Month: October 2020

1 Chron 13:1 David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
Sometimes, as I read the day’s scripture and commentary, I think I know where God is leading me, and I suddenly realize I have it wrong, He has a different message for me. Today was one of those days. Commentary talks about process and outcome, and the fact that God cares about both, though David and company focused solely on the outcome in this passage. 
1 Chron 13:3 “Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.”
I know that God needs me in the classroom right now. Over the summer, He firmly closed every door but the one leading me back to school. But this has been the most difficult semester of my career. Many days, many hours, I feel like I am surviving and barely. Today’s scripture is a wake up call that He didn’t call me back into the classroom just to survive (and barely). He has me there to shine His light, and how I go about that matters.
1 Chron 13:4 The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. I hear You telling me to step it up, that You don’t have me just marking time in the classroom. Show me how to juggle all that this school year contains in a way that is pleasing to You, in a way that brings You glory, in a way that allows me thrive instead of just surviving. Draw me closer. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.
1 Chron 13:9-10 When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 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.
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 12:16 Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold.
Interestingly, as I was reading today’s chapter, it started playing in my mind’s eye like a movie. I heard positive, upbeat music (if I’m honest, what I heard was a refrain from Pirates of the Caribbean). Everything was coming together. Things were going well. Why? Because God was in control, directing steps, aligning confidences. We see here how beautiful His plan can come together.
1 Chron 12:17a David went out to meet then and said to them, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, I am ready for you to join me….”
I can’t help but think of what’s coming. David’s transgression with Bathsheba. Lives lost. Lives destroyed. All because David took his eyes off God and focused on himself. Keeping our eyes firmly fixed on our Savior is so crucial for so many reasons.
1 Chron 12:17b “…But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge you.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for this look at how everything comes together in Your time through Your will. Help us to keep our eyes firmly fixed on You. Always. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 Chron 12:18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai…and he said: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.”
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 11:1 All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood.”
Lord, Thank You for Your love and care, for the plans You have for us, which are so much greater than the plans we have for ourselves. Thank You for calling us out in faith. Help us to trust and obey, even when Your future looks so very different than what we planned.
1 Chron 11:2a “In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns….”
Lord, Help us to keep our eyes, our minds, and our hearts on You. Help us not to care what the world thinks. When we look for accolades in this life, we are giving power to the world’s opinion, which isn’t what Your Kingdom work is about. Help us not to lose sight of that fact.
1 Chron 11:2b “…And the LORD your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Isreal, and you will become their ruler.’”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for seeing more in us than we see in ourselves. Help us to draw closer to You with every breath. Help us to shine Your Light. Amen.
1 Chron 11:3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the LORD had promised through Samuel.
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 10:2 The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Maliki-Shua.
Commentary says: “Saul’s sin, hardened rebellion, and eventual ruin affected far more than himself and even his immediate family. It literally endangered the entire nation of Israel.” Can I just say that those words send my mind in all manner of disconcerting directions this morning? 
1 Chron 10:3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him.
I try to make it a habit NOT to choose sin, but when I make decisions in my life, do I adequately weigh the effects of my decisions on all involved? What I see is more selfishness than I am comfortable admitting. 
1 Chron 10:13 Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance….
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. You have given me much to think about in the realm of decision making, especially when it comes to my will versus the greater good. Help me to seek Your will for my life. Always. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Chron 10:14 …and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 8:1 Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third….
These days I often pray, “All right, Lord. What do You want me to say today? What lesson is there in all these names?” God is so faithful to lead me, and with little to go on but names in this book, I’ve needed His guidance more than ever.
1 Chron 8:2 …Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth.
I believe that everybody has a story, and I think these lists of names support that position. Each name is a life. Each life is connected to others—wives, children, neighbors. They all played a part, large or small, positive or negative. They culminate in Jesus.
1 Chron 8:28 All of these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. It’s easy to feel small and insignificant in life. It’s easy to treat others as small and insignificant as well, but we all have a story and we all play a role in leading others towards You or away. Help us to move in the right direction—toward You. Help us to honor the stories of others. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 Chron 8:40 …All these were the descendants of Benjamin.
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 7:1 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron—four in all.
Reading through today’s list of genealogies put me in mind of the poem “The Dash.” A quick search produced the poem, labeled as a funeral poem, accurate but unexpected. The gist if the poem is that life happens in the dash, even though all the world will see are the dates of birth and death. So true.
1 Chron 7:6 Three sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker and Jediael.
And I am struck again by the thought that it is easy to make the right choice to follow Jesus when we keep our minds on eternity. It is easy to resist the pull of this world when faced with the cold reality of a headstone. Though it’s definitely not so easy when we are grinding through the day-by-day. 
1 Chron 7:13 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem—the descendants of Bilhah.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that You see all that happens in our dash and that You want for us an eternity with You. Help us to be ever mindful that this world is not our home. Help us to keep our eyes on You. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 Chron 7:30 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah.
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 6:31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there.
When I think back to the music associated with the worship services I’ve been a part of in life, it is a very varied history. I’ve heard mostly older church members in three-part harmony singing traditional hymns. I’ve heard a keyboard and a song leader with just the congregation to sing. I’ve heard modern radio songs sung by a praise band in worship to our Lord. 
1 Chron 6:32a They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built their temple of the LORD in Jerusalem….
And I’ve realized that for me, music is a crucial part of ministry, a crucial way to connect with and praise my Savior—from the gorgeous voices of the “professionals” to my not-so-tuneful yet heartfelt praise as I sing along. 
1 Chron 6:32b …They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank you for the musical trip down memory lane. Thank You that any joyful noise in praise of You is beautiful in Your sight. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Chron 6:33 Here are the men who served, together with their sons….
Have a blessed day.

1 Chron 4:9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”
Jabez is notable because, in a line of chapters that are nothing but names and connections, we get a little story about Jabez. Commentary says we don’t hear about him in any other chapter, but here, we hear about his prayer and God’s answer.
1 Chron 4:10a Jabez cried out to the God of Israel….
So what can we learn from Jabez? Cry out to God. Always. It is easy to whine and complain to others when things are bad, but at most, others can only commiserate. Take your troubles to God, and be specific. Jabez asks specifically for four things. He wasn’t vague or indirect about what he wanted and needed. Trust God. Jabez went to the source and asked specifically for what he needed. God heard him and granted his request 
1 Chron 4:10b …“Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” …
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. In the midst of all the genealogy, thank You for this story of Jabez. Help me to bring my troubles to You, to ask specifically for what I need, and to trust You. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Chron 4:10c …And God granted his request.
Have a blessed day.