Posts Tagged ‘ Trust ’

Direction is found in the strength of leadership: Nehemiah 13

“Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of My God and for His service.” Nehemiah 13:14

“Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of Your steadfast love.” Nehemiah 13:22b

“Remember me, O my God, for good.” Nehemiah 13:30b

Is leadership easy? Should anyone ever desire to lead people? Do people choose to be leaders because they desire power? Through the eyes of the world it is important to be a leader because it will add to what you have and it will help you to get more. What is Biblical leadership? In Nehemiah 13 we get a glimpse of a true leader. In this chapter the people of Israel have fallen back to the ways of their fathers while Nehemiah was absent from the city. Nehemiah had his eyes open to the evil that the people in Jerusalem were committing and he chose to take action. Read more

2010
09/02
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That which is shattered by God: Nehemiah 7 and 8

These are my thoughts as I reflected upon my reading in Nehemiah with more questions presented than answers found. Nehemiah 7 and 8 has driven home the fact the Christians cannot live outside the community found within the church. When we perceive that we can live a life marked by solitude apart from the fellowship of believers I honest believe that we are living outside the intentions that God has for mankind. The journey that the Israelites progressed from being set apart by God to this moment where a remnant has returned to Jerusalem has always focused on the community of the people. Consistently the punishment for sinfulness and disobedience was either death or expulsion from the community. The culture of the Israelites is one where people were in contact with one another and living out life together. In society today we can go through our day with little regard and thought given to any other person other than ourself. We are surrounded with self serve, self improvement, and self help which only facilitate our solitude enabling behaviors. Read more

2010
08/30
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Men, arise and take up the burden of leadership: Nehemiah 3 and 4

Matt Redman - Blessed Be Your Name the Songs of Matt Redman, Vol. 1 - Facedown


As you read through stories in the Bible do you find yourself ignoring the chapters with long lists of names? It can be daunting to sift through all of the people listed that you can barely pronounce. In Ezra chapter 3 we have this exact issue of many names but I encourage you to take time to read through these names looking for details about the wall being rebuilt in Jerusalem. I’ll be honest that I was tempted to generalize the people that were rebuilding the wall but there is much more to be gleaned from the texts than the assumption that the wall was just rebuilt. What were these men thinking as they completed the work? Read more

2010
08/28
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When sin abounds will the grace of God fall upon you: Ezra 9 and 10

Jars of Clay - Much Afraid - Much Afraid


“Oh my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings and priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day.” Ezra 9:6,7  Have you felt as Ezra, where your have seen the deliverance of the Lord only to find yourself dwelling in sin shortly there after? God brought a remnant of Israel out of captivity back to Jerusalem and the temple was rebuilt. In the midst of God’s mighty deliverance the people intermarry with the people of the land without heeding God’s command not to dwell with them. Read more

2010
08/25
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What do you set your heart toward: 2 Chronicles 19 and 20

Newsboys - Love Liberty Disco - Good Stuff


“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord and so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord? But there is some good in you for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.” 2 Chronicles 19:3,4  Jehoshaphat was not perfect not a perfect leader of Judah. He had his faults and failures but he consistently set his heart to seek after God. Do you think that you are required to live a perfect life on earth? What expectations do you place on yourself that are unnecessary? As Jehoshaphat set his heart to seek God he was learning to cling to God and love Him with all of his heart, mind, soul, and strength. The evidence of Jehoshaphat’s focus on God is seen in 2 Chronicles 19:5-11 as he sets out to bring the people of Judah back to the Lord. Read more

2010
08/09
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