backWORDZ: February 2016

Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding

Nehemiah 4 [a] Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews,2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices?[b] Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”

Sometimes we feel weak, poor, feeble, like nothing more than a burnt (by people who've hurt or disappointed us or by the enemy who puts us through fiery trials) pile of worthless trash-rubbish. The enemy mocks us and is enraged by our decision to follow God's call.

This picture is actually from Isreal, taken by my amazing sister Rebekah Strangarity @ https://boosharesnews.wordpress.com/ … How often do we see ourselves like this-broken, useless, fallen… But He calls us to rebuild.

3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” 4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of[c] the builders.”

Those surrounding us may see us as weak, feeble, broken or about to collapse... But no matter who sees our weakness and vulnerability we MUST remember who we are in Christ and not allow our enemy to forget his future.

(Picture from the wonderful Bekah again! Used with permission❤️)

6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.

Don't just DO the work of rebuilding your walls, your house, your temple... DO THE WORK WITH ENTHUSIASM!

7 [d]But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.

The enemy sees God's work and our choice to rebuild and work to God's glory in our lives and he becomes furious and plans to create confusion in us. In turn, we MUST pray and we MUST guard our hearts and minds and family DAY and NIGHT!

10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”

When we become defeated and tired and overwhelmed it is often in our isolation so we MUST recognize the NECESSITY of not fighting alone!

11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.” 12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!”[e]

Some versions actually say they said this TEN TIMES... Could you just imagine the redundancy and frustration? After about five times of saying that it feels like, "HELLO WE GET THE POINT!" Yet how often do we get lax in our Christian walk and forget that we've got a very violent and angry enemy camping nearby that we MUST stand on constant guard against their attacks....

13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.

We MUST begin recognizing and being aware of our most vulnerable, lowest, weakest points and willing to STATION PEOPLE who will stand guard alongside us in battle ARMED with (our only defensive weapon, Ephesians 6:17) the SWORD of the Spirit which is THE WORD of God! So often we neglect our weapon against the enemy's schemes and attack and we try to fight and wage war unarmed.

14 Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”

We MUST REFUSE to be afraid. We must NOT fear, but instead must walk in FAITH and boldness BY remembering THE LORD who I Great and Glorious. WE must arm ourselves for fighting by knowing God's Word, by keeping always at our side, by holding it always and fighting for our families!

15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall.

We must keep working, keep building, trusting God!

16 But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall.

Gather a band of brothers and sisters who will create a plan of action with one's willing to help rebuild alongside you and also ones willing to stand guard around you while you do the work of rebuilding what's been torn down or broken within your heart and life.

The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side.

No one fighting or rebuilding alongside us should be unarmed. Everyone NEEDS Gods Word on hand, ready, on standby, within reach, on our person, CLOSE to our hearts and on our side.

The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”

I look at the trumpeter as the prayer warrior. We NEED the valuable team player who is unafraid to LOUDLY and BOLDLY call out for and to GOD for help! And then we must trust God WILL fight FOR us!

21 We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset.

Be ready, ALWAYS--up early, up late, always working!

And half the men were always on guard. 22 I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. 23 During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.[f]

NO MATTER WHAT we must ALWAYS keep God's word (the sword, our weapon) READY-on us-in us-close by our side... Even in the simple, everyday tasks. Make His Word our best companion!

Monday, February 15, 2016

Banana Cocoa Cookies

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

When I'm Broken, When I'm Rebuilding What Does God Want For Me?