He is worthy of our sacrifices, and deserves a pleasing aroma. He makes us joyful. He supports. His hand is upon us. He commands. He is the God of our fathers. He strengthens. He’s gracious to those who seek him. He protects. He hears our prayers. He strengthens. He is God. He is almighty.
God has the awesome power to change hearts and attitudes and minds, like he did for the king in Ezra. I pray that God would change my attitude toward life right now so that it can be more fruitful and bring to completion things he is at work on in and through me.
“
27Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 28and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.”
So much love and grace and mercy shown to Ezra and the exiles by our God!!
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love … . I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me” (Ezra 7:27-28). I love how the king not only allowed them to rebuild, he also forbade anyone from coming against them, and he commanded them to help provide supplies freely! To Ezra this was clear evidence of God’s steadfast love. God was providing above and beyond! In light of all of this, Ezra took courage and trusted in God. He saw God at work and wanted to be part of it.
“22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.”
Ezra was sensitive to making sure God received all honor, and was willing to risk their lives for it. My family is preparing to become missionaries in a Muslim country. We are trusting you, oh God to protect us, because you are able. You are all powerful. And You are good.
Chelsea – what an incredible time in your life and your ministry. Praying for you and your family. Asking the Lord to guide and protect and to bless your ministry.
Oh Chelsea, I will be praying for you and your family! I’m praying that the Holy Spirit would provide you and your family a sense of home, even in a foreign land. And that life there would be abundant in joy, community, His Love, and in peace and provision (and delicious food :)! I will continue to pray for you guys!
Impaled by a beam from your house??!! So thankful that we can freely give to our local churches and missions, and are only convicted in our hearts, not physically threatened!
I actually love the Old Testament. It shows us just how drastically different our lives would be without the grace God gave us when His Son died for our sins. The old law isn’t dead, but Jesus fulfilled it with the ultimate blood sacrifice. It’s so humbling to me.
Love chapter seven when Ezra gathers a group of leaders from Israel to go up with him!! Because the hand of the Lord was on him, he did this with courage and God provided for him an ARMY of men! Makes me think of community and how that is both a blessing and a necessity in this life!
Merry Christmas everyone! We’re almost there! We’ve stuck to it, I know if I read the entire Bible again, that I would pick up a lot of what I didn’t get this year. So much for the Heavenly Father to teach us through his Word. Blessings beyond measure to you!
Merry Christmas to you, as well, Karen! I agree… We have almost completed the whole Bible for this year! And what a great accomplishment it is… I learn something new every time I read through it. God is good!
He is worthy of our sacrifices, and deserves a pleasing aroma. He makes us joyful. He supports. His hand is upon us. He commands. He is the God of our fathers. He strengthens. He’s gracious to those who seek him. He protects. He hears our prayers. He strengthens. He is God. He is almighty.
These are back to back intense readings, had to digest a lot!
❤️
✝️
God has the awesome power to change hearts and attitudes and minds, like he did for the king in Ezra. I pray that God would change my attitude toward life right now so that it can be more fruitful and bring to completion things he is at work on in and through me.
The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.”
“
27Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 28and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.”
So much love and grace and mercy shown to Ezra and the exiles by our God!!
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love … . I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me” (Ezra 7:27-28). I love how the king not only allowed them to rebuild, he also forbade anyone from coming against them, and he commanded them to help provide supplies freely! To Ezra this was clear evidence of God’s steadfast love. God was providing above and beyond! In light of all of this, Ezra took courage and trusted in God. He saw God at work and wanted to be part of it.
“22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.”
Ezra was sensitive to making sure God received all honor, and was willing to risk their lives for it. My family is preparing to become missionaries in a Muslim country. We are trusting you, oh God to protect us, because you are able. You are all powerful. And You are good.
Chelsea – what an incredible time in your life and your ministry. Praying for you and your family. Asking the Lord to guide and protect and to bless your ministry.
– Stormye
Oh Chelsea, I will be praying for you and your family! I’m praying that the Holy Spirit would provide you and your family a sense of home, even in a foreign land. And that life there would be abundant in joy, community, His Love, and in peace and provision (and delicious food :)! I will continue to pray for you guys!
Impaled by a beam from your house??!! So thankful that we can freely give to our local churches and missions, and are only convicted in our hearts, not physically threatened!
I actually love the Old Testament. It shows us just how drastically different our lives would be without the grace God gave us when His Son died for our sins. The old law isn’t dead, but Jesus fulfilled it with the ultimate blood sacrifice. It’s so humbling to me.
Does anyone know if the app will loop back on the same track on January 1st? I’m only halfway through, as I started in May.
I just started last week. I am thinking I can just go back to January if it doesn’t loop. Won’t be as handy but I want to keep at it!
Love chapter seven when Ezra gathers a group of leaders from Israel to go up with him!! Because the hand of the Lord was on him, he did this with courage and God provided for him an ARMY of men! Makes me think of community and how that is both a blessing and a necessity in this life!
Merry Christmas everyone! We’re almost there! We’ve stuck to it, I know if I read the entire Bible again, that I would pick up a lot of what I didn’t get this year. So much for the Heavenly Father to teach us through his Word. Blessings beyond measure to you!
Merry Christmas to you, as well, Karen! I agree… We have almost completed the whole Bible for this year! And what a great accomplishment it is… I learn something new every time I read through it. God is good!