365 Reflections

It's a refrain familiar to us from one of Pixar's most beloved films. Dorey, the absent-minded fish tells Nemo's father to "just keep swimming, just keep swimming" through the ocean. Why? Because that's all you really can do.  Well, for Nehemiah, we see that his decision was very similar. No matter what he faced, no matter what he heard, no matter what people said, he just kept building, just kept building the walls around Jerusalem.  Nehemiah 4:1-2 (ESV)  Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” Notice the context of the opposition here. Sanballat attacks them "in the presence of his brothers and of the ...

Nehemiah 3 picks up the story of a building project seemingly underway instantaneously. Just before, in chapter 2, Nehemiah was only inspecting the walls and hearing the threats of his enemies. He had just finished calling upon the men to join him in the work and declared that God’s hand would be upon them and they would prosper. How was it that this man got the people to work so fast after decades of inactivity?  Nehemiah 3:1 (ESV) Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. This is how the chapter begins and ends… a long list of men who rose up to build. But there is a consistent refrain in the passage and a consistent reality that runs through the text like a thread yielding an insight into this building project we should learn well.  First, the phrase, “next to” appears repeatedly among the ov...

How do you know you're called to something? A few realities emerge along the way.  FIRST: You can't stop until it's done: Nehemiah 2:9–12 (ESV) Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. 11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. Nehemiah has authority and resources from the king yet he makes his way to Jerusalem and immediately finds resistance. Sanballat and Tobiah will be thorns in his side during this work. But it proves once again in the scriptures - as soon as you step out in faith for the Lo...

Hey readers! My book is out! I believe it will give you the tools you need to get moving in the right direction. Don't let worry, fear, and comparison call the shots in your life,  Get a copy and get MOVING WITH GOD! One of my favorite commendations from Christ is found in Matthew 10:16. Jesus says to the disciples, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise (shrewd) as serpents and innocent as doves.” This is not a typical memory verse for most. It also failed to make it into any Sunday school lesson I can remember. For some reason, it’s often avoided. After all, Jesus is asking us to act in some ways and some times as serpents? Was not the serpent the source of our original temptation? But there’s wisdom in hearing Jesus on this point. You have to do more than simply “pray and trust God” with your life and your calling. You have to act. And when you act, please bring some measure of strategy and wisdom to the table.  Nehemiah does this wonderfu...

Hey readers! My book is out! I believe it will give you the tools you need to get moving in the right direction. Don't let worry, fear, and comparison call the shots in your life,  Get a copy and get MOVING WITH GOD! If you want to see an effective prayer, take a look at Nehemiah's prayer for Jerusalem in Nehemiah 1. He has heard the disparate conditions of his brothers in Jerusalem and he seeks God's help in passionate and Biblical terms.  First, he bases his prayer on God's character and grace. Nehemiah 1:5 (ESV) And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, Nehemiah knows that God is great, awesome and faithful. And he let's the Lord know that he believes that. We need to remind ourselves to base our prayers on God's character so we don't get caught up in trying to earn His favor. God answers not because we are good, but because He is good.  Second, he ...

We tend to skip the little moments in the Bible. We do this because the Bible has some impressive stories: seas splitting, dead people rising, outnumbered armies winning, and shepherds ruling. But there are moments that stick out if you slow down and read closely. That is why I love this project of going through the Bible slowly and journaling the journey. Nehemiah, one of the post monarchy heroes becomes "Nehemiah" because of a simple question that led to a conversation that became a prayer and turned into an opportunity to change the world. Nehemiah 1:1–3 (ESV) The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and s...

If you want to measure ministry and/or leadership effectiveness, look at Ezra. Ezra is not known for powerful miracles or wise administration, although he did possess the latter. The main effect of Ezra's leadership was his humble obedience to and reliance upon God. Notice how the last chapter of the book opens: Ezra 10:1 (ESV) While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. Ezra is still broken up about the intermarriage among Israel's people, especially that of her priests. This was a huge no-no and the original reason for the demise of the country. Led by Solomon centuries earlier, the nation was joined both spiritually and emotionally to pagan women who led their men away from the Lord. Now Ezra, on behalf of the people's evil, makes confession and humbles himself in prayer for the nation. And notice what it sa...

The Lord can use a man like Ezra. What was it about Ezra that established him so powerfully in the era of rebuilding the Temple and reestablishing the Promised Land? He truly understood the fear of the Lord.  When a report comes to him about the intermarriage and pagan associations among the people of the land, INCLUDING the priests and Levites, Ezra is mortified.  Ezra 9:3 (ESV) As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. He expresses such remorse that he actions are not only visible they are adopted by others. Notice how the scripture refers to these people with him: Ezra 9:4 (ESV) Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. Consider this in context. The common practice among the people is one of immorality. Ezra repents and humbles himself. He stands out. The rest of the co...