June 30, Day 37

Job 1- Job 23
I'm in a bit of a predicament. I realized today I'm not as good of a friend as I always think I am...

In the past as I read of Job and heard of his plight, I always knew God had allowed Satan to harass Job. But what I never realized was Satan never specifically asked to pick on Job. Satan and an angel come to visit God. God asks Satan, "Whattcha been up to?" (Loosely paraphrased of course) and Satan says he's been roaming back and forth across the earth. Then God offers this suggestion... "Have you considered my servant Job?" God just offers willingly to let Satan consider harassing Job. This doesn't seem quite right to me... but yet I know God knew Job well enough that He knew that whatever Satan threw at Job was not going to break his love for God. Does God know me like this? Probably he knows me... but he may not trust me like this yet. Too often I blame God for my challenges rather than looking at Satan as the source of the strife. God is not the source of confusion. Satan is. God may have allowed the strife to take place but Satan is the source.

The other thing I recognize from this story is that God allowed Satan to cause all kinds of trouble in Job's life. But could Satan have also provided the "friends" to Job? I mean it is obvious that from the beginning they cared for Job. They wanted to come and mourn with him and remained silent for 7 days and 7 nights just letting Job mourn. But yet... when the mourning carried on longer then they thought it should, they started to try to "fix" Job. They tried to point out the problems and the sources of problems to they could help him get over it. Obviously they were growing faint of hearing him mourn and lament. They wanted action. What determination and faith Job showed by holding on to God during his friends accusations. There are times when Job wanted to die and be put out of his misery, but he never renounced God in the process.

I try to put myself in the shoes of the "friends" of Job to get a better perspective on my life.

• Have I ever travelled out of my way to mourn with a friend for 3 solid days? Not very much.
• Have I remained silent and seven days and seven nights to listen to someone else's problems? I grow faint of listening to problems after about 30 minutes max... let alone 7 days.
• Have I ever tried to fix a problem for someone else by attempting to find the "root cause" and suggest a solution? (If my wife is reading this, she is not allowed to post comments in response to this question.) Of course I do... all the time.
• Do I rush to judgement and start condemning a perfectly innocent person, simply because God was using them as an opportunity to show the world their faith in Him?
• Am I being used by Satan more than I'm being a Godly friend to others in their time of need?

Now you can see my predicament... Even when I think I'm being used by God to be a good friend, I still allow myself to be used by Satan. My calling may be from God to be a friend in times of need... but my need to fix the problem or offer advice may be getting in the way of God's plan. If you are reading this, you are someone I consider a friend. And because you're reading this, I'm expecting you to help hold me accountable now that I know this... please remind me that I'm trying to fix the problem when all you need is a Godly friend to sit and listen... and ultimately God's glory will shine through both of us.

June 29; Day 36

Esther

For such a time as this... Esther was chosen to be queen. This is the application I'm always reminded of as I read this story. It tells me that Esther was born at that time for that reason and was in those specific circumstances so God's plan could be revealed through her. Isn't this the same for all of us? We're all here for a specific reason at this appointed time. Make it count.

Yet today I recognized something else. God had chosen Esther and she had to choose to obey. Yet even choosing to obey, she still had to learn how to be most effective in her environment. God had placed her in the Queen's role. And He had divinely appointed her for her role. No doubt He was also strengthening and guiding her along the way.

What I was impressed with today was that she had to learn how to make requests of the king. No doubt she - as the queen - had witnessed individuals making requests the "wrong way." Perhaps they demanded the king do something or they threatened the king. We see that even for the king to hear the request was something of a challenge as he had to extend his scepter to you. Even for his own wife.

Esther knew this wasn't going to be an easy task. She asked for fasting and prayer as she prepared herself to do so. But she resolved to do so, even if it meant she would perish. When we see Esther asking the king I notice her phrasing... ever so particular...

"If it pleases the king to grant my petition..." (Esther 5:7)

Why does this strike me so? Because Esther never super ceded the king's authority. She never placed herself above Him by demanding or even suggesting that He should see things her way. Rather she made a suggestion only if it pleased the king. How often do I tell God what I want to have happen. I reflected back on some of the requests I made of God this morning.... "Bless me today as I tackle this difficult conversation." "Strengthen me as I endure this challenge." "Be with my friend as he goes through this difficult problem." "Grant my children peace and rest after a busy weekend." And it goes on and on... but never did I say, "If it pleases the king..."

How much I could learn from Esther. Not only has God chosen me for this time and place to accomplish His will... but I also have to learn to make my petitions of the King in such a way I continue to demonstrate His Lordship over me.

June 28; Day 35

Nehemiah

I chose to read the entire book of Nehemiah today though it goes a bit outside of today's reading. It's just easier to read a little more and keep the entire book together... and I'm glad I did.

There is so much to learn here in how Nehemiah "gets results through people" and the wall is actually rebuilt. I also learn a lot about how to face opposition. Nehemiah certainly is a strong leader of people. Yet the conviction I gained from reading this book came from the very last verse... "Remember me with favor, O my God." (Neh 13:31b)

What must have been going through Nehemiah's head when he wrote this? As he was leading this massive project involving thousands of volunteers he certainly must have been frustrated. He certainly must have thought about giving up many times. He probably lost his temper more than once as it was happening. Perhaps he even did somethings he's not very proud about. Yet he was following what God had called him to do. Following God is not always easy OR comfortable. As a result of his toil and his frustration, but also as a result of his tenacity and obedience - he is asking God to remember him with favor.

I spoke about God's favor a few days ago in my blog. Not just God's material blessings, but God's favor. Remember me with favor. I can't with a clean conscience ask God to remember me with favor if I've not done anything favorable. I can't simply ask God to remember my works as favorable unless I first acknowledge him as my God.

http://jims90days.blogspot.com/2008/06/june-26-day-33.html

Do I have the right to ask God to remember ME with favor? Have I done anything that honors the Lord? Do my works show the fruit of the Spirit in me? Though I'm sure I've done some "good things" in my life, I seem to remember those that have kept me from God's favor even more.

Today as I read this verse slowly and simply, I want to make it my prayer. Remember em with favor, O my God. May this be convicting for my actions today, tomorrow and the many days to come.

Perhaps it has also convicted you... go forth in seeking God's favor.

June 27, Day 34

2 Chron 35- Ezra 10

Sometimes I get frustrated when what I want to do or the ideas I have are not embraced by others. Especially when I feel God has called me to something, I get especially frustrated and I start thinking, if only everyone else would think like me... then everything else would be better.

I suppose Ezra and the Jews coming out of exile felt a little like this. As they attempted to rebuild - physically rebuilding the temple and their city, but also spiritually rebuilding their culture, - there was more than just a little misunderstanding. There was severe opposition.

I gain great application from this today. Why should I expect God's work to go smoothly when the world is not following God? There will always be opposition to His will because he tells us, " In this world you will have trouble." Often my frustration is directed to my opponent's spiritual vantage point. "If they were only saved, they would be able to see it my way..." Yet, I cannot expect them to see it my way because they are not saved. Only by Grace have I been allowed to see with what I call "spiritual eyes" and understand and discern God's direction. It would almost be like trying to expect someone who doesn't speak my language to understand me when I speak to them. I must see them with my "spiritual eyes" as well. Not as an opponent but as someone who needs Jesus in their life.

As we attempt to rebuild the temple of the Spirit inside of us and our culture... won't you join me in seeing those around us less as an opponent and more as someone who needs Jesus?

June 26, Day 33

More than anything as I read today's reading I realized this book of the Bible very clearly links the our behaviors with God's favor. If you've listened at all to the tele-evangelists of our day, you hear a lot about being in "Gods favor." (Perhaps even spoken with a very charming but deceptive southern drawl.) And a lot of this "name it and claim it" religion is based around equating God's favor with material blessings. THIS IS NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TODAY. I'm talking about all of the blessings that come with being in God's favor... we see that today in the lives of the various kings...

For some of the kings there are only mere paragraphs describing their reign, no matter how long that reign was. Generally they start off with "he followed the ways of the kings of Israel" or "he did evil in the eyes of the Lord." How would you like this to be your legacy recorded for eternity. To continually have this tag line associated with your name, translated into nearly every language around the world, for everyone to read and learn from?

Yet there are other kings that require many paragraphs and even chapters to describe. And they tend to start with "he walked in the ways of the Lord." We see a couple of those kings who started off good but didn't finish the race. These are kings like Uzziah. He wanted to follow God, but something happened... His pride kicked in. Don't we all struggle with this. But to me the warning is that your ministry can and will be diminished if you forget who gave you this ministry in the first place. Then we see other kings like Hezekiah and Josiah who not only walked in the ways of the Lord but encouraged others to as well. Both of these kings have chapters written about them. And very clearly the author is linking God's favor to their devotion to following him and calling others to as well. We see some common themes from both of these kings. For one, they called the nation together to celebrate the feasts God had given them. They were called to remember the past and act in the present. Both kings have chapter dedicated to how they celebrated the passover.

Aren't you and I called to do the same? Aren't we called to remember the past and celebrate in the present? At our church we're invited to do the same each week during our communion service. How can you remember the sacrifice in the past made on your behalf and celebrate in the present today?

After a great description of how Hezekiah called people to repentance and offered purification sacrifices and celebrated the passover... we see a small but significant verse. 2 Chron 30:26 records, "There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem." Is this not describing the favor of the Lord? It doesn't say that God gave all the people of Judah new homes and made them happy! Yet it does say there was great joy in Jerusalem! GREAT JOY! Is there great joy abounding in our society today? Are people remembering the past and celebrating this in the present? As I look around I answer no to both of those questions. We are consumed with consuming and getting. When gas prices are rising we're fretting about how we're going to afford to pay our cable TV bill or how we're going to be able to get our nails manicured? But there is not GREAT JOY! Don't you see, great joy is a result of God's favor. It is not a result of getting more stuff. It is a condition of the heart in response to your obedience to God's laws.

In today's society we are not much different than the kings who get a few paragraphs of description. We are putting up our altars to worship the "Baal" of today. We are shopping, consuming, and hoarding all the while worshipping the god of materialism. Sure there are a few "kings" like Uzziah who in our own individual homes are trying to purify the place, but when pride gets in the way we're nearly indistinguishable from the pagan world around us.

A few other significant verses are recorded in relation to Hezekiah's receiving God's favor... 2 Chron 31:20-21 ends with "In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered." 2 Chron 32:30b ends with "He succeeded in everything he undertook." Wouldn't this be a great source of joy as well? To know that everything you undertake will result in success? King Uzziah tried in his own way to achieve success only to face downward spiral. The key to true success is what we learn from Hezekiah... seeking God and working wholeheartedly .

Won't you join me today in trying to recover "Great joy" in the land we live in by seeking Him and working wholeheartedly?

June 25, Day 32

2 Chronicles 7 - 2 Chronicles 22

In my role at work I attempt to solve problems. To be specific, I attempt to help others solve "Human Performance Problems." Some may say that I'm just a trainer, but I like to think of myself as a problem solver. In order to solve the problem, I often have to diagnose properly. There are a lot of presenting symptoms of the problem but to really solve the problem and get a ahead of it, you must look for the root cause. So today's focus of this posting is centered around the root cause....

Something that has always troubled me as I read this part of the Bible is understanding "good kings" from "bad kings." The books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings have always confused me because you also have two kingdoms to look at (Israel and Judah). Sometimes Israel refers to all the Israelites... sometimes it refers to all the Israelites except those in Judah... and other times it means those in Judah. So for a simple minded guy like myself, this presents a lot of confusion.

In today's reading we have the luxury of only focusing on Judah and the kings of Judah. Well actually it starts earlier than that because we start with Solomon. Who was king of all of Israel before the split. After his death, His son Rehoboam takes the throne. Soon thereafter we see the people revolting and the kingdom of Israel splitting. Since this is what has always confused me, I read and re-read this passage to see what is the "root cause" of the split of Israel?

It is a simple answer to say "fallen man" is the root cause. God's design didn't originally include ruling by kings... but yet this is what the people wanted and they started putting their faith in a king rather than THE KING. However, let's look a little deeper. Rehoboam's fallen state is expressed in some behaviors I can learn from.

When the people questioned him about the taxation they'd been subject to during Solomon's reign and asked him what he'd do about it, he sought counsel. First he consulted the elders who said basically to show some empathy to the people. Secondly he consulted the younger men who'd grown up around him (or his friends). They told them to give a harsh answer to the people. So why did they encourage him to be harsh? Perhaps it was because he was a new leader. As a new leader of people in my workplace, I certainly can identify the need to establish "who is in charge" early as well as the struggle to exercise this establishment judiciously. Perhaps they wanted him to see how far his "title" would get him and of course the king should be in charge. And simply stated, at the end of they day all of these suppositions are rooted in pride. They encouraged him to act in pride... and of course this is what he chose. It even says he "rejected the advice of the elders."

Let's think for a moment. Is it always wise to take the advice of the elders? "They lived in a different time." "They have an outdated view of society." These are common arguments I've heard and even given as someone has encouraged me to consult my elders. Certainly there is some merit to the argument. And so maybe it is not always wise to implement exactly the advice they are giving you.... But perhaps they've seen patterns of things happen in the past as well. Maybe there is some wisdom to their counsel. In this case, they knew if you come down harsh you'll have trouble. But if you give them the answer they are looking for (maybe just a little empathy) they will be your servants for life. Of course this would require laying down a little bit of their pride.

We'll we know what Rehoboam chose. He chose to tell them if they thought Solomon was rough, then they would think he was even rougher. And the rest as they say "is history." The people revolted, Israel was divided and Rehoboam's dominion was reduced. Jeroboam was chosen king of Israel and 2 Chron 10:19 says "Israel has been in rebellion to the house of David to this day." 2 Chron 12:15 says "there was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam." Not only were God's people divided, they was in conflict with one another.

So what is the root cause of this division? Fallen Man? We'll sort of... but that sounds like victim language to me. "We can't help it we were created sinful." I think the root cause was pride. Pride in realizing the counsel of elders may have some merit. And foolishness to think the decision was an "either or" decision. I think Rehoboam thought he had to either take the side of his elders OR the side of his friends. Rather than looking at a win/win solution. Could he not have chosen to pursue the path of unity and ask them to create a plan together on how to answer and take advantage of each of their viewpoints?

As a leader today... it is easy for me to identify with Rehoboam... and to learn from Him. I am a leader in my home, my workplace, and my community there are always conflicting points of view. My pride often gets in the way and I just want to make the decision based on what is going to "make me look good" in the eyes of those I'm leading. Sometimes I even struggle because I want to assert my dominance. (That's easy when your kids are toddlers... but probably won't work so well when my son gets to be a young man.) The kingdom was divided then and it will always be divided when pride gets in the way. Just look at what has happened over the course of time to the Church. Where did all the denominations come from? Pride.

However, God's word always provides solace as well. The solution is always there. God is the solution. Specifically in today's reading I draw my hope from watching the reform in Judah that Asa instituted. 2Chronicles 15:15 records... "They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side."

Oh Lord, Thank you for pointing out the root cause of division and strife. Help me lay my pride down and make decisions that unify rather than divide. Help me seek you eagerly so that I might find you. So that you might grant me rest on every side as well."

June 24; day 31

Whoo hoo! We're more than 1/3 of the way done already with our 90 days. God is teaching me so many things. I'm continually impressed with the issue of multi generational faithfulness. What an impact that you and I can have today to change the face of history in our family generations.

1 Chronicles 23:12-2 Chron 6
Currently in my job, I'm facing a bit of a leadership challenge. I won't go into all the specifics and the doldrums of the mundane, but suffice it to say it is enough that if I let it, it steals my joy and my enthusiasm for performing my job with excellence. (Honestly, some days I just plain don't want to go into work because I know the issue is still going to be there and its not going away.

When this happens my first instinct is to avoid the pain and try to work around it. If this doesn't work, then my next step is to complain. Then when that doesn't work, I look for someone else to help motivate me... and on and on. When this particular challenge started (... can I even remember when it started or was it always there? I'm not sure but that's not important to the story...) I began looking for my supervisors approval of how to handle it. Of course that never came - directly. So today as I was reading the many names and lists of people in Chronicles I stumbled across the passage where David is providing a word of admonishment and blessing to Solomon.

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work." 1 Chron 28:9-10

Today I was doing my reading outside during my lunch hour. I was sitting on a park bench under a shade tree. When I read this, it was almost as if God himself were speaking to me about my "crisis." I could hear Him as my heavenly father, speak to me just as David spoke to Solomon.

The challenge I received from this was multifaceted...

1. Am I acknowledging the Lord and serving Him wholeheartedly? The answer to this is... "NO" because I'm trying to seek the approval of man and attempt to avoid this struggle. Perhaps He's ordained this struggle for a specific part of my development I need right now...
2. ... serve him with a willing mind.... Well, I think you know the answer to this challenge too given what I've said previously about not wanting to go to work some days. God has ordained the day - and its struggles - yet I my mind is not willing.
3. ... [the Lord] understands every motive behind the thoughts... uh oh! BUSTED! My motives are known. If I were engaging in conversations to tackle the problem... but it was merely to make me look better or to escape the confrontation... then the Lord knows. I'm not fooling Him.
4. If you seek Him, He will be found... but if you forsake Him, he will reject you forever. Well at least here I can't say I've forsaken him - completely. However, I haven't been seeking him to help me deal with these challenges or provide me with the words he wants me to share.
5. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. God has chosen me... me... to build a sanctuary. He's chosen me to lead this group of people at this very time. He's chosen me to experience these challenges right now. He's chosen me... what an awesome privilege it is.
6. Be strong and do the work. This is when real chills went up my spine because I could almost hear my earthly father saying something like this... "suck it up and just do it." Once when I was complaining about growing up and the accompanying responsibilities my dad just looked at me and said "You're just growing older, and sometimes growing older sucks." So when I read this, I imagined that God was telling me the same thing. That this challenge wasn't designed for my enjoyment. Rather it was designed to develop my strength so just do the work.

Who says God doesn't still speak to us... so gotta go now... I've got work to do!

June 23, Day 30

1 Chronicles 9:17 - 1 Chronicles 23

Today we move from reading about names to understanding about individuals. We've already read a little bit about Saul, David and the other kings from our study of First and Second Kings. Now we reconfirm what we know and learn a little new stuff as well.

The part I found interesting was in Chapter 21 we see David taking account of the numbers of fighting men he has around him. Verse 1 records, "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel." I began wondering, why would taking a census be attributed to Satan, rather than just a good practice of leadership? I read and re-read this verse and then backed up to read this in context and the paragraphs preceding it are titled in my Bible as "War with the Philistines." So I found myself wondering.... could it be that David took a census out of fear?

Back up with me to how David even became chosen as king. Samuel had already anointed him, but after his defeat of Goliath, the people started realizing his gifting. God had already shown David from his early days of being a shepherd that as long as God was fighting with Him, no strength of the enemy could hold them back. Yet, here we now see David taking a defensive posture and counting the size of his army versus the size of the opponent.

Reading on in 1 Chron 21:3 we see Joab trying to talk David out of it, but David pushed ahead. And then finally in verse 6 we read that God chose to punish Israel because David's command was evil in the sight of God. Why was it evil? Ultimately, it comes back to pride. Can I win on my own? Who needs God if my army is stronger, bigger, faster, better looking, etc...

Identify with me today, where are you trying to count your army rather than relying on God for your strength. I know for one, I'm trying to do too much on my own without asking God for his strength and provision. Whether it be daily devotions with my kids or making decisions at work, either way, I ask God once and believe that is enough. Rather than continually trusting that He will provide.

I take my warning from 1 Chronicles 21:14... even after David had repented, God still enacted judgement on Israel. 70,000 men died in a plague because of David's pride. When I count for the purposes of proving my strength, God may choose to remove this source of strength to help me depend on Him anew. Please pray for me today, that I learn to rely on Him and not my own "numbers" for strength.

June 22, Day 29

1 Chronicles 1- 1 Chronicles 9:17

Ever have trouble concentrating? Surely I found myself there today as I was reading the list of names and genealogies. As it does often, my mind started to wander to "what is the purpose of this? and What is God trying to teach me here?"

This is what I came up with... we each matter to God? In order for us to know who we are we have to know whose we are. God's promise to the Israelites was that they would be His chosen people. This genealogy clearly shows how God has preserved and recorded their lineage. They could look back and then see where they came from. Additionally, we also know God has made some big promises already... and peeking ahead in the prophets, we know He is going to make some bigger promises to come. So knowing that Jesus is the Messiah and that many people would challenge this in the future, it is important for God to record the lineage of His chosen people in advance, so they can see how improbable it is that just anyone could be the Messiah in the future. Rejoice with me today, that God knows your name. He knows where you've come from and what (or whom) will come after you. Do you know Him? Is your name written down in His book?

On an earthly note, do you tell your children where you've come from? Do you share with them the stories of their ancestry? I didn't grow up with many of those stories, but I was fortunate to grow up with family close in proximity to us. So I what I didn't hear, I could observe. Yet, I often wish I would know more about where our family came from and the personal issues that those before me struggled with. Did they follow God? Would they have done anything differently about their life? Friends, today, I promise to be more transparent with my children so they will know not only who they are... but whose they are!

June 21; Day 28

2 Kings 15-2 Kings 25:30

One step forward and two steps back. A good king then three or four bad kings. Then maybe two good kings and another one or two bad ones... but the cycle never stops. There is never a continual run of good kings... nor is there a continual run of bad kings. Why is this? I found myself pondering this question. Why wouldn't God just let the nation slide into oblivion if that is what they want so badly? OR if they were His chosen people, why wouldn't he just continue to raise up godly leaders to follow him and lead his people towards him? Think about this for a moment. It makes my head hurt when I ponder it. We know God had given us free will... we see it exercised many times when a king chooses to do something contrary to God's plans. So if we are evil at heart and can't do right on our own... how are people able to make good Godly choices in a fallen world? On the other hand, if God really wanted Israel to prosper, why wouldn't he have just intervened on their behalf? I don't know that I have an answer... but it is clear from reading this history, that there was an ebb and a flow to Israel's obedience and consequential blessings (or curses.)

Two things hit me here as I ponder this... the call for unity... and God's discipleship of his people.

First the call for unity. Perhaps it is so difficult to gain forward momentum because everyone in Israel was shooting at a different goal. Some were trying to follow the Lord, and others were trying to do whatever they could to avoid following Him. So occasionally a leader would surface who would be able to get more people following the Lord than not and blessings would result... but there is still were those who were distracting their efforts and so full blessing was not realized. Then there were leaders who - intentional or not - encouraged the people to fall away from God's plan. Obviously God couldn't bless this. Now fast forward to today. God has protected and preserved a remnant on this earth. Those people who are called by God to serve and worship Him. Through them, His Word has been preserved through the ages and His work is being accomplished on this earth. Yet there are those who remain "outside" of the remnant. And either intentional or not - they are distracting God's work from being accomplished. We're all not firing in the same direction and of course it is difficult to gain forward momentum when this is the case. Even within the Church we can't agree to serve Him in unison. We're so concerned about our own individual ways.... and serving Him in our own unique way - that sometimes we're even shooting over the church next door in our efforts. There will always be evil in this fallen world. In order to shine God's light brighter, we need to be unified to gain forward momentum against the enemy of this World.

Secondly, God's discipleship of his people. I remember talking to a mentor once in my office. It was soon after I started my career and he was giving me advice. His advice was to view the challenges in the workplace as a way to develop "heart wood." What he was doing was comparing developing as a person to the way a young tree develops. As a tree grows it is often susceptible to the winds and the weather. If the wind blows too hard the tree is in jeopardy of blowing over or breaking. But there is a certain amount of stress necessary for the tree to develop strength. If the tree never faces any resistance, it will topple under its own weight as it grows, because it never developed any heart wood.

As I read about the struggles of the nation of Israel and feel the "two steps forward and one steps back" push and pull occur, I realize that perhaps God is disciplining His people to develop heart wood. Making them stronger now, so that as they grow and are prospered, they will not topple under their own weight. There is a certain amount of challenge they need to be able to realize their dependence on God. They need to know He is God and they are not. Likewise, they need to realize that their actions have consequences - both good and bad.

Have we learned these lessons today? Are we developing heart wood? Perhaps the remnant God has preserved is growing stronger. I see that every day. Some of the Christians I know are getting deeper and deeper in their relationship with the Lord. Yet, as a whole, I see less and less of us truly depending on God. When times are tough, it seems we have to have a "fall guy" to take the blame for anything. Why are gas prices high? Who's fault is it that the middle east is in turmoil? Who is going to lose their job because of the sub-prime lending crisis? Rather than repenting as a nation, we blame individuals and sink further and further into our individualistic world. Until we realize were all interconnected and one's decisions have implications for more than just themselves; and until we realize that God's discipleship process is not easy, we are not likely to see more than "one step forward and two steps back."

June 20; Day 27

2 Kings 4:8 - 2 Kings 14

Doing and believing are two separate things. As I read over the parts of the various kings I find myself always asking, why is one King good and the next king so bad? In many cases they are even father and son. Though their genetics are related, their actions really aren't. And then interspersed with the kings, the Bible records the acts of the "man of God." We see in some cases God blessing the nation because of its leadership and in other cases, God curses the nation because of its leadership.

As I read and contrast these various kings and prophets, I conclude that doing what is right by God does not always imply that you know who God is. In many cases, these kings knew what God's commands were and chose not to follow them. Of course this is disobedience and God cannot bless disobedience. In other cases they knew what God's commands were and followed them - or at least attempted to follow them - but there is never any mention about their relationship with God. The Bible doesn't record any conversation or prayer between these leaders and God. So God can appreciate the actions they took, but with out a relationship with Him, He cannot fully bless them either. In other cases - such as the case with Elisha - it records not only was he obedient (and walked in the ways of the Lord) but also his ongoing conversations and dialogues with God. We see he had a relationship.... and for this God was fully able to bless Elisha's actions and obedience.

So as I apply this to my life, in what way am I posing and pretending to know God? Am I simply being obedient to God's commands or is there on-going relationship and dialogue with God? Is he able to fully pour out his blessings on the "nation" that I'm leading because I'm doing more than complying with his laws? Simply following God's laws gets tiring. There are many times when I'm tempted to give in... to just be like the rest of the world. Yet, in those quiet moments when I take time to listen to God, he renews my strength to continue. He helps pull me back to reality and shows me the traps I'm about to walk into. HE helps me see what I would give up to gain a few moments of breaking the rules.

Help me do more than obey your commands... Help me know your heart and anticipate your ways.

June 19 Day 26 - Postlogue

I wanted to add on to my post but thought it worthy of another posting rather than an addition to the previous one for today

You see, I have a dear friend who is in a bit of a crisis lately. This friend and I had a chance to talk today and I've walked away from that conversation burdened. You see, life has not been easy for this friend. There have been some things happening in life that could not be controlled by this friend. Yet how this friend has chosen to act on these circumstances can be controlled and unfortunately this friend made some poor choices. Recently after making some repeated wrong choices my friend went to speak with a church representative. Yet this pastor in an attempt to help ended up hurting. The pastor told my friend to view these choices as normal struggles and recognize that the struggle is common to most people. Yet what this pastor didn't do, was call sin by its rightful name. It doesn't matter how normal sin is. It never excuses it because others are doing it as well. What does matter is that sin keeps us from understanding and feeling the complete love of God our creator and our Abba Father. By encouraging my friend to see these poor choices as normal, this man of God missed the chance to help someone repent and seek forgiveness. While I don't know this pastor personally I certainly don't want to rush to judgement. This pastor may very well have a vibrant relationship with the Lord and may be producing great fruit for the kingdom. Yet, I know in this one instance, this pastor missed an opportunity. I might speculate that his decision was driven out of popularity and not out of compassion. Calling sin, sin is not popular. To tell someone they are living in sin is not going to gain you a lot of friends and it certainly might chase a few people away from your church in today's post-modern culture. But yet, that is exactly what our friends need to hear today. Too few of our "leaders" are willing to believe in absolute truth let alone calling sin by its rightful name. If our leaders won't do it, and our churches aren't preaching it, where are we to hear it. . . other than in God's Word. But you see, those of us that are caught up in our sin don't want to read God's Word and if we do, we can't hear Him correctly unless we repent. Don't you see the irony in all of this???

So today on the phone with my friend, whom I love closer than a family member, I had to speak the truth in love. There were many times when I was speaking out of my mouth but praying in my soul that my words would be His words. There were awkward silences when I needed to seek God in micro-seconds that seemed like macro hours. And I know - by my friends long pauses and pained silences - that what I was saying was about as palatable as a sandwich of glass shards. Yet, because I love my friend so much I had to help this friend understand how passionate God is about a relationship with them. I had to help show that sin is sin... it is ugly and it is common... but it is never right. But there is no sin that Jesus didn't die for and that He can't defeat. The presence of sin in our life - whatever the reason or cause - is always a result of a poor choice. You and I can chose how we react to life and the sin around us... please don't let that reaction be by sinning yourself.

So what does this have to do with today's reading... I recognized that some of the "bad kings" were bad because they ignored God. But some of them were bad, because they believed God and didn't do anything to purify the land around them. Some of them refused to remove the idols or places of idol worship around them. And the result of these actions may not have been devastation but they were certainly never God's richest blessings being poured out on the land around them. When the kings wouldn't do it, God sent Elijah and Elisha to point out Israel's sin. It couldn't have been easy for Elijah and Elisha to do this. Elijah helped show who the true God of Israel was by challenging the prophets of Baal to show down and winning! Yet the expense of this was that people called him a troublemaker. Jezebel threatened to put Elijah to death for defaming her god and her prophets. What God had called Elijah to couldn't have been comfortable and it certainly couldn't have been popular. I know this in a new sense today, because I feel a little like Elijah today... tired of calling sin a sin... in fear of losing a friendship... but totally feeling obedient to God. The hope I have is that God was so pleased with Elijah's obedience that we read about how Elijah never died... he was taken to heaven in a whirlwind. I don't expect this, but I do know that obedience to God sometimes means you aren't real popular with the world.

Friend, if you're reading this today, know that I love you more than a brother... so much so I cannot allow you to continue to give up the richest blessings God wants to pour out on you for the sake of a few poor (temporal) choices that will leave eternal scars.

June 19, Day 26 - Part A

1 Kings 16 - 2 Kings 4:7

OK, so I get really confused when reading this. Who was a "good king" and followed God and who was a "bad" king and did evil in the Lord's sight? Not only that but were they the king of Israel or of Judah. Was their peace in the land at the time or not? Who was fighting whom and were they being judged for their rebellion or blessed because of their obedience? This is not easy stuff to relate to today... but yet it doesn't take too long for me to gain some application.

So there were kingdoms... they were ruled by kings. Kings were not God's idea in the first place... but yet because the people demanded a king like all other countries God gave them what they asked for. (Lesson #1 - be careful because He may give you what you ask for even if it is against your best interest.)

Good kings = following God, Bad kings = disobeying God (or worse yet, failing to recognize He even existed.) Following God yielded blessing and peace. Disobeying God resulted in being removed from power personally (perhaps even death) and also curses upon the people. (Lesson #2 - we best be careful who we elect as our "king" because their decisions have lasting implications on us)

In the middle of all of this we read in 1 Kings 17 about Elijah the Tishbite. We were reading about good kings and bad kings and here all the sudden we read about this guy whom "the Word of the Lord came upon" and birds fed. What is that all about? From here on we read more and more about Elijah (and later Elisha) and less and less about good kings and bad kings though they are still in the background. As I was reading this, I recognized this for myself all over again... God is sovereign and will use average people to spread His message and to help call others out of their sin. Surely God was using the Kings too to accomplish his purpose, but he was always using these prophets to remind people of who he was and what He desired for their life.

Today, I gain great comfort in that. We may be following the polls and electing the president of our country based on popular opinion. And God expects us to participate in this process. Yet, it is going to be the average people around us who likely won't get the TV time or the press time that is calling the world out of our sin and pointing the Lord's sovereignty out to us. Won't you thank your pastor, your neighbor, your accountability partner or any other of God's representatives around you today for helping you understand who God is?

June 18, Day 25

1 Kings 7:13 - 1 Kings 15:34

So I need to set a bit of context for this posting as it relates to current events. I have a habit in the morning of having my quiet time and Bible reading and then glancing at the headlines in the paper. However on this day, I decided I would go get the paper from the box first (and of course glance at the headlines) before I opened my Bible. So the current events focused my reading and though there was a lot in this reading, there was one glaring thing that popped out at me.

Currently in our country there is a huge "social experiment" going on. I've chosen to call it that despite what it really is -blatant defiance of God and His order. California has just "legalized" same sex marriage. and it just went into effect a few days ago. California doesn't have a residency requirement for someone to be wed there so essentially people from all over the country can come and be "married" and then go back to their home state. In essence it will be only a matter of time before they start demanding that other states recognize this marriage and provide the same benefits as traditional marriage. (Oh what a slippery slope we're on... but I can't focus on that right now.) In the paper the headline read, "Gays wed in California." I knew the day was coming as it had been talked about for several days. Yet, I also know God will not be mocked... and so I was wondering if God would intervene in any way to make Himself known or to stop this from happening. What I realized is we have a patient and long suffering God.

As I began reading today, I read how Solomon built the temple in its ornate fashion to workshop and "house" the Lord. Nothing was too opulent for the Lord's house. Then the ark of the covenant was brought into the Temple and God's presence filled the temple with a cloud of his Glory. While this was happening Solomon blessed the people with a prayer of praise and dedication. Then the Lord appeared to Solomon and acknowledged the prayer and plea Solomon had made (1 Kings 9:3)... in verse 6 is really what caught my attention....

"But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this Temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will become a byword and an object of ridicule among all people." (1 Kings 9:6-7)

This is a strong warning to the Israelites. They'd just sacrificed on God's behalf to build the temple. They - at the present time - were not completely rebelling against Him, yet He felt it necessary to warn them what would happen.

Are we not the same as Israel today here in the United States? Did God not bless us abundantly in the past because of our faithfulness as a people and our founding father's foresight to follow Him in establishing our republic? Should we not be as the Israelites, sacrificing on His behalf realizing our best still pales in comparison from His due worship? Yet, as we grow further and further into our post-modern age and we become less and less reliant on Him, we are worshiping other gods... gods of self, gods of material possessions, gods of work, etc... We are proclaiming ourselves to be above reproach or without need for God and His laws. California is thumbing their nose at God right now with this one action... but are we not all guilty?

The headlines in the paper were also reading about the record floods going on in the Midwest, the tornadoes that recently hit parts of the country and other events. There was even a quote from someone in Iowa who admittedly was an agnostic - but said "I think God is just telling us that He is in control and we are not." (loosely paraphrased from the original quote.) Is this not what is happening? God is trying to tell us we are not in control. He will allow us to make our own decisions - no matter how bad they are - but we must also suffer for the consequences.

To our detriment however, we see ourselves as Californians and Iowans... not as Americans. We don't recognize that the decisions that one of us makes affects the larger part of us all. And until we all cry out in repentance on behalf of some of the collective sins of our country, God will be long suffering in exacting total judgement - but He will always make Himself known... sometimes by using weather patterns and other times by being silent and letting us put the noose around our own neck....

Won't you join me in crying out on behalf of our country... "God shed your grace on thee!"

June 17 Day 24

2 Samuel 22-1 Kings 7:12

Admittedly I rushed through my reading today. And I have to admit I didn't give it full measure to percolate and seek deep application. Personally, if you are reading this, please pray for me that I readjust my schedule accordingly to give God's Word the rightful place in my life in the face of busy schedules. Busy should never get in the way... but I've let it creep in there.

So the one thing that popped out to me today after reading a bit about Solomon. Of course he has to make every one of us look bad because when pray for "blessings" he prays for wisdom and of course gets "blessings" as a consequence of his request. Obviously I'm not the wisest person that ever has lived... even in this lifetime. But lest I digress....
In 1 Kings 3 we read in this passage about Solomons request for wisdom... but what I never realized was what it records in verse 15... "Then Solomon awoke - and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court."

I never realized this conversation between he and God occurred during a dream. I often pray at night before I go to bed for God to speak to me in my dreams. And I half-heartedly expect that He will answer. So this alone is impressive... but what is more impressive is that afterward Solomon acted on those dreams by offering praises and sacrifices showing he really believed God spoke to him in those dreams. This is where I often differ. Though I've prayed for it, my disbelief of Him actually answering has prevented me from really truly believing I've heard him. Many days I'll wake up and think I've heard Him... sometimes even in the middle of the dream. But in my disbelief, I excuse it as something I've eaten before I went to bed... or some stress I find myself under at that particular time. Never have I truly got up... gone to "Jerusalem" (or even to my living room for that matter) and offered a sacrifice of praise for Him answering me and speaking to me. What disbelief I've been exhibiting.

Thank you for this word today, that you actually can and do speak to us through dreams. I pray as I fall asleep tonight that this revelation will be confirmed to me tonight that I might meet with you even as I gain rest for my physical body. I pray that you'll be renewing my mind through communion with your Spirit inside of me. Forgive me for my inadequacies and my disbelief that has prevented me from hearing You and responding accordingly.

Amen!!!

June 15/16, Days 22& 23; 1 Sam 28- 2 Sam 21

If God is for us, who can be against us? This is the phrase that keeps running through my head as I read scripture for the last two days. I recorded in my last post about how I wish I had the live narration on during my life that we're privy to as we read the Bible. I long for it in my own life, almost like a special track on a DVD where you can turn on the directors narration... "In this scene we had to re-shoot it several times because Jim kept messing up... but after 32 attempts he finally got it right." OR... "If you're watching very closely you'll see that God is with him in this attempt and has enabled him to nail it on the first try, but just watch and see where Jim takes all the credit and leaves God high and dry - AGAIN." It is so obvious as I read this how I can identify with both Saul and David. There have been times when I have felt the Lord right there with me. I know he is the one responsible for my success. And I feel like David who keeps himself humble and is able to do all things. And at other times, I can identify with Saul. Who has let pride and jealousy creep into his life and "the Lord leaves him" only to turn him over to his selfish ways. When Saul focuses on self and self-preservation he has become unable to receive the Lord's direction. We see when God is on our side, nothing can slow us down. David could do no wrong, and after Saul pushed God away, he could do no right.

Ultimately Saul's death at the end of 1 Samuel gives me a warning for the world in which we live today. The fighting grew more intense and when the enemy had stabbed him, rather than fight back or draw upon God for help, he felt the only way out was to fall on his own sword and take his own life. If only people around us today wouldn't fall on their own sword. Too many feel too alone and don't realize that God will always receive us back when we have a repentant heart. Yet pride, all the way up unto the death, will always separate us from His love. Won't you learn this lesson from Saul as well?

In 2 Sam, I find myself reflecting on Joab. He is not one who gets a lot of press when it comes to Bible study, but already in the first chapters of 2 Sam, there is quite about told of him. He is the son of David's sister Zeruiah. He must have been quite the warrior because he is always willing to go to battle or pursue someone. Joab is recorded to have killed Abner after Abner killed his brother. Joab was the prince of the king's army. And always seemed ready at a moments notice to do what David asked. Because God was with David, seemingly Joab was blessed in return. Because if God had told David He would deliver the enemies of Israel to them, then Joab's victories were much more certain. However, his willingness to serve the king also cost him quite a bit because of his lack of discernment. He willingly participated in the killing of Uriah as a cover up for David's sin. Ultimately, he ended up siding with Adonijah in preference to Solomon when David was dying.

So a few of applications from this.... 1) My sin will have impacts on other people - even if I try to hide it. 2) By asking others to cover up for me, I'm only further withdraw the Lord's blessing on us a people and 3) If I get so caught up in serving man, I can actually forget to serve God first... and that lack of discernment can be my downfall

Lastly, I gain a lot of application from David. Perhaps not in the usual sense however. More so this time in his role as a father. Certainly David gets a lot of press because of his role in leading Israel and following God. But you've never really seen David written up in the Father's Hall of Fame. Why is that? For one, the man had more than 6 wives. That alone could be the cause of downfall. While God never expressly condemns this in the Bible, there is nothing attractive that comes from a marriage situation like this... just look at the chaos in David's life. Then we see that various children of David.... there was incest going on, rape, murder, and lots of jealousy. What was dysfunctional because of the multiple wives has now taken on a new definition of dysfunctional. Where was David's rebuke in all of this. We see when Amnon raped Tamar it was left to Absalom to deal with. The way he chose to deal with it was not to do anything about it until his anger took over and he killed Amnon. Then the root of bitterness took over and Absalom's rebellion against his father really took off. But again where was David? It says he knew all of this was going on and lamented for his son. But yet, he never did anything to talk to his son, call out the sin, or lead his son to seek God in the process. Rather I think David got a little sloppy with his agape. I have learned already (though my children are just 3 and 4) that you can get yourself in trouble as a parent when you want to be your children's friend more than their parent. It think David was having such a terrible time managing all of his wives that he decided to try to be equal with his children and befriend them. There are times when he could have and should have set more appropriate boundaries and caused them to experience the consequences of some of their bad decisions. Yet David compounds bad decision up on bad decision by allowing Absalom to move back home without repentance for his previous actions. And thus... David himself is chased from his own home in defense. It says David, with his head covered and barefoot, wept as he climbed the Mount of Olives. Was he weeping for Absalom's bad decisions... or because of his failings as a parent? Either way the result was not good. Take heed my friend. The best parents are not always the best friends!

June 14 Day 21; 1 Sam16:1-1 Sam 27

The story of David is always one of great encouragement for me. To see how God placed a calling on his life so early and how that calling was lived out and fulfilled. As I read about how the spirit of the Lord was upon him and how we can see the Lord working even in David's young life to defeat Goliath and the enemies of Israel long before he was even King, I find myself wondering - does God still place his call on people like this today and His is Spirit still working with them? I know intellectually the answer is "yes" but practically it is much more difficult to believe. I wish I had the narration that the Bible provides that as I walk through my daily life, I would hear this small voice in the background saying... "and Jim was able to accomplish this huge task because the Spirit of the Lord was upon him." Then I wouldn't be so inclined to let my pride creep in and take credit for His accomplishments in my life.

Of all the applications in David's life, I find myself thinking the most today about how he chose to extend grace to Saul on multiple occasions. He knew Saul was out to kill him. He'd been warned and at least once Saul physically came after him when they were in the same room. It was no secret that Saul had become a madman possessed by jealousy and the Spirit of the Lord had left him. Yet out of respect for the Lord's anointed, (regardless of Saul's irresponsibility to use that anointing for God's glory) David did not kill Saul 2 time when he could have. Surely we know that Murder is wrong... and we could easily say that David did not want to sin. And I'm sure this was some of it. Yet in that day, if an enemy had already tried to kill you - it probably would have been considered self defense for David to take care of it once and for all. The application in my life is this... I know that I'm not likely to kill anyone in today's culture. Yet I'm reminded that in Scripture God warns that anyone who is angry with his brother in his heart has already committed murder. So essentially I kill people every day... at least I kill the potential for them to see God in me because of my anger. If David could out of respect for God, extend grace to someone who was literally trying to off him, then why is it so difficult for me to forgive those who hurt me? Forgiveness is one thing... but restoring the relationship is something else. For example, recently a friendship of mine was violated. Not in a major way but some confidences were broken. It's very easy for me to get hurt and upset in a situation like this. The first thing I did was to go and tell someone else how this other friend had hurt me. Why didn't I try to restore the relationship rather than going and acting in my hurt? I didn't extend grace, rather I sought to have my anger validated from someone else and ultimately the relationship was damaged. You see, every day I have the opportunity to either murder or return good in the place of evil. I must confess that this an area that is very difficult for me... but I'm trying.

And on this topic of friendship, I'm so impressed with the friendship between David and Jonathon. There are so many examples here but for me I've got a fresh example. One of my closest friends is moving away. He and his family are moving about 2 hours from us. I know that friendship can endure miles, but for the last 2 years he has been the closest thing to Jonathon to me and now our regular conversations will not be so regular. Yet rather than wallow in self-pity, I praise God that I have gotten to know what a Jonathon-like relationship is like in this world.

June13, Day 20; 1 Sam 2:12-1 Sam 2:15

In today's reading these things popped out at me. I must admit I'm not sure I received the full revelation of what God is telling me but I highlighted these passages:

1. If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, whil will intercede for him? (1 Sam 2: 25). It is dangerous stuff to stand opposing the Lord. What sin is truly against man and what is against God??
2. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord. The word of the Lord has not yet been revealed to Him. (1 Sam 3:7) How many of us don't yet know the Lord? So many people today play Christian... not everyone truly can hear the Lord because they've not opened their hearts to Jesus yet. Do my friends and family know Him? Am I doing my job to introduce them to Him?
3. The Lord contiued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through His word. (1 Sam 3:21) God still reveals himself to us through His word. I'm blessed to be hearing Him again in a whle new way as I read daily. However, just like Samuel, we must know Him first to receive the true revelation of His word.
4. But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. (1 Sam 6:19) This is a warning to me that God is so Holy that on my own I cannot even approach him. He cannot tolerate our sin. Yet in the days of the ark, there was nothing to stand in atonement for the sins of the people other than the animal sacrifies. Today, we should never stop praising Jesus because HE is our atonement that enables me to see God every day without fear of death.
5. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the Lod was against the Philistines. (1 Sam 7:13b) When I read this passage, I sribbled in the margin of my bible, "one Godly man can still make a difference." This gives me hope in today's darkening world, that God will continue to reward faithfulness and perhaps use this faithfulness to bless even the wicked around him.
6. So Saul asked God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel's hand?" But God did not answer him that day. (1 Sam 14:37) This seems kind of harsh considering God chose Saul. Yet it reminds us that with our calling comes responsibility. God did answer Saul for quite some time... yet in this instance it follows a repeated pattern of irresponsibility. Saul was disobedient to God in several instances and therefore it was time for God to help Saul realize accountability for his actions. Where have I been disobedient and how is that hindering my ability to hear God answer???
7. Does the lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? (1 Sam 15:22) Saul was only focused on the action... and not the heart attitude. He was relying on a burnt offering to deliver some sort of magical power of deliverance. He was not even the one authorized to offer burnt sacrifices. Therefore it is only about action and not relationship. How am I acting Christian without having the depth of relationship that I need? How is the world caught up in religious traditions and completely missed the relationship with Christ? Look around... it is everywhere! Wake up oh sleeper!
8. He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind. (1 Sam 15:29) And to this, I only have to say... THANK YOU! Thank you that in this world of uncertainty there is one thing that is always certain!!!
9. And Samuel put Agag to death before the Lord at Gilgal. (1 Sam 15:33b) This is hard for me to interpret in modern terms. Surely it was out of righteous anger that Samuel acted. And was enacting judgement on Agag for the ungodly acts he'd committed. Yet in today's world this is totally unacceptable. However, there are a lot of ungodly and unrighteous acts going on in the world today... and even perhaps in my home from time to time. I should take this warning at minimum to put my "Agag's" to death before the Lord this day.

June 12, Day 19 Judges 15-1 Samuel 2:11

After finishing Judges I realize that my post yesterday was even more poignant. Reading Sampson's story only reinforced the observations that I made on leadership.

The story of Ruth and Naomi always stirs me. The question I found myself pondering today was what did Ruth give up in order to follow Naomi? She gave up everything. Her family, her land, her gods, etc... all for what? Her love and devotion towards Naomi. But what attracted her to Naomi? Sure she had a relationship with her because of their common love for a man. That alone was a bond...but peeking around the corner a little bit and adding some speculation into the reading, I suppose there was something about Naomi's faith that attracted Ruth to her. They'd both just experienced quite a tragedy. Elimelech and his two sons all died. That left Ruth and Orpah without a father-in-law, brother-in-law, and a husband. They saw Naomi through the loss of two sons and a husband. Sure she was greiving - or she would not have told others to call her Mara - but perhaps she was also clinging to her faith. Perhaps she was still praising her God in the storm. She was showing the next generation what it meant to trust in God.

Am I doing the same? What am I modeling to my children about God's faithfulness. Am I still praising him in the storm... or do I jump to grumbling? Am I showing my kids that God can only be praised when we get what we want? OR am I showing them that God can be praised ALWAYS because His will is sovereign and His plan perfect. I'm afraid to be quite transparent that my faith shows my children that I praise Him only in the sunny weather and not in the storms.

The story of Hannah always grips me. I know God has given me a special place for this story in our family because of our own struggle with infertility. I can so relate to Hannah's tears and how she must have felt as her rival chided her about not having children. And how her husband's attempts to comfort her only brought her more grief. There is a place in a mother's heart that only a child can fill. Unfortunately I know what it was like to try to comfort my wife with some of the exact same words that Elkanah said to Hannah... am I not enough even if God never gives us a child. And that only forces your wife into saying the obvious answer to her... "no." In fact this story means so much to me I'd consider naming our daughter Hannah if it weren't for a family member who'd named one of their previous dogs the same name!

What grips me most about this story is Hanah's prayer after Samuel is born. Her song of praise reads so fresh and so true. After God has blessed you in an area where you've relinquished complete control to Him, the praise is so sweet and so raw and so real. We will forever view children as the most precious blessing God could give us because we never knew if we'd have children in our family. I wish everyone had to experience infertility just for a moment - so they whole world would view children as a joy and as a blessing rather than a scourge or burden. Even well meaning parents in our culture decide that they can only "afford" a set number of children at the same time they've convinced themselves that satellite TV is a necessity. Something in that tradeoff seems contrary to God's plan for His people.

Yet there is a part of Hannah's song of praise that stands out to me... 1 Sam 2: 9b-10 records, "It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth."

I prayed for strength to endure many times... as recently as this morning. But it is not by strength that we prevail. It is by God's Grace that we prevail. Where have I opposed the Lord? Where am I still doing it? Only by His grace do I still endure!!

June 11; Day 18, Judges 3-14

Judges. What exactly does that word mean? This was the question consuming my mind when I was reading through the descriptions of the various individuals... Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Abimelech, Tola, Jair, Jephtah, and Sampson.

To answer that question, I looked back at yesterday's reading. I was reminded that God had recoreded that after the time of Joshua an entire generation grew up who neither knew the Lord or what He had done for Israel. Consequently the stage is set to do things contrary to God's desire for His people. Judges 2: 16 then records "The the Lord raised up judges who saved them out the hands of these raiders." In my bible the word "judges" is footnoted, and the footnote simply says "Or 'leaders'."

Is a Judge simply a leader? Coming from someone who works professionally to build leadership development in our company, could I honestly say that each of the graduates of our leadership program are "judges?" I believe our modern definition of judge or leader doesn't suffice given the description of these people we read about in today's reading. Our definition of "judge" tends to connotate someone who is elected or chosen by the people because of their ability to uphold the laws and interpret them on behalf of the people. This sort of gets to it but still leaves something lacking. Then our definition of a "leader" is often someone who is placed in a position of influence over others. Sometimes this influence can be positive and unfortunately, sometimes this influence can be negative. Yet this definition seems hollow according to these judges described in the Bible.

To me as I read about these individuals I see some common themes.

1. None of them were looking for this position. Rather God had raised them up and given them special circumstances for their influence to be demonstrated. This is definately not a public office or an election by the people. I'm quite certain the people wouldn't have chosen these individuals given some of the things they were asked to do on behalf of the people.
2. They had an overwhelming zeal for God and His ways. Tearing down the gods of the day (Asherah poles, etc...) exacting God's judgement on the enemies of Israel or even sometimes renegade individuals inside the Israelite body were just some of the unpleasant tasks given to them that weren't popular but necessary to purify God's people and bring them back into repentance for His ways. In Judges 3:10 we see the source of Othneil's zeal "The Spirit of the Lord cam upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war." Without the Lord's Spirit would they have had the fortitude to stand against popular opinion and follow God at all costs?
3. Most of them came from humble beginings and had flaws in their background. Or more importantly they were not leaders that had been groomed by man their entire life. Jephthah's mother was a prostitute. Most of them didn't even feel qualified to be a leader of people, yet God equiped the called. Rather than calling the equipped. And it points out that no matter what our background, God has a plan for everyone He creates.

I notice from this that we have our definitions of leadership all wrong in the United States. Currently at the present time we're undergoing the endless droning of the Presidential elections. Who is best? Which one has the least warts? Which one can slam the other the most? And on and on we go. Yet contrast this with the Judges of Israel. They weren't seeking the position of influence and yet God raised them up. They were called to do things unpopular yet necessary (rather than campaining on promises to create utopia for everyone) and God was with them giving them strength and vision for His people. Where are we at today? How far we've come. We're truly living in days like those of the Judges where we've raised up an entire generation (and perhaps multiple generations) that no longer know the Lord or what He has done for the United States.

Yet, from this reading I gain hope. God - not Man - is in control. He can and will raise up Judges in today's society. Judges being those people He chooses to do His will here on earth and in the United States. Judges being those people with a position of influence over those God has given to them. Judges who are encouraged and supernaturally strengthened to do the seemingly impossible (or at very minimum the unpopular) by His Spirit.

Where are these Judges today? I believe it is you and I that God has raised up to be judges for our world. If you're reading this, you probably have some interest in the Lord. Perhaps you weren't seeking it, but it found you. One way or another, there is a reason God has you reading these words right now, right here. I for one feel greater conviction of being the Judge of those around me. I hold positions of influence in my home and at my workplace. My greatest responsibility is to be the judge of the territory God has given me at home. I can't judge the nations - only God can do that - however, I can lead according to God's principles and through His Spirit. And I can start with those He's given to me. That is my primarily my family. If we would each only do that, imagine what a more "righteous" world we might live in. Let's not wait for God to use another tribe to enact his judgement on us. Let's start judging right here at home. Are you up for it?

June 10; Day 17 - Joshua 14-Judges 3

Every night as we tuck in our kids we have a small blessing we say over them and that they've come to recite with us. As part of this final blessing, we encourage them by saying... "God has created you for a purpose... and your purpose is to bring glory to God." I'm beginning after 35 years of life to understand more and more of my purpose in life and it has less and less to do with the titles I have associated with my name.

To be rooted somewhere means to take on an identity. For me sometimes that rooting has meant where I grew up... or where I went to school... or where I've chosen to live... or where I'm employed . Each of these locations has given me an identity. And I've often searched for purpose in this location/identity. However, from today's reading it became glaringly obvious to me that location is meant to establish identity but physical location must be associated with spiritual location to give us true identity.

Joshua divided the land with each of the tribes and reviewed with them the boundaries of their territories. While seemingly mundane to read it became more and more obvious that God wanted these tribes to inherit the land He'd promised but not for the sole purpose of consuming its resources but to establish an identity. This means a lot to me having been reared in a small town and undestanding the need for community and relationships. Now living in a larger city where the population is more transient I don't see the same depth of relationship or connection. It is much more difficult to develop this depth when it is neither recognized nor desired. Yet boundaries are not meant to prevent us from reaching out or to isolate us. All too often I see this happening as well. The walls of our house, the fences in our yards ... the doors on our cars....if we let them, these boundaries can isolate us. And ultimately God designed us to have an identity but to live in community with others and ultimately with Him. How tragically we've used physical location to isolate rather than combine with spiritual location to establish identity.

As I was reading this I was also realizing that God in His goodness did what He promised completely! Despite the people's rebellion and their waywardness - His plans were achieved. Josh 21:44-45 records "Not one of their enemies withstood them the Lord handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of the all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one ws fulfilled." What awesome encouragement this is. What He has promised, He will deliver! Oh how I need to remember this in these troubling days. I was watching the news the other night and here in Indiana now we've just experienced some of the worst flooding we've seen in quite some time. So the majority of the news was consumed with this tradgedy and loss of property and devistation. Then the news continued on about the rising fuel prices. Speculation is that gas prices could reach as high as $6.00 per gallon. Then a story on rising food prices. Then a story on other natural disasters around the world.... enough! It was enough to cause me to become fearful. Yet... I was comforted by this reading realizing that God is always in control. He has already told us how the story would end. He has also told us to expect trials of many kinds. Yet not one of his good promises have failed.... every one is beging fulfilled. Help me remember this in times of trial and worry.

So to bring these two points together.... God had given me a territory to establish an identity. In my life He has blessed me with a lot of territory. Most importantly He has given me a family to love and to lead. He has given me walls of a house to protect us. But also these boundaries are meant to give me an identity. If I let it these boundaries can isolate me... but if I choose to these boundaries give me an identity as a child of God and a recipient of His blessings. In times of worry or anxiety I can retreat within these boundaries fearful of what might happen to me or my family - thus chosing isolation. OR I can choose to place my trust and faith in His promises that I know will be fulfilled - thus choosing to let these boundaries identify me as a child of God. In Joshua chapter 24 we see Joshua forcing the Israelites to make the same decision.... - "Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Later in Judges we read of how the Israelites inherited the land they served the Lord through Joshua's lifetime but after he died and the subsequent generation died "another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel." (Judges 2:10b) I could preach a whole sermon on this verse alone... but suffice it to say that this is a clear warning to me to establish an eternal view point as I lead my family. It admonishes me not only to teach them about the things the Lord has done, BUT also to do everything I can to introduce them to the Lord so they know Him personally. By viewing my "territory" as my family and by making a choice to serve Him means to take the viewpoint that I'm to establish the identity of training my family to achieve multi-generational faithfulness. I'm beginning to learn my purpose in this world.... and for the generations that will follow.

So with this, I declare Joshua's promise as my own today - yet with a whole new perspective In today's uncertain enviroment the one thing I know I can cling to is God's unchanging promise... and as for me and my household (those living here today and those that will come after us...) we will serve the Lord.... even in uncertain times.

June 9, Day 16; Joshua 1-13

How must have Joshua felt as he took over after Moses death? This is a question that our pastor posed on his blog entry about this chapter. It really caused me to stop and think about how remarkable Joshua must have been. It takes great qualities and a willing spirit to become a great leader. God had developed Moses into a great leader. Yet, it takes some even more amazing qualities to follow a great leader. Anyone who has ever follows a great leader knows how difficult it can be. First you not only have to perform at the same level or above, but you have to win over the hearts of the people who may still be mourning or lamenting that the previous leader is gone. Yet the job to be done doesn't go away. In Joshua's case his job was only getting tougher. Moses had to give the people guidance and lead them through challenges, but Joshua had to go to battle and conquer the enemies and claim the land God had promised to them.

Twice in the opening chapter we see God warning (and encouraging) Joshua by admonishing him to "Be strong and courageous." (Vs 6 and vs.7) Great leadership is never easy. It requires tremendous strength of attitude, of body and of character. It also requires a great deal of courage. Today Dear Father, I need both. In my leadership role as the head of this family I'm really struggling. To find the strength to balance all you've given me and the courage to step against the culture in many regards. In many ways because my strength and courage are waning at home, they are also sapped in the workplace. I'm not getting a lot of verbal encouragement lately at work. The job to be done has only increased and gotten more difficult. So therefore my strength is weak and my courage to fight the battles are dwindling. Yet, I also know that my strength and my courage are not of my own... they are only from You.

The parts in the Bible speaking of circumcision always grab my attention for obvious reasons. In this passage when God commands Joshua to re-circumcise Israel and it says the whole nation had been circumcised, I was thinking how painful that must have been. Certainly many of these men were mature and with limited anaesthetic at the time, this certainly was a painful procedure... and not one that was very pleasant to perform. But the reason God has commanded this is because over the period of 40 years wandering in the desert, those that had been circumcised coming out of Egypt are all gone. And now the next generation is not following his commands. Isn't this the same today. That every now and again we need to undergo re-circumcision of the heart? We get sloppy in our ways and God has to call us back again. We need to give up something in order to realize our dependency on Him. Sometimes, no matter how painful it is, He is calling us to identify with Him and remain in camp until we heal (5:8) and draw back into a right relationship with Him. Perhaps much of what I'm undergoing right now is a circumcision of the heart... where God is asking me to rend myself to Him all over again to realign my priority with His?

Another leadership quality that I picked up from Joshua here was the role that The Written Word played in the role of the leader. Not only was it given to the people but it was the leader's responsibility to read it to them. It says in Chapter 8 vs 34-25 that "Joshua read all of the words of the law - the blessings and the curses- just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them."

Am I reading the Word to those that I'm leading? My family? My Wife? My co-workers? Its says ALL of the words. Not skipping them... not sugarcoating them... but ALL of them. INCLUDING women and children and aliens. Those that are weaker, younger and not even followers of God. Lord, forgive me for my disobedience. I'm not following you with all of my heart, soul and strength.

Finally, one last thing... the warning about seeking you in all decisions. Chapter 9:14 when referring to the Gibenoite deception of Israel-"The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord." Even Joshua was led astray and made poor decisions because they did not inquire of the Lord. How many times daily do I make a decision and don't even acknowledge that God is leading me? That He is the master of my life? I just make them and then ask Him to bless them. How wrong this is and how I'm being deceived into thinking I'm in control. God help me remember you as I make decisions affecting not only me, but those with whom you've entrusted to my care.

June 7&8 Days 14 and 15; Deut 7-Deut 34

I mentioned in the last posting that my cousin was here visiting with her two children for this weekend. Her two children and our two kids played together all weekend. For the most part they got along really well and had a great time. However I did learn a very valuable parenting lesson that was reinforced through the reading the last two days. It is all about expectations.

All too often we want people or others to behave in a certain way for whatever reason or another. Ultimately the way we behave reflects the way we believe. As parents we want our children to exhibit patience, kindness, thoughtfulness towards others, sharing, respect, etc... these are all honorable characteristics. Children don't just behave this way they must be taught to behave this way. And to teach them to behave this way takes patience. However, even with the best training and teaching, when left to their own, glimpses of our fallen nature show through. Fighting with each other over toys, hitting each other to get their way, etc... And we as parents need to hold them accountable for their actions.

This weekend we found ourselves exhausted. And as I was reflecting on our exhaustion, I realized it was because we were constantly correcting the children. We told them know. We promised punishment. We threatened. We bribed. We did everything we could think of to hold them accountable. Yet it just wore us down.

However, sometimes we just need to re-establish the expectations for behavior prior to turning them loose. For example, when their cousins come for a visit! This just ensures they don't forget what is expected. We also must remind them of the consequences for their disobedience prior to any infraction. Why must we do this? Well it is really difficult to hold them accountable for their actions if they didn't know what was expected up front. And we need to take away the excuse that they didn't know what was expected or what would happen if they disobeyed. Ultimately it is their choice to behave and follow the rules, but you must make sure your children know the rules and the boundaries.

This weekend we forgot to do this occasionally. So the kids were kids. They would play together good for awhile and then they would start fighting. Or perhaps they all four would collectively get into mischief. Once I came into the playroom only to find every single toy they had emptied from its container and strewn around the room. Something they clearly knew was against the rules but chose to ignore in the heat of the moment and lack of supervision.

What does this have to do with the Bible? Well in the last two day's reading we see God preparing to deliver his people from the desert into the promised land. We see God -through Moses - reminding the Israelites of the boundaries for their inheritance. He knew that unless they were reminded, they would likely forget - or ignore - the rules when they were given a land of plenty. We see Moses reminding them not only of where they came from but what rules God has placed on them to live according to his principles. He further reminds them of the promises and blessings for obedience and warns them of the curses for disobedience. Ultimately however, it would be their choice whether to obey or not. We see toward the end of Deuteronomy that God has already predicted Israel's rebellion. He knows that they will choose not to follow Him. Yet because He is a just God, He plans to hold them accountable for their actions. And He can do that because He has already lined out for them the promises for obedience and the curses for disobedience. But God is not just interested in their behavior. He is much more interested in what their behavior reflects... and that is their inward commitment to Him... or lack thereof.

And isn't this a lesson for all of us as parents? We don't just want to train the behavior we want to mold their inward attitudes to make a commitment to their Heavenly Father. But how can we hold them accountable for their actions without clearly communicating the expectations up front?

June 6 - Day 13; Numbers 32 - Deut 6

Today as I write this my cousin and her children are here at our house for a visit. As we reminisce about our childhood and growing up in a small rural community, I recognized the need to understand where we've come from in order to understand where we're going in life. It is important to remember the lessons you've learned in your life and to not forget them as you face new challenges in the future.

In today's reading I see this same thing happening. Moses is reminding the Israelites of what has happened in their sojourn in the desert. What all the Lord has done for them since they left Egypt, the enemies they've defeated, the places they've visited, the history they've shared together as a people group. Moses is reminding the people of the rules God has given them, the blessings he promised them, and the consequences of when they've chosen not to follow the rules.

Isn't it just the same with us today? What value there is from us understanding God's order for our lives. We face suffering of all kinds and scripture tells us as a follower of God we should expect some suffering. But how much of my suffering is self-inflicted. Surely I don't set out to cause my self harm or hurt, but yet I've chosen to not follow God's orders. So why would I expect anything less than a mess and to experience some suffering as a result? As Moses prepares the Israelites to inherit God's promises and to move on into the next phase of their life, they must crystallize their learning and experiences so as to remember God's provision and act accordingly as they face new challenges.

In today's hectic world I have a challenge of not slowing down enough to reflect on what it is I am learning. I can become distressed at times because I get caught up in action only to realize I've neglected to learn from the actions. My distress comes from the fact that I realize I've made the same mistake multiple times without attempting to do something about it or grow from it.

Moses summarizes his intent in Deut 4: 9- "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."

I mentioned how my cousin is visiting. She is grown with two children of her own and I have two kids as well. All of us are together this weekend. And I recognize even more the value of transferring the learning to the next generation. God has really placed this on my heart lately and convicted me that my primary role in this world is to bring Glory to Him through discipleship of my family. How can I disciple them without a firm understanding of where I've come from and an idea of the destination I'm heading towards? Not only do they need to know what it means to be a member of the Bishop Family, but more importantly they need to know what it means to be a member of the King's family.

Deut 6:7-9 is becoming more clear for me in its importance. Yet is still unclear to me in its application to my family and my role as the Spiritual head of our family. Lord help me interpret this to what you want me to do with our family to help them learn about our past, our present and our future hope in You. Help me disciple them according to your will that they may see you as their Heavenly Father and Savior.