1 Chronicles 12-14, Romans 1

​“but even the closest friends of the poor person deserts them.”

Is that true?  I think it’s been my experience that the poor are much better friends than the rich.  They will stick by each other no matter what - and for long periods of time.  

Actually, most of the rich people…..

Ahhh, why generalize?  Some people are good friends.  Some are not.  

I am not.  I do not go out of my way (except a few times) to help a friend or spend time with a friend or even have friends. 

I am nice to everyone, but never really go all in.  And I am “rich” so maybe it’s not right.

1 KINGS 20-21, ACTS 12-13

 What do You like?  Humility!  A lot of people in these Kings chapters do not do what You say, and they die!   One guy got eaten by a lion today because he wouldn't intentionally stick a sword into a prophet.  Sounds kind of reasonable - If someone asked me to cut them with a sword, I wouldn't do it either.  And to be honest, I am not even sure if the guy knew that God was the one who was doing the requesting, but still was lunch for the lion.

I think the message is very clear.  Listen to what You have to say and do it!  That simple.  Even if it sounds weird, even if it sounds like it doesn't make any sense whatsoever, even if you think your plan is smarter - do it.  Humbly do it.  

Got it!

1 KINGS 14-15, ACTS 10

You say we can eat anything.  

What is my deal with eating?  Am I really in a bad mood just because of my eating?  And why does it matter?  To be honest, as I'm doing it, it is not even that enjoyable.  

I think it's just the feeling - like that is what I am supposed to do to make me happy.  That is what I do to celebrate.  That is what brings me joy.

I really would love to get to a point where You give me joy, where You give me happiness.  But, I am not really sure how.  I am guessing the disciples had that.  I'm guessing they woke up every day with a purpose, with an excitement for what could happen, for a love of life.  

What did they do?  Quit their jobs.  Hung out together.  Prayed.  

That's what kind of scares me.  Usually the things that give me energy - Summer Break and eating junk - haven't.  Even going to daily Mass - I skipped it the last two days just because I wasn't looking forward to it.  I'm not quite sure what to even write any more.

1 KINGS 12-13, ACTS 9

 This is why I don't like to tell God I am going to do anything.  Actually, it's probably better to say it like this - this is why I don't like to listen to God.  Any time You spoke to people and they didn't do what You said, they got eaten by a lion.

OK, they didn't always get eaten by a lion, but they would usually get killed.  For a lot of these people it seems like it would have been better if they just didn't listen to You.  There's a lot of pressure there.

But, then there's Peter.  He listened to You and he was able to rise someone up from the dead.  Look at all the people who listened to You and great things happened for others.  People believed, people were healed, people were restored.  

I guess, if I really thought about it, the positive way outweigh the negatives.  Do I want to get mauled by a lion?  Not really, but I'm not afraid of death.  Do I want to make an impact, help other people have a 10:10 life?  Yep.  It's kind of opposite of what a lot of coaches say - the thrill of winning far outweighs the anger of losing.  To me, the opportunity to do good far outweighs the possibility of bad happening to me.

Now I just need to learn how to listen and decide what is from You.

1 KINGS 11-12, ACTS 9

 Two people going in different directions.

Solomon asked God for wisdom; however, I guess that wisdom did not extend into spiritual matters.  Which is weird - you would think if God gave him wisdom, he would have the wisdom to know who the true God was.  But he doesn't and he starts to follow other gods and so God says he's gonna take away most of his kingdom....from his son.

Saul is going out to get Christians.  He is going to bring them back so the Pharisees can "get 'em."  But, on the way, Jesus knocks him out.  He talks to him, sends a person to remove scales from his eyes, and the persecutor becomes the preacher.  Saul is now telling everyone how the people he was trying to stop are right.

Is it all luck?  Solomon asked for wisdom.  God said He would give him wisdom.  He is very wise about a lot of stuff, but not the main stuff.  Saul's goal is to get the Christians, but God, for some reason, makes it pretty clear that he wants him on His team.

Why wouldn't Solomon know that he shouldn't mess with other gods?  Why did God choose a Christian Cop to be super preacher?  

Maybe it's like Father Matt said today - thy will be done.  Just trust it.

1 KINGS 9-10, ACTS 8

Wisdom - that's a good gift!  Solomon was able to explain everything.  Phillip was able to explain Jesus.  Being able to help people understand - what a gift.

I guess I get to do that a little bit with teaching.  Sometimes I even think I'm pretty good at it.  But, in the real world it doesn't happen that much.  But, really, when it does, it feels good.  I was about to say it was the best feeling in the world.  Maybe not, but it's up there.

I do get it now.  Solomon asking for wisdom was genius.  He had wisdom to build this huge temple.  He had wisdom to solve problems between people.  He had wisdom to explain anything to anyone.  I wish I could do that.

And therein lies the problem.  I want that so I can impress other people.  I wanted to get that code yesterday so I could show people how great I am.  When the guy offers Peter cash to get the Holy Spirit, he says, "Nope, your heart is not in the right place."  

There are a ton of cool things God can do.  Unfortunately, we might not experience any of them until we want to do them for others.

2 SAMUEL 23-24, ACTS 3

 Money we do not have, but what I do have I give you.  

OK, that wasn't exactly what Peter said, but I like it.  He used what he had to help make this guy's life WAY better!  Funny thing is money we do have.  And I do think we use that to make some people's lives WAY better!  

But, Peter just uses the Holy Spirit.  Everyone has that.  Well, not everyone, but you get it.  For the 55th year of my life, I really want to focus on two things.  How much God loves me no matter what.  Yes, me!  I just want to rest in that for a while - not try to spread God's love, not try to focus on helping others see how much God loves them.  Honestly, I just want to kind of see what would happen if I just let God love me.  (Insert, "Let Me Love You")

Secondly, I want to focus on the Holy Spirit.  As the kids say, let the Holy Spirit cook.  Just let the Holy Spirit do it's thing.  I guess I'm really trying to get to the point where I am not so focused on me - what I do, how I can make a difference, how I can be a light.  Some might call that lazy.  I'm just letting God do all the work.  

But, I think Peter teaches us a valuable lesson.  Yes, money would have given that guy a meal.  But, God can do things that are life changing.  Let's let Him.