Tag: plan

Nehemiah Devotions Chapter 2, Day 7

Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.
They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work. (Nehemiah 2:18, NLT)

Nehemiah had been in town for a few days. The people had seen him walk around. Some had probably bent his ear about the deplorable situation.

WP Neh 2 vision

And now it was time to let them know what God had in mind.

The response was overwhelming. Vision is contagious. The people were moved and committed.

Nehemiah laid out. He showed them God could be trusted because he is God and he will keep his promises.

It’s time to step up, catch God’s vision, and commit to his plan.

His Word tells us that we will do even greater things than have already been recorded.

What will be your part in rebuilding and building for the Kingdom?

WP Neh 2 do your part

Nehemiah Devotions Chapter 2, Day 6

Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.
They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work. (Nehemiah 2:18, NLT)

Nehemiah had been in town for a few days. The people had seen him walk around. Some had probably bent his ear about the deplorable situation.

WP Neh 2-6 God has a plan

And now it was time to let them know what God had in mind.

The response was overwhelming. Vision is contagious. The people were moved and committed.

Nehemiah laid out. He showed them God could be trusted because he is God and he will keep his promises.

It’s time to step up, catch God’s vision, and commit to his plan.

His Word tells us that we will do even greater things than have already been recorded.

What will be your part in rebuilding and building for the Kingdom?

WP Neh 2-6 catch the vision

TGIF…No really, thank God

WP TGIF 2

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, NASB)

That’s what today is all about.

It’s Friday. Jesus is made to carry his cross. They pound nails into his flesh. He hangs there and dies an excruciatingly painful death. And he dies.

He loves. And he dies.

He is the sacrifice to atone–to bring into one. My sin, your sin, our choices to feed our selfishness and our greed have separated us from the One who not only created us, but loves us.

But he didn’t wait to do that after we sinned. He did it before. He did it with us in mind. He did it for us. He did it because of us.

This was God’s plan from before time began.

That’s how much he loves me. That’s how much he loves you.

At our darkest point, he loved us…loves us. Provides for us.

That’s grace. That’s amazing.

PRAYER: On this solemn day, we say thank you for the expanse and expense of your love. Amen.

WP TGIF

Show Up

I started reading a book today, God Time, 75 Biblical Meditations On Time and History, by Edwin Walhout. I’ll admit I picked it up because it was free and I was getting bored with the devotions I started the year with. Bored is not good as it results in my avoiding reading devotionally, which is spiritual suicide for me.

I didn’t past the second page before my mind started clicking and pulling thoughts together. I haven’t read far enough to really recommend it, but is definitely starting well.

Edwin begins at the beginning (which according to Julie Andrews “is a very good place to start”) by considering Moses take on creation and how he teaches us to theists. In that discussion he says this, “…every person is part of the developing plan of God.”

Two trains took off in my brain with this one thought. Perhaps you can catch one.

The first thing that came to me was how important we are to God’s plan. I was in several plays and drama productions throughout my years of school and college–even later in church productions. Rehearsals always best when all the actors are present. Lines run smoother and staging makes sense. I learned the same thing participating in marching band. Spacing and formations can all messed up when someone is missing. And we all know that choirs and symphonies just don’t sound the same when all the parts aren’t performing together.

Every person has a part in the developing plan of God.

I didn’t always get the role I wanted. But my role was important or it wouldn’t have been in the script–an editor would have made sure of that.

And that leads me to the other train. Every person. I may not understand how that other person got a part, but they did. Every person. The ones I like and relate to. The ones I can hug. The ones like me. And the ones who aren’t. Every person. All the ugly, hate-full, arrogant, selfish, and scary people have a part to play as well.

So it’s not my place to question the One who is writer, director, and editor. Every person has a role, a purpose. How will I receive them? How will I interact. Each person touches my life for a reason, a season. How I play my part will impact others, too.

Life is God’s grand drama. And you and I have our parts to play. I’m going to show up and do my part. How about you?

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