I’ve had the joy or preaching parts or all of the book of Nehemiah on a number of occasions.  Presently God has put into my heart a book from this great story that evolved from some Tenth Dot work I had the privilege of doing back in January.  Every time I open to this book, I can’t read it without fixating on eight words (in the NIV anyway.  Your translation may have a few more or less).  They come in the middle of a verse in the middle of a passage moments before Nehemiah speaks to the world’s most powerful man.  [warning, your participation in today’s Tenth Dot is coming...]

Day 21 of 28 (start at day 1 by clicking HERE)

The Nehemiah Effect:  Day 7

Blessings on you and your dreams as you finish up this week’s theme from the life of Nehemiah.  Take some time to meditate on these verses from Isaiah 40 that summarize the great work of God in our lives when we learn to trust Him for our strength.  These verses are written out of Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of the Bible and give some fresh meaning into these pretty familiar words.  Meditate on God’s Word today as you lay your dreams before Him!

Day 20 of 28 (start at day 1 by clicking HERE)

The Nehemiah Effect:  6/7

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

-I Peter 5:8-9

Day 19 of 28 (start at day 1 by clicking HERE)

The Nehemiah Effect:  Day 5

Today is day 5 of the Nehemiah Effect, and my prayer is that your dreams are starting to take shape, that your faith is being strengthened and that your will is becoming more resolute as you trust God to see what only He can do in and through your life.  So far we’ve learned that trusting Him means abiding (John 15) and letting God move our hearts.  With hearts moved, we must pray for Him to kindle the fire and provide the resources, and through it all we pray, pray and pray some more.  A big part of our prayer is making sure that our dreams are BIG — so big that they must rest in God’s hands to complete.  Too many Christians live in the do-able, and God calls us to the impossible; dream BIG!  At this point we must take inventory of our lives and the circumstances to which God calls us and as we prepare for the task at hand we surround ourselves with Godly wall builders who will labor along side us.  These are the first five principles of the Nehemiah Effect that have played out in chapters 1-3, and I hope that you are starting to see them developed in your own life and dreams.

PROGRESS:  Living for today, planning for tomorrow

Day 17 of 28 (start at day 1 by clicking HERE)

The Nehemiah Effect:  Day 3

My prayer for you today:

Gracious Father, grant me and my brothers and sisters a great sense of your awesomeness to do amazing works through us, as we walk in faith with you.  May we all grow in your grace, trust in your power, serve with your strength, speak with your words and bring great honor and glory to your name.  As we apply the principles of Nehemiah to our lives may we become more and more of the children you want us to become.  In the name of your Son who makes our lives worth living — Amen.

PROGRESS:  Living for today, planning for tomorrow

Day 15 of 28 (start at day 1 by clicking HERE)

The Nehemiah Effect:  Day 1

“For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven…” Nehemiah 1:4

When I read the Bible I am truly struck by some amazing men and women who did things totally off the charts for God.  By most standards, most of these men and women were “ordinary” people, set apart by their extreme faith in God and their willingness to tackle great tasks.  David brought down a giant, Noah built an ENORMOUS boat, Esther saved a nation, Jael swung the course of a battle, Joshua conquered a land, Mary brought God’s Son into the world and Joseph fed the world.  When God’s children trust Him — He produces.  The result is that lives are changed and often, the very course of history is altered.

What do you really want in this life?

Honestly.

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