Our God is colorblind. When I say that I mean that he doesn't look at color of the skin. We all have our prejudices of some sort....

In Nehemiah 3 the people are in the process of rebuilding the wall. One gate is repaired by one group and the next by another. The key phrase seems to be " ... and next to him". How did God accomplish this massive task. It was through the cooperative efforts of a lot of people. The chapter repeats again and again " ... next to him ... next to him ... next to him ... next to him".

What a great way to work for God. Find somebody doing the work and get "next to him".

Luke 12:21 This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
It is not bad to have material things but they should not become the focus of our life and thus replace our relationship with God.

Luke 12:7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
This verse makes us realize again how precious we are to God. We can put ourselves in the hands of our loving God.

David had two problems friends who were being deceitful and a vile disease; I wondered who came to see him in this manner and what the disease was. John Gill’s Expositor quotes Delaney’s Life of King David with a possible answer to that question; but as I read on David does, as David always does, he seeks God’s deliverance “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God”. John Gill’s Expository also compares David dealing with deceitful friends and Jesus and the deceit He dealt with coming from the Jewish leaders. We have a Saviour knows trials and can sympathies with us in our times of trials and is able to deliver us when we seek Him.

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, "Here I am, I have come-- it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God;” from Psalms in the Old Testament is repeated in Hebrews in the New Testament "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am-- it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, O God'" about Christ.

In Nehemiah chapter 2, Nehemiah finds himself very afraid, yet he prays and God gives him great boldness to ask the king for all kinds of provisions. I think the requests are amazing given Nehemiah's fear. Yet God was with him.

...I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and 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 that I can rebuild it.”
6 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.
7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

Nehemiah 1
There are many things which grieve God, but in the passing of our days we become accustomed to them. I am wondering what it takes to get us really worked up. Nehemiah became aware of the condition of Jerusalem. I am sure he was concerned for the people and also for the name and reputation of God. He wanted to do something about it, but before acting, humbled himself and fasted and prayed. It says, “3 They said to me, “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.”
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”

So I wonder do I get worked up about the right things. It seems even when I am stirred about an issue I rarely would get as emotionally invested as Nehemiah did. Something to chew on…

Ring! Ring! The telephone at my dad's work rang....

“What a privilege we have been given by God
to be able to spend our lives giving His love away”
-D. Lessin

My dear sister Pamela and the Faith Bible Church.
Today there is a day when we recollect about resurrection Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. On a Calvary Cross God has made rescue for all people of the world from their sins. Through Christ and his spill blood on a cross we have eternal life and pleasure in heart. Through Christ we became close friends, brothers and sisters. In Him we have the greatest riches, peace, happiness, and blessings. I am grateful God for you, dear brothers and sisters for your participation in my life and ministry. Let God will bless you for your work on His field. Let God will strengthen you; will make unshakable that in this world of evil and defect you always were light and salt. With gratitude: Misha and family.