Saturday, January 3, 2015

Hello,
My name is Adrielle and I’m starting something new!  I'll have this written blog in addition to a video blog which will have everything I talk about here on http://youtu.be/farYB4pQTmM.  This way, if you’re like me and on the go much of the time and/or you don’t have much time to sit and read more than a short quip, you can listen on the go!  But if you’d rather grab a cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate, snuggle into a blanket and read, then the written blog is for you!  Today I’ll be sharing what I've gleaned from reading about King Solomon in 1Kings.

One of the greatest and wealthiest kings in all of history is King Solomon.  The stories of his wealth, riches and wisdom are legendary.  Maybe you've also heard of the immense favor he had with God too.  God gave Solomon all he ever wanted and far more then he asked!  For a time, Solomon walked rightly with God and honored him in all that he did and carefully followed the commandments and statutes of the Lord.  There were fractures in his path that would eventually lead him away from God, fractures that slowly bent his attention and intentions away from God.  However, we can learn a lot from this king!  Here's what I learned.

Something must have happened at the end of the 20 year building of the temple of God and the King’s own house.  I believe that “something” was a seed of fear that crept in.  You see, when God first appeared to Solomon, he told him he would bless him if he followed God as David did.  In God’s second appearance to Solomon, he affirms the original covenant but adds a warning saying “but if you or your sons at all turn from following me…” and details the judgment that would follow if he rebelled. If we look carefully, we can start to consider what happened.

Within Solomon’s story, there is one of those mini stories that are often plopped in the middle of a bigger story, perhaps to see if we are paying attention.  Here we learn of a rather uneven gift exchange between Solomon and Hiram.  Hiram, a family friend, was given 20 cities in the land of Galilee. This seems like a really nice gift except we learn that when Hiram went to see them he was not at all impressed or thrilled with them.  In fact, he was so turned off by these cities, that he named them the Land of Cabul which literally means “good for nothing”.  Now that makes me think!  Why would Solomon, the man who has it all, give such a cheap gift to someone who had been such a valuable friend and asset building the house of God and Solomon’s kingdom?  Solomon wasn't lacking, he didn't have to worry about if he had enough to pay the bills…he had everything - he had more than any other kingdom and yet here we see this little snapshot with possibly the first seed of fear sprouting it’s ugly head.  Why do I think it was fear?  Why else would the king give a cheap gift to such a valuable friend? Fear makes fools of the best of us.

 Next he has a pinnacle moment in his life when the queen of Sheba comes to visit him and question him to see if his wide spread fame lives up to its hype.   He is able to answer every one of her questions…

"nothing was so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her." 1Kings 10:3

…and impress her with his knowledge and riches. This should have been a turning point for the positive, a crowning achievement, a happy ending – and he lived happily ever after…but we see afterwards that his focus shifted.  It’s as if he gets bored after that encounter and then occupies his time figuring out all the ways he can spend his fortunes. Maybe finishing such a great feat like building the temple and finishing everything his father had commanded him left him listless and unsure of what was next.  Peace is a wonderful thing, but it can also leave opportunity for the mind to wander. Maybe the queen had more of an effect than she thought.  Maybe while they were chatting, she made a few side quips before he took her breath away with his astounding wisdom.  Perhaps as he was giving her the grand tour, there were comments like this:

“Really? You only have 25,000 horses? We have at least 40,000…”
“huh… so you only have gold shields for your God’s house, that’s interesting…”
“What a beautiful throne you have!  You know I've heard so and so has an ivory throne, it’s really a spectacular site to see!  Your throne is so tasteful though…”

Those wonderful kinds of comments will eat into your brain if you let them – those are the real test!  Maybe he was naive to all his riches before? Maybe because it had always been a part of his life, he never really noticed all he had? Maybe having the most beautiful queen in history, travel 1,200 miles just to see him was similar to eating the apple in the Garden of Eden. Maybe this experience is what opened his eyes to what was all around him all along and it went straight to his head… suddenly making it all about him.

We may never know what exactly happened or what caused the shift, but what we do know is that he began building everything out of gold – (paraphrasing from 1Kings 10) 300 shields of gold, his throne was made of ivory and overlaid with gold, there were 12 lions on each side of the six steps- gold, drinking vessels - all gold, etc.  Nothing was silver because it too "common".   He surrounded himself, inundated himself day in and day out with stuff.  Gold stuff! These are not bad things in and of themselves but they seem to become his focus.  The atmosphere shifted and seemingly smaller compromises chipped away at the man, his relationship with God, his character and eventually his kingdom. He began to gather chariots, Horsemen and horses from Egypt. Why does this matter?  Well let’s look in Deuteronomy 17:16.

 "Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you ‘you shall not return that way again’."  

Horses were a symbol of strength and Egypt had many horses. The children of Israel were constantly looking back to Egypt with rose colored glasses!  They were enslaved there yet trusted in that strength more than God (note how reluctant they were to leave with the man God sent to rescue them). God knows how much we like to trust in our own strength and how much we like to feel safe. He wanted the Kings to trust in Him, not in their own strength and to be the leading example of this to the Israelites. God gave Solomon far more than he asked for- He established his kingdom for him so that they literally "lacked nothing".  So why did Solomon multiply horses and import them from Egypt?  Well, unfortunately that’s not where the unhealthy pattern ends..  In 1 Kings 11 we see that King Solomon

“loved many foreign women as well as the daughter of Pharaoh. He loved the women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel "you shall not intermarry with them nor they with you.  Surely they will turn away your hearts after other gods".

But the Bible says that Solomon clung to these in love! 1 Kings goes on to say "He had several hundred wives, princesses and 300 concubines"!  Can you imagine??  Unfortunately, his wives did exactly what God warned about - they turned his heart away from God.

Isn't it fascinating how famished and thirsty we become when trying to fill that empty void with worldly things?  Especially after we've tasted the bread and water of life?  Solomon was so thirsty and empty that literally all the gold and wealth of the world, all the most beautiful women, the most abundance one man has ever in all of history possessed, and still… he’s clinging, searching, wanting more, falling further and further from grace trying to find what he once had so many years before.

Yet God in his love and mercy had already prepared his people years before!  In Deuteronomy 18:17 He said…

"Neither shall he multiply wives for himself lest his heart turn away nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself".

God is always trying to protect his people from their own hearts. He always prepares us for success!  In Deuteronomy 18:18-20 He said

 "All so it shall be when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites and it shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right-hand or to the left and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel."

God is so kind!  He laid it all out for us; His word tells us why these things are important and what the rewards are for following Him.  God loves to prosper His people, and He does it extravagantly every time!  Solomon isn’t the only one, look at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph!  Plus the story of Esther, Ruth and Naomi! Our only responsibility is to keep our eyes fixed on Him and to remain focused no matter what comes our way!  Easier said than done, but just think of how a whole kingdom was blessed because of one man’s obedience.  They prospered because he prospered! If you’re running a business, when your company does well, your employees will reap that benefit! Consider how Solomon’s fame grew and how the nations knew it was because of the God he served!  You want to spread the gospel? Be famously blessed! Show the world that you serve an amazing, extravagant and loving God and then go spread that blessing around!   Talk about making an impact!!

Well I hope this was useful for you and you should know that as always, I’m preaching to myself just as much as I’m preaching to anyone who might be listening.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Because of You
By:  Adrielle R. Bollin
 
I am free
Because of you, I am free
I have joy
Because of you, I have joy
I am healed
Because of you, I am healed
I am whole
Because of you, I am whole

And I rejoice!
For you've given me ALL
Yes I rejoice!
For you my source, have given me ALL!

I am clean
Because you died, I am clean
I'm not ashamed
Because you arose, I'm unashamed
I am rich
You paid it all so I am rich
I'm not afraid
You've overcome, so I'm not afraid

And I rejoice!
For you've given me ALL
Yes I rejoice!
For you my source, have given me ALL!

I have peace
 Because of you I have peace
I am loved
Because you first loved me
I am a winner
Because of you I win 
I am strong
Because of you, I am strong

Friday, April 4, 2014


 I Give You Glory
By: Adrielle R. Bollin

I want to know you ever more each day
I want to praise you and to honor your name
So help me Jesus and loosen my tongue
Bring on the fire, the passion undone

Chorus:
And I give you glory 
For you gave me everything
I stand here before you 
Adorned in your majesty
My confidence soaring 
As we walk in victory
Your love is amazing God
 And I give you glory

Ever present, you are always my guide
Your word in my mouth, my heart and my stride
I can with faith throw mountains aside
You gave me authority to run and not hide

Bridge
You lifted the burdens, released the chains
It's all been done in your great name


Monday, November 18, 2013

This poem was inspired by the countless stories of pain and overcoming told to me by friends and so many beautiful people. Pull up a seat, this ain't short and sweet! LOL!

The Story
Adrielle Bollin


Darkest of hours and all of their weight
The deepest of shadows revealing such hate
The sickness that held me and made me a slave
The evil that lurked tracking it's prey

Where you had found me alone in my fright
Weary and beaten, abused day and night
Rest had long left and fear would reside
Ruling my body, destroying me inside

Long were the years of wicked demise
So many times when I thought I would die
Torture that broke me but still left the fire
But death couldn't have what it truly desired

You found me and carried me on a road long and thin
Packed with my memories of terrible sin
I cried out in anguish as I saw it pass by
But you held me close never once left my side

Truth was then spoken and peace came to dwell
There, was a garden where once was my hell
How could this be, the nightmare was gone
When I forgave you told me I won

All of the hurt and all of the pain
Melted like wax to a candle wick's flame
Slowly the layers were peeled from my frame
Carefully, surgically, you washed away blame

You restored my soul one day at a time
Brought teachers, doctors, and wisdom divine
You made me lay down when I wanted to run
Forced me to rest till the healing was done

Strength began slowly to enter my being
Little by little all chains were releasing
The weight I had carried was thrown ocean deep
Returned to it's owner, the beast who ate sheep

Still you are working, your hands ever weaving
Working their "magic", ever they're speaking
You set up dates as well as the time
Always connecting the branches to the vine

The victory is mine, my anthem to sing
Because of my Jesus, I'm the bride of the King
My life is transformed, my slate white as snow
The possibilities are endless no matter where I go

Monday, May 27, 2013

Romans 8 and my take...


Romans 8:32 KJV
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:32 literal Greek translation
Which too of-the-one of-private-belonged of-a-son not it-spared, other over of-us of-all it-gave-beside to-it, unto-whither unto-not and together unto-it to-the-ones to-all unto-us it-shall-grant-to?

God is not to be put in a box as to what He will or won’t give us as is evident to me in verses like these when He says that He would freely give us “all” things.  Some would say that I should not take this verse out of context, that I should take into consideration the whole chapter, even the whole book.  I agree and would even go a bit further and say why not take it in the context of the whole bible?  

First, I would like to point out that in this chapter, along with Paul’s call to:
* be lead by the Spirit *to not live in fear, but to persevere in hard times
*and to know that we are not condemned (those of us in Christ)
*and that He foreknew us, predestined us, called us, justified and glorified us,
*that He is FOR us and cannot be separated from us by any created thing,
*that we are more than conquerors,

Paul also tells us that we are HEIRS with Christ, children of the most high God!  God gave us His son and according to Paul, will also give us all things – which I  would like to point out, does not specify need from want, dreams from desires, basic from extravagant.  It also doesn’t say that we should get it on our own by buying everything in site that we want because God wants us to have it – no.  It says He GIVES.  When you look at the context of the WHOLE bible, there is so much about the generosity of our God!


The following are just a few examples that came to mind.

When Ruth needed a husband/provider, God didn’t find for her an adequate husband who could take care of all her basic needs which would have been plenty in and of itself considering the times, no. He gave her Boaz, a wealthy, generous, healthy, honorable, loving man of good report who not only took care of Ruth, but took care of Naomi too.  Ruth asked for leftovers, Boaz (who represents Jesus) gave her extra by commanding his reapers to purposely let extra grain fall for her to glean, commanded his young men to not reproach her (guaranteeing her safety) and gave her food from his table!  Then he redeemed her and her mother in law by taking Ruth as his wife!  God went even further by ensuring Ruth and her family would be included in Jesus' family tree.  This is not basic needs that were met, this was abundance!

When Solomon asked God for wisdom, God was so pleased that He made Solomon the richest man who ever lived!  Solomon asked for a basic need, God gave him abundance!

When Esther was in preparation to meet the king, God didn’t just give her the wisdom to choose the right things to wear as He could have done, He gave her favor with the head eunuch who then made sure she had the very best of everything in addition to telling her what to wear to gain favor with the king.

Even when it comes to our enemies, God didn’t just give enough of a victory to the Israelites to keep their enemies at bay, He ANNIHILATED them, wiped them out!  And then told them to go and gather all the goods, treasures, cattle, etc. from the enemy!

Jesus said “I came that you might have life and life in abundance”.  If Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, then don’t you think we should think like a King or a Lord? What does a king or a lord consider necessity? What does a king or a lord consider abundance?  What would a king give to his children?  Think of it this way, in the bible, anytime a wife or child comes to ask the king for something, how many times does that king say “ask for anything, even up to half the kingdom will be yours if you ask it”.  That is a human king, what about a God king?  It doesn’t take a genius or years of study or much theology to know that God’s ways are much higher, bigger and better than our ways.  If we are made in God’s image and God’s image says “even half the kingdom will be yours if you ask” how much more does God want to give?  Not that we should desire things, but that we should not limit Him or rebuke others who believe Him and His word when He says “I want to give you more”.  

People twist things all the time – well I’m a child of God, so I’m going to act rich, live like I’m rich and just wait for God to pay me back.  No, we have faith that God will give and we wait until the Spirit tells us when to go, when to stay, when to lay at the feet of our savior, uncover His feet and ask that He may GIVE.  We walk by the Spirit, we walk by faith and we listen for the voice of God.  When we do that, things fall into place and we are given the very best – whatever that looks like in that moment.  It has been my experience that we get in our own way.  When I’m not seeing provision, it’s because I am in my way – sometimes there are other blockages, but most of the time my impatience, frustration, need for control etc. get in the way of what God is trying to give me.   

There are a million possible reasons why you or I or someone you know is not experiencing the abundance promised in the bible.  Our job is not to judge them or abandon them in their frustration and questioning, but rather to encourage them and challenge them to seek God!  He knows what’s in the way!  He knows their heart!  If we don’t have SOLID discernment about their situation or solution (and even if we do), then we should be pointing them back to the Father, who wants to give them ALL things and life in ABUNDANCE.  It doesn’t matter what we think that “all” and “abundance” looks like!  What matters is that we as a community, come around and encourage and challenge those who are struggling in any way.  If we do these things, and they still turn away, we must still be careful not to judge and not to condemn.  Whether we have knowledge in the situation or not, our pride should not get in the way of loving people like Christ did.  (as shown in Luke 22:61,62 and John 21:15-19).

As always,  I am preaching to me too! ♡♥♡
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