my God, You test the heart...

1 Chronicles 29

David offers his own precious metals and expensive material things for the building of the Temple of God. As king, he asks his people to do the same - and they did. They offered "their own" silver, and gold, and precious jewels to be used for the building of the Temple. David bursts into praises as he describes getting to watch the people offer these things to God willingly...

9: Then the people rejoiced for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

14: But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of Thee, and of thine own have we given Thee.

17-18: As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy Thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto Thee.

O LORD God of Abraham, Issac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the hearts of Thy people, and prepare their hearts unto Thee.

It's so crazy how we tend to cling to our material goods and money when it comes to God's work. I find myself far too caught up in "I need this" and "I want this", and find that I've wasted money over and over before I even realize it. (sidenote: actually one of the first reasons I stopped watching TV - commercials and their influence on me, and the fact that even the shows themselves were becoming advertisements).

That said - "I'm preaching to myself here". It's so easy for me to justify throwing money away on things I "absolutely have to have" - and then days later I'm thinking "why did I buy this?".

However, when it comes to giving money, time, and things for God's work, do I find it as easy to hand it over willingly? I'm not sure that I do - not as much as I'd like.

I just think it's so subtle - because when I want something, the "think about the budget" of my conscience seems so quiet, and the "OOooooooh cool! I will love having this!" is SO LOUD.

On the other hand, it seems that anytime I feel prompted to give something extra for a ministry or something - the "WELL ARE YOU SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE BILLS?" all of a sudden finds a way to scream instead of whisper. Or the "are you sure you have time? You are so busy" taps me on the shoulder and tries to create stress of rushing, thereby sucking the joy out of even offering my time.

But you know, when I intentionally push through those naggings, and offer whatever it may be - because I sincerely wanted to - there's this sweetness on the other side of obedience with a willing heart:

Lord, you give me each breath; thank You for helping me realize it's time I can give back to You.

Lord - every dime I have is a gift from You, given to me to use for Your glory. Forgive me for the times I forget that it's all Yours.

Lord - all these things that grow old, rust, break and lose my interest seem so important when desire is high - but the waning of my interest over time just reminds me

You are the only lasting joy.

...keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the hearts of Thy people, and prepare their hearts unto Thee.

Long before I knew His name...

Long before I knew His name,
Or what He’d done for me –
He had written down my name
In a book of eternity.

Long before I took a breath,
Or opened blinded eyes,
He had a plan to open them
To the truth of Jesus Christ.

There’s nothing that I could have done
To merit His love for me.
All my efforts had fallen short;
I was His enemy.

But He whispered out His name to me,
In patience through all time,
And called me to His blessed Son;
Now I'm His and He is mine.

He’s my Savior, my Redeemer,
Precious Lord, and my Friend
And He covers with His blood,
All mistakes and every sin.

He took the shame and sorrow,
In my place so I could be
Forever in the Presence
Of that blessed Trinity.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
In perfect harmony,
And Jesus' death upon that cross,
Is the door for you and me.

There's nothing we could have done,
To reach His throne above,
So He provided His own way,
And mingled righteousness with love.

By faith alone our eyes will see,
The gift given by His grace –
And through His Word He shows us,
His glory in Jesus’ face.

Peace and labor...

Typed these up to read during the day at work since I'm struggling to stay in His peace...

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
~ John 14:27

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
~ Romans 13:15

The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. ~ Psalm 29:11

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
~ Psalm 34:14

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: ~ Psalm 39:12

Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
~ Psalm 83:1

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. ~ Psalm 85:10

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
~ Isaiah 26:3

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
~ Isaiah 55:12

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
~ Mark 4:39

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace,
~ Mark 5:34

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
~ Luke 1: 78-79

Listened to:

On the way to work:
Genesis audio Bible; Abraham laughed in his heart and responded that Ishmael could be the chosen son, because he did not believe that it was possible for he and Sarah to have a child; God corrected him and restated his original plan. Even in our belief we have unbelief... Lord help my unbelief.

At work:

Labor Not for the Food that Perishes - John Piper

Listening to today..

On the way to work:
God at War - Dr. Erwin Lutzer

At work:

Jesus is Precious Because We Yearn for Beauty - John Piper

Reminded me of:

Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.
~John Keats