This morning we were back to sunny skies and warm weather. That helped me feel that much better. I had a chance to get to our neighborhood pool and get in some exercise, before a Rotary picnic in Loveland. This past Saturday, we enjoyed another visit from Rep. Spencer Swalm. It was good to connect once again with Spencer and to give him a copy of my book. He wrote a nice endorsement for me.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Enlarge the site of your tent, and let your tent curtains be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will dispossess nations and inhabit the desolate cities.” Isaiah 54:2,3 HCSB

Isaiah prophesied about a future glory, before the current crisis came to it fulfillment. We see encouraging words spoken, decades before they would make any sense. In the totality of Isaiah’s words we see God’s divine plan from “start to finish.”

So often we are focused on today and the here and now, instead of the future, it is difficult to see the “grand scheme” in God’s mind. While Jerusalem would be the forsaken city, there would come day when the captives were the rulers; when those who had been the “foot” would be the “head.”

As we consider the words of the prophet we see that they are directed not in response to what the Lord had accomplished but in preparation for what the Lord would one day accomplish. “Enlarge the site of  your tent, stretch out..lengthen your ropes, drive your pegs deep.” In many ways this is like the prophet Elisha telling the widow woman with the small jar of oil, to collect vessels from all her neighbors in preparation for a miracle.

We see this encouragement to “act now for what will come later” in the words, “Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; don’t be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced.“ (Isaiah 54:4 HCSB) We also see the familiar words, “No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation…” (Isaiah 54:17 HCSB)

It is a true act of faith, when we take steps for that which has not yet been manifested, as if it has already happened. At our men’s retreat this spring Pastor Mark Batterson, told how when he was starting his church, they were praying for a drummer. He felt the Lord prompting him to go buy a drum set. He spent his own money, of which he had very little at the time, and sacrificially bought a used drum set. He anticipated the foolish feeling of drums with no drummer sitting in the church.

The next Sunday, a young man walked into the service, who expressed interest in joining the new church. He was a drummer, who was a member of the Marine Corp drum and bugle team. The Lord not only honored the faith and obedience of a young pastor, but sent the best. Pastor Mark commented, “We decided, if you are good enough to play for the President of the United States, we will allow you to play in our church!”

Prayer for Today… “Lord one of the greatest challenges is to act in faith and obedience as the miracle is on its way. But that is, at times, what you ask. Allow me to be sensitive to your voice, so what I do is not out of my thoughts, but is truly directed by You. Thank you that when You are at work, I can anticipated expansion, stability and strength coming my way.”

I heard from my Neurologist today about blood work from my last appointment. He said that my blood levels that indicate Myasthenia Gravis were the highest they have been since my initial infection. He wants to try an extensive drug therapy, instead of putting me back on prednisone. While we were in Washington D.C. we had the opportunity to visit Congressman Mike Coffman. We appreciated the moments he took for us and the “photo op.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, the people who were already in the land wrote an accusation against the residents of Judah and Jerusalem...As soon as the text of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they immediately went to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them...Now the construction of God’s house in Jerusalem had stopped and remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.” Ezra 4:6,23,24 HCSB

Not everyone was glad to see the Temple being rebuilt in Jerusalem and the city being restored. The people who had occupied the land tried to resist and discourage those who were rebuilding the Temple. But the Jews had the decree of King Cyrus on their side.

However, transitions in leadership present opportunities for change. In this case it was an opportunity for the enemies of the Jews to write letters to the new King, telling him that this rebuilding project was going on and that it posed a threat to the security of his kingdom. A search was made of the archives and the the King issued an order for the building to stop.

But just as a change in leadership worked against the Jews, when another took place it worked in their favor. When Darius became King the rebuilding was restarted. The enemies of the Jews tried to stop them again and asked for their names to “report them” I like their response, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.…” (Ezra 5:11 HCSB)

They went on and told how they rebelled against the Lord and were taken captive to Babylon. King Cyrus had given them this command. This time when the archives were searched the record of the command of King Cyrus was found and the enemies of the Jews were told not to interfere and the project was completed. When the project was completed the Passover was celebrated and their was great rejoicing in what the Lord allowed them to accomplish.

I believe what I observe in this series of events is the importance of not becoming discouraged. Remain persistent. Look for the next opportunity. What is interesting is that I have observed this in efforts to get a certain piece of legislation passed into law. If that happens in the course of human endeavors, how much more important for it to take place in spiritual endeavors.

We need to asked ourselves, “Am I giving up too soon?” That may be on a dream, an unanswered prayer that has been prayed for years. Am I giving up when it seems the “opposition” has the upper hand? What worked against the Jews in one situation, worked in their favor in the next.

Any endeavor worth pursuing, is worth being persistent in getting it accomplished. When there is a delay, look for the next opportunity to seize and move forward, trusting the Lord for His protection and provision.

Prayer to today… “Lord, help me to seize opportunities and not become discouraged when there are delays and setbacks in my life. When You call me  to a task, let me not be surprised when there is opposition or difficulty. Instead, let me be patient, persistent and to know that what you call me to begin, you allow me to finish.”

Last night we attend a “Lincoln Day Dinner” with about 800 others to hear author and film maker Dinesh D’souza. This morning Debbie joined me again for the chapel service at McKenzie Place retirement home. It was a delight to be joined by Jerry and Virginia Pippin and to enjoy brunch after the service.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “They set up the altar on its foundation and offered burnt offerings for the morning and evening on it to the Lord even though they feared the surrounding peoples.…On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, even though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid.…In the second month of the second year after they arrived at God’s house in Jerusalem….all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began to build.” Ezra 3:1-9 HCSB

The words of the Lord through Jeremiah were coming to pass for God’s people. They were being returned to the own land with the support of the country where they had been captives. A change in government presents opportunities and some challenges. Babylon has fallen and the Persians are now in control. King Cyrus issues a decree for a temple to be built in Jerusalem to honor the Lord God.

As the exiles return, the first thing they do is to establish their homes in the land that had been left desolate and they then build an altar to offer sacrifices to the Lord. When we look at the chronology it appears this took place seven months before the work of rebuilding the Temple began.

I believe it is important to take note of this sequence. So often when given a project, the desire is to, “get at it.” Let’s get to work and begin the task we have been assigned and are eager to complete. However, God’s people had learned an important lesson and they put “first things first.” Even though the Temple would facilitate worship and sacrifice to the Lord, it was not a prerequisite or the only way to show honor to the Lord.

So, as the people were settled, they worshiped first and worked second. They didn’t assume God’s blessing on their efforts, they sought  God’s blessing for their efforts. Just because it was “God’s work” it still required God’s wisdom, strength and provision.

During this time the people prepared their hearts and organized their efforts. As a result their efforts were successful in getting the foundation of the Temple laid. That was the first and most important step in the process. When the foundation was laid, there was time to stop, and give thanks to the Lord, who had helped them to accomplish the first step.

“When the builders had laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph, holding cymbals, took their positions to praise the Lord, as King David of Israel had instructed. They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: “For He is good; His faithful love to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s house had been laid.” (Ezra 3:10,11 HCSB)

It is interesting that in modern building projects, we have “ground breaking” ceremonies and we have church building dedication ceremonies. We take time before the project is start to celebrate and when it is completed. Perhaps we should learn from the Old Testament and have times of celebration at key phases of a building effort. But regardless, we can observe that worship should always precede our work.

Prayer for today…. “Lord, I am guilty of rushing into a project with eagerness to accomplish a task. Allow me to remember that taking time to seek You and to worship You is the best preparation that can be made in any effort; especially when it comes to my work for You and the work of building my life and family.”

This past week, I attended an event hosted by our Colorado Senators called the “Colorado Capital Conference.” The event was co-hosted by Mesa State University and the University of Colorado. CU Regent Sue Sharkey was in a “foot boot” so it provided a partner in my attempts to navigate the mobility challenges in Washington D.C. CU Regent Steve Bosley, was a great companion helping me get to where I needed to be and even pushing me in a wheelchair.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….   ^“This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who leads you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commands. Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:17,18 HCSB

We don’t always learn the lessons we should, when we should learn them. We miss opportunities, we don’t take advantage of the wisdom of others, we don’t apply the lessons that we are taught.

God’s people spend 70 years in captivity in Babylon as exiles before they return to Jerusalem. It was one difficulty way to get their attention, but that is what had to happen. I can’t read the words, “if only you had paid attention to My commands” without feeling a sense of regret over the “lost opportunity.”

What God’s people failed to understand, is what many fail to comprehend today. God is on our side, He is for us! What He teaches is for our benefit. It is not to be viewed with a “take-it-or-leave-it” attitude. Where He leads we are to follow. We are not to exert our own preference and will. Stubbornness and fierce independence can be positive in the right context, but when applied to our relationship with the Lord, they are costly.

The good  news was God was preparing to fulfill His promise to return His people to their home. So we read, “Leave Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans! Declare with a shout of joy, proclaim this, let it go out to the end of the earth;
announce, “The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob!” (Isaiah 48:20 HCSB)

At one point in their history, God told his people, “don’t resist go to Babylon.” Now, He is telling them, “don’t remain in exile, get ready to return, I have redeemed you.” The Lord on His own initiative was going to the “pawn shop of Babylon” to bring back His people.

We see the edict in Ezra 1, “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The Lord put it into the mind of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing: This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever is among His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem…” (Ezra 1:1-3 HCSB)

God’s people had a new opportunity. Even though it was in a new generation, to have the peace and righteousness the God had planned long ago. But it would take them to understand that God teaches for their benefit and where He leads they are to follow.

If we can learn those simple lessons today; and live by God’s teaching and direction, we too will have a life of peace and righteousness. And it doesn’t have to take 70 years to learn that lesson.

Prayer for today… “Lord, help me to remember that your instructions and guidance is for my benefit. When I listen and apply Your truth, when I follow Your lead, You take me into paths of “righteousness of Your name’s sake.” Thank you for the peace that comes to my life when I pay attention to the One who cares for me and desires the best for me.”

Another long day of travel. But this one, is bringing me home. I enjoyed this week in Washington D.C. and will share about my conference in coming days.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Now this is what the Lord says, the One who formed you, Israel— “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you. ” Isaiah 43:1,2 HCSB

God’s people were headed for tough times. Their sin and rebellion had brought God’s judgment and correction. They were going to be exiles in a foreign land.

It is in facing this unknown future the Lord speaks through His prophet these words of encouragement. The courage that is found in hardship and adversity is not assurance that we are “bullet proof” from all harm. It is found in two key concepts. The Lord says, ” you are mine” and “I will be with you.” 

We see this vividly in the story of the “three Hebrew children” in the fire. We see it with Daniel in the lion’s den. But we are not guaranteed, to escape all harm, but we are guaranteed that the Lord will  be with us and we have the assurance we belong to Him.

God’s promise to be with His people is seen throughout the Bible. The final assurance is when Jesus ascended, “I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20)

Pastor Mark Batterson says, “I need to know two things, God is with me and God is for me.” I have said the assurance of God’s presence, gives confidence that what God does not keep us from, He is able to see us through.

Batterson observes, “If God is for us it doesn’t matter what comes against us. Without Him we can do nothing. With Him we can do all things. When we let God turn me, into we….it is life altering….”

Prayer for today…. “Lord help me to remember that I am Yours and You are with me. When trouble comes, it is never just me, but we who encounter it together. Thank You for making me victorious through You”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Therefore, dear friends, since we have such promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, completing our sanctification in the fear of God.”  2 Corinthians 7:1 HCSB

The people we choose to be close to and the attitudes and we have and the lifestyle we possess impacts our Christian joy and contentment in life.

You will find its true, God’s ways are the best. They are designed to protect us from hardship and to allow us to enjoy God’s richest blessings.

That is what we can observe from the Old Testament to the New. God’s love and grace is not conditional, but His blessings are enhanced through our obedience. We have confidence in God’s love for us, but our love for God is what makes the difference in the quality of our life.

God’s promises are motivation for our behavior.  The promises Paul refers to at the beginning of chapter 7, are seen at the end of chapter 6.

“I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 HCSB

Sanctification is related to “separation.” We “set ourselves apart” to God, that by nature means we “distance” ourselves from the relationships and behaviors that would grieve the Lord and rowwb us from God’s best for our life.

As Paul says to the Romans, “When you think of what he [Christ] has done for you, is this too much to ask?” (Romans 12:2 TLB)

Prayer for today... “Lord, help me to make the choices, that allow me to experience the best you have for me.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….. “Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 2 Corinthians 6:14,15 HCSB

I remember hearing the comment, “if we can missed the point, we certainly will!” This is a verse I recall from my youth. It was one of those that was more abused than properly used. It seemed to promote a “Christian subculture” and isolation, instead of providing a basis for wise counsel.

My daughter commented just today in reflecting on people she has observed, “those you choose to hang out with have an impact on your life.” That sounds like a summary of these words of Paul.

Paul wrote at the end of  1 Corinthians, “Bad company corrupts, good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:34 NIV)  Perhaps some in this church missed the point and he felt the need to elaborate in his second letter.

Perhaps you have heard a more modern statement of this age-old truth, “Those closest to you determine your level of success.” While that statement is applied not just to character, but is related to personal and business success, the concept is the same.

If you want enjoy success in life and keep yourself from hardship and a variety of challenging issues of life, choose your friends wisely. Make sure that those you are closest to will not undermine your faith and confidence in the Lord.

That doesn’t mean you don’t have a variety of friendships or isolate yourself from unbelievers. It does mean you use wisdom in who you connect with at the deepest levels, who you “partner” with and who exerts the greatest influence on your life.

As we are in D.C. and reconnecting with our friends Paul and Colleen Irwin, I’m reminded how close Christian friends serve as an inspiration and encouragement to your faith and focus.

Life is relationship. They can make you or break you. Choose wisely, “because those closest to you….”

Prayer for today…. “Lord than you for friendships. Thank you for those who encourage, challenge and strength me in my faith and personal development. Help me to impact others in a positive way, as I have been impacted by others.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 HCSB

We are in Washington D.C. This is the home of monuments and magnificent buildings. But all buildings are subject to deterioration. Currently the Capitol is going through renovations to address concerns     related to age and wear.

Not only do buildings have a “useful” life, so do our bodies. As we grow older we become painfully aware that our bodies are showing the signs of age. That is not just in appearance, but in strength and resilience.

The Apostle Paul’s body had taken a beating, literally. Paul would soon talk about his “thorn in the flesh.” The weakness of our human bodies and the deteriorating of what is of earth, allows us to place our hope and focus on that which is eternal.

Paul says when the temporary passes away, the eternal emerges. Like a butterfly emerging from a cacoon, there is a change, a metamorphis that takes place.

The Lord has not only prepared a place for His children, but has prepared new bodies for His children. What hope that can bring and what perspective in the midst of the challenges of life. I am reminded of Paul’s words,

“I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality.”  (1 Corinhians 15:51-53 HCSB)

So, remember in the challenges of life remember, the Lord has a glorious future planned for those who put their hope in Him.

Prayer for today…. “Lord, as that which around me changes, and as I grow older and change, allow me to remember that this life which is temporary, will give way to that which is eternal. Help me to live life not in dread or fear but in anticipation of the fulfillment of all you have for me….in this life and for eternity.”