I am thankful for a more restful night and some needed rest that I was able to get in this morning. This past week I had the stitches removed from above my eyebrow and it looks like the doctor did a good job getting me sewed up with minimal scaring. He did remove another spot on my forearm and I will have those stitches out this next week.

My week ahead will have more on the schedule than the past two weeks, so I’m glad that I’m feeling better. It is interesting how my urine cultures still reveal an unusually high level of infectious bacteria. I’m glad that I have been able to keep it “sleeping” for almost a year without creating significant issues.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “I truly believe I will live to see the Lord’s goodness. Wait for the Lord’s help.
Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help.”  Psalm 27:13,14 (NCV)

When you are in a difficult place in life, when things are not going your way or you are facing a time of personal crisis, knowing that tomorrow may be different can make all the difference. That is what we refer to as “hope.” As I read this verse this morning, I realized that it takes on a different meaning today than it did at times over the last two years. A few moment ago, I walked from my office to the living room, with one crutch and my computer under my arm; I remembered when it took me two rest stops with my walker to journey the same distance.

When the Psalmist declares that he believes he will see the Lord’s goodness, it is a reminder that at this moment he is not experiencing the Lord’s goodness. At least not in the way that he hopes to at some point in the future.

When I reflect back to some of the days on end in a hospital bed and many restless and sleepless nights, there still seemed to be the assurance that at some point, some day, “I will live to see the Lord’s goodness.” Now, it is nice to be on the other side of that “goodness” received.

Twice the Psalmist says, “wait for the Lord’s help.” I tend to be impatient. So, waiting on others is difficult. That is probably what lead to some delegation challenges for me as a leader. But at other times, I found that if I would have waited a little longer and been a little more patient, the issue I tried to solve by my own action in my own time would have turned out better. Since the Psalmist gives this admonition twice, I will assume that I am not the only one in history who has had this problem.

Strength and bravery is needed as much in “waiting” as in “doing.” When the Psalm says, “be strong and brave and wait…” it doesn’t necessarily mean, I don’t do. It may mean I need to keep doing what I can. Perhaps that is continuing to trust. For me it is continuing to have the motivation and discipline to exercise, with no results.

That is the challenge for me at this point. So, I as I continue to trust the Lord for His complete restoration and new vision for my life, I need to be patient, but keep on doing what I can, waiting for the final outcome that I hope for. Perhaps you can relate to that; if not now at some point in your life. For now, I’m thankful for His goodness received and wait in hope for the help that is on the way.

Today, I made it back to Loveland for my cousin’s softball game. Unfortunately they came up short this time around and were eliminated from the tournament. The rest of the day, I attended a strategic planning session with the Larimer County Republicans. My meeting ended just in time for me to get home and head off to our Saturday evening church service.

I am coming to the end of my antibiotic regimen, so I trust that I will continue to feel better and stronger.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  They said to Moses, “What have you done to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the desert? There were plenty of graves for us in Egypt. We told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone; we will stay and serve the Egyptians.’ Now we will die in the desert.” Exodus 14:11,12

The Hebrews have been slaves in Egypt for 400 years. Jacob, Joseph and the rest of the sons of Jacob are long gone. When you consider the life expectancy of a slave, you realize the multiple generations that had come and gone and how their identity and history is wrapped around their life as Egyptians and slaves. Outside of circumcision, there is no record of any consistent practices of worship to God. So, outside of learning the traditions and family history passed down from generation to generation, there was little for them to have a unique identity.

We see that as the Lord brought the plagues on Egypt, He was revealing Himself as much to the Hebrews as He was Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Even though the Lord separated the land of Goshen from the rest of the land and even though God was carrying the people out of the land with “all the riches” of the Egyptians as soon as they came to the banks of the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s armies in pursuit, they quickly were ready to “thrown in the towel.” I wonder how often they told Moses, “let us alone, we will stay and serve the Egyptians.”

For these slaves, they were content to remain in their present state and experience less than the best God had for them. I am reminded how when the angel messengers went to Sodom, that they had to lead Lot and his family out by their hands. In order for us to experience the best the Lord has for our lives, we must be willing to accept a new identity and to place our trust and confidence in the Lord as we follow Him outside of our own comfort zones and familiar territory. Paul, put it well in these words,

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  Ephesians 4:23,24

Finally, I find it ironic how quick the Hebrews were willing to return to Egypt and submit to the Pharaoh, and how easy it was for them to resist God’s direction and trust Him for what they needed. In our life we must have renewed minds and hearts and submit to God’s best for our life and resist returning to “old ways” and lifestyles.

After some restlessness last night, I ended up making up for lost sleep, by sleeping in this morning. I did make it over to Loveland to see my cousin play a game in a softball tournament. Kayla, is playing college softball, but returned this summer to play with her old team the Colorado Springs “Thunder” for this season. (Picture of me with cousin Michelle and her daughter Kayla)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…I am the Lord; I will rescue you and set you free from your slavery in Egypt. I will raise my mighty arm to bring terrible punishment upon them and I will save you. I will make you my own people, and I will be your God…” Exodus 6:6-7

This morning I read through the chapters of Exodus related to the plagues the Lord brought on Egypt. When we take time to look at what happened over the course of time God visited His judgment on Egypt we can observe some important lessons.

There are ten plagues that come on the land and people of Egypt. The river turns to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, death of the firstborn. Each plague has its own significance in striking at the heart of the gods of Egypt and their sense of security and self-sufficiency.

The first two plagues are duplicated in some form by the magicians of Egypt. This reminds us of the warning against “false prophets, teachers and miracle workers” that Jesus said would be present in the “last days” and that we see throughout the history of the Bible. The impact of that which is intended for deception is that it does dilute trust and confidence in God’s true work. We see that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and his refusal to acknowledge the Lord continued and grew more intense.

When Pharaoh gets tired of the frogs that are teeming throughout the land, I find it interesting that he asks Moses to pray for the  God to take them away. Pharaoh’s own magicians were able by their craft to create frogs, but apparently fell short in their ability to take them away. I believe we can see the same response today. People sometimes “blame” God and other times “ask the Lord” to reverse the consequences of their own actions or their reliance on false sources of strength and security. If this takes place out of a heart of genuine repentance, that is good! If it is just asking God to bail us out, so we can go on with everything the same, that is a different issue.

God soon separates the Hebrews from the Egyptians. When the magicians of Egypt could not bring gnats from the dust, they realized that “this was the finger of God.” From this point on God “makes a distinction” between His people and the people of Egypt. The remaining plagues did not effect God’s people in the land of Goshen. We can be confident that the Lord knows how to “care for his own.”  Peter declared, “…Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.” (2 Peter 2:9) Perhaps the Psalmist had this provision in mind when he wrote, “…At your side one thousand people may die, or even ten thousand right beside you, but you will not be hurt. You will only watch and see the wicked punished.” (Psalm 91:7,8)

God’s judgments are both His proof and His provision for His people. To a people who had been in slavery for hundreds of years, they needed to see a God who was greater than the Pharaoh-god they encounters day after day.

We see that persistent persecution can almost harden ones heart as much as rejecting the demonstration of God’s power and might. Pharaoh “hardened his heart” yet at the same time God was showing Himself mighty, not against, but for His people that they might serve and trust in Him.

We see God working through all these events to fulfill His promise to the Hebrews to, “make [them His] own people…” What we see in the New Testament is the Lord working patiently, but purposefully, to make us “His own people” through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I believe I am beginning to feel gradually better. The nicer weather today helped. I did get out and went to the neighborhood pond and used the fishing pole my son gave me a few weeks ago. I also was able to get out and mow the lawn.

This afternoon, I returned to my Dermatologist to have my head stitches removed and for him to remove a less serious spot on my forearm. Tonight, I will head off to a homeowner association board meeting.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. Then God said to Moses, “I am who I am.^” When you go to the people of Israel, tell them, ‘I am sent me to you.’”  Exodus 3:14

This declaration of God to Moses about His identity and essence lays the foundation for the term the “Lord” God. It is also where the name “Jehovah” comes from. The all sufficient, the God who provides and will be what He needs to be to His people.

What is of interest we see when Jesus comes, He describes Himself with the term, “I am….” Consider the following “I am” statements of Jesus.

“I am the bread of life.”  John 6:1

“I am the light of the world.” John 8:12

“I am the door.”  John 10:7

“I am the Good Shepherd.” John 10:11

“I am the Resurrection and the Life.”  John 11:25

“I am the way, the truth and the life.” John 14:6

Each of these describes an aspect of Jesus life and what He is for us. The totality of who God is and how we need to view Him is so comprehensive that we could put our own descriptor after “I am….” In our turmoil in life, He comes to us and says, “I am peace.” In our loneliness and need for acceptance He says, “I am love.” When we feel alone we need to hear Him say, “I am here.” When we need hope and a future, He says, “I am with you and will guide you.” If others forsake us, He says, “I am with you always.”

There are times in my life when I wasn’t sure what to pray or how to pray and would just say the name, “Jesus.” My Friend, Steve Harris put it well in the words of a chorus many years ago, “…There’s power in the name of Jesus; there’s healing, forgiveness, peace and rest, its all in the name of Jesus.”

One of the greatest manifestations of the power of Jesus name is when He was arrested in the garden. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.“Jesus the Nazarene,^“ they replied. “I Am he….As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!  (John 18:4-6) When these officers were confronted with the declaration of Jesus as the Son of God, it overwhelmed them so much, they fell to the ground. When the “I am” spoke to Moses from the burning bush, he took off his sandals, because He was on holy ground. When those of old, found themselves in God’s presence they, fell on their faces before Him. Whether we fall down or are knock down, when we are exposed to the fullness of the “I am” it is overwhelming.

I am thankful that the “I am” is our God; and when we embrace Him through faith, we come to understand that all He is, He is for us.

We have had rain for most of the day. That at least makes it easier to feel better about staying inside and getting rest. I did get some office work done, so I didn’t feel completely lazy today. I am still in the process of recovering completely from my recent illness, taking it one day at a time. Tomorrow I return to the Dermatologist to have my stitches removed and for them to take a look at the other spot that created some concern.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the skies announce what his hands have made. Day after day they tell the story; night after night they tell it again. They have no speech or words; they have no voice to be heard. But their message goes out through all the world; their words go everywhere on earth.”            Psalm 19:1-4

The evidence of God’s existence and handiwork is seen by just walking outside the door of your house. Taking a walk in the mountains or along a seashore, beholding the beauty that is seen in our world is evidence of a creator God. I know that the popular world-view is that this all happened by accident. But consistently throughout scripture, not just in Genesis, we see references to God as creator.

I recall the words of a friend of mine who was a farmer and rancher, and was not the typical “person of faith” when he said, working with nature and animal life, it is hard to believe that there is not a creator behind “all of this.” However, he did comment that “sheep must have been standing behind the door when God dispensed the brains.”

I like the poetic wording of Psalm 19 that declares without words, the heavens and creation itself declares God’s creative handiwork. We see at the end of the Psalms a picture of creation called to join in praising the Lord,

“…Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created….”  (Psalm 148:1-6)

Remember when Jesus rode into Jerusalem during the “triumphal entry” that He said, “if the children are quite even the rocks will cry out…”  (Luke 19:40)

A thoughtful examination of creation itself can cause an awareness that there is a God. The Book of Job, invites an inquiry of nature in these words, “Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7-10)

Knowledge of God, requires a response. If there is a God, who He is? What is He like? What does he expected from me? How do I connect with Him? It also shows that there is accountability. The words of Romans reflect this, “Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

Awareness of God in creation should drive us to know Him through His Word, the Bible. It is a guide for our life and will instruct us as to what to believe and how to live.

Our friends Gwen and Phyllis Kovak recently sent us this link below to a video that is a great illustration of the opening verses of Psalm 19, I believe you will find it worth your time to check it out.

http://www.andiesisle.com/creation/magnificent.html

I slept better last night and was able to even rest well this morning after being up for a while. I was able to get myself going and made a trip to Lakewood to assist in the celebration of the life of Louise Robb. It was a special “family” service. Son-in-law Dave lead the service and the music and reflections on her life included a variety of family members. It was a special time of sharing about the life of a much-loved  lady, whose legacy was a life of faith and faithfulness. My connection with Louise and her late husband Gene and their family goes back to my childhood years when we attended the same church. It was an honor to be able to participate.  (picture of me with Louise’s son, David and daughter Judy and her husband Dave)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Others are like the seed planted in the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce fruit—sometimes thirty times more, sometimes sixty times more, and sometimes a hundred times more.”  Mark 4:20 (NCV)

My garden is struggling. I’m not sure if it is the abundance of rain, the soil or the gardener. After our heavy spring rains, I did notice when I tried to work the soil that it didn’t break up as much as I had anticipated. So, I just buried the seed beneath the clods of dirt. It’s pretty bad when you can’t get squash to grow! Good soil is the foundation of a good garden that grows and produces.

This parable of Jesus, sometimes called “The Parable of the Sower” talks about four types of soil. The seed that is sown falls on “the path”  some falls on “stony ground” other seed falls among “weeds” and some seed falls on “good ground.”

When Jesus explains the parable to His disciples he tells them the “seed” is the “Word of God” The seed on the path represents that which is “stolen by Satan.” The seed on “rocky soil” is that which never develops because there is no opportunity for roots to grow. Jesus said, “they don’t allow the Word to go deep into their lives.” The seed sown among “thorns” is choked by “the worries of this life, the temptation of wealth, and many other evil desires…”

As I was thinking about the varying yield, “some 30, some 60 some 100 fold” I began to consider that all “good” ground is not always the same. A patch of ground may have its hard soil, rocks and weeds as well as good ground. In order for the Word of God to grow a richer harvest in our lives we need to make sure we are “conditioning the soil” of our hearts.

We need to be aware when truth is just rejected because it is hard to hear or we are in a challenging place in our life, and so we allow it to pass us by. We need to be aware of God’s Word that is being choked because we lose our focus and our minds and hearts are drawn away to the priorities of the “world” and we give in to worry. We need to be aware when we only allow God’s Word to remain on the “surface of our life.” We are admonished to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only.” (James 1:23)

When we hear or are confronted with God’s Word, we must listen and receive it into our lives and to allow it to be applied to our life so it begins its work in our life. Then we need to resist allowing our hearts and minds from being distracted from living by that truth. That is when we will see the greatest “harvest” of God’s Word in our life.

The “fruit” that comes from God’s Word is what allows us to experience God’s best for our lives and to be ready to share with others what the Lord can do for them.

After a not so good night of rest, I did check in with my primary care physician. Fortunately, nothing of significance or concern from the lab work, which is good. She did prescribe some cough medicine to help me sleep at night. I believe that will help as I stay on my anti-biotic regimen.

Today, has been an unusual cooler and rainy day. We don’t get these too often in the summer in Colorado. But it makes for a nice day to get some rest.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord. Every good thing I have comes from you.” Psalm 16:2 (NCV)

This verse reminds me of Jesus words in Matthew 7:11, “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.“

David recognized the Lord as his source of all good things. We are encouraged to trust in the Lord, more than earthly sources of wisdom and provision and to simply “ask Him” for those good things to come into our life.

What are some of the “good things” the Lord provides? In Psalm 16 we see the Lord provides us the relationship with others who will encourage us in the ways of the Lord.

“As for the godly people in the world, they are the wonderful ones I enjoy.” (Psalm 16:3) In the Book of Hebrews we read, “…not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  (Heb. 10:25 NKJV) We need the company and encouragement of one another to learn, support and help each other stay true to God’s Word.

The Lord provides Himself to us. “…the Lord is all I need. He takes care of me.” (Psalm 16:5) This statement is made in contrast to the emptiness of those who turn to idols. We don’t need other “spiritual guidance” or insight other than that which comes from the Lord.

The Lord provides for us counsel and direction. “I praise the Lord because he advises me. Even at night, I feel his leading.” (Psalm 16:7) I like this verse because there are times that I have experienced the Lord speaking to me in my sleep or thoughts or counsel coming to me in the night.

One of the greatest “good” things the Lord provides us is assurance of our future destiny. “So I rejoice and am glad.
 Even my body has hope, because you will not leave me in the grave.” (Psalm 16:9,10) Paul said, Jesus resurrection was the “firstfruits” of the resurrection and those who place their faith in Christ can look forward to their own resurrection and life in the Lord’s presence.

The Psalmist concludes by affirming that the Lord directs our life in the right way and grants us the joy of His presence. “You will teach me how to live a holy life. Being with you will fill me with joy; at your right hand I will find pleasure forever.” (Psalm 16:11)

In a world that can be off track, we don’t need to be. The Lord will bring to us the “good things” we need, as we trust in Him. If you need to know what to ask the Lord for, some of these provisions of the Lord found in Psalm 16 are a good place to start.

I slept better last night and have been resting most of the day. But I believe I am feeling better. My rest, allowed Debbie to get some much needed rest from her busy schedule and taking care of me. We have experienced a nice rain and the clouds have dispelled the higher temps from earlier this afternoon. Hopefully with another good night of rest and the affect of some of the medication, I will be ready for the week ahead.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. They [Joesph’s brothers] said to each other, “We are being punished for what we did to our brother. We saw his trouble, and he begged us to save him, but we refused to listen. That is why we are in this trouble now.” Then Reuben said to them, “I told you not to harm the boy, but you refused to listen to me. So now we are being punished for what we did to him.”  Genesis 42:21,22 (NCV)

There are many scenes in the Bible that I would have loved to have been present to witness. This is one of those. It had been some seventeen years prior to this that Joesph’s brothers decided to take action and silence the annoying little brother that was favored by dad and had these grandiose dreams and possessed this cocky attitude.

At the time they thought their actions in sparing Joesph’s life and just selling him into slavery was noble on their part and kept them murder. But they had to go home and face “dad” and see the reaction of grief and the toll the presumed death of Joesph caused. They wanted to “get even” with Joesph, but didn’t understand the extent of the “collateral” damage on a father, as well as themselves.

The Lord used slavery and prison to humble and prepare Joesph for the fulfillment of the dreams that he had as a youth. Now his brothers (unknown to them) are standing before him begging to buy food during a famine. The questions Joesph asks and their own short stay in prison finds them relating their own hardship to how they treated their younger brother.

So we see even though many years had passed the memories were fresh. During the ensuing years adjustments to life without Joesph would have come, but there was still in the back of their minds the knowledge of the truth and they would carry the rest of their lives. In getting rid of Joesph, they acquired a new set of problems they never would have anticipated. Scripture makes it clear they all shared the guilt and made the connection between their past actions and their present sufferings.

As we move through the story we see the brothers returning to Egypt for more food and Joesph finally revealing himself to his brothers. He graciously provides a place for his father, his brothers and their families to live during the rest of the famine, so the family is saved.

However, after Jacob dies we see Joesph’s brothers still live with guilt and fear. “After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph is still angry with us? We did many wrong things to him. What if he plans to pay us back?” (Genesis 50:15) His brothers ask Joesph to forgive them…and Joesph does. As Joesph forgives his brothers, he shares this powerful insight, “Don’t be afraid. Can I do what only God can do?  You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to save the lives of many people, which is being done.  So don’t be afraid. (Genesis 50:19-21)

As Joesph experienced all that happened to him, it seem that Lord had allow him to forget and move beyond the pain and suffering his brothers had caused. But his brothers still carried their guilt until the time their father died.

There are some important lessons and cautions for  us in this story. Joesph’s brothers took revenge, but found themselves haunted with guilt. Joesph refused to remain embittered and take revenge and found what Paul would write to the Romans to be true…

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. (Romans 12:19)

I saw a quote that said, “The best revenge is to live well. Remember, you can’t get ahead if you are trying to get even.” Revenge may feel “sweet” at the time, but it often has lingering consequences. Forgiveness is the better alternative.