Today was a fairly busy day. My friend Rod Carlson joined me in attending a minister’s lunch. It was good to connect with some new friends as well as those that I have met before. After the lunch we made trip to Arvada to run an errand and while there I made my way to the Community First Foundation office and was able to connect with my friend Michael Jackson. Mike works with the nonprofits that are in partnership with Community First  Foundation. We shared together about my experiences over the last year and my involvement in helping to promote Colorado Gives Day, which continues to grow and provide nonprofits with with an annual fundraising drive that raises the profile of the nonprofit community in Colorado. The event on December 9, 2014 this year, is a successful foundation, government, business and nonprofit partnership.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”  1 John 1:7

I like 1 John. This New Testament letter written by the disciple that was known as one the “Sons of Thunder” oozes statements about love and encouragement in the faith. At the same time he is direct. God’s love is not license, it is not mussy, it does not have areas of gray and is not something that is to be taken for granted.

John expresses his desire in the opening verses by saying, “…we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”              (1 John 1:4) John’s focus is on fellowship, love, joy and light. These are all interwoven as critical to our Christian life. The foundation point is that “God is light.” (1 John 1:5) Not some light, total light, no darkness at all!

We can’t live in the dark and have fellowship with God. This is contrary to truth and shows we are self-deceived. In contrast if we “walk [live] in God’s light we have fellowship with one another….” You will notice that when someone struggles with their relationship with Christ and their lifestyle choices, they distance themselves from other believers and church attendance. Fellowship with others is not dependent upon our “righteousness” as the source of life, but on being in right relationship with the “light of life.”

John goes on and in that context of Christian fellowship says, “….and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” Living in fellowship with other believers and with Christ requires continual forgiveness. When we are in “the light” of God’s presence, we become much more aware of areas of darkness that creep into our lives. That calls us to repentance in order to receive forgiveness.

When conflicts and divisions arise someone is not walking in the light. When spiritual commitments begin to wane, someone is not walking in the light. The simple and immediate solution is to shine the light of God’s presence and truth into a situation or our lives. When that happens we see the reality of John’s proclamation of Christ taking place, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3)

Today at a lunch with some ministers I introduced my friend Rod Carlson to my friend Charles Hefton. Charles said, “any friend of Ken’s is a friend of mine.” John is saying, “anyone who is a friend of Jesus, who has fellowship with Jesus, is a friend of mine and has fellowship with me.”

My morning got off to a later start than I anticipated. I made it to Old Town Fort Collins for a prayer time with some leaders and then returned home and took care of some duties and got caught up on some of my morning routines. After an afternoon appointment I returned home and took a nap to get re-energized.

I am pleased that I am finally feeling more strength and energy than I have for several weeks. I am anticipating some new routines with fitness workouts and efforts to begin some work projects. When I think of a year ago, I was thinking that I would be discharged from in-patient rehab on November 10. I still had several medical issues to deal with along with my ability to take care of some “activities of daily living.” I was actually glad to have the extra month of rehab. Even though I thought I would be farther along in my recovery, I am glad that I am where I am today compared to last year!

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel…If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land.”  Jeremiah 42:9-12

How do you respond when the answer is not what you want to hear? I am reminded of the story of the man who was hanging on a branch over a cliff. He is yelling for help, “is anyone up there?” A voice answered, “I am here, I am the Lord.” “Lord, help me, I will do anything you ask!” the man cries. The Lord responds, “let go of the branch!” The man responds, “Is anyone else up there?!”

God’s judgment has come upon His people. Only a remnant of the people remain in the land. There has just been an uprising where the governor appointed by the King of  Babylon is killed along with his men and some men of Babylon. The leaders and all the people come to Jeremiah and plead, “pray to the Lords for us.” They are seeking direction, some want to flee to Egypt others want to stay, but they are confused and bewildered. They want to hear some direction from the Lord.

Here is their plea of desperation, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the Lord your God sends you to us. Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.”            Jeremiah 42:5,6

Their mouths uttered the words that seemed to place them in a position to hear God’s word, obey and be blessed in their obedience.  The Lord’s word came and told them to remain in the Land and that they would be protected and warned them that if they go to Egypt that what they feared would happen to them in Jerusalem will happen in Egypt.

This is how the leaders responded to the word of the Lord through Jeremiah,  “You are telling a lie. The Lord our God did not send you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to live there’…” Jeremiah 43:2 The leaders in their heart had already determined what would be best for their future and their protection. When  God spoke what was contrary to their desires, they could not accept it and rebelled against the Lord, because if just did not make sense to them.

Pastor Mark Batterson asks, “Do you trust that God is for you even when He doesn’t give you what you asked for? Do you trust that He has reasons beyond your reason? Do you trust that His plan is better than yours?” (Circle Maker, pg 122) The leaders in the land of Judah had their plan, they had their reasoning and even though they said they would heed and obey, when it didn’t make sense they rationalized and rebelled.

One of the greatest acts of trust and faith is when the answer to our prayer or the “word from the Lord” doesn’t fit into our logic or preconceived notions. Mark Batterson says, “If you can trust Him when the answer is “no” you are likely to praise Him when the answer is “yes.” (Circle Maker pg. 122)

Jeremiah, like many pastors and leaders, had to watch as the people disobeyed God, went to Egypt and suffered the consequences of disobedience instead of experiencing God’s favor and protection. As a pastor I have had people say to me, “I know what the Bible says….but…” and they proceed to follow their desires and not the Lord’s and sooner or later experience the consequences of their actions.

When you pray, “Lord show me your will”  – will you follow God’s will when it doesn’t match up with yours? When you ask the Lord to “open or close a door” – are you willing to accept a closed door as much as an open one? When you want an answer now! are you willing to wait on the Lord? Those are tough situations, but that is what trust is about and as the saying goes, “there is no safer place than to be in the center of God’s will.” That is true even when God’s will doesn’t line up with our thoughts about God’s will.

Today was a good Monday! After being fairly tired last night, I had a good night of rest and work early and refreshed. I got out and about town a little this morning. One of my stops was at the 24-Hour Fitness Center near our home. It looks like my recovery has brought me to the point where I can benefit from a regular fitness center work out. I will be supported by some of the training staff in setting some goals and addressing my specific needs. This will be a good step of commitment and accountability.

After several months of challenging Mondays, I believe I finally feel the strength and energy to attend the men’s Bible Study tonight at Timberline.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me.” Jeremiah 35:18,19

This chapter of Jeremiah is an unusual one because the prophet uses as an example of obedience and loyalty the family of the Rechabites. Their ancestor had forbidden them to drink wine and they held to that command for generations. Jeremiah tested them by bring them into the Temple and putting wine before them. They refused because of the command from their father Jonadab.

God points out the contrast between this family and His children in these words, “The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. Therefore, thus says the Lord…I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.” Jeremiah 35:16,17

Jeremiah makes it clear that loyalty to our “Heavenly Father” should be as great as loyalty shown to our earthly father and family. Many will show great allegiance to family “rules, patterns and traditions.” I remember meeting an older teen who told me she “doesn’t vote.” When I asked why? She said, “that’s just the way I have been raised.” I wanted to say, “you need new parents.” 

When I read this chapter, I am reminded that God takes note what we don’t realize what He is paying attention to. We see that the Lord rewarded this family for their commitment of obedience and loyalty. Their family priorities and relationships were not disregarded as meaningless, compared to obedience to God, but were rewarded by God.

As I consider this I am reminded of youth speaker of years past who used to say in his messages to teens, “if you can’t get along with your parents, you won’t get along with God.” I realize in our day of a growing number of dysfunctional and harmful family environments these analogies are challenging. Obviously this has a godly and loving family and parents in mind. But for our purposes we are reminded that God sees the consistency of character and the integrity of heart that the Psalmist referred to when he said, “… [they] keep their promises, no matter what the cost.” (Psalm 15:5)

The Recabites were living in a day when their “promise keeping” required them to swim against the current of their culture. God saw their commitment and pronounced blessing on them. In our world today there are commitments and actions that require you to swim against the current culture. Remember that God sees, and remembers and blesses even when judgment comes all around.

In contrast to last weekend, we are enjoying more of a relaxed weekend. After some typical Saturday housekeeping and outside chores we are looking forward to our Saturday evening service at Timberline. After the service Charlie Simeno and our friend Rod Carlson will be joining us for dinner. Tomorrow we go with a group to a dinner playhouse in Johnstown. This venue is in an unlikely location, but we have heard good things about it and are looking forward to our first visit.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…   “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”   Isaiah 55:8,9

If we could totally comprehend and understand God…then we would be…God! Throughout time it seems that man has endeavored to bring God down to his level or to rise to that of God’s.

Perhaps there is no greater challenge in understanding the “ways” of God than answers to prayer. Pastor Mark Batterson observes, “God…has this habit of waiting until the very last moment to answer our prayer to see if we will “chicken out” or “pray through”…if we pray through God will come through.” (Batterson, M. 2011 The Circle Maker, pg. 109) At times God’s “ways” are His way to teach us and mature us and allow us to grow in faith and trust in Him.

What is of interest to me is that our verse above follows these familiar words, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6,7)

In the natural there is no reason why God would have compassion and be willing to forgive a people who have been as disobedient, rebellious, idolatrous and outright evil as the Children of Israel. But because His ways and thoughts are above ours, He is willing to do and will do what we can not comprehend or do in our own strength in our relationships.

All of this is related to the sovereignty of God. God creates the rules for us and for our world, not the other way around. Our response is to stand in awe, to worship, to submit to Him and to seek Him with all of our heart. We do this knowing that He is a God of compassion, everlasting love and He is one who is moved by the prayers of His people.

Another nice day here at a mile above sea level. Nothing too exciting for today, which for me can be good. After a meeting with the President of our HOA about some current issues, I took the dog for a walk. But today I did our normal jaunt in my regular wheelchair which gave my legs and arms some exercise. It took quite a bit longer, but I’m glad that I made it and did as well as I did.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.He is like a shrub in the desert,  and shall not see any good come….“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord…He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes,  for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:5-8

Throughout the Old Testament we find admonitions and contrasts between trusting in yourself and others, or in the Lord. These verses from Jeremiah strike that cord once again. They are reminiscent of Psalm 1, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked…but his delight is in the law of the Lord…He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season,  and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

I also think of Psalm 20:7  “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

Why the constant reminders and admonitions about the contrast in trusting in yourself or others or anything besides the Lord and trust in the Lord.? I believe part of the answer is in Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Our default system, the downward drag of the world around us and the deception of our mind and heart is to trust in ourselves, our strength, our “wisdom” our resources or that which we can summon to our side. When the Lord doesn’t do what we think should be done and when, it is easy for our “hearts” to turn away from the Lord. That is an interesting reference. Perhaps we give mental ascent to the Lord, we don’t wipe Him off our minds, He is just not directing our heart which is at the core of our attitudes and actions.

Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)  In this context Jesus is talking about money. But can we not apply it to anything of value. What you “treasure” has  your “heart.” What has your “heart” will determine your actions.”

What are the blessings the come from trusting in the Lord? Stability, security and strength. Those three are a fairly good summary. The word pictures are vivid, but none more so than “…Hes not fear when heat comes…not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” How  is that possible? Not in the natural, only through the supernatural provision of the Lord who gives life and supplied manna and quail for the  multitude of God’s people in the wilderness.

The metaphor is saying, your prosperity and productivity are not dependent upon your environment, but upon your life source. When your life is found in trust in the Lord you can experience the provision of His promises,  “I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

Our trust in the Lord is a daily commitment  of our hearts. It usually involves a firm reminder to ourselves, that says, “today I chose to trust in the Lord.” And I believe as we do that, we can expect and look for the blessings that come from that commitment.