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Tag: Nehemiah

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 19 (9/19) is Nehemiah 9:19

    “Yet in Your manifold mercies You did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, to lead them on the road; Nor the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, And the way they should go.” – Nehemiah 9:19
    I WILL SING OF YOUR MANIFOLD MERCIES

    In my humble opinion, God’s greatest promise is His promise of His continual presence with us as He has stated over and over that He will never forsake us. That means even when we resist His guidance, He stays with us. We see with the Israelites that instead of walking away from them, He continued to walk and work with them. Though they were committing awful blasphemies (Nehemiah 9:18) God never deserted His people.  

    We might ask what brought Him to do this level of commitment to those who were not fully committed to Him.  Nehemiah 9:19 tells us it was His manifold MERCIES.  

    I don’t know about you, but the word MANIFOLD grabs my attention as much as mercy does. It was not just His mercy but His MANIFOLD MERCIES.  What a word to describe God’s mercies – they are MANIFOLD! To be manifold is to say there was abundant mercy.  To say manifold is to say it exceeded the amount needed. To say manifold is to say it was a GREAT mercy and a great mercy was needed because great sins were being committed.  His MANIFOLD MERCIES kept God from giving them what they deserved and being gracious, He continued to walk and work with them as their guide LEADING them!  

    Quick thoughts of God’s mercy; From Nehemiah 9:19 we are told about there being manifold mercies. 
    Ephesians 2:4 tells us that God is RICH in mercy. 
    Psalm 119:156 proclaims “Great are Your tender mercies.” 
    1 Peter 1:3 tells of His abundant mercy! 
    Psalm 23:6 tells us that “surely goodness and MERCY follows us all the day long.”

    In several places in the Psalms David wrote that he would sing, especially singing of God’s mercy.
    Ps 59:16  But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.
    Ps 89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
    Ps 101:1  A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.

    May we like David sing of His mercy to us that is renewed day by day for as Lamentation 3:22 says, “Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed,”

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 19 (9/19) is Nehemiah 9:19. It says, “Yet in Your manifold mercies You did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, To lead them on the road; Nor the pillar of fire by night, To show them light, And the way they should go.”

    Continue Strong with gratitude and singing praises for God’s mercy!  
    And remember to DATE the WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 17 (9/17) is Nehemiah 9:17

    “They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion, they appointed a leader to return to their bondage. But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them.” – Nehemiah 9:17
    God’s REMARKABLE Response to the REBELLION of His People

    Nehemiah 9 recalls the history of Israel as they are gloriously delivered out of slavery in Egypt by God’s mighty hand and their journey toward the Promised Land. Nehemiah 9 tells how God was so faithful to them even when they were rebellious toward Him.  In reading Nehemiah 9:17 one cannot help but notice the contrasting descriptions of how God’s people acted and how God responded.  With God’s people, there is REBELLION.  Let that word sink in for it is very descriptive.  REBELLION means to be in OPPOSITION.  How did they REBEL? V 17 says, “They REFUSED TO OBEY.”  Furthermore, they failed TO REMEMBER God’s wonders in bringing about deliverance from Egypt.  They RESISTED what He was doing (HARDENED THEIR NECKS.) In other words, they were STUBBORN. They were a STIFF-NECKED PEOPLE which meant they were resistant TO TURNING to go God’s way. They were so against what God was doing and where He was taking them that they RECRUITED leadership (are you ready) to RETURN THEM TO SLAVERY.  

    Talk about a sad summation of the people of God as they started their journey to the Promised Land.  And yet their story is so often our story as we still after getting saved, rebel and resist going and doing what God wants us to do. 

    Now if you were God how would you respond to such REBELLION?  After responding to their request for relief from their bondage you have Your people REBEL, resisting Your leadership in their lives. Their rebelling against God has them not just wishing to return to Egyptian slavery but working to return BACK to slavery.  Seriously, if you were God, how would you respond?

    From Nehemiah 9:17 we find out how God does respond and it is nothing short of REMARKABLE.  The verse gives us one of the best descriptions of God we get in the Bible about our God, especially considering how the people of God are behaving.  
    Nehemiah 9:17 tells us that GOD is, well, GOD!  “BUT You are GOD!”  And as GOD you are ready to FORGIVE!  As GOD, He is GRACIOUS.  This means He will continue to give what they don’t deserve.  As GOD He is MERCIFUL.  This means He will continue to NOT give them what they deserve.  As GOD He is SLOW TO ANGER or He is LONGSUFFERING, meaning He has a long fuse. His anger does arise but with great control.  As GOD He is not just kind but demonstrates ABUNDANT KINDNESS which means He does for His people things they never would have expected.  As GOD, He does not forsake.  He keeps His promise!  What a REMARKABLE response, wouldn’t you say?

    Nehemiah 9:17 is one of these verses you want to have tucked away in your heart and mind as a reminder of 1) WHAT NOT TO BE and it gives 2) a tremendous reminder of WHO GOD IS!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 17 (917/) is Nehemiah 9:17. It says, “They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion, they appointed a leader to return to their bondage. But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them.”

    Continue Strong with much gratitude to God’s remarkable response to your rebellion!
    And remember to DATE the WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 12 (9/12) is Nehemiah 9:12

    “Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, and by night with a pillar of fire, 
    to give them light on the road which they should travel.” – Nehemiah 9:12
    The Gracious Guidance of The Lord

    When we ponder the great and GRACIOUS work of God on our behalf, we find that He is not just with us but that He leads and guides us. Here Ezra points out in his sermon how God LED the Israelites as they came out of Egypt to make their way to the Promised Land. It was a journey they had never been on and they needed someone to SHOW them the way.  Ezra proclaimed that God LED them. He led them during the day time and He led them by night.  He gave them LIGHT so they would know the road to travel.  

    As you read in Nehemiah 9:12 about the LIGHT to know which road to travel you might recall a time when you were driving at night and it was really dark, dark, and dangerous.  I am old enough to recall driving unlighted roads which now have lights to show the way.  Driving is so much easier when the road and the signs are brightly lit. The next time you are driving at night and the road has one light pole after another to light up the road think about how God led His people and HOW He is available to lead you.   Think about how from Psalm 23 we learn He is your Shepherd that leads you to green pastures and beside the quiet waters.  Think about how He leads you in paths of righteousness.  Think about how from 2 Corinthians 2:14 Christ always leads us in triumphal procession. 

    Our God is so involved in our lives that He is active in leading us. 

    There is a question that must be asked.  Are you following His leading? Personally, I don’t want to be getting in front of Him and I surely don’t want to be lagging behind. More than anything I don’t want to be going in my own direction.  May each of us commit a fresh and new to following Him as He leads!  May our ears be open to hear Him say, “This is the way, walk in it,” (Isaiah 30:21)

    And just a quick reminder: God’s Word is one of God’s great lights for direction. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
    Proverbs 6:23 says, “For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,”

    Our verse to DATE the Word on September 12 (9/12) is Nehemiah 9:12. Nehemiah 9:12 says, “Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, and by night with a pillar of fire, to give them light on the road which they should travel.”

    LET GOD GUIDE

    Continue Strong with God as the Life Guide,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 17 (8/17) is Nehemiah 8:17

    “So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths &
    sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the
    children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.” – Nehemiah 8:17
    From GREAT DISTRESS to VERY GREAT GLADNESS

    AND THERE WAS VERY GREAT GLADNESS. Let that statement sink in. It sure sounds like everyone is having a great time.  And they were.  There was VERY GREAT GLADNESS!  That is the description of God’s people in Nehemiah 8:17. Now for us to truly get the significance of that statement is to recall that the book of Nehemiah did not start with God’s people experiencing great gladness but rather with Nehemiah being told “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress.”  They were in GREAT DISTRESS.

    The legacy of Nehemiah is he took people from GREAT DISTRESS to GREAT GLADNESS.  

    Let us take a moment to consider how he did it as we should be desiring to help others move from great distress to very great gladness.  As you look at the book of Nehemiah and the life of Nehemiah you will see it started with his burden and his burden would eventually bring about many blessings.  His broken heart for a place moved him to rebuild walls and his broken heart for people moved him to rebuild lives.  He heard and then saw with his own eyes the distress they we in.  He then dreamed how things could be different.  With dependence on God and determination of heart, Nehemiah diligently was a DOER, not just a talker. These actions brought about real change!  Changes that are summed up in the conclusion of Nehemiah 8:17 as there was VERY GREAT GLADNESS! 

    Friends, LOOK AROUND and see the distress of your neighborhood, your city, your state, your country, your world.  Maybe you even need to look at the distress of your home, your church, your school, etc.  See the distress and decide to get involved to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  Don’t just dream about it, DO SOMETHING! 

    I know there has been the challenge to DARE to be a DANIEL (BE DIFFERENT) but I would ADD, DARE to be a NEHEMIAH and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!  

    Dare to be a Daniel and be DIFFERENT.  Dare to be a NEHEMIAH and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

    Verse to DATE the Word on August 17 (8/17) is Nehemiah 8:17. It says, “So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths & sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.” 

    Do something today to move someone from great distress to great, very great gladness.

    Continue Strong as a DIFFERENCE MAKER 
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 10 (8/10) is Nehemiah 8:10

    “Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to
    those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, 
    for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10
    The Joy of the Lord

    C. S. Lewis said, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” Nehemiah, along with Ezra, have been rebuilding a place and reviving a people! The book Nehemiah begins with a people in great distress yet as Nehemiah leads to rebuild and as Ezra preaches to revive, we see a change from great distress (Neh. 1:3) to great gladness (Neh. 8:24).  

    Nehemiah 8 tells of a special holy day where God’s Word has been proclaimed and brought the people to weep (v9) as they were broken and humbled.  They were filled with godly sorrow for their sin. Upon seeing this response, Ezra now encouraged them to go forth and ENJOY – enjoy the blessings of God – eating the fat, drinking the sweet (tea). They were also challenged to be thinking of others that may not have and make sure they did have.

    Blessings are to be shared!!!

    Verse 10 gives the great challenge not to be sorrowful but to live cheerfully as the joy of the Lord provides us strength for the journey. Recall from Proverbs 15:15 that “he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.” And Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine.”  Living joyfully makes all the difference.

    Today I encourage you to ENJOY the present that God has given you.  One of the first verses to consider each new day is Psalm 118:24 which says, “This is the day the Lord has made and I will REJOICE and be glad in it.”  

    Verse to DATE the Word on August 10 (8/10) is Nehemiah 8:10. It says, “Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 

    ENJOY your day enjoying the Lord and His rich blessings,

    Continue Strong with joy,
    And remember to DATE the Word
     

  • Our verse to DATE the Word on August 3 (8/3) is Nehemiah 8:3

    “Then Ezra  read from it (the law) in the open square that was in front of
    the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women
    and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were
    attentive to the Book of the Law.” – Nehemiah 8:3

    Being ATTENTIVE to the WORD of God

    As the WORD of GOD was being read by EZRA we get a description that the people of God were responding with ATTENTIVENESS.  What a descriptive statement.   The EARS of all the people were ATTENTIVE.  The dictionary tells us that if one is ATTENTIVE, one is paying CLOSE attention.  To pay close attention is to be paying SERIOUS attention!   As the Word of God was proclaimed by the man of God the people of God were actively involved, paying close attention to what was being said so they might learn and then apply it.

    Just curious, how are you responding to their response?  Did it get your attention?  

    ATTENTIVE.  Is that a word that describes you?  Are you attentive to details?  Are you attentive to what is going on around you?  Are you being attentive to what is being said?  Are you an attentive person?

    Opposite of attentive could have a person being described as someone not having a clue.  They are absentminded.  They are easily distracted.  They are unfocused. 

    In going a little deeper with the word “ATTENTIVE” we find it not only in Nehemiah but also once in the New Testament.  ATTENTIVE was used to describe a group of people listening to Jesus.  In Luke 19:48 we find, “all the people were very attentive to hear Him.”  I think it is helpful sometimes to see how other versions may read.  For instance, you can find Luke 19:48 in the ESV saying, “all the people were hanging on His words.”  Or “all the people were captivated by what they heard.” HCSB. Or “all the people were hanging on to every word He said.”  NASB

    ATTENTIVE – hanging on every word Jesus is saying!  CAPTIVATED!!

    When it comes to listening to and learning the Bible are you ATTENTIVE?  Are you paying attention as the sermon is being delivered?  Are you paying close attention to what is being said?   Are you paying serious attention to what God may be saying to you?  Are you hanging onto every word?  Does God’s Word CAPTIVATE you?

    Verse to DATE the Word on August 3 (8/3) is Nehemiah 8:3. It says, “Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”

    May we be known as ATTENTIVE people toward God and God’s Word!

    Continue Strong being attentive to the Word,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 21 (4/21) is Nehemiah 4:21

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 21 (4/21) is Nehemiah 4:21

    “So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears 
    from daybreak until the stars appeared.” – Nehemiah 4:21
    Diligence and Determination are Essential for Dreams to be Accomplished

    The Book of Nehemiah is the story of how a group of people under the leadership of Nehemiah REBUILT the city of Jerusalem by rebuilding the city walls and repairing the gates.  The rebuilding started with a DREAM that is born in the heart of Nehemiah as his heart broke when he heard the conditions of the people, the Jews, and the place, Jerusalem, that he so loved. Nehemiah 1:2-3 reveals the heartbreaking answer that Nehemiah received when he asked how things were in Jerusalem.  Neh. 1:2 says, “When Hanani, one of my brethren came with men from Judah I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3  And they answered me saying “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”  These words broke Nehemiah’s heart and he became determined to make a difference.  The rest of Nehemiah 1 will tell how he was a leader from the knees up as he spends time praying to God because there was no way this dream could become a reality without God.  Nehemiah’s dream was DEPENDENT on God!!

    As one reads Nehemiah 2 God answers prayers and Nehemiah secured the authority from the king to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the broken walls and repair the gates.  Having seen the conditions first hand he then would cast the vision, his dream, to the people who decided to join him. It is worth reading this exciting moment in the story.  Neh. 2:17  “Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”  18  And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.’

    At this point in the story, one does need to know that NOT everyone is on board with the dream. Matter of fact some are DISAPPOINTED that Nehemiah has shown up.  From Nehemiah 2:10  we read “When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.”  This is a great reminder that NOT everyone will embrace your dreams!  This is why it is essential to have DETERMINATION because if you are doing something for God you will have OPPOSITION.  

    Despite the opposition Nehemiah and the people go to work and in Nehemiah 4:6 we get a progress report. Neh. 4:6 says, “So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”  The diligent work of God’s people was starting to pay off and the dream was becoming a reality.   

    Seeing the progress, the opposition stepped up its attack.  To protect the workers and the work Nehemiah gives orders for the workers to be equipped with tools for constructing the wall and tools for defending the wall. Notice Nehemiah 4:16-18  “So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. 17  Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. 18  Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built.”

    With that background, we come to our verse to DATE on April 21 (4/21).  Nehemiah 4:21 is another progress report.  It says, “So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared.”  

    “So, we LABORED” speaks of the diligence needed for a dream to be accomplished.  Laziness does not accomplish anything.  Diligence and hard work, laboring is what produce results.  

    “And half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared” speaks of the determination to do whatever was necessary.  From sun up to sun down, they stood up to DEFEND and protect.  

    If you have a dream to do something for God I am sure there will be statements on your progress report like Nehemiah 4:21.  The opposition to God’s work is real.  The devil hates what you are doing.  He will seek to discourage you.  He will seek to defeat you! You must be determined to be DILIGENT DOING the WORK while also DILIGENT to DEFEND the work.  Your dream of making a difference for God demands diligence and determination.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 21 (4/21) is Nehemiah 4:21. It says, “So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared.”

    The harder you pray and the harder you work the harder it will be to surrender. 

    Continue Strong LABORING to see His dream come true!
    And remember to DATE The Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29
    Nehemiah 3:29 After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs.
     HELP THEM HAVE OWNERSHIP

    In an interview with some other Christian University colleagues, I was asked to give several of the best “unknown” leadership lessons I had learned.  The aspect of “unknown” was they wanted to hear things that were not OBVIOUS.  As I pondered my answer I thought about the importance of generating student “ownership” of campus events and activities.  I recalled how I intentionally read through my Bible during the year and had done this several times.  By reading completely through my Bible meant I read all of NUMBERS and ALL of 1 and 2 Chronicles (you know these are challenging books).  And it meant I read all of Nehemiah 3.  While Nehemiah 3 has only 31 verses it has some of the hardest names to pronounce and it does seem many of the verses are repetitive as Nehemiah tells who was involved in building the wall.  Because I had heard the value of helping others on your team have ownership and I believed in cultivating ownership I noticed there were several verses in Nehemiah 3 about ownership that got my attention, such as Nehemiah 3:29.   To those interviewing me I would ask them to turn to Nehemiah 3:29 and from this verse with some hard names to say I gave them a RICH PRINCIPLE of LEADERSHIP.  I told them to HELP TEAM MEMBERS HAVE OWNERSHIP of their school, their residence hall, their teams, etc. like Nehemiah did with the wall builders.  I told them I did not know if Nehemiah was a genius or not but 6 words in Nehemiah 3:29 were pure genius.  

    Did you see the six words?  Look at it again. Nehemiah 3:29 says, “After them, Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house.”  Just 6 words, but oh what they accomplished.  IN FRONT OF HIS OWN HOUSE.  One has to wonder how hard Zadok worked and how diligent he was to the details to make sure the WALL was built sound and secure.  After all his security and his family’s security rest on his diligent work!   

    As we worked to oversee the student body at Liberty we had leadership teams on every floor and we had prayer groups on the floor led by members of the leadership team on that floor.   I don’t know how many times I told teams to TAKE CARE OF THEIR FLOOR and TAKE CARE OF THEIR PRAYER GROUP.  I knew if each team member took care of their prayer group then the floor was taken care of and if each leadership team took care of their floor the campus overall would be taken care of.  And the guiding thought for all this came from 6 words found in Nehemiah 3:29 as he had a man build the wall in front of his own house.  

    In conveying what was not an obvious leadership principle I did bring it back to one of my most obvious leadership principles of the first person you lead is you.  Each of us should be RESPONSIBLE for ourselves.   

    To teach this idea of ownership I heard about a father-in-law who wanted to help his son-in-law out.  His son-in-law owned a construction company.  The father-in-law asked his son-in-law to build him a beautiful, grand house.  While he could not give him a blank check, he told him to spare no expense as he wanted him to build him a really nice house. The son-in-law went to work and knowing his father-in-law did not know how much things cost he decided to cut corners and buy cheap materials.  Using cheap materials ended up costing more as things broke while installing them.  When he finally finished the house, the son-in-law hardly had made any profit.  His father-in-law then comes over and, AND, instead of taking the keys to the new home from his son-in-law he tells his son-in-law to keep the keys as the house was his!    

    As said in another verse we need to have the mindset of autographing our work with excellence.  Are you owning your work?  If you are a student, are you owning your studies?   If you are part of a team are you “owning” the team?  

    Our actions or inactions can have a great impact on ourselves!  
    OWN YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES!!

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29. Nehemiah 3:29 says, “After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs.”

    Continue Strong, 
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on February 17 (2/17) is Nehemiah 2:17

    Verse to DATE the Word on February 17 (2/17) is Nehemiah 2:17

    Our verse to DATE the Word on February 17 (2/17) is Nehemiah 2:17
    Nehemiah 2:17 says, “Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”
    A Brief lesson is CASTING the VISION

    As one reads the Book of Nehemiah one encounters a man daring to dream a dream that will make life better for others!  Miles away in a palace in Shushan. Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the king. heard the conditions of a place (Jerusalem) and a people (the Jews). He heard that the walls of Jerusalem remained broken down and that gates that were burnt down had never been replaced and this left the people living there in great distress.  As he hears what is broken his heart is broken and is moved to take action to make a difference.  He will ultimately receive permission to go to Jerusalem.  Upon arriving he will see first-hand those conditions. Hearing about these conditions was hard but seeing them was heart-wrenching.  He knows this cannot continue.   Changes must happen and it must happen now, regardless of obstacles and opposition.  He is determined to end the great distress of people.  He dares to dream!

    The story of Nehemiah is very inspiring, is it not? We have a man who hears and sees a people and a place in great distress and he dreams of doing something that will make a difference so people will have BETTER LIVES!  As he dreams of making this difference, he realizes that ONE IS TOO SMALL OF A NUMBER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  He knows he must have help.  The dreamer must become a RECRUITER.  The one with the CAUSE now must CAST the Vision for others to join.  Nehemiah’s dream has to move from “my dream” to “our dream.”  As he has decided to OWN the dream, he must get OTHERS to OWN the dream!  He must now CAST the VISION!

    Our verse to DATE is the casting of that vision.  It is the communication of the concerns that have created the cause and calls for others to commit to the dreamer’s cause and make the dream, the cause, their cause. Re-read Nehemiah 2:17. It says, “Then I (Nehemiah) said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 

    I have no idea if Nehemiah had a speech class.  I don’t know if he read a book on how to be an effective communicator. What I do know is Nehemiah 2:17 sets the standard for how someone is supposed to cast a vision.  

    For those who are leaders (which is all reading this), you are going to have to learn and be able to clearly and concisely communicate the vision, the dream, the cause, that God has given you to people. YES, to people.  People, YOUR PEOPLE!  They have to see what you see!  I recommend that you study Nehemiah, especially Nehemiah 2:17.  In this one verse a leader gives a clear, concise explanation of the concerns with a clear, concise call for a commitment to bring in others to join in the cause to bring about the needed change.   Nehemiah reveals the cause (rebuild the walls) and gives reasons to commit to being involved (that we may no longer be a reproach) with a clear, concise call for others to commit to the cause (come and LET US.)

    How are you at casting vision?  Evaluate yourself by how Nehemiah did it.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on February 17 (2/17) is Nehemiah 2:17. It says, “Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 

    A leader’s responsibility is to create the future.  Communicating clearly the cause is crucial to involving others to commit, and answering the call to action!

    Continue Strong, 
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 4 (1/4)
    is Nehemiah 1:4

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 4 (1/4) is Nehemiah 1:4
    Nehemiah 1:4 says, “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” 
    Heartbroken to Action

    The book of Nehemiah begins with a delegation of Jews from Jerusalem visiting Nehemiah at Shushan where Nehemiah was serving as the king’s cupbearer.  In verse two we read that Nehemiah ASK a question.  This question may have been just a courtesy question or even a curious question or it may have been a very intentional fact-finding question in which Nehemiah wants to know HOW ARE THINGS IN JERUSALEM.  He specifically asked about the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.  He wanted to know about the people and the place.  

    Verse 3 reports the answer to his question with the delegation saying, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

    We may read this quickly, but I beg you to pause and ponder.  This is more than a status report.  It is a critical analysis of a group of people and a very special city.  The people are in GREAT DISTRESS and REPROACH.  There is tremendous fear as their enemies ridicule them.  The walls that provide security, as well as significance, are broken down and the gates that would serve as checkpoints are nonexistent.  GREAT DISTRESS WITH GREAT DESTRUCTION.    

    How will Nehemiah react and yes, RESPOND to such dismal, dreadful, shall we say agonizing news? After all, he is MILES away and he himself is not really impacted by the misery and pain.  He is the king’s cupbearer that has him in very high places around very important people.   Life is not too bad personally for Nehemiah.  Will he feel bad?  Will he shrug his shoulders?  Will he take this to heart and decide something must be done?  

    Verse 4 now tells us of his reaction and his response:  “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days;”  That is his reaction.  He is heartbroken.  What he has heard with his ears has gripped his heart.  He will not dismiss the news.  

    Verse 4 continues, “I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”  This is his response. He goes to work.  No, not work with his hands but with his knees.  He knows the work that must be done to bring about change NEEDS GOD.  In these moments a DREAM of born that immediately DEMANDED DEPENDENCE on GOD!  He begins to FAST AND PRAY!!   Nehemiah’s heart is broken and burdened and now he GOES to …… not the king (yet)….not Jerusalem (yet)…not even his friends (yet). HE GOES TO GOD.   

    May I ask you if there is anything that is breaking your heart? 
    Maybe I should be a little more direct.  Are you asking about the conditions of people and places so that your heart might be broke?  It is easy. is it not, to live in our own little bubble and forget there is a world (a neighborhood, a neighbor) in GREAT DISTRESS?

    I think based on Nehemiah’s reaction and response to the painful report we should ask what is your usual reaction and response to bad news.  Is it easily dismissed?  Or does a dream start forming of how you can make a difference? 

    I think an action that should come from reading about Nehemiah is that we pray a prayer that says, “God break my heart with the things that break Your heart!”

    As you think on Nehemiah 1:4 I am praying that you will see yourself as a NEHEMIAH who will live to make a difference for the Lord.  AND Nehemiah was a difference-maker.  Here in Nehemiah 1 the people are in great distress.  When you get to the end of Nehemiah 8 they are in great gladness.   He made a DIFFERENCE! 

    I pray you will a dream that drives you to your knees in total dependence on God and you will make a difference!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 4 (1/4) is Nehemiah 1:4. It says, “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” 

    How will life be different for others because you became a NEHEMIAH?

    Continue Strong with a broken heart!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD