COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 5-6
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A fence seperates the men’s prayer area from the women’s at the Western Wall (or Wailing Wall) in Jerusalem. This wall is part of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Nehemiah 6:3
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
This writing may have been a report back to King Artaxerxes in Persia. Not only did it speak of rebuilding the walls, but of the reform of civil society. Nehemiah took measures to repopulate Jerusalem with observant Jews. He enforced the cancellation of debt providing a brand new start for the people. He assisted Ezra in teaching and implementing the Law of Moses. Nehemiah’s determined leadership is captured in our key verse. He considered what he was doing to be “a great work.” We should never minimize the call of God on our lives. Doing God’s will is “a great work.” In spite of attempts to lure Nehemiah away and put fear in his heart, he never gave up! He took leadership and persisted in his efforts. When those who opposed him tried to make him fearful, he refused to be afraid. He feared God (ultimate respect) more than anything man could do to him.
Malachi, preaching while Nehemiah was in leadership, declared, “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His Name” (Malachi 3:16).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that this blog will have the same results as Malachi’s ministry. Thank You for all who speak to one another, encouraging each other in their responses to the blog, by telephone calls, or in personal conversation, or even in forwarding the blogs to others. I’m asking You, Lord, as did Nehemiah, “Remember me, my God, for good” (Nehemiah 5:19a). Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
At first glance it may seem self-centred to ask for God’s blessings for myself, but I’m fully aware that unless I am blessed, I cannot give what I don’t have. The Gospel song says, “Count your blessings; name them one by one. Count your blessings; see what God has done.” I’ve just gone into Google, typed in Count Your Blessings, and there was Guy Penrod singing this song on 100 Huntley Street (click here). On the senior’s TV series, Really Good Medicine, we had Jimmy Durante singing Irving Berlin’s song written for the White Christmas movie, Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep. I’ve often done that when I’m trying to fall asleep. It works!
Yours for God’s goodness to be upon us all,
David
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
Thank You, Father, for the leaders You have given, inspiring us all to be about the Great Work You have given us to do. Help us all to do Your work in Your ways. May we be like sails filled with the winds of Your Spirit, in Jesus’s great name, amen
Thank you Lord for all of the leaders through out history who tried to follow You, I pray that we may all have the courage to be a leader as Nehemiah was.
Thank you Lord for all of the blessing that You bestow on us each and every day,
thank you for your faithfulness to us, help us lord to be faithful to you!
Thank You Lord for the many blessings we receive from You. Amen. Let’s also pray for our government (a great shuffle is happening in Trudeau’s cabinet). Father God, in Jesus Name, please give us Your choice of Leaders. Amen
Amen to all the above…Thank You,Lord,for all Your blessings,known and unknown and for the Greatest Blessing,Christ Jesus.(Christ has never been His name,it’s His title!).May God bless
How Great Is Our God
Can you count the stars at night
Or know every angel by name?
Perhaps when day has lost it’s light
You can count the days man lived in shame.
How many grains are upon a beach
Or drops of rain make a river,
For can you know what’s beyond reach
Or how many souls are left to deliver.
He knows each one of these things,
He knew each of us before birth
And He knows what trials each day brings;
That’s one way to tell what each is worth.
He and the Father created from naught,
Every star and world beyond sight,
Then in six days,created from thought
This school to show wrong from right.
He knows every hair on your head,
He gave the grain you were fed,
And when you are safe in your bed,
You can thank He Who died in your stead.
G W (Bill) Marshall / 20-Dec-13
Thanks Bill. Good to see your poems again. Blessings
Yes, thank you William. Touching poem
God bless all saints.
God Bless All the Saints.
Pray for me and my family.