Highlight from Sunday's sermon: Great detail was given to recording how Solomon's temple was built--many verses on the outer structure and a sudden message from God to Solomon to obey My commands, walk in them, and then back to the inner structure of the temple.  The temple was never in the running for the Seven Wonders of the World.  Its glory was not in its structure, but in God's presence.  God's promise to Solomon was (paraphrased) "If you obey my commands, I will be the God of Israel and will never forsake them."  Solomon, in fact, did not obey, and half the kingdom was wrested from him, and God indeed did scatter His people and abandon His temple.

So, what's the relevance?  I have been spending so much effort on the structure of routines.  The purpose is to glorify God through being a mom.  To teach our children His Word and ways, to build relationship, to honor my husband, to redeem the time so that they do not slip away before I know it.  Recently certain events have upset my routines, and I keep coming back to them, but I've been reminded that even routines can become an idol or a source of stinking pride.  Yes, structure is good, but if God's presence is not here, then the routines produce abject slavery.  I also need to obey God in every circumstance, not my routines.

Dear Heavenly Father, I confess that I would rather follow a set of rules than to worship You--to master my little world than to love the Master of the entire world.  I turn my heart towards You, knowing that unless You turn my heart also by Your Holy Spirit, my turning is futile.  Please work in my heart to be true to You--to unite my heart to fear Your name.  Place Your Word in my heart, and your love in my heart, that when I am stretched and jostled, that Your Love and Holiness would spill out.  I do not like being jostled.  I don't like to be stretched, but I ask that You would sanctify me according to Your Word.  Open my eyes to see wonderful things in Your Law, and in You.  Help me to know You, and open doors for me to serve and worship You, and then enable and empower me to do it.  Please help me to be faithful and eat only what is necessary for my body's health, and please help me to love my husband and children wisely, and please help me to find a way to be kind to the needy and to build your church.

Love,
Lori