time to “simmer” or when we discover our ideas, not fully formed, were not a good for us at this time.  Lead us to create ideas according to your will, purpose and plan with your timing that will give your glory and be good for your people as we mature in your pure grace. Lord, what do you want today?  I’m listening for I am your servant.

In Jesus Name, Amen 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

TRUE WORSHIP OF OUR GOD

Posted on October 31, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Sometimes when we the church become stale through rituals, religious practices, and orders of worship we forget who God is and what He has done!  We can also and so easily become complacent in our worship of God. We hear the songs of praise; but our minds wander to who is singing it best, or who is messing up the harmony or playing his/her instrument poorly. Who is singing to Whom?  The enemy is pleased when we are distracted from God.  He revels when we perform rather than worship God.  God sees our hearts and knows who is worshiping who.

The Israelites sinned before God, turned their backs on God, by giving in to a parade of evil practices of worshipping the manmade gods of other nations in their history. Their “hearts are hardened”, God proclaims, and they know longer know me. King Saul was not a great example, either.  His dominating ego promoted self-worship and demanded that he be not only the king but the god of Israel.  So, God turned from Saul to David, who ran after the heart of God. God appointed and anointed Daivd to be the next King. David brought the worship of the One and Only God back into focus with the return of the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s Presence and Promises, back to Israel.  King David taught worship to a people who forgot how to worship God in spirit and in truth by teaching who God is first!  It is God we worship; nothing and no one else!

King David sets the example for worship by worshiping himself before the people. Then he retrains the Levites The Law of God along with reteaching God’s purpose and assignments as priests set apart by God.  Look for the assertive verbs in his training of all who come to praise our God! I’ll get you started; “Give, Look, Remember, Sing, Praise, Glory”—all to God alone!  (Which is the first commandment of The Law; Worship the Lord Your God only.)  Why?  “His love endures forever!” There is no one like our God!

1 Chronicles 16

Ministering Before the Ark

They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. 2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 3 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman.

4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel: 5 Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner:

8 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
9 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

12 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,13 you his servants, the descendants of Israel, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
14 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

15 He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations,16 the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
18 “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”

19 When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it,
20 they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
21 He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings:
22 “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

25 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

28 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
30Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33 Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.

34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
35 Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.”
36 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”

37 David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister there regularly, according to each day’s requirements. 38 He also left Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers.

39 David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon 40 to present burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the Lord, which he had given Israel. 41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, “for his love endures forever.” 42 Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.

43 Then all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned home to bless his family.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

BACKGROUND: This same account is recorded in 2 Samuel 6:17–20, but the priestly and Levitical priorities of the Chronicler caused him to include many more of the details of the arrival of the ark in Jerusalem.  Although worship continued in the tabernacle in Gibeon, the ark hadn’t been housed there for over twenty years (see 1 Samuel 7:2). The Ark had also been in exile ever since it was lost to the Philistines while Eli was priest and before Saul came to the throne. Then it was kept at Obed-Edom’s home, and now it was in Jerusalem. The tabernacle (tent made by David) would be the site of worship until Solomon built the temple.

Our response depends on Who we worship!

What a jubilant day of rejoicing for the Israelites then but what a day of rejoicing we have daily in knowing God is with us, too!  I’m reminded of the old gospel song of my youth, “When we all get to heaven,” which gives us a glimpse of this form of pure, honest, habitual praise for the One who saved us and set us free, knowing without a doubt that Jesus has prepared for us to live there eternally with Him!  What a day that will be, indeed! 

What a day of worship for the believers who have stood firm in their faith when Jesus comes back to claim His own!  Jesus IS coming back, you know. We don’t know the time or place but we are taught by Jesus to be ready. In the meantime, we are to live joyfully expectant and confidently ready as we live redeemed lives on earth. 

Who knew that the shepherd boy who wrote songs of praise to God while watching over the sheep, would be the King whose songs of praise and worship would be sung by the nation of Israel?! God knew.  God prepared David in the pasture to be King of His people.  God’s will and purpose will prevail.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” Psalm 40:3

King David writes a new song to represent the turnaround lives of a nation whose God is the Lord! God puts a new song in our hearts as we give our lives to the Singer who redeemed us, namely, Jesus!

So, Who do we worship?  What is our response to God who is God alone? Who gets our undivided attention as we gather to worship with others?  Remember God sees and knows our hearts.  Worship begins from the depths of our being whose hearts are fully committed to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Lord,

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;
may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;destroy all my foes,
    for I am your servant.” Psalm 143

My prayer and my grateful song of redemption to You!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

WORSHIP—GETTING IT RIGHT THIS TIME!

Posted on October 30, 2025 by randscallawayffm

King David’s motives and aspirations could sometimes turn quickly to pride because of his position as king. David, the gifted poet and musician, was highly sensitive with deep emotions that spilled out freely in an artistic way. As a humble shepherd boy, his songs heard only by sheep and nature around him, were pure worship to God.  Only God heard his heart while watching over him.   

When he became king, his excitement over the things of God would cause him to move ahead of God’s timing and direction.  With this wanting to do well for God’s people sometimes gets in the way of pleasing God.  This motive leads to self-praise if he is not careful.  We cannot lead worship to please people.  We were created to worship and should not hold back when motivated to give our all to God who call us to worship Him alone.

We read a few chapters back, the failure of David and his men of bringing the Ark of God to Jerusalem without following the specific commands of God of how to do this and by whom.  The loss of man’s life occurred by not following God’s lead.

In this passage, we read that David “gets it right this time.”  David learned from his previous mistake. David had a plan that fit the directions God gave Moses.  He also prepared a sacred place for the Ark designed by God and given to Moses.  He also learned that ONLY the tribe of Levi could carry the ark of the Lord.  They had been trained since birth to do it right in the eyes of God! 

When it came time to move the Ark from it’s temporary, protected place; David and his men carefully followed God’s detailed, sacred, and holy instructions. David’s heart is now in the right place for worship. His praise-filled reception of God’s ark demonstrates genuine spiritual worship. God showed that he was greatly pleased with such worship and honor.

A great band, wonderfully talented musicians, along with a charismatic leader are merely instruments dedicated to God and used by God for honest, real, from the heart-to-the-heart-of-God worship of God—not worship of the instruments used to call all people to praise God.  Let’s get it right, church!  Do heart checks at the door to worship!

1 Chronicles 15

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.”

3 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. 4 He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:

5 From the descendants of Kohath, Uriel the leader and 120 relatives; 6 from the descendants of Merari, Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives; 7 from the descendants of Gershon, Joel the leader and 130 relatives; 8 from the descendants of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives; 9 from the descendants of Hebron, Eliel the leader and 80 relatives; 10 from the descendants of Uzziel, Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives.

11 Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.

16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps, and cymbals.

17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.

19 The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth, 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith. 22 Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.

23 Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.

25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 26 Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. 27 Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.

29 As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

David’s praise-filled reception of God’s ark demonstrates genuine spiritual worship. God showed that he was greatly pleased with such worship and honor. As we gather for worship and learning; does our praise to God please Him?  It all depends on the readiness of our hearts for worship. 

When we come to worship; we must first prepare our hearts for His Presence. This preparation is just as important as what David did to carefully prepare a place for the Ark of God.  One of David’s songs of repentance and praise comes to mind to prepare our hearts for the worship of our King Jesus, Savior and Lord, who is King of kings and LORD of lords;

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12

As we ready our outer appearance for worship let us prepare our minds for worship. Paul teaches the church;

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  Colossians 3:12-17

The preparation of our souls involves the emptying out all that is not God in order for His new mercies to refresh our souls in the cleansing. Be willing to allow the very depths of our dry, thirsty souls, from the emptying, to be filled with the Living water and Bread of life by His Holy Spirit that is within us.  Let us then offer our souls as an offering, fully committed and completely given to God. This draws our attention from the world and even churchy business back to God.  This is a daily discipline.  (See Romans 12:1-2)

“Have the mind of Christ,” writes Paul to the church then and now. Jesus got alone often to talk with God and listen closely to His direction. Jesus also expressed His love for the Father and reminded his followers often of the commandment to love; “Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul.” And “Love each other.” This is a part of the worship of God who is Love.  This love gave us Life eternal. So, who are we to think we can live without this discipline of listening to God for direction that builds our own faith with attentive, ever maturing listening skills for God?

In our pursuit of God, when our hearts, minds, and souls seek Him first; we find He is there, waiting patiently for our response to love Him back.  Worship is complete when we realize the depth of love God has for us and love like He loves us—without conditions.

“Let the peace of Christ rule our hearts”, writes Paul, (Colossians 3:15)  Peace comes when forgiveness is received and freely given to others. Be willing to leave divisive thoughts of the world at the door to God’s holy place of worship.

“This is the secret—Christ in us!” (Colossians 1:27) The power of God’s Holy Spirit embedded within our new lives given to Jesus, transforms us to be all God wants us to be—true worshippers of Him!

Once the appropriate preparations had been made, David was able to enthusiastically lead the Levites in bringing the ark to Jerusalem. The quality of our worship is often determined by the way we prepare for worship. If we give little thought to our upcoming participation with other believers in worship services, we shouldn’t be surprised by our lackluster experiences.  Michal’s disdainful reaction to David’s exuberant worship is reported here as somehow connected to her background as the daughter of Saul. Her love for David did not seem to connect with his love for God.

FACT:  When we come into worship expecting to hear from God—He will not disappoint! God is ready for us, not matter what, and delights in our worship of Him!

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW

Posted on October 29, 2025 by randscallawayffm

FACT:  The God of David is the same God who is with us today!

So, the questions we must daily ask ourselves prayerfully and honestly are: 

  • Do I really believe all that God say to be really real? 
  • Do I truly believe that His Son, Jesus redeemed me from all my sins, now and forever? 
  • Do I believe that God’s Holy Spirit lives in me to help me in all decisions I will face today?
  • Will I seek God first to inquire of the Lord, like David, before doing anything of significance today?
  • Do I truly believe God can do anything and nothing is impossible with God?
  • When God answers with a command, will I trust and obey Him, no matter what?

Our response to God and others will reflect our true belief in God.  Our daily reactions to life will allow others to see God’s glory at work—or not.

1 Chronicles 14

David’s House and Family

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him. 2 And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

3 In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters. 4 These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines

8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. 9 Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; 10 so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, I will deliver them into your hands.”

11 So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.” So that place was called Baal Perazim. 12 The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire.

13 Once more the Philistines raided the valley; 14 so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

17 So David’s fame spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear him.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

King David inquires of the Lord before going to battle.  Known for being “a man after the heart of God,” David’s habit is to ask God first before doing anything of significance in his work to protect the people of God as King of Israel. 

History tells us that (See 2 Samuel 5:11–16), from a practical point of view, the Phoenicians needed to be on good terms with the Israelites because Israel could easily block the trade route to Tyre, and the Phoenicians depended on Israelite farmers for their food. (See Acts 12:20.) David interpreted Hiram’s kindness as another indication that the Lord had indeed established him on the throne of Israel.

The House of David is not without sin. David’s character flaws of desiring and obtaining many wives and the consequences of his sin is not recorded in the chronicles of his life but are told in the book of Samuel. His first son with Bathsheba, the stolen wife of Urriah, one of David’s loyal soldiers, would die soon after he was born.  Some of his other sons would turn against him.  Solomon, his son who succeeded him was known to be the wisest king in the world but we wonder his wisdom in holding the record of the number of wives in his household! The sins of the father were the sins of the son. The Law (Deuteronomy 17:17) clearly stated that the king was not to multiply wives, but both David and Solomon ignored this law, and both paid dearly for their disobedience.

When David became king of the whole nation of Israel, the Philistines knew he was their enemy, and they attacked him—often! When it came to reoccurring wars with the Philistines; King David knew that the real battle to protect God’s People belonged to the Lord. That’s why it was David’s habit to “inquire of the Lord” before going to war with an enemy that only God could overcome. David knew his own weaknesses but he also knew his God and His mighty power over all and in all who believe God. (See 1 Samuel 5:17-25)

The same David who fought the giant, Goliath who defied the living God of Israel, fights only by God’s direction with help.

We have battles daily with forces we cannot see but must be ready to fight. 

Paul, the Apostle, taught that our real enemy is not the flesh and blood people who are face to face with us as we live each day. The “underlayer,” beneath the surface of our outer layer of what is seen by others, is a desire to satisfy self—a strong pull used by the Enemy of God whose desire is to cause division through distraction and deception with the goal to dismantle and destroy our faith in God!  Paul writes a warning to the church of believers in Jesus—

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

Paul warning explains how this inner desire to respond with hateful, conniving, unkind, and manipulative words cause real struggles within the Body of believers and with the outside world as well come from Satan and his demons. But with God’s Holy Spirit, inquiring how HE wants us to respond can overcome this evil that can enslave us if we allow him to take over our lives!

Satan is our real adversary today. If you think Satan is just myth; then you have already lost a major battle!  But there is hope!  Believe that Jesus came to overcome and defeat the Enemy.  These spiritual forces, such as rulers, authorities, and powers of darkness, are considered the real adversaries but they are no match for our Savior, King Jesus, who defeated him in the war for our very lives while removing all the sins of the world who believes in Jesus! 

Though the war has been won; Satan continues to invite us daily into unending skirmishes for our faith.  Paul also tells us how to be prepared for these skirmishes knowing the war has already been won by Jesus!

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:13-18

David knew his battles belonged to the Lord.  Our battles with evil also belong to God who sent His Son to defeat the Enemy of God once and for all. There is no one like our God!  That’s why our battles are first fought on our knees before God, inquiring of Him what to be and then do in the battle.

Believe, repent, be saved for eternity for the war has already been won. 

Live like redeemed people with expectant Hope whose God is the Lord forever!

Lord,

You have stirred our hearts once more by Your Word that challenges and corrects our thinking.  Thank you, Holy Spirit for guiding again this morning to Truth!  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls and restore the joy of your salvation at work within us, making us fit for battle against the Enemy.  May your will be done today as always.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

SAME RULES APPLY

Posted on October 28, 2025 by randscallawayffm

As a high schooler, I was among those who carefully boxed up and moved all the hymn and gospel song books, educational materials, piano, dishes, Bibles, communion plates, bowls for feet washing, and all other items from the old building to our beautiful, newly built church building in another location.  All those items for teaching the Word of God built on the promises of God, became holy when used for the worship of God.  Memories of souls saved in the old building flooded the hearts of those who remembered meeting God there in their beginning of their walk with God.  Now it was time for new beginnings with the same God who still requires us to be holy as he is holy.  The same rules apply as we revere God with awe with a healthy fear-filled respect that comes from knowing how great our God is with respect for His tools of ministry.

David, who is now King, decides the Ark of the Covenant, holy unto God which represented God and symbolized all that God had done for His people, should be moved closer to where he now lives as King of Israel.  The Ark of the Covenant had items that represented the promises of God to His people.  The Ark was holy unto God. God gave them specific rules concerning the Ark of the Covenant given to them through Moses. The rules still applied when trying to move the Ark in David’s times.

The One thing we can rely on when we put our all our trust in God. His love, ways, and commands are the same and do not change. God is holy and we must be holy before Him.  In a world where each day we wake to new changes and rules of behaviors by our government, social groups, and among our friends and even our families; God is constant and unchanging in His love and care for us.  Comfort and peace abides in knowing that God does not change.

God’s commands signify His love and amplify His perfect holiness. David will learn quickly exactly how important this is this truth about God. Have we learned the depth of holiness of our perfect God?  Our behaviors will reflect the depth of awe we have of God whether inside the church building, among friends after leaving our worship of God, at home or in the workplace during the week.  God is Holy and that never changes.

1 Chronicles 13

Bringing Back the Ark

David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. 3 Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.” 4 The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.

5 So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. 6 David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name.

7 They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. 8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.

9 When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10 The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

11 Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.

12 David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” 13 He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

David was honest before God in his own anger.  He didn’t think God’s actions toward a man simply trying to keep the Ark for sliding off the cart should lead to Uzzah’s death but he didn’t follow the holy rules for carrying the Ark that was holy unto God.  It seemed unfair and unjust to David who assigned this task to Uzzah.  Maybe this jolted our thinking as we read it, too! Rules are given with a purpose by God. 

Consider this:  God had given specific instructions concerning the sacred objects (see Numbers 4:15). God said he would put to death anyone who touched the ark.  There it is—in black and white. Here is something to consider; David became angry at God, but was his anger justified?  It was David’s own neglect that brought God’s severe action. Could David’s ego, “I want the Ark to be where I am,” a bit too much for God?

When we don’t agree with the One who calls the shots, our reaction is often the same as David’s—anger, bitterness, with instant words of “that’s not fair, God!” But David’s heart quickly calmed as he remembers his real intent was to honor God.

Warren Wiersbe writes;

“According to the writer of Chronicles, David appears to move the ark to Jerusalem as the first order of business, but 2 Samuel describes a lot of building that went on before David decided to bring the ark to the capital city. The Chronicler was intent on showing David’s actions in relation to God and His eventual temple in Jerusalem. Not only did this move consolidate the spiritual and governmental center of the nation, it also indicated that David wanted to send the message that Israel would no longer neglect the things of God.” –Wiersbe Study Bible

“Certainly the death of Uzza was a tragic event, but it underscores the history of care that had always been connected with the ark. In their haste to bring the ark to Jerusalem, people were recruited to help who may not have been Levites. Good intentions are not an excuse for ignoring clear instructions. The handling of the ark was a divine assignment for the tribe of Levi (see Numbers 4:1–20). No evidence is given that Abinadab was a Levite or that his sons Uzza and Ahio were even qualified to be near the ark, let alone touch it.” –Wiersbe Study Bible

Our response today—Do not ignore or set aside God’s Word for good intentions.

Seek first God and His Will in all the details of our lives that He enjoys giving His voice to with discernment and wisdom!  We should not ignore the clear teaching of Scripture regarding the church, the world, and the mission of those who claim to follow Jesus. Adding on churchy rules to please ourselves or with the intention we think are good to seduce others to come to “our church” is not pleasing to God.  Be honest before God and the people of the world in need of a Savior for it is Truth they seek!

Inventing ungodly (unscriptural) standards and then following them “religiously” flies in the face of God’s insistence that He will not change His mind about what He wants us to believe and the way He wants His people to live.

The Apostle Paul compassionately writes from his jail cell to the church, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit;

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:1-6 (read the whole book to get the bigger picture!)

Manmade rules that divide the church and lead to behaviors of exclusion are probably not of God.

Lord,

This was a tough lesson to sort through but we have done our best to hear you.  May all that we think, say and do be refined first by your Holy Spirit.  Help us to think before we speak with words that are on your mind. Thank you for saving our souls and redeeming us for life eternal with you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment