So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Nehemiah 8:8, 9.
Nehemiah and Ezra are men of opportunity. The Lord had a special work for them to do. They were to call upon the people to consider their ways, and to see where they had made their mistake; for the Lord had not suffered His people to become powerless and confused and to be taken into captivity without a cause. The Lord especially blessed these men for standing up for the right. Nehemiah was not set apart as a priest or a prophet, but the Lord used him to do a special work. He was chosen as a leader of the people. But his fidelity to God did not depend upon his position.
The Lord will not allow His work to be hindered, even though the workmen may prove unworthy. God has men in reserve, prepared to meet the demand, that His work may be preserved from all contaminating influences. God will be honored and glorified. When the divine Spirit impresses the mind of the man appointed by God as fit for the work, he responds, saying, “Here am I; send me.”
God demonstrated to the people for whom He had done so much that He would not serve with their sins. He wrought, not through those who refused to serve Him with singleness of purpose, who had corrupted their ways before Him, but through Nehemiah; for he was registered in the books of heaven as a man. God has said, “Them that honour me I will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30). Nehemiah showed himself to be a man whom God could use to put down false principles and to restore heaven-born principles; and God honored him. The Lord will use in His work men who are as true as steel to principle, who will not be swayed by the sophistries of those who have lost their spiritual eyesight.—The Review and Herald, May 2, 1899.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 271
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray especially hard for E that God will do what is best for her and the children. R
—-Please pray for a friend who is having a multitude of trials. Rose
—-Please pray for a friend’s mother who may have had a stroke. Her name is Rita. Debra
—-Please pray for my friend Robert, He had an accident several months back and seemed to recover from wounds. But a few weeks ago suffered from rare stroke in his back and is paralyzed except for some movement in arm. He’s in his 60’s and has been very healthy He is struggling with being so helpless. Ann
—-Please pray for my new grandson. My son, Hudson married Heather Aug. 20. Keigan just turned 15. I think he has been in the hospital more than home the last month. He went home last Thursday and back to ER and admitted Friday night. He had a new gtube put in last week and a new PICC line. Now he’s been bleeding from the gtube, has had 2 transfusions and now has a blood clot at the PICC line site. Maybe in the morning they can do a scope to try to find what’s bleeding. They can’t do blood thinners because of the bleeding. He really needs your prayers. So do the parents. And they all need some sleep. So if you believe in prayer I would appreciate prayers for them all… Keigan, Heather and Hudson. Carol
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Dear Friends,
A friend of mine had an experience some years ago, that I thought I’d share with you. She lived about forty miles from the nearest big city, so she didn’t get there very often. Whether she was distracted by someone or something, or because she had been sick for several days, she ended up locking her keys in the car when she and the children went into a store in town. They had an hour in between doctor appointments, so she used her time to get some needed items. Here is their experience as she wrote it [slightly edited]: “I didn’t realize I didn’t have the keys until we tried get into the car. I told the girls it was okay, I had a spare key in my purse. Well, it wasn’t there. I had one of my girls hold up the purse so I could search every pocket and corner, no spare key for the van door. I had two spare keys, one for the VW bug and one for the Suzuki Swift and 3 padlock keys. I knew we didn’t really have time to get someone to come unlock the door and still make it to our appointments on time so I prayed out loud, “Please Lord, could you make just any key work to open the door for us,” reached in my purse, grabbed a key, shoved it in the lock and turned………….. and the lock popped up! I had grabbed one of the padlock keys. I said, “Wow, God just did a miracle for us!” We got in and drove to the orthodontist. When we got out and locked the van I told the girls to wait a minute, I wanted to know if it was a super key that could open any door or if it was a real live miracle we had just witnessed. I tried every key in my purse and not a one even turned, let alone unlocked the door. My girls eyes were wide open, they’d just seen a real miracle.” My friend has been going through some severe trials, and this event greatly encouraged her.
How good God is to help us in our time of need! Truly He is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Ex 34:6 Our Dear Saviour assures us, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Luke 11:9, 10
God promises, “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Ps 50:15 When our Gracious Redeemer grants us our request, we are not to hide it under a bushel, keeping it to ourselves. No! We are to spread His Goodness far and wide that God may be glorified. This she did. She shared it with those whom she knew needed encouragement as well. Later after they had been back home for a bit, she got a call from a friend that was really discouraged because she had so many troubles going on in her life. My friend shared the story of her experience that day, and her friend was greatly encouraged to go on in spite of her trials.
May we also be quick to recognize God’s great blessings that He daily showers upon us, dwelling upon those good things rather than the evil all around, then encourage others with the blessings we have received is my prayer.
Rose