Monthly Archives: May 2014

The God Over all Nations

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I had a good report from our primary care doctor yesterday. She was disappointed that she didn’t keep me out of the hospital, but  my hospitalization ended up being a good proactive response to some of my symptoms. Yesterday I drove myself to the doctor’s appointment. So that was a first! I am gradually becoming more independent and figuring out how to get myself around and still manage my energy level. While I am glad that I am able to drive, I am good for about one or two trips a day. That is probably because of the effort it takes to walk with the walker or get the wheelchair out of the trunk.

So I am definitely in a new phase of my recovery and that is exciting and challenging all at the same time.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….”Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the Lord…this is what the Sovereign Lord says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered. I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt, the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly kingdom. It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations.”  Ezekiel 29:9,13-15

I recall the tour Debbie and I had the opportunity to take in 2000 to Egypt and Israel. It was a fascinating first time experience for both of us. Visiting Egypt and looking at the pyramids and reflecting on the power and influence of ancient Egypt was an insightful experience. We see Egypt in the Bible as a world power. It was the place that God’s people lived and multiplied in numbers for 400 years until the exodus. When God’s people were in the promised land Egypt was the place where individuals ran for refuge. Solomon took a wife from Egypt, which was a recognition of the nation’s power and the traditional way to keep a more powerful nation from attacking you. Hundreds of years later when Jerusalem was falling to the Babylonians there was a group that was intent on escaping God’s judgment through going to Egypt.

The question that came to my mind was, “what happened to Egypt?” “What did its political and social and cultural prominence come to an end?”

I found it interesting when I read the prophecies in Ezekiel concerning Egypt. God’s judgment was not only on the nation of Israel but on Egypt and other nations at that time. God is making it clear that He is the God who governs over all nations and all people. In Biblical times and some times today people can look at God as being only concerned about a nation or a few nations, somewhat of a “regional” God.

However, it is God’s desire for all nations to know that “He is the Lord.” Four times in Ezekiel 29 you will find the expression, “then they will know the I am the Lord.” God pronounced a captivity and a restoration for  Egypt, just as he did Judah. When the exodus took place  the Lord God showed Himself greater than all the gods of Egypt and now through the prophecy of Ezekiel He is once again showing His sovereign rule.

So what? The take away is to understand that God is still sovereign over all His creation. Just as He was at work in the past He is still at work in the world today. What we as Geo-political changes and upheavals may be God orchestrating His divine plane. For example, back in the 1980’s I read  something about end time events in the Bible. My thought was, “for that to happen the Soviet Union as we know it today will have to come to an end.” And then, when what I thought would never happen, happened, it got my attention!

The other reoccurring theme is, “then they will know that I am the Lord.” God’s desire to to be known by all people as the “Lord.” The one who is awesome in power, yet our savior and provider and the one who continually manifests His loving kindness to all those who call on His name.

 

 

Condemned Already

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Today, I had my massage appointment and this afternoon I have a follow up appointment with my primary care doctor after my recent hospitalization. I like the evidence of God’s hand in the marketplace. Twyla my massage therapist was telling me of a patient that I crossed paths with as I arrived for my appointment. Twyla has been seeing this patient since last September and when she first met her she was in wheelchair. (This patient has given Twyla permission to share some of her story.) On one of the visits Twyla offered to pray for this lady, who is from Saudi Arabia and came to the states largely due to some of her medical issues. The patient consented and later told Twyla how better she felt after she received prayer.

Our friend Phyllis Kovac (92) had a fell last week and experienced a broken bone and has been recovering in a nursing home. We covet your prayers for her this dear saint. Efforts are being made for her to return home soon. Phyllis and her daughter Gwen are dear friends and committed to ministry to others. I recall their faithfulness to visit with me in the hospital. They were always such a great source of encouragement. (The picture above is Phyllis and me listening to Pastor Bob Strauch on the day I left the Rehab hospital in December.)

I am thankful that God hears and answers prayer and no prayer is guaranteed to be answered like the prayer asking God to forgive our sins.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”             John 3:16-18

John 3;16 is probably the most familiar verse in the Bible. But I have always felt that it is important to know what is said in verses 17 and 18. Often times people will say something in regard to “God condemning them to……” You know that politically unpopular place to talk about that is the opposite of heaven. The Bible is clear that Christ came into the world to save the world. That means the world was lost and without hope already and condemned to die a spiritual death in….of well hell (there I said it!)

The humanistic perspective is that heaven is the default plan. However, the Biblical perspective is just the opposite, or Christ would not have had to come to earth to die on the cross. Placing our faith in Jesus Christ brings us from spiritual death to life. And the words of John provide a resounding assurance, “whoever believes in Him is not condemned.”

The Apostle Paul writes about the assurance we have through faith in Christ… “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”  Romans 8:1,2

The “law of sin and death” is human effort to try to be good, only to fail, only to try again, only to fail again. The “law of the Spirit” says the one who places their faith in Christ and relies on His grace and mercy has life and God’s Spirit to lives in them to give them strength to live the life He has for them.

In short, that’s the gospel, that’s good news!

 

 

Tough Love

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It looks like my big event for today was mowing the lawn. It is much easier mowing the lawn with my riding mower than trying to push a regular mower behind my power wheelchair! The one thing I haven’t tried yet is using the electric trimmer, so I am having Jonathan Hill who helps me with my lawn to come and take on that task.

We had Jerry Cooper from “Helping Hands Handyman” come by to take a look a putting a fence in our backyard. This will help keep our new little dog in. It may be just in time. Somehow how the little varmint go off his leashed and took a stroll somewhere in the neighborhood. I just know that by the time I got home from almost a mile long loop looking for him he was at our back patio door. At least he is learning where home is!

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,  for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22,23

God’s people are in captivity. Jerusalem is in ruins, the temple of God burned. Jeremiah the prophet is mourning (lamenting) what has taken place.

Tough love is the expression that is used to describe actions where love is demonstrated through discipline or temporary pain that is designed to get a loved one’s attention and change their behavior. God is demonstrating “tough love” to His people. The time frame will be 70 years before they realize that following the Lord and obeying Him is the only way to live.

The context of Lamentations 3 shows the condition of God’s people. Jeremiah becomes the personalization of the judgement of God on His people. We read the following:

I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord’s wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk
    in darkness rather than light; 3:1,2

He has made my skin and my flesh grow old and has broken my bones. 3:4

Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer.  3:8

He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver. 3:13

I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. 3:17

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed… 3:21,22

After the litany that describes the condition of God’s people it is amazing that there is anything positive that can come from this perspective. However, in the midst of describing the condition in the present, there is the reflection on not what God has done or allowed to happen but who God is. God is the God of hope and the God of love. He is the God of mercies and His mercies are renewed every morning. The summary of it all? Great is your faithfulness! In good times, in bad. In joy and in tragedy the Lord continues to be faithful.

Here is the conclusion in light of all the pain and God’s love and faithfulness….’I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.’ Lam. 3:23-26

In times of trial, in times of discipline, God provides the strength that is needed. As we hope in Him with Psalmist we can say, “I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13

Whatever we face, our situation probably doesn’t equate with what is described in Lamentations 3. We can hold on to the character of God at all times. As you do, you will find this to be true…. “when you don’t understand God’s ways, you can always trust God’s hand.” You are in good hands, when you place your trust in God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Only Wise God

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This morning I hosted another Rocky Mountain Energy webinar. This was the fourth in our series and we hope to do another the end of June. This afternoon I drove myself to my outpatient physical therapy appointment. This was a first and I managed to get the wheelchair out of the trunk without too much difficulty. At the end of my occupational therapy session the therapist came outside to watch me maneuver the chair back into the trunk. He provided some advice and will structure some exercises in future sessions to strengthen my muscles that are needed for that task.

While at Rocky Mountain Rehab Hospital I recognized Corissa Reiner (one of the PTA’s)  for her participation in the Colfax Charity 5K. She was part of the runners who supported Teen Challenge of the Rocky Mountains and placed third among the women who ran in the race for Teen Challenge. (picture above Corissa and myself)

When I returned home, Pastor Steve Harris came by to see me. I was able to give him an update on my status. Since I was in the hospital last week, the therapists were required to do another assessment. I actually showed some significant improvement from their first assessment four weeks ago. That was good news and provides a lot of optimism for the future.

The next hurdle took place when I drove Steve and myself to Starbucks. Steve didn’t even wear his crash helmet which gave me more confidence. When we  arrived, I was able to make it from the car to the store using my walker. It was slow but I made it and by the time I got through the door I was ready to sit down.

My strength is beginning to provide me with more confidence and independence. That in itself is an adjustment that will take some time to get used to. However, the progress that I am making is more in line with my personal goals to be more active if not walking on my own by the end of July.

Pray that I will not be derailed by any infections and that the therapy process and my own discipline in home exercise will be what it needs to be to meet these goals.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…Worship and glory belong forever to the eternal king, the immortal, invisible, and only God. Amen.”    1 Timothy 1:15,17 (GW)

We are use to doxologies and expressions of praise in the Psalms, but we find several from the writings of the Apostle Paul. The context of these verses finds Paul expressing how he was the worst of sinners and how Christ’s grace and mercy was extended to him was an example of the patience of God for those who would believe.

As a natural outgrowth of Paul’s reflections on the kindness of God he bursts forth as it were into an anthem of praise the the Lord. Christ alone is worthy of worship as the only wise, eternal and immortal God. The Lord is worthy of our worship simply for who He is. However, when we experience in a personal way His mercy and grace and understand the difference it has made in our life, then worship comes from a heart of gratitude and relationship.

Above all else that is the kind of worship God desires. Worship that reflects not just a mind of understanding, but a heart of devotion. That is what we see in the Old Testament; God’s promises to “give a new heart and a new spirit” to His people. What does this worship look like? It is simply our hearts directed toward the Lord in words of thankfulness for what He has done, and who He is.

If you need a starting place write down your thoughts and words and then read them to the Lord. The words of Paul give a good place to start.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing Too Hard for God

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Today was a nice “summer day.” After last week with rain and some severe storm warnings, it looks like we have catapulted into summer with temps in the 80’s. Yesterday one of our projects was to work on the weeds in the garden. It is looking better, but we will not be planting a garden, but we will keep Isla’s (Debbie’s mom) garden spot tended. We do have a healthy patch of strawberries, so be the end of the month they should bearing berries!

I am glad that I have been feeling better and stronger. I am walking longer distances and trying to be more independent with activities around the house. I trimmed some of the rose bushes today as part of my outside activity. Tomorrow I return to Northern Colorado Rehab for another therapy session.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17

This verse above is a prayer of Jeremiah’s. It is prayed after he is instructed to buy a field and bury the deed, because the Lord will one day bring God’s people back to the land. The Lord told him that one day in the future land will be once again bought and sold. The opening statement in Jeremiah’s prayer to the Lord is recognizing God’s creative power and His ability to do what He has promised.

The instructions that Jeremiah received from the Lord seemed at the time out of the realm of possibility. Jeremiah’s response in prayer is to recognize the ultimate power of God. This is the God who spoke the world into existence. Here we find one of those assertions of God’s creative work. Jeremiah had no doubts about how the world came into existence. This creator God is able to do whatever He determines in keeping with His sovereign plan for individuals and nations.

There is more to this verse than inspiring faith in God’s ability to intervene in our lives. This verse and its context reveals that God is working out His plan for His people and He can be trusted to fulfill His plan. I think of this in our current day. God is still working out His plan for people and nations. He is not the God who was, He is the God who is! As such we can learn from and be strengthened in our faith by what we read of God’s working in times past.

I recently caught the end of Governor Bobby Jindal’s commencement address to the graduates at Liberty University. He challenge them that in spite of what our current culture looks like and the obstacles that may come our way as Christ follower’s that this is the time to put our faith into action and be the light of the world that Christ called us to be.

Can God work out His plan in a post-modern, anti-Christ culture? Nothing is too difficult for Him

Can God provide strategies to allow believer’s to influence their culture when they may feel more like victims than victors? Nothing is too difficult for Him.

Can God be found in the darkest of spiritual surroundings, when it seems all have forsaken Him? Nothing is too difficult for Him.

Can God use even those who deny Him to reveal His glory and fulfill His purpose? Nothing is too difficult for Him.

Can God restore and fulfill His created order to that which He intended from the beginning of time? Nothing is too difficult for Him.

Remember, regardless of how dark the night, light is present, hope and a future is present when God is there. That is what Jeremiah discovered at the worst time in Judah’s history and He held to God’s Word and promise. When we do the same we find in the creator God, nothing is too difficult for Him.

 

 

Rest, Work, Play

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As we come to the “unofficial beginning” of summer it is important to pause and to remember those who gave their life in defending freedom over the course of time and several wars and conflicts abroad. I was challenged once again about the importance of our nation’s values, viewing the past speeches of President Ronald Reagan at Normandy and at Arlington Cemetery. My friend Josh Cook’s son recently asked him, “dad what’s Memorial Day.” Josh said, “it is when we pause and remember those who died in battles fighting for our freedom.” His son responded, “I don’t remember any of them.” Often when the connection is not personal, the significance can lose its meaning. However, we all owe a great deal of gratitude to the many unsung hero’s who have served to keep our nation free and to defend the freedom of others.  To the unknown individuals who pledged their sacred honor on the field of battle in noble service to their country, so generations to come could enjoy freedoms, we say thank you for your sacrifice.

This Memorial Day for our family has been a combination of rest, work, play. In the series of those words “rest” should be at the end, but for me sometimes I need to have it at the beginning of my activity. Our grandkids were with us as mom and dad ran in the Bolder Boulder. Bridget did a great job crossing the finish line in under 49 minutes. Christian was ten minutes or [and] so…behind.

Here at home base we had morning waffles and then the kids played on the computer, while grandpa and grandma did some work on theirs, we then pulled some weeds in the garden and when Christian and Bridget return back to our home we made a trek down to the neighborhood swimming pool.  We are glad that the weather has cooperated. It was not blazing hot but no rain.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY... “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

There are not too many verses in Jeremiah that come to mind or that stand out to even avid Bible readers. However, this is one that many will recognize. In its brevity it rings of hope and inspires faith and confidence in God.

I found have my observations interesting in reading through the message of some of the Old Testament prophets. This verse for example, was a call of God, an invitation if you will not to the faithful, but to the rebellious. As God’s people were looking everywhere for help and guidance and worshiping all kinds of images and false gods, the God of Heaven stands amidst the chaos and invites His people to  “call on me…”

The idols they worshiped had ears but could not hear and God says if you call, “I will answer.” What is amazing about this timing is that God through His prophets is pronouncing judgment and captivity by evil nations on His people. Yet God has still not turned His back or deafened His ear from those who were objects of His mercy and loving kindness.

God promise is not “hold back” but let His people have the insight and understanding that they so desperately sought in the midst of warfare, starvation and a sea of voices using a “thus says the Lord” as a way to get people’s attention, but only adding to their plight spiritual confusion that brought hardness of heart.

“I will tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know.” We don’t know what these things were, but it is clear that God is wanting to reveal Himself and His plan to those who will call on Him…who will seek Him. Given the context of this verse, it brings to mind Jesus weeping over Jerusalem,  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Matthew 23:36

To this rebellious people God urges them to “call” yet He knows that they are unwilling. How important it is for us to be willing to simply, “call on God.” Regardless of our struggles, confusion, disappointments and wanderings. God in His mercy and loving-kindness is always available and will always hear.

 

 

 

 

 

Promised Restoration

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I finished my last IV antibiotic treatment today and have been feeling pretty good today. I mowed the lawn since we have had so much rain. It was good to be outside today. I am cautious on monitoring my energy level which is a new task for me. I enjoy outside work and it is easy for me to keep at it with an endless list of things that need to be addressed.

Christian and Bridget and the kids came up to Fort Collins again. Christian and Bridget are going to run in the Bolder Boulder 10K tomorrow. This is always a great event with 45,000 of your closest running “friends.” The grand-kids are becoming acquainted with with our new dog, “Andy.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again. They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.”  Ezekiel 11:17-20

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:33-34

The divided heart and idolatry of God’s people resulted over time in God’s discipline. When they entered the Promised Land the people of the land were wicked and served a number of idols along a host of detestable practices. Instead of God’s people becoming a purifying presence they added to the pollution of idolatry in the land and in God’s evaluation became even worse than the nations that had occupied the land.

The Lord would use wicked Babylon as a purifying fire to rid idolatry from God’s people. It would take 70 years. I am reminded of the words from a detective program where a detective told a suspect, “You are going to be in prison so long your parole officer hasn’t been born yet!” That was going to be the case with many who would return to the land after captivity as well as those leading the way.

This judgment was prophesied by Jeremiah and others. However, the discipline of the Lord was not easily accepted. Instead of submitting to the discipline of the Lord, Kings of Judah and rules tried to “save themselves.” This made matters only worse and resulted in greater suffering and loss of life.

I found it of interest that God spoke through both Jeremiah and Ezekiel similar words of promise. Out of captivity God would call in many ways a new nation. Even before Jerusalem was overthrown God was speaking through His prophets the future in store for them. God promised a new relationship, forgiveness of sin and forgetting their wicked ways, and a people with an undivided heart and a new spirit.

I would observe that:

(1)    Negative influences over time can wear you down (Frog in the kettle effect)

(2)    God disciplines to restore not to destroy

(3)   Yielding is better than resisting the discipline of the Lord

(4)   A new heart and a new spirit produce a new lifestyle

(5)   God is still working out His divine purpose for people and nations.

In the New Testament, the book of Revelation, while filled with judgments is a call for mankind to recognize God and turn to God. In the end of time we see words similar to those spoken thousands of years ago by God’s prophets.

“ I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem…And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” Revelation 21:3

Held Together in Him

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Last night was my first night at home. I actually woke feeling a “little rough” but began to feel better by the time my sister-in-law Sue picked me up for my appointment back at the hospital for my IV antibiotics. I’m not sure if it was my meds or Debbie’s coffee but I’m glad that I began to feel a normal amount of strength and energy.

After returning home from the hospital outpatient appointment, I took a nap which almost made me late to a graduation reception for Sarah Luzinski. I actually drove myself (with Debbie’s blessing) to the Luzinski’s home which is not too far from ours. I had to parallel park for the first time, which took me longer than it should have. The good part of it was that I was able to use my walker to get to the trunk and then get my wheelchair out of the trunk.  Fortunately Craig helped me load my wheelchair when I left for home. (Picture above Sarah and me)

Debbie was on-call today for the first time since returning to her work schedule. I was working in my office making phone calls and sending emails for my Wednesday energy webinar when she returned home. She arrived just in time for us to make the Saturday evening service at Timberline Church. All in all, it made for a big day (at least for me).

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “For in him [Christ] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16,17

The activity of God in creation is referenced in more places in the Bible than Genesis. We see it in Job, we see God’s act of creation referenced in the Lord’s voice through the Old Testament prophets. Perhaps there is no clearer declaration in the New Testament of the work of God in creation than Paul’s inspired words in Colossians.

If we were to borrow the sarcastic reply of some in our culture the statement would be, “which part of “all things” don’t you understand?” The stars? yes! Angels? yes! If it exists, it has been created by God, through Christ. All that is was not just created and then abandoned by God. Paul is clear, Christ was before all things (He was, is, and forever will be) and in Him all things hold together.

It is interesting how science continues to search for the keys to the creation of earth and what keeps it all intact. Why doesn’t it fly off course, what would threaten earth’s existence? Individuals look for the anchor of their lives and their soul. What keeps you on solid when all else is shaken? What is the DNA of life that is able to keep you standing upright throughout life? Some may look to a “soul mate” but there is One who is the maker and sustainer of our souls, and the Apostle says, it is Jesus.

I like devotional writer Sarah Young’s observation of this truth, “Since all things hold together in [Christ], you life holds together better when there is more of [Christ] in it!”  (Jesus Today pg. 286) Do you feel like thing are “flying apart in your life?” Are you looking for a firm foundation in life? Look up to your creator and invite Him in to your life.