JUNE 16, 2016

“To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.” 
― François Mauriac

NEHEMIAH 1-3

Nehemiah's courage to confess to the King...prompted the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

1In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, 3but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

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

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

6Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

ACTS 2:1-13

Again God shows up through the spirit in unconventional ways...

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^a as the Spirit enabled them.

 

JOURNAL 

Artaxerxes grants Nehemiah leave to build back Jerusalem...the disciples speak other languages. I love the way God continually flips the script.  He takes the most unlikely of characters and does amazing works through them. 

I take away two lessons...never assume that the way it has always been done is the way God wants it. Secondly...God is a God of underdogs, never count myself or anyone else out because of failure. God redeems the failures, freaks and losers. God can quickly flip any script...never assume human power, position and success is permanent...also never assume the same of failure.  Every day is a new canvas that God can paint in amazing ways. I must look to see it with fresh eyes and hope.

25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^c ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^d ”

28“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”~ LUKE 10:25-27