Top Picture: Angel Bottom Picture: Jesus Praying Pictures by Dotty Papsadora
Our Blog is Inspired by The Holy Spirit
Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
In the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,
when the wine was in my charge,
I took some and offered it to the king.
As I had never before been sad in his presence,
the king asked me, “Why do you look sad?
If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart.”
Though I was seized with great fear, I answered the king:
“May the king live forever!
How could I not look sad
when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins,
and its gates have been eaten out by fire?”
The king asked me, “What is it, then, that you wish?”
I prayed to the God of heaven and then answered the king:
“If it please the king,
and if your servant is deserving of your favor,
send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ graves,
to rebuild it.”
Then the king, and the queen seated beside him,
asked me how long my journey would take
and when I would return.
I set a date that was acceptable to him,
and the king agreed that I might go.
I asked the king further: “If it please the king,
let letters be given to me for the governors
of West-of-Euphrates,
that they may afford me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah;
also a letter for Asaph, the keeper of the royal park,
that he may give me wood for timbering the gates
of the temple-citadel and for the city wall
and the house that I shall occupy.”
The king granted my requests,
for the favoring hand of my God was upon me.
Emphasis mine Nehemiah 2:1-8
I don’t know about you but for me, I, yes I, have read the Bible and took what I was reading at face value never looking any deeper.
The above reading is a great example. Why do you look sad? I had never thought about this question. I took it at face value and never saw the hand of God in this question.
Notice the king asks Why do you look sad?, and before the question is answered, Nehemiah first says “May the king live forever!” This is how powerful the kings were at that time. This was a common statement used before a king before any other statement.
In the United States we are not used to this type of absolute power. We call our leaders all kinds of names, securely knowing that the death penalty would never be used instantly against us for failing to say such things.
Second thought, what or who made the king notice the sad look on Nehemiah’s face. I am sure Nehemiah did everything he could to hide his sadness. Once again God was also working in Neheima at that moment in time.
Notice next, the king asked what do you wish.
Nehiema smartly prayed to God in silence and then answered the king’s question, and the result was Nehiema received everything he asked for. The Jewish people were set free from captivity and allowed to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and the city.
One interesting side note, Nehemiah didn’t dare ask for a military escort (God), because God would provide that protection, just as the twelve Disciples were taken care of
when Jesus sent them out without money, bread or bag. God the Father took care of their housing, food and safety.
Name any other time in history when captive people were allowed to go back to their country of origin and rebuild the Temple and the city, and be provided with the tools and materials that they would need to rebuild the Temple and the city. AND, the king gave Nehemiah the utensils that were used in the Temple for their worship of God.
Never forget that all this happened because the Jewish people threw God under the bus and worshiped foreign gods.
Does the phrase Why do you look sad? Apply to you?
Every Sunday (everyday if you choose) you have the privilege of touching God (Jesus) when you receive communion, and are invited into a celestial Dance with The Triune God – something no other religion offers.
Which is why you should believe you are “FANTASTIC” and reflect that in your daily life.
Prayer:
If you want to grow in Love, Joy, and Peace this is a result of growth in Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
Sidebar:
This past weekend we were visited by our Granddaughter Hannah and two of her friends.
Saturday night Gail and I were going to see a show about Elvis. The ladies said that was fine, they wanted to go into Portland and have dinner and enjoy the city.
satan immediately attacked and brought to mind all that could happen. I, no we, threw satan out, and like Nehiemah, said a short prayer for their safety and went to the show.
Gail and I arrived home and they weren’t there.
At 3:30am I saw car lights and assumed they were home and went back to sleep. Gail and I woke up at seven and Gail went for the Newspaper and noticed the back door was locked. They were home. She didn’t see the lights.
The interesting thing for me was both Gail and I had the BEST night’s sleep we have had in many, many months.
You would think the responsibility for the young women would not give us the BEST night’s sleep in many, many months, but that’s not true, and when I realized this I prayed “Thank you Father for getting them home safely,” a prayer I pray all day long for other events that happen in our life.
We can’t emphasize enough that God is looking for a full time relationship, and this is easily obtained through the Weeeeeeee prayer, where we invite God into what we are doing and thanking God the Father for what they ARE and have done.
God HAS and IS taking care of us!
Easy!
EnJoy loving a God that wants to be in your life ALL of the time, to give you a life you never dreamed of before.
Picture:
Hello Fred!
My husband and I were recently in Montana for our son and daughter-in-law’s wedding. I placed in their wedding card the card you gave me on the Fruit of The Holy Spirit. My son doesn’t practice religion/Catholism and our daughter-in-law was not brought up with any “religion/faith”. So I am praying The Holy Spirit will touch their hearts. Also while in Montana a group of us went to Yellowstone. My friend took a picture as we watched Old Faithful spew up its hot steamy water. Lo and behold when we looked at the picture we saw an angel in the steam clouds (left) and Jesus praying.(Right) No coincidence!! Blessings, Pictures by Dotty Papsadora
Note: At first I, yes I didn’t see what Dotty saw, now I do.
Please keep Snapping!
And if you want the ten calling cards shown above, email me and I will send you my address, send me a STAMPED self-addressed envelope and I will send you ten cards.
Email me if you want a copy of the prayers we discussed.
fprince101@gmail.com
Remember, if you want to submit a picture, please do not include people. We have to get permission from that person to use their photograph.
