Building Up the Wall

Do you have anything in your life, family, or church that needs rebuilding?  Sunday, we began a new series our Nehemiah's story of rebuilding the torn down wall of Jerusalem.  We began with Nehemiah's grief.

Nehemiah heard that the the Jewish remnant in Jerusalem was living in disgrace and that the wall had been torn down and the gates burned.  When he heard this, he grieved.  His grief led him to prayer.

For a lot of us, our grief leads us to griping, not praying.  It's probably easier, just to find a few friends who will help us feel miserable, but Nehemiah was interested in making a difference, not just complaining about his circumstances.  So Nehemiah prayed . . . He took his concerns to the Lord.

Nehemiah's prayer was the beginning of something awesome.  Did you know that they were able to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days.  The wall itself was 4.5 miles in circumference!  Wow!!!

Do you have anything in your life that is causing you grief?  Maybe a failed relationship or a loss of hope.  Have you ever had a door shut in your face that makes you wonder, "God are you still there and do you even care?"  If the answer is yes, then you have two options.

One, you can gather a group of fellow complainers and spend your tie wallowing in your own misery.  Or, option number 2, you can take your concerns to God and ask him what He and you can do about it.

The one thing which made a big difference for Nehemiah when he prayed, was that he remembered the promises of God.  God had promised a place in the promised land for Israel.  Remembering God's promises gave hope and encouraged Nehemiah to take action.  what has God promised you.

Whatever grieves you about your life or the lives of others, take it to God in prayer and then grab ahold of God's promises.  You and God can make a big difference in your life.

Have a great week building up the wall of God's promises in your life.  See you Sunday at New Life (meeting at the ARC , 1701 W Ash Street).  Tom Ragsdell

Out of Eden: Spiritual Growth,Fertilizer, and Change

Have you ever thought about why God posted an angel with a flaming sword at the edge of Eden?  God had a redemptive purpose for casting Adam and Eve out of Eden!    You might have forgotten about this obscure detail in the Genesis account of man's fall from paradise, so let's take another look.  

Genesis 3:24 says, "After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."  Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden tree of the "knowldege of good and evil" and suffered the consequences.   But why would God want to keep eternal life from his creation?   There are always consequences when we go-it-alone or seek our own way.  God knew that man wanted to taste of eternal life, but He was determined that it would come as a gift and not through further disobedience.  It was time to get the plant out of the greenhouse to face the wilderness of the real world.  the plant of God's creation needed to grow up.

Although we were created for a garden, we live in a wilderness.  God has placed us in the wilderness so that we might long for Him and learn to seek his presence.  Every gardener knows that greenhouses exists for the day when the plant can be removed and placed out in the real world--that's where real growth and fruit bearing will take place.

In the book of James we learn about trials and troubles.  Jesus cautioned us with the words, "In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)  I like to think of trouble as fertilizer.  Did you know that a good gardener doesn't add fertilizer until the leaves on the plant are about half grown?  Too much too early can kill the plant.  

But the right amount of fertilizer at the right time can really accelerate the growth of the plant.

God uses trouble in our lives the same way a gardener uses fertilizer.  James writes, "Count it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."  No doubt we will face trouble in life, and trouble is not peculiar to Christians.  But is there any purpose for the trouble or trials which we face?  The bible says there is a purpose.  Trials can make us wiser and more spiritual.

Think about it!  A child doesn't get every piece of candy they ask for because it isn't good for them.  We appreciate good health because we experience sickness.  We long for life and eternal life, because we know about death.  It is a thirsty man who really longs for water.  God is at work in our trials and troubles to turn our hearts to him.

God has placed us in the wilderness of this world so that we might turn to him and grow spiritually.  God wants us to grow up.  So in times of trouble or trials look up, reach out, and grow.  If you will look for God in your trouble, I know he will be found by you.

See you Sunday as we get Out of Eden.  Tom Ragsdell