Seven

Today's an important day. My number two daughter turned seven today. I am so glad God sent her to us, and has allowed us the privilege of knowing her, training her, loving her. My prayer is that she grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ in the coming year, and always.

We are emerging from two weeks of a rough virus, so I'm still very much in keep it simple mode. In reading through Chronicles lately, these verses caught my attention, mostly as they relate to parenting and families.


As King David finished gathering supplies and making plans for the temple for the Lord, He had this simple and profound instruction for his son Solomon, who would soon be king: Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God (1 Chronicles 22:19).


Later, King David publicly explained his desire to build a temple to honor the Lord. He shared with the Israelites that God had chosen his son Solomon, and not David himself, to build the temple. It was here that King David charged the soon-to-be king: And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9


These next couple of verses caught my eye, because they show whole families involved in a shared work to honor God, with the fathers instructing them. It is my prayer for us and our family that we walk through this life with a unified vision for seeking His glory and renown.


The context here is that King David was working hard to organize the various clans and families to properly handle the duties of worship and sacrifice to the Lord. From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king's supervision. for Jeduthun, from his sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp in thanking and praising the LORD (1 Chronicles 25:2-3).


The specific duty of these men was to praise and worship God in song and music. What a beautiful picture of families devoted to honoring the Lord. God, give us more grace!


Lastly, this quote jumped out at me from John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life: "Whatever makes us more and more able to enjoy making much of God is a mercy. For there is no greater joy than joy in the greatness of God. And if we must suffer to see this and savor it most deeply, then suffering is a mercy."

More and more, God reminds me to have a perspective that says, "In what way will God make me more like Christ through this?" I do not always have this attitude. In fact, I've fallen down a lot in the past several weeks. At those times, I must repent, pray for grace and keep on running the race for Him.

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Photos
1- MK and me. She was probably two days old. I was lookin' young - seven years younger, of course!
2- MK and her young daddy, still in the hospital
3-She was our tiniest baby at 6 lbs, after our first being 9lbs. Quite a shock, and very pixie-like.
4-MK happy. They got out and played in the sprinkler the other day. In their pajamas.
5-Thought this flight photo was pretty cool. MK, coming in for a landing!
6-MK woke up to a trail of balloons on her ceiling for her big day. Thanks for the giant balloons, MaMa!
7-Opening presents. The Lord blessed us with a relaxing, special day to celebrate MK's 7th.