182nd Week, Nehemiah chapters 9-13 (Click on Title for Video Intro)

 

 Click on title for Video Intro

Monday, Nehemiah Chapter 9

Nehemiah 9

Verses 5-6, 32

Heather Proehl

Verses 5-6, 32: “Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. Now therefore, O our God, the great and mighty awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes.”

THOUGHT

I just thought these verses were awesome praises to God! They reminded me of the Psalms. It’s crazy for me to read this passage and be reminded of Israel’s past. God has been so patient with them. God kept trying with His people. He loved them so much and tried to do whatever he could to make them happy. But every time He blessed them, it seemed like they messed up again. However, God loved them so much. He was so patient with them. It amazes me! 

I think about how patient we are in our lives, but that is nothing compared to what he goes through with us. Just think of the past year and the Rudens waiting on God to sell their house. It finally happened! But it seemed like forever. They were patient, but it was so frustrating. However, God is so, so, so much more patient with us. Thank goodness! Just think of all the times we mess up, over and over and over again. However, He keeps forgiving us and accepting us back into His loving arms. 

What an awesome patient God we have!

PRAYER

Father God, blessed be Your Glorious Name! You alone are the Lord. You are great and mighty, O awesome God! Thank You for being patient with all of us. I know we fail You, Lord, but You continue to receive us back over and over again. Thank You, Lord, I pray that we would be more patient in our lives. When we encounter stress and problems, may we be as patient with others as You are with us. AMEN

Tuesday, Nehemiah Chapter 10

Nehemiah 10 

Verse 31

Heather Proehl

Verse 31:  “When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day.”

THOUGHT

I must admit that I struggled a bit with this chapter to think of a devotion. But I finally decided on a verse.

The Bible continually stresses the importance of a Sabbath. However, I think we find it hard to understand this concept in our world today where stores and restaurants are open 24 hours 7 days a week. In a world where jobs are not 5 days a week 9-5. In a world where you can be connected online, through your cell phone to anyone anywhere at any time. 

You know, as many times as God commanded people to obey the Sabbath, and seeing that Jesus followed the commandment to obey the Sabbath, you would think we would get it. I think there is something to be said for taking a day out of your week to be still, to turn off your computer (do not have a heart attack, David), to turn off your phone, to spend time with your family, to pray, to worship, to rejuvenate yourself. 

When was the last time you took a Sabbath?

PRAYER

Father God, again we come to You humbled. We have so much to learn. Lord, I pray that each of us would take a minute to think about what the Sabbath means and consider taking a Sabbath to honor and obey You. We love You, Lord! AMEN

Wednesday, Nehemiah Chapter 11

Nehemiah 11 

Verse 1

Delores Little

Verse 1:  Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns.

THOUGHT

The Holy City of Jerusalem, the political capital of the kingdom, the city of David, the center of worship, is nearly empty. Only the leaders live there. Lots were cast to repopulate the city. Most of the Jews live outside the city to grow crops, pasture their animals, and make life easier. Because of this there were not enough people living in Jerusalem to maintain security and protect it. So, they cast lots to bring people into the city, one out of every ten people.

Since I moved to Omaha years ago, then Plattsmouth and now Bellevue, I have noticed how many of the farms are gone, replaced by houses, apartments, and businesses.  Being brought up on a farm it makes me sad to see this happen. There are many more highways also. 

I can see where the Jews were coming from.  Some of the towns are gone now.  What are we willing to give up to follow Christ? Are we willing to go into his harvest fields to bring others to the Lord?  After going through the book of Esther with Beth Moore, many Jews did not return with Ezra and Nehemiah.  That Holy Land was where they should have gone back to and there would have been more than enough to be in Jerusalem and out to farm.

Reading all these names could almost give a person a headache, but how important it was that they are in there. A young man is writing my life story for a book.   I just found out last week after all these years that my dad was not born in the town I thought he was, but in a different one. You know I find that out to be so interesting. The same with the Jews who came back. They had a record of them.  The ones who were not in the book didn’t serve.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for teaching us each day something new in our lives. Bless everyone this week in all they have planned.  Let us keep our eyes on You in this busy time. We love You, Lord Jesus, and ask this in Your Name.  AMEN

Thursday, Nehemiah Chapter 12

Nehemiah 12 

Verse 27 & 43

Delores Little

Verse 27: At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps, and lyres.

Verse 43:  And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

THOUGHT

As I asked God about what to share with you in this chapter, the song “Celebrate, Jesus, Celebrate” kept coming into my mind.  As I thought upon this, I realized that they were doing this unto our Lord Jesus also.  As He was and is, God and He were being glorified in all they were doing. Notice the Levites did come to Jerusalem, and they were sought out. God had made them rejoice with great joy that day.

My devotion book shared this statement, “Though all true Christians love the Lord, not all are willing to give up personal interests and financial securities to do what is needed. Laborers have always been few. So, the Lord instructed us, ‘Pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.’  Luke 10:2 Our Pastor was doing that yesterday when he asked us to fill out cards to turn in to see what we could do in the harvest for the Lord. I brought my card home to pray for what God would have me do.  I know He has called me into praying for others and with others and to encourage others, but does He want something more from me???

Well, the Levites did come into what they were to do for this dedication of the wall, and people far away could hear them thanking the Lord and singing unto Him.  

I want to leave you with this thought: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Romans 8:35 & 37.  So, let’s “Celebrate, Jesus, Celebrate.”

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we do thank and praise You for Your Word.  Lead us by Your Holy Spirit.  Help us follow You every day and keep our eyes on You. Answer all the prayers going up on behalf of many who are ill, those who have lost loved ones or those rejoicing with all who are having babies and the list goes on. In the Name of Jesus. AMEN

Friday, Nehemiah Chapter 13

Nehemiah 13

Delores Little

THOUGHT

Nehemiah served 12 years in Jerusalem.  He went back to Babylon to his duties and found the people that he left behind doing sinful things.  Even the priest was sinning. 

God’s house was made to be a house of prayer: “It is written, My House shall be called the House of Prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves.” Matt 21:12-13 

As we read this, I can see how our world has left God and His House and went the way of the world. Even though I did not go to church much growing up, Sunday was a day of rest and worship of our Lord.  Stores, filling stations, businesses, etc. were closed.  There were no sporting events on Sunday, and Wednesday night was for church people to gather.  Look at the world today.  It disappoints my heart when people choose worldly events above Godly ones.  I know I am stepping on toes here, but watch out people, we will answer to God for everything we do or do not do.

Nehemiah had quite a mess to get cleaned up when he got back and so do we today.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Word of God that reminds us even today of what we need to be doing to glorify You. Forgive us, Lord, and make us into vessels to be used Your Way and not ours.  Bless all those who are doing Your calling.  Give them the faith and peace to go forward with whatever You ask of them.  Let there be praise on our lips and heart, Father, unto You. In Jesus Name We Pray. AMEN