Stewards of Joy

Nehemiah 8:5-12

Thank you, pastors and teachers who serve as today’s Levites.  Thank you for “reading from the Book, making it clear and giving the meaning so that people understand.”  Thank you for listening to God’s call on your life.

Thank you for attending Seminary or participating in other means of study and for taking your education seriously.  It’s because of your dedication that we can “celebrate with great joy, because we now understand the words that have been made known to us.”

Thank you for putting things into perspective and making lessons applicable to our lives.  The Bible is an eternal document that will live on because of stewards like you.  His Word survives because you continue to explain the meaning behind the stories.

During Advent, a special story will be retold which many of us have heard a hundred times, but you will bring it to life for those to whom it is brand new - the story of a baby who has and will continue to change the world.  May we all experience the joy of the Lord this Christmas.

Party Time!

Nehemiah 8:17 (NIV)
 The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. 

It sounds like they had quite a party going on. For the first time since their captivity, the nation of Israel was in a celebratory mood. The Feast of Tabernacles was the reason and their joy was very great.

Time had passed, the people were returned to their homeland and now it was time to celebrate. Many of us have 'going away' parties, but who of us had had a 'coming home' party?  We observe birthdays with a celebration as well as anniversaries.  We come together as friends and family on special occasions, and this was a special occasion for sure.

The people were home and it was the Feast of the Tabernacles and Ezra was reading from the Book. Their captivity was behind them and their future lay before them. There will be another homecoming celebration for them and for us.  They day we return to our Heavenly home there will be such joy!

My devotion this morning reminded me to trust God and believe. "My grace is sufficient for you." (2 Corinthians 12:9) Never change God's facts into hopes or prayers but simply acct them as realities, and you will find them to be powerful as you believe them. - Streams in the Desert  This is the word I received after asking God to lift a feeling of heaviness I was feeling.  His grace is sufficient...

Nehemiah 8:13-18

The Story - Chapter 21 - Rebuilding the Walls

I can only imagine how this must have made Ezra feel; to have the people clamoring for The Word.

Nehemiah 8:1 (NIV) 
"all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel." 

I am painting this picture in my mind's eye.  People are asking to hear the Word, and standing from daybreak till noon, listening, and then weeping at the sounds of the Word pouring from Ezra's lips.

Often I have read from God's Word and felt His presence.  This is such a gift and a blessing and confirms the words of Nehemiah in verse 10.  "This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Yesterday was Valentine's Day, today the third day in Lent.  What does this mean for you?  I have been praying and considering how to observe this season of Lent and it wasn't until reading from the Bible that it became clear.

I am going to give up FEAR.  I am going to do what I can to draw closer to God, and for me that means I  will trust Him.  When I trust Him completely, there is no room for fear. The joy of the LORD is my strength!

Read Nehemiah 8 here

Listen to Nehemiah 8 here