The day with dianne Louise

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of rememberance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honoured His name. "They will be mine, " says the Lord Almighty, "in a day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. Malachi 3:16,17 There is a gathering of those who are hot for their God. Those who have diluted their faith are fading. All that is needed is to turn and come again. The hot fires burn brightly and get brighter. They seek their God and find Him. Just as we are drawn to those who love us and are there for us, so does the Lord. he is good, patient and kind and His love is better than any counterfeit. As we bathe in Him daily He delights in us. Our attention captures His attention....

But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness. Malachi 3:2,3 Imagine the Lord of glory appearing and knowing He has come as God, what effect will that have on us? His appearing will encourage may who believe, His presence will challenge many who have sat on the fence, purify those who have dabbled in hidden sins. God's presence challenges sin, threatens darkness. Today I took my grandchildren to a park and whilst there encountered a helpless spirit.  A young girl was troubled greatly by my grandson Ryan running through her sandcastle. Ryan was troubled, he struggles with autism. Watching two troubled souls was interesting. I could hear helplessness and it bothered me. The girls' father was nearby and...

"so I will come near to you for judgement. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, aldulterers and perjurer so, against those who defraud labourers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the aliens of justice, but do not fear Me," says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:5 We know of situations where all of these occur. Because we have evaded consequences in the past does not mean we will now do so. Today there is an era of public scrutinity and in a flash everyone has a means to express their opinion, good and bad, through social media. If religion does not seek justice, protect the poor and downtrodden and walk humbly within the community it will be trashed. Any leader who oppresses the poor is waysided.  I long for a day when adulterers will likewise be served. Presently sexual promiscuity is rife and it will take an upsurge of disguist against such acts for it to to be treated with disdain. Maybe it's circle is coming quicker than I thin...

"Since the days of your father's, you have turned from my statutes, you have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the Lord of Hosts. But you ask:" How can we return?" "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!" You ask: "How do I rob You?" By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. You suffer under a curse, yet you still rob Me. Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way, says the Lord of Hosts. See if I will not open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. I will rebuke the devoured for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in the filed will not fail to produce fruit," says the Lord of Hosts.   Whilst we do not live under the curse of the law there are truths in this passage. Our giving supports the ministry of the church and honours our God. When I give I give to Him and...

"See, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, the Messenger of the covenant you desire- see, He is coming," says the Lord of Hosts. Zechariah 3:1 This scripture, to me, refers to John the Baptist. How cool it is to read this description of John hundreds of years before he was born. Do you know that we are talked about there as well. Who are we to deny what we are: sons and daughters of the living God? What right do we have to say things like: "I am such a fool!" "I am a nobody!" "I can't change anything!" With God's Grace I am strong; I am whole; I am blessed. I am what I am because of Him. Years ago, when newly saved I wrote a chorus and yes I will inflict it upon you. It goes like this: 'Gods word is living and active, it boosts me on, I'm a pack of dynamite I am a child of the living God, I am a possibility, I have Gods power within me, I can...

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. Malachi 2:7 This should apply to ministry but as every believer is a priest before God we are all accountable before Him for the words we speak. The Old Testament priests were expected to be in touch with God and therefore give godly wisdom. The New Testament believer has the Spirit of God dwelling within, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are to commune with Him, fellowship with Him, hear His thoughts and His ways, and then speak them. Just as the Old Testament priests had to choose to seek God or seek his own way, we also have the same choice. We have an advantage, the Spirit of Christ living within drawing us, whispering to us.  Our God  needs hands and feet, need mouths that will speak Godly truth, live Godly truth, minister Godly truth. If we are not fellowshipping this truth then what are we fellowshipping? Black and ...

I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar! Malachi 1:10 Useless sacrifices, useless worship, useless praise. These are all a non-event if done merely because it is what is done, missing completely the essence of relationship. I do this because I cherish you, I love you and want to thank you. You are awesome Lord! This is more the reason. I grew up in the Catholic Church and we did a lot of form and religion. I enjoyed it, but still longed for my God as He was not in all the rituals. When I found Him He gave meaning to all I had done, but He called me out into a new place. I know all the rituals originated in heartfelt praise but rituals for the sake of something to do are meaningless. I have created a ritual of blogging twice a day, or close to it when travelling, because I get to read my bible and as I write I learn. Of late I have created new rituals, no TV, limited Facebook and worship music instead. More quiet time, more...

A son honours his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is my honour? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me? Says Yahweh of Hosts to your priests, who despise My name."  Yet you ask: "How have we despised a your name?" By presenting defiled food on my altar." You ask how have we defiled You?" When you say the Lord's table is contemptible. When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is this not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is this not wrong? Bring it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you or show you favour?" Asks the Lord of Hosts. Malachi 1:6-8 Things had really slipped. Contempt for the Lord had arisen. An attitude of: sure we will make sacrifices but we will use it as a way of ridding ourselves of the worthless.  You can't have our best, that is for us to trade. Have you received contempt from others? I have. I have not been honoured and relegated left-overs by  family. It hursts ...

" I have loved you," says the Lord. But you ask: "How have You loved us?" Malachi 1:2 Sound familiar? As we move away from abiding in Christ we start to judge God's faithfulness by our own standards, selfish ones at that. We hear a lot: "if God is a God of love then what does He allow....?" We want everything our way. We want to slide away from a relationship with an awesome God but at the same time demand He jump through hoops for us. If we are treated like this what do we do? Walk away! Yet we expect God to not only stick around and cop the abuse but like a puppet on a string demand He jumps when we say: " Jump!" Sorry but God is GOD, you are not, nor am I! Perhaps it is time to humble ourselves and ask forgiveness for such arrogance. Amen!

Sword, awake against My shepherd, against the man who is My associate- this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered, I will also turn My hand against My little ones. Zechariah 13:7 Jesus Himself quotes this scripture in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27 on the night He was betrayed. He was warning the disciples about what would happen.  You could ask: "But why?" There was a greater purpose. God used the evil men who caused this event to bring about an outcome that no one, not even the disciples could fathom, eternal salvation for every one who believed. We are seeing souls slaughtered in their thousands right now. We could again ask: "But why?" All we can see is the evil. I pray that God uses this to bring an outpouring of His Spirit on the earth, let not the deaths be in vain, their souls cry out for justice. Have mercy Lord on us who blindly go our way as those who passed the injured Samaratin, have mercy on our soul...

A day of the Lord is coming when your plunder will be divided in your presence. I will gather all nations against Jerusalem for battle. The city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city. Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations as He fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. The amount of Olives will be split in half from East to west, forming a huge valley, so that half the mountain will move to the north and half to the south. Zechariah 14:1-4 This sounds very end-timeish doesn't it? What is of interest is the fact that the city will be looted and the women raped. This is still happening today. Yet this will happen to Jerusalem which to date has maintained its integrity and not been assaulted, since the reunification back in 1949. The war that led up to Israel's nationhood...

Now before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of God. He was a relative of Tobiah and had prepared a large room for him where they had previously stored grain offerings,  the frankincense, the articles, and the tenth grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests. While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to King Artaxeres of Babylon in the 32 ne year of his reign. Nehemiah 13:4-6 The first thing that comes to mind is, why did not the people who Nehemiah left in charge deal with this? Why was the situation allowed to become so bad. By the actions of Eliashib in using a room designated for offerings for the enemy of Jerusalem, the offerings were not given and so the priests went back to the villages. Therefore the temple was not functioning as it should. If I am the temple of he Holy Ghost and I allow an enemy to live in my life...

On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the residents of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and impurity. On that day-this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts- I will erase the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will remove the prophets and unclean spirits from the land. Zechariah 13:1,2 This scripture talks to me about Jesus, because the only power that enables such cleansing is God's power and right decisions can only be made as I have an i dwelling spirit of God empowering me. Much of scripture points to Him and His coming. The second coming will be one of authority, complete authority and power. Jesus came from the house of David. He was from the seed of David. He himself talked about a river of living water, a fountain,  coming out of a man as he is indwelt by the spirit of God. The Jesus I know and serve empowers me to defeat sin, to rise in newness of life, to walk in miracles. Seek Him, seek Him, lay aside ea...

On that same day men were placed in charge of the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tenths. The legally required portions for the priests and Levites were gathered from the village fields, because Judah was grateful to the priests and Levites who were serving. They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were leaders of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah all Israel contributed to the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers.  They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for the descendants of Aaron. Nehemiah 12:44-47 These people were in the flow, you could say the river. They had been taken through a process where that had come out from the world, their idolatry, and were p...

Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10 How beautiful when God's Spirit of grace and prayer are poured out. Grace enables us to see our sin and as a result we pray. I love being in the Spirit and encountering His grace. This past week God challenged me to give all of my savings for a need in another's life. I said to the Lord: "if all I have is enough then it is Yours." It was and I gave. What Joy I have experienced in giving. What grace, amazing grace!!! As if this was not enough He came to me again with another request, "you have enough," He said. I did and now I know what the result will be. He is going to give me something to bless another with. I am so enjoying this! What fun! I can't wait to receive so I can give. Th...

Then the singers sang, with Jezrahiah as the leader. On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God has given them great joy. The women and children also celebrated, and Jerusalem's rejoicing was heard far away. Nehemiah 12:42b, 43 Jezrahiah's name means the Lord arises, the brightness of the Lord. What a good name. In naming things in our country we, at times use aboriginal names. The names mean something. However, is white folk have lost the art of naming, mostly.  My son and his wife agonised over the names of their five children because the names had to mean something. It want a matter of choosing a popular name or one they happened to like, it was important for their children to be given a name that called forth character in their lives. The eldest boy is Myer: one who shines, great Second is Ryan: means kingly Third Archie: means true and bold Fourth is Eloise: means famous in war Fifth is Oliver: means fruitfulness, beauty and dignity I have always lo...

Look I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering for the people's who surround the city. The siege against Jerusalem will also involve Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who try to lift it will injure themselves severely when all the nations of the earth gather against her. Then each of the leaders of Judah will think to himself: the residents of Jerusalem are for my strength through the Lord of Hosts, their God. On that day I will make the leaders of Jerusalem like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among the sheaves; they will consume all the peoples on the left and right, while Jerusalem continues to be inhabited on its site in Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:2-6 When God is on your side, who can stand against you? If God be for me, who can be against me?Romans 8:31 The leaders realise that even the weak residents of Jerusalem are better when God empowers them, than the enemies that come against them. We cannot under-estimat...

At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sent for the Levites wherever they lived and brought them to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres. After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates and the wall. Then I brought the leaders of Judah to the top of the wall, and I appointed two large processions that gave thanks. Nehemiah 12:27,30,31 My church is doing things a little differently. We have been called to rise and build. On the 28th we start but before we start we are preparing ourselves by spending the month of February seeking the Lord. I am having so much delight as I seek the Lord. I have turned off the TV and make even more time seeking the Lord and to me it is as if I am doing spiritual mine craft. As I seek Him I face discomfort but push past that and dig deep. As I seek Him I watch Him manifest the jewels. He has led me to a new path in giving. ...

The Lord also said to me: "Take the equipment of a foolish shepherd. I am about to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are going astray, and he will not seek the lost or heal the broken. He will not sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hooves. "Woe to the worthless shepherd who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither away and his right eye go completely blind!" Zechariah 11:15-17 Ooh! Tough words! The Lord doesn't like the shepherds who are in name only. Jesus had His own tussles with the Pharisees, Scribes and Saducees. He at one time called them whitewashed sepulchres full od dead man's bones. The bones would be of the sheep they devoured.  Today we are still accountable for the leading we do. We are accountable for the sheep we lead. How do we lead them? Are they pawns? Do we see them as a means to and end? Or do we walk the path as priest? ...

Yahweh my God says this: "shepherd the flock intended for slaughter. Those who buy them slaughter them but are not punished. Those who sell them say: "Praise the Lord because I have become rich! Even their own shepherds have no compassion for them. Indeed I will no longer have compassion for them"-this is the Lord's declaration. Zechariah 11:4 He shepherds if the flock, the priests and leaders saw their own people as a commodity and had no compassion. We see this a lot. Leaders see their people as commodities to make themselves rich. They charge taxes and fees that the people cannot pay. The Lord was washing His hands of the people because of their sin. We cannot continually grasp for what we want, endeavouring to be our own provider and saviour. God must be our all! He alone is good. As the children of Israel continued to take matters into their own hands they became lost. They became enticed by foreign gods that seduced their carnal minds. The game has not changed ...

Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city while the other nine tenths remained in the towns. The people praised all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 11:1,2 To stay in the city would mean separation  from communities and families. Casting lots was something they did trusting God to choose. The people praised the ones who stayed, seeing it as a sacrifice. Yet it would be in safety behind the walls, close to the temple and things of God. I wonder if it was considered like the way we consider todays priests who give up a life being able to marry and have a family to go into a life set apart. In fact these people were being set apart. This then brings us to us, the Christian is called apart, out from common living. Yesterday at Rotary we heard a report of a group who went down to Melbourne on a cruiser to the tennis. They waxed eloquently about what a good ...

For the Lord of Hosts has tended His flock, the house of Judah; He will make them like His majestic steed in battle. Zechariah 10:3 The previous verse or part thereof was talking about how the Lord's anger had burned against the shepherds because they neglected the flock. I love the poetry in the above scripture. Now that the Lord has become their shepherd, He will make them like majestic steed in battle. They may well have looked rag-tag but He called them majestic. Isn't that what He does for us? He takes a hold of a scrappy piece of humankind and changes us into a vessel worthy of His presence. Awesome! We need to read what He says about us, get our heads into the book, and take a look, then no criticism we will brook. He calls us His treasure. Amen! We are blessed!

In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites and priests..... The rest of the people- join with the noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the law of God given through God's servant Moses and to carefully obey all the commands, ordinances, and statutes to Yahweh our Lord. Nehemiah 9:38; 10:28,29 'In view of this,' refers the the whole of chapter nine where the people remember the journey with their God up to that day, recounting all their misdeeds as well as His grace. They attempt to make things right by making a binding agreement to walk in God's ways, they have had a God encounter. They make binding oaths, thinking there is power in an oath, yet there is power in the One with whom the relationship is forming. I know no amount of New Year's resolutions will occur by sheer force or will-power, they have to be built on relationship. Is love in the air? If...

Ask the Lord for rain. The Lord makes the rain clouds, He will give them showers of rain and crops in the field for everyone. Nehemiah 10:1 We again need rain and have had none almost all February so far. Clouds will come and promise the best rainfall and give nothing, a few spits, if anything. I have been praying and seeking the alord for many things, rain included.mthis month we are seeking God in a deeper level at church and I am keen to find the Lord. This word encourages me to press on in prayer. The farmers need the rain badly. Further north west from here it is very dry and the heat is drying up all the green we did receive in January. Have mercy Lord! The dryness speaks to the dryness of soul of many so called Christians, I am praying for His Holy Spirit to pour down. Amen!

Praise Your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are Yahweh. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them, and the heavenly host worship You. Nehemiah 9:6 From verse 6 through to the end of the chapter the song of praise recounts Yahweh's goodness to the Israelite people. It also recounts the transgressions of the people against their God. The chapter ends with:  Here we are Today, slaves in the land you have to our ancestors so that they could enjoy its fruit and its goodness. Here we are- slaves in it! It's abundant harvest goes to the Kings You have set over us, because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress. (26,27) Nowadays we sing praises of our God but I am grateful that we have a saviour so that we do not have to, again and again, recount our misdeeds. Yest...

I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The bow of war will be removed, and He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of your blood covenant,  I will release your prisoners from the waterless cistern. Return to a stronghold, you prisoners who have hope; today I declare I will restore double to you. Zechariah 9:10-12 I have sought the Lord through a fog this past weekend. I have been unwell and slept a lot. When awake I was interceding for my family. I went to church today determined to receive. I just did. This scripture speaks to my circumstances. The enemies are cut off and the prisoners, my family, have been set free, because of my blood covenant, Christ's blood. Amen! And there's more: He is restoring double to me. I claim this! Amen! I expect double, double life, double family blessing, double provision. This is my word and I lock in t...

On the twenty-fourth day of the month the Israelietes assembled; they were fasting, wearing sacloth and had put dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the guilt of their fathers. While they stood in their places, they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God. Nehemiah 9:1-3 Their biggest sin was the intermarrying with the non-Israelite nations and adopting the foreign gods. In the book of Ezra they actually put away their foreign wives and mourned. After spending a week celebrating in their booths they now assemble to confess their sins and worship their God. Reading the scriptures convicts of sin as the presence of God comes. It is a relationship with Him that brings conviction, not the letter of the law alone. I can force myself, religiously to follow a code of conduct but will eventually fall off the rails. But as I come into His presence I meet His holiness and it convicts me o...

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look your King is coming to you; He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 A king normally rode on a mule but Jesus came riding on a foal, signifying humility. Jesus was the King prophesied about here hundreds of years prior. The Israelites would wait all that time, many would never see His coming. Those who did, did not understand. Prophesy is true but not constrained to our time frames. When prophesy comes into our lives we want it to occur now but often time has to elapse before we see it come to pass. Time tests our resolve, the prophesy itself is tested. As we walk in faith and faithfulness we give it soil to come to pass. Don't give up the prophetic word in your life, wait for it, it will surely come! Amen!

On the second day, the family leaders of the people, along with the priests and Levites, assembled before Ezra the scribe to study the words of the law. They found in the law how the alord commanded through amuses that the Israelites should dwell in booths during the festival of the seventh month. Nehemiah 8:13,14 The festival of booths is still celebrated in Jewish circles today. This festival was at the end of the ingathering of the harvest. The people were to build themselves tent-like structures and stay in them for seven days, much like going camping. They were not to do hard word but to rest and enjoy one another with feasting, prayers, reading scriptures. I know that my countrymen and women are looking forward to Easter, many go camping at this time and our holiday break is for around 5 days, for some who take holidays, longer. Rest is important and so is remembering. The Israelites were doing this to remember when God brought them out of Egypt. At Easter we holiday to remember ...

I will remove the blood from their mouths and the detestable things from between their teeth. Then they too will become a remnant for our God; they will become like a clan in Judah and Elkron like the Jebusites. Zechariah 9:7 Now, if God can say that about the long rivals of Israel, can He not change the hearts of our modern enemies? I believe He can and I am praying He does. I pray that His Spirit invades the hearts and lives of all those who want to kill us because we do not agree with them. I pray for grace and mercy. Is He not able? Will He not do? Praise His Name! Amen!

 When the seventh month came and all the Israelites were settled in their towns, all the people gathered together in the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel. On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law beiges the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. Nehemiah 7:1-3 For me to think that I would never hear the scriptures except when someone stood like this to read makes me think I would dry up inside. I remember the first time I bought a bible. I still did not understand it until I was born again. I look at precious family who do not read it and what they are missing is such a joy. As Ezra read the people cried. The word of God is the most precious thing I could hold. It is full of my God, His words to me and His ways. My spirit thirsts for it. A mind that is not born again sees judgement and harshness. The born again heart sees a sa...

When the walls had been rebuilt and I had the doors installed, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem along with Hananaih, commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. Nehemiah 7:1,2 The gatekeeper, singer and Levites were appointed. Jerusalem was still mostly uninhabited as no housing had been constructed. These people were already there and now would guard the city. How good a guard is a singer? A Levite? They were about to learn. I cannot say: " I am a singer, that is not my ministry!" The city needed defending and the enemies were real and still a threat. I have found singing worship and praises to my God a real weapon. The Levites were involved in the word and the running of the temple. The word is a weapon and so is service, when done for the glory of God and not out of ritual. See what you have and use it for what you are called to do. Amen!

The Lord says this: "I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the faithful city. Zechariah 8:3 I think it is interesting that when the Lord returns to Jerusalem it will be called faithful. I am grateful that His Spirit dwells in me and by His Spirit I can be faithful and thus called faithful, for He is Faithful and True. Today I was confronted with the cold heartlessness of man without God. In the one morning I saw racial prejudice, condemnation and a desire to kill an unborn baby. I went away devastated and went to prayer. Tonight I came home desiring to find a new thing in God. I want where He is going. Not where He has been, not where people assume He is, but where He is going. I do not want to try and shape my future with my past or old thinking, I want the new. I said to the Lord: " You are capable of more than this. You are capable of more than what others put out as success. I want Your success!" Amen! I am looking and waiting for...

The wall as completed in 52 days, on the 25th day of Elul. ( around the 2 October 445bc) When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realised the task had been accomplished by our God. Nehemiah 6:15, 16 The whole of this chapter is a good read. The pressure mounts as Nehemiah nears completion. The enemies were desperate to stop him. There enemies within the camp who reported his movements, gave false prophesies, there were enemies without the camp that attempted to intimidate but Nehemiah hardened his heart to their lies and kept going. Yay! What a victory! What a win! They had accomplished the task in 52 days. What task do you have to complete? What has God given you to do? Stay focussed! Dismiss the noise! Don't be intimidated! Amen! I remember being at The MyC3 church Oxford Falls when they were renovating. In the main auditorium the roof was open and it rained and rained. We came rugged up in wet weather gear...

The word of the Lord came to Zechariah: the Lord of hosts says this: make fair decisions. Show faithful love and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or fatherless, the foreigner or the poor, and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another. Zechariah 7:8-10 The people had come to inquire of the Lord if they still needed to fast as they had for the last 70 years. The Lord said, " was it really for Me that you fasted? Do you really eat and drink for Me?" In the above scripture He plainly tells them He would rather that they were truthful, merciful, loving and kind to one another, to the poor and the stranger. Last night I needed a friend to share my time of grieving. I had received word that a dear friend had died from bowel cancer. As is my usual slow processing, I had received the news Sunday but it did not hit me until Monday and then I knew I needed to take time to remember, cry and move on. I messaged a reasonably new friend from church and she came ...

There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. Some were saying, "We, our sons and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live." Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine." Still others were saying, "We have borrowed money to pay the king's taxes on our fields and vineyards. We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, and we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaves, but we are powerless because our fields and vineyards belong to others." Nehemiah 5:1-5 The people who were helping to build the walls were away from their usual source of income and this was causing severe hardship, so much so that the sons and daughters were being exploited, and the daughters were either being exploited sexually, or in danger of being so. Those that oppressed t...

The word of the Lord came to me. Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take silver and gold, make crowns and place them on the head of Hoshua son of Jehozadak, the hight priest. You are to tell him: "this is what the Lotd of Hosts says: 'here is aan whose name is branch, he will branch out from His place and build the Lord's temple. Yes, He will build the Lord's temple. He will be clothed in splendour and will sit on his throne and rule. There will be a priest on his throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two of them." Zechariah 6:9-13 Jesus is often referred to The Branch. He was a king and priest. This priest was a symbol of the future king, Jesus. Jesus called us to rule and reign but to also serve and minister to the lost. We no longer have just one role, we now have two. We must rule over our own lives and all God gives u...

When Sanballat heard that they were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews before his colleagues and the powerful men of Samaria, and said, "What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring he burnt stones back to life from the rubble?" Nehemiah 4:1,2 Sanballat means 'sin is brought to life.' This is one wicked dude. He represents the enemy of our soul. When we dare to step out in faith he accuses, ridicules, condemns. He hates our faith, he does not want us to go back to worship and sacrifice. Every step of faith is tested. Our step out on the water to trust the Lord receives an attack of the enemy. He hates faith. He did not trust the Lord but chose to lift himself up and was struck down. We are continually surprised by the attack until we remember we went into faith territory.  Nehemiah does what we must do: stay steadfast and continue the work and not lis...

Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two mountains. And the mountains were made of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses, the third chariot had white horses, and the fourth chariot had dappled horses- all strong horses. So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, "What are these my Lord?" The angel told me, "These are the four spirits of heaven going out after presenting themselves to the Lord of the whole earth. Zechariah 6:1-5 The book of Revelation talk about these different horses and also four Angels in the four corners of the earth. Suffice to say, these are a spiritual reality, the four spirits that is. The pictures of horses is probably symbolism. We can be so caught up with what we touch and see that we fail to grasp the reality of the spirit world. The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness exist in this realm and this is where many battles are fought and won by prayer warriors who und...

Malchijab son of Rechab, ruler over the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He built it and installed its doors, bolts and bars. Nehemiah 3:14 Here is a ruler taking on the lowest job. Malchijab's name means Yahu is Lord. This man is a humble man.  This gate would have been a gate of low esteem, yet here was a leader respecting its importance and willing to repair it. There was nothing too low for the Lord, he did not insist He be treated as a Lord or a ruler. In fact his favourite people were ordinary folk, people who knew they were nothing special and knew they needed a saviour. Today is His day and I honour Him for all He has done. He gave up His throne to come and be born a lowly human subject to all I meet. He conquered and earned a name above every name, at the name of Jesus every knee will bow. No task is too low, no position is too insignificant to be noticed by God. After all this life is a training ground for eternity. Amen!

JThen the angel who was speaking with me came forward and told me, "Look up and see what this is that is approaching." So I asked, "What is it?" He responded and said, " it's a measuring basket that is approaching." And he continued, "This is their iniquity in all the land." Then a lead cover was lifted and there was a woman sitting inside the basket. "this is Wickedness," he said. He shoved her down into the basket and pushed the lead weight over its opening. Then I looked up and saw two women approaching with the wind in their wings. Their wings were like that of a stork , and they lifted up the basket between earth and sky. So I asked the angel who was speaking to me, "Where are they taking the basket?"  To build a shrine for it in the land of Shinar," he told me. When it is ready the basket will be placed there on the pedestal." Zechariah 5:5-11 Why this completely makes sense! Yes? No! Fortunately my concord...

After him Uzziel son of Harhaiah, the goldsmith, made repairs, and next to him Hahahiah son of the perfumer made repairs. They restored Jerusalem as far as the broad wall. Nehemiah 3:8 Have you ever heard: "No! That's not my job!" Or "that's not my trade!" It seems that not such excuse was given here. A goldsmith and a perfumers son were happy to be involved. Last Sunday we heard a message about all being involved, a call was made for people to enlist for the work of preparing our church building for renovation. I drew up the paperwork and waited. Not many came forward. One young man and his wife came forward. I remembered thinking, "I wonder what you do in your working life."  No matter what we do outside of church, we are all a part of the body of Christ and therefore all important. I am goin along and I have a desk job. My working life does not define all that I am. All that I am lies waiting to be discovered. I know that the day of the working ...

I looked up again and saw a flying scroll. "what do you see?" He asked. "I see a flying scroll," I replied, 39 feet long and 15 feet wide." Then he said to me, This is the curse that is going out over the whole land, for every thief will be removed according to what is written on one side, and everyone who swears falsly will be removed according to what is written on the other side. I will send it out,"- this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts- "and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsly by My name. It will stay inside his house and destroy it along with its timbers and stones." Zechariah 5:1-4 Imagine if such a scroll went out today. How many houses and people would it destroy? We would not need an alien invasion, it would fall like a meteor.  Praise God for His long suffering grace that perseveres with us all. Even so people are quite capable of destroying their worlds by refusing God's grace an...

Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate. They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. Nehemiah 3:4 There is a lot of debate as to the wording around this gate but suffice to say the Lord led me to discover the meaning of the names of the men who repaired it: Joiada means known by Yahweh and Meshullam means befriended.  Today I am convicted of the need for the Old Way of believing the whole truth of the word of God is important. What God says about marriage is important. We are back to regurgitating partners, as they are now called, so that marriage is no longer significant. As we honour and respect God's opinion about ways of doing business, treating our parents, our neighbours, our family, we are known by God and befriended by God. As we trash His opinions we are not known by Him. Sure He still loves us, but never 'knew' us. Remember Jesus" words: 'begone from Me for I never knew you.' Matthew 7:23 The ...

I asked him, "What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lamp stand?" And I questioned him further, "what are the two olive branches beside the two gold conduits, from which the golden oil pours out?" And he inquired of me, "Don't you know what they are?" "No, my lord," I replied. "These are the two anointed ones," he said, "who stand by the Lord of the whole earth." Zechariah 4:11-14 Imagine an angel asking this: "why I thought you would know, how come you don't know? Your God has a special thing going on with you guys and hey! You're  a prophet, aren't you supposed to know?" I love Zechariah's boldness. I am inclined to be like that and so I relate. He is totally honest and sees no problem with his questions. Now, do you think the angels explanation makes any sense? No? Well golly! Imagine that! My commentary surmises the two anointed ones are Joshua and Zerubbabel. Could be, perh...

The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Beside them Meshezabel, made repairs. Beside them Zadok son of Baana made repairs. Beside them the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help their supervisors. Nehemiah 3:3-5 The Fish Gate received its name because of the fish markets nearby. To me they are the door by which the food comes. Let there be food in the house! The people of God feed on the Word of God. This is an important gate. It has structure, strength and respect. It is supported by the walls and the work on the walls were done by repairers. To me this symbolises the preachers and teachers of the word supported by those who repair the body, the pastors. All are needed and those that do the work of the ministry are required to be dedicated. Note the workers are named for what they contribute. The nobles from the Tekonites...

The angel who was speaking to me then returned and roused me as one awakened out of sleep. He asked me, "What do you see?" I replied, "I see a solid gold lampstand there with a bowl on its top. There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on the left." Then I asked the angel who was speaking with me, "What are these, my Lord?" "Don't you know what they are?" replied the angel who was speaking with me. I said, "No, my lord." So he answered me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: "Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirt," says the Lord of Hosts. 'What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain, and he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it!" Then the word of the Lord came to me: "Zerubbabel's hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that...

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and installed its doors. Nehemiah 3:1 The Sheep Gate was near the temple. I think it is fitting that priests restore the Sheep Gate. This gate looked out toward Mount Zion. Through this gate the sheep for sacrifice came. The work was dedicated and sanctified. It was good that the priests led the way. In any new endeavour they lead by example. The priests were responsible for the temple and the sacrifices and so it was good that this is where they started. The Christian is a priest. There a lot of lost sheep out there. Whilst we are not wanting to slaughter them, they have an enemy who wishes to do that. Again I am awake in the middle of the night hearing a song I heard tonight about 'What a Mighty God We Serve. I sensed the Spirit of God moving and began praying for my street, that souls in my street would come to know Him. He is stirring and I am grateful to be a part of His stirring...

Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you- this is the Lord's declaration. Zechariah 2:10 As Christians we have a closer relationship than this: God no longer dwells among us, He dwells within us. I live in a new estate. I watch houses being constructed all around me. I  dwell among them, not in them. Hoiwever, I dwell in my house. I know it intimately, I decorate it, fill it with treasure, make it home. The Lord wants to dwell in us, fill us with His treasure and make us home. Some of us don't quite understand what having God dwell in us looks like, it looks like freedom to move furniture, hang paintings, clear out the junk, totally at liberty to do whatever He pleases. Have you put Him out in the garden shed with the tools? Has He been relegated the loft or the cellar? Or does He have the best room in the house? For the month of February I am not watching TV, not that I watch it much, I am using my time to seek Him more. You know we are beco...

So I said to them, "you see the trouble we are in Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned down. Come let us rebuild Jerusalem's walls, so that we will no longer be in disgrace." Nehemiah 2:17 The Israelites were responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem. They had rebelled against God and handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar. Their sin against God was the cause of destruction. The church today has allowed the ways of the world into its fabric and the walls have been destroyed. It is now time to wash our garments and come back to the relationship we are called to have. Then we can begin to rebuild the church to what it should be, a pure house that stands out and therefore has a voice. We all need to be involved and work as a team to rebuild. It is interesting that there were leaders in Jerusalem who could have taken on this undertaking but God chose Nehemiah who was 900 miles away serving his king. What did Nehemiah have they didn't? A heart for God? Pur...

The declaration of the Lord: "I will be a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory within it." Zechariah's 2:5 The Lord is drawing me aside. At midnight last night I awoke to hear a wind blowing and knew it represented the Spirit. Earlier in the day, after lunch, I watched a message online by Brian Houston, Hillsong Australia. It spoke to me and it also spoke to me of others. I went to church that night and shared it around. The Spirit of the Lord is moving on my land, this is so good. I am restrained in the Spirit to simplify, be quiet and wait on Him. He is stirring, I can sense He has awoken and is making ready to do something. Yesterday I saw two people I have come to know have God move in on them and disrupt their worlds. It is new to them and they are disturbed, and this is just the beginning. As I write this I look out to the west and see a fiery sunset and the remainder of the sky is grey and heavy with rain. A while ago now I told the Lord if He rained nat...

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying. Nehemiah 1:4 I am again visiting Nehemiah as my church is reading through the book this month and I want to support this move. Nehemiah displays a heart open to God, an intercessor's heart which then transpires into action. February is a month of preparation, a Month when we say to God, "we have finished celebrating and now are prepared to work. What are your plans oh Lord?" My church had vision Sunday yesterday so we know what these plans may look like. The plans are to open the church to the community and it starts with us spending time preparing our own hearts, seeking a God and putting our hand to the tools together. Nehemiah was about to embark on such a period of time. Out of the burden came a solution. I am concerned for the unsaved in my community as am seeking God. Our church is having its heart finely tuned to the lost. Amen!

Let whoever is wise understand these things, And whoever is insightful recognise them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous walk in them, But the rebellious stumble in them. Hosea-4:9 Wisdom and insight are needed for us to know, truely know we need to seek the Lord and His ways first and foremost. Yet if we are bent on following our appetites in all fleshly things them wisdom evades us. Wisdom is repelled by foolish behaviour. Wisdom and insight help us know ourselves and others and allow it to guide our steps. The fool rushes headlong into calamity after calamity. The wise know where truth is found. It is hidden from fools. The righteous are wise and follow the Lord's leading. Amen!

The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers, I will pout out my fury on them like water. Hosea 5:10 World leaders of church and state are now all highly visible. When they are not open to consultation or do not listen they make judgements that are judged as foolish by both God and man. In Australia we just celebrated Australia Day and at this time various people are honoured for their contribution to society. Our Prime Minister, Mr Abbott, without consultation, conferred a knighthood on the Queen of England's husband, Phillip. Almost to a person, Australians judged this to be foolish. Even supporters have now distanced themselves. Imagine what it is like when church leaders follow their own emotions or the emotions of their people and change what is acceptable to God. For example, no longer considering adultery something that precludes a man from ministry. We might think we are clever, but actually going with a sinful flow. Where is God in all this? My emotions ar...