Nehemiah 2:4-20 ~ the good hand of my God

 

Abba, Father,

We know all our Journey leads to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is Life. 

We ask Your Willing Blessings.

We have all lived seeing so much Change. 

And in the Scriptures, sweeping changes are shown as well. 

The answer is timeless. 

To believe God is yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Father God, we lift our cares of those we love. 

 Seeking You to say the Word over all our changes 

and pour Your Blessing on us.

We Rise as we believe You will care for those we Love. 

We Trust their very being to You. 

Remembering You as Father. 

God of Love, God of Encouragement.

We read the news and the violence of the century 

and Believe You are the Light of Nations. 

Bless all of our lives and cares so high, 

the Nation is lifted Trusting in You. 

Bless the Nations believing in You for renewed Hope and Life.

We bless You for Jesus Christ and His Words 

encouraging all His Beloved 

around the earth, 

praying for more Heaven on earth. 

Your Good Will be done. 

And know the communion of saints 

as Your Prayer covers 

Your Good Creation today.

Blessings of being the New Covenant in Your Son, Jesus Christ. 

Alleluia. Amen.

Nehemiah 2:4-20

4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 

5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.”

 6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 

7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” 

And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.

9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 

16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 

18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.” 

Darius and the mosaic of the 2nd Exodus,

leaving the Babylonian Empire

Nehemiah's 2nd Chapter is a great reflection on a brand new beginning for New Year's Day.  The glory and hope of something so new. Even the King has given blessings. The warmth of exploration and dreams. Making something of ruins.  A foundation the people want.  The happiness of the people.  A work of God. They survey and look to see with expectation. More joy will follow. Knowing Blessings lead the path and Blessings are making this path meaningful.

God's path. Setbacks and discovering more of the goodness of God.

2 Timothy 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 

14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus