201st Week, II Kings Chapters 5-9 (Click on the Title for Video Introduction)

 Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, II Kings Chapter 5

II Kings 5

Verse 13

Jane Jones

Verse 13:  But his servants caught up with him and said, “Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t you have done it? So why not this simple ‘wash and be clean’?”

THOUGHT

Why do we think that everything great that comes from God is huge, impressive, hard and heroic?

Obedience to God begins with humility. These first five chapters have been such great lessons on humility. We must believe that His way is better than our own. We may not always understand His ways of working, but by humbly obeying, we will receive His blessings. We must remember that (1)God’s ways are best; (2)God wants our obedience more than anything else;  (3)God can use anything to accomplish His purposes.

The only thing that Naaman had to do to have his leprosy washed away is similar to what we must do to have our sin washed away -- humbly accept God’s mercy. We need to be humble before the Lord. Don’t let your reaction to the way of faith keep you from the cure you need the most.

In Chapter 5, the little girl’s faith led Naaman to have his leprosy cured. God had placed her for a purpose, and she was faithful. Where has God put you? No matter how humble or small your position, God can use you to spread His Word. We need to look for opportunities to tell others what God can do. There‘s no telling who will hear your message.

“The humble heart honors others.”

PRAYER

Lord, we thank You this week for the lessons taught on being humble before the Lord.  We pray that from this day forward we can grow in humility and servant-hood for You.  Please be with all the Salt Shakers. You know their needs individually. Please grant them peace and comfort in their time of need. AMEN

Tuesday, II Kings Chapter 6

II Kings 6

Verse 17

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 17:  And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.”  Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

THOUGHT

Elisha was such a man of faith. The Holy Spirit surrounded him each and every moment. Praise God for Elisha. He knew that with God there was more life, and that all we have comes from Him. I think this verse is such a great example for us and our faith. 

Many times we are afraid of the enemy because we walk by sight and not by faith. When things get us down and seem so insurmountable, that is when we need to realize that the Lord is right there with us. He is there to prosper us and give us hope and a future. As in this verse, sometimes we just need to open our eyes or sit in reverence and reflect what is right before us. God blesses us with more than we can see, feel, or even imagine. 

If the suffering is just too much and overwhelming, please wait. The Lord is great and faithful. Your path will be revealed; your resources are there. He will never forget you. If in your struggle, the vision of God is still clouded with doubt, just remember that “God is ever present”. You are the one that may be leaving God completely out or just not opening your eyes and your heart.

PRAYER

Father God, help us to look each and every day for Your greatness and Your faithfulness in all things. Remove the eyelids of our eyes that are made up of doubt, rejection of Your ways, turning from You and thinking that there may be something bigger and better somewhere else. May our thoughts, actions and words be a reflection of our total surrender and focus of Your love in our lives. In the Name of Jesus. AMEN

Great is Thy faithfulness, “O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, the compassion, they fail not;

As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

“Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.”

UNTO ALL OF US!!  

Wednesday, II Kings Chapter 7

II Kings 7

Verse 9

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 9:  Then they said to each other, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news, and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.”

THOUGHT

We must make a stand and do it right now. I was criticized at work for thoughts that I would post which shared either God, Christ, or Scripture. I have had to take them from the little bulletin board by the time clock and very clearly post them in my office. I have a strong prayer group that prays each week for our company, physicians, staff, new policies and then some personal crisis, illness or family problems. We may be professing our faith in the privacy of my office but the LORD IS THERE, and employees know what is going on. 

The Joy of the Lord and His Saving Grace needs to be shared with all. Let us not hide our beliefs or the Light of Jesus.  Let us put them right out there and be proud to have Him as our Savior and King. It is wrong to keep it from others just as the Lepers realized. The steps to salvation cannot wait until later. Each one needs to know now!! 

Is there someone that you know that needs to know about Christ? I challenge each of you to share and wait no longer. The lepers moved from giving up and giving in to getting OUT. Sharing the good news helped to save the city. We are living in a day of good news. We are here not to give in or give up but to get OUT!

PRAYER

Father, may we each give You our all. Take any timidity from us and make us secure in Your love to share with those who know You not. Place people before us who need to learn of You and Your saving grace. Give us scripture passages that may be needed, just the right thoughts and words and prayers for those sheep who need to come into Your flock. Keep us faithful to this purpose and focused on the great commission, “That all may come to the saving grace of Jesus the Christ”. I pray for the day when “every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.”  The Greatest Treasure is for us who choose HIM NOW!!  Thank You for the GIFT!! In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN

Thursday, II Kings Chapter 8

II Kings 8

Verse 11

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 11:  He stared at him with a fixed gaze until Hazael felt ashamed. Then the Man of God began to weep.

THOUGHT

I have learned in my lifetime to ‘Never say Never’. We do not know how wicked our hearts really are. How many times do we say, “I will never do that. That will never happen to me. My children will never act like that.  I will never insult or deny God.” I was so wrong to judge others when I was younger. 

The devil is such a strong enemy that he can turn us around in the opposite direction so quickly. When Heather was in the 2nd grade she mocked a teacher and was sent to the hallway. (Sorry Heather for using this as an example, but it is a good one.) Well, I never thought that my daughter would be disrespectful of an adult let alone a teacher. Her father and I did believe her teacher though and had to confront and discipline Heather and forgive her. This was just a child’s actions. We as adults are even worse for we know better. 

We must realize daily that we have to cry out to God for His help in keeping our hearts full of love and kindness and honesty and faith.  Another thing I saw was how Ben-Hadad saddened Elisha’s heart. Can you imagine how disappointed the Lord is in us when we do wrong and then repeat it time and time again? His heart must be crying tears. However, there is forgiveness and love and hope through Jesus.

PRAYER

Father, please help us keep our hearts full of love for YOU. Help us to want to honor You and respect You.  May we show that in our actions and lives as we live each day that You give us. May we never bring tears to Your eyes. Thank You for the forgiveness of our sins and the power through Jesus to change our hearts and make them whole. We pray for each of our friends and acquaintances that know You not. Use us as a strength for You to deliver the good news of Christ, the forgiveness of sins no matter how bad, and Your unconditional love. Help us as parents and grandparents to share the Holy Spirit so that the choices our children make will be mature and will grow to be choices that bring a smile and not a tear to our Father above. Thank You for the gentleness and goodness of Elisha. What a God-Loving man You let lead for You. We love You as our Father.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN

Friday, II Kings Chapter 9

II Kings 9

Verse 35

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 35:  But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands.

THOUGHT

I don’t know about you guys but I was thrilled when I heard that Jezebel finally got what was due her. (Please forgive me) Man, she caused a lot of problems and led many men to do evil right along with her. Just think - her skull, feet and hands were all that remained. You could not see any power, prestige or worthwhile heritage. Her life of evil amounted to nothing. 

Sometimes we feel so powerful, secure and right with all our peers and leaders. There is nothing around that can destroy our happiness or home or family. We may think things are forever. However, in the end we all will die. Are you protected by God’s saving grace? We must focus on our path and journey in the right direction. May Jesus lead all of us and may we follow in HIS FOOTPRINTS. I want to be whole and dance with my loving friend, Jesus.

PRAYER

Father, please rid us of all our sin and the things in which we find more important than we do You. Help us to remove all the evil and then establish goodness. Use us for those who know You not. Put us in the path of those who need to know the gift of salvation.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN

HE will carry you.

When asked the Lord why during the most troublesome times of my life there was only one set of footprints, He replied, “My precious child, it was that I carried you.”

I will never leave you nor forsake you.