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