Storerooms

“And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all of the household goods of Tobiah out of the room.”  Nehemiah 13:8

“Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.”  Nehemiah 13:9

God has told me several times to store up His Word.

Lord, we desire to be storerooms filled with You for the needs of others.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Filled For Others

source – thehamandcheeseco.co.uk

You cleanse us, restore us
ready us for use
to be store rooms
filled with You

with Your Spirit, Your Word
love, mercy and grace
there will be nothing
that we can’t face.

Tag Teams

“Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who led the thanksgiving psalms, he and his brethren.”  Nehemiah 12:8

“Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, stood across from them in their duties.”  Nehemiah 12:9

That sounds like a wonderful work environment.

Oh Lord, we give thanks and rejoice today at all that is being done through You.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Thankful Work

We sing out thanks
and praise to the Lord

at the ministry
of His Holy Word

as hands and hearts
continue in faith

the work of God
adorned with grace.

Willingly

“And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.”  Nehemiah 11:2

I am blessed by those who leave their homes and lands behind in service to God.

Lord, we desire to encourage those today who willingly offer themselves.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Blessed

source – wikipedia

Some give up
all they have
to go and do
what must be done
a blessing and
sweet perfume
to us of
God’s own Son.

Not Buying It

. . .that if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day . . .”  Nehemiah 10:31

We can’t stop others from selling, but we have a choice about what we buy into.

Lord, I desire what I can only have from being with You.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

I Don’t Think So

source – wikipedia

We don’t have to
be rude
in order not to buy
what is being sold.

We can turn to God
and away
with a “thank you”  but
“I don’t think so.”

God Fractions

“And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God,  for one fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.”  Nehemiah 9:3

The more we read God’s word, the more we know Him and realize how much more we need Him.

Oh Lord, I desire to spend time each day reading Your Word, confessing, praising, worshiping and praying.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Options

There isn’t time for
thoughts that don’t bless
God and others
lifting up Jesus
so throughout the day
let me check and see
if I’m not praying, praising or worshiping
then let it a confession be.

source – http://www.visualfractions.com

A Holy Day

“‘This day is holy to the LORD your God, do not mourn nor weep.”  For all the people wept, when they heard the word of the LORD. ”  Nehemiah 8:9

“And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.”  Nehemiah 8:12

There is a sorrow that leads to repentance , when we hear God’s word and are convicted.

Lord, we thank You for not wanting us to mourn and grieve forever, but desire to forgive us and pour out Your love, joy and understanding upon us.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

From Weeping to Rejoicing

When I first heard Your Word
and understood my sin

I asked for forgiveness
and was born again

You trade my sorrows
for Your joy and strength

adding to my days
Love’s eternal length.

“They Sought Their Listing”

“And these were  the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon and Immer, but they could not identify their father’s house nor their lineage, whether they were of Israel . . .” Nehemiah 7:61

“These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled.”  Nehemiah 7:64

When we take a drink of water, we don’t want to find anything else floating around in it.

Oh Lord, we desire to be pure in thought, word and deed for You.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Pure

There is much to read
to listen to, to watch

source – purewaterdistributors.comto listen to, to watch

that is good
and true

but not all of it’s pure
and of the Spirit

and able to work
in us for You.

Inventing

“Then I sent to him, saying, ‘No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.”

“For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, ‘Their hands will be weakened in the work and it will not be done.’  Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.”  Nehemiah 6:8-9

Good inventing blesses us and makes us wish we’d thought of it.

Lord, we pray for hearts and minds that You can use for the good of others.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Strengthened

source – smartactors.com

Lies are told
and schemes are laid
in order to
make us afraid

and weaken the
work of our hands
but God’s our strength
in Him we stand.

 

Heavy Bondage

“. . . yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people.”  Nehemiah 5:18

Those in bondage can’t make provisions for others . . .or even for themselves.

Lord, please help us not demand more than we should of one another.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Praying Loose

source – ok.gov

Those in chains
cannot give
as we might want
to expect
until we pray
loose the bonds
with loving care
and respect.

Proactive Prayer

“Then the king said to me, ‘What do you request?’  So I prayed to the God of heaven.”  Nehemiah 2:4

Nehemiah prayed to God before he responded to the king.  Too often I pray after the fact.

Lord, help me to be proactive in my prayers.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

First: Prayer

No matter who I find myself
standing and asking of

no matter what I might think
they are capable of

let me pray first
to the God of all things

the One that can answer
even through earthly kings.