Done with the Kings...

Talk a bout a bummer..the subscription was lost when I was forced to switch to google blogger...so you're gettin this only because I pushed it out - so if you want to keep up with the blogs, you gotta subscribe...the tab over there on the right and then step 2, verify and you're good.

So, I'm done with Kings and am well into I Chronicles. A few questions/thoughts...

• In the book of Kings, when there is a final summary of the king's actions, there is a statement that says, ..."are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?". Is this a literal book somewhere? Why does it end in a question? Why was King David's ending summary different than all the rest? It says [I Chron 29:29] As for King David...they are written in the records of Samual the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer".
• A statement that described each of them also..."he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord" or "he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord". How will you be described?
• Ejijah was provided for by ravens, was used to make a dead boy alive, won a throw-down over 450 Baal prophets on Mt Carmel...then was praying to die in fear when threatened by a woman.......wha?
• What happened to the 100 prophets hidden in the caves?
• 'Yet' and 'however' were used alot to describe half-heartedness.
• Wicked,wicked men
• "They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless".
• Sad to read the destruction of Jerusalem and Judah - the place and the chosen people - the "remnant". The moral decline, idol worship and turning from the Lord sounds alot like....America.
• King David built his own palace, then homes for his wives and children...then he thought of the ark of the covenant of the Lord sitting in a pitched tent. Huh.

refinement

I have been going through a difficult time with one of the disaster teams I lead. I had to remove a couple of folks from leadership. Since then, Christmas Eve no less, I have been under investigation due to the false allegations of stealing, record falsifying, unethical business practices and so on by the two folk. It has been such a HUGE strain on both Tim and I. (Bear with me, I’ll get to the point in a moment). We volunteer our time, for years to this cause- medical care to those after a devastation. Some of the accusations….uugh! It hurts my soul. I have TRIED to keep a faithful testimony throughout all of this as I interact with a committee and several on that committee personally. I love them. I love Jesus. I want them to repent from their sin and love Jesus. So I keep trying..and crying to my husband.

So one day I finally decided, God if I’m not doing this for you, then there is no point. So if I’m doing this for You – then I better get about it more DIRECTLY with some of these folks. "Hey____ do you know that you are held accountable to God for your family as you are the head of your family? I love you man, take them to church, go to God”. Also with a lady who knows the path to Jesus but isn’t ready “to give up what I know I’ll have to”…..we discussed letting God determine what needs to be surrendered after you’re His…no judgements..just go to God.
This week, this same lady blew me away. I didn’t think I was making any headway in her seeing my relationship w/ God until she said that she assigned a ring tone to me on her cell. Really? Sweet, what is it? Avalon’s…”Testify the Love”. My eyes well up just recalling it. Thank you Father for this encouragement. My walk does make a difference in someone’s life b/c lately it sure hasn’t felt it. But that’s why we don’t operate on feelings. My pastor tommy last night preached on the series Giants In Our Life, this sermon on discouragement. For me. God repeated one word to me over and over. REFINEMENT. REFINEMENT. This is for your good Karen and My glory.
Please pray for D. Please pray for L. And please pray for my Papa. I shared my faith with him over a week ago and he said I don’t believe in God or Jesus the way you and your grandma do. Yes, this is the same man who had a heart attack and left against orders from the ICU.

Thanks for hearing me out.

Another day gone by....