Disappointment

Life never goes exactly like we plan.  Most of my life has been full of blessings.  However, not everything goes the way I had hoped.  I think God allows disappointment so that the when we have victories they are sweeter.  Also, think about the lessons and humility I’ve had to learn from my failures and disappointments.  If had never failed, then I don’t know if I would have ever learned resilience.  I don’t like to be disappointed or fail, but I do know there are reasons God allows them to happen.

Remember

There are certain events that mark people.  December 7th is a day that those who grew up during  World War II remember.  The assassination of JFK was an event that people a little older than me remember.  The assassination attempt on Reagan and the Challenger  disaster were events that marked my life as well as 9/11.  

Often times we remember events like those because of something tragic.  These events are instrumental in leading people back to church. As I was reading in Nehemiah this morning I noticed that as Nehemiah was leading people to rebuild the wall, they experienced opposition.  I don’t think anyone who has done anything great has done so without opposition.  One of the things that I noticed is what a great leader Nehemiah was.  He aknowledged the opposition but he had the people focus on God.  He said in vs 14, “Don’t be afraid of them.  Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families.”

I hope that I will remember that God is great and awesome instead of the opposition that is in front of me.  Our church began 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting today.  It is a challenge to get up early every day to pray.  It is hard to fast.  But remember that the Lord is great and awesome.  The word I will take today is “REMEMBER.”

Make the Big Ask

Today my Bible study led me into the book of Nehemiah.  I've heard plenty of sermons on this and remember reading a book by Chuck Swindoll on this book.  A few things struck me about my study today.  First, it was apparent that Nehemiah had a good relationship with the King.  The King saw that Nehemiah was downhearted.  After the king asked what was wrong, Nehemiah prayed right there at the moment.  That made me realize I need to be praying all of the time. I wrote about that a few weeks ago. I've tried to become better praying-- even asking God what direction to go on my commute to my companies that I serve?

The second thing I noticed was that after the king how old Nehemiah go and rebuild Jerusalem, Nehemiah made the big ask.  I wonder how many times that God has laid something on my heart and I was afraid to ask somebody to let me do what I felt God was calling me to do? Now when we planted a church I did make some big asks. 

How do we know if God is with us? Well, I think it becomes apparent by how God opens doors.  Nehemiah was granted his requests.  I think there are times when God gives us what we ask for we think it's going to be smooth sailing. However, in chapter 2 verse 10 of Nehemiah, he faced opposition. I think we need to always expect opposition.  Now I don't think we should be seeking it out but we should be looking for around to see where it is because it is there.

Another thing I noticed, was that Nehemiah didn't come storming into Jerusalem acting like the savior of the world.  He surveyed the situation for 3 days at night so he didn't draw attention to himself.  When he finally told the people of Jerusalem his vision they replied, "let's start rebuilding."  I think people are drawn to vision. I know I am. It is frustrating to be part of an organization that has no vision or it is a confusing vision and or you don't understand the vision or you don't like the vision.

After the people agreed to rebuild, the opposition began to mock and ridicule them. So this let me though realized that opposition doesn't stop just because people see the vision.  One of the things I've noticed from great leaders is that they keep the vision in front of people.  They remind them of the vision over and over. 

I noticed was in chapter 2 verse 20, Nehemiah remembered his call. There are so many times it seems like it will be time to quit, but I have to remember my calling.

Still Hope

We live in a society of depression and despair. Over the last few years, I have been discouraged to see so many people take their own lives. What is really amazing is that some of them are strong Christians and even pastors. The hurts that these people deal with is real.  If somehow you were reading this and you are feeling depressed or in despair, I encourage you to get professional help. I would never discount what you're going through.

Today I read through the book of Ezra in the Old Testament. It is an interesting story about rebuilding the temple for the Hebrews. When I got to chapter 10 the last chapter, the people repented of their sins.  Took total control for what they had done.  In Ezra 10:2 I was struck by this line: "But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel."  I started thinking about my life and the life of others. No matter what we've done or how bad we've been there is still hope. God doesn't give up on us. We may give up on ourselves, or we may give up on others, but God never gives up on us.

Some of our despair is our own fault and we must do with the Hebrews did in chapter 10 of Ezra, repent which is simply a word that means term. But sometimes are despair comes from nothing that we did. There is still hope.  That Hope comes from a relationship with Jesus. I'm not talking about religion, I'm talking about a personal relationship with the God of the universe. So no matter what you're going through please remember that there is hope and Hope has a name and it's name is Jesus.

Again & Again

I finished my Bible study in 2 Chronicles this morning.  Thankfully, the last few verses gave a little hope when Cyrus was instructed by God to build a Temple in Jerusalem.  But that was one of the few bright spots in this book.  Today I started in chapter 34 and it was good to see a King who tried to follow God and renewed his covenant to God.  But even he didn't listen to what God had to say from Necho.  The part that struck me this morning was how the Lord sent word through his messengers "again and again" in 2 Chronicles 36:15 and they didn't listen.  In fact, it says in verse 16 that there was "No Remedy." 

I wonder how often God tries to warn me over and over, again and again?  I pray that I listen and heed his warnings.  I pray for my own life it never gets to the point where there is no remedy.  Now I'm not one that thinks that the US is like Israel in any way.  However, I wonder if any blessing we have had has been removed because our nation has no interest in God.  Even some of the Evangelical leaders have sold their soul to get ungodly people into office.  One prominent leader said that the President could never do anything for him to remove his support.  Really?  Nothing?  I will never follow anyone blindly except God.  I hope that we get some new Evangelical leaders who embrace goodness and godliness not what's best for them.  I'm a small voice.  In fact, I have no real voice that anyone would listen to.  But I do have a relationship with the ONE who can change the outcome of the world.

Serving God doesn't mean an easy life

I get annoyed by pastors who teach if you give your life to Christ and all your problems go away. That's not what Scripture teaches. That Jesus said that if we follow him went to pick up our cross daily which means death. I have been studying in second Chronicles today in chapter 32 It says that Hezekiah had been faithful, yet the king of Assyria invaded Judah.  And got me to thinking that serving God does not guarantee a stress-free life.  In fact, after this happened King Hezekiah showed strength and leadership and told people not to worry that God was with them.  The king of Assyria tried to make the people of Judah doubt God's ability. But because of King Hezekiah's leadership and faith they trusted God.  In verse 21 it says the Lord sent an angel and annihilated Assyria. Verse 22 it says that the Lord saved Hezekiah.

Even after this great victory that God provided, it says that Hezekiah became proud.  When God disciplined him Hezekiah repented. There are times that God does amazing things even in my own life.  I'd be lying if I said the pride doesn't creep into me too. As I reflect on this past year, not a whole lot to be proud of. Maybe that is God's way of humbling me.  I'm not sure what the future holds but I am trusting that God will fight my battles for me.

Resolutions?

This time every year people make New Years Resolutions. I have made them myself in the past. I don't know what the research is but I'm sure that very few people keep their resolutions before the end of January. Last night my daughter asked me if I had any resolutions?  I'm not knocking anyone has resolutions, but I make my resolution as I go along every day.  Why would I wait until an arbitrary deadline to make them? God told me to make some changes in my life my Spring when I was doing the Freedom Curriculum at my church. Why would I wait to make changes at the first of the year that I should have made immediately? 

I'm already a pretty organized person.  I guess you have to be to have a full-time job, teach as an adjunct and working on two college degrees at the same time.  I'd like to think that I'm tuned in to the Holy Spirit so that I make changes as I'm convicted and challenged.  Sometimes it takes a book I'm listening to, a podcast I'm listening to, a sermon I'm listening to, a friend or a family member to point out things that I need to change.  So did I make any resolutions?  I make them every day.