152 - "Don't Look for Coaches; Look for Elders to Lead You Into The Presence of God" Ezra 1-2

 

1:1 "In the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia, God prodded Cyrus King of Persia to make an official announcement throughout his kingdom." God stirred up Cyrus to permit any willing Israelite to return HOME after 70 years of Babylonian captivity.  I just wept as I read names of clans of over 50,000 people who had been held captive.  There's something in me that is moved when I hear of captives like my friend Cyd and her driver were taken captive and murdered in Afghanistan --- and her body was just sent back to the U.S. from Afghanistan, 15+ years later. These 50,000+ stable people of substance (remember how they didn't take the very poor captive but allowed them to work the land) are on their way home.  Oh my!  Restored physically.  But there already has been a spiritual restoration or they wouldn't come home to praise God like they have!  Ezra 3:11 "God is good; He will never quit loving us."

As we close the book of 2 Chronicles, we find a restored people in the book of Ezra longing for holiness, His Presence.  Something happened to them in captivity---"suffering is necessary until evil is finally banished...suffering opens the holy space in your soul that will be filled only when you're dancing with Me..."  66 LL.  And I'm reminded of Crabb's quote that ended the chapter:  "Don't look for experts to coach you in how to make your life work before you follow elders who will lead you into My Presence."  What are we really looking for in life?  "I want My people to know this:  if even in small ways you live to 'fix your life,' to arrange for your own pleasure in ways that violate holiness, your love for a better life now will eventually corrupt your love for Me."  66 LL.  The question Jesus will ask in about 400 years comes to mind:  John 1:38 - "What do you seek?"  What do I seek this day?

Ezra 3:11 - And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,

“For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”

And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But the old men wept loud. Duplicity of voices coming out of captivity. What it must have felt like.

And Jeremiah's prophecy lives. And the prophets reign while the crowns fall off the head of kings. And these dry bones live again, love again. 

What about my own dry bones.

 Have we inquired of God today to come alive, stay alive. 

What stirs in my heart tonight?   Ezra 3:13

So much joy in my heart---it is God, if you only knew my circumstances.
It's the end of another year and a time of reflection.
I am so overwhelmed with what God has done in my life this year.
Col. 1:29 - What stirs in us?  The Power of the Energy of Christ,
if we just let it be. 
God stirred Ezra to rebuild the temple.
When they saw the foundation laid,
the people wept.  Loud!  Wonder why?
They loved Someone more than the blessings.
The priests and Levites, people who so desired to be holy,
they wept so hard, it was indistinguishable.
What beautiful passion if it was for God and not for themselves.
Who knows?
But I come back to the question . . .
What stirs in me today?
It's been one of the best years of my life.
And we've been stripped of quite a few things.
Stripped and filled by God. 
Oh, to live like Ezra did:
"Ezra was deeply distressed by My people's compromise
more than by their troubles.  His burden for holiness led to tears
of repentance and to his refusal to eat or drink as he grieved
My people's evil."  66LL
Oh, to live like that.

PHOTO:  A tiny country church. Wish it were my husband’s church.

151 - "Urged To Return to God and Move Forward" 2 Chronicles 34-36

151 Sitting on a dock in a bay ... reflecting on moral evils vs. natural evils. II Chronicles 36:22 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, King of Persia, and put His Words in his mouth.  May the Lord be with each of us and let him go up.

The chronicles of these kings are heart wrenching.  So many lived for themselves. The words of 66LL resonate deeply in II Chronicles.  God wants me to think more about how I relate to Him and others more  than how to get my life together.  He wants me to look deep inside, look into my motives, look to see if I am really looking out for myself when I think I'm living for God. 

"There is an evil greater than bombs, tsunamis, and cancer.  Those are natural evils.  But when people live to get their own way, when they determine what is good for them and live to get it, all hell breaks loose within and between them...frenzied grabs for happiness with no concern for how others are impacted, more interest in making one's point than listening to another's, the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival, ugly parodies of community-like courtesy without connection, laughter without love---these are moral evils" (Gal 5:19-21 The Message.  

Psalm 81:10

O, God, open our mouths and fill them with Yourself.  

All those plans that we inwardly demand happen, 

help us to see where we live for ourselves.

O, God, may we listen today well.
And recognize Your stirrings.
Not our will but Yours.
Nor our own plans
Have Mercy!
Col 1:29

2 Chronicles 36:13 Zedekiah, one more evil king, never gave God a thought; repentance never entered his mind. What do I do on days like today when repentance doesn't enter my mind?  When was the last time I repented? I have been consumed today with how my family and friends do not value me as a person---how very little interest they show in my life; how very little interest they have to spend time with me, much less just pick up the phone and call. I have thought only of myself today. It is quite lonely when you are older and community dwindles. I hope to find a church in our new move back to Fort Worth. But more than anything, I hope to return to God to live for Him in the midst of what I perceive as unreturned love---probably most of it really is. 

I LOVE how today's reading ends in 2 Chronicles 36:23 - "All who belong to God's people are urged to return—and may your God be with you! Move forward!"  

PHOTO:  The Dock where I go to pray.

150 - "The Lord Sent An Angel" 2 Chronicles 31-33

                                                               

King Hezekiah faced harsh words from the king of Assyria. 

Blasphemy. Terror on every side. 

So 

What did Hezekiah do?

He prayed "because of this"

And cried to heaven. 2 Chron 32:20

And what did God do?

The unimaginable. For them. For us. 

"The Lord sent an angel 

Who cut off all the mighty warriors & commanders & officers

In the camp of the king of Assyria. 2 Chron 32:21

In truth, The Lord saved Hezekiah from

The hand of all of his enemies

"And he provided for them on every side." 2 Chron 32:22

Won't He do the same for us?

You did this centuries ago. You can do it this day, too. For my friend who lost her husband today. For my child who is in a hard place. For my friend who just lost her teen-age boy. For my husband who embraces impossible odds. Send an angel, Lord. 

PHOTO:  A dark day in Florida when the heavens opened up. Whatever darkness we face, may our first words be prayer. 

149 - "The Sovereign Winds are Blowing---Set Your Sail Accordingly" 2 Chronicles 28-30

We can appear religious and be far from it. 

These Israelites were dead serious!  

Reminds me of today's suicide bombers with ISIS.

Selling themselves.

Sacrificing their sons and daughters.

Oh my!

The Israelites followed kings not the King. 

They became faithless not full of faith.
They practiced secrets not surrender/

"And the people of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things that were not right."  

2 Chronicles 28:3 Infamous Ahaz —incredibly! indulged in the outrageous practice of "passing his sons through the fire."  That is unbelievable.  Verse 19 says:  Arrogant King Ahaz, acting as if he could do without God's help, had unleashed an epidemic of depravity. I have been thinking a lot about our moral choices.  We read the Charity chapter in Mere Christianity in class on Friday.  When I led the discussion, one student responded that Lewis' words proved "love is a choice."  But we must always allow God to reveal the motives and intentions of our hearts as we love.  Sin is way more than just making a wrong choice to not love or do the wrong thing.  

It brings to mind a quote from Crabb:  "Sin is more than wrong choices, more than bad behavior, more than wrong understanding.  And it is not a reaction to felt need that deserves tender compassion and patience.  Sin cannot be explained, but it can be defined.  Sin is defiantly walking past the living water God provides in relationship with Himself and proudly digging wells with one's own resources in the futile and foolish hope of providing for oneself the water needed for a meaningful and secure life."  Jeremiah 2:9 -13

John Piper calls it "sweet idolatries in which the longing heart embraces the wrong satsifaction."  What are my deep satisfactions this night?  Is it my children responding right to me?  Is it my husband not "missing" me?  Is it my friends responding like I want them to?  Is it life going my way? Is it my God coming through for me?  What do I most want?

PHOTO:  The Hill Country of Texas. 

148 - "Seek Not Great Things for Yourself" 2 Chronicles 25-27

What does our world look like?

The sins of the kings that went before King Uzziah was that of turning their back on God---

forsaking the things of God.  But, this King embraced the things of God.  

But, he wanted them a little too much.  A little too high.  

Uzziah enters the Holy of Holies with pride.  Seeking what God has not given.  

Forbidden Knowledge.  

Why do I seek a door God has not opened. 

 "But when Uzziah became strong," his heart became corrupt, 

and he did things he should not have done. II Chron 26:16. 

 Uzziah. Pride of heart. 

Live the Life that is before you---what God has called you to.

 Seek not great things for yourself.

Two Verses jump off the pages of today's reading:

2 Chronicles 26:16 - "But then Uzziah's strength and success went to his head. Arrogant and proud, he fell. One day, contemptuous of God, he walked into The Temple of God like he owned it and took over, burning incense on the Incense Altar.   

2Chronicles 27:8 -  "Jotham's strength was rooted in his steady and determined life of obedience to God."

Is life about our choices?  Do we really just choose to serve God and it happens.  Do we really just choose to love others and it happens? Am I really trying to choose to make the best out of what has been handed to me in this world?  Of course obedience is a choice---Joshua 24:15 - Choose this day whom you will serve...as for me and my house.  But there is Mystery in God moving His Plan forward.  One of my favorite quotes from 66 LL follows:  "No matter how great your path or how confusing and intense your suffering, live in the Mystery of My Love.  Struggle to trust Me.  Do not live with the priority of making your life in this world as good as you can make it.  You will suffer, at times unfairly, but you will be given what you need to enter strongly and wisely with Supernatural Love into every circumstance you face."  I've spent way too much of my life living with a priority of making my life as good as I can make it.  So what is God calling me to "let go of" where my priorities actually reflect a drivenness to accept my lot and make it as good as I can?  I've struggled lately with feelings of not being wanted---my perception, my interpretation from constructive feedback.  So do I deal with that by making my priority to make my life as good as I can in light of the pull on my life?  Romans 7:24---oh no.  Someone is setting me free from this mess I am in, praise God!

147 - "An Evil Greater Than Cancer and Bombs" 2 Chronicles 21-24

                                                     

2 Chronicles 21:4 Jehoram killed all 6 of his brothers---courageous Elijah wrote him a prophetic letter about his upcoming painful and fatal disease.  Oh to have courage to stand up and speak against moral evil when God calls us to do so, not fixed on our good life.  

2 Chronicles 22:1  Jehosheba kidnapped Athaliah's son, one-year-old Joash, and protected his life.  Jehosheba hid Joash for 6 years from his queen mom in his mom's own castle.  His queen mom laid her eyes on her seven-year-old after six years---what did she think?  She was worried only for her own success.  And Joash, in his early years, trusts his God.  Amazing.  

These are horrendous stories.  66 LL says:  "Only when you see the moral evil in the human heart will you surrender to the mystery of My plan.  In this world, I am destroying moral evil in My people."  There is moral evil in all of our hearts when we live to get our own way and determine what is best for us and live to get it.  "Greed, loveless sex, frenzied grabs for happiness with no concern for how others are impacted, more interest in making one's point than listening to another's, an inability to give or receive love, the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival, ugly parodies of community like courtesy without connection, laughter without love, weeping without worship---these are moral evils."  Galatians 5:19-21 The Message.  

God, what are you saying to me as I walk through this life.  Oh LORD, help me to listen to your Voice.

PHOTO: Taken 30,000 feet in the friendly skies above Texas. May we live with our feet on the ground and not in the skies. 

146 - "All Is Well in Loss & Love" 2 Chronicles 18-20

The sun rises on this brand spanking new day, new year. 
It's a gorgeous view outside of the window where I sit, trusting.
Do you need Courage to face some things today?
In any personal or public matter, anything that bothers you, seek help from God first.  My default is to try to fix it.  No! Give it up.  Go to God.  Whatever the loss, God is doing us good.  Appeal to God first.  "Our trials will prove our gain."  M. Henry

Victory. Wealth.  Power.  Jehoshaphat did it right, had it all.  Until...he united with an evil king. 

2Chron 18:3 ~ I am as you are, as you wish, replies Jehoshaphat to the conniving king. Oh, what a truth that stings me, those times when I cannot stand up to another person who is clearly not following God. 

Jehoshaphat comes to his senses, comes to his knees. Surrenders. Breaks the alliance with the wicked king. May we have no share in evil. Would God stay angry with Jehoshaphat? I wonder if Jehoshaphat  wondered.   

"Let us be thankful for any losses which may have prevented the loss of our immortal souls.  Let us praise the LORD Who sought after us, and left us not to perish in our sins."  M. Henry
I am so beautifully "taken" with this quote---lifted up to the One Who allowed such loss in my life.  All is well in the manner of loss and Love.  

Jehoshaphat in full regal armor went to battle yet was protected by God.  
King Jehu who went disguised---who thought he was protected---an arrow slipped right into the joint of his armor.  You cannot outweigh outguess outdo our God.  Surrender and he will surround you.

Jehoshaphat was afraid. Like me.

He saw what he was up against. The impossible.
And he turned to God in prayer.  
May that be me, may it be you.

Standing in prayer.

"O Lord, are you not God in heaven? In your hand are power and might...
If disaster comes upon us----and it will,

the sword, judgment, pestilence, famine---

we will stand before You and cry out in our affliction 

and You will hear and save."  

2 Chron 20:9

"For we are powerless against this great horde

that is coming against us.

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

2 Chron 20:12

Stephen infuriated the freedmen.  Those freedmen were "sawn in two" over Stephen's stunning soliloquy ~ Acts 7:54.  So very upset, yet, Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit.  How very Kind of God to give Stephen a Glimpse of the Opened Heavens in his dying hour.  A Merciful Kindness.  While the Freedmen stopped up their ears with their fingers and stormed this saint and stoned him cold.  Lifeless.  Asleep, but so alive in Him.  They may take his body but God has his soul forever.  Stephen will wake up again. 

The witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul (Acts 7:58) who will remember this day for the rest of his life.  Saul was one of them there.  Casting stones.  Saul was dead, too.  He is about to wake up.

Wake up, o my soul. 

PHOTO:  Sun rise on Rush Street. We are moving back. God sought after me and moved us to Austin. Best thing that ever happened to me. We are back!

145 - "Take Courage When You are Powerless Against the Mighty" 2 Chronicles 14-17

And Asa's mantra: There is No One like God to help the powerless against the mighty. 2 Chron 15:11
The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 2 Chronicles 15:2

As soon as Asa heard the words of the prophet, he took courage and changed!  That's beautiful!  "He took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah..." 2 Chron 15:8.  I read as much as I can grab hold of. All the blogs, articles, books I read talk about deep change.  Here it is.  Deep waters of change in Asa's heart that caused him to no longer tread the way.  What really makes us change our direction.  Not just the behavior but the intentions of our heart.  I Cor 2:3-4 says it is the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit within us that changes everything.  Makes us no longer wish to engage in idle talk, idol worship.

What caused this Asa revival?  I mean, Asa had just faced the scare of his life.  The Cushite Invasion of one million men and 300 chariots coming against him.  That's daunting!  But Asa's response was not anything but beautiful:  ""Asa cried out to the LORD his God:  LORD, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength.  Help us, LORD our God, for we depend on You, and in Your name we have come against this large army.  Yahweh, You are out God.  2 Chron 14:11

The Spirit of God.  When uncountable, unpredictable, unimaginable things happen this day, this week, this year, may we call upon You.

PHOTO:  Tracer, the future generation.  Walking with a past generation.  His Pops in Spring 2023.                  No matter what you come against, may you depend on God Alone.  Your dad and mom did when they first met you at 3 small pounds. Against the odds.  Here you are!  God bless!  

144 - "Is Your Life Established nd Smooth?" 2 Chronicles 10-13

"When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him."  2Chron 12:1  He who is faithful with much will be held responsible.  Oh God!  They abandoned God, so He abandoned them.  The only people who will be in heaven are the ones who want to be there.  

It wasn't when things were going south for Rehoboam that he jumped ship.  Life was established.  Days proved strong.  No need for dependence on God.  Rehoboam's kingdom sailed smooth.  When no one is standing in our way, when God is not standing in our way.  When those we love allow us to live curved in, beneath our holy calling.  Who calls you on things in this life?  Am I willing to call my adult children, my trusted friends, my devoted family to their holy calling?  When we contently phlegmatically move through our days without thinking about what we are really doing, forgetting about God and His Ways.  We may feel.  We may look.  Established and Strong.  But are we, really?  

Either we are living dependent this day or abandoned to His way. Father, help us to name what we are doing in this life.  Call it what it really is, this day.  May we hold fast to You, Alone.  Hold on to the things that truly matter. 

PHOTO:  Zilker Botanical Garden.  We can get so lost in the beauty of things that we forget about God.  What will I do with this Christ?

143 - “I Owe You Nothing. I Give You Everything.” 2 Chronicles 7-9

                                                                 

2 Chronicles 9: 5 - The Queen of Sheba:  "It's all true! Solomon's reputation for accomplishment and wisdom that reached all the way to my country is confirmed.  I perceive that her confirmation is based on what the eye can see.  And Solomon's wisdom---for what?  To confront injustice (like two mothers fighting over the same baby), to end poverty in his country, to heal wounds?  And just how did he amass such a fortune?  What about Solomon's heart?  Y

The quote from this chapter catches my eye:  "I owe you nothing.  I give you everything.  Your desire to fix things to relieve suffering, to confront injustice, to heal wounds, to end poverty, and to generate joy is commendable.  But your desire is too weak and misguided.  [Was that Solomon's problem?]  If I were to fix all you see that is wrong and paintful without first destroying evil, not one would dance at My party...I must do whatever is necessary to destroy the evil within your depths, where you desire the good life more than you want Me, and I must replace that idolatrous desire with the holy yearning to know Me at any cost in the midst of your worst pain."  Oh my!  I wonder where I desire the good life more than my Good God?

If.  If this is from God. 

If. Then you won't be able to stand. 

If.  "If God is the 'Author' of this religion. From this it seems that Gamaliel supposed that it was at least possible that this religion was divine. He evinced a far more candid mind than did the rest of the Jews; but still it does not appear that he was entirely convinced." John Gibbs

How could a witness to a Resurrection not stagger our life?

How could a lame man of 40 years walking into the Sanctuary not bewilder us with wonder? 

How could an angel unlocking a cell to free the apparent innocent not shock unlocked?

The Almighty is Here.  Oh Father. Help our unbelief. Only explanation: it was God.

PHOTO: Haiti, a country where so many with good intentions are trying to confront injustice, end poverty, heal the wounds. But first! The evil must be destroyed. In you. And in me. 

142 - God's Ears Are Attentive to Prayers Made in the Pitch Black Darkness" 2 Chronicles 4-6

Pitch black and Solomon hears the Voice of God responding to his prayer.
It took Solomon 7 years and it was done.  A house for God.  Finished.  Built in all its Glory.
And God shows up in total darkness, at night, and says: "I have heard your prayer." 
That one sentence so makes me want to go pray. 
He is listening to our every word, every thought before it is even spoken. 
And I just started crying.  Because. 
Solomon prayed.  And it was a beautiful prayer of dedication.
All about God's Providence, God's Perfect Grace.
No one had ever built a house for God.  This was known throughout the nation.

God's Eyes are Open; His Ears are Attentive to prayers made.
Stand tall and let Him lift our head.
Sin No More and let Him fill our empty hearts.
Fear the One we should.
Believe the Word that is so near.
Hope in the Mercy of God.
Walk in His Ways, the narrow path.
With our hands over our mouths, in awe of this Beautiful God!
Give Thanks.

And David ends with a prayer for Solomon. Psalm 72:6. May he be like rain falling on the fresh mown grass. An answer to the drought in so many lives.  This undertaking...

He did it for the glory and honour of God;

 this was his highest and ultimate end in it. 

It was for the name of the Lord God of Israel!

2 Chronicles 6:10

PHOTO:  This is our land.  I lived in that town for most of my life.  Heal our land, O LORD~!

Oh Lord, let your word that you promised come true.  2 Chron 6:17

141 - "Put Some Iron in My Soul" 2 Chronicles 1-3

Huram-abi knew how to work with iron, stone, gold, silver, bronze, wood.  He could do it all---engravings.  But all I can think of this day is that I want some iron in my soul.  I'm far too flappable, malleable, slippery, flacid.  The Holy Spirit knows how to put that iron in my soul.  

PRAYER FROM PSALMS
Psalm 119: 175 
Invigorate my soul , O God, 
so I can praise You well, 
use Your Decrees to put iron in my soul.  

2 Chronicles 2:2 - Solomon assigned seventy thousand common laborers, eighty thousand to work the quarries in the mountains, and thirty-six hundred foremen to manage the workforce, plus he fed them all.  153,000 workers to lead.  Unbelievable.  A stunning spectacular structure, a showcase for Sheer Wonder!  And even in Solomon's splendor like never seen before, there still is a satisfaction only God can provide.    "God was awakening their appetite for the glory yet to come." 66 LL. 

I love Solomon's humility in 2 Chronicles 2:6 - "And me, who am I to think I can build a house adequate for God... .  Yet, Solomon embraced the command.  I'm still wrestling through the what is God's part, what is our part thing.  I think I don't think deeply enough, though.  I'm seeing that my selfishness is where I need to look more deeply, my motives for doing 'my part.'  Why am  I so driven to do the work of the ministry?  Why am I so frenetic in my goals to live right?  

The opening paragraph of the 2 Chronicles chapter in 66 LL speaks to me: 
"No matter what happens in our lives---- tornadoes, divorce, cancer, whatever----You want me to think more about how I'm relating to You and others than about how to get my life together.  And you want me to look deep inside, into my motives, to see if I'm really looking out for myself when I think I'm living for You."  I wonder if when I'm stuck on considering what is my part, if I'm really saying--- I'm concerned about getting my life together.  I've had a few too many people step on my toes in my lifetime.  Am I more concerned about what's happened to me than my own selfishness?  May we all deal with the deep issues God graciously brings to our minds this day, this week.  Romans 2:4 says it's the Kindness of our God that brings us to repentance.  Repentant Worship in the Temple.

140 - "Calm & Quiet My Soul in a Limping World" 1 Chronicles 27-29

140 Offer to a limping world, the Author of Life Itself. 1 Chronicles 28:20. Be strong & courageous. And do it. Know the God of your father. Serve him withe your mind for God searches and understands every plan, every thought you hold. 1 Chronicles 28:9-10. And David breathed his last breath.

                                                       

I Chronicles 28:20. A close member of our family passed away in his sweet sleep Memorial morning. Committed to God and the Church. Dedicated to his family. Determined to do the work of the Lord at home, at church, wherever. So, today's reading is a memorial to a man who spent his days in search of truth---and found it.

"My son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Be careful now, for the LORD has chosen you...be strong and do it." I Chron 28:9-10.

So, my son, "be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." I Chron 28:20.

And these words are penned by King David who began his journey as a shepherd boy, not looking for greatness, but responding to a cause.  His journey is dotted with moments of greatness with no armor to face a giant, in a cave sparing his father-in-law, or in a valley honoring the House of Saul.  This same man, marked with moments of wretchedness, loving his son Absalom more than God's will, taking another man's wife and setting up his demise.  

This elderly King, who just wrote Calm and Quiet my soul like a weaned child, this king ends his life well.  Oh! It's what we all hope for.  The day we live for. 

Peter said to the lame man. Rise Up and walk. May we turn to our limping world and offer the Author of Life Who has raised each of us up from our wayward ways.  Rise up.  Stand straight.  Live tall.  Love well.  Psalm 20:8 ~ while others are polishing their trophies, stand tall, alive in Him.  What do I have to "let go" of to rise up and stand tall? Live in this moment. Truly live. It's the most important moment you have. 

PHOTO: The sun sets on the corridor of our lives. May we end our lives well.

139 - "Trying to Make My Life Better or Draw Nearer to God?" 1 Chronicles 24-26

                                                                  

1 Chronicles 25:9 - 24 men are part of this remnant and they are needed to worship God in the temple.  Each had 12 sons and brothers.  Amazing plan.  Fast Forward.  Each of us is part of that chosen remant today.  Part of God's Plan A.  Romans 11:5 - a "chosen remnant of grace" for this moment to worship our God.  Repentant Worship! " I Chronicles 22:1 shows this restored community that everything, even their failures, points them to the priority of putting Me first in their lives.  My Son made that possible.  He is your ticket to the party.  You will enjoy that hope only in the temple."  66 LL.  And where is the Temple today?  I Cor. 6:19-20 says our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  Not our own!  Bought with a price!  Therefore glorify God and worship Him alone~

"When you feel empty tomorrow, when life's troubles and disappointments continue, you will be tempted to devote more energy to making your life better than to drawing closer to Me.  It is not easy to practice the priority of rebuilding the temple over rebuilding your life.  And it's difficult even to know when you're violating it."  So, what captures my energy?  Am I trying to make my life better or more concerned about drawing near to God?

There is Something about getting older 

that makes you want to go shore up, be pensive, say something that matters. 

And the sun sets on yet another day.

These psalms we have just read from the now-aged soul of a young man 

who once, more than once, hit bottom 

and spent a lifetime rising up in rescue. These psalms are grace words 

for me.  For you.  This circumstance.

Whether the psalm is like a hammer breaking us to pieces or melting hearts 

like snow or even oxygen that we can 

catch our breath this shortness of life---these psalms never ever become old. 

    "Be strong and courageous. 
Do not be afraid or discouraged."
           I Chronicles 22:14

If we set our face like a flint.  If we surrender in sweat and tears.  If we humble ourselves to look within.  If we live in the moment not the past or future.  If we abandon control and trust braving the wind.  All I can do is be strong.  Be courageous.  And never let fear or discouragement define my life.  Because the Lord is with us, we can build our houses and follow Him pushing through the fear and discouragement. 

 PHOTO:  Bev at Rockport.  Desiring to devote more energy to drawing closer to God rather than making my life better.  "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. May 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. Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave..." I Chron 22:11 All I can do is try to be strong; try to live courageous. Build my own house. 

The most beautiful moments of his life happened last evening on Sabbath Sunday as he breathed his last breath on Earth and moved to Another Time, straight into the presence of his waiting Ever-Present Eternal God who called his name, Max Barnett. His great success was building the Kingdom of God and many people will join him in Heaven because of the Gospel that Max shared with them. Isaiah 45:22. The line in heaven will be miles long of former University of Oklahoma students waiting to thank him for the eternal investment in their lives. The Gospel is the power of salvation. Romans 1:16. And Max lived it. And, he devoted his entire life to drawing nearer to God not trying to make life better on earth. He laid up his treasures in Heaven. God doesn't look at accomplishment quite like we do. Max lived fully alive. "It is a grand thing to see a man dying full of life." Charles Spurgeon. God's Word was always on his mind and heart, like a fire shut up in his bones. Jeremiah 20:9. I first met Max in 1976 in Titusville, Florida. I still remember what he told me that first encounter: "Bev, look at all those people out there---who is watching and caring for them? Go and make disciples." And I remember the last time I saw him in February 2026 at his Celebration of life that he attended. I whispered in his ear 2 Bible verses: Colossians 1:29 It is the Beautiful Energy of Christ that has always been so powerfully at work in you. Isaiah 46::4 God will carry, sustain, and rescue you through your cancer to the very end. Max is now rescued for all Eternity. But God is not finished with Max on Earth. 

138 - "Passionate Attachment to the Wrong Things"

I've sinned greatly by doing this.
I beg You, my God, to take away my guilt.
I have done a very foolish thing: to number my fighting men.
I Chronicles 21:8

Ownership!
Oh! That we all respond like this king of old when we stumble down paths that were never ever meant to be.  Joab tried to talk David out of numbering his fighting men.  Joab knew it was wrong; David knew it was wrong.  But, the King's word overruled his subject.  Trumped by an evil thought. Stunned by a very Good God, David responded with a swift surrendered heart.  And, it was the time when kings go out to war.  David did not join in the season and his heart is captured by his surroundings.  May we be at the right place at the right time with blinders on to this world of ours tugging at the skirts of our hearts.

Quicken my heart to be as swift a runner as this seasoned heart of David, the king after Your very own heart.  Oh God!  Change me!

" I Chronicles 22:1 shows this restored community that everything, even their failures, points them to the priority of putting Me first in their lives.  My Son made that possible.  He is your ticket to the party.  You will enjoy that hope only in the temple."  66 LL.  And where is the Temple today?  I Cor. 6:19-20 says our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  Not our own!  Bought with a price!  Therefore glorify God and worship Him alone~

"When you feel empty tomorrow, when life's troubles and disappointments continue, you will be tempted to devote more energy to making your life better than to drawing closer to Me.----- [Wait!  I feel awfully empty today wrestling with those who don't want to be in my presence]---- It is not easy to practice the priority of rebuilding the temple over rebuilding your life.  And it's difficult even to know when you're violating it."  So, what captures my energy?  Am I trying to make my life better or more concerned about drawing near to God?

"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. May 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. Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave..." I Chron 22:11

If we set our face like a flint.  If we surrender in sweat and tears.  If we humble ourselves to look within.  If we live in the moment not the past or future.  If we abandon control and trust braving the wind. That is so many "if's" and I can't keep them all.  All I can do is try to live courageous.  And never let fear or discouragement define my life.  Because the Lord is with us, we can build our houses and follow Him pushing through the fear and discouragement.  

The most beautiful moments of his life happened last evening on Sabbath Sunday as he breathed his last breath on Earth and moved to Another Time, straight into the presence of his waiting Ever-Present Eternal God who called his name, Max Barnett. His great success was building the Kingdom of God and many people will join him in Heaven because of the Gospel that Max shared with them, the power of salvation. Isaiah 45:22. And, he devoted his entire life to drawing nearer to God not trying to make life better on earth. God doesn't quite look at accomplishment quite like we do. Max lived fully alive. "It is a grand thing to see a man dying full of life." Charles Spurgeon. God's Word was always on his mind and heart, like a fire shut up in his bones. Jeremiah 20:9. I first met Max in 1976 in Titusville, Florida. I still remember what he told me that first encounter: "Bev, look at all those people out there---who is watching and caring for them? Go and make disciples." And I remember the last time I saw him in February 2026 at his Celebration of life

God doesn't look at accomplishment quite like we do.  No big people and no little people in His Kingdom.  Keep the charge this day, no matter where you are.  David kept on building the temple.  Keep on keeping on building this temple in which we live---to our dying day.  For etched in David's mind was I Chronicles 22:19:  Set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God.  Arise and Build.

"David was old and full of days."  I Chron 23:1.  And my ears perk up.  Because I. am. full. of. 20,000 days.  He made Solomon his son king over Israel.  So, here's the son acceptable in the eyes of God no more, no less than his father---a man after God's own heart.  May we all do the work before us today, fitting together, because we are:  letters of Christ, 2 Corinthians 3:2, cared for by many, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.  Not on tablets of stones but on tablets of human hearts.  Oh God!  

PHOTO:  The Gulf of Mexico where I've dropped a few tears and longed to draw closer to Him. 

137 - "Sit In Awe of the One Who Has Brought You Thus Far" 1 Chron 17-20

                                                                     

When David received startling change of plans from Nathan, David sat before the Lord his God. "Who am I?" I Chron 17:16. And this family you have given me. That you have brought me thus far. 

Can I sit this day in utter awe of the One who rules my life while I lay down the control?

1Chronicles 18:6 God gave MAJOR victory over and over to David wherever he marched. Humble yourself, David. 

PHOTO:  The Woodlands. Lauren qualifies for KONA Triathlon World Championships. The lush greens. The Brightness after the rain. I sit in awe of the One who made my family members who they are.

136 - "Attend To God's Motions Both in His Providence and Influences" 1 Chronicles 14-16

"As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”  So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army. 1 Chron 14:15

It would seem beautiful to know that all we had to do was listen to the tops of the poplar trees.  God calls us all to faith, not sight.  Even in this text.  What did David do?  He inquired of God about the attacking Philistine army.  May that direct us in all our ways to acknowledge Him who directs our paths, our every step.  "In distress, fly to Him; when wronged appeal to Him; and when we know not what to do, ask counsel at His oracles to put ourselves under His direction and beg of Him to show us the right way."  Matthew Henry.

And may the sound in the tops of the going in the tops of the mulberry trees, direct us "to attend to God's motions both in His Providence and in the influences of His Spirit." 

PHOTO:  Tracer, the future generation.  Walking with a past generation.  His Pops in Spring 2023.                  No matter what you come against, may you depend on God Alone.  Your dad and mom did when they first met you at 3 small pounds. Against the odds.  Here you are!  God bless!  

135 - "Wait Patiently for the Lord" 1 Chronicles 11-13

This is the view out of my window

at the high school where I teach.

Seems like I'm waiting on some things to happen,

or am I waiting on God?

Thinking this night of fishermen and shepherds

who were doing what they were called to do.

Waiting on God, not on circumstances to change.

I Chron 11:3 ~ The elders of Israel came to David.  Samuel had prophesied a long time ago that David would be king.  David waited on no man to move.  David waited on God.  They crowned him at just the right time in history.  Tonight, I asked a friend about what God could possibly be doing in my life.  Her response staggered me.  Just trust in the pain.  How can we figure out God and what He is up to.  Love the truth that David lived in the present moment, not trying to figure out the best position to become a king.  Oh God, help us all find You this present hour.  

PRAYER FROM PSALMS

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way or even because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.  Rest, Bev.  God is doing you good through even t.h.i.s.  Help me, God, to see things from your perspective.  Psalm 37:7

134 - "I Want To Be Greater Than David" 1 Chronicles 8-10

The valiant men stripped Saul of his head and armor. I Chronicles 10:8.  On a mount separating two unfriendly regions. And Saul's body is hung on the fence.  No more breath. I stood there on Mount Gilboa where you can see as far as the eye stretches both east and west. They chose that spot so that both directions could see Saul was dead. I stood at the spot where they hung Saul's body. And I so wondered as I stood there what it would have been like to have a father-in-law that wreaked so much havoc on you; and I wondered what it was like to live in those days.  Did they struggle with being invisible or independent.  Did they try to manage their lives to just make things work.  And the words of Saul haunt me---you remember the dancing in the street party where the women sang to Saul and he contemplated:  "They have ascribed unto David ten thousands but to me they have ascribed thousands."  I Sam 18:6-9.  From that day and forward to his very death, Saul never dealt with what really went on in his own soul.  May I deal this day with these misgivings that plague me. I struggle with everyone having a place, a space, an ace in the hold.  Things are not that tidy for me.  May we be a people known for surrender.  May I repent of anything that is not dependence on my Lord. 

I wrestle today, my LORD, with this mantra of Saul. Someone I trusted with my heart once told me: We will see who is right by the results of your life and church growth. I didn't think it was right then nor now. We are here for your glory, not numbers and prestige. Saul wanted to be somebody better and greater than David.  Father, help me to put on the full armor of God not just a shiny armor of protection.  Clothe me in this chink that I may learn to think better than this.  Thank you for detaching us from anything that makes us want to look for credit and praise for ourselves. 

PHOTO:  Reminds me of Mount Gilboa where you could see forever.  Something contemplative about miles and miles.  Something going on in my heart where I feel invisible and have found Something far better and I was looking for the wrong thing. 

133 - "For What Do I Wait?" 1 Chronicles 6-7

It's terribly Quiet here at the Quarries.

For what do I wait this night?

Psalm 39:7

Do I wait for things to turn around?

I'm at the Hyde Park Track Banquet setting things up for the season awards.  By myself.

I am feeling worse as days progress.  

I hit an all-time low today with this job. 

Here is the tribe of Levi in today's reading. I Chron 6:1. It's a long chronicled list.  Here are names we recognize astonishingly with such respect:  

Aaron and Moses---instruments in God's Hand to deliver Israel.  Faith.  Forbearance.  Foreshadowing.  Moses the Prophet.  

Aaron the Priest.  And we know them.  

And they are right next to Abihu and Nadab in the genealogy---your remember the terror they brought, the very strange fire. 

One rebuilt the temple and lived for God; the other tried to rebuild their lives---and lived for themselves.   "Devote your first energies to rebuilding the temple, not your lives." 66LL.   To the exiled but still proud community in this list, God underlined sin.  To the restored but discouraged community in this list, God aroused hope.  66LL.  

That's it, God.  Arouse my hope.  I have it. 

We come down so hard on ourselves for being discouraged, but I wonder if the real question is this---do we have hope this day?  

We are no longer exiles. 

We are living in hope. Delivered. Adopted. Beloved. 

PHOTO: These two girls. Megan and Hannah have meant so much to me over their high school career.  We are all letters written not with ink but with heart. 1 Cor 3:2.  As the ink dries on this track season, may God pass on things from our lives that matter for Eternity.

132 - "The Fabric Rose; The Fabric Tugged" 1 Chronicles 3-5

132 The fabric of the Temple was all built in silence. No hammers. No chisels. No iron tools. it Rose like an "exaltation"---so we too live our lives in quiet and confidence. #talkingtomyself

The Temple was built in silence. 
No hammers | No chisels | No iron tools were heard.

I Kings 6:7.
It rose like an "exhalation," says one commentary.

"No hammer fell, no ponderous axes rung.
Like some tall palm the mystic fabric sprung." Reginald Heber

The fabric rose in silence in the Old Testament. I Kings 6:7.

The fabric of the Sanctuary - roof, walls, floor. 
The fabric tugged in silence in the New Testament. Mark 5:27.

The fabric of the Savior Himself - his robe. 

We are to live out our lives in quietness and in confidence. Isaiah 30:15.
Thy Kingdom Come. 

Never an Observer. Always a Participator.

But that still small Voice.
The One we hear behind us, saying, this is the way. Walk in it.

And the commentary speaks to me:  "Don't mistake notoriety for spiritual progress."                                  The Kingdom went unnoticed by the Caesars and the philosophers of the day.                                                       The commentator said it grew silently like a baby in the womb, unheard, unnoticed, unknown.                   But this New Kingdom.  

Changes people 

in degrees, 

radically, 

publicly, 

inches. 

This new humanity was not so sudden.

“Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you." No better thought. No better plan.

PHOTO:  I have tugged at His fabric for as long as I can remember.  Even as a Catholic school girl.  Sacred Heart was my first invitation to the Savior.  But the real tug came when I was in my junior year at LSU and wild as the winds of a tornado.  I knew there had to be more.  A whole lot more than what I was experiencing.  And I found Him. And I turned to a whole new life. And I raised up a generation of kids offering them the Truth I found. Trying to live it out my troubled past before them every day. This is a grandkid.

131 - "This *One Thing* Made Him Fall" 1 Kings 3-4

He loved the LORD, only this...
Can it be said of us. Only but this one thing. I Kings 3:3.

Let's lay aside that "only" one thing and run the race before us.

Solomon knew that God showed great favor to his father, David.

"Ask what I shall give you."  I Kings 3:5.
"Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” I Kings 3:9

This pleased the LORD that Solomon didn't ask for himself but for his calling. 
May this very day, we see through what "only" we can do.

And David ends with a prayer for Solomon. Psalm 72:6. May he be like rain falling on the fresh mown grass. An answer to the drought in so many lives.  

Father, cause us to live like rain failling on a parched land.  Empower us today with the Energy that stirs so powerfully within.

PHOTO:  It's rain.  Falling in the Hill Country.  Let Him fall all over me. 

130 - "Deal With What Is Happening In Your Own Soul" 2 Kings 23-25

130 All we can deal with is what is happening in our own soul. We can lead people but we cannot make them follow God, not even our own children.  We lay them in the lap of our LORD.  We can invite, intrigue, engage, entertain in sober ways what is holy and what counts in life.  

                                                                

The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord

to walk after the Lord, and

to keep His commandments and His testimonies, 

and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul

to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book.

 II Kings 23:3.  

And all the people entered into the covenant.  King Josiah had just heard from his God that he could not stop the ruin of Jerusalem.  All we can deal with is what is happening in our own soul. We can lead people but we cannot make them follow God, not even our own children.  We lay them in the lap of our LORD.  We can invite, intrigue, engage, entertain in sober ways what is holy and what counts in life.  Josiah led his people to abolish idolatry, serve God in righteous living, find true repentance.  Many of those he led were compliant hypocrites who will stand before God, alone.  While Josiah could rein in the wickedness, he couldn't change their very souls.  

Judah and Jerusalem overflowed with wickedness. Would our forefathers have thought that America could do the same and evolve into such an evil place?  I grew up with broken people who never locked their doors, fearing no break-ins.  No more.  We all live behind bars and locks and gates.  In Josiah's 18 years of exemplary service, he lived from a humbled heart.  Yet, he could not change his nation.  "The records of God's word teach that all the real godliness or goodness ever found on earth is derived from the new-creating Spirit of Jesus Christ." M.Henry

Through Passion and Passover, revival broke out under the good hand of Josiah. The Mighty Hand of God.  God rained on them His Presence, His Favor.  Josiah must have been beside himself.  But, it only lasted until the traitors cut off the life of Josiah to raise up the next king.  Evil reigns again.  And the point of the passage is t.h.i.s. ~ We must take care of our own souls to stand next to the pillars in our own lives, make a covenant, keep His Word, carry out His Words. And when we can't; when we don't; when we won't, take care of your soul and repent under the Holy Hand of a very Good God Who is always doing us good. Colossians 1:29. 

God of Jacob, such is the generation of those who seek your Face not your Hand.
May we be a generation of people who deal with what stirs in our own soul.
May we seek your Face not our own ambition, safety, personal peace.
May our decisions never be made apart from Your Face.
Psalm 24:6

Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. 2 Kings 23:16

Never before or after---a king like him---yet his own son, Jehoahaz, could not be influenced.  I remember telling words about a decade ago spoken to me in angst.  "We will see who was right by the size of your ministry."  I didn't believe it then.  I don't believe it now.  Josiah's own son couldn't be swayed by the strongest of kings.  We will all individually give account to God for our lives not for how our sons and daughters and followers turn out. 

129 - "Cut Me Off From the Wild Olive" 2 Kings 21-22

He was only 8 years old when he began to reign...and he reigned 31 years in Jerusalem. 2 Kings 22:1. He was a mere child who inherited a wicked rule. He had nothing to do with the state of affairs. He had everything to do with Kingdom affairs. "Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left." 2 Kings 22:2. It's my prayer for our children. God did for this child king: Romans 11:24 God cut him off from the wild olive and grafted him into the good olive. Nothing is too hard for that Grace to do." Josiah walked the narrow middle road. He took care to repair the temple. He took care to watch and wait in the Word of God. 

Oh Father, start with me. Cut me off from the wild olive. Graft us in today. May we take deep care to the place where we have been called. May we wait in Your Word this day, always!

PHOTO:  Narrow Paths.  May we find that narrow path, the walk of life and truth and love and God.  Thinking this day about doing what is right in the eyes of God.  Thinking about being grafted into the good narrow path.  

128 -- "Spread Your Dilemma Before The Lord" 2 Kings 18-20

 

This picture of Hezekiah going to God with his problems is cemented in my heart. 2 Kings 19:14. I'll go looking for Hezekiah in heaven to tell him just how much his story of spreading his problems before God's Eyes meant to me over my lifetime.  I've smoothed out sheets and asked God to sit in the hospital bed next to me.  I've smoothed out paper and invited Him to write a different script.  I've smoothed out sin-sick souls and sat next to them and wept.  Whatever we face, spread it before the One Who is the Author of all.  Isaiah 37:14 - Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord:  “O Lord of hosts, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see..."

Spreading before the LORD what concerns us this very day. Oh God, incline your ear.

Romans 5:3-5 Rejoice in Suffering...How do you do that?
And God moves...
Endurance
Character
Hope 
Love poured into our hearts.

PHOTO: California. Whether cemented in splendor or surreal or surprise or senseless, spread it out before the Lord.

127 - "They Practiced Secrets Not Surrender" 2 Kings 16-17

We can appear religious and be far from it.  "Even though the Israelites were worshipping God, they were far from God. They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger." 2 Kings 17:16-17

These Israelites were dead serious!  

Reminds me of today's suicide bombers with ISIS.

Selling themselves.

Sacrificing their sons and daughters.

Oh my!

The Israelites followed kings not the King. 

They became faithless not full of faith.
They practiced secrets not surrender/

"And the people of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things that were not right."  2 Chron 17

2 Chronicles 28:3 Infamous Ahaz —incredibly! indulged in the outrageous practice of "passing his sons through the fire."  That is unbelievable.  Verse 19 says:  Arrogant King Ahaz, acting as if he could do without God's help, had unleashed an epidemic of depravity. I have been thinking a lot about our moral choices.  We read the Charity chapter in Mere Christianity in class on Friday.  When I led the discussion, one student responded that Lewis' words proved "love is a choice."  But we must always allow God to reveal the motives and intentions of our hearts as we love.  Sin is way more than just making a wrong choice to not love or do the wrong thing.  

It brings to mind a quote from Crabb:  "Sin is more than wrong choices, more than bad behavior, more than wrong understanding.  And it is not a reaction to felt need that deserves tender compassion and patience.  Sin cannot be explained, but it can be defined.  Sin is defiantly walking past the living water God provides in relationship with Himself and proudly digging wells with one's own resources in the futile and foolish hope of providing for oneself the water needed for a meaningful and secure life."  Jeremiah 2:9 -13

John Piper calls it "sweet idolatries in which the longing heart embraces the wrong satsifaction."  What are my deep satisfactions this night?  Is it my children responding right to me?  Is it my husband not "missing" me?  Is it my friends responding like I want them to?  Is it my God coming through for me?  What do I most want?

PHOTO:  The Hill Country of Texas. 

126 - "In the Midst of Evil Times, God's Plan Is Moving Ahead" 2 Kings 14-15

                                                             

These kings in their palaces!  Ruthless.  Out-of-control.  Massive murderers.  

Yet, they did exactly what they wanted to do.  I just read a quote from C.S. Lewis:  "In each of us, there is something growing up which will of itself be Hell unless it is nipped in the bud.  It's not a question of God 'sending' us to hell.

Such a telling thought to throw a woman out of the window to her death.  God moves and works in ways we don't understand.  Wondering what they thought of this story in that day?  Wondering what we think of this forcible forthright dealing with sinful natures.

May we not take lightly the things we do.

2 Kings 15:1 - What is it that these kings continually failed to get rid of the sex-and-religion shrines that were popular with the people...wonder what these kings wanted more than the love of their God---their own popularity?? 

II Kings 15:16 - Menahem ripped open the pregnant women because the town didn't welcome him with open arms. They even indulged in outrageous practices of  burning their own children. 
These are really bad people..."all kinds of things on the sly."  "They threw out everything their God had told them." "They prostituted themselves to every kind of evil available."  In a lot of ways, it sounds familiar in some respects in our own country.  How incredibly sad! 

All I keep thinking about is the quote from 66 LL that says that in the midst of evil times, God's Plan is moving ahead.  "Above all else, seek to know Me better and represent Me well in every circumstance, no matter how you feel...You must understand the deceptive nature of evil.  [Evil today doesn't rear its head in outrageous practices in most Christian lives---it's more the deceptive evil that leads us astray. I will not be about burning my children but there's still cancer in my soul.)  Evil hides itself and does its destructive work slowly, beneath the disease of necessity, reasonableness, efficiency, pragmatism, even morality, even goodness."  So what is evil about my necessity, my efficiency, my morality, my goodness?  Praise God HE will show us this very day where we are out of His Will.  "I have a Plan to restore the Beauty of Eden, to create a community of men and women who live their lives in rhythm with My Holiness, who dance with Me into joy."  HE is a Beautiful God in charge and HE chose you!

PHOTO: A Castle. Courtesy of The Commons.