June 2021 – Page 2 of 3 – Sonshine's Journal

June 20, 2021June 20, 2021

What is in your foundation?

Eccl 7 – 12 After 12 whole chapters of pithy sayings, Solomon finally concludes that all that he has found has little of any value. Only what is done for God will pass the test of time and eternity. He poses the last question by asking us to choose what we will build on. Eccl 12:13-14 Wisdom teaches us that “each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

Paul echoed that same counsel in the first book to the Corinthians, chapter 3. He reminds them that no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. He is the pure and lasting foundation that will weather the storms of life. He is the rock upon which we should build our faith because when the storms of life come, the materials we have chosen will prove to be that which lasts or will fail. He also reminded the Corinthians that each work will be plainly seen and be tested by fire. If we have chosen the suitable materials, they will withstand the fire on “that day” of judgment.

Both authors remind us that what we choose today will either last through eternity or be burned up, even though we will be saved.

What materials have you chosen to add to your foundation?

June 19, 2021June 19, 2021

Why are you downcast? Trust in God!

Eccl 3: The psalmist asked, “why are you downhearted?” [Ps 42:5] The “Preacher” answers that question by saying grace and peace are not in increased possessions or wealth. If you want grace and peace, believe God, take Him at His Word and trust Him in the plan He has designed for you. True wisdom is seeing life from an eternal perspective beginning with acknowledging God. [Prov 3:5-6]

In Chapter 3, the Preacher revealed God’s eternal purpose by using the illustration of “time.” It gave the reader a beautiful picture of God’s sovereign order. In chapters 4-6, he says something has gone awry and shows us how sin has brought about chaos. The evidence is the tears of the oppressed that have no comforter. But, in God’s eternal plan, He sent His Son to be our comforter!

A simple piece of advice: two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. Who can you praise for their help? Another piece of advice: rivalry does not produce lasting friendship. Instead, it creates enemies.

The words of Jesus come back to us. Want to know God’s eternal purpose for your life? Hunger and Thirst for His Word, and you will be satisfied.[Matt 5]

June 18, 2021June 18, 2021

Planning…

Prov 27-29. What about Today or Tomorrow?

Are you a planner of each new day and what you expect to complete? Listen to wisdom: Prov 27:1 “Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” This wise counsel is similar to James 4:13-16 “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. You ought to say instead, If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that. But as it is, you boast about your arrogant plans. All such boasting is evil.”

God alone knows the future.

Again another reminder: Prov 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.” Also; Ps 19:13 “Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.”

To rewind this thought: one should trust in the Lord for each new day and each new step. To presume is sin when we do not put God first in our planning and trust Him to direct us where we are to go and with whom we are to be, and what we are to be doing.

Is God first in your heart and in your planning or do you just jump out and begin your day?

June 17, 2021June 17, 2021

The Fool and the Sluggard

Proverbs 26. Chapter 26 is often referred to as the “book of the fool and the book of the lazy,” sayings from Solomon but recorded by the Hezekiah’s wise men. The first half of Prov 26 refers to the fool and the other verses speak to the lazy. One often wonders what transpired in his courtroom and could it be that these wise sayings he gleaned from seeing or hearing both in his presence?

The fool is a fool because he has rejected the wise counsel of him who is wise. (1) Why would you take counsel from the fool? To do so is your folly. (2) Why would you try to train the fool by trying to lead him or counsel him? He only learns the hard way (by whip or rod). (3) Why would you send the fool on a journey with a message when you know that it will either be lost or rehearsed incorrectly?

Then there is the lazy individual who refuses to work and Paul spoke to these individuals. Paul reminded them that he, who is lazy and won’t work, should not benefit from the toil of others. The lazy man/woman is not a seeker of wisdom. He is called the sluggard! He is habitually lazy! We have met people like this who think they are wise but their attitude and behavior, and yes sometimes, their countenance reveals their lot in life.

We can glean much from Solomon through the words he spoke as a wise man himself. Take heed to this counsel today.

June 16, 2021June 16, 2021

God Sees the Heart

2 Chronicles 8; 1 Kings 9 Solomon had the world’s riches at his beck and call, as well as all the wisdom that God gave him. Interesting beginning, but stay tuned. Here is a man that started right but didn’t follow his advice. How often are we like that? We know the truth, we know what is right, write about it, talk about it, and then turn right around and do the opposite.

God gave Solomon this instruction: “You must serve me with integrity and sincerity, just as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations.” Note: you must not you might like to think about this, but it is a command. Not only that, but God warned him: “But if you or your sons ever turn away from me, fail to obey the regulations and rules I instructed you to keep, and decide to serve and worship other gods, then I will remove Israel from the land I have given them, I will abandon this temple I have consecrated with my presence,” End of story, it happened…but we aren’t there yet. Right now it is the ‘honeymoon” stage, and all is well.

Do you wish to remain in the honeymoon stage? Me too, but God has His way to test our hearts to see if what we say is what is in our heart. Where is your heart?

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021

God is Calling…

Psalm 134; 146-150 Praise the Lord

One thought runs continuously throughout these psalms, which is to praise the Lord! That is how we find peace in the midst of all that is going on in this sin-filled world. The psalmist is aware of God’s place in the redemption of His people and calls them to praise Him. Ps 148:14 “And He has exalted the horn of His people, The praise of all His saints––Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him.” [Ps 148:14]NKJV

Three times the Lord has brought His people out of captivity. Out of Ur, Abram came to Canaan and heard the promise: I will give your descendants this land—but they squandered it. So, God sent them into Egypt for 390 yrs. of captivity. Then God called them and they returned to the land. Many years later, they squandered that promise again. So God sent them for 70 yrs. into Babylonian captivity. But, as He had done in the past, He returned them to the land. Many, many years later, the Jews were scattered around the world because they refused to submit to God’s plan. At the end of God’s perfect timing, He sent them back to the land in 1948. How patient is our God.

Remember this promise: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” [1Pet 2:9]

Give Him praise!

June 14, 2021June 14, 2021

It is Time…

Ps 136 and 2Chron 6-7 God Calls—we follow.

Turned on a dime is a phrase we use to point to when all of life changes—in a moment in time. The Israelites point to Egypt as that point when all of life changed, and they began to follow God. Over and over they remind themselves of that moment. God called, and they followed. Centuries later, Jesus came; He called and said, “follow Me.” Some did, and their lives forever were changed; others ignored or refused, and they missed the greatest blessing ever. We call that a watershed moment in which they made a choice and their lives were forever changed. If you are a believer in Christ, you can point to that moment when all of your past was washed away as you crossed the Red Sea or the Jordan River. You heard God’s call, and you left your Egypt and followed God. You did it because His mercy endures forever. You did it because Egypt was a land of death, and following God meant life forever.

Share with us your watershed moment when you chose to follow Jesus.

June 13, 2021June 13, 2021

A Simple Method of Prayer

2Chron 5 and 1Kings 8

What kind of prayer do you offer when you sit before the Lord? Solomon covered all the bases as he prayed for himself and the nation, each time seeking God’s forgiveness. As he stood, he reminded God of the need for Him to see and heal. He asked God to “respond favorably to your servant’s prayer and his request for help, O Lord my God. Answer the desperate prayer your servant is presenting to you today.” [1Kings 8] Is this how we pray for our families, our nation, and our leaders? Are our prayers desperate for God to work? Why not stop right now and read through Solomon’s prayer and insert your name, family, and nation and step back and see God’s cloud descend. Here’s a simple way to start your prayer: ACTS. A stands for adoration, C stands for confession, T stands for thanksgiving, and S stands for supplication.

As you close your prayer God’s cloud of blessing will be upon you and yours.

June 12, 2021June 12, 2021

The Temple

2Chron 4, 1Kings 7 If only we had had a cell phone camera as we read these chapters written by Chronicler and Kings about the very detailed steps to complete the Temple. And what a wonder covered in precious stones and gold! The chronicler has given us a ringside seat to view the expanse of this magnificent building through his word pictures as he spells out the purpose, which is to worship God and He alone. But that isn’t how the story will go, because while Solomon was busy building this, he also completed a home for his wife, the Pharaoh’s daughter. Mark that verse in your Bible, for this was the beginning of the turning away of Solomon’s heart from the Lord to the false gods. We’ll come back to that in later chapters.

The physical Tabernacle and the Temple were to draw men to God, yet that must be the Holy Spirit’s work. It isn’t a beautiful wood structure, stone, and gold, but we, God’s people become His Temple by the Holy Spirit’s work. “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? [1Cor 3:16]

When the Holy Spirit indwells you, you are now God’s Temple. Has He done that good work in you?

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021

What will people remember?

2 Chron 2-3, 1Kings 5-6 There is a church in a city in Florida that has sat for years untended and unfinished. Whoever was in charge did not seek peace, and today the courts are in control with no resolution. Recalling that image and the backstory is so unlike the story before us today.

David’s life and all he had done sent a powerful message to King Hiram of Tyre. Although a pagan king, he noted that the God of Israel was the God of the heavens. David’s life had left a powerful message that those who seek the Lord will be blessed and be a blessing to others. Although David was a man of war, he sought peace with his people and those nations surrounding him. James’ words come to mind: “And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” [Jam 3:18]. That is the backstory of how God prepared for the new Temple and how God opened the doors of heaven to bless Solomon with materials and men to build it.

There is a life lesson here for us. God uses men to do the work, but first, He prepares the heart. We may not be the one who sees the fruit of our work, but others do. What message will my life leave for those who will follow me?