What's in a name?

Do you know what your name means? My name, Rhonda, means "strong river."

I don't know exactly what that is supposed to mean. Maybe I never stay in one place, that is true. Maybe I am a great force, yeah, I would like to go with that one. Maybe I cause those near me to have to pee, lol. Maybe I'm just all wet.

I know names are significant. I know most mean something. I know parents really agonize sometimes over choosing a name.

And I know how much the name Jesus means to me. It is the sweetest name I know.

What does the name Jesus mean to you today?

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10 NIV)

Bear burdens

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2 ESV)

I believe that a burden shared with another seems lighter even if the other person does nothing to aid the situation. Just the simple act of "telling" someone what troubles you, will lighten your burden.

And if the other person prays for you, touches your hand or arm, and shows genuine concern, it feels like wonderful medicine.

Plus, the other person is also blessed by "helping."

I think that it is truly robbing yourself and someone else of a blessing by NOT sharing your burden.

Can you over share? Yes, I also believe that you can share too many details when maybe just a vague request will do. However, I, personally, am not a fan of unspoken requests because I don't know if the request is in the Lord's will.

So how do you know how much to share and with whom?

It depends on the nature of your relationship with the other person and how much they need to know to pray for you.

Gone out

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1 ESV)

Who is being spoken to here? And what is meant by "every spirit?"

There is a cute little video going around social media of a family that is trying to get healthy. Good idea right? We all need to do this. 

So they get a nutritionist to come in and she is purging the cupboards and refrigerator of all unhealthy foods.

The young son has the last straw when she throws out the bacon, ( a man after my own heart.) and he packs his little ole suitcase on wheels and says that he is running away until after Saturday when she is gone. In the end you see him pulling his little suitcase, walking down the street, mumbling to himself as he goes.

Like I said, it is cute. But it has similarities to our verse today that are just not cute.

John is writing to a community church that has been a little confused about the identity of Who Jesus really is. Apparently some former members of this church were doing the confusing. They wanted to be Followers yet they were also enamored by the world, the Roman Empire in particular. 

So there was some slight falsehoods and misconceptions sown in among the truth. These ones are the "ones" that John wrote about earlier in Chapter two as "those that went out from us."

You see, it isn't fun to be corrected and disciplined. They couldn't take it, so they left, probably grumbling as they went.

It doesn't take much falsehood to dilute the truth. How do you test these spirits? By standing them up next to God's word. If His word says it, do it. No one can change God's word to suit them and pick and choose certain verses to live by, leaving out the rest.

Know God's word and do not forsake it for the world.

Anger

Being angry is not a sin. Carrying it around, holding onto it is the sin.

I get angry. I get upset. And I have boiled my insides by being angry without effectively dealing with it. 

Many times carrying around hot anger burns only me, and the offender isn't even aware. What good is that?

I am by no means an expert on effectively dealing with anger but one thing that I do know, if you tell the other person that you are upset and ask if they are willing to discuss the problem, you will instantly feel somewhat better. Even if they are not willing, you know that you have thrown the ball into their court and now it is on them and not you.

But if you can sit down with someone, (the car is a great place or a restaurant) calmly state your true feelings and why you feel hurt, and then LISTEN TO THE OTHER PERSON as they speak their heart, it will go a long way toward having peace.

Sometimes people will ignore you or not want to hear you. I have found that the best response to that is: Well, I feel hurt and would like to discuss it with you when you are willing.

Holding onto anger builds resentments and grudges. 

Ruth

Ruth

1:1-5

The story of Ruth takes places during the time of the judges. This time period occurred after the death of Moses and before Saul was chosen as King. The judges ruled the people according to the Law of God that was given to Moses.

There was a famine in the land of Bethlehem which seems ironic since Bethlehem actually means, House of Bread.

Famines were fairly common and they often resulted from lack of rain, fields and crops being taken by enemies or by farmers not rotating their crops and depleting the nutrients from the ground.

Elimalech and Naomi moved their family to Moab. It is a land directly east, across the Jordan River. Almost as soon as they arrive Elimalech dies and tragedy comes upon the family. 

Both of Naomi's sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth.

After 10 years the men died and left the women childless.

Now Naomi's situation is really dire. A widow is always dependent on her family and now since her sons are dead, it releases the women to return to their families which would leave Naomi truly alone.

1:6-14

Naomi has heard that Yahweh is once again showing favor to the Israelites in their land so she decides to return home. After coming to Moab and losing her husband and two sons to death, she is convinced that God may not favor her. So she tries to persuade her two daughters in law (which she refers to as "daughters") to return to their own families for their welfare. (Widows without children had to depend on relatives for their welfare.) The relationship between Naomi, Ruth and Orpah must have been really close.

Orpah says her goodbyes and goes back to her family.

Although Naomi is bitter in her situation (and who wouldn't be) she truly is looking out for the best interests of the two younger women. Families generally tried to care for their relatives that were widows. She wanted these younger women to be in the care of someone.

1:15-18

"Look," Naomi says. "Your sister in law is going back to her family and her gods." 

Just previously Naomi had called Orpah daughter and now she is, "your sister in law." That is what is speaking to me in these few verses. 

Next Ruth makes her incredible promises, 

I will go where you go

I will stay where you stay

Your people will be my people

Your God will be my God

I will die where you die

And be buried there

Ruth is saying, I have spent 10 plus years with you. You are my mother. I am your daughter and not by law, but by love. I have seen your God take care of you and give you strength and comfort. He has not failed you and He won't fail us together. I am coming!

How wonderful it is to have those of your family also be your spiritual family. To me, my spiritual family is my true family and I will always turn to them. 

What a beautiful declaration Ruth makes to her mother in law. What a wonderful declaration she makes to God. It is no wonder He thought her a good choice for the bloodline of Jesus. God wants us to leave behind the things that this world deems important and cling to the only thing that matters, our faith in Him. 

Ruth 1:19-22

I remember as a child having a neighbor that we called Blind Betty. Not to be mean but because there were two ladies named Betty and we had to differentiate between them and she was blind.

In later years, during my work at a hospital cafeteria we often described patients by their ailments rather than names because it was easier to remember than their names.

Very often we know people by something that has befallen them.

Is that how you want to be known? How do you want others to know you?

I was having a pity party the other night and feeling especially lonely and craving the voice of someone other than my husband. And I said to him, I don't think anyone likes me. And he in his infinite wisdom and compassion said to me, "Go eat worms."

But it helped. It made me chuckle. I don't want to be bitter or down-hearted. I know I have friends and people that care for me.

How does God know us? What is it that He sees when He looks at us?

Well He sees us as we can be. He sees us complete and whole. 

Our circumstances are obstacles or challenges that sometimes get in the way, but we are meant to overcome them. How we deal with these things will shape us and build us or we can be bitter, give up and forever be described by what conquered us.

When Naomi returned to Bethlehem she no longer was a wife and mother of two sons. No, now she can back poor and destitute with a Moabite daughter in law. 

The women of the town asked, "Is this Naomi?" Naomi means pleasant.

"No." She said. "Don't call me Naomi, call me Mara." Mara means bitter. She felt like God had dealt unfairly with her. Self pity. 

Have you ever felt that God had dealt unfairly with you? That just goes to show that we sometimes forget that God has a bigger plan, on a grand scale, that will result in His blessing.

Embrace your challenges. And be a conqueror!

Ruth 2:1-16

Ruth tells Naomi that she is going to work the fields and gather left crops and grain that the harvesters leave behind. According to Jewish laws the workers were not to totally strip the fields but leave some for the widows and the poor. 

Naomi goes and follows behind the workers but only after asking permission to do so. 

As it turns out, she is in the field of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi's dead husband.

Boaz questions his workers to find out the identity of the new young woman. 

He invites her to continue to work his fields and even goes so far as to instruct her to work only his fields. Then he instructs his harvesters to leave extra for her and to remove some that has already been harvested and leave for her.

Boaz takes the young woman under his wing and also invites her to eat with him. 

When Ruth asks why, he said it is because of her kindness toward Naomi.

I love the words, 'as it turns out'. Yep, just a coincidence that she turns up in Boaz's fields. No, I don't believe so. It is God at work. 

Ruth is not afraid to work long, hard hours to provide for herself and Naomi. What a beautiful character this woman displays. 

Ruth 2:17-23

After gleaning the fields from sunup to sundown, Ruth comes home with 5 gallons of barley. Wow, what an amount! This much could feed the two of them for weeks. Naomi then states that God has not withdrawn His kindness, but is blessing the living and the dead. In other words, by His care for Ruth and Naomi it brings honor to the dead men, in that no one would be burdened by having to feed these two mouths.

Naomi realizes that Ruth is being treated very well by the landowner so she again asks, whose fields she had worked. Upon finding out that it was Boaz she reminded Ruth that he is our close relative. He can redeem us from our hopeless state.

Ruth says that Boaz has not only given her continued permission to harvest his fields, but has instructed her to stay in his fields with the other women where she would be safe from harm that could come upon her if she went somewhere else.

Ruth is such a beautiful young woman. Not only has she shared in grief with Naomi, she then left the familiar homeland to be a daughter in a land where she is a foreigner. Her mother in law is a bitter, sad companion that feels that God has turned away from her. Ruth seeks work. She strives to make their situation better. Through her hard work, and her inner strength and beauty, God favors her. By God's will she ends up in the fields of a wealthy relative. He notices her. She stands out from the other women. Boaz is kind to her and she obediently obeys Naomi and keeps going back to Boaz's fields. Then she submits to his offer to come only to his fields and work alongside the other women. 

Ruth is a beautiful, caring, compassionate, hard-working, obedient, submissive, woman. 

Ruth 3:1-13

Naomi wants Ruth to be cared for and loved, yet at the same time she, too, will benefit if her plot works. 

First, she tells Ruth to wash and put on perfume. This is indicating that it is time to stop mourning their dead husbands. 

Then she tells Ruth to go to the threshing floor to Boaz.

He is here after the long harvest. Now he is crushing the grain to get the seed to release from the shaft and then it is tossed into the air (winnowing) to remove the chaff. 

It is a time of cheer and celebration. All the workers eat, drink and celebrate.

Naomi tells Ruth to wait until after Boaz eats and drinks and then goes to lay down. Once he is asleep she is to go to him and uncover his feet and lay down. And wait for him to tell her what to do.

Boaz eats and drinks, but probably isn't drunk, because he retires at an early hour, which indicates that he is likely to work again the next morning.

Uncovering his feet would no doubt wake him as the colder air hits his feet which then would make him aware of Naomi being there.

And this is exactly as it happens.

He awakes and is startled.

She asks him to cover her, this is an implication to marriage and being taken care of. 

Boaz tells her that he is honored and will definitely be her kinsman redeemer but there was one that is a closer relative. He should be considered first. But he asked her to stay the night out of concern for her safety and promises to redeem her if the other man does not.

Ruth 3:14-18

There are references in the scripture (Hosea) where women coming to the threshing room floor were prostitutes, women in search of the money that flows from celebration. So when Ruth woke up early, in the dark, and prepared to leave it was because neither she nor Boaz wanted anyone to think that way of her.

All through this book we see that it is her integrity, and high character that Boaz admires most about her.

He measures out six measures of barley and pours into her cloak, which was an outer garment, either for additional warmth or worn (like an apron) to protect the garments underneath. The grain was not a payment of any kind but yet another act of his generosity and kindness toward the women. And she returns to the city and back to Naomi.

Now, Naomi, the match maker, tells Ruth that she must wait on him to see how it turns out. 

These are the hard words. Clearly, Naomi wants and desires that Boaz will marry Ruth. It would greatly benefit them both. But it never states Ruth's desires in this matter, other than she was obedient to do what Naomi wants and expects. 

Surely she must have had feelings of her own, but that is left to our romantic imaginings.

In any case, she is anxious to know the outcome of her and Boaz.

It is hard to wait. Especially when, in our minds, we have the plan all figured out.

Soon and very soon, Ruth and Naomi will be lawfully redeemed, either by Boaz or this other relative. But Naomi and Ruth, both, have put themselves in a position to be redeemed by Boaz.

Have you acted accordingly? Have you done all that you can with all humbleness, placed yourself at the Redeemer's feet?

We don't have to wait on His acceptance and there is no other than can redeem us. Yet, sometimes we do find ourselves having to WAIT on Him and His timing. 

How hard is it for you to wait? Do you try desperately to lay the groundwork for your wants and desires?

Ruth 4:1-12

Boaz goes to the city gates, the social epicenter of the city. The markets are there. The prophets spoke there. Business was done there. And legal matters were dealt with there.

Boaz, after rounding up the town leaders,  speaks with the closer relative and inquires as to whether he is interested in redeeming the land of Naomi's dead husband. He says that he will buy it, until he hears of the stipulation. He must marry Ruth, the Moabite. 

He then says that he cannot because it might put strain on his own estate. 

So Boaz then states that he will marry Ruth and redeem the land and the women and it is agreed upon, using the sandal as their "handshake."

The leaders then pronounce a blessing upon Boaz in his decision.

Ruth 4:13-17

Boaz marries Ruth and she conceives and bears a son. After 10 years of marriage she had no children and now, just like that, she is a mother.

Why did God wait? Maybe life as a young widow and caretaker to Naomi, and working long hard hours in the grain fields would have been too much if she was also a mother at the time. Maybe if she had borne children to her first husband she would have chosen to stay behind in Moab with her family. We don't know. But God's timing is always right. 

Very often the sweetest blessings come after the most bitter of circumstances.

Ruth 4:18-22

There are a list of names. Boaz's name is on that list. Jesus' name is on that list. Would Jesus have been born if Boaz had not married Ruth?

Isn't it wonderful when you finally see a reason for God saying, wait? We may not always get to. There might come a time or two when God's designs do not seem to ever become clear to us. But we know and trust that He knows the outcome of everything.

We just need to pray, act, wait and trust, just like Ruth did.

Ruth 2:12

Do you think that God had designed for Ruth and Boaz to be together and bear a son? Do you think that it was His plan all along to place Ruth into the lineage of Jesus?

If so then it seems that much time, heartache, poverty, being in the right place at the right time, and overcoming had to be done to get her where He wanted her to be.

What were the unwritten details of her meeting and marrying her foreign husband? How many tears had she cried in the 10 years of no children? How much did it hurt when she lost her husband, brother in law and father in law? In what ways might the wrenching pulls of the decision to stay or go place on her? How do you think it felt to be living in a land as a hated foreigner? What burden did she bear as she went to work each day at dawn to gather leftover grain to feed her and Naomi? How tired do you think she was at the end of each day? What words do you think she might have prayed?

Through it all----God had a plan. 

It took every, single one of those minute details to get her where she needed to be to fulfill her place in God's design.

Imagine if she had refused or become disobedient? But she hadn't!!!! She endured. She was a scrapper. She was an overcomer. And she was blessed.

God is at work in the details of your life too. Every time you struggle and overcome, you grow. Keep going. I am praying for you.

This is the Gospel

This is the Gospel

1 Corinthians 13:8-13

2 Timothy 1:8-10

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

The Gospel- it means, Good news. It is Jesus, His birth, life, death, and resurrection. 

What does all that mean to me?

My life is a mess, because of sin. I can never be good, no matter what I could ever do. So God gave His son, Jesus, to be the ultimate sacrifice for sin. 

Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me that. And for that reason there is hope for me and for you and for everyone.

The Gospel is simple, yet complex. The more you dig into it, the more you uncover. You will never stop learning, there is always something more. God is great.

I am excited to be exploring this with all of you.

Let's dig in.

Genesis 1:26-2:3

God has just created the earth and filled it with plants, animals and birds. Use the eyes of imagination and take a good look around. 

See the snow covered mountains we know as The Alps. See the big horned sheep and the mountain goats roving around?

Look at those amazing oceans, watch the waves rise and fall. Can you see the huge, magnificent sea creatures swimming around the deep? And then over there, can you see all the bright colored, little tropical fishes swimming around the coral reefs.

Can you see the wondrous water falls, one shaped like a horseshoe? Can you feel the power of all that water rushing over the edge? Can you hear it roar?

Look at all the different animals roaming around the plains on the African continent and now the South American jungles! 

Look at that vast canyon carved out right over there! Wow, that thing is Grand!

This place is good! Earth is good! But as yet unfinished. Now God says, "Let us make man in our image." Notice the plural pronouns? This is the plurality of the Godhead, God, the Father;  God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit. 

He creates the man and then the woman. And God, Himself pronounces that they are good. He gives the man authority over all the earth, the animals and the plants. He gives every kind of plant for food. And life is Good!!!!!

And then God rests. After 6 days of creating,  He stops to rest. Does God need to rest? Is He tired? All that making something out of nothing is just exhausting! 

God is setting up and demonstrating a plan for the man. Work 6 days and rest on the seventh. 

Isn't this a beautiful place that God has made? 

Let's keep these eyes of our imagination open, just for a little while longer. You might have to close your literal eyes. Just keep looking around at this place for awhile.

Genesis 2:15-3:24

Romans 3:23

Isaiah 64:6-7

Ephesians 2:1-3

Romans 1:18-32

Romans 6:23

Read it, Think on it. Pray for the wisdom in it. Then Share your findings with us.

Adam and Eve have been living in Paradise. It is amazing. It is wonderful. They walk with God in the garden. The only rule, the only restraint that God puts on them is, Do not eat from the the tree in the center of the garden.

And then the crafty serpent comes and asks Eve, "Did God really say....?" And "...... You will be like Him."

He plants doubt. I am sure Eve starts to think and then the thinking turns in sin. You see, that is how it works when we OVERTHINK things, it turns to sin almost every time.

So, she thinks, she looks, she justifies(it looks like it would taste good, maybe I didn't hear God correctly, maybe He didn't really say....., or maybe I misunderstood. Yes, I am sure I misunderstood.) and then she reaches, she plucks, she eats and then shares it with Adam.

And immediately, immediately, did you hear me? Immediately, the shame comes upon them. How quickly do you feel the shame of your sin?

And now they quickly try to cover it up, hide their sin and guilt. And when God comes, they blame. "It was her, YOU gave her to me." 

"It was the serpent."

And the serpent, well I imagine it like this: "It was so easy. I knew I could do it. Now your beautiful Paradise is ruined." This last part is not in scripture, but I think that might be what he said or thought.

Here is what  sin does - it lies. It tells us that everything will change for the better. It promises to be shiny and pleasureful, and excitement forever. IT PROMISES TO BE WORTH IT.  Sin tells us that God wants to keep the good stuff from us - that what we want matters more than what He has for us. (Genesis 3:4-5)

Sin wasn’t worth it. It never is. Romans 6:23 tells us the same thing God told Adam, “the wages of sin is death,” and Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Adam was guilty. Eve was guilty. You and I and your family and your neighbor and  your friend and your enemy - we are all guilty. We all deserve death.

BUT DON't get discouraged, don't lose hope. Remember, we are studying The Gospel (Good News.) we just needed to lay the foundation for our study. 

Ephesians 2: 1-10

John 3:18-18

John 1:12-13

Romans 6:23

Because of sin we were all dead. Dead refers to separation from God, and Paul uses the word to show that we are either alive (with God) or dead (apart from God.) there is no half dead, you either are or aren't. You either live in obedience or disobedience. 

But God made a way for us through Christ to be alive again. It is because of the grace of God in His love and mercy for us that He provides the way. It is nothing we can DO or WORK FOR or EARN! We can be reborn into life because of Christ.

We can be born again, born of God, He has made a way through Christ.

We no longer have to be dead in our sin. 

It is so hard to understand this concept of grace by faith. We  can be alive again and have eternal life only because we believe we can have it from God*. There is no way we can earn it. There is nothing we can do to deserve it. Nothing! 

It is free. It is grace.

*the gospel is good news and that is what we are studying. However, one can fall from grace.

1 Corinthians 15:12-22

John 19:20

Romans 3:21-26

Romans 5:6-8

1 John 2:1-2

Man sinned so God gave them laws and they would sacrifice animals to roll back their sin. The sacrifice required a life and blood atonement. So for years and years, centuries, many animals, much blood, and still more sinning, this covenant was replaced with the perfect sacrifice. Once and for all a sacrifice was made that required life and blood, the actual life and blood of God's Son in His human form. 

Because of His death, we can be saved from eternal death. He gave Himself to redeem us.

But Christ did not stay dead. He was buried in a tomb but He walked out of that tomb alive! He was victorious over death and we can be too because of a Him.

1 John 4:10

Romans 8:1-11

Mark 1:14-15

Psalm 51

Romans 6:23

Luke 15:10

These verses are so good, yet these are only some of the many many verses on being in Christ, abiding in God, living by the Spirit.

The more you dig into the scriptures, the more you study the Old Testament, the more the new Covenant will make sense. 

Remember on the first day we said that the gospel is simple, yet complex?

For some who truly wants to abide in God, they will always want to learn and grow. One will enjoy uncovering more and more of the gems hidden in His word.

One of the biggest ideas you can grasp from today's reading is in one of the smallest words, IN.

Is Christ IN you? Do you abide IN God? Do you walk IN the Spirit?

Romans 8:12-30

Revelation 20-21

1 Peter 1:3-4

We are dead to sin. We are not to live by our flesh any longer. In other words, all those past sins that made us dead inside ourselves are washed away through our cleansing baptism. Now we are Daughters of God. We are heirs with Christ. We are a new creation, living new, unchained lives.

We are now living with the guidance of God's Holy Spirit living in us. He is our comfort and help that Christ promised would be with us upon His return to the Father. 

Oh yes, we have a living hope. A hope that waits for the day when our fleshly bodies will be made whole and complete and live eternally with God in Heaven.

Nehemiah

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Nehemiah was one of the Jews carried into Babylonian exile and is working as cupbearer to the King. This is a pretty high position as the King had to place a lot of trust in him and he worked in the midst of the King's living chambers.

His brother brings him sad news of his homeland being destroyed and burned.

Nehemiah immediately goes into action. Although his homeland is very far away and he is living in the King's palace, he mourns heavily for his home.

He fasts and prays. He intercedes for the people of his homeland. He acknowledges God for His greatness. He asserts himself as a servant of God, (he understands very well the role of a servant.) He remembers the covenant God made with His people. He confesses the sins of himself and the people and prays to God for their restoration.

Questions to ask myself:

Does my position and/or circumstances in life keep me too busy to know of the cares and concerns of others?

When is the last time that I actually mourned over something?

When is the last time that I fasted and prayed for something?

Do I confess my sins against God to Him? 

Lord, I have failed You, myself and others by lack of prayer for them/us. We need you everyday. Lord, I want to be a prayer servant. I want to serve You and others through prayer. Maybe praying is all that I can do for others. If so, I want to do it with a faithful servants heart.

 Neh. 1:11-2:8

Nehemiah is in mourning. And he manages to go about his duties without allowing his sadness to be noticed by the King for over 4 months. But then, the King, who notices somehow, asks him about his mood. Nehemiah, first prays, then tells the King about his homeland.

The King asks what can he do for Nehemiah. Nehemiah asks for a leave of absence. The King grants it. Then Nehemiah asks for timber to rebuild the gates and for a letter of safe passage. The King grants those as well.

So many times in God's word we can see how God uses circumstances to put people right where they need to be to be used by Him for His purposes. People such as Joseph, Esther, Moses and others, including Nehemiah used their seemingly unfortunate circumstances to be in a position to be used by God.

Nehemiah waited, without being glum, for God to present an opportunity to him. When the opportunity came, in God's time, Nehemiah seized the opportunity and it was right.

Why do I find it so hard to be patient and wait for God's opportunities? What blessings do I steal from myself when I try to rush ahead of God?

Lord, please,  help me to wait on You. Help me not to mope as I wait. Then Lord, let me receive your blessings with eagerness.

Neh. 2:9-20

Nehemiah's journey would have taken at about 4 months. So by now, it is at least 8 months since he had gotten the bad news of his homeland. 

Apparently he traveled with an army that the King had sent along with the letters they would need to travel through the lands. Opposition may have been expected. 

Once Nehemiah arrived he rested in the city for several days before he made the inspections. Then he diligently inspected each area.

Nehemiah talked to and inspired the people. He reminded them of God and how a God is favoring this project. They agreed to rebuild.

They did have some opposition from the neighboring leaders, but Nehemiah told them about God's favor.

Very often we know what God wants us to do. And many times there are those that might try to discourage us or remind us of our weaknesses. We need to remain true to the path that God has for us.

Lord, help me to listen to Your voice and walk in Your way. 

Neh. 3

The word banah (“to build”) occurs seven times in this list while the term chazaq (“to repair”) occurs 34 times. In some places, the wall needed to be built from the ground up; in other places, repairs needed to be made to the existing wall.

But everyone had a role. And side by side they worked, each doing their own part.

It is wonderful when people work together. Things get done. 

Ephesians talks of us, the body parts, (Christ's body) working together, (by what every joint supplies) brings growth to the whole body. (The Church)

From whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:16 NASB)

Lord, please close my mouth when I dare criticize someone who is working. Help me to be willing to do my part in building Your kingdom and keep me focused on my own part in the building.

There is much to be done for You.

 Neh. 4:1-14

This chapter takes us back to the opposition from chapter 2. We see here the mocking and can almost hear the sneers of Sanballat and the others. 

Although they think they are superior to the Jews, they are feeling threatened by them and their work. 

But Nehemiah, the encourager, motivates the people to keep working and then to defend what they worked so hard to rebuild. 

I wonder why, sometimes we just want to give up so easily on the building up of God's kingdom? If we hear one word of discouragement, we are ready to quit.

Lord, help me to have the backbone to continue what I start in Your name. Help me to work, agreeably with others, close my ears to those who would try to turn me from my task. Bring plenty of Nehemiahs into my life to motivate and stimulate me to keep pressing on.

 Neh. 8:10

It is already day 6 of our studies, and time to take a look back, a reflection. What do you see? Have you learned anything new about Nehemiah, Jerusalem or the tenacity of God's people? Have you learned anything new about yourself or others that you work near or with?

Our scripture today is a gem that we haven't yet uncovered in our reading but it's a look ahead at something good, something to look forward to.

Nehemiah is again encouraging, he is saying, Chin 

up, gain your strength from Him who is strong. Your joy is in His strength.

Maybe you need a little extra something today too. Well, keep your chin up, keep reading, keep meditating, keep praying and keep sharing. We are growing. We are getting richer in our knowledge. God's strength is our joy too.

Lord, keep me going when I feel like stopping. 

Neh. 4:15-23

Today's scripture

I am amazed at how the people forgot their own sorry circumstances and came together in this project. I mean, can you imagine the lives that some of them might have been living? The remnant, probably living in a broken, rubble of a city, each days existence a struggle. Even Nehemiah, while living in the palace, was probably homesick. He was a once noble man now a servant. He more than likely had been castrated so that he might not be a threat to the Queen.  He was tasting every food and drink before the King in case someone had poisoned it. 

 Yet, Now, they are working together and getting it done. 

But then the threats and attacks come, and they have to work and live with a weapon in their hands at all times.

I am sure that they might have wondered why. Why would they yet again have to face the problems? Especially while working so hard in the service of The Lord? 

I have been in that position. I have been down but learned to accept and adapt, then get excited about something only to have my hopes dashed. 

And Although I have never been physically attacked, I have felt emotionally and mentally attacked so that I felt that I needed to be constantly looking over my shoulder for the next onslaught. 

I also believe that the day is very near that we, Christians, will be brutally and physically attacked, right here in our own land, behind our own walls. We will need each other. We need each other now. 

Lord, I know that my strength comes from You and that means that I can have joy knowing that You can handle any situation.

 Aid me in seeking help and strength from my sisters and brothers in Christ. And use me to share my strengths with them. 

 Neh. 5

The people and families that are working on the rebuilding come to Nehemiah. They are feeling too burdened. They are working day and night, with weapons in hand on this project. But they also have personal lives. They each have their story. 

"My fields are overgrown and untended."

"I have had to sell my daughter to have funds to feed the rest of my family."

"I believe that the men that collect my taxes for the King are charging me too much."

"My wife is sick. The famine has taken it's toll. I have no one to look after her."

"I no longer have the heart for this mission."

Can you hear them? Can you hear each come in to give their account to Nehemiah?

Today, in our churches, we hear the reasons, we hear the stories of why so many give up the work. Sometimes we call it, making excuses. But often we forget that people have lives, we have jobs, we have families, we have illnesses, we have concerns. 

Nehemiah, was a champion. He took on the many jobs required of him to fulfill his personal mission of rebuilding. And by doing so, he took on the many challenges that came with the project, the obstacles that threatened. 

He must have been a very wise man. But one thing I know. One thing that is clear to me is, he never acts without pondering and praying. And then he takes action.

Lord, help me face ALL of my work, ALL of projects by first pondering and praying. And then after praying, to take the necessary course of action. Give my Your strength each day to accomplish what needs done. Give me wisdom that comes from You. Grant me boldness in my action and give me persistence to see the job completed.

Neh. 6:1-14

Finally, the walls are built, except for hanging the gates. The enemy leaders are really feeling threatened now. They send for Nehemiah. They want a "meeting" with him. They say that they hear that Judah has a new King and that Nehemiah is that King. So we should meet to discuss trade, strategies, etc.

Nehemiah refuses. He will not be bullied. He won't take his focus off the completion of his work. "No," he says, "I am carrying on a great work. I will not go down."

Over and over again they send him messages to come, each time he answers them in the same way. He consulted the Prophet who tried to convince him to hide out in the Temple. But Nehemiah recognized the ploy, the Prophet had been bought and told to give false counsel. Then he talks to God about his enemies. "Remember them, each one." He tells God. 

Nehemiah does not turn from his work in serving The Lord. Even when seemingly important people want to see him, even when his own spiritual leader gives him advice (that he recognizes as ungodly.) 

Lord, help me to be steadfast in my service and attention to You. When other things and/or people try to "bring me down" help me remember to say, "I am carrying on a great work. I will not go down."

Lord, too, help me to know You so that when even those who say they speak for You give me false information, that I will recognize it and turn from it.

And too, remember my enemies and oppositions. You deal with them so I can forget them and remain focused on my work for You.

 Neh. 6:15-7:72

Today's scripture reading

I love hearing your thoughts on what you read. It makes it so much more interesting for all us. Please share. 

The work is done, in quick time. 

Now Nehemiah gathered and counted the people. They are mentioned by name. And if you are like me, it is easy to just whiz right past these names as you read. I mean, who cares, right? Well, Nehemiah did care and so does God. Each individual contribution, no matter how small, helped to complete the task. So each was recognized.

But when you really notice the names, and their meanings you will see:

Yahweh is Salvation

Yahweh has helped

Compassionate

My comfort is Yahweh

Pure

Happy

Yahweh has strengthened

Fortress

Yahweh has seen

And many others.

Every person is valuable. 

In our gatherings, meetings, individual bodies/churches, everyone is needed. Don't think that you are unimportant. Don't think that you won't make a difference. Don't imagine that you are insignificant. ALL of us are important, valuable and needed.

Even in this little Bible study I have noticed that the more of you that comment and share, the richer the study becomes.

Neh. 7:73-8:18

The people all gathered. They gathered at the Water Gate. This is the one gate that everyone used and was familiar with. Everyone who could hear and understand was there.

Ezra, the scribe opened the Book of Law and read from it. He read from morning to midday. And while he read, the people stood. 

They understood the importance of reverence to the reading. They had a desire for instruction and were eager to do what was required of them by God, because they truly understood that IT WAS THEIR OWN SIN that had gotten them into bondage, and that ONLY OBEDIENCE TO GOD would free them. They got it. They understood.

They displayed their understanding by their willingness to humble themselves before The Lord. 

They lifted their hands to Him, they cried out to Him. They bowed with their faces to the ground to Him. They grieved. 

I love this example. 

Often in my sin I want to justify it somehow. I want to blame someone else. I want it to be the fault of my circumstances. 

I need to accept that it is MY SIN that separates me from God. I need to be willing to reach out to Him. To grieve because of my sin. I need to be willing to come humbly before God and be ashamed.

But wait, there is joy! There is hope.

Nehemiah told the people, "Don't grieve.  Go celebrate! Look what God is doing for you. His strength is your joy. Go, eat drink, and share with others. But don't grieve."

 There is hope for us too , when we humbly repent of our sin and acknowledge God in our obedience to His word, we have strength. We can go forward without the shame and blame of our past.

Neh. 9:1-37

Sometimes we need to humble ourselves and be reminded of all the love and mercy that God pours out on us. We often forget. And it doesn't take long to forget. Things start going smoothly in our lives and we lose our dependence on God. We forget to be thankful and we forget to talk to Him. 

 Neh. 9:17

How quickly people get discouraged and lose hope. Satan is here to steal, kill and destroy. He will steal our joy and our hope. He kills our trust and courage and he destroys anything that might hold on to. However, we can resist him. We are told to be alert and watching for him. 

Unless we remain focused and do not allow ourselves to become distracted, satan can grip us. 

Only be surrounding ourselves with strength of other Christians, hiding God's word in our hearts, keeping our eyes on Jesus, Trusting in God, obedience to Him, being steadfast and immovable, can we win in this life.

 Neh. 9:30-10:39

The people are guilty. They are ashamed. They have violated God's laws so entirely that God has given them over to foreigners, including their city, their animals, and their servitude. While living as foreigners they continued in their sinful state and even intermarried with them.

But they have come back. They are asking for yet another chance. 

They have heard and remembered all that God had done for them. They have reminded themselves of God's laws and once again DECIDE to commit to obedience. They even sign a petition! All of them sign, everyone that can understand.

But none of this will be easy. Following God's laws have been very difficult, impossible really, to follow completely. (That is why Christ came as a New Covenant) but following the Law of God would be even harder for them now because they are STILL SLAVES! They still must work and pay the foreign Kings that own them. 

And yet they are so repentant that they are willing to try.

There are 5 things that I have noticed here in these scriptures.

First:

Their regain their faith.

They are reminded of Who God is and what He has done for them in the past. And their faith in God is renewed.

Second:

They are repentant. 

They are very sorry for turning away from God. They recognize His graciousness and His love and His mercy and His compassion and KNOW that it is their own fault that they are outside of God's grace.

Third:

They recognize God.

They give God the glory for being faithful to them even in their wickedness.

Fourth:

They DECIDE to change.

They understand that to be where God wants them to be and where they, themselves, desire to be, that changes must be made. Repentance is not true and real without a change in behavior. You can be all the sorry you want but if you do not change, it is not repentance!

They asked to be cleansed of sin.

Fifth:

They commit to obedience.

They are so determined that they go so far as to have their commitment written up and they sign it. Wow!!! No handshake agreement, no head nod agreement, no, "I do" agreement. They write their signatures, everyone does. Everyone one of them that can understand.

Do you notice how their steps correspond with the New Testament Examples of conversion where there is:

Faith

Repentance

Confession

Baptism

Steadfast obedience

It is no coincidence.

Neh. 11:1-12:26

In these verses the city is being re inhabited. After all the hard work and effort you would think that they would be crawling over each other for their place in the city, but that was not the case. They actually cast lots. And the ones that Drew the "short straw" had to go live there.

The issues were, though the walls were built, the city was still in ruins. The Israelite people were hated by most everyone else and so they could expect trouble. 

But there were some volunteers and they were highly praised.

I imagine there are many people living today that might have that same struggle. For example, the families of the preacher. He dedicated his life and service for The Lord, they just got volunteered. And who, very often, are the most criticized in the church? Yep, the preachers wife and family.

Or maybe there are others. There are those that show up for the scripture reading and the praise and worship, but now "I'm going home. See ya next week. I can't possibly live like this." Yep, there are those.

Maybe there are some that are afraid of what their neighbors might think. "I can't live inside the walls my neighbors will think I'm a religious nut. No, thanks, I'll just come in one day a week."

Thank goodness we have those that are committed. I am very thankful for those that are so grateful to God that they will sacrifice their own desires to see His Kingdom succeed. 

These precious volunteers need our love, prayers and support.

Lord, I pray that I am willing to make sacrifices to build up Your Kingdom. I am no one without You. My life is a mess when I try to run it without you. I know that you paid a tremendous price for me. I want to show my gratitude by being willing to go live inside the walls in service for You. Help me to surrender whatever I think is more important than having Your grace and mercy.

 Neh. 12:27-47

Well, the walls are finished, the gates are hung, people are chosen to occupy the city. Priests, and leaders are designated and now comes The a Grand Celebration.

Their thankful celebration goes beyond a hearty, "Thank you, Lord." They are actually making this a big to-do. They chose the musicians, the priests, the leaders.  They go about the business of purifying themselves. (That alone, is a really big deal with a lot of perpetration.) they have not one, but two, choirs. And they have Nehemiah overseeing and directing. 

The people are truly grateful and want to honor The Lord for His blessing. 

Isn't that why we celebrate Thanksgiving? How much perpetration and planning do we put into Thanksgiving? 

Thanksgiving is coming. Let's do it up right. Let's honor God for His blessings. Let make this celebration ALL about how wonderful He is. Let's plan and prep and get all dressed up.

But today, too. Let's honor God today for today's blessings.

 Neh. 13

The walls are rebuilt. The city is re populated. Nehemiah is back in his position of cupbearer to the King and everything is grand. 

But wait. No, it's not.

The people have already forgotten their dedicated work. They have already forgotten the singing choirs. They have lost their commitments to following God's laws, the very ones that they signed their names to.

This last chapter of the book of Nehemiah ends on a bad note. 

The entire book told of inspiration, dedication, hard work, commitment, courage, and renewal. And now it is all gone and once again the Israelites are faltering in their faith and obedience. Why? Why do they do that? What is wrong with them?

Let's ask ourselves that question. Remember church camp? Remember that last revival meeting? Remember that awesome sermon from last week? Remember how inspired, dedicated, committed, full of courage and renewal that you were? Are you still?

Often, sadly, we are so very much like those Israelites. 

This is why God gives us community. This is why we need encourager sand we need to encourage others. Life is real. It is hard. Satan does not want us focused on God so he battles hard with us. All he has to do is keep us busy enough that we take our eyes off our savior and we let him.

I need your help. I need constant encouragement. I always need reminded of how wonderful God is. 

I thank Him so much for all of you. You will never know how important that all of you are to me.