In Color

WHO ARE YOU?

In my scripture reading, I am currently bogged down in a list of names that spans 9 Chapters (I Chronicles 1-9). In times like these, I wonder what is the benefit of reading such scriptures. I know that "all scripture is God-breathed and useful...", but what good can come from trudging through a list of names, most of whom have no other information about them. One benefit is that I like the idea of our second son having a name that has a good meaning in Hebrew, so these chapters have plenty to choose from. It's just too bad that most of them are names like Bakbakkar, Ebiasaph, and Meshelemiah. Occasionally I come across one like Caleb, that not only sounds good, but whose character was an outstanding one. Unfortunately, in Caleb's case, his name is literally translated, "DOG". Two other possible meanings are "fat" and "milk". Why couldn't Caleb mean, "The Lord is my Rock".
Apart from name ideas, there is a benefit to reading this list. First and Second Chronicles was written after the exile. It contains many of the same stories as First and Second Samuel and First and Second Kings, except this account focuses only on Judah, the Southern Kingdom, the kingdom that was continuously ruled by a son of David.
Chronicles was written to people who had just returned from foreign lands, serving foreign kings and learning about foreign religions. In Exile, they were the fringe folk, the outcasts. They had no history, no roots, and no anchor. For 70 years they lived this way, but now they have returned. They have come back to the place where they belong. But though they were in their homeland, they didn't know who they were. I Chronicles gives them their roots back, it provides them with an anchor. Not only were they given their identity as a race, but their identity as God's people.
Do you know who you are? What is your identity? Can you look back through your geneology and see a people who have been shaped by God? Even if you can't, you will be able to trace a spiritual geneology. Look through the Bible to see how God worked through the lives of countless millions, and see how the faith of Abraham has been passed down through the millinea to you.

Humility in Leadership

In our Seekers group, I expressed how weak my prayer life is. It seems that my prayer life is always one of the biggest weak points in my life. This morning I spent a little time in prayer, then I wondered why it is that prayer is so difficult for me...and I think I have an answer.

If anyone were to ask me if I felt competent as a youth minister, I would probably answer no. In my head, I know that real ministry is only possible through God's power, and that even the best youth ministers are by nature incompetent. I have been around enough youth ministers to know that I am no where close to being able to be considered among the best.

But while I may say that and a large part of me believes that, my poor prayer life reveals that at my core, I think I can handle it on my own.

Reflect on the differences in Solomon and his son Rehoboam.

When Solomon was a young king, God gave him the opportunity of naming whatever he wanted, and having that wish granted. Solomon answered, "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. ⁹ So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

To this day, Solomon is remembered as the wisest king the world has known. His rule was the golden age of Israel. There was peace on all borders, people came from all over the world to hear his wisdom, his subjects delighted in him, and everyone enjoyed tremendous prosperity.

But then he had a son.

Rehoboam, when faced with an early dilemma, rejected the advice of the elders and did not seek God's counsel, but instead, listened to his own desires as voiced through his peers.

During Rehoboam's reign, he was stripped of most of the kingdom, Jerusalem was sacked, the Temple was stripped of all it's treasure, and sin and corruption were rampant.

Solomon knew he was incompetent, and through him, God ruled in glory and power as his kingdom flourished.

Rehoboam thought he was competent, and his incompetence was made obvious to the world as his kingdom dwindled and corroded.

A good leader must be humble.

A good leader must trust in God.

A good leader must be a man of prayer.

As I think about what qualities I would like the next youth minister to have, there are many, but the one at the top, is that he needs to be a man of prayer. Anyone who relies on God to get him through each day, can lead this group in ways you couldn't even imagine.

I will leave you with a couple of quotes from the Bible to reinforce what I just said.

(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) Numbers 12:3

You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
2 Samuel 22:28

"Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son." 1 Kings 21:29

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD...I have heard you, declares the LORD. 2 Kings 22:19

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. Psalm 18:27

Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:12

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. Luke 1:52

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:11

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10

Our God is the God of ___________.

I Kings 20
²³ Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, "Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they...

²⁸ The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, "This is what the LORD says: 'Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.' "

As I read this passage, I wondered if I was guilty of making the same false assumptions about God. Do I trust God's power in every situation? Do I trust God's power to transform every type of person? Do I trust that he can really transform me into the likeness of Christ? Unfortunately I can't answer these questions the way I would like to. I know that in my head that God is the Lord of all creation, but I don't live like He is. Lately, my vision for my own life as well as my vision for others is escaping depravity. That's not good enough. God promises that we will be transformed into the likeness of Christ. That's what I should be striving for. That's what I should be calling others to.

Finding my "GIFT"

My first time at this so bare with me. I have spent alot of time trying to find my "GIFT". You know in the church I wanted it to be that I could sing well no such luck. I have watched lots of women in the church and idenfied theirs and I came to realize I just don't have one. So I thought will just find one in someone else that I can learn to do. Which brings me to tell Brian your comment on LeEllen's blog hit it right.They are who I want to be when I grow up also. When I started back to church I was very insecure about being there. I did not feel I should be there because of the things I had done and had been gone for so long.I actually would walk in and try to go straight to a seat so maybe nobody would say to much to me. Well Troy Church Of Christ is the wrong place to try that. Now this is all theory but I think I have The Smiths figured out I think they watch and look for the people who need help. The reason I say this is because every time I turned around there she was. She was inviting me to stay for the youth stuff at church and at her house she was right along beside me the whole time my first trip to Celebration. And before you knew it I was no longer a visitor I was a member. It was not me looking to find someone to go sit with people were looking for me I had a purpose I was needed and along about the same time I was feeling all this new found confidence I noticed she was not around as much. Well turns out I think she figured her task with me was complete and she had moved on to someone who needed her more. Which turns out is exactly how I let myself become a part of this family all I really wanted was to be needed. I have made a vow I will stop trying to find my gift and just make up one I will watch for people who look insecure about being at church and I will talk to them and go sit with them.Anyway how hard is it to sit with somebody I can be good at that I think maybe even great. Thank you so much for all you have done. Turns out I have let you know you have another "GIFT" besides you sing like butter melting,teacher, leader, friend we could go on. I just want you to know I am stealing one. Traci Orr

C.O.L.E.'s Foundation

Hey guys,

I was recently surfing the web and came across a website called C.O.L.E.'s Foundation. The address is http://www.colesfoundation.com/ and I encourage you all to go there and read about this little boy and join in their mission. If you go to Prayer Team at the top of the page and click on become a member they will pair you up with a family who has a child suffering from an illness such as cancer. The kids have websites where you can read about them and leave comments of encouragement. So you will be able to pray for this child and their family, and let them know you care. Its not hard and doesn't cost a penny. The power of prayer is great.

Day 4

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:19-20
19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Prayer:
God, There’s nothing like knowing You. Thank you for revealing Jesus to me. I praise you for the love you have for me. Thank you for making a way for peace. Bless me today to continue to make peace in this world. Make peace in my heart and in my relationships, especially with those closest to me.

Application:
Make sure you are at peace with God today. Do whatever it takes to be at peace with your family and your friends. Make amends.