THE PRICE OF INTEGRITY

THE PRICE OF INTEGRITY
II Kings 5:15-16
 
"And [Naaman] returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said,'Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.' But [Elijah] said, 'As the LORD lives before whom I stand, I will receive nothing.' And he urged him to take it, but he refused."
 
So what's wrong with God's minister accepting a gift of gratitude? Probably nothing. I don't know why Elijah refused Naaman's gift. I can only surmise that perhaps he didn't want his ministry to be compromised by monetary reward. Or perhaps he was reinforcing Naaman's acknowledgment that it was God who healed him, and not any power of Elijah. All the credit belonged to God. Whatever the reason, it takes a person of strong character to refuse money for ministry. There is a price-tag attached to integrity.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: There may be a cost to retain one's integrity.
 
[end]
 
Have an "integrity" day, whatever the cost. Love you.
 
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Miracles of the Mundane

Miracles of the Mundane
II Kings 5:13-14
 
"And [Naaman's] servants came near and spoke to him, and said, 'My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, "Wash, and be clean"?' So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."
 
Often, like Naaman, I look for some great miracle to happen through the spectacular power of God, and almost miss the miracles of the mundane.   The release of energy through an atomic bomb is awesome. But it is just as much of a miracle for a slow, constantly moving river to turn a turbine that releases electrical energy. I need to recognize God's mighty works through the ordinary as much as through the extraordinary.  I think it would be awesome if God would ask me to do something spectacular, but I live in the mundane.  And God is at work in the mundane.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE – God often works His miracles through the mundane things of life, but they are just as much 
miracles as the spectacular.
 
[end]
 
Look for a "mundane miracle" today. Love you.
 
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LOGICAL

LOGICAL
II Kings 5:12
 
[Naaman said,] " 'Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?' So he turned and went away in a rage."
 
I've never seen the Jordan River, but I've been told that it is usually muddy – not an appealing river like the pure, clear streams of Oregon. From appearances, it did not seem logical to Naaman to expect cleansing from a dirty river when there were better, cleaner rivers in Syria. The ways of the world often seem more logical than kingdom ways. To give to receive is not logical. To bless one's enemies is not logical. Cleansing by Christ's blood is not logical. Grace itself is not logical. But to experience God's blessing, I need to follow His instructions – not my own logic.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Human logic does not always agree with God's logic.
 
[end]
 
Have a "God's logic" day. Love you.
 
www.wordpress.com

MY WAY / GOD'S WAY

MY WAY / GOD'S WAY
II Kings 5:9-11
 
"Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, 'Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.' But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, 'Indeed, I said to myself, "He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy." ' "

Naaman had his own preconceived notion about how things would happen – Elisha would welcome him into his house and do some magical act, and heal him. But it didn't happen the way Naaman planned. Elisha didn't even come out to meet him. So Naaman got angry and left. How often have I missed a blessing because things didn't go the way I planned? So I got angry. The fact is that God doesn't usually do things according to my plans, or what makes sense to me. His ways are far above my ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). I need to keep an open heart to God's way instead of getting angry because things don't go according to my plans.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God's ways are different than my preconceived plans.
 
[end]
 
Have a "God's way" day. Love you.
 
www.johnschiewek.com

MISUNDERSTANDING

MISUNDERSTANDING
II Kings 5:8
 
"So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, 'Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.' "
 
This is a classic example of misunderstanding caused by poor communication. The little slave girl did not name the prophet when she told her mistress that Naaman could be healed by the man of God in Israel. So when Naaman went to his master, the king of Syria, to get permission to go, the king of Syria thought that the man of God was the king of Israel. When the king of Israel got the letter from the king of Syria, he thought the king of Syria was picking a fight. All because of a lack of communication. This would be comical if it wasn't so serious. How many quarrels and fights have resulted between people because of simple misunderstanding? "I thought he said....." It is important to be precise in what I say in order to avoid misunderstanding.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Good communication is essential to avoid misunderstandings and quarrels.
 
[end]
 
Have a "good communication" day. Love you.
 
www. demu274diwe@post.wordpress.com

WORD OF MOUTH

WORD OF MOUTH
II Kings 5:4-8
 
"And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, 'Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel.' Then the king of Israel said, 'Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel' ..... So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king....."
 
It all started with a slave girl talking in private to her mistress, but it went through Naaman all the way to two kings and finally by word of mouth to Elisha. "Word of mouth" can affect a lot of people – for good or for ill. I never know where the words that I speak will end up or who they will affect. So I need to be careful what I say, even in private conversation. James, in his discourse about the power of the tongue, truly wrote that what I say can bless or curse (James 3:1-12). "May the words of my mouth...be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD" (Psalm 19:14).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE:   Even private conversation needs to be done with care, because it may travel to a lot of people by word of mouth.
 
[end]
 
Have a "blessing" day. Love you.
 
www.demu274diwe@post.wordpress.com

WORDS OF HOPE

WORDS OF HOPE
II Kings 5:4
 
"Then [the slave girl] said to her mistress, 'If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria. For he would heal him of his leprosy.' "
 
Here she is, a young slave girl in a foreign land, who knew the truth of God, and she was willing to share it. She was a candle in a dark world who spoke words of hope to a hopeless situation — "There is healing for Naaman." We are lights in a dark and hopeless world that can bring hope to a desperate people. Jesus said we are lights in the world if we do not hide the light. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).
 
[end]
 
Have a bright day. Love you.
 
www.thisdadsramblings.blogspot.com

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Out Of Control

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Out Of Control
II Kings 5:2
 
"And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back a captive young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife."
 
Here is a young girl, snatched from her parents and taken to a foreign land. This was not by her choice, but was forced upon her. Yet she apparently served her captors without bitterness or anger. Sometimes life takes turns that are beyond my control. Accidents happen that are caused by other people. The government makes demands that I cannot control. Family makes demands that are not by my choice. I want to be in control of my life, but often I am thrust into situations that are not of my choosing. How I respond to these circumstances that are beyond my control demonstrates how much I am committed to God's work and plan for my life. I must trust God and commit those things to Him and serve, even when it is not by my choice.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God calls us to trust Him and serve, even when things are out of our control.
 
Have a committed day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Human Experience

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Human Experience
II Kings 5:1
 
"Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper."
 
Naaman was a leper. Trouble is no respecter of persons. It comes not only to the lowly, ignoble, poor, and sinners, but also to the good, honorable, valorous, and even to those used by God. As a friend of Job observed, "Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7). It is part of the human experience. Being good or even godly does not make a person immune to trouble. Naaman could have let this disease destroy him. But he didn't. He remained who he was. How I handle trouble determines how it affects me. As the old saying goes, it can make me bitter or better. Lord, help me to accept the challenges of trouble with grace.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Trouble is a normal part of life, and can grow me into a better person if I handle it well.
 
Have a "growing" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- God Can Do It Again!

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – God Can Do It Again
II Kings 4:42-44
 
"Then a man came from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstrfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, 'Give it to the people, that they may eat.' But his servant said, 'What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?' He said again, 'Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the LORD: "They shall eat and have some left over." ' So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD."
 
This reminds me of the time Jesus fed the multitudes . There are so many parallels – the large multitude and the small amount of food, the command to "give them to eat," and the leftovers (Mark 6:30-44) – that I can't help but wonder if Jesus used Elisha's miracle as a model for his own miracle. I do know the fact that God did a miracle in the past is an encouragement to believe that He can do it again.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: What God has done before, HE CAN DO IT AGAIN!
 
Have a believing day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Expecting A Miracle

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Expecting A Miracle
II Kings 4:38-41
 
There was a famine in the land, but the sons of the prophets need to eat. So Elisha told Gehazi to make some stew. Some fruit was found and put into the stew, but unbeknown to Elisha, it was poisonous. "So [Elisha] said, 'Then bring some flour.' And he put it into the pot, and said, 'Serve it to the people, that they may eat.' And there was nothing harmful in the pot."
 
God can do miracles very well without my help. But He often involves us humans in the process to accomplish what is beyond the human power to do – like Moses putting a tree limb into the bitter waters of Marah (Exodus 18:25), or using a lad's loaves and fishes to feed thousands (John 6:9-11), or having a lame man get up and walk (Acts 3:6). If I am not willing to do what I have in my power to do, then I should expect a miracle.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God often involves people in performing His miracles.
 
Have an involved day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Patience In Process

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Patience In Process
I Kings 4:32-33
 
"When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD."
 
Sometimes God answers prayer in stages. First, Gehazi laid Elisha's staff on the child, but nothing happened (vs. 31). The Elisha stretched out his body on the corpse, and it became warm (vs. 34). Then, after pacing the floor for awhile, Elisha again stretched himself on the body, and the boy sneezed seven times and regained consciousness (35). I get impatient waiting for God's answer. I want it NOW. But God's answer is often a process. There may be some "pacing the floor" waiting for God's timing. But patience in the process is the key.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God teaches patience in the process of answering prayer.
 
Have a patient day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A Woman Of Faith

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A Woman Of Faith
II Kings 4:16, 18-20
 
"Then [Elisha] said [to the Shunammite woman], 'About this time next year you shall embrace a son'.....But the woman conceived, and bore a son....And the child grew. Now it happened that he went out to his father, to the reapers. And he said to his father, 'My head, my head!' So he sad to a servant, 'Carry him to his mother.' When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees til noon, and then he died.' "
 
This Shunammite woman is a great example of a woman of faith. She was the one who made a place for the prophet – not the husband. When the child got sick, the husband sent him to his mother instead of caring for him. The woman was the one who went to the prophet to seek healing for the child – not the man. It is a sad thing when the woman has to take all the initiative in spiritual things. But thank God for the woman who seeks godly things when the husband does not believe nor take the lead. This is one strong woman.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE:  A family is blessed when it has a woman of faith.
 
Have a "faith" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Contentment

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Contentment
II Kings 4:11-13
 
"And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. Then he said to Gehazi his servant, 'Call this Shunammite woman.' When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, 'Say now to her, "Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king for to the commander of the army?" ' She answered, 'I dwell among my own people.' "
 
This seems like a strange answer to Elisha's question. I think she was saying, "I am content with my life." She was a notable person in her own community, and did not need to hobnob with the rich and famous. Nor did she minister to Elisha in order to get something in return. Contentment is a beautiful thing. There is peace in just being who I am without striving for more. God says, "And be content with such things as you have; for he has said, 'I will never leave your, nor forsake you' " (Hebrews 13:5). Having Jesus in my life is all I need.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Contentment bring peace.
 
Have a contented day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Ministry

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Ministry
II Kings 4:8
 
"Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food."
 
Here was a woman who was "notable" – that is, she had material wealth and position of influence in the community. But she did not allow her position to become a thing of pride. Instead she used it to minister to God's servant. She not only fed him, but she persuaded her husband to build a room so Elisha would have a place to stay when he came to town (vss. 9-10). Women have a special place in the work of God's kingdom, like the wealthy women who gave financial support to Jesus – women like Joanna, the wife of King Herod's steward, and Suzanna, who "provided for Him from their substance" (Luke 8:3). Material blessings and social standing can be used for selfish fulfillment and lead to pride (like Jezebel), or they can be avenues to bless God's kingdom work.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God blesses people with wealth and influence so they can be a blessing in Kingdom ministry.
 
Have a "ministry" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Debt Is Paid

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Debt Is Paid
II Kings 4:7
 
"Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, 'Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.' "
 
This poor woman was deep in debt, and did not have the resources on her own to pay them. Only God's miraculous provision of the oil could pay the debts and keep her sons from being sold into slavery (vs. 1). Because of God's blessings, she and her sons could live in freedom. Romans 7:14 says that I was "sold under sin." The glorious truth of the Gospel is that Jesus paid the debt for my sin so that I could live in freedom. As the song says: "He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away." I'm so glad the debt is paid. Hallelujah for God's abundant provision of redemption.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Only Jesus could pay the debt of sin so we can live in freedom.
 
Have a "paid" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Filled Completely

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Filled Completely
II Kings 4:6
 
"Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, 'Bring me another vessel.' And he said to her, 'There is not another vessel.' So the oil ceased."
 
The oil continued to flow to the extent that they presented empty vessels. I think if they had more vessels, they would have had more oil. I believe God will fill me with His Oil – The Holy Spirit – to the extent that I offer myself to Him. If I only offer a part of my life, that's all He can fill. Here I am, Lord. Fill me completely.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE:  God will fill with His oil any vessel that is offered to Him.
 
Have a full day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Poured Out

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Poured Out
II Kings 4:3-5
 
"Then [Elisha] said, 'Go borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors – empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all the vessels, and set aside the full ones.' So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out."
 
All this poor widow woman had was a small jar of oil. But she experienced a miracle because she was obedient to the prophet, and that small amount of oil was multiplied as she poured it into other vessels. It is a truth of Scripture: Give and it shall be given unto you (Luke 6:38). I may think that I don't have much oil to pour out -- that I don't have much to give. But if I keep what I do have bottled up to myself, it will get used up or become rancid. In either case, I will be empty. If I pour it out into other vessels, it will multiply. I need to keep "pouring out" of my own meager supply to get fresh oil in my own spirit. How many blessings have I and other people missed because I kept my oil bottled up inside of me?
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The only way to get fresh oil in my own spirit is to pour out into other vessels what I have.
 
Have a "poured out" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Little Is Much

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Little Is Much
II Kings 4:1-2
 
"A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, 'Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.' So Elisha said to her, 'What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?' And she said, 'Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.' "
 
God does not require anything to work a miracle, but he often uses what we have, as little as it may seem. When I search my "house," I don't see a lot to offer the Lord, but the little I do have is all He asks. He will take it and use it as I give it to Him. As the old saying goes, "Little is much when God is in it."
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God only asks for what we have – not for what we don't have.
 
Have a big little day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Sing!!!

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Sing!
II Kings 3:15
 
" 'But now bring me a musician.' Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him."
 
Once again, we see the power of music to bring the presence of the Lord. Music is such an important part of worship. Properly done, it can usher us into the very throne-room of God, where the angels sing. So we "come into His presence with singing" and "enter into His courts with praise" (Psalm 100:2-4) because God is enthroned in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). So, everybody, SING!!!!
 
Today's Thought: Music can bring the worshiper into God's presence.
 
Have a singing day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Respect For Authority

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Respect For Authority
II Kings 3:14
 
"And Elisha said, 'As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.' "
 
Elisha served the LORD of hosts and answered to Him. He was not intimidated nor awed by the earthly position of authority, but did have regard for Jehoshaphat because Jehoshaphat "walked in the way of his father Asa" (I Kings 22:41), who "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD" (I Kings 15:11). We are called to submit to those in authority (Romans 13:1), but that does not mean we have to respect them nor be intimidated just because of their position. On the other hand, there is respect for those leaders who live godly.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Respect for authority is based on whether the leader lives a godly life.
 
Have a respectful day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- People Of Faith

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – People of Faith
II Kings 3:13
 
"Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, 'What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.' But the king of Israel said to him, 'No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.' "
 
Jehoram, king of Israel, had followed the ways of his parents to serve the god Baal, and did evil in the sight of the LORD (3:2). He had no faith in the God of Elisha, and considered that this venture would only end in being conquered by Moab (see also vs. 10). That kind of unbelief was a drag on Elisha's faith, and he told him to go away. Unbelief is like that – it hinders the work of God. Even Jesus could do no mighty works in Nazareth because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:58). God ended up delivering Moab into the hands of these three kings, but I think it was because of Jehoshaphat's faith. That's why it so important to surround ourselves with people of faith.   In a culture of unbelief in the power of God, may I be a person of faith to see God's deliverance.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Unbelief hinders the work of God, but He still does miracles where there are people of faith.
 
Have a "faith" day. Love you.