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
Friday, July 30, 2010
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
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
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
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 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
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Nehemiah Challenge - Day Two
Hello My dear family,
I hope that you have found a sense of unity as we, together, begin to read how God faithfully helped Nehemiah begin the seemingly impossible task of rebuilding Jerusalem. So He will remain with us as we begin what might seem like the impossible task of rebuilding our church.
After you have read the whole chapter, reread verse 18.
"I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king's words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, "Let us arise and build." So they put their hands to the good work."
I charge you now, Family of God, "Let us arise and build!"
I encourage you that none of you are alone. We are all in this fight together. This is the battle for our family, our community. Let us now put our hands to the good work!
The Nehemiah Challenge continues tomorrow with Chapter 3.
Your friend and servant,
Elise
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
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
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
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