What Type Of Man Do You Want To Be?

Nehemiah 7:1-2 (NLT) After the wall was finished and I had set up the doors in the gates, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.

As I picked my dad up from his house last week for open heart surgery I had to kind of chuckle to myself as I watched him tell both mom and myself what needed to be done and when. Even as he was preparing for a surgery that could be life threatening – he was still in his role of being that faithful man who took his responsibilities seriously. I was thinking about that as I was reading this passage of scripture today. As the walls of Jerusalem were being finished – the responsibility of governing this city was given to a guy named Hanani. It’s interesting – that his name means “gracious.” He wasn’t appointed with the hope that he would somehow lead the city someday. He was appointed because it was evident that these gifting were already resident in his life. “For he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.” It was evident to all who were around him that this man was a faithful servant of God. You didn’t have to guess and wonder who he was and what he did – you just knew. You observed and you saw the characteristics of God in his life. The last words my dad said to us before he went under the knife was “It’s been fun.” What? It’s been fun! Who says that unless he is a man who is completely sold out to God and lived his life just being faithful to God. Thankfully, my dad is doing well and he is recovering nicely. Yet, the lessons he has taught me over my lifetime – and even just before his heart surgery last week will live on and on. I so want these characteristics in my life. I so want to come to end of my life and be known for being faithful to God – even through difficult circumstances. I want to be known as a man who feared God more than most. With God’s help I’m going to keep my eye on the goal of “finishing well.” To God Be ALL the glory today. Amen.

God Will See Me Through

Psalm 138:8 (NLT) The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Monday’s are a little hard for me. Because of the long day on Sundays – I’m a little slower in moving around and getting going compared to most days. It’s all good. I’ve come to accept the reality that I am wired the way God wired me and that I need to schedule some recuperation time. So here I sit– ready to face another week. I have spent time in the word and I’ve been on my knees. I’ve thanked my Heavenly Father for His fruit in my life and for the dozen or so souls that came to Christ yesterday in the services. On a personal note - I had the joy of leading a 17 year old girl to the Lord last night who came up to me and said, “I really need God in my heart right now.” Wow. My window is open as I look out to the beautiful day. I am enjoying the singing of the birds and the worship music that is flooding my soul. I am reminded today of God’s awesome plan for my life and how faithful He has been to me and will continue to be. God hasn’t brought me this far to abandon me or to walk away from me. My dad’s surgery at the end of this week weighs on me a little. We are all trusting God as we enter these uncharted waters. God has always brought us through whatever is before us – He will bring us through this also in our lives. I am praying for each of you today that God would richly bless you and keep you and make His face to shine on you in every place that the soles of your feet touch. God is faithful and He will see us all through. Trust Him and thank Him today – He is always good.