Nehemiah 6-7

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%206-7&version=ESV

In Nehemiah chapter 6, we read that the wall of Jerusalem was finished in 52 days. What a feat this was!

However, before it was finished Sanballat and Geshem tried five times to meet with Nehemiah and hinder the building of the wall of Jerusalem.

Seeing that Nehemiah would not meet with them, they hired Shemaiah as a false prophet who told Nehemiah that they should meet in the temple that night with the doors shut, because they were coming to kill him by night. Here also, Nehemiah refused to meet with Shemaiah.

How did he know to do this? To say no to some one who looked like a prophet? Read verses 12 and 13 below:

"And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. " (Nehemiah 6:12-13)

Friends, Nehemiah was a man who studied God's Word and knew His Ways. He used his mind. He was discerning.

Today, there are so many false teachers out there, who call themselves prophets and the like. We, too, like Nehemiah, must be grounded in the Scriptures and be discerning and think. We must think.

So many of us think about retirement, think about work, think about family, think about literature and art, yet when it comes to our faith, we hear people say it is not about what we think, but it is what is in our heart and what we feel.

That is false. The Lord Jesus said we should love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Mark 12:30) So, we must love God with heart and mind.

Writing about speaking, I would like to share a few more thoughts on this. This weekend Desiring God, the ministry of John Piper, is having their National Conference. It is entitled:

Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God.

John Piper has already written a book on this that he just released:

http://www.desiringgod.org/Store/Books/907_Think/

I have not read it, but it is on my list to do so in the near future.

Additionally, here are two quotes from the book about what thinking is and what is the purpose of the mind, respectively:

“It’s about using the means God has given us to know him, love him, and serve people,” explains John Piper. “Thinking is one of those means. I would like to encourage you to think, but not to be too impressed with yourself when you do.”




Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Nehemiah 1-5

Today's passage, Nehemiah 1-5: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=nehemiah%201-5&version=NIV

Nehemiah was a cupbearer in king Artexerxes court who led a third group out of exile to rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem.

The most notable quality of this cupbearer turned leader is his committment to prayer. In Chapter 1 Nehemiah was informed that the walls and gates of Jerusalem still lie in ruins. He could have acted impulsively. He could have relied on his own wisdom and developed a plan of action. Instead, he spent days mourning, fasting and praying before God.

During this time of prayer, God laid it heavily on his heart to return to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding process. In chapter 2, Nehemiah approached the king to make his request and look how Nehemiah responded when the king asked Nehemiah what he wanted:

"The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." (Nehemiah 2:4-5)." Before Nehemiah responded, he invited God into the conversation. He wanted God’s guidance and wisdom. He wanted God to touch the heart of the king. He wanted God to lead and direct the conversation. The result was success. The king gave Nehemiah what he needed allowed him to begin his journey to Jerusalem.

Also, in chapter 4, when opposition rose up against the builders, Nehemiah prayed for God’ protection and the people of Jerusalem were able to defend themselves and continue rebuilding – “They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.”(Nehemiah 4:8). Again Nehemiah invited God’s intervention and God responded by protecting the builders from the opposition so that they could continue their work.

Nehemiah shows great reliance on the Lord as he completes his task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Take some time to think about your level of reliance on the Lord. How often do you invite the Lord into a difficult conversation? Do you pray when faced with opposition? Do you ask for guidance and wisdom before beginning a major task? Take some time to assess your own prayer life. Invite God into your daily activities and ask him to guide your conversations. He wants you to trust in Him and lean on Him!

The Gift of a double blog!

So apparently two of us decided God had things he wanted to say to us through Esther. I was just getting ready to post this when I saw Kelly already posted. So I thought I'd share anyway...

Today we finish the book of Esther. The book is unique in that God is never mentioned. But He is far from absent in this story. God's sovereign rule is so evident. Can you see in all the little twist and turns God's sovereign hand? Can you see how what man would call a coincidence is the sovereign hand of God working out his plan? Can you see how he can speak to and work through and move in the hearts of people who don't believe in him? Indeed, he is God.

Because we see the entire story from beginning to end, God's work is evident. His plan is quickly revealed, his victory swift. For us as we read anyway. For Mordecai and Esther I'm certain it was quite different. They had only their faith and then small steps to lead them. They didn't know where all of this was going, what God would ultimately do, or really even if their lives would be spared. They only knew to do what God set before them each day and then to wait for him to reveal the next step. They could only trust when things seemed impossible that God was still leading them and that he could more in these seemingly hopeless circumstances.

So I wonder, can you see the little twists and turns in your life? Do you see them as God's sovereign hand. Can you see him showing you the next step and then trust him to work out the entire plan, even though you have no idea how the story will end? Do you trust him to be the God who serves up justice that is beyond what you could deliver yourself? My friends, so often we tell God that we trust him to work things out, but then we want him to tell us how and when he will work them out. We say that we will wait on him, but we tell him exactly how long we expect to wait.

I pray today that you would allow the truth of Mordecai and Esther's story settle in your heart. I pray that God's alive and active word would increase your faith this day. I pray that your eyes would be opened so that you would see all of the small - and large - ways that God is working out his sovereign plan in, through, and for you. I pray that that by the power of the Holy Spirit you would be willing to take up the shield of faith, look to God, and wait for him to move. You can trust him. Oh yes, he is SO trustworthy. Allow him to love you by trusting him for his best in your life. Your current circumstances have only earthly consequences. The loving work he is doing as he moves in them has eternal consequences. Allow him to have his way with you. Allow him to write his story of sovereign love in your life.

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14

Blessings sweet friends! -
Carol

Ezra 7-10

Today’s passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezra%207-10&version=NIV

A good friend of mine grew up in the northwest, but spent 10 of her adult years in Houston. During those 10 years in Texas, she added words to her vocabulary such as ya’ll, and bigole and even lost a little of that northwestern accent. That's because we have a tendency to conform to those around us. That’s why Paul wrote in Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world”. We tend to become like those who surround us. In chapters 9-10, Ezra is distraught over the behavior of the remnant. It had been brought to his attention, that many of the people of Israel had married non-believers. We saw during the Exodus that when the Israelites allowed the pagans into their lives in marriage, they brought with them their pagan worship rituals. When Ezra became aware of this, he immediately began fasting and praying for his people. His authentic repentance on behalf of his people was noticed, and soon he was joined by a large congregation of others who realized their sin. Not only did the people of Israel hear Ezra’s prayer, but God heard Ezra’s prayer. It is evident that God moved in the hearts of his people. That heartfelt, genuine, sincere prayer moved a nation to repentance.

As Christians, we can all participate in prayer for our brothers and sisters. Prayer that God will move in the hearts of ourselves and others to open our eyes to our sins and move us toward action to cleanse our lives of that sin are heard by our mighty and faithful God.

Unfortunately, the choices made after repentance might have seemed like a good idea, but the question is, were they a “God” idea. Don’t misinterpret this passage as an excuse to divorce a non-believer. Nowhere do we read that God condoned the decision for the mass divorce that occurred as a result of their realization of their sin. And Malachi, who was a prophet at the same time period, admonished the Israelites and says that God “hates divorce”. Also, in 1 Corinthians 12-13, Paul’s advice on the matter of divorce of a non-believer is given: “To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.” Furthermore, in 1 Peter 3:1-2 we are reminded that a husband can be won over to Christ by the reverent and chaste actions of his wife.

What’s interesting about this passage is that there wasn’t full support of the “mass divorce” idea. Ezra 10:15 says “Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.” I have to wonder what kind of solution God would have given Ezra and the others if only they had prayerfully considered the voice of opposition.



Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Esther 6-10

Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%206-10&version=NIV

Esther 6-10
God is a just God and sometimes, He allows the unjust to get a taste of his own medicine. Haman- who had arranged for ALL Jews; including the women, children, elderly; to be killed, destroyed and annihilated – got a taste of his. As Beth Moore says, the outcome of Haman’s plan is the superlative Old Testament illustration of Proverbs 26:26: “The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone – it will come back on him.”

The irony of Haman’s fate is so poetic - that he was executed due to the king’s jealous rage on the very gallows that Haman had built so that he could have Mordecai executed due to the same reason – jealousy.

What’s really great about this story is that God used a quiet, scared, humble, faithful young girl to execute this poetic justice. He didn’t transform her into a mighty warrior that would rally troops and lead her people to victory. He didn’t transform her into a charismatic leader that would convince her people to revolt. He didn’t transform her into a strong, demanding wife who would crush her husband into submission. He used her exactly the way he created her. She just quietly, with the utmost humility and sensibility, stepped out in faith and asked her husband to rescue her. Why? Because God created us as we are to use us as we are.

Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe

For Such A Time As This

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%201-5&version=NIV

I recently heard a pastor say that when God calls us to work for him, it is not because he needs us to accomplish his purpose. Rather, he is already at work and is inviting us to become a part of it. Indeed, God doesn't need us to accomplish anything. How often we get that confused - believing and acting as if God can't do it without us or find someone else just as qualified.

So why, then, does God call us to work for him? I believe the answer is because we grow when we take up these challenges that often require steps of faith. I also believe it is because through this work we will get to see God's glory - and what I beautiful thing it is to behold God's glory at work in the lives of people God has allowed us to touch for him.

The bottom line is that God calls us to step out in faith so that we can watch him work. He doesn't need us to be involved in the work to accomplish it - rather he allows us to be involved. The results are blessings that abound in our lives and in those we serve.

Mordecia and Esther where invited by God to be involved in the work he was doing to rescue his people. Mordecai had a great understanding of what is discussed above. He and Esther are a beautiful picture of faith in God's promises and sovereignty and obedience that stems out of that faith. Watch tomorrow's reading for the blessing they receive because of their obedience as we see God's plan and purpose fulfilled.

But for now, let's take a closer look at what I think is one of the most powerful passages in scripture. I won't give the background, because if you're reading, you know it. Instead, we'll jump straight into the part where Esther is invited to become part of God's rescue mission. Mordecia urges Esther to go before the King and beg for mercy for the Jewish people who are facing genocide. Esther is hesitant - understandably fearful.

The portion I'd like to focus on are Mordecai's words in response to Esther's hesitation:

"Do not think that because you are in the king's house you along of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. But who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this." - Esther 4:12-14

My study notes say that the themes of the book of Esther are most clearly expressed in this passage. Mordecai's confidence that the Jews would be delivered is based on God's sovereignty in working out his purposes and fulfilling his promises. Their deliverance will come, even if through some means other than Esther. Yet that sovereignty is not fatalistic: Unless Esther exercises her individual responsibility, she and her family will perish. Here is demonstrated the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

The summary of the lesson we can clean from this is perhaps that:
-God has a divine plan and purpose
-He invites us to participate in his plan and purpose
-Sometimes the step of obedience is frightening, but we can be assured that God is already working and will provide all we need to accomplish the task
-God's purpose who be accomplisehd with or without us
-However, we are the ones who might face consequences and certainly miss amazing blessings when we fail to take up God's calling

I pray, sweet friends, that God would lead us to a place of faith and confidence so that we might be willing to take up the calling when our "such a time as this" arrives.

Do you have a story about a time when you stepped out in faith and obedience like Esther? Share your story - and your blessing.

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels

There's more?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%2010-13&version=NIV

I have to admit that for some reason I am just at a bit of a loss of what to say about these passages. Perhaps it's because I'm preparing to teach tomorrow and my thoughts are wrapped around a completely different passage. Or perhaps it's because God has far better things to show you and doesn't want my words to get in the way.

But what I will share is this one thought: God has been so gracious to his remnant. He has brought them back to a land and again dwells among them in the temple. He has made them into a people again. I'm certain that as he re-establishes this relationship, the Israelites are viewing him through new eyes - eyes that see a greater compassion, a greater mercy. And what I love is that he isn't done there. No, he doesn't just promises a 'for now' rescue and restoration. In our passages today he promises a final victory, a permanent victory. A gracious, loving King who fights FOR them. He promises the Messiah. And we know that God always delivers on his promises. In fact, we are living on the other side of this one, just waiting for the rest to be complete. He gives such a gracious promise just when they thought, I believe, that he couldn't love them more.

Apply that to your life. Has God been gracious to you. Watch to see what he will do next. Just when you thought he couldn't love you more....

Blessings precious friends!

Zechariah 5-9

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%205-9&version=ESV

Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

The book of Zechariah is a prophetic book. Many of the prophecies have not yet come to pass, yet some of them have. In particular, two great prophecies about the first coming of Jesus Christ appear in this book in verses, 9:9 above, and in 11:12-13.

The Word of God is amazing, in that these prophecies about Christ were made over 500 years from when they were fulfilled.

The Bible is a wonderful book. Prophecies like the one above add to its beauty.

Take time today to thank the Lord for the gift of His Word to us. There are so many different genres of literature in it, that in this lifetime we will never be able to understand or comprehend it all. But thank God that He has given us His Spirit so that we can grow in understanding His Word as we grow in Christ.

[7] The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
[8] the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
[9] the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
[10] More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
[11] Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
(Psalm 19:7-11 ESV)

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Zechariah 1-4

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%201-4&version=ESV


Zechariah 4:6 "Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts."


Not by might, nor by power, but by the Lord's Spirit. This is the embodiment of living a Spirit-filled life.

Friends, all that we are and all that we accomplish is by the power of the Holy Spirit to glorify our Father in Heaven.

As I have grown in my Christian walk, I have to remind myself of this truth every day. It is not by my power, but by the Lord's Spirit.

Today I am at a Controller's conference for my company in San Antonio. Over 170 people from my company from around the world are here. We have been listening to presentations all week.

Furthermore, they had breakout sessions, and my boss and I presented the same one three times this week. I prayed that the Lord would give me and my boss strength to do the presentations well. They were very important to the project that my boss and I have been working on.

Well, I am happy to say that they went better than we had planned. And as I write this in my hotel room, I am reminded by this great verse above that was not by my power or strength, but it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that we were able to do well today in our presentations.

Friends, it is so easy to want to take the credit for doing good things for ourselves. Give the credit to God. He gave you the talent, ability, desire, and opportunity to accomplish everything that anyone has ever done.

When we place the focus on God and off of ourselves, we then can begin to grow more like Christ and live lives that will glorify our Father in heaven.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

The Book of Haggai

Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=haggai%201-2&version=NIV

It was the beginning of the 6th month of the year and the harvest season was winding down. Yet, God’s people had said that the time had not yet come to rebuild the temple. They were too busy settling into their homes and going on with their daily life. Meanwhile, the house of God, which symbolized God’s presence, lie desolate.

Haggai 1:3-6 says: Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

It’s like they were just running around in circles going nowhere. They couldn’t get no satisfaction. And there was a reason for that. Their priorities were out of whack and God sent Haggai to call them out on it - Give careful thought to your ways…Evaluate your priorities…Why do you have time to finish your house, but not mine?

As you read the book of Haggai, take a minute to evaluate your own priorities. Where do you spend your time? Your money? Does it ever seem like you don’t have time for God; time to serve Him by serving others; time to worship and pray; time to spend in his word? Are your days a busy blur? Do you jump out of bed and join the human race, running around the track of chores until the end of the day when you fall into bed, exhausted only to realize you haven’t even crossed the finish line. Doesn’t sound very satisfying, does it? But many of us, get swept up in this kind of a race. I often have to scale back on things like Facebook and TV when I realize they are starting to suck up to much time. I encourage you to take inventory of your day. Are there any time suckers that you could eliminate? How much time a day do you spend messing around on your phone? Playing video games? Shopping? Watching sports? Working out? Identify one of these areas and try a 6 week fast. Or you could limit the activity to weekends only or set a daily time limit. Replace that time sucking activity with some time alone with God or look for opportunities to serve Him and build his church. This is where true satisfaction lies!



Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Ezra 4-6; psalm 137

Todays passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezra%204-6,%20psalm%20137&version=NIV



As the Israelites begin the rebuilding of the temple, they faced opposition more than once. First the enemies offered their help. Very wisely, Zerubbabel and the elders refused their offer to help, realizing that they are up to no good. In verse four, the true colors of the enemies shine through – they “discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus…” (Ezra 4:4-5). The people of the land continued their discouragement, writing letters to the king of Persia, and warning him that if the temple is rebuilt, “they will not pay tribute, custom or toll and it will damage the revenue of the kings” (Ezra 4:13). Temple ceased by force of arms in 4:23

Although the work on the house of God ceased temporarily, God’s promise to rebuild would prevail. Ezra 5:1 says that temple work resumed when Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in the name of God. Those words are revealed in the book of Haggaii,“Take courage Zerubbable, declares the Lord, take courage Joshua son of Johozadak, the high priest and all you people of the land take courage, declares the Lord, and work; for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts”. (Haggai 2:4) In obedience, they begin rebuilding the house of God and once again. Ultimately the temple was rebuilt in spite of this heavy opposition and King Darius even allocated funds to pay for it! God turned that situation around and provided for his people to carry on and complete his work.

One thing is guaranteed when you are walking in obedience to the Lord – opposition. John 16:33 assures us that “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Opposition can kill your progress, destroy your work and steal your enthusiasm. Satan wanted nothing more than to discourage God’s people from rebuilding a house of God. This passage reminds us that we must have faith that if God gives us a task, he will be with us and he will carry us through it. He will provide the means, the encouragement and the ability to build his church or complete any task that he puts in front of us. He will take a situation of opposition and turn it around for his good.

When we were missioning in Honduras last summer, we were scheduled to visit and present our program to 4 schools one day. The day before, the teachers went on strike. School would be closed. We were so disappointed when we were told that all of our programs were cancelled. But our leaders went right to work. God opened the doors and we were able to visit to 2 private school visits and mission and we reached over 600 children and adults that day. God’s work was carried out in spite of opposition.

Are you experiencing opposition in your kingdom work? Pray that God will send words of encouragement to you and open your heart to his voice. Meditate over his words in Haggai 2:4 – “…take courage…and work; for I am with you!”


Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe

A Return to God's Grace

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%201-3&version=NIV

Today we begin the book of Ezra. While it may seem we are going backward, chronologically, we are exactly where we need to be. I'd like to share the blurb from my study Bible about God's grace as exhibited in Ezra because I like what it says as it gives us a good overview:

"Ezra exhibits God's grace by showing how God fulfills his pledge to return his people to the land of promise after years of exile. Zerubbabel leads the first return (ch. 1-6), to rebuild the temple; Ezra is the leader of the second return (ch. 7-10), to rebuild the spiritual condition of the people. A gap of almost 60 years separates the two returns, during which time Esther lives and rules as queen in Persia. The Messianic promises are kept alive because they are connected with Bethlehem, where Jesus will be born (Mic. 5:2). The restoration of the temple signifies the continuation of God's presence through his grace, and is essential to a revitalized worship."

Now, with that overview in mind, I want to share a couple of things that jumped out at me that are evidence of God's grace, love, power, and involvement in the lives of his people. We would be wise to note these examples in scripture and know that he can and does do the same in our lives today.

The first thing that touched me is right at the beginning. Ezra 1:1 tells us that "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation through his realm and to put it into writing." What God moved in the kings heart to proclaim was that he was to build a temple to him in Jerusalem. Now mind you, the king is not a Christian, which makes this proclamation that much more astounding. The application here is first, that God keeps his word. Second, God can move and speak to any heart - Christian or not. And lastly, he can move even a non-Christian to show favor to his people. God promises to lead you and protect you and he will. He can go before you and speak to hearts of both Christians and non-Christians alike to show you favor because you are his chosen one. Know that and believe that. He does it for Ezra, for Esther, and many others. He will do the same for you.

The other thing that touched me comes at the end of today's reading. I was moved by the people's response to the laying of the foundation of the temple. Some shouted aloud with Joy. Others (the priests) wept. I am certain I'd be moved to do both at this great display of God's mercy that he would bring his people back to this place, allow them to rebuild, and again to worship him. I believe every soul experiences both weeping and great joy when God restores it, takes up residence there, and allows the individual to again be used for his purpose. Yes, God's grace is so evident in Ezra. Even more so, it is evident in your life and mine. May we both weep at our own lack of righteousness and shout for joy at God's amazing grace.

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels

What's taking so long?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%2010-12&version=NIV

The book of Daniel holds some beautiful and important truths about prayer that I'd like share. The first truth is that as soon as we begin to pray, God not only hears our prayers, but moves on them. Note Daniel 9:23 and 10:12:

"As soon as you begain to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed."

"Since the frist day you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in reponse to them."

Note, by the way, that Daniel was more about seeking understanding than we was about answers. He was more about humbling himself before God than he was about making demands of God. He was more about God's will and his plans then he was about his own.

Perhaps you believe that this immediate hearing of prayers things was true for Daniel but not for you. After all, as we discussed yesterday, he was a rock star in the faith department - therefore he was highly esteemed by God. But, I doubt many of us feel like we measure up to Daniel, and so while this might be true for him, is it truly the same for us? Does God immediately act on our prayers? The answer is a resounding yes, because it isn't only in Daniel where we see this truth, this promise. In Isaiah 65:24, we read of this promise from God to all who are his chosen people - that's you and me! Here's what it says:

"Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking, I will hear."

So why, then, does it seem to take so long for God to answer our prayers? Why, then, do we wait? One reason that answers can be delayed is found as we continue to read in Daniel 10:13:

"But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia."

The reason Daniel's answer to prayer was delayed was because of a spiritual battle. So just in case you don't believe in spiritual warefare, here we have proof. My study notes say that the prince of Persia was, "Apparently a demon exercising influence over the Persian realm in the interests of Satan. His resistance was finally overcome by the archangel Michael, "the great prince who protects" the people of God"(12:1). It is true, my friends, that Satan and his demons will certainly try to come against anything that would fulfill the will of God and give glory to God. And because prayers that are answered are so often turned back to God in praise, it only makes sense that he would try to frustrate God's work - especially when it comes to a purpose of God being fulfilled in our lives, or a god-planted and created desire coming to fruition.

So what do we do about it? Are we powerless? Certainly we are not! We pray not only for our desires or needs, but we also pray against anything that would come against these things. The battle rages, my friends. Satan would love nothing more than for us to not receive what we pray for. He would love nothing more than to stop God's glory from shining brilliantly in lives in the way he answers our prayers. He would love nothing more than for us to lose faith and not praise God. And when the prayers are things that are family and church related, he comes on twice as strong because he's twice as threatened.

We are not meant to be discouraged by the spiritual battle, but to take our stand and be encouraged to know that God fights for us. I like what Matthew Henry's commentary says about this. He says, "While Satan and his angels, and evil counselors, excite princes to mischief against the church, we may rejoice that Christ our Prince, and all his mighty angels, act against our enemies."

My precious friends, God indeed hears your prayers - even before they reach your lips. He is acting on your behalf and for your good. Don't give up - continue to pray, continue to believe, continue to stand on God's word and God's promises. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord". Romans 8:38-39

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any god besides you, who acts on behaof of those who wait for him." Isaiah 64:4

I pray, friends, that you will be strong, take heart, and wait on the Lord! Blessings to you!

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels

A prayer that rocks!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%207-9&version=NIV

I love the faith of Daniel. In fact, if I were to choose a model or faith- a mentor from scripture - it would be him. His faith stood up in the midst of less than ideal circumstance from the start. But as we've been reading, I'm sure you've noticed that are persecution got stronger, as the 'fire got hotter' if you would, his faith increased.

So I read the book of Daniel often to see the things he put into practice that allowed God to build this amazing faith. He was a man who trained - mind, body, spirit. Daniel lived out his faith in the things he ate (Dan. 1:5-20) - and so I've done the Daniel fast - all fruits and vegetables - for thirty days. It was an amazing experience. A little note about spiritual fasting - it absolutely turns your focus to God and it's amazing how God gives you the strength to continue. Admittedly, I am so far from Daniel standards in what I choose to eat daily, but I do strongly believe in putting food in my 'temple' that will help it remain clean and healthy.

Daniel lived out his faith in a consistent and persistent prayer life - he prayed three times a day (Dan. 6:12). He kept this prayer habit even when faced with persecution if he continued in it. So I try to model Daniel by going to God in prayer. One of my favorite things I've learned about prayer is that you don't have to be on your knees or in a set-aside time in order to pray (although is this important and a key ingredient to a life of faith). I've learned that I can walk through my days and pray as I go - that I don't have to leave the presence of God after I come off of my knees from my quiet time in the morning. I can literally live before his throne. Christ knew this - he commands that we pray constantly - and certainly He did.

Daniel also prayed and lived and walked in faith and expectation. He did not doubt God - even when God delayed to answer - but believed that God would answer his prayers. Period. No questions asked. His faith in God was undoutably the cornerstone on which he built his life.

And so Daniel 9 is one of my favorite prayers in scripture. It is a prayer of humilty (vs. 3), worship (vs. 4), confession (vs. 5-15) and petition (vs.16-19). It is a phenomenal prayer to model. It is a prayer that has become part of my prayers every day because verses 17-19 are words of God that I've chosen to pray back to him daily. My favorite part of the prayer is being able to confess that I don't approach God because I believe I am righteous, but because he is so merciful to not just allow, but invite me to do so and delight when I do. It's a gracious reminder of God to us that we don't have to be all cleaned up to go to the throne of grace - certainly Israel wasn't at the time Daniel prayed this prayer. Rather, we go believing in God's mercy, his forgiveness, and that he hears us and has the power to change our lives and make beauty where we've made ashes. And so I pray for us:

"Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lofd, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." - Daniel 9:17-19

Blessings to you, sweet friends!

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels

Daniel 4-6

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204-6&version=ESV


Daniel 5:24-28 "“Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

In Daniel chapter 5 we read of the hand writing on the wall. According to the ESV Study Bible, the actual words Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin are translated to mean “Numbered, numbered, weighed, and divided.”

Belshazzar, who followed Nebuchadnezzar as King, and probably was a regent, had already disregarded the Lord. He was aware of what had happened to Nebuchadnezzar, yet he still acted disobedient toward the Lord.

In the midst of a great feast, the King saw a hand on the wall which wrote MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. The text says his color changed and his thoughts alarmed him. I can imagine so, can you imagine what it would be like if you were in a room and you see a hand suddenly just writing on the wall? Just a hand, and no body. My color I'm sure would have changed as well.

Similar to the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar calls in the wise men to make known the interpretation. No one could answer it, and the queen reminds Belshazzar of Daniel.

Belshazzar tells Daniel that if he interprets the dream that he will be made the third ruler off the kingdom.

I love how Daniel responds:

"Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. "

(Daniel 5:17)

See, Daniel did not care about the gifts and rewards, he cared about doing the will of God and proclaiming His truth. There is nothing inherently evil about the gifts and rewards, and Daniel did receive them, but what is inherently evil is when we value these more than we value God.

Friends, value God and His Word as Daniel did. Our circumstances may not always be pleasant, but the joy we have in our position in Christ is!!!

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Daniel 1-3

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%201-3&version=ESV

Today, our reading begins in Daniel, chapters 1 to 3.

This is such a great book, and I don't feel I am giving it justice by focusing on only 1 of the chapters, but for brevity, I must.

So, today, let's look at Daniel chapter 3.

This is a well known story to most of us. Nebuchadnezzar made a statue of gold and required everyone to worship it.

The Chaldeans maliciously accused the Jews and told Nebuchadnezzar that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego paid no attention to him; they did not serve his gods or worship the golden image that he set up.

So, Nebuchadnezzar summoned the three and asked them if they would worship the image, and they said they would not. So Nebuchadnezzar ordered that they be thrown into the furnace.

It is here where the three show their true faith. They tell Nebuchadnezzar:

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

What a wonderful testimony to God these three have!! They were willing to risk their lives for the Lord. Are we willing to do that?

This also is a great example of when statutes of the state and Christian beliefs are in conflict, our Christian beliefs, must prevail. God has ordained our leaders to lead. Even if we do not agree with their policies, we must obey them.

As Paul wrote in Romans 13:1-2

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. "

There are debates on this, as to should we have revolted against Britain, etc... What I would say, and what a good and wise Christian friend told me, is that we are not responsible for the actions of our forefathers. Some of what they did, undoubtedly was not based on the Bible.

But we are responsible for today and how we interact with the culture for Christ on a moment by moment basis.

These three in chapter three of Daniel had a strong faith. A faith in which if they lived or died, they would be content with the Lord. That we would have a faith like they did. I pray that each of us is ready if a day like this comes to our nation.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

The Book of Joel

Todays passage Joel 1-3: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joel%201-3&version=NIV


Todays post comes from Crosswalk.com's bible pathways:

Joel warned of the impending destruction of Jerusalem. In mercy, the Word of the Lord . . . came to Joel . . . . Blow . . . the trum-pet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain (Joel 1:1; 2:1). The trumpet was often used to announce solemn days and feasts, and by watchmen to warn of approaching danger (Numbers 10:1-10). But, the sins of the Israelites were even more serious than the approaching enemies. Because of their sins, God could not bless them or protect them. The day of the Lord cometh . . . a great people. . . . nothing shall escape them. . . . Therefore . . . turn . . . to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning (Joel 2:1-12).

The one condition for forgiveness and acceptance by the Lord is genuine repentance. True repentance is threefold. First, it is a sorrow for one's sin against God, as well as against others; second, it is a turning to the Lord, asking His forgiveness for all sins; and third, it is forsaking sin to live a life pleasing to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

On the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter preached the prophetic meaning of Joel's words, saying: Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21). He concluded his message by saying: Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Spirit). For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off (2:38-39). We are among those that are afar off.

The prophet Joel also foretold of the final day of the Lord that is yet to take place: Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come (Joel 1:15). It will bring to a close the miserable rule of sinful mankind and finally usher in the glorious reign of Jesus Christ, the righteous King of Peace. Jesus foretold there will come a time soon when all the tribes of the earth . . . shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30).

Praise God, no matter how deep in sin we are, we have the opporunity to repent and to look forward to that day of the glorious reign of Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel 43-48

Today’s passage - Ezekiel 43-48:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezekiel%2043-48&version=NIV

As we continue in Ezekiel’s tour of the new temple, in chapter 47 we come to a river that flows from the temple of God. It begins miraculously from the sanctuary and travels past the alter and out of the temple via the east gate. It become more powerful as it flows and gives life to the trees on its banks and they produce fruit for nourishment and leaves for healing. It also brings life to the sea that it feeds, making it fresh and full of fish.

I am reminded of a church we worked with last summer in Honduras. The Church of the Rivers of Living Water was a beautiful church, and I don’t mean the bricks and mortar part, I mean the people; the body of Christ. The members of this church had a heart for God and it showed. They fed on the word of God and they were excited to share it with others. They knocked on doors and invited their neighbors to church, they prayed with them and at times they even helped out with physical needs where they could. A few of the members even traveled with us to their mission and worked beside us as we served the impoverished members of a nearby farm town. The name of the church was so appropriate. Rivers of living water were flowing from the members of that church.

As Carol mentioned in yesterday’s post, through the power of the blood of Christ, God promised that He will dwell in you if you make a place for him. But God doesn’t dwell in side of us so that we can keep him hidden within. His power and glory produces a river of water that can flow out of us and bless others. God can use you to serve and to bless others. He can use you to fill others spiritual and physical needs. He can use you to bring others to Christ. He can use you to directly influence the population of heaven.

The minute you believed and accepted Christ as your Savior, you were indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God. Your body is a temple of God and in that temple God placed a river of living water. Are you allowing that river to flow from your temple? Take some time to assess your own life. Do your actions and words produce fruit that provides nourishment and healing to others? Does your life exhibit a testimony of God’s love and forgiveness? Ask God to show you areas of your life where the water has grown stagnant. Ask Him to guide you in unleashing a mighty flood of his love on those you meet. Ask Him to open doors and open your eyes to those who need to know about His saving grace. Let your rivers flow!

Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Instructions for Temple Building

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2040-42&version=NIV

Today we read a rather tedious passage filled with instructions for reconstruction of the temple. One has to wonder what the significance is in all of these details. However, there is definitely significance for the people of Israel. They knew that if God was telling them how to build his temple, that he was making a promise that he would again dwell amoung them. In tomorrow's reading we read about God's glory returning. I don't know about you, but I want to live where God's glory is.

What does this mean for your life today? It's quite simple really. The lesson is that if you make a place for God in your heart, he will dwell in you. I love that - he doesn't just dwell in a temple near to you, accessed only by a priest. Instead, through the power of the blood of Christ, he promises that if we build a place in our lives for him, he will dwell in you. That's a whole lot of power and a whole lot of glory dwelling inside of you, my friends.

How do you become a temple where God's glory dwells? 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 gives us our instructions:

"For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." I will be a Father to you and you will be my sonds and duaghters, says the Lord Almighty. Since we have theses promises, dar friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfection holiness out of reverence to God."

LIfe where its not possible

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2037-39&version=NIV

Today we read about the valley of dry bones in chapter 37:1-15. This vision speaks of the restoration of Israel - it is a vision of hope. In the vision God creates life where there is none. He creates life where there is abosolutely no hope for life - from a pile of dried up old bones.

I love this vision, because it reminds me of how much power our God has. It reminds me that when God comes into a situation seems abolutely hopeless and impossible, the impossible becomes possible. We serve a God who breathes, and new life is created (Genesis 2:7). We serave a God who can take the dead and bring them back to life. My favorite story is that of Lazarus in John 11: 1-44. Lazarus wasn't dead, he was dead dead. So dead that when Jesus asked them to remove the stone from th entrance of the grave, the people where concerned because he had been dead long enough that as the King James Version says, "he stinketh".

Friends, perhaps you are facing a valley of dry bones in your life. Maybe your situation seems so dead and hopeless that it has started to 'stinketh'. I want you to know this day, my friends, that there is still hope. With God there is always hope, no matter how dead your situation is. He is the God of hope. He is the God who creates new life. He is the God who is the restorer of life. If your situation is so dead that it stinks, may I suggest that it is ripe for God's glory to be displayed in it.

You see God loves impossible circumstances because God loves to show off his glory. He loves to step into the impossible and make it possible. He loves to go beyond the beyond of all we asked are imagine so that we get to see his glory. If you read the story of Lazarus, when Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus is now dead, he says, "and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe". When Mary protests about the odor of one who has been dead for four days, Jesus replied, "Did I not tell you that if you believe you would see the glory of God?"

Perhaps it is time to look at the circumstance, the dream, the desire of your life that seems dead in a new light. It is not dead, but rather dry bones that are waiting and ready to live in the instant God commands - in the minute he says breathe.

This story reminds me of a circumstance I've prayed over. It was something that from human eyes was completely dead. However, I have prayed since this circumstance became an impossible situation this prayer: 'Lord, this appears to be dead. But I know you are the God that can bring the dead back to life. And if not that, God, then I believe that you will create new life instead.' I don't know what made me pray that prayer - I would guess that it is Spirit-prompted because God wanted me to see that he could. And sure enough, like he did in the valley of dry bones, he has slowly started to restore life in a place where there was none. He has restored my hope - I have watched him begin to attach tendons, I am seeing evidence of flesh and I fully expect to see him cover the bones in skin.

Friends, I cannot wait for the day when I get to watch God breathe, and life is restored completely in this situation. And I believe with all my heart that it will be - and so wait I will, because God's word makes it is clear that the one who waits on the Lord will see his Glory. So be strong, take heart, and wait on the Lord (Psalm 27). He will create new life in your impossible circumstance in ways that you can't predict, in ways that might look very different from the old life, in ways that seem to take more time than you expected.

Hold on to his promise - hold on to hope:

"Oh my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. i will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord." - Ezekiel 37: 12-14

Ezekiel 34-36

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2034-36&version=ESV

Ezekiel 36:24-27 "24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. ²⁵ I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. ²⁶And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

The above is a beautiful picture of what the new birth looks like. Its is what it means to be born again.

Please read John 3:1-15.

When Jesus tells Nicodemus in verse 5,

"Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

He is undoubtedly referring to these verses. Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee, and knew the Old Testament well, did not understand Jesus.

He did not understand Him and the truth of the new birth, because first and foremost he was not yet born again. He did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling in him.

The Holy Spirit is truly a gift to us. Not only is He the one who is actively involved in our regeneration, or new birth, but He is also actively involved in our sanctification, or spiritual growth.

I love when the Lord tells Ezekiel that He will remove the heart of stone from our flesh and replace it with a heart of flesh.

How great that is!!! I can only tell you that since I have been born again, that the things of the Lord have become more and more precious to me.

That is a sign that you are born again. That you begin to yearn after the things of the Lord. You want to read His Word, you want to pray, you want to be holy, and you want to obey Him.

Friends, the sanctification or spiritual growth in each of us, happens differently, and each of us progresses in our Christian life at different rates. But the important thing is to be progressing. To be growing in our walk with Christ.

I would like to end with some verses from 1 Peter and 2 Peter.

The first tells us about how we should yearn for God's truths. And the second tells us that although we should grow in knowledge about the Lord, we also need to grow in our relationship with Him, and we should strive to act more Christlike each and every day that the Lord has blessed us with on this earth.

1 Peter 2:2-3

"2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. "

2 Peter 3:18

"¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Ezekiel 31-33

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2031-33&version=ESV

Ezekiel 33:12-16

¹² "And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. ¹³Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. ¹⁴Again, though I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, ¹⁵ gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks if the wicked restores the pledge, in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. ¹⁶ None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.

In the midst of Ezekiel, where Ezekiel has written about the condemnation of the nations, the Lord tells Ezekiel that the righteousness of man shall not deliver him if a man does wickedness, and that a wicked man shall not fall from his wickedness when he turns from it.

That message is still true to us today. Our righteousness will not save us. Only the imputed righteousness of Christ enables the Father to look at us as though we are Christ.

And for those who have fallen into sin, the Lord still calls us to repent and turn from our sins and turn towards Him.

There are three main imputations in the Bible.

1. Adam's sin was imputed to us. (i.e. the doctrine of Original Sin)

2. Our sin was imputed to Christ

3. Christ's righteousness was imputed to us when we believe in Him as our savior and Lord

How wonderful a word this must have been to the people of Israel!

But we see in verse 17 how the people responded:

"Yet your people say,'The way of the Lord is not just,' when it is their own way that is not just. "

Isn't that how the world looks at God today? If God is good, why is there evil? Why does He let bad things happen to good people? And the excuses go on and on.

Friends, continue to read God's Word and immerse yourselves in the truths of Scripture, lest we fall prey to the doubts and reasoning of the world.

Praise God that it is not our righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ, the our Father in heaven sees in us.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

ezekiel 27-30

Today’s passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezekiel%2027-30&version=NIV

“Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god…” Ezekiel 28:2

When I read this passage initially, I thought, “Well that’s a mistake I’ll never have to worry about making. I know I’m not a god.” But as I thought about it further, I realized that isn’t really always true.

• When I take things into my own hands if God doesn’t handle them the way I think he should, I say that I know better than Him.
• When I rush in head first without even consulting Him for guidance, I say that I am in charge of my own life.
• When I celebrate my success without ever giving thanks to the Lord for his gifts, I say that I have created my own success.
• When I judge someone else saying “I can’t believe she did that. I would never do that!”, I say that I have enough strength in and of myself to fight temptation.
• When I try to be someone I’m not, I say that God didn’t do a good job creating me.
• When I worry anxiously about the details of my life, I say that God can’t handle my problems.

It's easier than I thought to forget that I am not a god. Seems silly, because I know I'm not a god, but somehow, I still seem to forget that. There is a God, I am not Him and I would do well to remember that.

todays post submitted by Kelly Coxe

ezekiel 23-26

Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezekiel%2023-26&version=NIV

Ezekiel’s life as a prophet hasn’t exactly been what you’d call easy, but he has been faithfully obedient to God’s calling. In chapter 24, God reveals the next part of his plan to Ezekiel.
"The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” Ezekiel 24:15-17

So, not only is God going to take Ezekiel’s wife, the delight of his eyes, but Ezekiel can’t even mourn for her. He has to pretend that nothing has happened. Shove his emotions down into his soul and move on with none of the rituals and ceremonies that bring healing and comfort. Ouch. Ezekiel responded in verse 18 in complete obedience, "So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded."

I can’t help but imagine how I would have responded. “Surely there is another way? Please don’t take my wife, I’d be lost without her. How can you do this? Don’t you love me? This is so unfair!” I’m sure I’d run through the gamut of emotions such as grief, anger, pain, emptiness, denial, shock.

But the reality of it is that at some point, we all leave this earth. And before God lovingly created us, he knew exactly when that time would be. Some say that focusing on God’s sovereignty gets them through the grief of the loss of a loved one. In these times of anguish they focus on the cross. They focus on a God who loves us so much that he gave up his son to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins. They run to the refuge of his loving arms and rest in the knowledge that he has a plan for our lives on this earth – a plan that has a beginning, a middle and an end. But the best news is that the plan doesn’t end with our end here on this earth. He has a plan for an eternity with Him in heaven where there is no suffering, no pain, no grief. He has a plan and it’s a good plan.

God had built a faith in Ezekiel that allowed him to truly believe that God had a good plan. I pray that God continue building that faith in me. I'm 40 years old and I've never lost any one I would call the delight of my eyes. My grandparents have passed away, but they lived far away and I saw them once a year and although they were dear to me, they were distant and our relationship was not that close. I pray that when a time of grief comes my way that my faith will cause me to look to the cross for comfort. And that I will remain an obedient servant to the Lord who gives the gift of eternal life.

Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Exile

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2021-22&version=NIV

Chapter 21 predicts God’s sword of judgment in the form of exile to Babylon and the oppression of King Nebuchadnezzar. This judgment would be devastating and complete and none would escape the effects – not even the righteous. To get an impression of what this exile looked like, I’d like to share information found in my study bible about exile in the Ancient Near East.

When a nation or city suffered a calamitous defeat, it could lead to the near eradication of the defeated people. The scenario often began with the destruction of the conquered city, including the walls. The palace was looted, the religious artifacts carried off and the temple demolished. The deportation of the survivors into exile then began. In some cases, only royalty, government officials and well-educated were initially deported. If the conquered territory remained rebellious, additional mass deportations of the general populace were undertaken.

Assyrian kings attempted to deal with unruly populations through massive deportations. Exiles were often treated with extreme cruelty. Certainly we read about these instances in scripture. There are instances, however, when captives fared well and were able to rise in positions of authority. We will see examples of this when we read the book of Daniel. Genocide was also practiced at times as a means to completely destroy a nation or ethnic group. We see this attempt in the book of Esther.

I wanted to share this because it helps create for us a picture of what God is warning the people is coming to them because of their rebellion. And it helps us understand the context of the books we have yet to read – especially Daniel, which is one of my favorite books.

In all of what we read in the upcoming weeks, note that while God did not protect his righteous ones from the exile, he protected them in the exile. He also uses their faith as a testimony to the very people who hold them in captivity. Sometimes God sends us into tough circumstances – often with the purpose of displaying his glory in those places. But even so, he protects us there, walks with us there, and uses us there. Watch for the way he does this in the upcoming books we read as we continue to read God’s story of his people and faithfulness – the story that is our story and part of our rich heritage.

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels

That's Life

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2018-20&version=NIV

Today as we continue through Ezekiel I want to focus on chapter 18, because we find here some important truths that we must walk according to:

Living closely with God is what gives life. (vs. 6-9)
Friends – if you want your life to be as fulfilled, rich, peace-filled, joyful, exciting – you must live, walk, and communicate with God daily. If you want God to guide and protect your steps, if you want to see and feel his presence in his life, walk beside him constantly. If you want to hear from God, put yourself in the position by listening to his word and being still in prayer. If you want to see God move, become involved in the places he is moving. God desires that all have life through him – not just in eternity, but daily. Walk closely with him and experience the vibrant life he offers – it’s a great ride!

The faith of your parents does not give life. (vs. 10-13)
So many people rely on their ‘heritage’ of faith for their salvation. I believe many Christians are just doing what their parents done and ‘practicing’ their faith the way they were taught. But that’s religion, not faith. And unfortunately there are those who rely on the practice of their parents’ religion while they continue to walk in their own sinful ways. There are also those who have rejected God because of their parents very wrong representation of what living with him means. Certainly, your parents faith can help build and develop yours. However, it is essential that you know God personally – that you explore the word, delve down deep, spend time alone with God is prayer, put yourself under the teaching of mentors and participate in serving in Christian community. God gives life according to your own faith and righteousness, not your parents. Know God personally and see the amazing God that he is!

The sin of your parents does not bring death. (vs. 14-20)
So often, those who come from families that are less than ideal and that did not walk with God struggle with their human heritage. Choose today, my precious friend, to not allow Satan to speak lies about coming from such a family that lead you to feel shame. It does not matter who your parents are or whether they believed in God or walked in sin when it comes to your salvation. God knows who your heavenly Father is, and that’s all that matters to him. He has adopted you into his family and you have a rich, rich heritage! That is not to say that God does not want your family to also be saved. Indeed – verse 23 tells us that that God doesn’t want people to parish, but to turn from their ways and live. Is God asking you to be an instrument he will use to change the heart of your family members? Lastly, it is important for you to know that God is so very concerned about the wounds your family might have inflicted on you. He wants so very much to heal your hurts and brokenness that your childhood might have left. Will you release them to him, allow him to walk you through the pain and then allow him to heal? It is part of the life he offers.

Your own past does not bring death. (vs. 21-24)
God is so loving, forgiving, and filled with mercy that he does not hold our past against us. Let me repeat that again – God does not hold your past against you! He does not intent for you to walk in regret of the way you used to live. For God, how you walk from this day forward is all that matters. Your past now only serves as a reminder of the amazing work of God in your life. Do not allow yourself to go into your past before worshipping at the altar of God’s life-changing grace so that you will understand that you simply are not who you where. You are a new creation – the old is gone. Your sin is removed from you as far as the East is from the West. Read Psalm 103 – especially verses 7-12 – as a beautiful reminder of Gods love and compassion for you. God doesn’t say fix what you’ve done (although there might be people you need to humble yourself before and ask for forgiveness). God also does not punish sin beyond its natural consequences. Nor does he ask you to clean yourself up a little before you come to him. He simply asks you to make a choice to ‘rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit’. It’s that easy. If you’ve made that choice, continue to allow him to build that new heart and let that new spirit take residence in you. If you haven’t made that choice, today is a great day to do just that!


Friends – I believe each of us needs to remember one of more of these truths today. I pray that they would settle in your heart and that you would live, believe, and act accordingly. More than that, I pray that you would know the God who gives life, and draw so near to him that you would experience life the way he intended it to be. He is the creator God who created life. He’s the creator God who designed every intimate detail in you. He is the beginning of life, and the only true life is the one lived with Him.

Love and blessings sweet friends!

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels

Ezekiel 16-17

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2016-17&version=ESV

In Ezekiel 16, the Lord uses such strong language again.

I love the picture of verses 6 through 14,

"⁶"And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' ⁷ I made you flourish like a plant of the field. And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment. Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare. ⁸"When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine. ⁹Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. ¹⁰ I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. ¹¹ And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. ¹²And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. ¹³Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. ¹⁴And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD."

The Lord saw Israel and said live!! The same is true for us today. When the Holy Spirit quickens us, he causes us to live a life as a new creation in Christ. This is the new birth, or regeneration as it is called theologically. (See John 3, Ephesians 2:1-10, and 2 Cor. 5:17)

But after Israel had been called by the Lord to live, and adorned with His love, the people turned from Him.

See verses 15-17,

"¹⁵ "But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his. ¹⁶You took some of your garments and made for yourself colorful shrines, and on them played the whore. The like has never been, nor ever shall be. ¹⁷You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and with them played the whore."

The Lord uses extremely strong language for the people of Israel. He says they are whoring about, and He later says they are worse than whores because men pay for whores whereas they paid for their suitors to come to them.

In this context, the whoring about is not meant to be taken as sexual. The meaning of whoring about in this context is that the people of Israel had become so spiritually depraved that the Lord used the words of whoring about and whores as an analogy to bring home the point of how depraved they had become.

Look again closely at verses 6 to 14. In them you will see that the Lord calls out the people first, and then he adorns them.

So many people today think they need to be right with God by their actions first before they can come to faith to Him. This is so wrong!! You will be never be right with God until you place your trust in Him. Then He will supply you with strength by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to follow Him and be obedient to Him and to grow in our trust and love for Him.

In fact, even when you place your faith in Christ, your faith is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8 says,

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God"

As Jonah 2:9 says,

"...Salvation belongs to the LORD!"

The only thing we contribute to our salvation is our sins. Our decision to believe, repent of our sins, faith, justification, sanctification, and future glorification, are all from the Lord.

When we place our faith in other things, places, or people, we have become like the people of Israel. We have become spiritual whores, whoring about for what will satisfy us.

Only Jesus satisfies. With a God, who comes after us first and then equips us with what we need, how can we continue to whore about after things that will never satisfy?

I am not intending to insult anyone by calling them a whore. I am using exactly the same imagery that the Lord used. It was applicable to the people of Israel and it is applicable to us today.

I thank God that He did the choosing, that He did the regeneration, that He did the saving, and that He is doing the sanctifying.

You may ask, "What role do I take in my salvation?" Well, even though the Lord is sovereign we are still responsible for the choices we make.

Those that do not go to heaven can not claim that God did not choose them. They will not be in Heaven because they chose not to place their faith in Christ.

Deuteronomy 29:29 is a great verse,

""The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

How the sovereignty of God and man's responsibility for his choices work is a mystery even to the keenest theological minds. For me, I take great confidence in the fact that the Lord chose me. And because of this, I want to live a life that will glorify and honor Him.

Ephesians 1:3-10 states this truth much more eloquently than I,

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."

For those who are saved in Christ, praise be to God. For those who have not believed in Christ as their Lord and Savior, I would ask that you study the Scriptures. I would start with the Gospel of John. Read about Jesus, who He was, and what He did for us.

And then, after prayer I would hope that you would ask the question and do as the apostle Paul stated in Acts chapter 16.

^"30Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" ³¹And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." ³²And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. ³⁴Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God."

(Acts 16:30-34)

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Ezekiel 13-15

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2013-15&version=ESV

In Ezekiel chapter 15, the Lord compares the people of Israel to the wood of the vine.

I must confess, when I first read this, I thought, "Today's blog will be easy. I will just reference these verses and compare them to John chapter 15 where Jesus talks about the vine and the branches, and I'll be good to go."

But on further reflection and analysis, and looking at my trusty ESV Study Bible, we can see that there are definite differences between this "parable of the vine" vs. the "parable of the vine" in John chapter 15.

In John chapter 15, Jesus says He is the vine and we are the branches, and that a branch that does not bear fruit will be burnt up, and that without Him we can do nothing. As an aside, please read John chapter 15 if you have a chance today. It is a great chapter in the Bible.

In Ezekiel chapter 15, God is comparing the people of Israel to the wood of the vine. He says,

"Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything? Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything! Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem."

(Ezekiel 15:2-6)

What the Lord is saying is that Israel has become so worthless that she is only good enough to be used as a fuel for the fire to be consumed. She has walked so far away from the Lord that this is her condition.

It is sad and frightening that the people of God could wander this far away from the Lord. And the thing is, this is possible still today.

As Jesus said in John 15:5-6, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. " (Sorry, I had to quote John chapter 15. :) )

On the above verses from John, we read that we can do nothing apart from Jesus. How that should be our focus each and every day. We should ask Him for help at our work, in our relationships, in our leisure, in all aspects of our lives.

Ezekiel writes straight to the point. Reflect today on what the Lord has done for you. Be thankful you are a branch of His. If you are not, and have not placed your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you are one of the branches that will be gathered into the fire and burned.

But it does not have to be this way!!! Those who go to heaven, will give all the glory to God. Those who go to hell will have to bare all the blame because they did not trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation. A salvation that He freely offers to all.

As Jesus Christ said,

"The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. "

(Revelation 22:17)

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Ezekiel 7-12

Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezekiel%207-12&version=NIV

As a teacher, often when I talk to parents about their students’ attendance or behavior problems, I find that the parent has forgotten that they are, in fact, the parent. They throw their hands up in surrender because they can’t get their child to be obedient. “He won’t do this or she won’t do that”, they tell me and I think, “Who is the parent here, and who is the child?” It seems like children are ruling the household more and more these days and parents have forgotten who is in charge.

The message in Ezekiel is clear. God knows that He is Lord, but it seems that his children have forgotten that. “They shall know that I am the Lord” is used about 70 times in the book of Ezekiel. God not only wants us to know Him, but He wants us to know Him as the Lord. Our Lord. He is the one and only Sovereign Lord, who deserves all glory, respect, praise, honor, obedience, love and worship. He is the Lord who is in control, whose wisdom is fathomless, whose judgments are unsearchable. He is the Lord who desires that we all come to know Him that we may be saved. He is the Lord who desires that we seek Him first, putting Him on the throne of our lives.

Take some time to reflect on your own relationship with the Lord. Do you know Him? Do you know Him as your Lord? Is He sitting in the driver’s seat of your life? What or who drives your thoughts and actions? Is it the Lord? Or have you put something or someone else there? Money? Career? A relationship? Fear? A desire? Ask God to open your heart to Him as your Lord. Ask Him to build a desire in you to know that He is your Lord.

Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe