Posts with the tag “week-38”

Joel 1-3; Malachi 2:10-4:6.  “Opening the Windows of Heaven”          Many believe that once we become a Christian we can just float along; because they believe, they are convinced that in Heaven we will all receive the same generic stamp of approval.  That is not the case.  Your eternal destination is based on your belief, but how you spend eternity is reflective of how you lived on earth.  Even ...  Read More

Nehemiah 5:14-19; 12:27-13:31; Malachi 1:1-2:9. “If You Can’t Beat Them… Infiltrate”          “If you can’t beat them join them.”  This was apparently Tobiah’s motto.  Early in the book of Nehemiah we read of the opposition that had to be dealt with while the wall was being rebuilt.  That strong opposition came from two men, Tobiah and Sanballat.  The wall was rebuilt in spite of their constant r...  Read More

1 Chronicles 9:1b-34; Nehemiah 11:1-12:26. “Imagine”          Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “To arrive is better than to travel hopefully.”  I can’t imagine the joy as the exiles arrived and occupied Jerusalem.  They were essentially POW’s in a foreign land for 70 years and now they had returned home.  Can you imagine that kind of delight?  It is more than just delight.  It is security, rest, pea...  Read More

Nehemiah 8:13-10:39.  “Balance”          Today’s passage is a continuation of the people’s commitment to start things right.  God’s Word continued to be read.  It was then followed by the people confessing their sins to one another.  Then they stood praising the Lord for who He is and what He has done.  Following that they made vows of obedience to the Lord.         That is a great process for us ...  Read More

Nehemiah 7:4-8:12. “Starting Off Right”          Often we appreciate something more when we go without it for a time.  When the people returned home they took it seriously.  They took advantage of a fresh start and made the best of it.  Their response to getting serious about their relationship with God through the reading of His Word was terrific.  “All the people assembled together as one perso...  Read More

Nehemiah 3:1-7:3.  “Working Together”          Nehemiah, like Daniel held a prominent position in the kingdom where he had been exiled, but he was burdened for a need at home in Jerusalem.  He had a plan for rebuilding the wall around the city which “God had up in his heart” (2:11).  Nehemiah organized an enormous undertaking.  Men, women, and those from every profession worked together to fortify...  Read More

“Think of—Stepping on shore, and finding it Heaven!Of taking hold of a hand, and finding it God’s hand.Of breathing a new air, and finding it celestial air.Of feeling invigorated, and finding it immortality.Of passing from storm and tempest to an unknown calm.Of waking up, and finding it Home.”                          --Hazel Felleman          This week’s passages describe a period after the exil...  Read More

This week’s passages describe a period after the exiles have returned home.  Interestingly, Christians today are also referred to as exiles, strangers, aliens and sojourners.  Heb. 11:13, “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”  Like the Israelites, we will one day complete our days of travel and return home.  Read More