OPPOSITION Opposition, such an offensive word, especially when trying to accomplish something good!
In the Book of Nehemiah, we see the heart of God's faithful servant, Nehemiah, the king's cup-bearer. Having an honored position and one that was close to the king, Nehemiah had an "in" on the happenings of the area and people, mainly his people, the Israelite's. Being a man of God, "he sat down and wept, mourned and fasted and prayed to God of heaven."  Nehemiah, sought God first asking for favor to address the king. When the opportunity arose, the door opened for Nehemiah to ask for permission to take some time off from work to rebuild the broken down wall of Jerusalem and the gates that had been burned with fire. He also asked for  security guards and credentials  and building materials. "And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests." The restoration of the wall of Jerusalem was now underway. Unfortunately, so was opposition.
Nehemiah, organized the building project and work began on the foundation of the wall. Midway, the the ridicule of the Jews began and trouble started brewing. The Israelite's became concerned, but they knew where to turn to for help. They gave their concerns to God and posted guards day and night to meet the threats of the opposition. Nehemiah, being the project manager, exhibited his leadership and assured the people not to be afraid. This is what he said, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes. When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work." Guess what, God saw to it that the wall would be completed in His time.

Have you ever been in a position of rebuilding something in your life and the enemy is at work just as hard as you are?  Prayerfully, the plans of the project have been put before our Lord first, and that work doesn't begin until God signs the contract. "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Prov. 19:21  "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord established their steps." Prov. 16:9  Nehemiah gave us the perfect example of how to begin a project. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt. 6:33 In the example that is given to us in Nehemiah, we see obedience to what God calls us to do. Because there was obedience, God honored the request. Even though there is often opposition, if we would operate in obedience, "Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome" and practice what He commands us to do,  He will honor our request and complete the work in His time and according to His will.
Lord, let us not begin a project, a rebuilding, a restoration, until our hearts have sought You first. Let our requests be laid at the foot of the cross and with patience, help us to wait upon You. Then and only then, will You consider the request and if You grant it, things will be right, perfect and complete. Thank you  Lord for Your word that we might know how to walk in Your ways, step by step. In Your Sons most precious Name, Jesus Amen 

OBEDIENCE TO OUR FATHER
Obedience, a word of command, authority and consequences.  Obedience is taught before we can even pronounce it, let alone spell it. It is demanded of us through love and concern for our well-being. When not carried out, there is a repercussion of unpleasantness.  So, with our human intelligence, why is it so hard to walk and live in obedience, especially when it is commanded through love?  

How many times daily do you slip over the edge of obedience into the rut of disobedience?  Disobedience in our thoughts, our actions, our speech, our looks, even the blatant "not going to happen" attitude. Wow, not sure I want to recap that one!  And yet, the highly intelligent beings we are, knowing that we sin because of disobedience and reap the unpleasant consequences, we still continue to do it anyways. Why is that?  I don't know other than that wonderful "Me" encouraged by the enemy appears and gets into our head and hearts. 

But, as always, God has given us examples in His word to encourage us and show us that there is always a better way, His way.  In Jeremiah 35 there were a people called the Recabites. This was a family who lived in obedience and didn't have unpleasant consequences to face, quite the contrary, they were blessed because they obeyed.

Lets recap this chapter, as it is the example we should be following. God spoke to Jeremiah, giving him the instructions to invite the Recabite family to sip some wine. The invitation went forth and the family accepted graciously. I mean, who is going to turn down an invitation from Jeremiah. They were seated and cups of wine were placed in front of the men of the family. I'm sure they smiled and politely said, "We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: 'Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. Also, you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.'" Speaking of commands, there are a few for you. While reading this, how many of you are thinking, those are some tough commands to follow and be obedient to. Well, lets see if they did obey these commands.
The men of the Recabite family replied, "We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab commanded us."
Now lets see what God has to say about all of this!  God spoke again to Jeremiah, telling him to go to the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem and share this bit of information with them.  Say to them, "Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?"  "Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me."  I highlighted some key words and I think you might be getting my drift here.
God doesn't stop there, He carries His message a bit further. Here comes a command, not a suggestion. He says, "Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them." Thought I would highlight some more key words for you once again, just for some emphasis. 
Again, God reminds them, "But you have not paid attention or listened to me. The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.' Here comes that word "therefore". "Therefore, this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, (just in case you forgot who He is) says: 'Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them.. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.'" God doesn't mess around with disobedience.
There are consequences to our disobedience, but there are blessings as we obey that which is spoken to us. God didn't forget the Recabite family, on the contrary He says, "You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.' Therefore, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me.'"  Would you not agree with me that obedience pays off!
Father, help us to be listening and obeying Your word. Help us to turn from our wicked ways, to reform our actions and not be following other gods to serve them. Let our lives be of and for You only, following You and living as You have planned for us. Let us have hearts that seek after You only. Father, do a work in our lives so that we will have 
OBEDIENCE TO OUR FATHER
Amen

RAGING STORMS

The wind is blowing with gusting strength, the headwind is pressing in hard,  the waves are slamming relentlessly which are nearly drowning all that is in its path.
I came home yesterday to find my back door blown wide open and a severe force of wind blowing in a pelleting blast of rain which quickly flooded the room. All this in a matter of a few minutes.  Then I spent the next several minutes mopping up the mess and praying that there is no  damage to the wood floor. Though there was no sin involved in this situation, it got me to think how quickly sin can blow through my life, cause havoc and then leave potential damage.  Meanwhile, I try my hardest to mop up the mess.
Is there a storm in your life? Is the blowing wind of the situation sending things in a whirlwind? Is the headwind of circumstances causing unnecessary pressure? Is there slamming and crashing of life's choices over taking all?
"The word of the Lord came to Jonah... But Jonah ran away from the Lord... "Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose  that the ship threatened to break up" Jonah 1:1,3,4
If there is a storm in your life, are you not listening, are you running from the Lord as Jonah did? I know for myself, there have been many times that I just didn't want to hear the truth and then I would start running in the opposite direction only to find myself lost and alone, thankfully, not in the belly of a great fish! Sin enters into the equation, causing a separation from the only one who can help in time of need, God.  Go figure, how smart is that.  It is not smart, but it is "self" that rears it's ugly head.

"But since you refuse to listen when I call
    and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
²⁵ since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
²⁶ I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
    I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

²⁸ “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
    they will look for me but will not find me,
²⁹ since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.
³⁰ Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,
³¹ they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
³² For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
³³ but whoever listens to me will live in safety
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Prov. 1:24-33

The storm mostly likely is the consequences of the choices we have made. A storm caused from the result of rejection, refusal and/or rebellion, sin! We complain, a self-centered denial, and then we face the discipline of the Lord. But, there is a warning here as a believer, that we are never to think that the discipline of the Lord is anything but loving and gracious.  The enemy would have us believe otherwise thinking that the disciple is a cold-hearted punishment. Remember, His word speaks the truth.
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son" Heb. 12:5-11
The Lord disciplines us because He loves us.  Discipline should cause us to understand that, to repent and renew a relationship with Him. He wants us to succeed, to be holy as He is Holy so that our lives will reflect Him and His grace for us. Through the testings,trials and temptations, the circumstances, situations and life in general, the Lord is there with an open door to receive, repent and renew. 

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’"

1 Peter 1:15-16).

Lord, may the Raging Storms of our lives be calmed by the peace of a repenting heart.

When I look into your holiness

THE SONSHINE
Sunshine in the midst of clouds and clouds in the midst of sunshine.
The warmth and brightness of the sun, makes for a comfortable place, a welcoming, a feel good feeling.  The cool and darkness of a cloud cover, makes for eeriness, uncertainty and a dreary feeling.  How do and how can these two mix and intertwine in a life?
When life is rolling along, good things are all around and that feel good feeling is a welcome to the day, the clouds above are just an added fluff of comfort.
But when life is bumpy, full of potholes, troubled things are weighing the day down with a heavy feeling and the sun is no where to be seen, causing an overcast feeling.
Our emotions are dictated by what we feel and see. So how are we to keep those emotions where the Lord would have them be so that our lives would be engulfed in peace and comfort regardless of what the surrounding circumstances are.
As we look above to see sunshine or clouds,  God's word tells us to do exactly the same,  Look above to see the Son.
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" Col. 3:2
Paul tells us in Philippians,
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure  whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do,  and the God of peace will be with you." Phil. 4:8-9
Things, people, circumstances, situations and just life in general, can and do set our day in motion. We can roll along just fine or we can stumble and fall. Either way, when we look up, let us look beyond the sunshine and clouds and gaze upon the  SON, Jesus Christ.

This is the Day the Lord has Made

For This Is The Day...        Good day to all.  God says, for this is the day that I have made for you.  I say, Thank you Lord. This day which has been given to me, I ask,  "what do I do with it, where do I begin in it and how will I end it?
"This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. ...  This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ..." Ps. 118:24
       My day began seeking the Lord, praising Him, asking for blessings for those in my life and receiving His grace and His peace which passes all understanding. His peace is what I felt as I got up and prepared myself to face this day which has been given to me.        A day in our eyes is 24 hours long. Is a day in the eyes of the Lord the same, because His time is not the same as ours.  2 Peter 3:8 tells us, 
"With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 
So really, how long, how many hours, how many minutes do I have? Better yet, what will I, what will you, what will we do with what has been given? I, personally, so want to be on fire for Jesus, giving Him my all every minute of the day.  Can I do that?  Yes, in His power and with His grace all things are possible.
""With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." ...

Mark 10:27

I want to stand on the mountain top and shout His name for all He has done for me!

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
Serve the LORD with gladness;
  Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the LORD Himself is God;
  It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
  We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
  And His courts with praise.
  Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
  His lovingkindness is everlasting
  And His faithfulness to all generations

Ps. 100

I want to give and I want to receive, Lord, I want to be a servant to all.

 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, 

and to give his life a ransom for many”

Mark 10:45 

“Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, 

but the interests of others as well”

Phil. 1:4

There are a lot of  "I wants" in this posting, but as I am growing and knowing who I am, a child of God, then I can have the confidence and assurance knowing that I can come boldly before Him and lay down my petitions and requests. His word is full of promises for me and you. If I am responsible with His promises and with this day that has been given me, I will be given the desires of my heart.

"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and truly you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the LORD: and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

Ps. 37:3-5 

For This Is The Day.....