Jesus is both High Priest and High King

‭Zechariah 6:9-13 NIV‬

[9] The word of the Lord came to me: [10] "Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. [11] Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak. [12] Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. [13] It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.' 

Gold and silver represent heaven and redemption, respectively.

"Joshua" is the English version of the Hebrew equivalent (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ) for Jesus's name in Greek (Ἰησοῦς).

Jesus is the Branch from Jesse, and he is High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.  He is the High King, and we are his temple.

Father, you have made an amazing story with humanity!  Jesus, thank you for being the High Priest and High King.  You are the singularity.  I love you! 

Testing and Promotion

Daniel was awakened by the officer sent to execute him because King Nebuchadnezzar didn't know the meaning of his dream.  Daniel and his friends asked God for mercy and revelation, and God answered.  They were tested, and they experienced God and His goodness in the midst of the testing.  Then King Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel, and Daniel requested promotion for Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  Promotion followed testing.

Later, King Nebuchadnezzar constructed a statue and required everyone to worship it, but Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused to worship the statue, so King Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into the fire with the furnace heated to seven times hotter.  They experienced God and his goodness in the midst of the testing.  Then King Nebuchadnezzar promoted them to higher positions in the province of Babylon.  Promotion followed testing.

Father, thank you for revealing mysteries and wisdom to us.  May we be faithful to seek you and honor you when we are tested, for your glory.  May we see your goodness. Jesus, thank you for your example.  Holy Spirit, thank you for your presence and power.  I love you.

Protection and vindication

‭Isaiah 54:17 NIV‬

 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of [Yahweh], and this is their vindication from me," declares [Yahweh].

Father, thank you for your protection from evil attacks.  Thank you for your vindication. I trust you, and I love you.

Childish versus Child-like

A few attributes of each:

Childish

- selfish

- impatient

- vengeful

- rigid

- fearful

Child-like 

- joyful

- playful

- wonder-filled

- trusting

- fully dependent on the Father

- curious 

- innocent

- compassionate

- forgiving

- flexible

- full of adventure 

Father, help me be child-like.  Holy Spirit, please restore my sense of adventure and playfulness.  I love you.

Expensive money

‭2 Kings 5:20, 24, 26-27 NIV‬

[20] Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him." ... [24] When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put [the silver and clothes] away in the house. ... [26] But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? [27] Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.

There are so many things in this world that one can chase.  Most people don't realize the consequence of biting the hook hidden within the bait.

I feel convicted about spending too much time working, trying to make sure that I cover my summer salary.  I wish I spent more time with my kids.

Father's Day is a reminder of how far I need to go to be a good dad.

Father, help me be more like you.  Seems impossible, but you call me to be perfect like you, so I want to try.  Holy Spirit, please help me listen to you.  I love you.

Heavy loss and ironic timing

Yesterday, Brandi and I closed on a house that has an attached apartment so Brandi's parents could move in with us. It was the only house that checked all the boxes. Thankful for Father's provision.

Sadly, also yesterday, Brandi's dad passed away unexpectedly.  We prayed every night for him to be healed, but the progression of Bill's ALS was steady. We sensed that time was short, but we didn't think it was that short. 

Nonetheless, we are thankful for the 11 months we have had back home with them to make so many great memories.  Perhaps as a culmination, we just had a family reunion with Bill's siblings and their families this past weekend. 

The timing of closing on the house and Bill going on to be with the Lord on the same day is so ironic to me.  It feels like a gut punch, and I'm still reeling.

Reflecting on the longer timeline, it was hard to leave El Paso after 13 years of hard work digging trenches and postholes to make friends and establish professional momentum.  But I felt like God had opened up a little window of opportunity for us to spend time with Bill and support Denise as she cared for him.  

Not everyone in El Paso understood that dynamic.  Maybe I could have done a better job at trying to explain it.  Some people who were very close to me became very bitter at me for leaving.  But now I know it was a very small window of opportunity in the grand scheme of things.  If I had waited a year, I would have missed it.  I am sad for the loss of friendships of those who did not understand the stakes, but I am so very thankful for the many memories that my family made with PopPop these past 11 months.  They are irreplaceable.

Zooming out even further, I am so thankful for the privilege of being Bill's son-in-law.  I still can't believe he let me marry his daughter , especially at such a young age.  He invited me to call him, "dad," and he was proud of me like a son.  He was a spiritual leader and committed to growing in faith.  And he demonstrated for me one of the greatest lessons in mercy and grace I've every seen; I had hurt Brandi so deeply, and they drove to Austin to counsel us.  They extended forgiveness to me immediately, and they encouraged Brandi to forgive me.  A month or two ago, I seemingly randomly told Bill how much that still means to me.  I'm so thankful that I told him when I had the chance.

Father, thank you for your sovereign timing.  Thank you for the opportunity to be back home with family.  Thank you for Bill, his mentorship and spiritual leadership.  I still wish you had healed him from ALS.  Maybe you wish I had healed him.  Maybe one day I'll understand why you didn't or why I didn't.  I want to be like Jesus, and Jesus sure healed a lot of folks.  I would appreciate it if you get me on track, resolve whatever the disconnect is so I can heal people.  I love you.

Growing in Yahweh

In the New Covenant, this age of grace, we have the privilege of being a royal priesthood.

I want to raise my children in the presence of Yahweh so that they know His presence and His word.

1 Samuel 2:18‭, ‬21b‭, ‬26 ESV

Samuel was ministering before Yahweh, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. 

... And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of Yahweh. 

... Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with Yahweh and also with man.

1 Samuel 3:21 ESV

And Yahweh appeared again at Shiloh, for Yahweh revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of Yahweh.

These verses about Samuel remind me of Jesus.

Father, teach me to raise my children in your presence.  Please speak to them.  I want them to know your voice and the power of your word.  I want them to walk with you, love you, and obey you. Holy Spirit, please guide me.  I ask in the name of Jesus.