When Nehemiah’s enemies heard the rebuilding was underway, they were not happy. The last thing they wanted was for God’s people to be busy doing God’s work. Rebuilt walls and fortified gates in Jerusalem would lead to emboldened people of God, and emboldened people of God are unstoppable. So they…
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Mobilized, Not Paralyzed
Nehemiah was minding his own business as the cupbearer to the king when he received word of how terribly things were going in his homeland, Jerusalem. The people were in great trouble and shame. The walls had been torn down and the gates had been destroyed by fire. Things were…
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Do Not Fear … God is Near!
Sometimes I have to remind myself that the Word of God says, “Do not fear!” over three hundred times. Things in the world around us are so uncertain. It’s hard not to be fearful. People are getting sick and dying. Crime is increasing. Hurt and hate abound. If I take…
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Jesus Showed Up and That Changed Everything
It’s hard to imagine the level of joy and hope Jesus’ followers felt when they encountered the risen Lord. They had been crushed by His arrest, torture, and death. They were scared, confused, hopeless, and lost. Nothing mattered anymore. Then Jesus showed up! Jesus showed up in their fear and…
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5 Tips to Stand Firm in Temptation
We recently learned that another high-profile Christian evangelist was engaged in ongoing sinful conduct. It’s heartbreaking to find out someone who has been boldly proclaiming the Word of God hasn’t been living by it. If these “people of God” can fall into sinful lifestyles, what hope is there for us…