A Perfect Moment

Have you ever experienced a perfect moment? A moment when you couldn't decide if you needed to laugh or cry to express all of the emotions in your heart?

I spent this past weekend with a family that means the absolute world to me. They are some of my oldest and very dearest friends, people too precious for me to even say. It was heaven.

Yesterday we went out on the boat and there was a moment, as my Dad was crusing around the lake that I experienced this perfection. Asher lay blissfully asleep in my arms as Noble laughed through his "king of the world" trip at the front of the boat. I looked around and saw my dear friends, my hudband, my parents, and my beautiful children and I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

There are so many things in my day to day life in which I might be disappointed. I wish a hope or dream came to pass. I wish I were more patient. I wish Noble would make better choices sometimes. I wish I could be more content. I wish, I wish, I wish. But there, in the midst of my own disappointments or struggles, I was reminded of how incredibly blessed I am.

Surrounded by those who love me and who I love beyond description, sharing in each other's lives. It all came into focus. This is what really matters. Who am I there for? Who is there for me? At that moment, this is what I needed to remember, and God graciously provided the reminder.

What about you? Have you ever experienced a perfect moment? A moment in life when you received the very gift for which your heart longed? Comment! Share your perfect moment with me!

Nehemiah Challenge - Day Eleven

Hello My Dear Family,

Today we read chapter 11 in the book of Nehemiah. I would like to direct your attention to verse two. "And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem."

Jerusalem has always been a hot bed of insurrection, division, and political conflict. If a rebellion was going to occur, it started in Jerusalem. If another nation chose to make war with Israel, they would attack Jerusalem. So, those who volunteered to live in the city of Jerusalem were volunteering for an honor, to live in the Holy City, but they also were making a commitment to be on the front lines of any struggle or battle that might come.

How does this apply to our church's current circumstances? Well, who is on the front lines? The leaders of the church. We, as members, must support and bless the current leaders of our church now more than ever. These leaders have not run from our current adversity but they have chosen to stand and fight head on.

Let us follow the example of the Jews in Nehemiah's day and "bless all the men who volunteer to live in Jerusalem." Bless, encourage, and support those leaders who have not fallen back from their responsibilities just because the job has become more difficult. Bless, encourage and support the leaders who have risen to this challenge and fight now on your behalf.

You can support your leaders with words of encouragement, prayer and even by rising up as leaders yourselves.

Let's stand together. No one is insignificant. No one is unnecessary. We are, each and every one of us, part of the Body of Christ.

Our Nehemiah Challenge continues tomorrow with chapter 12!

Your friend and servant,
Elise

Nehemiah Challenge - Day Ten

Hello My Dear Family,

We are nearing the end of this Nehemiah Challenge but we cannot fail or falter. Now, more than ever, we must remain strong, vigilant, and single-minded as a body of believers.

Today we read chapter 10 and it is an amazing chapter! The first several verses might seem unnecessary, but don’t just skip over them…realize what you are reading. You are reading the names of every family who covenanted together to live according to the law of the Lord. They wrote their names down on a signed and sealed document. There was no escaping this covenant!

We will not live like the nations around us. We will stand separate and apart, holy before our God. The names listed are those of the priests and leaders, but even below that, in verses 28-30, we read that “the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given through Moses, God's servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of GOD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes; and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.”

In one voice, as one nation, they declared that with this new beginning they would follow God’s commands. At any cost they would obey His word.

This is where we stand now, my friends. It is time to start over. We have an incredible opportunity to set out strong, with a newly constructed firm foundation beneath our feet. Will we choose to follow the ways of the world around us or will we choose to honor the Lord our God with all that we have?

I follow the words of Joshua, “Choose for yourselves this day who you will serve, but as for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!”

If we will all agree, making that commitment in one voice, then we will be able to echo the covenant of the Jews in Nehemiah’s day, “we will not neglect the house of our God.” (verse 39)

That is my heart’s desire. Join with me now to surrender and follow Him with devotion and abandon. If you will do that, I guarantee that He will not disappoint!

The Nehemiah Challenge continues tomorrow with chapter 11.

Your friend and servant,
Elise

Nehemiah Challenge - Day Nine

Hello my dear family,

We learned yesterday about how the Israelites moved forward, with God's law as their guide. They began by celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, as He had commanded them. Rejoicing, as one nation, for all that God had yet to accomplish.

Today we read about their reflections of the past. It can often be hard to move forward during uncertain times. Which way should we go? How should we proceed? How can we prevent these same mistakes in the future? Then more and more questions pile up...what will become of us now? What is going to happen? What is this going to look like when the dust settles?

Of course, only God knows the answer to any of these questions, yet He asks us to move forward with our faith and confidence firmly in Him.

How can we do that? Only with full knowledge of His past faithfulness, of His past victories on our behalf can we move ahead in boldness.

So, with the immediate work on the wall complete, a restored nation asks "Where do we go from here?" And the answer? Let's look back at all that God has done for us. Look back at all the times He saved us from our enemies. Remember how He miraculously provided for our physical needs? We never went hungry or thirsty...our clothes and shoes lasted for 40 years! Don't forget how He delivered us from slavery.

With this knowledge fresh in their minds, what could they fear? God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So, if He met our needs then He will do it again.

Likewise, my friends, as God has guarded and protected, healed and delivered, saved and guided us in the past, He will continue to do so. With the full assurance of His continued love and faithfulness we can look ahead to a future of promise. The best is yet to come!

The Nehemiah Challenge continues tomorrow as we will read chapter 10. Keep running with me...the race is not yet won!

Your friend and servant,
Elise

Nehemiah Challenge - Day Eight

Hello my dear family,

I enjoy this chapter because it reminds us to keep everything in proper order. God was faithful to the Jews, enable and empowering them to rebuild their city wall and the first thing they did once their labor was completed was read HIS law and rejoice as HE had instructed them.

They spent a day listening to the law of the Lord and when they found areas where they had strayed from His commands they wept. Then, their priest and leader encouraged them, the time for weeping is past. Let's start over and start right from here on out. So, according to the word of God they restored the feast of booths.

The feast of booths (also known as the feast of tabernacles or sukkot) is our great earthly rehearsal for that time when we rejoice at the wedding feast of our Savior. It is a time when we celebrate the harvest God has given us as a symbol of the harvest of all souls which we will celebrate with Him in heaven.

What a perfect way to rejoice in God's work! As they Israelites celebrated God's faithfulness to them, they in turn, rejoiced in all He has yet to accomplish. They turned their back on the mistakes and rebellions of their past and moved fully and completely, as one nation with one purpose, toward our God.

This is where we stand, as a family of believers. What's done is done. What's past is past. Let us move together now, in one accord, in the center of God's will. Let's return to His word, to His promises and follow where He leads.

"...this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10b)

The Nehemiah Challenge continues tomorrow with chapter 9. Don't give up now. Let's keep running the race!

Your friend and servant,
Elise

Nehemiah Challenge - Day Seven

My dear family,

Today was difficult. Who knew what to expect? Who knew what was going to happen? But we got through…in fact, we triumphed through!

Now, it’s time to regroup.

In Nehemiah’s day, by the time we hit chapter 7, the eminent dangers of a breeched wall have been repaired. In this chapter they take a census of all of the families who have returned to Jerusalem from exile. This is what I’m calling “regrouping.” They take stock of the resources at their disposal so that they can move forward in strength.

How can we relate this chapter to our current circumstances? Well, our immediate questions have been answered. Now, with a still uncertain or unknown future before us, it’s time to regroup! It’s time to pull together and figure out what our strengths are. Where can we maximize those strengths? Where are their still weaknesses in our wall?

Every one of us has something to offer this family of believers. NOW is the time to stand up and share the burden of ministry. NOW is the time to jump into action. Use your gifts to serve, to support, to encourage the people of God.

At the end of chapter 7 we read “ And when the seventh month came, the sons of Israel were in their cities.” Being in their cities is powerful here. It indicates permanency, being at rest.

If we will join together now and pool our resources of time and gifts then when our “seventh month” comes, we, too, will be in our cities!

The Nehemiah Challenge continues tomorrow with chapter 8!

Your friend and servant,
Elise

Nehemiah Challenge - Day Six

My dear family,

As the wall of Jerusalem was nearing completion, Nehemiah and his people are met with challenges, false accusations and deception.

Throughout this book of the Bible I am continually amazed at Nehemiah’s strength, singleness of mind, and perseverance. His faith in his purpose was so strong that nothing anyone said or did stopped, swayed or deterred him. He never lost faith. He never even paused!

When met with false accusations he did not become ashamed or dance around the charges because he knew he had nothing to hide. He had done nothing but follow the purpose God gave him. He called the accusers out point blank, v. 8 “Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind.”

With the determination of Nehemiah as their driving force, the wall was completed. The people, working together with single purpose repaired the wall around the whole city of Jerusalem in just 52 days! (Looking back to yesterday’s chapter, remember, their minds were set to work!)

So the wall was completed and all of the enemies who had tried to come against Nehemiah personally and the Jews collectively lost their motivation to battle the people of God. Verse 16 reads, “When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”

If we will stand strong and rebuild our church with confidence found in God, then even our enemies, those who try to cause us to lose our faith and give up, will come face to face with the power of God moving among us. If we will yield ourselves to Him then HE will enable us to rebuild and stand strong in the end. In HIM we live. In HIM we move. In HIM we have our begin. And now, in HIM, we rebuild.

Tomorrow we continue our Nehemiah Challenge with Chapter 7!

Your friend and servant,
Elise

Nehemiah Challenge - Day Five

Hello my dear family,

I am so grateful that so many of you have agreed to join me in the Nehemiah Challenge. I truly believe that we will see God's hand moving among us in response to our cries for His help.

Today we dive into chapter five of Nehemiah. There is a theme running throughout this chapter...being above reproach.

It came to Nehemiah's attention that the wealthy Jews were taking advantage of the Jews returning from captivity. They were using this trial as a means of increasing their own wealth.

We can draw a parallel between that and our own current circumstances. This is not the time for posturing, for trying to place ourselves above or apart from one another. This is the time to stand together. As Nehemiah admonished the wealthy people of his day to stand WITH their brothers, so we must put aside our differences and stand together.

The time for taking sides and bickering amongst ourselves is over. The time to stand united together has come.

During this time, when all eyes are focused on us and what we will do or say, how we will handle ourselves through this "scandal", we must remain above reproach. We must keep our eyes focused on our goal...the health of our community of believers.

Let us now accept what has come, and turn to the future. Join with me, my friends, my family, to rebuild this wall, one brick at a time.

Your friend and servant,
Elise

Nehemiah Challenge - Day Four

Hello my dear family,

I am sitting at a library in Wisconsin while my heart is bound to you, my Living Word family. So...even from a distance, let us continue with our Nehemiah Challenge - Day 4!

This is a hard chapter. It's not hard to understand, but it is hard to digest...trials are never easy and never fun.

At the beginning of the chapter we learn that Nehemiah's work is being mocked and ridiculed. The Jewish people are being criticized and insulted.

In times like this it is so very easy to jump to one side or another and to start accusing and defending. This is not what the Jews did, though. They cried out to God for HIS justice. They asked HIM to defend them and move on their behalf. And then what did they do right after they prayed to God for His help? Verse 6: “So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”

Isn’t that amazing?! It gets me excited just thinking about it! They asked God for help and then left their concerns in HIS hands so that their minds were clear, unencumbered, ready to focus wholly on the task at hand. They were not running around worried or confused, “they had a mind to work.”

The assaults continued to come, and my friends, we surely can expect the same. We live in a small town and we are an easy target, but let us continue to follow Nehemiah’s example in verse 9 and pray to our God, and because of our accusers, set up a guard against them day and night.

Guard your hearts and minds right now from the verbal and emotional attacks that will come. “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”

This is the time for us to rise up, stand together and continue the work God has set before us. I stand with you, following the path God has laid before us. This will be our finest hour.

Your friend and servant,
Elise

Nehemiah Challenge - Day Three

My dear family,
Nehemiah Challenge – Day 3

I love this chapter! Here we read the detailed account of the process of repairing and rebuilding the city gate. These are the very chapters in the Bible that it is so easy to skim over, wondering why they are there in such detail. Why did I really need to know all of this construction information? Let’s take a moment together and look a little deeper though.

As each man is named, so is the job to which he was assigned. The picture is painted of many, many families, many individuals, working together toward one common end, the completed, whole wall of Jerusalem.

How does this apply to our life and our church’s current circumstances? Each individual represents each family or each ministry of the church. We all must take charge of different “gates” or different segments. What are you passionate about? What breaks or heart or drives you to action? Then go! Repair the breach within that ministry! Rebuild the faith of those in that sphere! Someone needs you right now to step up and rebuild.

Right now, my dear friends, I am hearing stories of families accepting this Nehemiah Challenge and reading this book together for the first time in their family history. I am hearing stories of the book of Nehemiah being read and discussed publicly in local businesses. When was the last time that we were so united? Let us stop and praise God for this one great victory that He has already brought forth from our struggle!

Begin rebuilding within your marriages, your families and bring your stronger marriages and united families to the house of God ready to fight, to rebuild the breaches within the walls of our temple. We have a tremendous opportunity to receive this challenge as a war drum, an alarm to wake up and get ready. I, for one, will answer with my own war cry. “Let us arise and build!”

Your friend and servant,
Elise

Nehemiah Challenge - Day One

I started this challenge for my church family as we faced an internal trial but I think that some of you might be inspired by it as well. So...welcome to the Nehemiah Challenge!

We are at the foot of a mountain. We have a choice. We can stand here, at the base, crying over what has happened. "Why me? Why us? Why now?" Or we can clothe ourselves in the full armor of God and trust Him as we start to climb.

I would like to ask you all to join me in what I am going to call the Nehemiah Challenge.

In the book of Nehemiah God proves Himself to be the Rebuilder of broken walls and broken lives. We need the God of Nehemiah to move now in our midst. Only then will we be able to climb this mountain and stand at the top, stronger than ever.

Join me today by reading Chapter 1 of the book of Nehemiah. As you read this chapter you will learn that Nehemiah learned of the sad state of Jerusalem and he spent days weeping and praying before God, grieving for what had transpired. Our grief, in the midst of this disappointment, is Biblical and expected. But Nehemiah turned his grief into earnest supplication to God.

Let us now follow his example, turn our hearts to God, repent for our own sin and our complacency.

We do not serve one man. We serve the one true God! We serve the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Remember that this is the time to work together for the kingdom of God to advance.

God have mercy on us and be glorified now within us.

The Nehemiah Challenge continues tomorrow with Chapter 2. Let's work together and watch God rebuild!

Your friend and servant,
Elise

Are You Kidding Me?

I'm telling this story for all of the stay-at-home, work-your-fanny-off Moms.

The other night my son was happily playing by himself with his cars while my husband and I each sat reading books. We were all in the same room and intermittently interacted with one another but for the most part we were all just having a relaxing evening passed as we each chose.

My husband looked up at me and asked, "So, is this what you do every day?"

In my head I said, "Excuse me? I think I just hallucinated...what did you ask me?"

Out loud I said, "Excuse me? I think I just hallucinated...what did you ask me?" Yeah, there was no stopping the immediate thought right then. It wasn't my most eloquent moment.

My husband had the sweetest smile on his face and he said once again, "Does he just play like this all day?"

This is where a Vulcan mind-meld would come in handy because the words I could find were so inadequate to the extreme that I just looked at him and said, "Uh...no."

This is the eternal question we find ourselves answering again and again, to our spouses, our friends, our family, our acquaintances, and if any of you are like me, to ourselves.

No I don't just sit on my tail reading all day while my son takes care of himself! That was the first time I've read between the hours of 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM for over two months!

I sit and play cars. I sit and do puzzles. I sit and color. I sit and play blocks. I sit and play legos. I sit and read books...HIS books. I take him to the potty and then sit in the bathroom and read his books again...and again and again. We wash the dishes together and put them away together. We do the laundry together and dust together. We cook together. We learn letters together and sing songs together. There are somewhere in the ballpark of 4,062 things he could do that he loves to do in this house but they are just no fun unless Mommy is doing them too.

This can't just be me, right? You find something your child loves and you feel a moment of intense liberation. "Now I will have at least twenty minutes to do something while he is happily playing!" Then the sweetest voice I know rings out like an alarm clock waking me from a blissfully relaxing dream.

"Mommy, color too...Mommy, paint too...Mommy, cars too...Mommy, uppy-days*...Mommy, moe-knees+...Mommy...snack...etc.,etc.,etc."

There is no going to the bathroom alone or eating alone or sitting alone or standing alone or cooking alone or cleaning alone or relaxing alone. There is Noble and Mommy, a dynamic duo.

There are times when this is frustrating, of course, because I was an individual for 30 years, able to do whatever I chose whenever I chose. However, the reward comes when my husband notices.

"You know, Elise, you're always saying hoe smart Noble is, but he learns everything from you. You're the reason he's learning so much."

You mean he's not teaching himself while I sit on my sofa curled up with a cup of coffee and a book?...huh. Who knew?

* uppy-days - Up (This is his interpretation of "The people on the bus go up and down." He learned them together and still uses the whole phrase for "up."

+moe-knees - "milkies" our family's covert name for nursing

Escaping From Prison

Acts 16:25-30
²⁵But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. ²⁷And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. ²⁸But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." ²⁹Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?""

In the scripture above we read that the chains and walls that imprisoned Paul and Silas were broken when they worshiped God, and this is something I have often heard taught. We ought to praise God under all circumstances and in all places for He is more than able to come to our rescue. However, there is an interesting aside to this story that I have never specifically heard taught.

If the scene above had been written for a Hollywood movie then the chains would have broken, the walls come down, and Paul and Silas would have quickly and quietly snuck away to their smuggled freedom. They would no longer be confined but they would have remained fugitives.

However, Hollywood didn't write the story, God did. In His perfect version, Paul and Silas stayed, despite the opportunity for freedom, and a man and his entire household were saved through their testimony.

What can we learn from this? When I find myself in a prison situation, a season when I feel trapped with no way out. A scenario where I have been falsely accused and/or even convicted of crimes I did not commit. Or, like Paul and Silas, perhaps I am indeed guilty of that which they accuse me, but the action was not wrong. What do I do? Do I sit in my isolation and weep, "Why, God? Why?" Or do I choose to praise Him in the midst of my darkness?

Let's assume for the sake of continuing that I have made the better choice. I have praised God from the depth of my despair and He has heard my cries for help. The doors to my proverbial cell swing open and God whispers, "You are free to leave, my child, but if you choose to stay you will be a part of something amazing."

That is the great challenge. When I have been accused, and imprisoned. When evil people say hateful things against me. When the very deck of my life seems stacked against me God offers me freedom, but asks for my sacrifice. Then the question becomes, "How far will you follow me, My child?" I stand in my cell at the edge of my open door, ready to run when again His voice whispers, "How much of yourself are you willing to give for My sake?"

If I choose to make a run for it, He cannot be angry. After all, it is a freedom He, Himself granted. In fact, many of us would run out the doors glorifying God for His faithfulness. But if I am willing to be still and trust Him, might He use me to accomplish something even more miraculous? What might happen if I am willing to lay my own interests aside and wait for Him, despite my own discomfort?

In the story above, not only was the prison guard saved, along with every member of his household, but Paul and Silas were set free as truly free men, not fugitives who had miraculously broken their bonds. If I will only wait and listen for Him, might God do more for me than tear down a few walls? If I will take a chance based on my confidence in Him, if I will surrender to His will over my own fears and preferences, might He tear down those walls and then use me to begin to rebuild beyond my greatest expectation?

This is a valuable lesson for me, and I believe I am not so very different than anyone else. Too often I seek whatever will bring me comfort and make me happy, but my perception is off. I see such a small corner of the larger picture He is painting. Oh if I will only be content to wait for Him, what might He be able to do in and through me!

Taking The High Road

This week's Bible blog is inspired by portions from Genesis 14-21.

There are several components of these chapters that stand out to me.

First, Abram and Lot decide they need to part ways. God has blessed them so much that they cannot stay together and maintain the same level of prosperity. Abram trusts God and yields the choice of land to Lot . Lot looks around and in complete selfishness chooses the best land for himself. Abram goes along with it and they split up. The succeeding story tells how Abram continues to be blessed beyond measure while Lot lives in fear of the evil people in the territory he chose for himself. He even had to be rescued from abduction during war by Abram.

Haven't you ever been in that situation? You take the high road and yield to another person and they completely take advantage of your generosity. Then, they seem to get the better end of the deal and you're left asking yourself, "What did I just do and why in the world did I do it?" Enter God into the situation...Isn't it just sensational how he honored Abram's unselfishness and gave him bounty despite the fact that his land might have been inferior to Lot 's. Additionally, look at where Lot 's selfishness got him. He lands in Sodom where everyone is a target for sexual depravity and he has to lock himself and his family up at night to keep them safe. He is still trying to live a righteous life, but he has completely missed the mark.

It is so easy to be discouraged when we see others who have attained their success through less than proper means, meanwhile we struggle and strive to live righteously and sometimes feel we're not getting ahead. Take another look at this story. I find it interesting that the Bible specifically tells us that Abram thrived financially but it says nothing about Lot . Perhaps because the way his life turned out it doesn't matter how much moeny he made along the way. He might have been doing great at earning a livingbut he gained all his success at the expense of his family. He had daughters that he was willing to trade to the vile men of Sodom and he loses his wife in a desperate escape.

The road of righteousness might sometimes be less glamourous than the road of self-indulgence, but the reward is worth any sacrifices we might make along the way.