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.