Specifically how they are dealing with Halloween. Let me begin by saying I am thoroughly familiar with the varied Christian stances on the holidays including Easter, Christmas, Valentines day, etc. I am not going to debate whether Christians should celebrate these varied holidays. My family celebrates the Resurrection, the birth of Jesus and a day to express our love one for another, oh and some great food. We used to celebrate Fall and the Celebration of Harvest at the end of October.  I phrase it that way purposely because Halloween has changed so much from when I was a child that I don’t want to even refer to it as the same name. When I was a child I have very clear memories of hay bales, stalks of corn, fall leaves, dressing up as various characters like a hobo (Vaseline on the face and coffee grounds stuck to it for the beard), superman, a Knight in shining armor, a fireman, one year dressing up like an old grey haired lady, having smiling pumpkins decorating every yard, yummy candy (that lasted about a week at most) etc.,, etc. Gradually it began to get a bit darker with a few Frankensteins, maybe a headless horseman or two. Then it began to include Freddy Kruger, demons, lots of knives and blood, and more and more violent, evil and darkness. It really doesn’t reflect much at all of what I remember as a child.

When I walk into a store now and walk past teh Halloween section, I have to look hard to see much that would be referred to as innocent and cute. Maybe a few princess costumes for girls. A spiderman costume for boys. Even teh adult costumes look more like a clothing shop for a porn movie or a clothes store fro street walkers.

I will admit I am a bit more sensitive to it with raising a 4 year old and trying to at least limit the exposure to this stuff. But I am just confused by the things I hear from my brothers and sisters in the Lord.

How do you respond to verses like Psalm 101:3-4 “³ I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. ⁴ Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.“ ??

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”¹⁷ “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”¹⁸ “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

I’m just touching the tip of the iceberg with these verses. It is difficult for me to rationalize going to Houses of Horror and Fright Festivals and being entertained by them and “having fun.” I remember when my son was two and the woman who attended our church who was watching our son was allowing her 4 year old to chase my son around the house wearing a very scary Devil mask. I was appalled and as calmly as I could, asked her why she was allowing him to do that and her reply was, “It’s just pretend and innocent play.” To which I replied, “No. Satan is very real and is my enemy. It would be like me chasing your children around the house dressed like the person in your life that has most hurt you and your family.” The things that are all encompassing about Halloween are way too real and realistic to be entertaining to someone that knows the Love of God and lives for Him. I am not judging any of you that read this and perceive that I am referring to you. I am not going to say that you are such a great sinner and how can you call yourself a Christian. I am saying that I believe we all must ask questions about what we are perhaps a bit to “used to” or that we rationalize away as just innocent and pretend. If you can celebrate and make it more like the Harvest and celebrations we used to have, more power to you and enjoy. I just find it too difficult to avoid the total degradation of the holiday into a celebration of evil darkness and things contrary to that which is pure and Holy.

We are in some interesting times. I watch the news for perhaps a total of 15 minutes a week. I can still hold a great conversation regarding current events with probably anyone. I just choose not to spend 60 minutes a day being fed a stream of depressing, alarming, and negative “pre-digested food” from the news networks. Regardless, it doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to believe we may be in the end times. We certainly are witnessing a plethora of events that we have never seen before in our lifetimes, or in all of history. Our national debt is  $ 14,571,655,073,214. To put that in perspective, that means $46,024.33 for every citizen of the United States.  14.5 “trillion dollars”, that’s 14.5 million million dollars.

Depressing huh.

Yet we are to live our lives and glorify God with joy and hope and live with “...the peace of God, which transcends all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7) I am in the process of writing a book about this peace that I believe is about a timely a message as we can have for today. I am discovering how as I go. I have not arrived there yet myself where I would say I have a peace that is all encompassing. But I can say that I have more peace than I have had in a few years. I have a confidence that is illustrated well by the following song by Lincoln Brewster.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Matthew 6:34 says this:“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

God gave Philippians 3:12-14 to my family at the beginning of this year:  ^“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” …and I WILL HAVE ALL OF IT!!!

Seeds are buried in the ground. Caterpillars are contained in a cocoon. Grain is pummeled into flour. But each one has a higher purpose and another world to experience or function to fulfill. So do we. We can easily make the mistake of thinking that God’s primary purpose for us is a matter of our lifetime on earth. But the Kingdom is the main event. Like the seeds, the caterpillars, and the grain, we are in an elemental form, being shaped by the Father for a greater, lasting purpose. The world is the arena in which we are trained. As God shapes us for His kingdom, He uses many means. One of them is the tribulation our world naturally dishes out. But our trouble is not meaningless; we can take heart. Peace is found in seeing beyond the training ground that so often distresses us. It is found in placing all hopes in the One who overcomes the world.

God has placed in me a desire to be used by God to reach the marginalized and forgotten in our society. I believe the church has dropped the ball in a big way as far as reaching the lost in our own immediate neighborhoods. I feel that the church has become a largely ineffective body of immature Christ followers that choose where and when they feel like following Christ and when and where the are the most “comfortable.” Before you get too upset at me, let me say that I put myself in that category too.

I believe in the organized church body. I believe that the church has many appearances though. If you are looking for a church that you have no differences in theology, or practices, or anything else you deem important, then give up now because you will never find one. You will always have differences with wherever you fellowship at. I’m sure you understand that the church is made up of people who are on a lifelong journey to become more like Christ. We are all dysfunctional to some degree. We are all incorrect on some issues, we are all out of balance in some areas, we are all disobedient to some degree. But we serve a God who is our heavenly daddy and He just wants His kids to work and play well together. I have a much greater appreciation of this after being blessed with our son in our family and seeing how a father that loves you unconditionally has patience and mercy with his child. God’s love “covers a multitude of sins.”

The American church as a whole is way too ineffective. We are known more for what we are against than what we are for. I see Facebook posts all the time that are telling everyone “what is wrong with …..” I myself have tried a few “tests” to see if people will even take the time to respond to uplifting messages on Facebook and have been sadly disappointed. People are too busy, to used to sensational gossip, etc. to spend much energy promoting what we stand for. I know there are a lot of “repost this if you love Jesus…” types of posts but frankly I dislike them very much. People can post that and feel like they have “evangelized” their facebook friends.  The desire to touch people with the love of Christ in a real way is refreshing. I haven’t seen that much for the last few years.  I had a much greater passion for it when I first got on staff at my last church, and honestly I let myself be transformed into a person that was totally engaged in feeding people who were able to get food on their own, or should have been, instead of fulfilling my passion f or reaching the marginalized in our society.  In case you aren’t sure what “marginalized” means let me explain. There are vast segments of our society that are in effect “pushed to the sides” of our culture. They have been put in the “margins” because of many different things. Perhaps its a drug addict, a convicted felon, someone with a lot of tattoos, people who struggle with sexual sins, pornography, perhaps it’s those of a lower economic strata. Whatever it may be, a large part, if not the majority of our culture, has deemed them unworthy of spending much effort on because they “don’t have much to offer”, or are just “too lost” to bother with. The American church needs to do a better job of not falling into the trap of marginalizing people.

Regarding that, the Lord spoke to me very strongly about the parable of the lost sheep in Luke:

Luke 15:1-7 “Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering round to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4* “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7* I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

What makes God the happiest? I believe it is described here rather well. What is the most important thing to God? Lost people not being lost anymore. What does HE say is the greatest commandment?

Mark 12:28-34 says this:

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.‘ ‘Well said, teacher,’ the man replied. ‘You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.‘”

That’s pretty self-explanatory isn’t it? What does God desire most from us? 1) accept Christ. 2) Love God with everything we are, and love our neighbors as we want to be loved. I recently was asked a very important question by a very dear sister in the Lord. She was leading a group for recovering addicts that was not a part of her home church. The host church is in fact the church I am a member of. She had some great questions regarding some issues she was wondering about that came up in a leadership meeting for this small group. She was wondering about the propriety of leading a small group where she was told to be conservative in her expression of Spiritual gifts and more Charismatic expression in prayer and worship.  She has a strong passion for doing everything she can to help the lost and the struggling. With these limitations that were expressed to her, her concern was if she was being faithful to God’s call on her to help these people and be a blessing.

My answer is this… Does God want us to use all the gifts He has for us? Of course, or He wouldn’t give them to us. However, as I said, it doesn’t matter which church you fellowship at, you are going to disagree on some things. My question is where can I be best used. She mentioned that the church where this group was is  “a good foundational church to mostly new believers.” If that is so, what a great place for a mature believer to go to be used of God to help mature people and to mentor. In her question she mentioned that she heard the Pastor say on the radio that he doesn’t believe in healings and other gifts for today. I have found this to absolutely be not true. I have heard many mentions of the opposite from him personally for he and his family and my experience has been supportive of that. Are the church and I exactly on the same page as far as gifts etc. go, nope. But I look at the ministry that takes place out of there, sending hundreds to mexico, multiple trips to Africa, that they immediately started helping employees of our local huge mall with financial support etc, after an arsonist started a fire there. The ministry to Youth that is amazing. It just goes on and on.  I agree with some limitations as to what is deemed “appropriate” at meetings especially when the general public, and new attendees is coming to. But again, what is most important to God. Luke says a lost sheep returning, and loving God with all our heart, and loving others as ourselves.

I like what Philippians says: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4.

She expressed concern about having to “hold back your love for God”,  by not being able to worship with free expression and operation of gifts. I think you show your love for God much better by denying yourself the desire to worship in the Spirit, ( which is between you and God only, nobody else understand what is being said), and showing your love for God by loving people that at that moment  may be less mature, or enlightened perhaps, but need the love of a mature Christian to lead them through something. You spend what, 2 hours or so at this women’s meeting a week? That leaves at least a hundred or so left over for you to pray, worship, dance as you see fit. But you may have only those few moments to reach others with the Love of Christ,  which as we have read,  seems rather important to God to do. I have so much more that God has spoken to me about regarding this issue, I unfortunately can’t cover it all here. I am seriously beginning the effort to write a book. Suffice it to say,  if you have a great heart for God, serve Him wherever and whenever you can. If the times are where they appear possibly to be, it is critical that we, the church, be about our ministry of doing this. Screw minor differences… I’ve seen too many people let differences totally take away their opportunity to serve while they are looking for a place that does everything the way “scripture tells it.” I firmly believe it is much more important to take advantage of every opportunity to love people. I regret that I find myself coming out of a valley where I have dropped the ball and not been about the right business. But my Father in heaven says, “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” Focus on what is most important.

Everybody is familiar with this emotion. Especially if you are struggling with an addiction or any life issue that seems to hang on. I’m sure there have been plenty of screams, a few holes punched in walls, quite a few gasps of exasperation, even a few heated discussions with God… “God, WHY DON’T YOU SET ME FREE FROM THIS STUFF!!! I want to stop, I know You want me to stop, my spouse wants me to stop, WHY AM I STILL STRUGGLING?!”

Why? Wouldn’t it make sense for God to just instantly deliver us from whatever struggle we are in that doesn’t honor Him? Doesn’t He ask us to live a life that does honor Him?

Here is one thing the Bible says about frustration:

Romans 8:19-21 (NIV) “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”

I like how The Message translation says it: “All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.”

God is taking us through a transformation process. Changing us from the person that trusts and depends on ourselves (which is the sinful nature) to a more Christ like person that reflects the nature of God that we were created to have. But why can’t He instantly create that character in us? Because if He did, we would more than likely not ultimately acknowledge what Paul says in Romans 7:13-20.
“I can already hear your next question: ‘Does that mean I can’t even trust what is good [that is, the law]? Is good just as dangerous as evil?’ No again! Sin simply did what sin is so famous for doing: using the good as a cover to tempt me to do what would finally destroy me. By hiding within God’s good commandment, sin did far more mischief than it could ever have accomplished on its own. I can anticipate the response that is coming: ‘I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.
But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.’” (MSG)
If God doesn’t re-wire our thinking and our way of processing things, we simply just can’t comprehend the right way. Because of our nature to want to do things that are what we think are “self serving” we don’t even fully realize that the best way to serve our selves is to deny ourselves what our corrupt brain thinks is best. When we are tired, worn out, tempted, depressed, lonely, …frustrated… we want instant gratification and we are surrounded by a world that offers instant gratification in a bazillion different ways.
But God has a different way. A way with eternity in mind. Not an instant momentary sense of pleasure, gratification, contentedness, etc.
Imagine a string. A million miles long. Stretched out far beyond where we can see with our eyes. Now take a felt marker and make the smallest dot you can on that string. That dot represents our life on earth on the timetable of eternity. A little tiny almost imperceptible mark on a string a million miles long. What the Bible calls our “light and momentary troubles” doesn’t seem quite so large does it? God sees the rest of the string marked by our marker and representing our life with Him, and there is a little white speck representing our life here. He focuses on the life with Him, not our “training and transformation” time here.
Have you ever heard the expression, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” We can be so focused on the large tree in our path, right in front of our nose as we press our screaming face right on the bark and yell, “GET OUTTA MY WAY!”, that we miss the whole beautiful forest all around us, or the rest of the path through the forest that lies before us. I’ve told people, “When you’re stuck in the muddy swamp, don’t just look down at the mud, keep your eyes on the bank and start walking out.” Don’t set up camp in the swamp unless you love stinky water and leeches latching on to you. Just start walking out and let the Lord keep you afloat. And as we do that, He rewires our thinking, our heart, our desires, so that we are able to become more like Christ and color the rest of the string.

Hang on to Philippians 1:6 “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” I like what Clarke’s Commentary says about this verse, “There shall be nothing lacking on God’s part to support you; and to make you wise, holy and happy; and bring you at last to his kingdom and glory.”

Sometimes we need to just start with baby steps. I have used the following quote, ” I would rather be one inch from the precipice of hell, headed away from it, than be a million miles away, headed toward it.” Making baby steps toward where I want to be. But what are the baby steps I need to take? What is it I need to do. This is where I think we make things a bit too complicated. What does the Bible say is the most important thing we do? What is the first steps we need to make sure we are taking?

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” Matthew 22:37-40

Love God and love others. Don’t complicate it and make that more difficult than you need. The act of loving is definitely sometimes difficult. Loving God is making the choice to make Him the number 1 priority. Talk to Him, listen to Him, wait for Him and let Him show you what to do. Take baby steps. Love others, that can be hard when they make it hard. How do you love them, treat the like you want to be treated, the above verse says love them as you love your self. We usually will do anything for ourselves that we think will make us feel better. If you need to show love, simply do what we know will make them be better. Notice I didn’t say feel better. Feelings can be misleading. Do what we know will make them be better. Sometimes that may be tough love. But it must always be done in a spirit of loving care, not punishment.  Don’t feel like you have to fix the issue, just take baby steps. Let God be the fixer. He’s much better at it than we ever will be. But we can certainly point in the right direction.

I love the following song by JJ Heller. It is very powerful and challenges us to take the baby steps.

As we take the baby steps in walking with God, doing the things He says is most important, we will be changed, perhaps much more than those we are loving. But if we are struggling, take the baby steps doing what God says is most important and let God do what He will. It works.

How many times have you said this?
Or have you said, “It’s impossible, I will never be able to do this!” This feeling is such a feeling of hopelessness and fear. It is a painful feeling. “Am I just meant to be this way the rest of my life?” This may come up in the struggle to battle sex addictions, drug addictions, food addictions, struggles in marriage, struggles with children, struggles in finances, or many other areas. I know I have dealt with it too many times. Now before I go further I must offer a disclaimer. I recently heard the following message at my church and I was so struck by the powerful truths that I felt I must share it with you. Most of the following is directly taken from the notes from my Pastor. I have deleted a few minor references and added a few notes of my own. But I pray the truth of the Word strikes your heart no matter what. This is such a life changing pattern to get a hold of. Please read it and pray pray pray. I believe with all me heart that God can, God wants to, and God will, no matter how long it may take-answer your hearts cry.

The pattern of struggle, defeat and hopelessness is hurtful, hopeless and brings nothing but defeat. The Word of God declares:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Biblical Examples of Transformation

MOSES
Before: Fear-filled, apprehensive
After: Became one of Israel’s greatest leaders

DAVID
Before: Adulterer, murderer
After: “Man after God’s own heart”

PAUL
Before: Persecutor of Christians
After: Wrote most of the New Testament

JOSEPH
Before: Insensitive, smart-mouthed teenager
After: God’s key person in the nation of Egypt

PETER
Before: Denied Christ (Flake)
After: First great leader of the early church (Rock)

JONAH
Before: Running away from God
After: Returning to God

RAHAB
Before: “Lady of the Evening”
After: Listed in God’s Hall of Fame (Hebrews 11)

Look at Nehemiah’s dealing with the hopelessness of the Temple being rebuilt after having been destroyed for 90 plus years. (Read the whole book to see the whole picture.)
Nehemiah 1:3-6
“‘Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.’ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept … Then I said: ‘LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God … let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.”

Chapter 1: Transforming Nehemiah
Chapter 2-6: Transforming the City
Chapter 7-13: Transforming the People

REAL CHANGE HAPPENS THROUGH…

REPENTANCE
“I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.” Nehemiah 1:6-7

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not as a result of works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

1) By Grace (undeserved love)
2) You have been saved (something that was done for and to us)
3) Through faith (simple trust in Christ crucified and raised)
4) Not of ourselves (it is not earned)
5) It is the gift of God (it must be received)
6) Not of works, so that no one can boast (response is gratitude and humility)

“Beware of spending too much time looking back at what you once were, when God wants you to become something you have never been!” -Oswald Chambers

How can I attain this transformation? Why doesn’t God just change me NOW! The simple answer: God is transforming us from a sin-centered selfish un-trusting man to a person that begins to look more and more like Christ. Matthew 5:48 says this, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” How’s that for a high mark to hit? Now does God expect us to attain that? Of course not, it is intended to be the bulls-eye we are aiming for. If you are not aiming for the correct spot on the target, do you really think you are going to hit the target, or even get very close? How do we start hitting close to the bulls-eye? Start examining the bulls-eye, get close to the bulls-eye, find out what the bulls-eye is like, and what it is not like as well.

CONNECTING WITH GOD

(It Fuels Me!)

Isaiah 55
1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”

DARE TO HOPE THE FUTURE COULD BE DIFFERENT
“I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so I can rebuild the wall.”
Nehemiah 2:5

Nothing will get better until you dare to believe it will change.

DEVELOP A CLEAR PLAN
Look at the example of Nehemiah who set out to do in a short time what Israel had not been able to do in 90 plus years.

Nehemiah 2:1-9
“In the month of Nisan…: (v. 1)

“Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, ‘How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?’ It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.” (v. 6)

STEP 1: Pray It Through

STEP 2: Set A Plan

“I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 2:11-12

You can believe but you need a plan

HAVE COURAGE AND PERSISTENCE
“But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. Then the people of Judah began to complain, ‘The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.’” Nehemiah 4:9-10

“So we continued the work…” Nehemiah 4:21

NEHEMIAH… Kept Working In Spite Of:

* Criticism (4:1-3)
* Discouragement (4:6)
* Fatigue (4:10)
* Frustration (4:10)
* Fear (4:11)
* Division (5:1-5)
* Distractions (6:1-4)
* Defamation (6:5-8)
* Danger (6:10-14)

Look at the following example of persistence in the midst of struggle and opposition:
Acts 5:40-42 “His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”

Why keep fighting and not give up? Because you are worth it. Because your family is worth it. Because God says to and He WILL help you through. Because we are being transformed into the image of Christ as we struggle. Because there IS hope. Because… (you fill in the blank for you)