Should A Comfort Letter Include A Christ Component?

This was a question in my women's bible study yesterday:

Should a comfort letter include a Christ component?

Most answered no because it might turn someone off and make them back away from you and your help. They thought this could happen with a non-believer and even with a Christian. So, they thought it best to try and help in other ways first, build a relationship, and hope to have an opportunity later to speak to them about the love of Christ.

I can see their point. Anyone who has stepped out in faith to speak truth for God to another has been rejected at some point. The other person has pushed back, walked away out of fear, leaving us to feel like we didn't help and we should have done it differently.

But, let me ask a few questions.

Where does true comfort lie?

Is it found in us or in our abilities to handle a situation? Do we have all the answers to life's tough questions?

Who has more compassion and love for another human being, me or God?

Can I really love someone else as much as God does? Can I really have enough compassion for someone else like God does?

We live in a sin sick world. All of the hurts, trials, discomforts, and evil of this world are due to sin. Sin that is our nature. Sin that is the root of the problem.

Sin is the explanation for all the problems of the world and Jesus is the solution to all those problems. Can we really help someone if we consciously avoid sharing the truth and the solution?

When someone is in need of comfort they usually are more open to the message of Jesus as Savior. When life is great they have no need for a Savior because everything seems to be ok around them.

But, in those dark places where things feel out of control, and you are drowning in sorrow, or guilt, or fear, your heart is open to any help. Why not share Christ and his hope with them!

They may accept God's gift of grace and his help and comfort. Or, they may not. They may be turned off and walk away. But, at least you used the opportunity you did have to share the gospel with them. It planted a seed that someone else may water down the road. We are not responsible for bringing another to faith, God is. But, God wants us to help through our words and our actions.

Preaching Christ can't be the only thing we do. We still need to love with action. Show compassion, listen, and love practically. I think we need both words and actions. Not our words but God's words.

Jesus is our example in all we do. Did he avoid speaking truth to the people he helped?

Let's not live in fear but boldly tell others where true healing and life is found. Let's face it, we might be running out of time.

So That . . .

Our Pastor talked this week about answering the question so that for ourselves.

He talked about how God gave the Israelites the promised land so that. . .

1. He could bless them, and so
2. He could bring glory to his name and his name would be known in all the world.

The promised land was the crossroad of the known world at this time in history. The corners of the world travelled through here as they travelled to other parts of the world. By placing the Israelites here, God's chosen people, all the world would be influenced by his people and his teaching.

We are all strategically placed in time, in our family, in our city, in our church, in our state, in our country, in our business, etc. We have a destiny and a call of so that.

The apostle Paul had a so that calling too, as recorded in the book of Acts.

Acts 26:17-18 (New International Version, ©2010)

I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles.

I am sending you to them to . . .

1. open their eyes and
2. turn them from darkness to light,and
3. from the power of Satan to God,

so that . . .

1. they may receive forgiveness of sins and
2. a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

Our Pastor challenged us to ask what our so that calling might be and determine if we had been living it or not.

The Holy Spirit really convicted me when our Pastor talked about how we sometimes bow down to the alter of comfort, security, feeling good, happiness, money, materialism, fame, etc. instead of bowing down to the One True God. He asked us if we were living an idolatrous life and if we let fear prevent us from living our destiny. Have we made up our mind whom we will serve?

What is the significance of where I have been strategically placed in history?

What is my so that calling?

Well, I know for sure I am part of the generation(s) responsible for the state of where our country lies in God's favor right now. Romans 1:21-32 speaks to what I mean. However, as the song Hosanna by Hillsong goes, I am also part of a generation that is rising up to take their place in history as God had planned.

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees

As a Christian wife and mother, raising my children to know and fear the Lord, I am living out my strategic place as matriarch and nurturer within my family. I play a part in raising that next generation who will follow the Lord, not forget his laws, and will walk in obedience before him.

The world is growing increasingly dark and the light of Christ and the Christian influence is needed as never before.

I realized I have been living in fear and bowing down to the idols of comfort and appeasement. I may be living out the life God wants me to by being in my home and homeschooling my children but I have not been wholeheartedly in. I mean, I have lived in fear of what others think, what others know, what others would want me to do. I've been comparing to the world and trying to look good in their eyes. That's not what God wants from me.

God wants me to be concerned about what he thinks. He wants me to be concerned about what he wants me to teach my children. He wants me to be concerned about if they are growing in the areas he needs them to grow in. I am to measure myself against Jesus, and Jesus only. Am I growing more and more like Jesus?

I am not to worry about what the world thinks or if I look good from a worldly perspective. He wants my heart chasing after him and his ways, and my eyes on Jesus. When I concern myself with worldly ways, worldly ideas, and worldly affirmation, I am taking my eyes off Jesus and putting them on myself.

So, I know I have a so that ministry in my home. So that my children will know and love God, be in a saving relationship with Jesus, and so that those who look on my home and my family will see Jesus and be influenced by His power.

Lord, I am sorry for taking my eyes off you and missing the fullness of my destiny. It's so easy to get caught up in the temptations, distractions, and lies of the world and I was wandering in the far off land. Thank you for your loving patience and continued graciousness toward me, a sinner. I thank you also for my calling, my destiny.

Great Love

Psalm 86:13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave



Psalm 86 starts out with these words. . .

Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.

This is our condition in life - poor and needy.

Not poor in a financial sense, although there are those that are.

Not needy in a material sense, although there are those that are.

But, poor and needy, in an universal spiritual condition affecting the entire human race.

When sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, we all became poor and needy souls, in desperate need of rescue from our depraved state.

That depraved state brought down the death sentence for all of us by God's perfect judgment.

Thank God for a loving God, big enough to save us from the death sentence.

Thank God for His One and Only Son who obediently came down to this earth and took on all the sins, of all of humanity, on his shoulders in payment for us.

He redeemed us! He bought us back from Satan! He delivered us from the grave!

For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave!

A LOVE like that requires a response from us.

Zealousness for his Word, for a relationship with Him, for doing his Work.

Do the Lives of Others Look Too Good To You?

As a stay at home, homeschooling mom, I don't get out much.

This wasn't always the case, but, in recent years my life has gravitated away from a full time work schedule, a full time social schedule, and a full time 'me' schedule. Most days, I am very happy with my life as it evolves into what God has in store for me. But, I admit there are days I think I am missing out on something.

These feelings came out this past weekend as I talked with others at a funeral, of all places. While we waited for the family to return from the burial for the lunch that was to be served, we caught up with friends we hadn't seen in quite sometime. Former colleagues of mine, and their spouses. As I listened to their exciting stories and escapades, I started to feel a little envious.

It seems as my husband and I were trudging along raising children, everyone else was having the time of their life doing all sorts of things. Needless to say, most of my peers are ready to become empty nesters in the next few years, while our youngest is only two. They are beginning the process of pulling away from their children (or children pulling away from them - depending on whom you are talking to) and discovering what they like to do as a couple free from the daily routine of child rearing.

I used the phrase earlier, "trudging along" because it just seems like for the last few years it's been a tough road. Teenagers can make life difficult at times and so can a 2 year old. There always seems to be a temper tantrum going on, a rebellion that has to be squashed, or all our energy is needed to prevent someone from doing something too bad or getting too hurt. Sometimes life can feel overwhelming.

Apparently, life was feeling a little burdensome on my end this weekend but as I talked with my long lost friends, Oh, I sensed they didn't experience any burden. Envy set in. The entire ride home all I talked about was how good they had it.

My husband was very patience with me as I pointed out things.

"Did you see her designer purse?

"Do you know they go out to eat every Friday night and meet three other couples for drinks after their kids sporting events?"

"They go upnorth for the weekend and leave their teenagers home alone."

Later in the day, I was still talking about them. I noted how happy and carefree they seemed. They seemed to have so many friends. They seemed to have whatever they wanted and didn't seem to have any problems.

Now, my husband, a discerning christian man, calming points out to me that these very people I am so envious of, and want to aspire to be like (even if temporarily), are dead! "What is there to envy about death?"

I knew he was right. They were not saved individuals. They did not know Christ as their Savior. They seemed more carefree because they followed their own desires and fleshy wills. They did what they wanted, when they wanted, and however they wanted to do it because they answered to no one but themselves. I knew he was right but I still needed to wrestle with it in my mind a little longer. Maybe I just didn't want to let the fantasy go. Maybe I was trying to figure out a way to have Christ as my Lord and still have what they have.

God, as he always does, convicts me and then gently leads me to repentance. Then, after I have yielded my will back to him and humbly ask to be restored, he gives me an explanation. A piece of wisdom or understanding to reinforce what he is teaching me through the situation. For me, it usually happens when I am reading his word.

I have been reading a chapter a day in the Psalms. Today, Chapter 73 was up. By verse 2, I knew this was God's timing and God's personal words for me.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.

3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong. [a]

5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.

That's exactly how I was feeling. I almost, almost was willing to walk away from my faith for something that appeared to look better to me.

21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,

22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.

I had acted bitterly toward God and my thinking was skewed and stupid. How awful of me to have forgotten what the love of a beautiful Lord is worth.

23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

What humility I felt knowing God did not hold my stupidity against me. He didn't leave me or forsake me even though I contemplated doing it to him. He gently reminded me of who he is, what he's done for me, and what it is worth. It is worth EVERYTHING!

28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds

It is good to be near the Sovereign Lord!

It is easy to get enticed by the world and the things of the world, especially during a difficult time. I wanted to escape the current situation our family finds itself in at the moment. I wanted relief. I wanted to be someone else. I got tangled up and saw an escape route. I thought I'd take it instead of sticking it out like God wanted me to do.

I've discovered it's hot here in the fire of refinement but God has reminded me it is worth it!

He has kept me, restored me, renewed me, guided me, showed me the permanent relief yet to come, and the glory yet to be revealed!

I will tell of all your deeds!

Fear and Ineffectiveness

I read these words this morning and wrote them down in my journal.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

This afternoon I was completing an application for a class I want to take through our church called Character Development. One of the questions on the application ask, 'why do you want to take this class?'. I wrote down four reasons, and it's reasons number three and four that reminded me of this verse from this morning.

Reason # 3: I feel Satan still uses my past to attack me and frustrate my usefulness for Christ. So, although I am afraid to be honest, I recognize the need to bring it to light so it can't be used against me in secret anymore.

Reason # 4: I don't want to hide behind a mask of who I think others want me to be. I want to be real.

Most of my adult life, I have hid my true self because I was afraid if people really knew me they wouldn't like me. My greatest fear has always been abandonment and it is deeply rooted since my childhood.

I really don't know how the class works but I have heard from others that it is pretty heavy stuff. They apparently take you all the way back to your childhood to understand how you were shaped and how that affects you today. I have heard that every week there is a woman crying and that you have to share some pretty personal things. Well, you can just imagine my fear. I have joked with others that I couldn't possibly take the class because I would take up the entire class myself or I'd be crying every week.

Under my cover of indifference through self depreciation, is really a great fear of being discovered. I have not been 100% sure if I am ready to exposed all those carefully hidden secrets, reopen old wounds, or put myself in such a vulnerable position. I alternate between thinking 'I can do it' to 'no, I can't'. I went as far as to request the application to at least see what it looked like, and find out what kind of questions they would ask. It wasn't anything too earth shattering, and it definitely did not give me any indication what to expect from the class itself, and yet, I sobbed as I tried to fill it out.

Do you know why I sobbed? It's not because of what you might think but rather because I saw for the first time how Satan had lied to me for most of my life with whispers that I was not good enough for God, or others, to love me. I had bought Satan's lie, and I had spent a lot of energy, for years, pretending to be on the outside who I thought I should be, and concealing the real me out of fear of being abandoned and left alone. This fear kept me believing that God couldn't love me and so I didn't pursue a relationship with him.

I cried because of the time lost being separated from a loving Father. My mind could actually go back through time, as if rewinding a video tape, to a specific moment in time; years earlier, to the beginning of buying the lie. My mind quickly worked it's way forward through time to the point when the lie started to lose it's power over me. It was like marking two spots on a timeline. I knew exactly when I bought the lie and I knew how long I held on to it. As I traveled in my mind, back and forth over those years, rewinding and fast forwarding the metaphoric video, I grieved over time lost and I felt cheated and robbed of how the first half of my life could have been!

Have you ever given something away only to find yourself in possession of it again? Well, I realized today, I am, at times, in possession of the lie even though I gave it away. It seems to keep coming back. Do you know why? Because Satan knows he can still hurt me with it. As long as I keep the catalyst hidden from others, he can use it against me. He can continue to get me to believe that I am not good enough. Even though I know better, and I have been reconciled to God through grace, Satan knows I have been hesitant to share with others those same things I have shared with God. The fear of others knowing, the fear of being judged, and the fear of being abandoned cause me to be ineffective for Christ at times.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

God is calling me to be made perfect through his perfect love. To trust him like never before. To take a risk, to face my fears, to be real with another person. He wants to show me that his perfect love is sufficient to release me and set me free to soar! I am thinking if I share with another Christian, and can be loved, despite (which can only happen because of the love of Christ), then Satan can no longer hold me captive in this area. This will help me with reasons number one and two on why I want to take this class.

Reason # 1: To be an effective Christ follower.

Reason # 2: To be an effective teacher for my children and any woman God brings into my life to mentor.

God is good!

2010 Earthquakes - Do You Wonder, Too?

Matthew 24:7-8 (New International Version)

7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.

2010 Earthquake list as of 3/8/10

1/3/10 Solomon Islands 7.2
1/10/10 Offshore of Northern California 6.5
1/12/10 Haiti 7.0
2/10/10 Illinois 3.8
2/27/10 Offshore Maule, Chile 8.8
3/8/10 Eastern Turkey 6.0

Are we in the end times? Read Matthew 24:1-35 for signs of the end of the age.

I believe we are nearing the end but only God knows for sure when our Lord will return and the prophesy of the end times will play out.

Are we preparing for his return? Will the Master find us ready when He returns? Will we recognize the Good Shepherd's voice?

Luke 12:40 (New International Version)

40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

Have you made a decisive decision on whom you will follow - Jesus or Satan?

There are only two sides you can be on - the side of good or the side of evil.

I fear too many are on the fence. Too many are waiting to commit to the Lord because they are trying to enjoy the offerings of the world and satisfy selfish desires, so they delay doing what they know is the only good decision to make. They want it all but you can't have it both ways. You can't live as the world and follow Jesus. The two don't mix.

1 Kings 18:21 (New International Version)

21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."

Who have you decided is God? Satan, Man, Money, Fame, Comfort, etc., or God?

Who are you following? The answer to that question will reveal to you who or what you have elevated as God in your life.

Is it the God who truly saves?

Taking Our Cue From the Birds

In Luke 12 verses 22-34 Jesus talks about replacing worry with faith. He says do not worry about what you will eat or what you will wear.

Verse 23 says, "Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes."

He then gives an example of the ravens and how they do not sow or reap, yet God feeds them.

Question: If life is not about working for food or clothes, what is it about?

I contemplated the life of a bird this morning and this is what I saw.

A bird is born and is first cared for by its' bird parents. The parents teach the bird what it means to be a bird and how to live and act like a bird. Eventually, the bird goes off on his own, mates, and they reproduce. They then care for their offspring and teach them how to live like birds. They also fly and soar peacefully in the sky for others to see and be in awe of their beauty and ease. Basically, their life is about relationships, caring and teaching their young, and bringing glory to their Creator by staying within the framework of who God created them to be.

A couple of quick differences between birds and man I noted were:

1. A bird doesn't say he would prefer a bigger nest and thus decide not to reproduce so he has more time to work on getting and keeping the bigger nest.

2. A bird doesn't say he doesn't have the time, the resources, or the know how to raise a child and so then decide to kill their own baby bird out of convenience for them.

3. A bird doesn't care what the other birds say about them. They just keep on being who they are.

4. A bird doesn't try to be something their not. I've never seen a bird trying to be a giraffe. I don't see them envying what others have or wanting to be different.

5. I don't see birds sending their children off to someone else to be taught how to live as a bird. A bird doesn't send their offspring to a fox to learn how to be a bird. They take the responsibility on themselves knowing the best way for the little birds to become adult birds is to teach them themselves.

The question was, if life is not about food and clothes, what is it about?

If we take our cue from the birds, maybe it's about relationships, caring and teaching our offspring, being content with who God created us to be, and bringing glory to him in all we do.

Are we living the life God created us to live? Are we soaring in the sky? Are we content, peaceful, and beautiful because we are resting in his providence for us and being obedient to his way and plans?

Doesn't that sound like an awesome way to live? I desire to soar today! I hope you do too!

First Love

Question: Who or what do you love more than anything else in the world?

The answer to this question reveals where your heart lies and whom or what is your greatest influence. It also shows who or what you will never deny in your life.

I have always known that God commanded us to have no other gods before him, to love Him above all else. From little on this concept was taught to me. Knowledge is the beginning of wisdom but is not wisdom. Knowing the truth and understanding the truth is the difference between knowledge and wisdom.

This past week knowledge sparked into a bit of wisdom for me in this area. A bible study I was doing talked about denying self as part of the committed Christian way. The study led me to see that 'self' is all about self and will ALWAYS reject Jesus Christ, thus it must be denied.

Self includes what is within as well as what is around it. Unless we deny all of self and love self less than Jesus, self will always lead us away from Jesus and his way.

God told us in the bible that we are a people prone to wander, to forget about him. Our wanderings and forgetfulness happen when we fail to deny all of self and allow something else to be elevated above our love for Jesus.

I saw a first hand example of this concept in my family this week. As parents, we want our children to love us and our ways above the world and its ways. We want to be the main influence of our children's hearts and souls and be the teacher of what it right and true. For most of their younger years we have their attention and their hearts but then the world starts to pull harder.

For us the world came to our daughter in the form of a 'boyfriend". An unbeliever, from an unbelieving family, with very different views of what is right and true. She allowed her love for us to be diminished as she elevated this boyfriend in her heart. She began to love him more and he was becoming her influence. She began to wander from her parents and her upbringing and she began to forget why she loved us and what we had done for her.

As her mother, I desperately want her to come back, to remember, to return - before it's too late! If you wander too far, forget for too long, you run the risk of never returning or remembering how to get back. Bad things could happen on this path. Parents know because they traveled the same path once themselves and know how hard it is to get back.

How much more does our Father in heaven desperately want us to return and remember because He knows what lies ahead for us if we don't. How much more does He know what a love of self will do to our souls, where it will lead us, and the lies it will get us to believe. How much more does he know that to love him above all else is the most important thing in the world.

It's so important that he will warn us. It's so important that he will punish us if necessary so we learn. It is so important that he will let us go in the hopes that we will return but will grieve to see us go and be waiting patiently for us to come back.

This is why we warn and punish our kids - it's that important. This is why sometimes we have to let them go and find out for themselves-when they are so rebellious that they won't listen to you. We do this because this is what our Heavenly Father does for us.

So, as I see how the love of self distorts the teachings and values we have given our daughter, and how it is leading her away from us, I am given a concrete example of what the love of self does to lead me away from Jesus. I understand now why Jesus says to put him first in our hearts, to love him best, to let nothing come between us.

As a daughter to the King, I need to work on denying my own self and keeping out all that would reject him in my own heart as my Father and King. As I try to bring my daughter back to our way of thinking, God is working on me - to bring me back to His way of thinking, his truth, and his ways in everything!

May you remember who our first love should be and elevate that truth to be the most important thing in the world to you. May you heed God's warnings and return quickly when you do wander or forget!

God Glorify Yourself Through Your People Again!

Daniel 9:17-19

"Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name."

When Daniel prayed for God to restore Jerusalem he didn't pray for it because it was his desire or because it would be better for him. Sure, a restored Jerusalem would end the captivity of God's people and allow them to move home. This would most certainly be of great benefit to the people, making their life easier, more familiar, and granting them once again status among nations. It would mean they no longer lived under a curse but once again would be blessed by God. I wouldn't blame Daniel for wanting this to happen for what it would mean for the people.

However, Daniel's prayer, as recorded in Daniel chapter 9, shows his plea is for God's glory to once again be displayed. With words like 'for your sake' and 'your city and your people' he portrays a humble spirit before the Lord. Restoring the city and the people would bring glory and attention to the God of those people. Daniel is aware that the city belongs to God, the people belong to God, and the events that happen are all to bring glory to Himself.

If America could be compared to Jerusalem, we can see a nation that belongs to God and once was known to the whole world as a Christian nation serving the One True God, but now has lost her luster and status among the nations. Just as the sins of Jerusalem brought judgement and punishment, so has America's sins. Just as the people forgot their God, so has America. Just as Daniel recognized the times in which he lived, we, too, recognize we are living under judgement.

I know many people who are afraid of where America is headed and what the future will look life for our children. I know many who recognize that we have gone astray from our Christian roots and heritage. I know many who pray for things to be restored to their former glory. I am one of those who long for how things use to be.

The words in Daniel's prayer hit me hard this morning when I realized I have been praying for these things in my own desire, for my own comfort, for my own gain. I have not had Daniel's perspective that all of this is God's. It's his nation, his people, his story.

His nation and people USE to bring him a glory that reached to the ends of the entire earth when they understood their place under God, relied on him for everything, ruled according to his Word, and displayed a love of God through love for his creation and for all his people in the world. His nation and his people USE to point to him as the King of Kings, as the Creator of all, as the Redeemer, as the Sustainer and Giver of Life, as the Ruler over all.

How grieved God must be at how we have hidden his light in the world. How we have distorted and misrepresented who he is as the rest of the world has watched. Today we are a Christian nation who kills it's own, is greedy and proud, and are found seeking our own glory. It has become all about us and not about him at all. There is no glory to God in the highest coming from our nation.

Daniel desired God to restore Jerusalem and God's people to bring glory back to God. His heart was not seeking anything for himself but rather for the God he so faithfully served. Daniel knew their sins caused the judgement but he also knew God loved his people, was a merciful God, and that God wanted to restore them to their former glory because doing so would bring Glory to Himself.

When we pray for healing and restoration for America or for the Christian Church is it for our comfort and for our glory or is it to once again bring glory to God?

Do we desire for God's people to rise up to make a name for ourselves or so God might glorify Himself through us?

What is the condition of our heart in the matter? Arrogance or Humility? Self-seeking or God-seeking? Taker or Servant?

When we seek God's will, God's glory, God's purpose we align ourselves with his plan for the situation. When our heart and motives are right and pure, THEN God will display his glory through us once again, and by default we will be a blessed people again. We are His people and he desires for us to live for him and when we do he is glorified and we are blessed.

Lord, change my heart to align with yours. Let mine no longer seek for my own gain but for yours. Let me humbly serve and seek to honor you and trust that you will work out everything according to your perfect plan. Amen

Understood and Yet. . .

Take note of what comes after the two times the word 'yet' is used in Daniel 9:13-14.

13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet
we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.

14 The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does;
yet
we have not obeyed him.

Christians who are praying for revival and restoration in the Church today, hopefully, are also seeking God's favor by turning away from our sins, giving attention to God's truth, and practicing obedience to God's commands and laws.

Daniel pleads with God for the restoration of Jerusalem through prayer and fasting and confesses the sins of the nation. He used words like...

1. Done Wrong
2. Been Wicked
3. Rebelled
4. Have turned away from your commands and laws
5. Not listened to your servants the prophets
6. Been Unfaithful to God
7. Sinned against God
8. Not Obeyed

Do we recognize all the ways we have been wicked and turned away from God's way? Are we making a concerted effort to do good in God's eyes and seek his truth on a regular basis? Are we humbling ourselves to the way of God or do we continue to pursue our own selfish desires?

Sometimes we understand the times we live in as being God's judgement but neglect to understand how to properly seek the mercy of God in bringing restoration. In Daniel, God's people understood the desolation of Jerusalem was a judgement of God and YET they continued as they were.

Are Christians today doing the same?

Why I Signed the Manhattan Declaration

Daniel 3:16-18 (New International Version)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

My daily bible study was on Daniel 3 this morning. When I read these words it summed up for me the reason why I signed the Manhattan Declaration earlier this week. These three men resolved to not bow down or serve any other god other then their God even if that meant defying the King's command and facing his judgement of being thrown into a fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:28-29 (New International Version)

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."

The New Testament chapter I read today was Mark 15, which recalls the events of the day Jesus Christ was crucified dead and buried. This ties perfectly into the last sentence of Daniel 3 - "for no other god can save in this way."

No earthly idol or man made god can save us from our sin and certain eternal destruction. Only the God of heaven and earth, the Creator of the Universe, the Christ Jesus can save us in this way.

The idols of our day include:

Money - Sex - Material Possessions - Physical Appearances - Fame - Power - Drugs - Security - Status

People compromise or conform every day in order to hang onto these false gods that do not save! Even those who call themselves Christians.

Why?

If we really knew the Christ who truly saves, we would all resolve not to conform or compromise our loyalty to our Lord.

This includes conforming to the government policy of the day, if it is evil and contrary to God's Word. This is why I signed the Manhattan Declaration!

The God I serve is able to save us from this situation, but even if He doesn't, I want the Government to know I resolve not to serve their gods or bow down to any other god.

Be Fruitful. . .

I have been searching the scriptures for information of education recently. I want to see what education looks like from a biblical perspective, What did the first glimpses of education look like for Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, etc.? I suspect we have gotten off track along the way and I just had a desire to look into it a little deeper.

I didn't get far into the chapter of Genesis before I came to a few verses that took me down a rabbit trail.

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

I had always glossed over that 'be fruitful' phrase assuming it meant the same as multiplying and filling the earth. However, when I got to the story of Noah, I noticed that God used this same phrase with Noah. In fact, he says it three times. It must be pretty important.

Genesis 8:15-17 Then God said to Noah, "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it."

Genesis 9:1 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.

Genesis 9:7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it."

These were the first commands given by God to Adam and then to Noah. Did he only want them, including the animals, just to multiply and fill the earth or is there more to the command?

I looked up other verses in the bible that talk about fruit or being fruitful in the hope of understanding this better. If I had a bible with the Greek meanings of the words, I would have used that, too. But I don't, so you go with what you have.

Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

God is often called the living water. We often talk about being rooted in God's Word. Fruit is often referred to as Godly characteristics or works. Is this verse to describe a person who draws life from God, is rooted in God's Word, is maturing and growing in their faith, becoming ready, to be and do what God has assigned, sustaining and persevering his whole life in the faith, and is successful because he does the will of God? Is this what God meant about being 'fruitful'?

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

This verse looks like evangelizing; rooting others in God's Word and leading others to eternal life.

So far, we have a picture of 'fruitful' being both personal growth and helping other to grow in the knowledge of God.

Matthew 7:16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

Authentic, life saving fruit cannot be produced if the life source is anything other than the Godhead himself. So, 'be fruitful' is also telling us the source of life, and of fruit, is God and nothing else.

John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.

God is the Gardener who perfects us and our fruit! We can rest in His work in us because it has a perfect purpose, although painful at times.

Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

These are characteristics a fallen world cannot produce on their own without first having known such shown toward them and then having been transformed by God himself.

I never noticed the last line of this verse before. What does it mean against such thing there is no law? I wondered if before the fall - when there was yet no need for the law - did these things come naturally to Adam and Eve because of their intimate relationship with God? Which led me to the next verse.

Rev. 22:2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Adam and Eve had access to the Tree of Life until sin entered the world. We will once again have access to the Tree of Life when Jesus restores all things back to their former eternal characteristics.

Psalm 128:3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.

Wives have children (increase and multiply). A Christian Mother who raises her children in the fear and knowledge of the Lord is being 'fruitful'. In fact, she must first be drawing life from God herself. She must first be rooted in God's Word. She is then able to show her children where to draw life from and how to stay rooted in God's Word for themselves. She understands who the perfecter of her faith is, and the faith of her children, and she diligently teaches her children to walk in God's ways and to rest in his will. By doing so, she fulfills both Psalm 1:3 and Proverbs 11:30. Mothers have suck a divine priviledge!

The first instruction of education is to know God!

The second instruction is to always walk with him and in His will!

The third instruction is to teach your children to do the same through example and diligent teaching!

How do the three commands given to Adam and then to Noah conflict with what the world teaches?

The world teaches there is no God or that you are your own god. The world teaches no Creator but rather chance. The world doesn't acknowledge a divine life source because they don't believe in a heaven or hell. The world doesn't value children or the call for mothers to raise them in God's Word. The feminist movement puts a womans value elsewhere. The U.N. and agencies like Planned Parenthood would rather control the population and limit it's growth. A generation who isn't drawing from the authentic eternal life source isn't able to teach their children to do so either.

If no one heeds God's command in this area, the next generation may be similar to the one of Noah's generation. However, I know there are Christian families all over the world who do heed God's command, although we are in the minority. We must be even more diligent and reliant on God so that our children may be a beacon of light to the world. May God bless the efforts of those who obey.

I will continue to look up what education looks like in the bible, but the first and most important aspect to knowledge and wisdom is the fear and knowledge of God.

Nehemiah - How One Man Made a Difference - Part 6

As the wall neared completion, the opposition stepped up its tactics, this time trying to distract and draw away from the work. Four times the opposition attempts to draw Nehemiah away from the city and his work and four times Nehemiah says no.

On the fifth attempt they send along an unsealed letter (anyone could have read it before it got to Nehemiah)for him to read. The letter points out the presence of a 'rumor' that Nehemiah and the people are planning a revolt and that Nehemiah is positioning himself to become King. They are in essence saying either come out here and meet with us OR we will pass this information along to the King (Blackmail).

The fact that the letter was unsealed, and most likely leaked out to the general population, was a ploy to undermine Nehemiah to the people with the intent of entangling them in "What if" thinking and become so burdened by questions they lose their resolve, commitment, and allegiance to Nehemiah's lead on this project and thus stop working.

I love Nehemiah's response in verse 8...I sent him this reply: "Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head." He recognizes the tactics being used and what their objective is.

Nehemiah turns to God and prays, "Now, strength my hands." He doesn't succumb to the pressure. He doesn't allow an ounce of weakness or fear to set in but rather turns to God and ask for the strength to be given to work harder to overcome these new obstacles.

Later, a man named Shemaiah suggest that he and Nehemiah meet inside the temple and lock themselves in inside in order to save Nehemiah's life. He informs him there are men coming to kill him. But Nehemiah discerns that this man is not his friend but rather has been hired to intimidate him into sin so they could discredit him to the people. Divide and conqueror tactic. The lesson we can learn from Nehemiah here is that those who appear to be our friends are not always so and we should use discernment. What looks like truth isn't always truth.

Nehemiah again prays to God. This time he asks God to remember the deeds these guys are doing against him. Nehemiah knows he can't waste time seeking vengeance or getting wrapped up in this game playing. Plus, he knows it's not his to seek. He gives it back to God to handle. He trust that God sees, God knows, and that God will handle it. He shows his trust by simply saying 'remember'.

The wall is built in 52 days!

What is the response of the opposition upon hearing of the walls completion? Fear and loss of self-confidence. Nothing like God to shut up the scoffers. Why was this their response? They knew this was done in the strength of God. God brought testimony to Himself through the success of this project. Even those who won't bow down and worship the Lord are aware of his presence and his deeds!

Well, even though the wall is done, the power struggle continues. Posturing for the hearts of the people continues. The opposition sees their need to be elevated in the eyes of the people in order to gain influence. They realize the only way to elevate themselves is to in fact discredit Nehemiah. They stay close to Nehemiah (keep your enemies close mentality) in order to try to trip him up or hear him make a mistake that they can use against him and to their favor.

The lesson here is to always be on guard, never trust the enemy, and do not give the enemy a foothold to use against you or to accuse you. Unrepentant sin in our lives allows a foothold for Satan into our hearts and he only needs a little to take an inch. Protect yourself and don't buy into the lies he wants you to believe!

In summary, Nehemiah shows us the opposition gets stronger as you get closer to completing God's work and we must always be on our guard, discerning, trusting God, praying to God, and living a righteous life in order to protect ourselves from the enemies attacks.

Trust God to take care of those scheming against you and God's people. Their day of judgement will come.

Nehemiah - How One Man Made A Difference - Part 4

Chapter 4 of Nehemiah begins with opposition. The opposition in this case were greatly incensed that progress was being made on the rebuilding of the wall.

Here's are some truths I learned from reading this chapter that can apply to our lives today.

1. Success should expect opposition.

When we are doing God's work, you can bet Satan will be incensed at any progress we make. We should expect then that Satan and his hosts will oppose, ridicule, and prey on our fears and inadequacies in every attempt to get us sidetracked or to stop altogether. He will do anything to prevent us from being successful and furthering God's Kingdom. It should be of no surprise to us when we sense these things beginning to happen nor of where they come from and why. So, what are you to do about it?

2. Appeal to God for protection and judgement

Nehemiah didn't waste time fighting the battles with the opposition himself. He prayed to God for help and for judgement on those working against him. He trusted God to remove the obstacles and do what was necessary to keep them moving forward. He stayed focused on the task and kept the people focused as well, allowing God to handle the big stuff. This is a very important point. Let God! Don't try to fight all the battles yourself. God is bigger and better at doing that then we are. When we stop to fight against Satan, we stop working on our task, and Satan is more than happy to engage in battle with us because it keeps us distracted from doing the work of God. It is better to let God handle the battle with Satan because he is capable of winning and we are not.

3. Take counter action

Nehemiah prayed but he also did something to counter the attacks. He didn't ignore that there was a problem or potential problems. He took inventory of what was happening and then implemented counter plans to head off trouble. He was aware and prepared. He didn't hide his head in the sand and just pray for God to remove the obstacles and sit and wait for that to happen. They kept moving forward but with a knowledge and preparedness for what might occur.

4. Don't give into Fear

The people were working very hard and were becoming exhausted. Exhaustion limited their coping and internal resolve and fear set in. Fear can have a very crippling effect. It can cause inaction, freezing you, and preventing you from going on. Fear in this case had the power to stop this project all together. Nehemiah had to recognize what was happening and counter this problem as well. If he would have ignored what was happening within the spirit of the people, the project would have died. He would have lost the peoples ability to continue on. However, he took inventory of the collective spirit of the people and took it seriously. By acknowledging it he was able to counter the direction they were headed and turn them around. How did he do this?

5. Remember who God is
Nehemiah 4:14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your bothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and you homes."

REMEMBER the things God has already done for you and KNOW that he will do them again. Be strong in the Lord and trust in him.

6. Adjust when necessary

Nehemiah now had to change the work load to help counter the attacks. Again, he didn't just sit and wait for God to stop the opposition they continue on but with an adjusted plan. Half the people worked and the other help served as armed guards. The worked slowed down but it did not stop. The people doing the work felt more secure knowing they were protected.

7. Stay connected as a unit.

Nehemiah 4:19-20 Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us."

Nehemiah got the group together from time to time probably to keep them cohesive, understand the issues they were facing, keep their spirits up, review progress being made, etc. It's important to keep the whole end goal in mind. In life we sometimes think only about our little portion of work and neglect to understand how it fits into the big picture. It's important to not let our little section become more important than the whole. Sometimes we have to sacrifice our part in order to help someone else be successful in their part so the overall project and people are successful. I;m finding this is a key concept in mothering.

8. Work Hard to the End
Just because they had to adjust and make half the men guards didn't mean they slowed down. They just worked harder and longer. They didn't adjust the timeline for completion because of a few obstacles. They buckled down and kept the urgency in tack.

9. Stay alert for trouble

The men understood the plans of the opposition and were alert and diligently watched for the attacks and were prepared! If we know the enemy is coming we should be always watching for him to arrive and be preparing and ready when he comes. Don't be taken off guard and unprepared. This is why being in the Word on a daily basis is so important. It prepares us for battle.

10. All are to be both watchmen and workers

Too often we think of ourselves as workers and that it is not our duty to be watchmen too. Or, we view ourselves has watchmen and we don't empower the workers to to help identify threats. By pigeonholing the people into specific categories you create a weakness that can be penetrated. By expecting each to do both you are more fortified, quicker to identify threats and problems, and quicker to respond to danger. To be successful we all need to be both working and watching out for the best interest of the project.

Finally, here are a few thought provoking follow up questions for you to consider.

1. Where are you letting fear or inadequacy prevent you from starting or finishing a project (especially one God had called you to)?

2. Are you able to identify the threats/dangers and counteract them? Do you turn them over to God and at the same time stay prepared and focused, not giving up or slowing down?

3. How might you apply these principals in your daily life (Work, Family, Church, Community)?


Lord, Thank you for giving us such rich wisdom and Godly examples in your Word so that we may learn to live a Godly life centered on you. Amen

Nehemiah - How One Man Made A Difference - Part 3

"Many hands make for light work."

Have you ever tried to tackle a big task all by yourself? How successful are you when you are left to do all the work yourself?

I've been watching the baseball playoffs so I will use them as my visual example.

Imagine the New York Yankees take the field against the Philadelphia Phillie's. However, today the warm up tosses around the bases don't look quite the same as normal because let's pretend that today the Yankees are a one man team. The Philly batter stands at the plate and the only person in the infield AND the outfield is Andy Pettitte. Andy, even on steroids, is not going to be able to pitch, catch, field, and bat his team to a victory all by himself.

I know this sounds like a ridiculous example because baseball does understands the concept of teamwork. By splitting up the infield and outfield into manned areas they are able to cover a lot of ground.

Nehemiah introduces this concept in Chapter 3. He divides up the work into smaller sections assigning a group of people to each section. Everyone from the High Priest, to the goldsmiths, to the perfume makers, to the local rulers, and just plain ordinary folk are each assigned a section of the wall to work on. Everyone can help. Some more than others but everyone is expected to contribute.

Nehemiah also understands that assigning portions of the wall to people who actually live in the specific area, generates a personal sense of responsibility because it directly affects their own security.

The people do not get too tired, too overwhelmed, or too frustrated at a lack of progress because the chunk of work is small enough to be able to see an impact being made. They can see the wall getting higher and higher everyday. Whereas, too big of a section, although lengthwise might be making progress, it wouldn't seem like it to the people unless the wall was actually getting higher, too.

When I worked in manufacturing, a phrase was used a lot in our improvement projects, "A mile deep is better than a mile wide". It was meant to keep us focused on making a lasting, immediate impact in one area instead of trying to tackle more than we had the resources to at the moment. Nehemiah is thinking the same thing. Let each group make a lasting, immediate impact in a small section of the wall building it all the way up, instead of expecting the entire first layer all the way around the city to be layed before moving on to the next layer.

So, the next time I have to tackle Spring/Fall cleaning, a party to prepare for, or even grocery shopping, I would be wise to implement Nehemiah's concept of many hands/ little tasks = big results. Even our two year old can help.

Be a visionary leader today by delegating and creating a sense of teamwork!

Nehemiah - How One Man Made a Difference - Part 2

My hope is that you are taking the time to read the book of Nehemiah as you read my post. I found it to be filled with so much wisdom and so applicable in today's world.

In Chapter 2, we see that at least four months have pasted since Nehemiah first learned of the condition in Jerusalem. The first important thing to note is that he is still sad over the issue! A sadness so intense that it affects his demeanor and overtakes his posture in front of the King to the point that the King notices.

As Christians, we are called to live joyful lives because of the hope we have and so that others will notice and inquire of the source of our joy. However, Nehemiah's usual joy is masked by his sadness and the King senses this as a sadness of heart.

To speak with the King was to be done with great fear and trembling and with honor and respect. Nehemiah was afraid to answer the King's question when the King inquired of what caused Nehemiah's sadness but he faced his fear and shared his concern with the King. The King asked Nehemiah what he wanted and to my amazement Nehemiah had a very detailed plan and boldly laid it out for the King. The King was willing to help and offered everything Nehemiah had asked for and even offered up more.

Nehemiah had spent these last four months figuring out what to do and thinking ahead to what he would need. He was prepared with an action plan and ready for when God would open the door for him. He faced his fears and spoke with the King and was happy to find the King receptive to his concern and to his goal to fix it.

Do we prepare for action while we patiently wait on God's perfect timing for a door to be opened? Nehemiah could have rashly rushed ahead with his plan, not waiting for the King's help, and probably in disrespect to the King, but he would not have been successful this way. He knew to wait upon the Lord and in the meantime prepare.

Even if we prepare and patiently wait for God to open the door, once it's open we sometimes freeze in fear. We let our insecurities prevent us from seizing the opportunity and we miss the chance to be the one to do something about it. God will see to it that what he wants to happen will still happen. It will just be someone else who does it. Someone who didn't freeze. Someone who trusted in the providence of God for success.

The next part of the story I want to note is that opposition immediately begins to form against Nehemiah and his plans. Anytime we are doing God's work in this world we should expect opposition and persecution. The world will always want to ravage against the plans of God. It's a good indication that you ARE doing what God wants if you are experiencing grief from the people of the world. However, don't lose faith because God is bigger than anything they could throw at you and he will frustrate the plans of the wicked.

Once Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, and before he shared his plan with any of the inhabitants, he secretly went to investigate the wall damage for himself. Nehemiah did a personal inventory and saw with his own eyes the extent of the damage. He probably finalized his plan after seeing exactly what needed to be done not relying on the words of others but seeing it for himself. If we are to lead an effort, we should thoroughly investigate it firsthand, and ensure our plan will be effective and adjust if necessary.

Now Nehemiah gathers the people and points out the problem. The problem was already obvious to the people who had been living there and if Nehemiah would have stopped there no more would have been done. If any one of these people had already had a plan if would have been implemented already. I can just hear someone in the crowd shouting, "Thank you Captain Obvious". Right?

However, Nehemiah not only has a plan, he also has the confidence of success because God has already blessed the endeavor. The people see him speak with confidence and leadership and they buy into the fact that maybe, just maybe, this plan will work. The fact that God has blessed it helps convince the people the hard work will be worth the effort and they get on board with helping to make it happen.

The people get excited about the prospects and the opposition is right there trying to thwart the effort before it even begins. They use ridicule and intimidation to make the people insecure about their ability to do this task. You've heard this talk before. What are you thinking? Who do you think you are to even attempt this? You don't know the first thing about tackling this problem.

What is one to do when the opposition begins to whittle away at your wall of resolve and confidence to more forward? Well, Nehemiah shows us the only way to protect your resolve is to stay vertical. Pray to the Lord! Let God deal with the opposition so you don't have to waste your time and energy fighting with them, or trying to prove yourself to them, or trying to win them over to your side. Just let God deal with them. Also, trust that God is bigger than us and will pave the way for success. This is not to mean we are to just sit around and wait for God to stop the opposition and provide us with a clean slate to start on. No, we are to plunge ahead and trust that God will provide along the way all that is needed at that particular moment. Trust that God will reward the efforts of the righteous and thwart the efforts of the evil.

Thinking back to the list of problems our country is in today from part one of this series, or from a personal list you made yourself, and keeping in mind the ones that invoke great emotion with you, think about the following questions.

1. What can you do today to begin researching this problem more thoroughly?
2. What can you do today to begin preparing an action plan for making a difference in this area?
3. Are you willing to be in prayer with God about what to do and how?
4. What are your fears about doing anything in this area?
5. Do you trust God is big enough to overcome any obstacles?

Imagine if God called you to solve a problem. Imagine if you accepted the challenge in his strenght. Imagine the good that would be done because one person said yes to God. Imagine the difference it would make for the people who are affected by the problem today. Imagine how you would feel being responsible for changing the course of people's lives for the better. Dream a little dream. Or, better yet dream a big dream today with God!

Nehemiah - How One Man Made a Difference - Part 1

The Book of Nehemiah opens with a inquiry of how Nehemiah's fellow kinsmen are doing in Jerusalem. Twelve years earlier, the King of Persia had signed a decree allowing the surviving Israelites to move back to Jerusalem after spending 70 years in captivity in Babylon. Nehemiah is the cup bearer to the King and when visitors arrive from Jerusalem, he inquires of the well being of the cherished city.

It is here that Nehemiah learns that the city is once again in physical and spiritual shambles.

In Nehemiah chapter 1, we are given insight into how Nehemiah handled the news he heard.

1. Nehemiah weeps upon hearing of the state of Jerusalem. He has an immediate emotional response.

2. Nehemiah mourns, fasts, and prays to God.

There are many things wrong in our country or cities today. A quick list looks something like this but I'm sure each of you could add many more to the list.

1. The breakdown of the family.
2. Abortion
3. Homosexual agenda
4. Greedy corporate leaders
5. Leadership acting outside of God's will
6. Depression and Suicide
7. False teachers in the Church
8. Materialism
9. Evolution theory taught in schools as fact, even in some Christian schools
10. Prevalent violence and sex in the media

Do any of things things in shambles today cause you to weep in a deep immediate emotional response like Nehemiah did when he heard the state of Jerusalem?

Are you willing to seek God's heart in these matters and inquire of how you might play a part in repairing one of these areas?

You see, Nehemiah didn't let his immediate response pass by. He didn't let his grief turn into apathy. He didn't accept the condition and just let it continue as status quo.

Instead, Nehemiah sought God's heart in the matter through prayer and fasting.

Fasting is a way to get closer to God, to hear what he has to say about something, to get clarity and focus, and to know the heart and will of God in a matter.

It's through this exercise in self sacrifice that Nehemiah first sees sin as the cause and in great humility seeks repentance, both for the people of Jerusalem, and for himself. His sin is as much to blame as those living there. Often times we are eager to point out the sin in the lives of others but neglect to connect the dots that our sin is just as much to blame for the problems of the world today. Nehemiah lets God shine a light into his own heart and he repents of his own sin.

It's also through this process that Nehemiah moves from helpless bystander to someone with a vision for repair and a resolve to be the one to initiate it. He took the time to inquire of God's heart and will in the matter, and he is now armed with both a certainty of what to do about the problem and that he would have success because it was from God.

Have we ever allowed ourselves to move from grief over an issue to resolve to do something about it?

If there is something on the above list that leaves you in great despair, God may be calling you to do something about it. I believe our strong emotions are there for a reason. To get our attention. To move us to act. Emotion without action is wasting the emotion.

Problems sometimes seem so big, so far reaching, and so beyond my ability to do something about it, so we just concede that it's not for me to worry about. We tell ourselves that it's for someone else to tackle. Someone with more competent skills than I and we let our emotion slip into apathy.

What if everyone thought the same way? What if everyone wasted their emotion with inaction?

God gave Nehemiah a vision of what he wanted to happen in this situation. God helped Nehemiah set a goal and gave him the resolve to tackle it. It wasn't done in the strength of Nehemiah but in the strength of God.

If left up to us, we would waste every motivating emotion. However, we all have the opportunity to call on the Lord for guidance, strength, vision, and resolve.

The questions we must ask ourselves are this.

1. What problems speak to us through grief, sadness, anger?

2. Are we willing to ask God if the strong emotions we feel toward situations are a sign that God wants to use us to invoke change?

3. Are we willing to allow God to transform us into action?

Wisdom

I spent this summer vacation actively teaching my kids, more so than any other year.

One of the resources I just started using is a workbook from Heart of Wisdom Publishing titled, WISDOM: An Internet-Linked Unit Study
by Robin Sampson.

We have only been using the book for two weeks now and are still on the first chapter titled, Choosing the Wise Path.

Each chapter uses a four step approach, Excite, Examine, Expand, Excel.

The Excite portion gets you interested in the topic.

The Examine portion uses scripture to teach us about the topic (God's Wisdom) and suggests additional resources to read; books and interactive Internet resources. Many of the recommended resources are older books and not easy to find in our local libraries. They do show how to purchase them on-line. It seems modern literature is not suitable to teaching on this subject. Many of these books look like great additions to a home library, especially for homeschooling parents.

The Expand portion is research or project work that allows the student to write essays, make charts, and do critical thinking.

The Excel portion summarizes what we have learned and shows us how to apply it in our own lives.

So far, we have learned the difference between Lady Wisdom and Mistress Folly, read Proverbs 2,3,4,14, made a consequence chart, painted a picture of the two paths we can take and what is waiting at the end of each one, read Numbers 11:1-12 and made a Chart of their unwise decisions and consequences, read the book of Esther and understood her wise decisions,and wrote our own prayers asking for God's wisdom.

The program is geared for 7th thru 12th grade but my 6th grader is doing just fine. I just change things up a little to accommodate her. There is just so much listed in the book to do and you can pick and choose what works for you.

I am learning right along with the girls. We've been blessed to have other resources unknowingly support our learning, too. When we are traveling in the car, I always have Christian Radio on and last week Nancy Leigh De Moss had a few segments on the wise vs. foolish woman. Also, right after the girls wrote their prayers asking God for wisdom, my 6th grader was reading in her Red Rock Mysteries book, and Ashley in the book prayed to God for wisdom. There have been other connections, too. It's been amazing to see how God is building this information in layers in the hearts of my daughters.

I'm sad to see the summer go and the school year to start. I will miss our learning together, our projects, and our conversations. I will miss seeing my daughters hearts changing and growing right before my eyes. Learning is not just about gaining head knowledge but also about heart transformation. We will continue with the book but now we have to do it in between homework, school activities, youth group activities, etc.

I hear many moms say, "I can't wait for school to start, the kids are on my nerves and we just need time apart." I use to think the same thing this time of year, but not so this year. I really will miss the girls and our precious time together. I wish they didn't have to go back and we could continue to learn together.

Our next chapter, Worldly Wisdom. I can't wait.

If You Fully Obey the Lord . . . or, If You Do Not Obey the Lord. . . A Nation Can Expect X

A personal study I am currently doing on God and Government led me today to read Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26. Both these chapters deal with the blessings associated with a nation that obeys God and the curses of a nation that disobeys God. It was an eye opening, enlightening read, to say the least.

It was chilling to see what is and has been happening in America in comparison to what I read in these chapters. Please take the time to read them for yourself.

We, as a nation, need to heed God's wake up call because I would say we are definitely falling under the category of disobedience/curse. I'm not the only one who has felt that God's wrath was our course in these last few years especially but these two chapters really put teeth to that thought process.

Here's a few verses I found particularly chilling due to current events happening in America today.

Deut. 28:43-44 The alien who lives among you will rise above you higher and higher, but you will sink lower and lower. He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head, but you will be the tail.

(American use to be a lending country but we are now the country with the most debt, far outpacing any other country in the world. China holds the majority of our debt.)


Deut. 28:49-50 The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand, a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old or pity for the young.

(Sounds like the health care plan debate - I'm not sure that is what God meant here but it struck a cord with me.)

Lev. 26:40 But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers - their treachery against me and their hostility toward me, which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies - then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Issac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

We can find hope and comfort in the fact that God does not abandon us to our sins completely. He remembers his covenant with us, even though we have rejected it time and time again. He punishes with the intent to turn us back to him. His anger is instructive and meant to save us by getting us to stop, repent, and turn back to him. He loves us and is faithful no matter what. If we repent he is there to forgive and embrace us again.

Christians, we need to rise up, ask for forgiveness, and begin to turn this country back to a nation that worships God and puts him as our King. We need to uphold our end of the covenant and serve only the One, True God and live in obedience to him.

Psalm 107

I've been preparing a summer bible study for my daughters on the book of Psalms. As a result, I am truly learning to appreciate the beauty and wisdom of this book and am learning more about God's character, his attributes, and his love for all of us.

This morning I was reading Psalm 107 and it is about how the redeemed are to give thanks to God for his love that endures forever.

Verse 1-3 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east, west, from north and south.

The text goes on the give four examples of situations people might be in.

1. Desert Wasteland: I believe this to mean an unbeliever who has not yet met Jesus. An unbeliever has no rest for his soul, no where to pull living water from or to get spiritual food that will sustain him and give him life. Instead, he is wandering around trying to fill himself with all kinds of things that will not sustain him and thus he is dying.

2. Darkness/Deepest Gloom- Prisoners in Chains: I believe this is someone who knows Jesus and his word but has found themselves enslaved to sin. They have rebelled against God's word and despised the counsel of the Most High. They have gotten so far into the sin that they can't find their way back out of it. Addictions, hatred, adultery are all sins that keep us in chains and in despair.

3. Foolishness: I believe this is the man who knows Jesus but has made a conscience decision to follow his own path instead of the way of Jesus. The sinful path he has chosen leads to unbearable consequences and he is losing all hope. He hates God and spends a lot of energy blaming God for his own self created situation.

4. Out At Sea in Ships: I believe this describes the good guy. The guy who would give the shirt off his back to someone in need and is always doing good things for his community. He stays out of trouble and others think well of him but he has not come to a saving belief in Jesus. Then, tragedy hits his family or a major set back happens and he doesn't know how to stay afloat. He is sinking in the storm.

In all four situations it says, 'Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble'. Last resort, maybe. Nothing else worked. I'm desperate. I can't do it myself. Help!

In all four situations, God's response was, 'And He delivered them from their distress'. He gave them rest. He gave them his Holy Spirit. He brought them out of their darkness and broke their chains. He healed them and rescued them from the grave (salvation). He stilled the storm to a whisper and hushed the waves. He guided them to safety.

God's love endures forever. No matter what we do outside of Him or for how long we do it he will come to us when we call on His name. In fact, he is constantly pursuing us, trying to get our attention, drawing us to Him in all kinds of ways.

In verses 33-34, it says because of wickedness He will turn . . .
a. rivers into desert
b. flowing springs into thirsty ground
c. fruitful land into salt water

In verses 35-36, it says he turns . . .
a. desert to pools of water
b. parched ground to flowing springs
c. hungry to live

He uses situations to draw us close to him. He desires to be in a relationship with us. He knows we are dying without Him and He wants to save us from that eternal death. He makes Himself known to us and offers freedom, forgiveness, and life to those who will call on Him. To the stubborn and foolish he will humble, oppress, and bring calamity and sorrow in the hope they will come to Him and accept what He has to offer.

Most of my life was spent in the desert wasteland, in chains, and in foolishness until I was completely broken. In the depth of my despair, I called out to God and He answered my prayer. When I finally turned to Him, He flung open His loving arms and accepted me in, faults and all. He had faithfully pursued me and has been beside me ever since, even as I learn what it means to be a child of God and don't have it all together yet. For that, I rejoice!

Let the redeemed say, 'Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever'.