A Call to Greatness

1 Kings 4:22-23 - Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, sixty measures of meal, Ten fat oxen, twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides harts, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl of choice kinds.

Have you ever stood in awe of someone. Have you ever thought, "Wow, to be that great!" Have you craved to have the success of someone else. If only I could be as good as ___________. If only I could accomplish what they have accomplished. If only I could make it to where they have. If only..... If only.... 

I spent some time this morning actually studying on 1 Kings 4:22-23. The word "provision" really caught my attention. I was astounded to read about what King Solomon needed for only ONE day, surely I could at least get to a fraction of that one day (a larger fraction than I currently contribute too...aka... us having provision for more than just our household).

Anyways... here are some of the numbers that I did the math on....

King Solomon needed for the Month:

• 310 fat oxen

• 620 cattle

• 3100 sheep

• 1 Cow = 1,600 servings of 4 ounces (1/4 pound)

• 1 Sheep = would feed 70.5 people at 1/2 pound serving each.

• 1 Ox = approx. same as 1 cow (maybe a bit more since it was a fattened ox) 

• 10 fattened oxen = 16,000 servings of 4 ounces

• 20 cattle = 32,000 servings of 4 ounces

• 100 sheep = 14,100 servings of 4 ounces

• Grand TOTAL: 62,100 servings of 4 ounces/day OR 31,050 servings of 8 ounces/day.

SO... IN ONE DAY.... How many people was King Solomon feeding.... well, let's just look at some of the numbers. 

According to WebMD, averaging out men (56 grams) and women (46 grams), we should get about 50 grams of protein/day. That is equivalent to 8 ounces of meat. 

SO... if all the meat alone was used for taking care of King Solomon's household (I'm sure maybe some of the cattle was allotted towards milk... but let's just say it was all for eating), King Solomon was given that provision to feed HIS household of 31,050 people PER DAY! That is pretty amazing!

I got to thinking... "Wow...if I could only be a fraction of that great. That would be pretty neat." I could not even fathom how great King Solomon was. As I sat and thought, I couldn't even fathom the great responsibility he had. Then, as always, the Holy Spirit was quick to correct me. 

His responsibility was extremely great and totally different than yours. A few things to consider... EACH has a different calling in life. Do your best not to compare your calling to someone else's. I have put seeds of greatness in everyone. YOUR gifts are different than the next person. YOUR goal should be to MAXIMIZE your OWN gifts & calling. It should NEVER be; "to be as good as ________," or "to accomplish as much as _____________." What if MY desire is for you to accomplish more than say ________________. If you set your goal merely on where you see them today and where you want to be today, you will miss it! You will miss my best. Focus on MY best. Focus on MY calling for your life!!

As we look at the greatness of King Solomon, we may have never desired to be "that" great. But... what about your neighbor? Your boss? The Joneses? Your best friend? Your uncle? A business associate? Are your sights on what they have accomplished? I challenge you today, reset your sights. Set your sights on what GOD would have you accomplish with your life? He did say in Ephesians 4:20 that He, is at work within us, is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams. 

Today.... allow your imagination to run! Can you focus on the calling God has for YOU to accomplish.  Because if you can, your highest prayers, desires & dreams can come to pass on this earth. He would not have placed them in your heart if they couldn't. YOU, my friend, were called to greatness! Your job? Seek HIM and find out exactly how you should accomplish the assignment that HE has set out for your life! 

#172 - "Stick with Me!"

Good morning! It's a blessed day and will be a blessed weekend! Today, PRAISE GOD is SUCH a GOOD day! It's GOOD FRIDAY! Today is the day that Jesus DECIDED to go to the cross for us, to suffer & endure the pain, knowing it was the only way that we may be able to enter in to heaven, knowing it was the only way that we may experience the FULLNESS of freedom! Praise the Lord for Jesus! Praise the Lord that He was WILLING to sacrifice for us, to give up His will & that He didn't just call a legion of angels to rescue Him off the cross. What selflessness! Fully man on earth, He sacrificed it all for us that we may have life. It is a good day. Actually here in Columbia, the weather is even representative of what it may have been on that day, overcast, cloudy, no sun visual in the sky. The great news? SUNDAY IS COMING! When our Jesus rose victoriously & defeated death, hell & the grave! He defeated Satan! He WON once and for all, and because of His victory, WE TOO can now experience victory! He defeated Satan for us and now, as believers, by just ONE Word, "JESUS", Satan is under our feet! PRAISE GOD! Thank you Jesus!

Well... let's get going...

Proverbs 22:12a - The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and him who has it...

Proverbs 22:17 - LISTEN (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge.

Proverbs 22:29 - Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 31:25 - Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

Where to even start?? "Stick with Me" is what I heard the Holy Spirit saying to me this morning. "Stick with Me." As I was reading through Proverbs, again amazed at how the Holy Spirit can string scripture together, and bring it together in a way that we have never seen before, though our eyes have read and re-read those very verses countless times. He simply is amazing!

I was interested first of all to notice that the Lord keeps guard over the man or woman who have knowledge, who possess knowledge. I thought, "Well, I want the Lord to keep guard over me!" Right? Isn't that an obvious thought. Of course we want the Lord to keep guard over us. Keep us safe. Keep us in a position of favor. Keep us, period. Keep us on His path, traveling the right way. Keep us in His will. Keep us moving in success, moving in divine favor, moving in accordance and in the TIMING of the Holy Spirit. Because "timing" can be pretty important, right?!

Aside from being in the Word, allowing the Word to speak to you, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you, I believe Proverbs 22:17 gets us some additional insight into gaining knowledge. "LISTEN to the words of the wise." Listening to the wise provides one avenue to gain knowledge. I find it interesting that it says, "LISTEN" to the wise. LISTEN! It doesn't say "TALK" to the wise, it says "LISTEN". Have you ever been in the presence of someone and EVERY time you are with them they are talking about themselves? They are talking and talking and talking, barely even taking a breath. Telling you everything they are good at, what they do, their background, where they came from, everything. You don't even have to ask them any questions, they will keep the "one-way" conversation going, if you will just not interrupt. Proverbs 22:17 reminds us to "LISTEN." I heard someone say once, "There's no need for me to talk, I already know everything I know. I may actually learn something if I listen." Good listeners are hard to find.

Gaining knowledge? Gaining wisdom? One beginning step, seek out some who is wise. They may possess wisdom in ONE aspect of what you are looking for, they may not be the "whole" package, but they may have wisdom in: business, raising kids, finances, the Word, marriage, relationships, communicating, writing, sewing, potty-training. They may not have it all. But seek them out for the wisdom that you may need at this time. It's called, "The BODY of Christ." We are a body for a reason, to help one another. Seek out someone who you can buy a cup of coffee, who you can just sit and LISTEN. As you do, you will be gaining knowledge.

One verse that I've always thought is neat, and used to think was impossible was Proverbs 22:29. Imagine, being so skillful in your trade that you stand before KINGS! You stand before world leaders! You stand before the President and the First Lady! You stand before your hero's in ministry. I was reminded this morning, on my path to gaining wisdom and knowledge, this is no longer something that is impossible! And the Proverbs 31 woman, ALSO rejoices over the future, maybe she rejoices over knowing that even THIS is a possibility for her! Standing before a King because of her gift? Wow! Just imagine. I was thinking this morning how amazing that it would be to stand before the Queen of England, to be in her presence and be called by name. Wow! What an honor that would be! That is when I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Stick with Me."

Ephesians 3:20 - Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]. 

MY FATHER will do "SUPERABUNDANTLY" more than I dare even ask or think? INFINITELY beyond my hopes or dreams. Standing before a King or Queen would be pretty amazing. WOW! But imagine being a "counselor" to them, a "friend!" WOW! That would be beyond my dreams. But, I can THINK it, so God can make it come to pass! Maybe YOU write or speak, make bags, design clothes, make baby items, golf, love training leaders, are a great cook, can turn wood into something amazing with your carpentry? This morning I thought about Prince William and his fiance, Kate, carrying around one of my books. To have a real PRINCESS reading a book that I write. That would be cool. And I'm sure just the media exposure alone, would be awesome for the book. Whatever it is for YOU, GOD can do what you could NEVER imagine! Whatever it is that you are skillful in, God can BRING YOU before KINGS! So START IMAGINING!

Have you always wanted to do something great? Deep in your mind you've thought, "Man, I just want to make a huge impact! I want to be different! I want to do something radically great! I want to change things for the better. I want to help people." Deep in your heart and mind, have you desired to be more than just average? Well.... I believe the Holy Spirit's word to you is what is was to me too.... "Stick with Me." Stick with the Holy Spirit. Stick with God. Stick with HIM! It is through HIM and HIS guidance that He will direct you to do what you are called to do, to do what you were designed for. He will bring you before GREAT MEN with your gift. So commit today to excellence. Commit to seeking wisdom and knowledge. And as the Holy Spirit said, "Stick with Me."

#112 - Floor Plans

Hello! I pray that your day has gone well thus far?! Today as I began reading in Proverbs & Psalms, the Holy Spirit directed me to read about the life of King Solomon. So we are going to take a trip to the book of First Kings today. Follow along with me in 1 Kings 3.

1 Kings 3:5,9,11-12 - In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, "Ask what I shall give you."..... "Give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge and rule this Your great people?" ....God said to him, "Because you have asked this and have not asked for long life or for riches, nor for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to recognize what is just and right, Behold, I have done as you asked. I have given you a wise, discerning mind, so that no one before you was your equal, nor shall any arise after you equal to you."

1 Kings 4:29 - And God gave Solomon exceptionally much wisdom and understanding, and breadth of mind like the sand of the seashore. 

As you read in 1 Kings, not only do you read how the Lord gives Solomon the wisdom that he has requested, but the Lord gives him much more. When Solomon's father, King David was reigning, it was told to him that his son, Solomon would reign in his stead and would be the one to build a temple for the Lord. A house for God. As you read in 1 Kings, you see where there was peace in the land, and the time had come for King Solomon to begin building the House for God. 


What I find quite exceptional is this, the LORD gave King Solomon the floor plans to build this magnificent house. Solomon did not make it up himself, but the Lord gave him the details, the measurements, the materials AND the people were in place that would do the work. Even just from a "timber" perspective, it says in chapter 5 verse 6, "For you know that no one among us can equal the skill of the Sidon men in cutting timber." King Solomon had in place not only the people to do the work, but the people who were CALLED and the BEST at doing each specific job. The men of Sidon were experts in cutting timber. They were known for the fine work that they did. 


Why do I say all this? Why did the Holy Spirit direct me to read about King Solomon this morning? I asked the same question and this was the answer that I got: 

I have solutions for the people in trouble. Just like laying out the floor plans of the temple, I will lay out floor plans to answer their problems. My desire is for my children to walk in peace & in blessing. Seek me & listen. I will provide the specific, detailed floor plans to answer your questions. 

We don't have to live in questions, in mystery, in wonder. We can simply ask, take time, listen, quiet ourselves in the presence of the Holy Spirit and expect the answer. I will be honest... there have been times in my life where I did not want the answer. I knew what the answer was, and I was not willing to do what I knew would be asked of me, therefore, I did not even ask. I still had up walls, I still had up barriers not allowing the Holy Spirit access to "change" me. I wasn't ready to change. I was holding on to this stubborn part of me that I wasn't ready to let go of. My heart just wasn't ready to let go. Though, I wasn't happy. I wasn't progressing where I wanted and at the pace I wanted, but my stubbornness was keeping me from getting the floor plans that I knew were readily available if I only asked. My mom always said I was VERY stubborn as a child. She and my dad prayed for me, "Lord, please let this stubbornness in Amy change for a stubbornness to serve You." I was most definitely a handful. 


Praise God, I have released my control. And even to a greater degree lately, not only receiving counsel & direction from the Holy Spirit in my life, but also, finally willing and ready to receive counsel from mentors in my life. Before, I was not ready to change, I had not embraced it and I was allowing fear to keep me where I was at. Praise God for the power of EXPECTATION. I had been expecting to change, and I have. I'm excited about the new path ahead. 


Do you need the right floor plans in your life? I know who has them. Are you ready to ask?

#98 - Obtain Favor

Good morning! Enjoying the nice sound of our fireplace.... and the heat that it is giving off! We had our AC/Heat unit checked last week to find that the circuit board was blown. :-( SO.... we are waiting for them to come out and replace it. Thankfully we were gone this weekend, and thankfully our upstairs heat works. When I woke up this morning, the downstairs was at a nice 58 degrees! Whooooo! Gives us a great opportunity to be THANKFUL for heat! :) SO... the boy and I will be bundled up today. 


Well... let's get started on the Word for today. 

Proverbs 8:24-35 - Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 31:26 - She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom... 

Esther 5:2 - And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight, and he held out to [her] the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the tip of the scepter. 

Favor. What a key thing to aspire to attain. Here we look at a few things.... we see that when we FIND WISDOM it allows us to draw forth & obtain favor from the Lord. How to we "find" Wisdom? As Proverbs 8 shows, we watch for it daily, we wait for it, we seek wisdom out. We also see that our Proverbs 31 friend has "obtained" Wisdom, she has found it, therefore she must have taken time to seek out wisdom, to find it. As I was reading and meditating on obtaining favor, I was brought back to thinking about Queen Esther. What a great risk she made of her LIFE. In Esther 5, one moment she is standing in the courts of the king, completely knowing that since she was NOT summoned by him, just by merely standing there could cost her her life. The queen in that time was only in the presence of the King if HE summoned her to be, she was not with him on her own free will. This day, Queen Esther risked everything, and stood in the inner court of the king's palace waiting for him to see her. 

Why did she do this? There was a decree in the land for Queen Esther's people to be killed, the WHOLE Jewish people to be killed. This would be a genocide. A whole nationality of people to be murdered. An extermination on all the Jews. And for "such a time as this", thankfully Esther was the Queen and was able to put herself before the King to be heard. A risk, yes. But as we see, she obtained favor in the sight of the king, and was able to come before him. 


If you notice in Esther 5:1, it starts off with "on the third day of the fast." Esther spent time fasting, getting before the Lord to obtain Wisdom. Wisdom leads to favor, and Esther obtained favor!


Listen to Wisdom + Watch for Wisdom + Wait for Wisdom = Finding Wisdom
Finding Wisdom = Obtaining Favor from the Lord


Proverbs 8 talks about obtaining favor from the Lord. He is the KING of KINGS. Sure, we can fast to obtain wisdom and ultimately favor, but PRAISE GOD we are not at risk of being killed when we go before the presence of OUR KING. The King of Kings, God Almighty! We can go before the King ANY TIME we have questions. We can seek out Wisdom and LISTEN to Wisdom ANY TIME and obtain it! 


For me personally, I don't always get the details of how things are going to turn out. That is part of walking out a life of faith. I have received instructions at times and when I ask specifically how things are going to go, or what the next several steps are, sometimes the Lord just tells me, "You are on the right path. Right now you don't need to know everything and the 'how to' for everything. Right now, all you need to know is you are doing exactly what you need to be doing. KEEP doing it. KEEP being diligent in this area. When the time is right, I will let you know the next steps to take, but you do not need to know them now because it is not time to take them." 


He sometimes gives me JUST ENOUGH information that I know I'm doing good, I'm on the right path, that He is pleased. I'm not really a "control" freak, so I don't feel a need to know everything and the details of how it's all going to work out, but it is a blessing to know that HE is working things out in my FAVOR. That by SEEKING WISDOM, I am obtaining FAVOR from my KING! :-) And do you know what that simple thing can do? Do you realize what FAVOR FROM THE KING can do? In the situation with Queen Esther, it can SAVE A NATION! It can save MILLIONS of people! Just from ONE PERSON seeking WISDOM and OBTAINING FAVOR from the King!  


What if the King has it in your calling to be today's ONE PERSON that will save a NATION or a people. What if GOD has the calling on your life to OBTAIN WISDOM that leads to FAVOR to accomplish the VERY BIG THING for your life? I obviously don't know what 'your calling' is, but I know that when you seek our King, when you receive Wisdom from our King, you will receive FAVOR and with FAVOR, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. With FAVOR nations can be changed! With FAVOR lives can be saved! With FAVOR, 'odds' don't matter because you are SUMMONED to come before the King. And the King will ask you, "What is your request? It shall be given to you."


Seek Wisdom. Obtain Favor.