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Nehemiah, Brian Hardin and Bricks in the Wall

Nehemiah, Brian Hardin and Bricks in the Wall




I believe we can learn something from everyone we meet.  For the past few days, however, I have been learning from people I have not met.

I've mentioned before that I listen to the Daily Audio Bible.  The Old Testament reading for the last several days has been from Nehemiah, and God is using this book as a crowbar, attempting to pry out some of my serious disobedience and lousy attitude.  I have been, um, shall we say, resisting.   

Brian, the DAB’s fearless leader, speaks about Nehemiah’s life--an exile from Judah and a servant of the king of the Persian Empire, he leaves this great position to take fellow exiles back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall.  What he gets for his passion is discouragement, diminishment, frustration, even death threats, yet he refuses to come down off the wall, to stop doing what he is meant to do.  Through his leadership the exiles finish the wall in an astonishing 52 days, often working with tools in one hand and a weapon in the other. 

It was terribly difficult for Nehemiah.  At any time he could have said, “Forget it.  It’s too hard.  It’s too dangerous.  It’s costing me too much.  I quit.”  But he doesn’t.  He stays the course, inspires the nation and succeeds. 

Brian applies this to our lives, saying, “It is so much more romantic to think about what you’re called to do than it is to do what you’re called to do…it’s hard, hard, hard work.  Don’t come down off the wall…we can’t get to what comes next until it’s done.

“Whatever it is for you, don’t stop what you know God has told you to do….Don’t be discouraged.  Don’t be distracted.  Don’t be intimidated.  Don’t be diminished…And don’t think it’s not enough…

“My goodness, what brick in a wall doesn’t matter?...They all matter because they together make the wall.  Everything that we are called to do matters….Finish what you started.”

Hear that?  That’s God’s crowbar (hopefully, finally) succeeding.  I will finish, even though it is hard.  Through distraction, discouragement, intimidation, diminishment.  One brick at a time.  Standing on the wall.

*Daily Audio Bible Transcript, 8-13-13
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Thursday, August 15, 2013 | Read more...
Celebrate Joy

Celebrate Joy

food-table-4

“Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV

I love this verse. I almost want to hang it on my refrigerator and sign the Lord’s name to it as a license to overindulge. Who doesn’t want a legitimate excuse  to “eat the fat” and “drink the sweet?” I can totally picture myself telling my husband, “the Bible says I can!”

But, if I read pass that invitation to fatten up, I end up with another reason this verse is refrigerator-worthy. It’s a solid reminder that today (and everyday) is a great day to celebrate because choosing to be joyful has powerful ramifications. 

I’ve recited this verse thousands of times, assuming that when I’m joyful, I become strong. I suppose that does happen, but I recently discovered that the real meaning of the verse is that joy actually IS the strength, and strength is not simply a result of having joy. If my Strong’s dictionary is correct, the Hebrew word used here for “strength” literally means a place of safety, protection and refuge; a stronghold or fortress; a rock. If I reframe it that way, it’s not so much that joy takes my weakness away, but that even if I’m weak, there is safety and refuge in His joy. I then, don’t have to celebrate my way to strength. Instead, I celebrate myself into a safe place where my own strength doesn’t matter much because I’m protected. Make sense?

That somehow takes a little pressure off of me, especially during those times I’m hanging out at the party hugging the wall. So, here’s my revised version of the verse:

“Grab a burger, a coke and a sundae, and pick up a value meal for a friend—the Lord has big plans for the day. Instead of being sad or depressed, go ahead and celebrate because the joy you have in the Lord will protect you and be a place of refuge from the trouble around you.”

Feel free to hang it on the refrigerator…

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Monday, January 09, 2012 | Read more...
The Hidden Life of Joy

The Hidden Life of Joy

Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” –Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)

I imagine if heaven had a cheering squad, this would be one of their staples.


 The joy of the Lord is your strength!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Give me a J-O-Y!
JOY! JOY! JOY!
JOY IS YOUR STRENGTH!
<clapping> <cartwheels> <jazz hands>

It’s so peppy, right?  And quite catchy, I mean, how many times have you heard the phrase repeated in moments of encouragement? 

But what does it really mean?
Does strength come from slapping a smile on my face and clapping a little bit? 

What is this “joy” He speaks of? 

As I meandered through the Word this past week, seeking to understand the true meaning of joy, I began to stumble upon verses that challenged my preconceptions of it. Joy had always been such a simple thing, I thought.  And yet God’s Word was painting a far richer and deeper picture than I had known.

Join me this week, friends, as I once again meander through scripture to uncover - the hidden life of joy. 

sara
Sara Rust is your server this week! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.



Saturday, August 06, 2011 | Read more...