Nehemiah 8-10: Did you have revival in your church as a child? Maybe you remember evening services where a pastor taught. Maybe your church did special nights like pack the pew or bring a friend. I remember well at my church where we met at the church and would just go out and pick friends up and bring them to church. We usually ate well at our revivals as well will pizza nights and after dessert fellowships.
In Nehemiah the people experienced revival, not evening services, but where the people read God’s word, their hearts were broken because they were so far from God. The had open confession of their sin. and they repented by choosing to make life changes. Now that my friend is true revival! When we look at God’s word and then take an inventory of our lives. in the area where we have drifted away or made choices that moved us away from God’s plan we confess and make a plan and commitment to move back into right standing with God. It starts with recognition, but it leads to action! The best thing about revival is that we come back into right relationship with our loving God and we know His presence in a real way again.
Do you need revival today? Take inventory, confess sin, receive forgiveness, make a commitment to living again in close fellowship with God then know the Love of your Heavenly Father. You don’t have to be in a church service. You don’t have to walk an aisle. Just take time with the One who is waiting for you.

Nehemiah 5-7: Are you a generous person? Do you feel like sometimes people just don’t appreciate what you do? I believe Nehemiah might have felt this way as well. He gave up a position at the king’s right hand to come back and rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. He paid for his own food, and provided for many others when the public officials were usually paid for their work and provided for. He did it because he knew how hard the people were working and did not want to put more pressure on them and yet they did not seem to care or appreciate it, but in the end Nehemiah had the right mindset.
Nehemiah 5:19 “Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.”
Whether anyone else appreciates what you do, God sees and He knows what you do. When we give to others we are really giving to Him and doing it in obedience to Him. So instead of allowing feelings of hurt, anger or feeling taken for granted to take over, remember who you are really doing what you are doing for. He knows, He sees, and He will reward.

Malachi 1-4, Psalm 50: Do you believe Jesus is coming again? Do you believe that one day this sphere we stand upon today will dissolve and be no more? If your answer to either of those questions is no you need to go back and consider God’s words. He tells us over and over that the Day of the Lord is coming. Jesus will return and when He does he will come not as a babe in a manger again, but as the conquerer and judge.
Malachi proclaimed this.
Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.
I can just see those of us who are alive in Christ lifting off from this dust to go to be with Him in the place He has created for us. Even as I write this I am thinking of those who will think me losing it. Lol. Well maybe so, but I believe God’s word and if I have to “lose it” I am thankful my loss to toward the cross and what Jesus has done for me. Because of that I do even now leap for joy and shout hallelujah, the Lamb has overcome and I His child will one day live with Him eternally. Until then, Father, please find me faithful in telling the gospel message and bringing the lost to your throne.

Ezra 4-6: Have you ever felt called to something and you stepped out on faith then there seemed to be someone trying to shut you down every 8th or 10th step? If you have then you can certainly understand how the Jews who returned to Jerusalem felt as they tried to rebuild the temple. At first all of the doors had opened wide with King Cyrus decreeing the rebuilding and even supplying what it would take to rebuild. Then they got started there were those who pretended to be on their side who “volunteered” to help with the project. Not everyone who volunteers has the same goals you have. Be careful who joins you on your journey. Then the same people who volunteered became the root of the problem as they went back to the King, this time a different one and demanded that the work stop and sent their “insights” as to the rebellion of this people group in the past. This king demanded a stoppage. As time passed, God did not let his people’s hearts and minds rest and within a time they were compelled to start the rebuilding again. This time when the king was approached, again a different king they sited the Cyrus’ decree and this time the king approved the rebuild and even demanded those who had tried to stand in the way provide the resources.
I wonder sometimes why God allows people to stand in the way of what He has called us to do. Maybe it is to help us to value the gifts He has given to us. I think sometimes we take for granted His favor in a process, and we look past the blessings we have already been given. It could be too He is testing our hearts to see if we will obey even in the face of adversity. Or maybe He is just reminding us to depend on Him and not to try to please the world around us. No matter His purpose, our job is to obey and to be found faithful. The end result of the building of the temple is that many could come and worship and those around could see God had not forgotten His people. He hasn’t forgotten you either. If He has called you to something and due to challenges you quit, start again. Don’t let obstacles prevent you from reaching the goals God has for you. I too am running with you my friend. I pray for strength for us as we run the race the Father has marked for us.

Ezra 1-3; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23: They Are Being Released!!! Finally the children of Israel were coming out of bondage to their captors and God by His divine plan put a King in place that released them. Not only did he release them, but he commanded that they go back, build the temple, and even directed that the supplies be provided. What joy and yet the people knew there was hard work ahead.
Ezra 1:5 “Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 6And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered.”
Everyone had a part whether they were going or not. They knew there would be hard work to be done in the restoration process. Some went, some gave, and all prayed.
That is God’s plan for the church today as well. Not everyone is called to pack a bag and go to other places to share the Kingdom story, but everyone is to do their part. Some will pack and for those who take the time to go they encounter hard work as they go yet with the prayers of those who stay behind they experience God’s strength and His presence. Some have been given finances and have the means to give. If that is you, don’t delay. Look for opportunities to support those in the trenches. We will have some opportunities coming up soon where we are going to ask you to help some going on mission to Swaziland. They are willing but the finances to go are around $3500. Some of those going have 2 people from a family. Today that amount of money seems overwhelming, but with the help of others it is very doable. I don’t know what God is speaking to you today, but don’t be afraid to say yes. You too may be on the edge of great freedom in Christ if you will just go where He is sending, do what He is asking, and pray listening for His voice.

Daniel 1-3: What does it mean to be set apart? The book of Daniel begins with the children of Israel being taken into captivity. We are introduced to 4 young Hebrew men who are being trained in service to the Babylonian King. These four make choices that show outwardly the choices they had made inwardly to be true to their God. in chapter 1 they choose to eat differently than everyone else. In a short time their bodies reflected their choices and the head of the guard took note. In chapter 2 their choice to seek God in the midst of a critical situation again set them apart. Daniel did not just interpret the King’s dream, he told the king what the king had dreamed and the interpretation. What set Daniel apart was that he did not take credit for this ability, but he said only God could reveal these things. Again Daniel reflected the glory back to God. Chapter 3 introduces us to the 3 boys who refused to kneel to the statue of the king and the verdict of their disobedience was to be thrown into the firey furnace. They had heated the furnace 7 times hotter than normal and the mighty men who ushered them to the furnace were killed by coming close and yet God was with the boys in the furnace and again He received the glory when the boys not only were not burned, but they did not even smell like smoke.
Their choices to be wholly devoted to God gave birth to others seeing what fearless faith looks like and eventually that entire part of the world knew who God was and many came to serve Him.
You may be thinking that those are great kids stories, but that is not how it is in real life. Really? Today you can read the stories of people from all over the world who have chose to serve God with a whole heart and they see God do amazing things. They see provision in poverty. They see health come from sickness. They see life in the midst of a place riddled with death. Some have defied authorities and been imprisoned yet seen God work even in the prison and entire prison wings turn to God. It doesn’t take a super star. It just takes one person willing to choose God inwardly that changes everything outwardly. You and I can do it! We will see God show us big! I already am seeing it! Come join me. Be set apart by your choices to live for Christ and not this world!

Ezekiel 41-43: This morning I am starting a detox program. It calls for lots of water and the absence of all of the rich foods I have placed in my body over the last couple of weeks. lol. The detox is necessary because I have allowed my desires and fleshly passions to rule. The end result has been weight gain and impurities. You may be wondering what in the world this has to do with the scripture reading. 🙂 I think it is a picture of the way we allow unholy things to rule our spiritual bodies as well. We allow the things of this world, our selfish desires, things that are pleasurable and even comfortable to rule over what is best. The end result is a sluggish and broken down spirit. Ezekiel was among a people were were broken down and disobedient. They had exchanged the things of God for idols, pleasure and comfort. The end result was destruction of all they loved. BUT God did not leave them there. He reminded them that there is a new Heaven and a New Temple that is to come. The sinful and the worldly will be done away with. He will make all things new. A cleanse of major proportions was needed!
Believers today could use a spiritual cleanse! Take time today to confess any known sin. Allow the Father to purge your heart and mind and give you a clean spirit within.
You may want to do the same in your home. Is there anything that does not honor Him? If so, get rid of it.
In your body, are you doing anything that doesn’t glorify Him. Stop, confess, turn to that which honors Him.
The detox of the spirit is much more important than the detox of the body, but both are beneficial. I am praying for you today as you search out how to serve with a clean body, soul and spirit. Please pray for me as well. In the end our lives will be better prepared to follow God’s plan for our lives.

Ezekiel 1-4: First let me say I am so thankful God did not call me to the things He called Ezekiel to. I can’t imagine laying on one side for over a year only to reverse direction for the number of days 2 disobedient nations would be in captivity. My heart hurts for those who walk in disobedience and find themselves in distressful situations, but for God to call the innocent to suffer for their behalf is heart wrenching. That may say way more about me than I want to admit. I am willing to suffer for those I love or have a true passion to help, but for a disobedient nation. Especially when so many would neither know or care, my mind can’t wrap around that, and yet Jesus did so much more than that for me. He took all of the sin that would ever be committed and carried the anguish of that to the cross. He did it for those of us who have chosen to follow Him, but He willingly also did it for people who don’t care and even ridicule and reject Him. He the perfect Son of God chose to labor under the burden of sin for those who could not care any less the price He paid.
Oh Jesus, I am reminded a new of the great price you paid for me and my sin. Thank you Lord. Thank you that in my sinful state you still loved me and died for me. I thank you for your gift and Father because of that gift please help me always stay ready for the plans you have for me even if it is to suffer for those who may never know or care.

Lamentations 3:37-5:22: Do you remember getting ready for a test in school? Some of you are so smart you just winged it. Others of us actually had to look over notes, read the text, work on memorization and pray that we remembered everything when the time came. Do you remember being anxious or fearful? Did you know that we still have tests? No not like the ones from High School or College. These are tests of the heart. Our teacher is the Lord, and He tests our heart to reveal anything in them that does not reflect or reveal Him.
Lamentations 3:40 “Let us test and examine our ways,
and return to the Lord!
41 Let us lift up our hearts and hands
to God in heaven:”
It is by God’s standard that we are tested. He has the answer sheet and provides the correction we need. I am so grateful it is not Satan that is the teacher. He would belittle us, condemn us, and tell us what a failure we are. Jesus is not like that. He will express displeasure over our sin and even hold us accountable, but His love far outweighs whatever sin we have committed. Even Israel knew this by experience. His wrath lasted but for a time then forgiveness came flooding in. A loving parent longs for His children to walk in obedience and He will allow discipline until that child gets the message. Then once corrections have been made, they pass on to life abundant! GLORY!!! Thank you Jesus!

Lamentation 1-3: As I read this morning this phrase stood out to me, Lam. 3:17 “my soul is bereft of peace;
I have forgotten what happiness is”
My heart hurts because I believe that this describes many people today even people in the church. We live so much trying to satisfy others, make money, create a certain atmosphere, are surrounded by negative people and truly just godlessness. We are dried up of spirit and we have forgotten what happiness is. Here are some things that will help. Spend time with God just praising Him. Don’t ask for anything, don’t focus on others or even “real life” that is happening around you. Focus on Him. Sing to Him even of your love for Him (maybe even out loud. lol) Choose to be around positive people limiting any time with negative speaking or gossiping people. Focus on what you have not what you don’t have. Thank God for specific things through out your day that you have. ie hot water, indoor plumbing, ice, air conditioning, food and so much more we take for granted daily. Smile! It will help your face value and make people wonder what you are up to. Speak encouragement to others and look for opportunities to serve. in the end as we turn our eyes back on Jesus and love those around us our hearts will eventually follow as well, and happiness may be found even as you look at a small flower or a child at play. Happiness is really contentment of heart and soul that finds a place to rest. Believing this in my life today and choosing happiness.