Today I returned to Morning Star Assisted Living for chapel services. I had an interesting 24 hours as far as my City Council campaign. There is no drama, like political drama! I covert your prayers for ongoing direction and confirmation in the days ahead.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.”  Mark 3:4,5 ESV

In Jesus day, a mangled or deformed hand was a permanent disability. No corrective surgeries, no artificial limbs. All you could do was to try to hide your deformity to look as normal as possible and not make it obvious to others.

Such is the natural tendency for all of us. We don’t like to be reminded of our imperfections, so we cover them up and attempt to keep them from being noticed and obvious to ourselves and others. So, when Jesus commands this man to “stand forth and stretch forth” it took vulnerability and courage. So often we don’t receive the healing that we need because we don’t want to expose that which is wounded and crippled in our lives.

This miracle took place on the Sabbath. For the righteous Pharisees any “work” was not lawful. That included the “work” of healing. Jesus asks, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” The Pharisees would probably say neither, it is unlawful to do “anything.” Unless we make up the rule.

And that could be at the heart of this miracle. A Bible researcher traveling in the Holy Land, came across some documentation and information that shed some possible light on this miracle. Apparently the Pharisees forced local Jewish workers to lay stone for building the Synagogue on the Sabbath. But then to justify their actions, when the workers were finished they took a hammer and broke their hand for a penalty for working in the Sabbath. Their right hand, which speaks of power, strength and ability to work. They were no longer able to fully ply their trade.

Perhaps this man was one of the Synagogue workers. Perhaps that is why scripture says, “Jesus looked at them with anger, grieved at the hardness of their heart.” In Jesus performing this miracle, He not only restored a man physically, but He condemned and reversed the actions of the Pharisees. The Pharisees used the Sabbath for bad, Jesus used it for good.

When the man stretched out his withered hand, it was healed. That took courage and a willingness to overcome any embarrassment. What we often find, is just the other side of putting self aside and becoming willing to recognize our wounded life, we find the healing and restoration that we need and desire.

Prayer for today…. Lord, it can be challenging and hard to feel that our need is “exposed” to others. But allow us to stretch out to You that which is wounded and weak, that it might be strong and restored. 

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” Mark 2:11,12 ESV

You can count on it, wherever and whenever Jesus shows up people take notice. The verses above comes from the passage about the healing of the paralytic carried to Jesus by his four friends.

The crowd in the house where Jesus was, was so crowded his determined and creative friends lowered the man by ropes on his couch into the room. That in itself is an important observation. The importance of doing what it takes to get someone in need, in contact with Jesus. Protocol was out the window, patience was not displayed, there was a sense of urgency and display of commitment.

Jesus shocks everyone by looking at the paralyzed man and the first thing He says is, “Your sins are forgiven.” The response of the religious leaders is not spoken out loud, but is an inward criticism, “scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:11,12 ESV)

Jesus responds outwardly to this inward criticism, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? (Mark 2:8,9 ESV)

That in itself should have been an attention getter. Jesus is forgiving sins, revealing the unspoken words in hearts and then demonstrates that nothing is outside of His power by commanding the man to “stand up and walk.” Whether it is forgiving sins, or healing the sick, both are within the scope of Jesus power and authority. The scribes recognized Jesus operating in the authority of God, but were not able to recognize Him for who He was.

The scribes responded inwardly, but the crowds responded outwardly saying, “we have never seen anything like this before.” But that is what happens when “Jesus is in the house.” You hear what you never have heard, you see what you never have seen. Such was the impact of His life that turned the world upside down in three short years.

Prayer for today… Lord thank You that when people encounter You they are changed. New life is given, spiritually and physically as You are allowed to work. Grant us the faith to believe and trust You and to be open to “taking notice” when You “show up.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.” Mark 1:12,14 ESV

Mark is considered the oldest gospel. It is the shortest. Mark is all about action. He gets to the point. He writes to a Roman audience that did not have some of the concerns about the heritage of the Messiah and how Christ fulfilled what was written in the law and the prophets.

As a result, Mark gives three sentences to Jesus temptation in the wilderness. When I look at these verses and phrases, there are some things about the “wilderness” that stand out.

1 – The Holy Spirit “drove” Jesus into the wilderness. Wilderness experiences are not a calling card. Unless you hope to make a name and money for yourself as a modern day reality TV star. While Jesus was tempted by Satan while He was in the wilderness, He was there by the leading of the Holy Spirit. We don’t always know why, but wilderness experiences in our life are often in the will of God. It can draw us closer to the Lord and reveal our dependency upon Him.

2 – He was in the wilderness 40 days. We can certainly see the significance of the time period of 40 days in the Bible. The rain came upon Noah and the ark for 40 days. The Children of Israel were 40 years in in the desert. This number is often associated with testing or judgment. But what is important is to see that the number of days in the wilderness is limited. It is not a home, it is not a resting place, it is just what we often need to experience and endure.

3 – He was tempted by Satan. Wilderness experiences can be times of testing and temptation. They can reveal to us as much about ourselves, as anything else. It is in those times that there is the opportunity for our faith to emerge as gold.

Peter writes about trials and says, “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:7 NIV)

4 – He was with wild animals. This is something that Mark alone makes reference to. The wilderness can be challenging enough as it is, but the dangers that are present can come from different sources. I am reminded of the words of John, “For everything in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:16 NIV) It can be a “dangerous world out there” proceed with caution.

5 – Angels were ministering to Him. When you feel alone, it is important to understand that you are not alone. Scripture is true when it says, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…” (Psalm 91:11 NIV) We can trust the Lord to sustain us, even in our “darkest” and most lonely hour.

Jesus emerged from the wilderness, focused on His call. He preaches, calls disciples to follow and begins to perform miracles. There is not just life after the wilderness, there is purpose and fulfillment.

Prayer for today…. Lord, thank You for the reminder that You are with us, working on our behalf, even in the most challenging places. Thank you that those times do come to an end, and we can emerge with fresh confidence in You and Your work in and through us. 

Today I made a trip to Lakewood for a Foothills Republican luncheon. It was good to return to my old House District and see many friends from past years. It was great to have their support with the announcement of my campaign for City Council in Fort Collins.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,  and the one who gets understanding…”   Proverbs 3:13 ESV

The early chapters of Proverbs are filled with the importance of wisdom. In chapter 3, we find a series of instructions for those who are wise to follow. But with each admonition, encouragement and command, is an accompanying promise or expected outcome.

The Lord does not just give a parental “because I said so” but reveals that He is looking out for our best, for our good. There are promises for favor, direction, provision, abundant supply of needs, health, success and more. Consider the following:

Wisdom: …do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments…

• Promise: for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Proverbs 3:1,2 ESV

Wisdom: Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you…

• Promise: So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:3,4 ESV

Wisdom: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him…

• Promise: …and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6

Wisdom: Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil…

• Promise: It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:8 ESV

Wisdom: Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce…

• Promise: Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. Proverbs 3:9,10 ESV

Wisdom: Do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof….

• Promise: ...for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11,2 ESV

We can trust in the Lord’s ways, as the ways that are best for us. God’s desire is for our good, we receive those blessing when we follow His instructions.

Prayer for today… Lord thank You for the assurance that “if” we follow the way of wisdom, “then” we will reap the blessings that you have in store for Your children. 

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites…” Genesis 37:26,26 ESV

Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself….For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers.”  Genesis 44:18,32,33 ESV

As I read through the chapters about Joseph and his brothers, I began to notice the sibling dynamics that are revealed over the years.

Reuben the oldest had forfeited his birthright as the oldest when he slept with one of his father’s concubines. But when the brothers conspired against Joseph, Reuben was trying to dissuade them from killing him and planned to rescue him from the pit and return Joseph to his father and to win back some favor. That plan never materialized.

When they first went to Egypt and were accused by Joseph of being spies and spent a few days in prison, Ruben got in his “I told you so” moment,  ^“Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” (Genesis 42:22 ESV)

When the brothers returned from their first trip to Egypt without Simeon, Reuben pledge to his father the same kind of care that he wanted to demonstrate for Joseph many years before. “Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” (Genesis 42:37 ESV)

It is interesting that Joseph selected Simeon to stay in prison in Egypt while his brothers returned to Jacob. It was Judah that suggested that they sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites. Perhaps it was Simeon who suggested that his brothers kill Joseph. We can only speculate.

What is interesting is that all these years later we see Judah, who suggested Joseph to be sold into slavery, offering to Joseph to become his slave. Perhaps this was a key for Joseph to see that his brothers in their guilt had suffered through the years and had a been impacted by their actions so many years ago.

We see clearly in the “big picture” that God was with Joseph and he knew that the Lord was placing him in this position to bring salvation to his family. We see that Joseph remembers the dreams of his youth as his brothers came and bowed before him. But he did not “rub it in.” Several times we read that, “he test his brothers.”

Joseph as able to see the events as being orchestrated by God; his brothers though carried the guilty of their actions and were constantly “looking over their shoulders” waiting for the judgment they felt they deserved to come on their heads.

We can be thankful that in the cross, Christ removed our guilt and our shame for any past deeds. I am thankful for the declaration of scripture, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12 NIV) “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12 NIV)

Prayer for today…. Lord, thank You for the many lessons and observations we can take from the lessons of those in the Bible. We so often see ourselves in them. Thank You for Your forgiveness and removing of guilt and shame. We don’t need to fear the future when we trust in Your salvation. 

Riley and I left Atlanta early afternoon for our return trip to Denver. We had a good visit and it is good to return home. Riley got home in time for a basketball game and to jump back into the “school routine.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more…Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream.” Genesis 37:5,9 ESV

In scripture we see the Lord speaking to people in several ways. We don’t always know the details when scripture simply says, “then the Lord appeared to Abraham and said….”  But one of the specific ways we see the Lord revealing His plan and His direction is through dreams. We see dreams that encourage, that predict, that direct.

The Lord appeared in a dream to Jacob. He gave dreams to Joseph. He gave dreams to the baker and the cupbearer. He gave a dream to Pharaoh. We see others receiving dreams from the Lord. In the New Testament, the dreams the Lord gave Joseph are of great significance. We even see the wise men receiving a dream to warn them about returning to Herod.

David declared, “I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.” (Psalm 16:7 NIV) I believe the Lord can still instruct and warn us in our dreams, or speak to us at night. It is not necessarily common, but I believe it can happen. I can reflect on times of personal experience. One in recent years, I found myself thinking of and memorizing a prayer in the night for a special occasion.

While we shouldn’t make too much of dreams, most of which we probably don’t remember. We do need to have an open heart in the “out of the box” ways that Lord may still use to speak to us for a variety of purposes.

Prayer for today… Lord, thank You for the ways You speak to prepare, warn and encourage us. Thank You for Your Word that provides the main source of guidance and direction for our life. But allow us to remain open and aware of how You have spoken in the past and can still speak today.

Today we ventured out and made a trip to Cleveland, TN for some business I needed to attend to. On the way we connected with Bridget’s sister, so Riley could spend some time with his Tennessee cousins. This morning I snapped a picture of the “cousins on the couch” intent on watching a morning TV program.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”  Psalm 22:1 ESV

Psalm 22 speaks of Christ’s death on the cross more than any other psalm. When the resurrected Jesus met the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, it is recorded, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27 ESV)

This psalm opens with the words that Jesus cried out from the cross as the sins of the world were laid upon Him as the sacrificial lamb of God.

Then we read of these other vivid descriptions that we find fulfilled at the crucifixion. There was the mocking of the soldiers and those standing near by the cross, “All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” (Psalm 22:7,8 ESV)

The physical condition and agony of crucifixion is reflected in these words, “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.” (Psalm 22:14,15 ESV)

The unique actions of the soldiers gambling for Jesus garments were uttered hundreds of years beforehand.

“I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” (Psalm 22:17,18 ESV)

And finally, in the last verse of the psalm we see that the “good news” of Jesus Christ and the faithful love of God will be made know from generation to generation.

“Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.” (Psalm 22:30,31 ESV)

We think of the Psalms for their poetic verses that inspire and challenge or reveal the heart of agony and then trust in the Lord. We don’t often think of them as proclamations of prophecy. But in this psalm we see words, phrases and verses that are directly related to the cross. These words spoken in times past about future events should allow us to stand in awe of the God who is above time, who is working out His plan and will continue to work to fulfill all the scriptures tells of that which the Lord will fulfill in His time.

Prayer for today…. Lord of all time, wisdom, love and grace. We give thanks for Your divine plan that is told in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. We are also reminded that which is revealed in both Old and New Testament about Your final fulfillment of bringing a new heaven and new earth will surely come to pass.

Church was cancelled today in Atlanta, and school has been cancelled for tomorrow. It looks like most of the main streets are clear, but side streets and drives are still icy. Nathan and Stephanie have a long steep driveway with a thick layer of ice. So that is impacting our mobility. I have some business to attend to in Cleveland, TN tomorrow, so we will see how that goes. Mckenize really enjoys “helping” Stephanie cook.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac…I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children.  But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” Genesis 32:9-12 ESV

Jacob had spent 20 years in the house of Laban. But the God of Bethel had proven Himself faithful to Jacob. He went to Laban’s house with only his staff and had increased in family, servants, livestock and possessions. The Lord appeared to Jacob and told him it was time to return to the land of his father. As he sets out he hears that his estranged brother Esau is coming to meet him with several hundred men.

Jacob prepares for the encounter by strategically dividing up his ranks into two groups. If Esau meets them with hostility at least one of the groups could escape. When the time comes to meet Esau, he sends ahead gifts of livestock and possessions.

But Jacob had learned that the best of plans would fail, if the Lord was not on his side watching over him. He tried to assess what the encounter with Esau would be like, but was uncertain when he heard four hundred men were with Esau.

Jacob’s prayer reveals much about the change of Jacob’s heart. He recognizes that it was God who had called him to take this journey. When life brings challenges, there can be second thoughts and doubts about the decision to “venture out.” It may be a move, a job change or some other important decision. When obstacles are faced, it is good to have the assurance that you are where you are, due to the Lord’s direction.

Jacob then recognizes all the blessings that have come to him and his unworthiness to have what he has and to have the future that is before him.

Jacob recognizes his fears. He feared losing what he had gained. He fears for the safety of his family. He fears the potential battle that may loom in front of him. Fear has a way of paralyzing our thoughts and actions. One of the best  things we can do is recognize it and bring it to the Lord. David testified, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4 NIV)

Jacob then reminded the Lord of His promise to him concerning his future. It is hard to have “offspring as the sand of the sea” if you are dead! At times rehearsing the promises of the Lord, are more for our good, than a “bargaining” chip with the Lord.

Finally, before his meeting with Esau, he spends that night alone in prayer. Special times of prayer, focused times of prayer are important in these types of critical times. We can “pray on the go” but to set aside times dedicated to prayer and fasting is an important spiritual discipline.

It is during this night that Jacob emerges from a life changing encounter with the promise of a new name and a new trait. He walks with a limp. That in itself is a humbling condition. But Jacob’s condition of humility, becomes a consistent reminder of His encounter with the Lord, his reliance on the Lord and moving into a new destiny as a changed man.

Prayer for today… Lord thank You that we can have faith in Your guidance and Your faithfulness to fulfill Your promise. Allow us to learn from Jacob’s prayer and apply the concepts to our life when we face fears about our future.