2 Chronicles

I finally finished 2 Chronicles!  I read a Lent devotional every day and got me back in the habit of reading daily, and since Lent, I've kept up with finishing 2 Chronicles.  I typically read before bed, and I'm so happy to be doing this.  I would like to get to a place where I'm reading earlier in the day, but for now, this works.

• God appeared to Solomon and told him to ask for something
• Solomon asked for wisdom
• God gave wisdom and wealth because Solomon knew he needed God's help to rule
• "Not even the highest of heaves can hold him (God)." (2:6)
• Solomon builds a temple
• Much was covered in gold and carved and much detailed description in the 3rd chapter of the book
• Solomon has the temple built and the Ark brought in - God's Glory fills the place :)
• Solomon speaks to the people about god's work
• Then Solomon prays of discipline from God of prayer and repentance of how Israel will behave in the future
• Solomon asked in prayer for forgiveness and to hear their prayers
• Temple is given to God; sacrifices are made (large amounts of sacrifices) - joy & celebration
• "He is good; his love continues forever."
• The Lord says Solomon and Israel must follow his laws; repentance = forgiveness; disobedience = discipline
• Solomon also rebuilt towns
• Brought a wife from Egypt - with her own palace since David's was holy
• Queen of Sheba came with many people to see Solomon's wealth, success & wisdom - She didn't believe what she'd heard
• Sheeba  Queen gave many fancy gifts
• Solomon gave more gifts back to Queen of Sheeba and she returned home
• Solomon was brought many gifts; Solomon had a LOT of gold
• Solomon ruled 40 years and records were kept
• Solomon died and Rehoboan became king (Solomon's son)
• People asked Rehoboam to work them less hard than Solomon - Solomon's advisers (older leaders) advised him to oblige so they would serve him, but Rehoboam asked his friends (young men) and they said work them harder
• Israel turned against Rehoboam
• Rehoboam wanted to fight/war then, but God stopped it
• Rehoboam strengthens Judah
• Rehoboam has 18 wives, 6 slave women, 28 sons and 60 daughters - he spread his sons around and gave them wives
• Rehoboam built a strong city and stopped following God
• Shishak came to attack Jerusalem
• Rehoboam & Judah were srorry & God did not destroy them; he did make them servants - there was some good in Judah
• Israel & Judah fight under Abijah (Judah) and Jeroboam (Israel)
• Israel was against God; Judah remained with God and defeated Israel
• Asa was king of Judah - he destroyed the idols and there was peace
• Asa had a big army that won in way v. the Cushites
• Asa received a message that: God is with you when you are with him. If you look for him you will find him.
• People recommitted to God and Asa was faithful
• Israel attached Judah after 35 years with Asa as King
• Asa went to Aram for help instead of God and peace ended
• Asa became ill (foot disease) and asked doctors for help, but not God - then he died after 41 years as king
• Jehoshaphat, Asa's son become king
• Jehoshaphat is good, obedient and destroys idols
• Jehoshaphat builds a strong army
• King Ahab asks King Jehoshaphat to go to war with him, but Jehoshaphat says they must ask the Lord first
• The prophets come and tell them to attack, but Michaiah warns them they are tricking him into death
• Ahab disguises himself in battle but is hit with an arrow, he stays up in his chariot until sundown when he dies
• Jehoshaphat selects judges
• Lands came to fight Judah so Jehoshaphat asked the Lord - people came together & asked
• Spirit entered Jahaziel and said it was not their battle, but God's - Jehoshaphat just had to stand strong with his men
• The thanks God and praised him
• Jehoram, eldest son of Jehoshaphat, becomes king
• Jehoram kills his brothers and some leaders of Judah and followed Israel's way
• Jehoram married Ahab's daughter
• Group broke away from Jehoram
• Jehoram led them away from the Lord
• Prophet Elijah delivers Jehoram message: He is terrible & will become very sick
• Land attack Jehoram and took his sons and wives, except his youngest
• Jehoram was ill and in pain for 2 years until his death
• No one was sad when Jehoram died and he wasn't buried with kings
• Ahaziah, youngest son - because all others were killed - became king
• He ruled 1 year, was sinful and his mother encouraged bad - then he was killed
• When Ahaziah died, his mother, Athaliah, killed all of Judah's royal family
• Ahaziah's sister, Jehosheba, took his son Joash and hid him for 6 years
• Athaliah (the mother) ruled Judah
• Jehoiada, priest, husband of Jehosheba decided to take action in year 7
• Jehoiada gathered all the Levites to protect the temple and the king
• Joash becomes king at 7 years old
• Joash's grandmother, Athaliah, heard the news and was very unhappy - they took her out of the temple and killer her with the sword
• Joash had peace in Jerusalem and was good while Jehoiada (priest & his uncle) was alive
• Joash collected money and repaired the temple
• Johoiada died and was curried with kings for the good he did for Judah
• Joash became evil & Jehoiada's son, Zechariah, tells them, but they stone him to death
• Aramen army attacks and take Judah & injures Joash
• Joash's men kill him in his bed because he had killed Zechariah
• Joash wasn't buried with kings
• Amaziah is king and does good, but doesn't want to
• Amaziah pay Israel to join them in war, but a man of God tells him not to because they've turned against God and God can give more
• Amaziah does win the war without Israelites, but brings home Edom's idols and begins worshipping them
• Because he turned against God, Israel defeated Judah
• Uzziah becomes king and is good; he follows Zechariah's teachings
• Uzziah becomes power because God helps him with many victories
• Uzziah became prideful and was ruined; priests stopped him from unlawful acts in the temple and he got a skin disease and was ushered out
• Uzziah is buried with the kings
• Jotham is now king and he is good and victorious in battle with God's help
• Ahaz is king of Judah - he is bad and defeated many times
• Ahaz worshipped many idols and other gods
• Hezekiah is king; he was good and quickly purified the temple
• They celebrated with JOY! Praise! Worship!
• Hezekiah sent letters to the outer villages to bring folks back to celebrating passive, some laughed, some came
• Hezekiah command people to share their harvest to take care of the priests - they do!
• Assyria attacks, Hezekiah is smarter with God's direction
• Hezekiah dies; his son Mansseh is king
• Manasseh was 12 when he became King and did wrong - alters and idols everywhere
• Lord had Assyria attack and take him - then he humbled himself before God who heard him
• God allowed him to return to Jerusalem and they worshipped the Lord
• Amon is king after Manasseh dies and does very wrong - his officers kill him - the people then kill those people that killed him
• Josiah is king; he was good and removed other idols and alters
• The book of teachings from Moses is found and Josiah realizes how angry God is
• Josiah tears his clothes and humbles himself and God let his lifetime be peaceful
• Josiah celebrated Passover with the people like it hadn't been done in years (since Samuel)
• Josiah went to battle against Egypt and was shot by archers - he was taken back to Jerusalem and died
• They were very sad over his death and sad songs were written by Jeremiah
• Jehoahaz becomes king for 3 months, then Egypt takes him away and makes brother Eliakim king, but names him Jehoiakim
• Egypt makes Judah pay $
• Jehoiakim was bad and Babylon attacked and took him away
• Jehoiachin is king and is bad
• Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, made Jehoiachin's Uncle, Zedekiah, king
• Zedekiah was bad and didn't listen to the prophet Jeremiah's message from the Lord
• Lord sent prophets to warn them, but Judah didn't listen
• Lord became angry and Babylon came and killed and destroyed Jerusalem
• Babylon took those left alive as slaves
• Judah was empty 70 years as that is the number of years since the Sabbath was kept
• Persia then defeated Babylon
• Cyrus, king of Persia, is appointed to build a temple in Jerusalem

A few others things I wrote about:
People in the Bible are always having to remember.  Reminder themselves and recommitting to God.  I too do this often.  I forget, I come back, sometimes daily or more.  There is reassurance that I am not new to this, but I MUST KEEP COMING BACK!

Toward the end of this chapter, it started to be other countries that were now determining kings for Judah and no longer themselves. 

You Belong

I just finished this book. It reminds me of Chicken Soup books that I read in high school and college.

It had passages that came in God's amazing timing just when I needed to hear that message.  It had passages that made me think and journal.  It had passages that stirred me to change and passages that felt like a hug.

<3

Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church

I read this book in about 3 weeks.  It was the first booked I checked out electronically from our local library and I'm so glad I did.  It's been in my Amazon wish list for sometime now, and when I finally decided to learn how to use my iPad and the library, it was the first one I went for.  I was hesitant; I'm not nearly as progressive as this author is and wasn't sure how I would feel about it, but ultimately, reading this book, has made me love my church more. 

I've struggled with our church over the years, but I've always stayed.  I've wanted to be a part of the community and solution to issues, not the problem.  And this changed my view of the church.  I know the church is a broken system, but it broadened my definition of the church and reminded me to focus on Jesus, not the church. 

I am thankful for my community, which is mostly centered in my church.  I'm thankful for it's openness and acceptance and love as well.  And I now want to b e more brave myself in opening up, being honest and sharing truth, about Jesus and about myself in my community.  I think God can step in when we're vulnerable to make wonderful things happen.

1 Chronicles

This was a very hard book from the beginning for me to get into.  The last half the book or more went much better and was easier to follow.  The beginning is much about the lineage of the families and difficult to read and follow.  I did start out trying to write out who came from who, from who, from who and on down, but it was too hard and confusing.  So I stopped and started taking summarizing notes.  That is what follows.

• From Adam to Abraham
• Abraham's family
• Edomites from Seir
• Kings of Edom (before kings of Israel)
• Israel's family
• Judah's family
• Caleb's family
• Jerahmeel's family
• Caleb's family
• David's family
• Kings of Judah
• David's descendants after Babylonian captivity
• Other family groups
• Simeon's children; they attacked people and took land
• Reuben = Israel's first son, but it was taken from him for his sins
• Gad's children
• Reuben, Gad & Manasseh attacked Itagrites and God helped them because of their trust and prayer
• Assyrian king took East Manasseh; they were sinful
• Levi's children (Moses, Aaron, Miriam are descendants)
• David hired musicians for the house of the Lord
• Lots are thrown for land for Levites
• Issachar's children - many fighting men
• Benjamin's children
• Naphtali's children
• Manasseh's children
• Ephraim's children
• Asher's children
• Saul's family history
• people in Judah were captured and taken to Babylon
• The first to return to their land were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants
• The people in Jerusalem are listed
• There were gatekeepers for the temple on all sides - they were dependable
• Family history of King Saul
• King Saul was wounded in battle against the Philistines
• Saul asked his officer to finish killing him, but he refused, so Saul threw himself on his own sword & died
• Israelites ran away
• Philistines came in to take over and took Saul's head & armor
• People of Jabesh heard & bravely got Saul & his son's bodies to bury by a tree & they mourned
• Saul wasn't faithful & didn't obey the Lord
• David becomes King
• David captured Jerusalem & calls it the city of David - he rebuilds it
• David grown in strength & God was with him
• David had mighty and powerful soldiers who were known for their strength & victory (3)
• David was thirsty & his soldiers risked themselves for water, but he refused to drink it to honor them
• David's 30 chief soldiers are listed
• More and more warriors joined David in his strongholds against Saul - his army grew and grew
• David goes after the Ark of God to bring it back to them where they are
• The oxen carrying the Ark stumble & Uzzah touches the Ark to steady it & God was angry!
• Uzzah died right there as punishment
• David then fears the Ark and redirects it to Obed-Edom's house instead for 3 months
• Obed-Edom & family are blessed
• King of the city of Tyre sent supplies & people to build a palace
• David, at God's guidance, continues to defeat the Philistines
• David prepared a place for the Ark
• David sent the Levites as God had directed, to carry the Ark (they didn't want to do it wrong again!)
• The Ark was brought back with celebration and praise & many people
• David's song of thanks
• They left but held offerings, etc. as instructed in the teachings
• David lives in a palace, the Ark is in a tent so David tells Nathan
• Nathan hears from God that night, David will not build a house for Him - He reveals plans for his family's future to care for such things
• David defeated many nations & gave back to the Lord - silver, gold, etc.
• Ammonite king died & son took over - David sent officers to comfort them because the King had been loyal to David
• The new Ammonite king felt threatened by it and captured them & cut their clothes 7 beards to shame them
• David told them to stay in Jerico until their beards grew back
• Ammonite knew they'd angered David and prepared for war
• Joab went out with Israel's army to fight the Ammonites & their help the Arameans
• The Ammonites & Arameans ran away defeated and gathered more people & were defeated again
• The Arameans would no longer help the Ammonites
• Spring = war time; David stays behind & Joab goes out and destroys the Ammonites
• Philistine giants are killed
• Satan makes David count the people of Israel, which God said was wrong
• As punishment David must choose
• 3 years of hunger
• 3 months running from enemies
• 3 days terrible disease - he choose this one
• David chooses for it to not come from people
• Angel comes to destroy Jerusalem
• David goes to food to stop punishment for his people from sin - it is stopped with David paying for a threshing floor, building an alter and making sacrifices
• David makes plans for the temple & collects people/craftsmen & supplies
• God reminds him he is a man of war 7 can't build the temple, but Solomons will & he will have peace & rest
• The Levites
• The people of Gershon
• The people of Kohath
• The people of Merari
• The Levites' work in the temple - described
• There were groups of priests & they divided the work
• Oldest & youngest child families were treated the same in Levite groups
• Music groups
• The gatekeepers
• Summary of other leaders - they cared for the temple
• Army divisions were each (each with their own leader) responsible for a month (12 months)
• Each division had 24,000 men
• Family leaders, then commanders of 100 men, then commanders of 1,000 men
• Leaders of the tribes of Israel
• Joab began counting people but God was angry because they were and they didn't finish counting
• The King's directors
• David gives his specific plans, guided by the Lord, to Solomon to build the temple - he provided resources too
• The palace is not for people but for God
• The people came forward and gave gifts to be used in temple construction
• David's prayer about God (chapter 29:10-29)
• Solomon becomes King
• David dies - records of his works are kept

During the sections of family history, I took some general notes about observations I made during those sections.  Those follow below:

• No daughters are mentioned
• Only some mother's are listed
• Noted when they died without children
• Women identified with their father's (like surnames today?)
• Occasionally families were named with their trade or location
• It can be difficult for me to sit and read so much family history, but God loves & created each person named
• Family histories were kept

Forward Facing

Last night, as I reinstalled Ruth's car seat in our van, I decided to turn it forward facing.  She's heavy and old enough.  I had just been waiting for safety.  Keith had thought she was ready because her legr room was low, but she didn't mind.

This morning, she got into her car seat with a very hesitant look on her face.  I buckled her in and the "help me! help me!  help me" started.  That lasted nearly the whole way to the sitters.  Once she even said "pull over!" as she reached for me to pick her up.  She apparently isn't a fan.  She did okay while Caleb sat next to her to play, but when he got our for school it started all over again!

Be Nice

Elinore had a rough night. She continued to refuse to get into bed at bedtime and had a few time outs.  She was teary when I finally got her into bed.  We started to talk about what happened and what we could do different along with I'm sorry and I forgive yous.

That's when she told me she just wishes she could be me sometimes.  "Why?" I asked.  Because I want people to know I'm nice too.

And my mama heart melted in love for this child and hear heart. 

We talked about she is kind often, and we are all mean sometimes, myself included.  (Her brothers give me constant reminders of how mean I am there!  Us mean moms!  ;) )

I told her if she wants people to thinks she's nice to make choices that are nice and things will take care of themselves.

<3

This morning Elinore wanted to play witch.  She wasn't being very kind and she was furious she couldn't hold her broom and her stuff.  She is a witch and needed a broom to fly of course.

Then, she needed a pot to stir her potions and such.  We didn't have a big enough one so she told Grandma she needed to help make one.  Grandma wasn't so sure about that creation, but Elinore reassured her we had lots of wood in the basement to build it with.

No pot was built.