Well, Teresa and Ian are
off. It will be an interesting trip, I
am looking forward to the e-mails and tales.
The two dogs are still trying to
find out about each other, but it is getting better. They are only together while I am there, that
way I can stand between them as they figure it out.
The cats, on the other hand, are
not only not happy they are afraid of her and not too enthused with me at this
time. Wanda sees them as a toy to chase
– they don’t feel that same thrill.
Carla was out playing in the
dirt when her boss called. This is
Carla’s day off, but her boss was sick and asked her to finish her shift – Carla
did, of course.
Her garden is looking pretty
good, she has spent a lot of her time on it and it tells. ‘Stuff’ is starting to display their desire
to bear fruit, can’t hardly wait for those tomatoes.
Nehemiah 4:17-18 They which builded
on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with
one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a
weapon.
18 For the builders, every
one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the
trumpet was by me.
I am once again ‘reading the
Bible through the year’ this year. I
then take passages from there – or from other parts of my studies that are more
detailed – to meditate on.
The Bible has so many truths so
many examples for us to bring to our mind and heart. I read the Bible because I like the strength
and encouragement it gives me.
But I also enjoy the stories,
the vulnerability of men and women just like me who overcome their frustrations
and lived for God.
His blessings, frustrations and
even his chastisement are all things to comprehend and these people did that
which helps me to know I too can comprehend His amazing Glory.
It is actually a very fun read –
even though I have done it before and read these same verses many times, I see
different things in them each time – it is the same truths, just I am ready or
need to see a particular part of that truth and at that given time.
I like reading it through the
year so I can get a feel for God – but that fifteen minutes is more of a reading
than a meditation.
I have other aides that help me
focus on certain truths of given verses, they come with some commentaries so I
am more able to apply them to myself in meditation.
BUT, so many verses, food for
meditation, also pop up on that daily reading that will get me ‘through the
Bible in a year.’ And I realize that I
should focus on those verses, like I am today.
It is also amazing, to me, that
often I find the commentaries, by at least four other
writers/teachers/ministers, I am using focus on everything else I am reading
that morning – makes me think God is trying to tell me something.
The Old Testament is a base for
the New Testament and teaches us so much of the nature of God and how He worked
with the Jews and their leaders – and their enemies through the years; truths
that are restated by Jesus in HIS teaching – and, of course, in the teachings of
the New Testament writers.
I had forgotten how much
Nehemiah teaches us in his book. I would
think, to do the book justice – and, the book of Ezra would have to be included
as they mesh together – would have to take several lessons. Some lessons could be focused on just one
verse it has such meat in it.
Much of what he wrote is a
blueprint for OUR success in living a life dedicated to God and His Son
Jesus.
These verses struck me this
morning of a truth we often forget – or at least I do.
While we war against satan, we
work FOR God. The battle is waged so we
can obey God.
In our daily life we aren’t
engaged in battle ‘all of the time,’ there are many times we can sit down with
God and talk. We witness to others
without wondering what satan is doing with our words, we are focused on what God
is laying on our heart for this person(s) or during this time.
While there is never a time when
we can completely let our guard down, there are times we just turn our
protection over to the Holy Spirit working through others and just do His
Work.
Law Enforcement, Firemen,
Paramedics are called first responders.
They are called that because they are called upon to give immediate aid
to the victims. Before the courts,
before the hospital can take action, these men and women arrive on the scene to
provide assistance to the victim.
In this case the workers were
being threatened by the enemy; it took them 52 days to secure the walls, and
every one of those days they were in danger.
They took many measures to
protect themselves; among other things, Nehemiah had, during the day, set up a
defense so half of the workers were on watch with weapons at the ready – they
were the sentries, they were the ones to warn of any oncoming enemy and be the
first responders to the battle - while the other half worked, with weapons
sheathed, they were ready to fight if need be – but they went about their work
trusting in their fellow workers to watch over them.
We have to believe in our fellow
Christians, that they will have our back and are on guard for us – particularly
those on the mission field, or in leadership positions in the church – pastors,
teachers, elders, deacons, etc.
These people need our prayers
and readiness to stand for them as satan tries to figure out a way to get to
them and stop their work.
Not only do we have the armour
of God to protect ourselves, but to protect others.
Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his
might.
11 Put on the whole armour
of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil.
Verse
18 Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints;
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints;
There are many things we cannot
do ourselves; some are gifted orators while others have a gift of teaching. Still others have a gift of charity that
allows them to reach the souls of the oppressed. We ALL have gifts that God will use when we
let Him.
So, we watch their backs.
While a Christian is actively
helping someone he often has to concentrate on what he is doing to the point of
allowing himself to be exposed. To reach
others, he must open wide his arms and heart.
One of the most dangerous duties
a police officer has involves domestic violence. It most often occurs in the home of the
victim and suspect. It is their kingdom
and the suspect feels more empowered there.
He is more inclined to fight.
Yet, the officer must try to
calm down the situation and leaves himself open to attack. He must be ‘ready to act’ while giving the
appearance of a calm, non-threatening demeanor.
Rarely does only one officer go
to a ‘family fight.’ It is a recipe for
disaster.
The one officer tries to talk
down the suspect and get information from him – while the other gets the story
from the victim – but he is always watching the back of the officer who is with
the suspect. If there are more than two,
at least one other officer’s sole position is to protect that first officer.
He has to have the back of that
first officer, because in an effort to calm the suspect down, the first officer
is too close to the suspect to prevent an attack, he is appearing unthreatening
– whenever possible and for whatever length of time it actually works – so the
suspect can allow himself to quiet down.
The officer is very vulnerable
at that point – he has the weapons to defend himself – but they, whenever
possible, remained sheathed - while he must be ready to defend himself, when he
is given warning, he must appear non-threatening. Therefore it is up to the other officer(s) to
stand by, watching and being ready to give the shout of danger and go to his
defense if needed.
It is amazing how often this
works, the suspect calms down and goes peacefully – not always, that is why
there is always at least two, sometimes the officer has to be aggressive and
physically take charge – but it is always better that the suspect understands
that the officers have each other’s backs and he calms down.
It is the same with our
Christian brethren, we must have their back.
That is why we pray for
Missionaries, for our Pastors and other leaders and that is why we must, also,
pray for each other.
Sometimes we are the primary
response and sometimes we are the one who stands back, ready as possible to
respond.
Two illustrations come to
mind. One was the testimony of a man who
observed another witnessing to a person.
He did not ‘chime’ in, instead he prayed for the Holy Spirit to bless the
witness and honor his words – he was there as the ‘first responder’ for the man
whose focus was on witnessing.
Another was the time a man
collapsed in church. He was a couple
rows away and I went to his side, someone else was getting ready to start chest
compressions.
I asked her “what are you
doing?” She said, “I am going to give
CPR.”
He was unconscious but still
breathing. I pointed that out and rolled
him over on his side to prevent him from inhaling any vomit. I was kneeled, keeping watch over him,
checking for pulse and making sure his airway was clear and he continued to
breath.
Someone else called 9-1-1 for an
ambulance. Others prayed as we waited
for its arrival.
After service the Pastor told me
that he saw the man go down, he wanted to go to him when he saw me heading that
direction. He said he immediately felt
better, he knew I was in charge and would help; HIS role at that time was to
lead in prayer.
Several of us worked together to
help the man. While I was not in any
real danger I knew that congregation had MY back, to use wisdom, as well as the
back of the helpless patient.
There are many times we are
vulnerable in our lives. Nehemiah
demonstrated how to help those that are vulnerable by using others to stand
watch over them.
There are times that we need
someone covering our back and there are times we need to cover someone else’s –
may we know the difference and be ready to respond as God leads us.
Later, Dad :-)
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