MAY 31, 2023

 “The only calibration that counts is how much heart people invest, how much they ignore their fears of being hurt or caught out or humiliated. And the only thing people regret is that they didn't live boldly enough, that they didn't invest enough heart, didn't love enough. Nothing else really counts at all.” 

― Ted Hughes

2 CHRONICLES 1-3

7That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

8Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

11God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”(1:7-12)

JOHN 12:1-19

4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.^b ” 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you,^c but you will not always have me.”

JOURNAL 

The heart is what matters.  Throughout scripture this is the one constant  in both the New and Old Testament. God is after the heart, not actions, money, duties...but the heart. The reason is that actions can be performed and faked for a while. The heart cannot. If the heart is there then the actions will follow. 

Judas did not understand this...neither did many of the Kings that followed Solomon. Money itself became the solution to their problem. I believe it is often not the actual money but what the money allows people to do that becomes the obsession. Money becomes the quickest way to alleviate some form of suffering. That suffering could be poverty itself, or hunger but it also could be a way to elevate themselves above others. It could be for the purpose of protection from enemies. We will never know what Judas' issue was, but he saw money as the quickest solution. 

This is again a reminder that using anything to alleviate suffering other than trust and obedience to God will cause that thing to take the place of God. That could be in the form of health, position, power, job or a person. The point is that nothing can take the place of God, God must always come first. 

 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

JEREMIAH 29:13

MAY 30, 2023

 "I wanted you to see what real courage is, it's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what." - Harper Lee 

1 CHRONICLES 28-29

9“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 desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”(29:9-10)

JOHN 11:47-57

 47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

49Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

51He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

JOURNAL 

"Be strong and do the work." I love these words of David to Solomon. The words of a father to a son are precious. They can be life-giving or life-taking. David has called him as I believe God calls all believers in the same personal way. "Be strong and do the work" that he has blessed us to do. 

No reason to whine about what I don't have or wish situations were different or put parameters on what God can do...God is God and he has given life and commands me to do my best in completing the work that is before me. The reality is that there is work to do every single day. It's also a reality that we are not getting out of here alive, all of us are destined to a body that will one day fail and yet we have work to do. That work may be digging a ditch, washing a car, teaching a lesson, coaching a player, hitting a ball, writing a blog, exercising my body, fighting cancer, loving an enemy or saving a life. No matter who I am or where I am, if there is life in my body then there is work to be done. Doing the work glorifies God...period. None is more important in God's eyes than another, it is the willingness to work and the heart and joy put into that work that matters. 

8Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

MATTHEW 28:8-20

MAY 29, 2023

 “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens..."

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

1 CHRONICLES 26-27

25Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses.

Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers.

26Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the workers who farmed the land.

27Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards.

Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats.

28Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig trees in the western foothills.

Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil.

29Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon.

Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.

30Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels.

Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.

31Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks.

All these were the officials in charge of King David’s property.

(27:25-31)

JOHN 11:18-46

38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39“Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

JOURNAL 

To serve God does not mean that life will be full of sunshine and rainbows. It may mean doing a monotonous job. It will mean experiencing death and tears and heartache. However it will also mean having a job, having a purpose and getting to be a part of the miraculous. In one way or another when I fully surrender my life to God, I will experience his glory, I will see miracles and I will know pure joy. 

This is the promise of the gospel, this is why we are asked to lay our agendas and lives at the foot of the cross. For God knows far better what I need and what is best for my life. I must though be willing to trust him and not get consumed with the wind and the waves. Keep my eyes on Jesus and my life is guaranteed to be full of power and glory...no matter what the world says.

27But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 

MATTHEW 14:27-29

MAY 28, 2023

  “If you're reading this...

Congratulations, you're alive.

If that's not something to smile about,

then I don't know what is.” 

― Chad Sugg

1 CHRONICLES 23-25

6All these men were under the supervision of their father for the music of the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God.

Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king. 7Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the Lord—they numbered 288. (25:6-7)

JOHN 11:1-17

9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

11After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

JOURNAL 

David is about to die...he is affirming the places and duties for all those in his kingdom, down to the smallest details. He is so thorough and careful not to miss one single person. It is again evident that David has the heart of God, for not a single detail passes God as insignificant. 

I think this is what Jesus is speaking to when he discusses the simple act of traveling in the light versus the dark. He makes the comparison to illustrate the simple point that light provides guidance when walking so that you don't stumble...this simple point is to refer to walking in the spiritual life of God. To live life in obedience to God is about walking in the light of his wisdom and power. Often it will not make sense to the world, in fact it may seem foolish. Jesus gave this response after his disciples questioned him going back to the village where he had almost been stoned. 

His point was that on the surface this seemed foolish but that he was following and walking in the light of God's wisdom, power and love. Therefore he would not stumble because he was being obedient. I think the light of obedience always begins with gratitude and that gratitude always starts with the gift of today. If I can't be grateful for the day...then I'm already traveling in the dark. 

5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^bsin. 

1 JOHN 1:5-7

MAY 27, 2023

 “Humility is nothing but truth, and pride is nothing but lying.” 

― St. Vincent de Paul

1 CHRONICLES 20-22

 6Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. 7David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God. 8But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. 9But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon,^a and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. 10He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’11“Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would. 12May the Lord give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 13Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lordgave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

JOHN 10:22-42

 22Then came the Festival of Dedication^b at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”25Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all^c ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”31Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”33“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”34Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’^d ? 35If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

JOURNAL 

These three chapters of Chronicles show the humility of David and how he willingly admits his failures and seeks God with his whole heart. The way he prepares the way for Solomon is so touching. David completely checks his ego in obedience, even though building the temple was his great ambition. 

Again the way Jesus evades direct accusation while still speaking truth shows his brilliance but also his deep understanding of the hearts of the Pharisees. He understands what they are trying to do but also knows it is not yet time for him. Again the humility even though being the Messiah is further confirmation of his deity.

I am amazed by how both David and Jesus refuse to assert their power and authority simply in obedience to God...they both refuse to "show off". Their faith and trust in God in the face of intense pressure is humbling and reassuring. Seeking God and his way in humility is the path to the eternal. There is no room for arrogance. Again though, it goes back to being more concerned with the moments of today rather than the implications of the future.  They both lived their lives taking care to serve God in the moment rather than wringing their hands over the future.

18Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.-  

ROMANS 5:18-19

MAY 26, 2023

   I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life...

― Henry David Thoreau

1 CHRONICLES 17-19

7“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 8I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth. 9And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 10and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.(17:7-10)

JOHN 10:1-21

14“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

JOURNAL 

God promises David that he will honor him and protect Israel...Jesus promises his disciples that he will watch over them and also others that listen to his call and his voice. 

The summer of my senior year of High School I watched the movie Dead Poet's Society. I was in a state of transition into a large unknown and that movie inspired me. I was feeling  apprehensive about the future and in many ways that movie inspired me to dream and reminded me that God created me with purpose and that my life matters. 

In both of these verses I believe that God wants us to understand that we have nothing to fear. He is greater than all our adversaries or struggles and also that he wants us to dream, take risks, be bold. He created us to stretch ourselves, solve problems and be a force in this world...to "seize the day", not just let it pass us by.

 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

JOHN 10:10

MAY 25, 2023

   “The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes.” 

― Winston S. Churchill

1 CHRONICLES 14-16

 8Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

9Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

10Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

11Look to the Lord and his strength;seek his face always.34

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

35Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;

gather us and deliver us from the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name

and glory in your praise.”

36Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

JOHN 9:24-41

35Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

37Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

39Jesus said,^a “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

40Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

41Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

JOURNAL 

The Pharisees are desperate to discredit Jesus. They just cannot believe that someone that is not one of them could be ordained by God. They also refuse to believe that someone with Jesus' background could ever be the Messiah.

I love how time and time again throughout the Bible, it is often the least likely who are called to do the miraculous. God continually turns human opinion and traditions upside down. It reminds me that many times my worries and hopes are far from future reality. I cannot know the future or tomorrow. Yet time and time again I find that my mind wanders forward and seeks to find refuge in the unknown. It is a temptation that is not ordained by God. It serves no purpose other than to distract me from the present and the gift of today. 

I also find that there is often such anxiety in getting through moments and tasks rather finding the joy in them. From exercise, to reading the Bible to doing work. Too often I just try and get through it as quickly as possible instead of trying to find the joy...instead of being thankful for every single moment. Today, this moment, right now is an amazing gift. Be grateful for it and find great joy in the mundane, in the difficult, in the monotonous. For what I can know is God's love...TODAY...this moment and by finding the joy in each moment, I honor God and make the world a little bit brighter.

16“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” 

- MATTHEW 20:16

MAY 24, 2023

“I see a world on the edge of a blade. Without balance, it will fall.” 

― Victoria Aveyard

1 CHRONICLES 11-13

15Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 17David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 18So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the Lord. 19“God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.(11:31-33)

JOHN 9:1-23

1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

JOURNAL 

These verses in Chronicles detail the characteristics of many of David's "mighty men". What is evident is that David was greatly blessed with men that were talented and devoted to him. David could never have been the King that he became without these men's devotion and support. Interesting to note that it was when David was alone that he recorded his greatest failures. 

Jesus heals the blind beggar and causes major disruption and questioning from the Pharisees.  They cannot believe or understand how it is that Jesus is the Messiah. 

Balance...how do I have balance in this life? I have become well aware that I often fall on either side of this razor thin place of thinking too highly of myself or either too little of myself. Reality is that my life is precious, I have skills, talents and gifts. However my life is also but a whisp...here today and gone tomorrow. So how do I keep the proper perspective of honoring God, yet not becoming consumed with myself? 

That answer is a daily question and requires a daily dose of God, his grace, his love and his discipline. Everyday...I must read scripture, pray, meditate and bring every circumstance, outcome and situation before God. Otherwise I am traveling a path that will lead me to either of the two extremes...Because being alone can also have a way of undoing me. 

David often struggled with this dynamic and the beauty of scripture is that we get to see his struggles and how God disciplined but also loved him through trial, success and failure. Likewise the disciples also struggled with this dynamic...Peter being a prime example, yet just as God loved David through his blunders, Jesus loved Peter through his. 

As I think on it more...this is the answer...the closer I cling to God and depend on him through every trial...then I am assured that he will redeem my mistakes and also guide me in his ways of love and grace. That's his gift and his gift is greater than any success or reward that this world can ever offer. 

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

ROMANS 12:1-2