I am thankful for a Tuesday without a City Council meeting…already! I got in an early morning bike ride with my grandsons in tow, actually leading the way on their scooters. After a mid morning meetings, lunch meeting, nap and trip to the pool and work in the garden, it ended up being a good day. Here is a picture of Caed and Eliana in our newly planted small garden. Hard to believe our youngest in Christian’s family will be first grader next year.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….. And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.”…. Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.” 2 Kings 22:8,10-11 ESV

Josiah was a child king. His reign began at age 8, which means he was in a position to be under the influence of the Priests and other godly leaders. That enabled him to serve God’s people as a godly leader. In the eighteenth year of his reign repairs of the Temple were underway when a book was discovered. It was the Law of Moses!

The good new was a great discovery was made; the bad news is the law had been so neglected and disregarded that it became “lost” in the Temple. We don’t know if this happened during the 52 years of the wicked reign of Manasseh, or if it had been lost for much longer than that.

As Shaphan the royal secretary read the book to King Josiah, he would have read in Deuteronomy how Moses gave instructions hundreds of years before Israel demanded of Samuel to have a king. The Lord’s instructions included this charge to the king:

“And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life….” (Deuteronomy 17:18,19 ESV)

We don’t know if this instruction was ever followed, or if this “book” was a copy of the law from an early ruler, perhaps King David.

When we look at the downward spiral of God’s people, we can understand how without the Law of the Lord as a guide, they just “made it up” as they went along. There would have been the oral traditions and some degree understanding the truth from the words of the prophets. There were the ongoing rituals and sacrifices, but they became empty and meaninglessness. But the leader who was responsible for the moral direction of the people, was without any firm word or plumb line of truth to guide the people.

A well-know verse in Proverbs declares, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild….” (Proverbs 29:18 NLT) That is certainly descriptive of God’s people and their history in the promised land.

We can readily see when God’s Word is neglected, God is neglected. When the connection to God’s Word is lost the spiritual plumb line for our life is lost. When that happens it is easy to make God into our image and “do what is right in our own eyes.”

How important it is for us to read God’s Word, listen to God’s Word and live by God’s Word. That is what will keep us headed in the right direction in our life.

We need to remember,  ^“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)

Prayer for today…. Lord help us to remember how important Your Word is for our life and our well-being. Help us to know Your Word and to apply Your Word to our life.

Christian and Bridget and grand kids came up last night. This morning Christian, Bridget and Riley got up very early and headed to Boulder for the annual Bolder Boulder race. This was Riley’s first Bolder Boulder. Caed and Eliana helped me plant our garden and then we headed to the neighborhood pool.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.” Psalm 147 3-6 ESV

These verses towards the end of the psalms reveals the greatness of God’s power and the span of His work.

We see the our great God who is creator is a personal God who cares for individual needs. He heals broken hearts, he binds up wounds; showing his compassion and care for humanity, his highest creation.

But the greatness of who God is is revealed in that fact that He numbers and stars and gives them their names. I thought that was what astronomists did! What scientist are discovering God already knows. What scientist do, (identifying and naming stars) God has already done.

There is nothing beyond our God, there is nothing too small for our God. The God who knows the stars, knows you. The God who names the stars, knows your name and your needs and responds to your most secret wounds. The God who knows what no one else knows, know what you alone know. Your hurts, your doubts, your heartaches, are important to Him.

This great God is a God of justice. “The Lord lifts up the humble and casts the wicked to the ground.” We see many times scripture referring God being a just God. Here we find His justice in action. He is the great equalizer. He sees the oppression of the weak and He knows the arrogance of the “high and mighty.”

It is no wonder then that this psalms begins with, “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.” (Psalm 147:1 ESV)

This God who is high, yet comes to the aid of those who are “low” is a God that deserves our praise. When we praise Him, we experience His pleasure. When we praise Him, we reveal that we understand how great He is, yet how willing He is to enter our world and respond to our need. The One so great that He numbers and names stars, is the God who brings healing and comfort to your most personal needs.

Prayer for today…. Lord we stand in awe, as we attempt to understand Your greatness, and at the same time Your concern for the needs of each individual. As we do, it is only natural for us to praise You for who You are and what You do.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “So these nations feared the Lord and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children’s children—as their fathers did, so they do to this day.” 2 Kings 17:41 ESV

It began with King Solomon when his foreign wives caused him to compromise his devotion to the Lord and he built shines to their gods. When the kingdom of Israel was divided Jeroboam out of his insecurity established idolatry in the form of two calves as the national religion. This lead to a downward spiral of God’s people becoming a polytheistic nation.

The first commandment of, “thou shalt have no other gods before me” was the most violated of all commands. Then we see treating this command with contempt, allowed for the desecration of all the other commands. The Lord sent his prophets to warn the people, but their messages were ignored. Not only were their messages ignored, but they were treated with scorn and were persecuted.

The Lord brought enemy nations against His people so that they would seek Him, but they failed in making any true change. Their repentance was short-lived and temporary. In the final analysis the Lord allowed the Assyrians to take Israel captive and they were uprooted from the promised land.

In the review of Israel’s history we see how they failed to fear the Lord. We read how when they were corrected, they did not listen. They maintained a cursory recognition of the Lord, but as the prophet declared, “these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Isaiah 29:13)

In their attempt to deceive the Lord, they only deceived themselves. The compromise in one generation, defined the character of the next and finally a generation found themselves so far removed from their foundation, it lead to their demise. What happened to other nations eventually happened to God’s people.

When we review the history of Israel, it is easy to look at our own nation and the moral, spiritual and fundamental “drift” that can be observed over the generations. It is one thing to adapt to changing times and the natural evolution of progress, it is another to drift from principles that established the foundation of a nation which has allowed it to be sustained over the past centuries of tests, challenges and trials.

When we consider the history of Israel, it challenges us on a personal level. I recall the words of an older man who said something like this, “My godly mother would not be pleased with the way I am living my life.” Spiritual commitment and dedication can not be taken for granted. The compromises, the “drift” in one generation, can determine the character and identity of the next. That prolonged decline in character can determine a destiny.

That is why Joshua boldly declared to God’s people as they entered the promised land, “Choose this day, whom you will serve…” What we need to remember is that choice is “daily.” It is not the decision I made yesterday that is important, it is the decision that I make today, that will ultimately determine my destiny.

Prayer for today…. Lord help us to be mindful of the areas of compromise in our life and our families. Help us to make the corrections that are needed to keep you at the center of our life. May our destiny be one that is lives according to Your best for our life and not the consequences of wandering from the foundation of truth and the fountain of life that is in You.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from Jehoahaz his father in war. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.”  2 Kings 13:25 ESV

Elisha was the aide to the prophet Elijah who asked boldly for a “double portion” of the Lord’s Spirit to rest upon him. We see during his life that this came true in a literal sense. Of the miracles scripture records of Elijah and Elisha we find that Elisha did perform twice the number of miracles of Elijah.

The final miracles and fulfilled prophecy of Elisha took place after his death. Elisha unlike his predecessor Elijah was not “taken up to the heaven in a chariot of fire.” Elisha died and was buried in a tomb. We read this account,

“…as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.” (2 Kings 13:21 ESV)

That’s a tough one to explain, but impressive indeed! God’s man of “faith and power” had God’s power residing in his bones sufficient to raise the dead! Hebrews says of Abel, “And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” (Hebrews 11:4 ESV) We could say, “Elisha through God’s power, though he died, still performed miracles.”

As Elisha knew the time of his death was close he called in King Joash of Israel. He told the King to open a window and to shoot an arrow. He then instructed the King to take an arrow and strike the ground. With each he uttered prophetic words of victory over Israel’s enemies.

However, the King only struck the ground three times. Elisha was upset with the King, because he said that if he would have struck the ground with the arrows many more times he would have completely wiped out the Syrians. Now he would only defeat them three times.

Because of the evil of Joash’s father we read at the beginning of the chapter, “…the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael.” (2 Kings 13:3 ESV)

For two generations of Kings, Joash’s father would be dominated by Syria. But at the end of the chapter we read that Joash took from Ben-hadad three cities that had belonged to his father, in keeping with the word of Elisha.

My simple “take-a-ways” from this chapter are:

1 – God’s power is far greater than we can imagine. May we live so close to the Lord and so full of His Spirit that there would be God’s life even “in our bones.”

2- Don’t sell God short. Believe for great things. Greater things than we believe are possible with God.

3 – God’s judgment on one generation can be redeemed by the faith, courage and obedience of the next generation.

Prayer for today…. Lord may we be those who walk with you and believe You for greater things.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm 139:23,24 ESV

Search me, know me, try me, lead me. That I believe this is the most challenging and difficult prayer. That is a prayer that requires courage, vulnerability and trust.

This prayer is a prayer of self-revelation, more than investigation. God already knows our hearts. Scripture tells us, “…we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” (1 John 3:20 ESV) The question we need to be willing to answers is, “Am I ready to handle the truth?”

A well-know sportscaster in the Denver area was speaking to our men’s group. He shared how at one time he was struggling in his marriage and he was complaining to God. “Lord, you know that I work hard and provide for my family…I am a good person…” He felt the Lord speaking to his heart, “Yes, you are a good person! You are just a lousy husband.” 

It is a challenge to come to grasp with the concept, “is life as it is adequate or do I desire life as God desires it to be.” The journey from where we are to where we need to be can be a difficult and painful one. We must all face the reality that the “truth sets us free, but first it can be uncomfortable or even painful.”

This prayer is one that must be prayed in trust in God’s love and desire for our good. You don’t open your hearts to those who only want an occasion to “put you down.” Opening your heart and life to someone requires that you have confidence that, that person will not only speak truth, but do so out of love and concern for your personal growth.

This prayer of the psalmist reveals a desire for obstacles to be recognized and removed that hinder his walk with the Lord. Search me…know me….try me…see if there be any grievous way in me….those petitions are all motivated by the desire for the Lord to, “lead me in the way everlasting.”

Our way, or the Lord’s way. “There is a way that seems right to man….” (Proverbs 14:12) But in contrast we see in Psalm 23, “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake…” (Psalm 23:3) Where our heart would naturally take us is not the path of righteousness that the Lord leads us in. Going our own way, being the “captain of our destiny” is what gets us in trouble.

We need the humility of Thomas who asked, “Lord….how can we know the way?” (John 14:5) To be on the “right path” requires us to be open to understanding where our hearts are leading us and being open to those areas in our life that we need the Lord in His love and faithfulness to address.

Prayer for today…. Lord give us the courage and trust to pray the prayers that can be difficult to pray. Allow our desire to live the life you have for us to remove the fear of confronting the “hard” truth about our hearts, our ways and our motivations. 

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.” Psalm 138:2 ESV 

There are times as I read a chapter in the Bible that a verse will stand out to me that has never caught my eye. That happened with Psalm 138:2.

The specific phrase of interest to me was, “…for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.” This declaration is one that served as a motivation for steadfast prayer and faith in God’s love and faithfulness. 

The psalmist says, “I bow down toward your holy temple….” For God’s people the Temple that had been so long in being built became the physical presence that reminded them of the eternal God.

When Solomon dedicated the Temple, he prayed, “If your people…pray to the Lord toward the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause.” (1 Kings 8:44,45 ESV)

As a result, we read of Daniel in captivity in Babylon, that in spite of the King’s order, “…he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem.” (Daniel 6:10 ESV)

But the motivation of prayer is not just a place that spoke of God’s people and God’s presence. The motivation and faith that compels seeking the Lord is because God’s name and Word is exalted above all.

God’s name reminds us of His character. God’s name is in focus in the Lord’s prayer when we read, “hollowed be thy name….” The Lord’s name is in focus when Paul declares to the Philippians, “every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10)

The Lord has exalted above all things His name. That is why so many hymns and choruses have a focus on the name of Jesus. That is why we see the power that exists in the name of Jesus. That’s why the name of Jesus can stir controversy even in our world today.

God’s name is exalted and His Word is exalted. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) When solider were sent to arrest Jesus during one of the feasts they returned empty handed to the religious leaders. Their only excuse was, “We have never heard anyone speak like this!” (John 7:46 NLT)

In Psalm 107 we simply read, “He sent out His word and healed them….” (Psalm 107:20) The Centurion who came to Jesus had one simple request, “But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” (Matthew 8:8)

John’s gospel opens with the declaration, “In the beginning was the Word….the Word was made flesh and we beheld His glory full of grace and truth…” (John 1:1,14)

The Lord’s name and the Lord’s word. Exalted above all else. When we understand the power in a simple concept it motivates faith-filled, confident prayer in a God of steadfast love and faithfulness.

Prayer for today…. Lord we say it and we sing it, but fail to grasp the power of Your name and its significance to our life. Thank You that Your Word is life. It provides direction, hope, healing and comfort. All that we need. Allow us to see when we pray in Your Name, when we stand on Your Word, we engage that which You have exalted above all else.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….  “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” Jonah 4:2 ESV

We can all understand the saying, “thank God, I’m not God!” We can’t understand God’s ways, but Jonah as God’s prophet, certainly understood God’s character.

In the final chapter of the Book that bears his name we see that Jonah did not run away from God’s call to preach to the enemies of Israel in Nineveh because he was afraid. He did not run because he feared rejection and did not want to preach a message of judgment and repentance. Jonah ran from God’s call because he knew God was a God of mercy and forgiveness.

Jonah felt that God’s judgment would come faster if God just judged these idolaters and ruthless people, instead of “giving them a chance” to hear a message and repent.

The Lord revealed to Jonah how he suffered from misplaced priorities. When God allowed a vine to grow with supernatural speed to provide shade for Jonah, he was pleased. When a worm came and killed the vine, Jonah was distressed and upset. The final message of God to Jonah was,

“You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city…” (Jonah 4:10,11 ESV)

Mourning for plants more than people! That’s the human focus, not the God focus. Jonah didn’t need more courage. He didn’t need more faith. He needed a change in heart.

Jesus told His disciples, “…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven…” (Matthew 5:44 NIV) When we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, we reveal the DNA of heaven. That is hard from a human perspective that is why we need the Lord’s help and the work of the Holy Spirit to change our hearts and adjust our attitude.

Jonah resisted God’s call, but the King and people of Nineveh responded to Jonah’s message and call to repent. They were earnest in their repentance. Sack cloth and ashes and fasting. Even for the animals. The result….God relented in bringing judgment.

When wicked King Ahab repented in earnest, the Lord delayed in bringing the judgment pronounced on his house until Ahab was dead.

It is observed that we want mercy for our sins, but demand “justice” for the sins of others. It is a far greater challenge to change our attitude and to have the heart of Jesus that understands,  “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7 ESV)

Prayer for today…. Lord, may our priorities and attitudes be those that conform to Your heart. Allow us to be those who will rejoice when those we desire to experience Your judgment, receive Your mercy instead.

An interesting byproduct of my health crisis has been an issue with my blood pressure. I recall last August mentioning it to my former Hospitalist from McKee Hospital. He just told me I was “out of shape.” Thanks Doc! Now I am in better shape, but my blood pressure has been high. (It may correlate to being elected to City Council,:) ) So after trying one medication with some unexpected side effects,  I am trying out a low dose of medication “number two.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.” Philemon 4-5 ESV

Timothy, Titus and Philemon are the three letters Paul writes to individuals. Of these three, Philemon is the most personal. Its singular focus in on Paul’s desire to reunite Philemon with a runaway slave by the name of Onesimus.

But in doing so we see a glimpse of the impact of personal faith, and the spiritual character of Philemon.

The first thing we observe is Philemon’s commitment to love God and love people. This reflects a commitment to the greatest commands of Jesus of Jesus. That is to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself. We often summarize these in “loving God, loving people.” Paul had heard of Philemon’s love for God’s people and His strong faith in Jesus Christ. If there is any commendation that is worth seeking it is to be known as one who possesses those two traits.

People of “Philemon character” encourages others and promotes partnership and growth. Paul says Philemon’s love for God’s people and faith in Jesus, made him thankful to God and motivated him to remember Philemon in his prayers.

Philemon’s character created a bond with the Apostle. Paul refers to him as a “partner in the gospel.” This creates a dynamic combination. When we connect in meaningful relationship with others who commit to loving  God and loving others, it deepens our faith and commitment. Our faith and commitment is strengthened in this supportive and encouraging atmosphere.

We see it in Paul’s words,  “I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.” (Philemon 6 ESV)

When we in relationship with others who encourage our faith and challenge us in our commitment, we gain a greater understanding of what life in Christ is all about. It is one thing to have “Christian” friends. It is another when those relationships result in support, encouragement and challenging each other to know and experience all that Christ has for those who faithfully follow Him.

I had a phone conversation with a friend who has that kind of impact on my life. When I am around him, when we visit, there is not just a connection from friendship over the years, but a focus on Christ and His kingdom that challenges me and motivates my faith in Jesus and commitment to love and invest in others.

Prayer for today…. Lord help us to cultivate and be involved in relationships that help us to draw closer to You. Relationships that give us a glimpse of heaven. Relationships that sharpen our spiritual commitment and desire to serve You more effectively in our world.