Today we talk about King Cyrus' decree to go UP to the temple. When we attend the temple are we going up? Do we allow our time there to elevate us and raise us up? If not, we learn in Ezra 1, that God can place with in us the spirit of the temple. 

Ok lets try this introduction into Ezra and Nehemiah again! HA! 

As we approach this week, we get the opportunity to see the children of Israel begin to return to Jerusalem. In many ways the scattering and the return of Israel is symbolic of our wickedness and our repentance. 

We are never beyond the reaches of God. He knows where we are and He can lead us safely home! 

Scott- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1986/04/we-love-you-please-come-back?lang=eng

     I made 2 big mistakes! First of all, when I was exporting and uploading yesterdays podcast I accidently had my commentary on mute. So the music and the talk that I played at the end of the podcast all uploaded...but my thoughts about why that was actually relevant didn't! SO SORRY! I will correct that and re upload it on Tuesday! 

     Today I am correcting a mistake I made a few weeks ago! Remember how I said a few days ago that I didn't realize that the books of Chronicles weren't going to be covered. I should have gone back then to cover an important story that I missed in Chronicles. But I didn't. So I am doing it today, because this is a HUGELY overlooked story in the Old Testament and I love it! So Chronologically today, we are going back to the time of Elijah to study King Jehoshaphat. I hope you love this story as much as I do, and that our side step here will be worth it to you!

As we approach this week we get the opportunity to see the children of Israel begin to return to Jerusalem. In many ways, the scattering and the return of Israel is symbolic of our wickedness and repentance. We are never beyond the reaches of God. He knows where we are and He can lead us safely home!

Scott- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1986/04/we-love-you-please-come-back?lang=eng

Today we talk about the power that the word of God had on Josiah and on the people of Judah, and what the power of the word can do for you and I. 

Today we talk about God's blessings to us even when it isn't the blessing we seek, and what it means when we don't feel God is with us. 

Today we see how the Lord shows, in a BIG WAY. That He is a God of deliverance. It is my belief and my testimony, that God delights to show us that He is mighty to save!

We live in a world that teaches us that when we are up against hardship, or trial, to kick against God, to blame Him or to distance ourselves from Him. When we do that, we are distancing ourselves from the one true and sure source of real peace and understanding. Here in these verses, Hezekiah shows us an example of drawing nearer to the Lord in times of tribulation. 

Who do you put your trust in? With the world clamoring so loudly for our attention, sometimes we slip into the downfall of placing our trust in ourselves or the arm of the flesh. Hezekiah reminds us that even in the most dire of circumstances, we can always place our faith in God. 

Today we meet the most righteous king that Judah ever had! Even though Hezekiah was raised by an incredibly wicked man, he chose the Lord and was blessed and prospered for his choice.