A Man of Action

It pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Nehemiah 2:6.
While Nehemiah implored the help of God, he did not fold his own hands, feeling that he had no more care or responsibility in the bringing about of his purpose to restore Jerusalem. With admirable prudence and forethought he proceeded to make all the arrangements necessary to insure the success of the enterprise….
The example of this holy man should be a lesson to all the people of God, that they are not only to pray in faith, but to work with diligence and fidelity. How many difficulties we encounter, how often we hinder the working of Providence in our behalf, because prudence, forethought, and painstaking are regarded as having little to do with religion! This is a grave mistake. It is our duty to cultivate and to exercise every power that will render us more efficient workers for God. Careful consideration and well-matured plans are as essential to the success of sacred enterprises today as in the time of Nehemiah…. Men of prayer should be men of action. Those who are ready and willing, will find ways and means of working. Nehemiah did not depend upon uncertainties. The means which he lacked he solicited from those who were able to bestow.
The Lord still moves upon the hearts of kings and rulers in behalf of His people. Those who are laboring for Him are to avail themselves of the help that He prompts men to give for the advancements of His cause…. These men may have no sympathy with God’s work, no faith in Christ, no acquaintance with His word; but their gifts are not on this account to be refused….
As long as we are in this world, as long as the Spirit of God strives with the children of men, so long are we to receive favors as well as to impart them. We are to give to the world the light of truth, as revealed in the Scriptures; and we are to receive from the world that which God moves upon them to give in behalf of His cause…. O that Christians might realize more and still more fully that it is their privilege and their duty, while cherishing right principles, to take advantage of every Heaven-sent opportunity for advancing God’s kingdom in this world.
Conflict and Courage p. 263
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Vera she is 98 fell last night she is in the hospital with a brain bleed. Mary
—–tonight I really need prayer for myself. My throat keeps swelling on the right side and I can barely talk and swallow. It is difficult to breathe and I am afraid to go to sleep like this. I have been using my inhaler and I really don’t want to go to the hospital tonight. I am very tired and don’t want to sit in a cold room for hours while they poke me with needles. Please pray that my throat will quit swelling and giving me so much trouble. Connie
—–Please pray for Ronnie Jay and his wife as they continue their drive across country. Rose
—–Please keep my husband Steve in your prayers. His right thumb keeps trying unlock up on him. Valerie
—–may I request a prayer for my son Josh. He moved out of state for work, and it is not what it was supposed to be, he needs to make a decision about what to do,, and also that the he give his heart to Jesus, that he may bring glory to His name. Deb
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Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago, we went to family camp down in Oklahoma. One of Emma’s favorite things about the meetings, was the singing. The camp had all of the children and teens go up on the platform and help lead song service. As Esther and I were enjoying the happy children, we began to realize how dangerous that platform was. All that was between those little ones in the front row and a dangerous and perhaps fatal fall was a rim about to the height of their knees. From there, it dropped down to the cement floor about eight feet below.
Esther and I talked about this later and found that we both were praying that God would send His angels to keep any children from falling. How often we take for granted our Heavenly Father’s watchcare, but He sends His angels to protect us daily. Only when we get to Heaven will we see all the many times our Great Creator sent His angels to keep us from harm. Jesus assures us, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Matt 10:29-31 Praise God! We can safely trust in Him Who watches over each of His children as if there were no other person in the entire world.