Psalms Day 4

Read Psalms 97, 110, 118, and 139 (they are short!)

Read Psalms 97, 110, 118, and 139 (they are short!)

Today's Devotion -- Psalm 118 (yep, all of it!)

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."
5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.
6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

I enjoy finding scripture that has been used to create worship songs. There is always a sense of 'so THAT'S where that came from'. Look back at this psalm -- how many worship song stanzas do you find? I found four, but I bet some of our musicians can find more.

I've never really enjoyed singing...to the benefit of those who might be near if I break out in song! It always frustrated me to go to a 'worship service' where worship was defined almost entirely as singing. There are a few songs that will help me focus on the greatness of God, but I often tire of the singing long before it's over. For a while I worried that maybe I wasn't grateful enough, or that maybe I was shirking in my worship duties.

Over time I realized that there are lots of ways to worship...some involve music and others involve silence. Worshipping is just giving praise and deep respect to God. We can do that in many ways -- by admiring his handiwork, by creating things that glorify him (paintings, photos, drama, stories), and by doing whatever you do to the best of your ability as a reflection to him. Even housecleaning can be a time for worship if you approach it with the right attitude! Yesterday was an amazing opportunity for me to worship God as I planted in the garden -- it gave me a lot of time to think about his creation and how the first job he gave us as humans was to maintain Eden.

It isn't as important how we choose to worship, but that we find a way daily to demonstrate our love and appreciation for God. How do you worship best?

Psalms Day 3

Read Psalm 69, 89

Today's Devotion Psalm 69:6

6 May those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me,
O Lord, the LORD Almighty;
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me,
O God of Israel. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Today's Psalms are pretty heavy -- written by people who are discouraged, shunned, and seemingly at the end of their ropes. David, a man after God's own heart, is feeling totally abandoned. In fact, he prays that God will attack his enemies in pretty graphic terms. It's encouraging to know that God didn't strike him down or pull back on his love just because David is so frustrated and angry. I'm pretty sure I've never asked God to blind anyone or to forbid their salvation, but I haven't always followed Jesus' command to love my enemies.

Other Christians can look upon our human responses to tough times -- discouragement, anger, frustration -- and realize that we are all human. However, those who are watching us closely to see if we are truly living out what we preach will be quick to jump on any action that doesn't appear to be what they think 'Christians' should do.

Jesus told us about the responses of different types of people in his parable about the farmer who sowed his seeds on hard paths, rocky soil, weed-infested areas, and good soil. While we hope that God doesn't allow us to be tested like Job was, we are told that difficult times will come. The way we respond to them reflects the depth of our relationship with Christ.

Some will blame God and throw away all that he offers. Others will make worldly decisions because that seems like an easier way out -- then wonder why God doesn't take away the difficult consequences.

Others -- despite the most dire circumstances of unemployment, illness, and death --continue to lean on Christ and proclaim his love in their very demeanor. Yes, they are crushed and almost broken, but they know that God works all things for good and they trust him through the tough times. They are able to reflect the love of Jesus even through their tears.

The difference is solely the way we chose to lean on Him. I pray that we will all be able to stand up under hardship in a way that proves to others that he alone is God.

Psalms - Day 2

Read Psalms 22, 23, 50, and 51

Today's Devotion -- P 23:1-3a

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie
down in green pastures, he leads me beside
quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you ever been so busy doing good things for God that you lost sight of your purpose?
There are so many opportunities to help -- childcare, funeral meals, teaching classes, filling communion trays, helping the homeless. If you are not careful, you can become so involved in doing good that you ignore your family, your job, or even your relationship with God.

It makes us feel good when people think enough of us to ask for our help. And, being 'good Christians', it's hard to say no to a heartfelt request. There are times when we help for a short period, and then there are actual ministries we may be called to.

If you find that you are feeling worn out, burned out, and frazzled, maybe it's time to let God restore your soul. Pray about the things you are involved in and work your way out of a few of them. This might require finding someone to train, saying no the next time someone calls you, or cutting back on the time you spend on a particular ministry. Our egos will often tell us that others NEED us to do this work, but in reality God has plenty of workers he can call to fill in if needed! By accepting every opportunity to serve that comes along, you may be taking the opportunity to serve away from someone else.

This doesn't mean that we give up serving all together...but only that we evaluate whether or not the time we are spending is really devoted to God. Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Mk 12:30). The second greatest command is to "Love your neighbor as yourself". (Mk 12:31). Let's make sure we don't lose sight of the greatest commandment while we try to carry out the second greatest! When we are giving all our strength to loving God, we can't help but find appropriate ways to serve others.

Psalms Day 1

We are moving on to the Psalms. In order to make sure we read all of the Psalms Steve recommended and we don't overload ourselves on reading, they may not be covered in order!

Today, read Psalms 2,8,16, and 61
Today's devotion: Psalm 16:5-6
5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.(NIV)


taken from www.biblegateway.com

The American culture thrives on dissatisfaction with what God has provided. Almost every advertisement highlights things that we don't have but 'deserve'. Companies are constantly coming up with ways to make us crave things that didn't even exist a few years ago! While there are many cool new things on the market, we really don't NEED bigger homes, on-line navigation, ipods, or even cell phones! Some of these things are helpful in our lives, but not so helpful that we should step outside of the blessings God has given us, our portion, and go into debt for them.

Satan is very successful here in causing us to believe that we have not been given enough. We need--even deserve-- more money, bigger homes, newer cars, and better gifts for our children. We spend so much time being dissatisfied that we lose sight of God's blessings. When we spend more than we earn, we are essentially telling God that he didn't know what he was doing when he provided us our portion!

Please don't get me wrong -- God wants us to have the desires of our hearts, but the desires he places there aren't related to 'things'. He wants us to feel peace, joy, and security in Him.

As prices rise, it is a good time to evaluate the things we have grown to expect in life and revisit our ability to be satisfied in any situation. To make ends meet, we have to make tradeoffs and possibly give up things we've grown accustommed to, like new cars, eating out several times per month, or even cable/satellite tv service. Instead of allowing these cutbacks to make us feel frustrated, let's try to focus on the good things God has provided when he gave each of us our 'portion'. The togetherness we gain from carpooling, cooking meals together, or playing board games with our families to pass the time may provide blessings you never knew you had.

Today, think about the portion you have received. What are the gifts God has provided in your life. Do they delight you? How can you learn to be more satisfied with what you have?

Job Day 5

Read Job 42

Today's Devotion - Job 42:1-9

1 Then Job replied to the LORD :
2 "I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.

3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?'
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.

4 "You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.'

5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.

6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

When I read this the first time, I wondered what things could possibly be too wonderful for us to know? Isn't good news motivating and exciting?

But if you think about it, our lives are filled with wonderful things that we won't really learn about for a period of time. Like Christmas gifts, if we know what awaits us it isn't nearly as much fun. If Job had known that God would heal his sores and return all things two-fold to him in the end, would it have made his misery less miserable? Would he have learned all the things he learned about God, or would he have just waited for the pain to end, counting down the days?

If we understand the outcome of a situation, will we be less likely to do the difficult things that will get us there? For instance, if we we had a horrible disease and knew that we'd be cured, would we really be willing to go through all the painful treatments? Would we pray as diligently and rely so fully on God?

Maybe in the not knowing we are able to fight harder to succeed and we rest more completely in God's arms. The journey may be of more value than the destination, making the destination more appreciated.

Job - Day 4

Read Job 38-41
Today's Devotion Job 38:33-36

33 Do you know the laws of the heavens?
Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?
34 "Can you raise your voice to the clouds
and cover yourself with a flood of water?

35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?
Do they report to you, 'Here we are'?

36 Who endowed the heart with wisdom
or gave understanding to the mind? (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Wow - talk about being put in your place! I wonder how long God steamed at the false wisdom of Job's friends before he intervened? Did he wish that he'd let Satan deal with them instead?

It's fascinating to know that Jesus sent the lightning bolts on their way while he was here on earth! When he calmed the storm, did he think about this retort when he told the wind to cease it's blowing?

Throughout this speech of God we see how much he is in the details of every aspect of the world. If we ever wonder if God is truly here with us, all we have to do is read this speech...the longest recorded message he gives directly to his children.

Job Day 3

Read Job 32-37 (don't worry, they are short chapters)

Today's Devotion: Job 36:5-12

5 "God is mighty, but does not despise men;
he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.

6 He does not keep the wicked alive
but gives the afflicted their rights.

7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;
he enthrones them with kings
and exalts them forever.

8 But if men are bound in chains,
held fast by cords of affliction,

9 he tells them what they have done—
that they have sinned arrogantly.

10 He makes them listen to correction
and commands them to repent of their evil.

11 If they obey and serve him,
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity
and their years in contentment.

12 But if they do not listen,
they will perish by the sword
and die without knowledge. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

The text for today is a speech made by a young man named Elihu. He has been standing on the sidelines listening to Job and his three friends trying to make sense out of Job's situation. He said that he was waiting to speak until those older than he were finished. But now he can't keep silent because he has something that he thinks is important to say.

The verses above sound reasonable and wise when read alone. There are many religions that could easily say these are the basis of their teaching. If you do wrong, you will suffer. If you suffer, you must have done wrong. Turn back to God and everything will be joy and prosperity.

How quickly we judge the spiritual state of others! This young man has listened well to the teachings of the Torah, but he has not really paid attention to his own speech. A few verses later (v26) he says"How great is God -- beyond our understanding!" Yet Elihu seems to believe that he fully understands God and how He works. He's applied his learning to a limited human perception of how God acts.

How often do we take the limited knowledge we have of God and use it to justify or condemn others (or even ourselves)? Our feeble minds will attempt to find human logic in events and tragedies, but we only see what God allows us to see...or we may limit our sight to what fits into our concept of logic.

That is a major reason why the Jews did not accept Jesus. They had created a system of beliefs that 'proved' they were correct. They were looking for an earthly king, when instead God had much bigger plans. What are we missing today because it doesn't fit into our perception of life and God?

Job - Day 2

Read Job 4-7

Today's Devotion: Job 5:6-9, 27

6 For hardship does not spring from the soil,
nor does trouble sprout from the ground.
7 Yet man is born to trouble
as surely as sparks fly upward.

8 "But if it were I, I would appeal to God;
I would lay my cause before him.

9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.

27 "We have examined this, and it is true.
So hear it and apply it to yourself." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Between verses 9 and 27, the speaker, Eliphaz, expounds upon the wonderful things God will do for those who are faithful and return to Him.

Doesn't it seem easy to look at someone else's life and determine what needs done? We can quickly identify what others are doing wrong, or are not doing, and provide specific advice gained from years of our own experiences. And for some reason we feel obligated to share this wisdom with others, often in the form of a statement that starts something like, "If you would just..."

Hmmm, sounds like the same situation Jesus spoke of when he mentioned how we try to remove a speck from someone else's eye, but ignoring the plank in our own!

The older we get, the more experiences and lessons learned we store up. When someone else is going through a similar situation, it's only natural to want to help him by sharing the things we've learned the hard way. However, if you think back to those times, there was someone on the sidelines telling US how to respond...and we weren't very attentive to their advice.

Even if a situation looks identical to one we've survived, those going through the situation feel like they are alone in their struggle. They need the time to learn on their own, yes often the hard way, for them to make it through intact. Our advice may be better received if we can just bite our tongues until it's asked for.

Oops...looks like I didn't follow my own advice! Nevermind.....

Job -- Day 1

Read Job 1-3

Today's Devotion -- Job 2:11-1311-13 Three of Job's friends heard of all the trouble that had fallen on him. Each traveled from his own country—Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuhah, Zophar from Naamath—and went together to Job to keep him company and comfort him. When they first caught sight of him, they couldn't believe what they saw—they hardly recognized him! They cried out in lament, ripped their robes, and dumped dirt on their heads as a sign of their grief. Then they sat with him on the ground. Seven days and nights they sat there without saying a word. They could see how rotten he felt, how deeply he was suffering. (The Message Bible)
taken from www.biblegateway.com

There are so many tragedies in our lives, and good friends can be blessings during terrible times. And, as we'll see in upcoming chapters, they can also make things worse if they aren't careful...even if they mean well. In our efforts to help others heal, we sometimes say things that seem cliche or even callous. How can we, as friends, do the right thing at times like these?

Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all. Job's friends sat with him unspeaking for seven days and nights. They were accessible if needed, and the most important thing was their presence and support for Job. It's ok to say that we don't know what to say, and to just have a shoulder available as needed. It is key to note that his friends came to him...they didn't just say 'send for me if you need anything'.

When friends have crises, think about the things that helped you through difficult situations. Try to see what your friend needs most -- does he need to talk through the difficulty, or would a distraction be more helpful? Tangible things, like gas cards, meals, or lawn/house care are especially appreciated because we often don't have time to think about things like that when life gets really tough.

The most important thing, though, is to be there. So often we don't know what to say or do, so in our discomfort we do nothing at all...and we miss a key chance to serve others.

Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther Day 5

Read Esther 2-6

Today's Devotion -- Esther 5:9-14
9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.
Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12 "And that's not all," Haman added. "I'm the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate."
14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a gallows built, seventy-five feet high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the dinner and be happy." This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the gallows built. (NIV)taken from www.biblegateway.com

It is always interested to see how people react in different situations. Haman seems like a man whose mood is based almost completely on the circumstances of his day. He was in a great mood because he had been honored to dine with the king and queen. But as soon as someone didn't show the respect Haman believed was due him, it ruined his day.

But he was a man who knew how to turn things around. He felt disrespected and maybe insecure, so he pulled together people he knew would tell him what he wanted to hear and he started bragging to them. What an exciting party, huh? He pulled the right folks together, because they 'delighted' him with their suggestions that fed right into his ego.

It's easy to let the moods and actions of others dictate our mood. And I bet each of us know people who seem to get pleasure from making us miserable (whether we deserve it or not).

God asks us to go beyond worldly emotions and to obtain our joy from him. Today, when someone tries to crush your spirit (and unfortunately it will probably happen), think about how you will respond. Remember that God looks at things differently than man and draw security from his love, not from the opinions of others!

Read Nehemiah 8-10; for extra credit, read Nehemiah 13 -- if you picture the action in your head I guarantee it will bring a smile to your face!

Today's Devotion -- Nehemiah 9:38

38 "In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in
writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals
to it." (NIV)

Taken from www.biblegateway.com

In chapter 8 Ezra (the priest and scribe) read the Book of the Law of Moses to the people at their request. In fact, he read from sunrise until noon for at least eight days, and it says the people listened attentively and worshipped God.

As a result of their newly 'rediscovered' knowledge of the scripture, the Israelites fasted, wore sack cloth, and put dust on their heads. They confessed their sins and the sins of their forefathers. This lead to our devotional verse for the day, in which they promise to create a written document full of the promises about their behavior in the future.

Their promises inlcude:
- not intermarrying
- not buying merchandise on the Sabbath,
- giving appropriate tithes, offerings, and sacrifices
- not neglecting the house of the Lord.

What if our church were to do this? What sins would we confess as a group? And what promises would we make?

Read on to Nehemiah 13 and see what happens when they forget their promises. I have to say that I picture Charles in the role of Nehemiah....

Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, Day 3

Read Nehemiah 2, 4, 6
Context: Nehemiah was an exiled Jew who was the cup bearer of the King. Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem about 13 years after Ezra.

Today's Devotion Nehemiah 4:13-14

13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It has been almost 90 years since the Jews began the trek back to their homeland. The temple has been completed for some 70 years, but the city remained unprotected. They had tried to rebuild the walls earlier, but the king had ordered them to stop.

Many of the people who were rebuilding the wall had never suffered the captivity in Babylon. They had not known anything other than living in the rubble that was Jerusalem. Amazingly, God had protected them from fierce fighting during this time because they were incredibly vulnerable.

But once the rebuilding started, their enemies started threatening them. Even though it was God's will that the wall be rebuilt, they had to be prepared to fight.

Many times in their history the Israelites had to stand up and fight for the things God desired for them. The act of having to work for these things made them much more valuable.

It's sad, but even today people are more willing to work for something if they have to invest their time, money, or effort in the cause. Those who pay for gym memberships tend to be more faithful with their exercise than those who have easy access to equipment. Those who help with college expenses tend to have higher grades. And people in countries where the Bible is contraband tend to memorize and appreciate what little access they have to God's word more than those who have several Bibles and Internet access to the same information.

Would you be willing to put your life at risk by hiding a Bible in your home? What blessing do we miss because we take these things for granted?

Ezra, Nehemiah, and Ester Day 2

Read Ezra 6-10 (I know five chapters is a lot...just glance through the genealogy...the chapters are short and there's some really cool stuff there!).

Context: At the end of yesterday's reading we saw a memo that had been sent to King Darius from the governor of Trans-Euphrates. As a result, Darius searched the archives and found the original decree allowing the Israelites to rebuild the temple. He sent a decree back with this message.

Today's devotion: Ezra 6:8-12

8 Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God:
The expenses of these men are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. 9 Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, 10 so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.
11 Furthermore, I decree that if anyone changes this edict, a beam is to be pulled from his house and he is to be lifted up and impaled on it. And for this crime his house is to be made a pile of rubble. 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.
I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

When God acts, he does it in such a big way. The Israelites only wanted to continue rebuilding their temple. What they got was permission to continue, all the funding they needed to complete their work, and a threat of death to anyone who stood in their way!

The return of the exiles and the rebuilding of the temple resulted in a return of the Israelites not only to their country, but to their God as well. They worked together to restore the magnificent dwelling for God and, as you read later in the book of Ezra, they turned from their sins. More than any other generation, I imagine these folks realized the vast consequences of the actions of their forefathers. Because of decades of disobedience, the cities of the Jews were in rubble. During the reconstruction many who had never stepped foot in Jerusalem could see the magnificence that had been destroyed. They essentially had to start all over again.

But God gave them that chance, just as he gives us that chance every morning. And while he doesn't cause our enemies to be impaled on the beams from their own homes, rest assured that he WILL deliver justice to those who stand in the way of his plans for us!

Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther Day 1

This week we are looking at Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. Today, read Ezra 1-5 (they are short, and skim 2, it's mostly genealogy).

Today's devotion: Ezra 4:1-5

1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, "Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."
3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, "You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us."
4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. 5 They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia. (NIV)

Taken from www.biblegateway.com

Had the enemies of the Jews had a change of heart? It would almost seem like the exiles should welcome these folks and accept their help in building the temple since they, too, worshiped the God of Israel. Since there were so few people returning from Babylon they could use all the help they could get.

My NIV Study Bible refers back to 2 Kings 17:41, which reads:
41 Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

The Israelites knew that these people were not fully worshiping the Lord, and that their other worshiping practices would cause the temple to be defiled. Because the Israelites refused their help, their enemies started a letter writing campaign to the king in an effort to halt the construction of the Temple. As so often happens, the king only listened to one side of the story and ordered that construction be stopped.

If you read through chapter 5, you will see that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah brought God's blessing and helped the rebuilding project get back on it's feet. At the same time they worked with the local government to prove that they had the right to be building the temple.

I have trouble knowing what to do in situations when things are going well and all of a sudden a major roadblock halts progress. Did I misread God's direction and I am heading in a wrong direction? Or, am I doing things right and Satan is trying to block a good thing? It's pretty critical to understand which perspective is correct.

In the Israelites case, two prophets came to explain God's wishes. In our case we can talk to strong Christian role models, read our Bibles for direction, and pray for God's clarity. If we are to stop work, we'll receive peace from God when we do. If we are to push through the roadblocks, we won't have his peace until we move ahead with the plan! It may require some additional work (such as the letter the Israelites requested from the governor), or the implementation of plan B, but God won't leave us alone until we get back to work.

When is the last time you faced a roadblock when you thought you were on the correct path? How did you respond? How did you know if you should stop work or keep pushing through the difficult times?

1 and 2 Chronicles Day 5

Read 2 Chronicles 32,36
Context: With the exception of the reign of Josiah, Judah has suffered 100 years of evil kings -- each who did more evil in the eyes of God than the one before.

Today's Devotion: 2 Chronicles 36:15 - 19

15 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and spared neither young man nor young woman, old man or aged. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD's temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God's temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there.

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It is easy to understand how frustrated God was with his people. For years he has watched them blatantly worship other gods and destroy every good thing he had established for those he had separated as the chosen ones. In fact, it's hard to understand how patient he actually was during this time.

The time had come for the Israelites to suffer the consequences of their disobedience. But look at the place where God allows the invasion to start in verse 17...the sanctuary! This verse brings up many questions that don't seem to have answers (either in the Bible or in any commentary I could find):
1. Were the young men in the sanctuary before the massacre? Or did they get dragged there as an act of desecration? If the latter, did the location cause them to cry out to God at the last minute...and did He honor those prayers?
2. Were all the women and others in the sanctuary, too? Or were they killed in the town and the verse just doesn't specify?
3. If they were worshipping, why would God kill the ones who were doing the right thing?

One part of me wants to believe that those who were killed were a group of the few who had remainded devoted to God despite the evil their kings were doing. Although dying by massacre would not be my first choice, maybe God took them away so they could avoid the horrors of the coming exile. What we see as tragedy, God may have allowed as a blessing.

Whether this was the case or not, it causes me to think about other things that we see as terrible tragedies here on Earth. How could we learn to look at death and destruction in this life from a different perspective?

1 and 2 Chronicles Day 3

Sorry I didn't get yesterday's lesson out! I hope you read ahead in Chronicles.

Today we are reading 1 Chronicles 28 and 2 Chronicles 6-7

Today's Devotion: 2 Chronicles 7:13-16

13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This is God's second physical visit with Solomon. I love the way God repeats Solomon's words as verification that He heard Solomon's prayer. He promises to keep His eyes and ears open to each prayer offered in the temple.

In the New Testament, God greatly expands our view of the temple. It is no longer a place to visit -- in John 2:21 Jesus refers to his body as the temple of God. And then Paul expands this view again in 1 Cor 6:19-20.

19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (NIV)

God himself has crafted our bodies to be temples for the presence of his Holy Spirit! In the same way, His eyes are open and His ears are attentive to the prayers we speak (or even just think). We don't have to go to a special place or follow rules so our prayers are heard. He hears the quick prayer as someone cuts us off (you DO pray when that happens, right?), our heart-felt pleas for help and healing, and even our silent cries when we aren't even sure how to pray. By residing in the temples of our bodies, he knows our needs before we can put them into words.

What's even more amazing, He WANTS to hear from us! Even though he knows what we need and want, He wants us to spend time with Him. Like any good parent, He wants us to talk through our day, discuss our joys and fears, and to voice our concerns and desires. Don't miss your time with Him today!

1 and 2 Chronicles - Day 1

Today's Reading: 1 Chronicles 10-11

Both books of Chronicles include information that repeats things we learned in 1 and 2 Kings. However, because these books were written by a different author who had a different focus, there is additional information and another perspective that fleshes out the history of the Israelites.

Today's Devotion: 1 Chronicles 11:22-25

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 23 And he struck down an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver's rod in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. 25 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard. (NIV)

Taken from www.biblegateway.com

The entire eleventh chapter of 1 Chronicles is essentially a dedication to the mightiest warriors in King David's army. Some 35 men are named -- there are three who are considered the 'mightiest', two who are separated out from the rest, and thirty more who are named. The text mentions that these men are famous and are held in great honor by the Israelites for their bravery and their amazing accomplishments. They were the heroes of the day who protected the kingdom at risk of their own lives.

What a sad comparison to look at the people we hold in high esteem today. Honestly, it's hard to look at any magazine or newspaper and find people who are so dedicated to our country. Instead we see flashy idols who sell the most records, who win games for a popular team, or who are on Hollywood's 'most beautiful' list. In fact, the most 'popular' and talked about people are those who have really messed up their lives.

In the meantime, thousands of every day heroes are sweating in combat gear in a desert on the other side of the world. You can meet a few of them at anysoldier.com. Please pray for our soldiers and their families today!

1 and 2 Kings Day 5

Today's Reading: 2 Kings 18, 20, 22

Context: Approximately 100 years have passed in the chapters between yesterday's reading and today's. We last saw a very young king, Joash, who took the throne at age 7 after being saved from slaughter by his nurse. Joash did good in the eyes of God, as does Josiah in today's text, who became king at age 8. When Josiah was 26, he found the Book of the Law and realized the kingdom had fallen far from obedience.

Today's Devotion: 2 Kings 22:14-20

14 Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophetess Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.
15 She said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 'This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.' 18 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 19 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. 20 Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.' "
So they took her answer back to the king. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It amazes me that a verse like 22:14 made it through all the years of Biblical transcription. It is another reminder that God is in the details of our lives. In one short verse we learn the names of all the people who sought prophetic help, that the prophetess was a woman, and the names of her husband and father-in-law. We even learn where she lived! The Baker Commentary on the Bible finds it interesting that the priest went to Huldah instead of Jeremiah or Zehaniah, both of whom were active prophets in the region at that time.

If you were Josiah, how would you handle a prophecy such as this? I'm sure he was relieved that he would see a peaceful life, but the knowledge that your children, the future kings, would see disaster is tough to handle. If you read the rest of 2 Kings you will find that there was never another king who turned to the Lord in the way Josiah did, "with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength." He did everything in his power to bring the land back to obedience and to convince God to revise His plan.

Yet his son, Jehoahaz, reigned for only three months before he was taken away in chains. In that short time he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Just a few years later, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took the Israelites captive.

Was Josiah's example lost on his children? How could things turn around so quickly? Josiah is admirable because, despite a terrible prophecy, he did the best he could to please God. Many would give up knowing that disaster was imminent, maybe even reveling in the knowledge that they wouldn't see it. What would you do?

1 and 2 Kings Day 4

The text we are to read today has some amazing stories in it. I know many folks shy away from reading Kings and Chronicles because they think they are boring, but these chapters prove that perception wrong! Read on to see the heartbreak of losing a mentor, one who should be careful what he asks for, important information from unexpected sources, unlikely but miraculous cures, greed and punishment, wrath of a woman scorned, and loving devotion of a nursemaid -- all in three short chapters!

Today's Reading: 2 Kings 2, 5, 11

Today's Devotion: 2 Kings 5:8-13

8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."
11 But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.

13 Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

There are many serious illnesses that cause us to travel far and wide to find cures. Leprosy was (is) a hideous, disfiguring disease that required the person who had it to be separated completely from the rest of the world. According to 2 Kings 5:1, "Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier."

Despite his position in life, he faced quarantine. He was so desperate for a cure that he listened to a foreign child and traveled more than 100 miles. Can you imagine making that trip and then being told to 'take a bath'? This was a man who was used to pomp and circumstance. He may have been preparing mentally for a painful cure and he was ready to be a model of bravery in that situation. And Elisha didn't even come out to meet him personally!

God's answers to our problems don't always make sense to us...in fact they usually don't. Sometimes they seem so simple or so ridiculous that we have trouble believing the Ruler of the Universe is telling us to take action. Like Naaman, we fight against the instructions we received and we often turn away.

Is God giving you instructions today that seem rather silly or useless? If, like Naaman, we would give up our pride and just be obedient, we, too, will see that our God knows best.