DAILY FEEDING FROM THE SHEPHERD

Nehemiah 9:29-30
" You warned them to return to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands.They sinned against your ordinances, by which a man will live if he obeys them. Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention,so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples."

Note: A portion of Nehemiah's priestly prayer in Jerusalem after the return of exiled Jews from Medo-Persia ( see the rest of the chapter for the full prayer).

Lessons for us:

•  God's patience with the disobedient has a time limit.
•  God's greatest expectation-walk according to his laws.
•  God judged and will still  judge those who despise his laws.

Application:  Psalm 86:11  "Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart,that I may fear your name.

FROM SOCHI WINTER GAMES

"  We don't really talk about the result but rather focus on the process,what we can do to improve performance."

(From three sisters in the Canadian Team)

PRAY FOR NATIONS

Pray Today: Afghanistan (Feb 09)

Operation World Prayer Team

To Me

Today at 1:14 AM

February 09 - Today we are praying for Afghanistan: Afghanistan: Population: 29,117,489 Largest religion: Muslim For prayer information on Afghanistan, visit the Operation World website and remember to: Pray for the specific country needs: The status of women especially warrants prayer.

Opportunity in Difficulty

We must look for the opportunity in every difficulty instead of being paralyzed at the thought of the difficulty in every opportunity.

~Walter E. Cole

  

(Culled from Daily Insights)

Pray for Nations.

Pray Today: Hot Spots in the Pacific (Feb 07)

February 07 - Today we are praying for Pacific: Hot Spots in the Pacific Pacific: Population: 35,838,336 Largest religion: Christian Percent Evangelical: 17.8% Also prayer specifically for the expansion of the kingdom of God in the Pacific region.

DAILY FEEDING FROM THE SHEPHERD

Nehemiah 7:1-2
"After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place,the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani,along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel,because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do."

Key Point: Leader's effectiveness will rest a lot on the person's integrity of heart and reverence for God. These two are powerful ingredients for godly leadership and the absence of which creates the sort of  void we see in all forms and levels of leadership today.

How does one develop integrity and fear of God?  Close Relationship with God  molds our character. Character is a reflection of God's own nature. Determination to be like him is also very key as a lot of who we become is dependent on us.

MOUNT HOREB-DEUTERONOMY 1:1-8

Moses and the nation of Israel journeyed from Egypt to the promised land,Canaan. Mount Horeb was supposed to be a brief stopping place but they ended up spending 40years on this mountain. It took God calling on Moses with a marching order for Israel to arise and move on to Canaan,to get the people up and running again. Are there lessons we can learn from this experience? Yes  of course!

God has a destination for each of us but sometimes we are not able to get there for these and other reasons:

•        Fear of stepping out or fear of the unknown.
•        Love for status quo. Not willing to take any risk.
•        Loss of passion for the vision.
•        Ignorance of the destination.
•        Lack of faith.
•        Whittling down  of relationship with God.
•        Resources.   

REMAINING FOCUSED ON THE DESTINATION IS THE PANACEA YOU NEED.