Nehemiah 13

6 But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission 7 and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God.


I scanned back quickly and I believe Nehemiah lead rebuilding of Jerusalem in the 20th year of Artaxerxes.  Here 12years later things have already unraveled a bit.  Like you have pointed out before we sure seem to have destructive patterns and short memories.  Surely it was obvious how God was with Nehemiah yet quickly any lessons he taught get lost on people during his absence.

I think we have to stay in the word and in constant discussion with Jesus to have a chance of staying on the path he wants for us.

knut

Nehemiah 12

This chapter reminds me of the story of the Israelites overtaking the city of Jericho. 
I think sometimes we underestimate the power of music in the context of praise and worship.  It seems very methodical how they are dedicating the wall.  Half the choir going this way, the other half going that way.
Interesting.

that's it.
tp

Nehemiah 11

2 The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.


As I read the first verse I thought it sounded like an honor to get to live in Jerusalem and that they cast lots to see who received the valuable limited invite.  Then in verse two it says they applauded those who volunteered to go.

It reminds me of when we moved to the QC.  Our leaders asked me to go and it was a good job and a decent honor to get asked but I kept looking for excuses not to go because we were so happy and comfortable in our place.  So while it was a good opportunity for me I had friends at work congratulating me but I think part of their thought was better you than  me.

Its a big deal to move and in this chapter we see there were people so moved by what was going on in Jerusalem that they volunteered to pickup their families and move them.  We moved to the QC in part because we thought God was telling us too and it worked out well and was a good experience.  But I think if he was telling us to move again now we would be pretty resistant.  I don't like to say it out loud but if I'm honest with myself it makes me realize my faith is weak knowing how much I would struggle to follow his direction if it really was in conflict with my own desire.

here's to trying to seek out what God wants us to do and then being willing to follow through on it.

knut

Nehemiah 10

39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept.

“We will not neglect the house of our God.”

This chapter reminds me of the challenges many small churches like our have with finances.  We have a $500k offering budget which makes its difficult to cover staff and building costs.  We have maybe a 120 to 150 giving units a year, 300 attendees a week.  So the average giving is around $5k per year.  

I think we have pretty committed people and we do.  But at $5k per year that would suggest $50k average family income per year if everyone tithed.  Given where we live I'm guessing that is pretty low.  I think the idea of giving first fruits is difficult, but if we thought of it in the context of not neglecting God's house maybe it would have some impact.  

continued prayers for Rich and God using you to support him.

have a good weekend.

Knut

Nehemiah 9

Whoa!  this is one of the longest chapters we've read in a while. 
It paints a good picture, though, of how the people understand their position, and their history, and even their shortcomings.  As I was reading thru it, it reminded me of how quickly we humans forget our mission.  It seems everytime God does something great for them, and for us, they are greatful and worship him, and thank him and praise his name....but then they fall away.  Then they need to cry out again, either in pain, or slavery, or anguish and ask for help.  Then God delivers them again, and they are fully onboard again.....until a little time passes and they find themselves not relying on God, and not following his directives again.
WHY DO WE DO THAT?
Does it have something to do with our human ambition?
Does it have to do with being selfish?
Why do our hearts grow cold......I speak from experience on this one......I've done it myself.

Its so frustrating to look at your own self-defeating behaviour!

tp

Nehemiah 8

3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

This just caught my attention because I have to fight to stay engaged for 20 minutes during a sermon.  I don't want this to happen but my mind will wonder often triggered by a word the pastor says taking me into thoughts of work.  Here we see people listening attentively for may 6 hours!  


This chapter seemed like an instruction of how worship should work--

How its done:
1 all the people came together...
2 ...the priest brought the Law before the assembly...
3 He read it aloud...as he faced the square...in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively...

How it looked:

5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.

6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

I continue to have Rich and the girls in my prayers.  I asked the ages because as we fasted and I prayed for them the ages 4 and 6 came into my mind and I wondered if God perhaps was connecting me...but perhaps it was just me thinking.  I struggle to identify the difference sometimes.

I continue to pray that God gives you strength and helps you connect with Rich and be support for him and ultimately a tool for God to help Rich and his girls during this struggle that will go on for years.

I pray for healing of broken hearts.
Knut

Nehemiah 7

I don't have any insight from this chapter, I find the description of the vacant city after being built interesting and I always wonder his purpose for capturing lists of names like this one in the bible--is there something in that we are supposed to take away as value?

So on this Good Friday morning I turned to the Beth Moore study Gina and I are doing with some friends.  It lead me to this verse that I need to share with you as we continue to pray for Rich and his daughters (how old are they?)

Psalm 34 - 18 
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

and another

Psalm 147 

2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;  he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

In our study it was talking about God's response to the broken hearted and it listed two verses.  Ps34-18 immediately made me think of Rich. 

Then I turned to the second one listed Ps147 v3, but as I read it I glanced above it to v2 for some context and thought God is good.  He just put a nugget in for me too.  

I had just finished reading Nehemiah chapter 7, you see above I had no insights.  Yet a few minutes later while teaching me about his response to the broken hearted he just revealed a connection between Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and this verse in Psalms--I felt it was just a little knock on the head to say yes everything in these pages has a purpose and a connection, even the list of names...even if I don't get all the connections.

knut

Nehemiah 6

I don't have a lot to add to this chapter.  No great insights came to mind.
I did like how careful Nehemiah was about doing the right thing.....not just to "do" the right thing, but to make sure he isn't seen in a bad light, and therefore discredited.  Its probably something I should pay more attention to.  It goes back to the question; will people notice that I'm different than everyone else.  If not, I'm probably not doing a good job at following God.  There would be no doubt to anyone around that Nehemiah was following God.  He made decisions, and even sacrifices, that made it very apparent.

I would like to think that I look a little different than most (insert joke here), but I wouldn't say its obvious.

have a GREAT Easter!
I love ya.

tp

Nehemiah 5

18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.

At this point in our lives Gina and I have been greatly blessed with resources and we try to be generous as well.  Nehemiah's behavior illustrates the kind of person I want to be, freely giving to those in need.  But beyond that recognizing that the demands on other people are heavier than I can imagine.

As we continue our fast today, I am praying for Rich, DeLynn and their girls.  God I don't understand why these things happen.  I am praying that you give Rich strength during this time and that you guard his heart and those of their daughters.  I pray you show Todd and Kim how to be there for this family as the demands on them are greater than anything we can imagine.  God wrap your arms around this family now!  they need you more than ever.

I am also praying that you will help me find a way to connect with Jeff and Amanda to help them find you and develop a relationship with you.  Especially as they consider having a family.  Help me not be bitter towards them but instead full of love.  I struggle with their behavior and I let it impact mine towards them...take this away from me and let me focus on being a tool for you to connect with them.

I'm sure your friends are financially sound, but in the event during this time there is something Gina and I can do for them please let us know.  We could buy a plane ticket to get someone to them or help them get home.

I pray for the hurt you are feeling too and that God can ease your pain and work through you and your special way of building relationships with people.  He has given you this gift and I sense Him using it now.

your brother in Christ,
knut

Nehemiah 4

“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
I love this verse.   I don't know why I have never seen it.  If fills me with vigor.

I'm into my fast, and I'm disheartened today. 
I've heard news that my friends wife is in really bad shape.  She had another episode, and isn't showing any brain function.  They are going thru the protocol to take her off life support......hurts to even write it....I'm going to continue in my fast and in my sadness for him and his 2 little girls.  I still believe God can do his work in this situation.

Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your family and your home.
Fight against the evil of this world that is trying to tear down the feeble, falling, delapitated structure that I'm trying to build.

Nehemiah 3

 5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

For some reason this just caught my attention.  The entire chapter has a list of people working together doing a section of the wall and various gates all meeting and joining up with one goal of rebuilding the larger structure.  But out of the entire chapter special note is made of the nobles of Tedoa not being willing to get dirty and do their share of the work.  I'm curious to see if any ramifications will show up later.

Like any good project things move quickly when everyone works together and does their part.  They were unified in the good work as noted in chapter 2.  A good lesson for all of us who are followers of Jesus to row together all for the same good work.

looking forward to beginning our fast.  I guess effectively it will begin after lunch tomorrow as we are planning to skip supper right?  In addition to your friends I think I like to focus on my brother and his wife Amanda.  They do not have God in their life and their young marriage to me shows signs of stress.  I want to pray for God to begin to work in their lives.  I also want to pray for what does God want to be doing through my life.  what actions should i be taking now.

knut

Nehemiah 2

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 

Just this past Monday night we were having our Elder Board meeting and our pastor to a moment during the meeting and opened his bible and read this verse.

I would have never noticed it if he hadn't and I thought it was interesting that we were only days from reading it ourselves so I thought I'd share it today.  He pointed out how he loved Nehemiah's instincts.  The king asks him what he wants and before answering his first instinct is to go directly to God in prayer.  What a great place to be that you are so connected to God that before speaking with your own minds words you check with God.  That was just in Nehemiah's dna, he didn't even have to make a conscious action his instincts were to ask God for direction and knew that if he followed his instruction God would be with him.

I still use James 1:19 from our April 2012 reading, slow to speak quick to listen, very frequently at work and at home.  But maybe I can throw in there slow to speak, instincts to ask God, quick to listen.

On the fasting I will fast with you beginning Tuesday night skipping supper and going through Wednesday.  I will have my next meal at our kids Wednesday night fund raiser.  we will overlap then much of the day, does that work?

knut 

Nehemiah 1

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

I guess the idea of fasting is on my mind from our discussion the past few days so this verse caught my attention.  His first reaction upon hearing the bad news about the exiled who had returned to Jerusalem was to break down and cry.  But his next move was to take action by fasting and praying...for days.

I struggle to make it 5 minutes in continuous prayer, but Nehemiah is fasting and praying for days that makes me feel pretty weak.  I am looking forward to our fast and praying for your friends and I am considering what should be a focal point in my own life during this time.  During Nehemiah's fast he goes for a big ask and I think we will see God comes through for him, it seems as though there is no shame in making a big ask of God.  But I also notice the time he puts into getting close and humbling himself before God before he comes to the conclusion that he wants to ask God for help.

knut

Ezra 10

This chapter re-affirms what you were talking about yesterday.....to marry within your faith.  I think its a great point, and something I haven't talked much about with my boys either.
I'm not sure what to make of this new chapter.  It really stems from chapter 9.  I think its really interesting that alll the names of the men that took foreign wives are recorded.  That's unbelievably specific.  This was really a big deal to God, and therefore to the people.  I find myself thinking about these marriages in our context of today.  But, in all likelyhood these men would have had multiple wives, and giving one up wouldn't be as tramatic as it would be for you and me. 

Any thoughts on this one?



I have a really good GM friend who is doing an international assignment in Sao Paolo Brazil.  He is married and has 2 little girls.  His wife's name is Delynn, and she is a real health nut.....and a total sweetheart.  2 weeks ago she was at the gym working out, and she hurt her neck.  She thought it was a pulled muscle, but didn't feel right.  She went to the hospital, and before she got in the door to the ER, she went into cardiac arrest.  They were able to shock her back to life......but, it happened 2 more times.  They suspected an anuerism.  She was put into a drug induced coma for a period to let things heal, and reduce the swelling on her brain. 
Since then, she has been making slow but steady progress.   She is off the ventilator, she is awake more than not, she has been communicating with the doctors and to Rich. 
Yesterday, she had another anuerism......not good.  I'm hearing she went into brain surgury immediately, and they were able to get it under control.....not sure what it means going forward. 

Here's where my fast comes in.  I've been trying to get Rich and Delynn to church for 15 years........they came once with Kim and I.  He is always very hesitant, and often makes fun of me for my faith.  Since this happened to Delynn, Rich told me that he and his girls are praying everyday together.  He is convinced its helping him, the girls and Delynn.  But, I feel his faith is fragile.

I'm going to fast to Delynn to be healed, and for this situation to continue to bring Rich and his family to rely on God, and for them to grow in their faith.

Like you said......humble myself before God for the sake of this situation.
  

Ezra 9

14 Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor? 

I'm not sure this verse is addressing what I'm about to write but it triggered my memory.  Last week Gina and I went out to a show at the Civic Centre and had a nice dinner together, alone no kids no other adults which doesn't happen often.

We had a great time just talking and enjoying each others company.  We covered a lot of ground from the simple things to our kids to faith and married.  After we prayed for our meal and we were talking about our kids I had a reflective moment on what is the most important thing we could pass to our kids and especially Luke as I realize he might only be living in our home for another 3 years before college.

We discussed the need to impress on him how important finding a wife who shares his faith will be to the long term health of his soul.  I see people struggle in marriage and its something that has never been a problem for Gina and me.  Gina and I are both pretty easy going, but I still think its the fact that we share a common bond through Christ is the true secret that allows us to be close and enables us to fight through the challenges of raising kids.

I cannot imagine being married to anyone else nor do I want to and I can't imagine being married and not sharing my faith with bride.  I feel blessed to have someone so faithful that I can learn from as my partner and I want the same  for my kids.  Anything else just creates a door for pain and evil that scares me to think about for my kids.

knut

Ezra 8

21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.

I don't know where to go with this one but this verse caught me.  The fact that a) the need to humble our ourselves before asking God for something and b) in this case a fast was necessary to humble themselves

is the act of denying yourself something a way to prepare your heart and mind for God?  a quick check on fasting reminds me that it is done frequently throughout the bible and often connected to prayer.  I may try fasting at some point in the next few weeks along with some dedicated prayer time.  We are making decisions at church and we are not all aligned perfectly and I think some time fasting together could be away to all draw closer to God together to discern his plan for our little Westview church.

knut

Ezra 7

28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

and from the message same verse...My God was on my side and I was ready to go. 


I liked the context of Ezra's work from the NIV but I like the simplicity of the Message version.

My God is with me...am I ready to go?

have a great weekend.  I did a little research and read that Ezra and Nehemiah were once combined so as we click through this I think we should hit that next.

knut

Ezra 5-6

Ch 6 v15 The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

This reminded me of your comment after Ezra 3 about how dedicated they were taking 2 years before laying a stone of foundation and here we see they don't finish until the 6yr of King Darius.

The really had dedication and determination to follow through on this for God.  In the face of much adversity and just plane hard work they were not willing to give up.

For me its also a message of slow and steady plodding wins the day, its not a sprint.  Am I willing to be this kind of servant for God.  Not just in the moment of excitement but in the day to day grind in the face of adversity and over the course of years not just a few days....?

knut

Ezra 4

4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.[a]

As they rebuilt the temple they faced opposition and people trying to rally the more powerful people to participate actively in the opposition which ultimately delayed progress.  In today's society it seems there is much opposition to Christians.  There is a desire to get people with the biggest megaphones to express views against Christian beliefs and it is slowing progress.

I find it interesting because while i can understand there are those who do not yet believe in Jesus.  What is it that motivates them to not only not believe themselves but be determined to attack those that do believe and prevent others from becoming believers?  What is it about Christians that scares them?  In Ezra the King was scared he'd lose his power, maybe there is a connection there.

knut  

Ezra 3

Ch3 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:

“He is good;
    his love toward Israel endures forever.”

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 ...people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

As they saw the progress on the rebuilding of the temple they were moved with great emotion to sing and shout praise.  Since our time as kids in Orchard Hill to now it seems there has been a change in worship from very reserved to more expressive in the general church population.  But other than our one weekend at Antioch Baptist I don't think I have participated in worship where people truly shout praise.  We shout at sporting events freely...church not so much.

maybe we should be moved towards noise during church, the consequences are much more important than a scoreboard at Kinnick stadium or the Big House.

knut