This past Sunday, I mentioned Debbie and I having lunch with our friends Val and Diane McDaniel. Today I met them in Denver at the Capitol so they could return to the place where they were married, outside the House Chambers on the west balcony. They even dressed in the “wedding attire” for the occasion.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.” Psalm 84:11,2 HCSB

Psalm 84, is one the most beautiful of the Psalms. I would encourage you to read it, in its entirety slowly, contemplatively.

It begins with a focus on the Lord’s presence, we read, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.…What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.” (Psalm 84:1-2,4 HCSB)

David declared, “…in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11 ESV) Cultivating the Lord’s presence in our life and being in God’s House are the most important opportunities we have to refocus our attention, priorities and perspective of life and ourselves.

In God’s presence we find rest, we find encouragement, we find a foretaste of the eternity the Lord promises for those who love Him. A friend of mine who just celebrated another birthday made the comment, “each year is a year closer to being with the Lord.” That is not a morbid, view of the temporary nature of this life, but it is a hope-filled anticipation of a better life that awaits God’s children.

As we move through the psalm we see the Lord’s gracious provision for our life. He grants us strength and even when we walk through a “valley of weeping” He is able to bring refreshing and comfort.

“What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord…When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs...They will continue to grow stronger…” (Psalm 84:5-7 HCSB)

When then see this imagery of the Lord as a “sun and shield.” The Lord brightens our path, turns darkness to light. He also is a source of protection. A shield not only absorbed the arrows of the enemy, but served as a form of shade from the hot sun.

The all encompassing  promise is, “…The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” (Psalm 84:11 HCSB)

The response to that is to place our full trust in the Lord and to allow Him to be to us what we need. All that is found in His abiding presence and His gracious provision.

Prayer for today…. Lord, as I ponder the words of this Psalm, it calls me to pause and to worship You and give You thanks for who You are and what You offer to those who place their faith and trust in You. How great You are!

I had a fairly busy day today. This morning I was on the local KCOL radio station with host Jimmy Lakey talking about West Nile Virus and my book. I then had my fitness center workout and then headed to the hospital for a three hour IV infusion. I was even able to get in another interview on a legislative issue during my infusion.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas.” Psalm 81:11,12 NLT

Life can be a perpetual point of decision. God’s way or our own way. God doesn’t need to bring judgment on any one individual or any nation, all He needs to do is to allow them to “have it their way” to allow them to live “according to their own ideas” and their fate is sealed and certain.

I am thankful for the mercy of God that more often than not keeps us from getting what we really deserve. But when “walk away” and become “stubborn” in what we desire, the Lord will not force us to obey.

God warned them, even “sternly” to not follow foreign gods. The Lord reminded them, “For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.” (Psalm 81:10 NLT)

The Lord redeemed His people from slavery in Egypt and promised to supply all of their needs. “But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around.” (Psalm 81:11 NLT) We are known by the company we keep. As one leader reminds us, “those closest to you, determine your success.” If that applies to human relationships, how much more the spiritual commitment we make that determines the trajectory of our life.

In this psalm, we see the heartbreak of God in the words, “Oh, that my people would listen to me!” (Psalm 81:13 NLT) Listening to the Lord and following in His ways, results in victory over enemies, the respect of others and the provision of all that we need.

“How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.” (Psalm 81:14-16 NLT)

I am reminded of the words contained in an old hymn about prayer that say, “O, the peace we often forfeit, O the needless pain we bear…” That applies to our life when we stubbornly insist on our own way and choose to follow our own path and live by our own ideas.

In contrast, the life lived close to the Lord, listening to His voice, following Him in the journey of life brings His presence, peace and provision.

Prayer for today… Lord all too often in indirect and direct ways, it is easy to want to live life according to my “own ideas.” Forgiven me when I become inpatient or stubborn and think I know what is best. Help me to stop, listen, obey and receive all that You promise.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  ^“And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”  Acts 9:4-6 ESV

Saul of Tarsus was a Jew zealous for the Law of Moses and protecting the Pharisee’s power and influence. The new followers of Christ were a threat to that and he was intent on minimizing and if possible eliminating that threat. He gave consent to the stoning of Stephen the first martyr of the church and was a willing leader in the persecution of Christians wherever they could be found.

His life altering, life changing, encounter with the resurrected Christ came as he was riding with a “posy” to arrest Christians in Damascus. When he entered Damascus it was not in strength and power, but in weakness and humility. His unexpected encounter with Christ changed the course of his life. Knocked down from a horse and stricken with blindness is a rude awakening and sets life in a new course. The Lord had a plan and purpose for Saul’s life and it all began with a rude awakening.

His temporary physical blindness, resembled the spiritual blindness he was operating under. When his sight was restored by the prayer of Ananias his eyes were opened to a new reality and a new life. He could see physically, but his spiritual sight was refocused. As a result the one time persecutor of the church became one of the greatest apostles of the Church.

Three years ago, I experienced my own “life-altering” crisis. Life changing events redirect our life. In my book, “The Longest Campaign” I make the statement, “to face a crisis and not be changed is a waste of suffering.” This afternoon I was challenged to take that “change” to a new level. We met for lunch in Denver today with Val and Diane McDaniel. This is an older couple that I married nine years ago on the balcony outside of the House of Representatives at the State Capitol. As far as I know the only wedding held in this location in Colorado history.

As we reconnected after many years, we enjoyed great times of reflection and conversation. Val asked, “do you know why you survived?” I responded, “because of answers to prayer.” He said, “No! You survived because God is not finished with you yet!” The he asked, “Have you asked the Lord what He has for you?” “Well….not that directly, I guess” was my honest response.

Debbie and I have been pleased with the opportunities for a variety of ministry activities and even “political” involvement that has come my way, but it has been more responding to opportunities, walking through “open doors” than with a specific sense of mission or direction.

I do believe that the Lord is able to direct in that manner and is able to provide opportunities for our passion and gifts to be used. But Val’s recommendation was more specific, “why don’t you ask the Lord what is next and wait and listen?” It didn’t seem like his recommendation included just retirement and taking it easy. 🙂

So, our anniversary celebration with  some friends, left me with a challenge to contemplate, consider and act on. I always find it interesting when the “minister” is more the recipient than the giver of advice, counsel and challenge.  I will take that challenge with me into this next week, but I will have to put on hold the invitation for ballroom dancing.

Prayer for today… Lord, the simply question, “what would you have me to do?” can be one of the most important and powerful we can ask. This is especially true, when we have been extended special grace and mercy from You. Help me to be a more sensitive “listener” and make sure my plans are always in Your will.

My ISP has been having technical problems, so I was not able to post yesterday. This is Saturday’s post a day late. On Friday night I attended the Family Time Training Fundraiser in Golden. It was a great event, enjoyed by at least 200 friends of this ministry. It was great to see many friends. Among those were Brent and Michelle Moore. Michelle and her family attended the church I served as a pastor when she was a teen. It was great to reconnect with this couple since the last time they say me was in an intensive care unit three years ago.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….  “I will declare wise sayings; I will speak mysteries from the past— things we have heard and known and that our fathers have passed down to us. We must not hide them from their children, but must tell a future generation the praises of the Lord, His might, and the wonderful works He has performed.” Psalm 78:2-4 HCSB

There is a saying, “those who fail to remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” There are two important aspects of the “past” that God’s people were to remember and to pass on to future generations.

One was that of God’s faithfulness, power and wonderful works that He performed for His people. The other was the failures, disobedience and rebellion of the “exodus generation.”

Remembering who God is and what He had done and is able to do, was key to continuing in the Lord’s favor and following His ways. The end result of being faithful in recounting the lessons of the past was, “so that a future generation—children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep His commands.” (Psalm 68:6,7 HCSB)

When confidence in God wanes, moral and political decline is not far away. People look to themselves, they seek solutions of their own making to secure their future and security. They look to human sources, trust in wealth, and positions of political power. The present culture supplants the supremacy of God.

When the Lord and His ways are abandoned, fear triumphs over faith. “The Ephraimite archers turned back on the day of battle. They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law.” (Psalm 78:9,10 HCSB)

The psalm lays out the charges of God’s people who “forgot the Lord’s wonders…they continued to sin…”  They spoke against God, asking, “Is God able to provide food in the wilderness?” When the Lord provided water from the rock, they asked, “…can He also provide bread or furnish meat for His people?” (Psalm 78:17-20 HCSB)

The psalm recounts a depressing pattern of sin and rebellion and treating the Lord with contempt. But in all of their rebellion Lord continues to show His power and provision and how that His plans are not thwarted by human failures. In the end,  “He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;  He brought him from tending ewes to be shepherd over His people Jacob—over Israel, His inheritance.” (Psalm 78:70-71 HCSB)

The Lord finds a “man after his own heart.”  God’s ways will prevail. His plans will succeed. The question becomes one of faithfulness of failure; of righteousness or rebellion.

As I conducted a memorial service today, I was reminded that we learn from the lives of those who impact us. That involves both good and bad. What are the traits, character and practices we want to emulate, what are the ones we want to eliminate from our lives?

This psalm lays out in all of its honesty the two paths. The hope is that faith in God’s provision and faithfulness will be passed from generation to generation. That is what brings true peace and stability and secures a future the Lord has prepared for His children.

Prayer for today… Lord may we keep our hearts and minds focused on You. What You promise, You will do. As You show Yourself faithful, allow that to increase our confidence in Your constant provision, whatever the need. Let us be quick to listen and quick to return when we wander. May Your praise be known from generation to generation.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me up in glory.” Psalm 73:23,24 HCSB

Life can bring its share of frustrations and contradictions. There are the inequities of life, the injustices of life, the questions that seem to defy answers.

This is one of my favorite psalms because of its “gut wrenching” honesty. The psalmist begins by expressing his angst with the dichotomy between the righteous and the wicked. “For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.…Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?” (Psalm 73:3,13 HCSB)

Between these verses is the description of the seemingly “good” life of the wicked in spite of their actions and attitudes. It even makes the psalmist question his own faithfulness to the Lord. He views the life of the wicked as a life of “ease” and his own life as one of “affliction.”

We see clearly the downward spiral when we become engulfed in our own thoughts and our own world and our own perception. What changes the outlook of the psalmist? “When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless
 until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny.” (Psalm 73:16,17 HCSB)

When we come into God’s presence, when we are confronted with God’s truth, when we understand the issue is about ultimate destiny, and our thoughts are elevated beyond this life. Just before understanding God’s abiding presence and His eternal plan, the psalmist says of himself, “I was stupid and didn’t understand; I was an unthinking animal toward You…Yet I am always with You….” (Psalm 73:22 HCSB)

Even when our thoughts lead us to wrong conclusion, we can understand that the Lord is with us. He is sympathetic to our limited understanding of this human existence. We can be confident that the Lord guides and the Lord provides for His own as He lead us to our ultimate destiny. “You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me up in glory.” (Psalm 73:24 HCSB)

As the psalm comes to an end the focus is changed from the temporal to the eternal. “But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all You do.” (Psalm 73:28 HCSB)

Prayer for today… Lord, help me to focus on what I can rely upon; Your presence, Your faithfulness to guide and Your promise of an eternal destiny with You. In all that life brings may I find my refuge in You and share with others of the hope that is found in You alone.

This morning I traveled to Denver for the memorial service for Raimund Ruf. Raimund began attending church when I was the pastor at Dakota Ridge Church. I had the opportunity to baptize Raimund and to renew the wedding vows between Raimund and his wife Patricia on their 25th wedding anniversary. The two had just marked 40 years of marriage this year. He diagnosed with stage four cancer just over a year ago. I was able to reconnect with him in the past two years when he helped with a new roof on my mother’s house. (My first “selfie” attempt was with Raimund.)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus…cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we also do for you.  May He make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.”                   1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 HCSB

Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians reveals his more “softer side.” Paul has endured much for the faith. The concern for the churches weighed heavy on him as we read in his second letter to the Corinthians when he says, “…I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.” (1 Corinthians 11:28 NIV)

We see the apostle’s desire for God’s people as he offers this prayer for the church. Paul asks the Lord to “direct his way to [the Thessalonians].” His desire was to be among them once again to encourage and strength them in the faith. Personal relationship is at the heart of God’s kingdom. “God so loved the world that He send His only Son…” (John 3:16) As Jesus called twelve men to follow Him we read it was for the express purpose, “… that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.” (Mark 3:14 NIV)

In keeping with this focus we see Paul’s desire to be with the Thessalonians and then he prays that their love for one another and for others would “increase and overflow.” Remember love is not just how you “feel” about someone, it is how you “act” toward others. Paul wrote to the Galatians and said, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.“ (Galatians 6:10 NIV) John wrote, “…let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18 NIV) When we look at the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13, we see that the list is what love does and what love does not “do.”

Paul’s prayer focuses on how believers are to “love” and to “live.” His desire is for the church to be a model of holiness and right actions in the midst of a world that values sin and corruption. He calls them to be “sanctified” not because they are naturally, “better than” others, but because of who they are committed to. Our love for Christ is to compel our actions and motivate our lifestyle.

It seems basic, but there is power in how we “love” and how we “live.” It speaks to the reality of Christ and of God’s love and transforming power in our lives. Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians is an important prayer for the church today.

Prayer for today… Lord, thank You for the change that You bring to our life. A change that is to be evident in how we love and how we live. Thank You for the motivation that comes to our life when we realize that one day You will return and we will be with You forever.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14 HCSB

Believing in Jesus, following Jesus, presents the exciting opportunity to do what Jesus did. These words of Jesus present one of the most exciting prospects and at the same time solicits that greatest doubts and fears. When one reads these words I can understand the response of, “really?!”

We look at the apostles and say that was fulfilled by them. We look at uniquely gifted ministers through time that were used in special ways and believe that applies to them. But Jesus says, “The one who believes in me…”

Do you believe in Jesus? Jesus said you are a candidate to do His works. Then Jesus takes it to the “next level.” “And he will do even greater works than these….” What?! Wait a minute! How can one do greater works than Jesus did? I don’t know, but that is what He said.

But these words are not the bestowing of “super powers” to be used at will. We realize that Jesus working through the Holy Spirit is the healer and deliverer and restorer. What is done through faith in Him, is an extension of His ministry, because it is done in “His name.”

When we look at Jesus life, we see His dedication and commitment to time with the Father and sensitivity to the will of the Father. What Jesus did was directed by the Father, What we do, is to be directed by Jesus. We ask, in faith, in His name and He is the one who works.

The challenging words of Jesus, challenge us in our spiritual life and commitment. It calls us to a greater level of prayer, faith and sensitivity to the “leading” of the Holy Spirit. Our call is to obey, and to know the results come from the Lord. As that happens the “Father is glorified in the Son.”

Prayer for today… Lord, expand our faith and allow us to see the ways You desire to use us to touch the lives of others. Thank You for the privilege of asking in Your name and seeing You glorified in the world.

Another big day for the Summers family. We had our final inspection on our basement project. We were over time and over budget, but it is completed. We are looking forward to having our first guests in a couple of weeks as missionaries Norm and Heather Edwards come for a visit. Norm is serving in a part-time role in missions at Timberline Church, while continuing his overseas work in the Ukraine.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world.” Psalm 67:2-4 NLT

As I read this psalm, I thought, “this is a missionary’s psalm.” I recall when Debbie and I were first married considering a short term missionary assignment to the Marshall Islands. It just so happened at that time, they were in need of a nurse and a business teacher. Those two professions matched our employment at the time. While that endeavor didn’t work out, we have always had a heart for missionaries. I made it a focus of my pastoral ministry and we were pleased when my son and his family served as missionary associates to the Philippines.

To understand God’s heart, is to see His plan is not just for “a” people or “a” nation, but for the whole world. It is easy for us to live with an “ethnocentric” mindset that allows us to focus only what is happening in our nation. That would have certainly been the case for David. After all, the Jews were “God’s chosen people.” Even after the Day of Pentecost, it was difficult for the apostles to see that God’s will was for Jews and Gentiles to both be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

But in this psalm we see clearly that God’s will and David’s prayer and ours should be for God’s “ways be known throughout the earth, [His] saving power among people everywhere.”

What a great picture of all the nations worshiping the Lord. “Yes, may all the nations praise you. Let the whole world sing for joy….” I can’t help but look to Revelation and read, “…I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9,10 NIV)

David’s prayer and the Lord’s desire will one day find its fulfillment. I would say that if we were to have “heaven’s” perspective we could see glimpses of that now throughout the earth as Christ-followers on every continent can be found lifting their voices in praise to the Lord of all the earth.

True peace is found in the “Prince of Peace” ruling an reigning. David declares, “…you govern the nations with justice…” (Psalm 67:4 NLT) “World peace” is sought through many means, but the path to that end is found alone in Jesus Christ. When He reigns all is right and all is blessed.

“May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.” (Psalm 67:5-7 NLT)

Prayer for today… Lord, You are the hope for all people of all nations. We pray that these ancient words will soon find their fulfillment in Your divine plan. We pray Your name will be known among all nations, that You will be exalted and Your peace and glory will reign. Let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.