29 June 2014 - Nehemiah and Ezra: Walls and Worship

Nehemiah detailed what he said and did, in chapter one

He seemed to keep his eyes focused on the long run

He asked about the remnant that survived the exile

And was told they had been in trouble for a while

They said “the wall of Jerusalem is broken down”

And “burned with fire” are the gates of the town

Nehemiah “sat down and wept” for many a day

Then to the God of heaven he did earnestly pray

God’s instructions to Moses he did then recount

That unfaithful people would be taken to account

But if the commands of God were later obeyed

He would gather up all those who had strayed

The people worked to rebuild the wall, per Nehemiah four

It reached half height, thus angering enemies even more

The enemies plotted together to stir up trouble

The people prayed and the guard did double

The approach to building, Nehemiah did then amend

Half did work while the others were armed to defend

So after fifty two days the wall was complete

Per Nehemiah six, this result was quite a feat

The surrounding nations lost their confidence

They recognized that God’s help was immense

David rejoiced, per Psalm one hundred twenty two

For Jerusalem was the house of the Lord, he knew

It is where the tribes of the Lord go to give praise

For the house of David will remain for all the days

He prayed for peace so God’s people would be secure

So “security within the citadels” would forever endure

For all believers’ sake, he also prayed for internal peace

So that Godly prosperity would continue to increase

Ezra read the Book of the Law, per Nehemiah eight

He read it aloud in the square facing the Water Gate

When Ezra opened the book, all the people stood

And everyone praised God as much as they could

They bowed down with their faces to the ground

“Do not mourn”, the Levites told everyone around

“This day is sacred to our Lord”, Nehemiah did say

“The joy of the Lord is your strength”, he did convey

28 June 2014 - Israel Returns and Rebuilds

The Lord moved the king of Persia’s heart, per Ezra one

So that Jeremiah’s prophecy would be fulfilled and done

To build a temple for God, Cyrus the king was directed

He said that wishes of God’s people would be respected

So several families prepared to go back to Jerusalem

Taking silver, gold, goods, and livestock with them

Articles from the temple, King Cyrus also did return

Returning to Jerusalem is what the people did yearn

Per Haggai one, the word of the Lord came through

He made it clear to the returning people what to do

Reminding them that the temple was in a bad state

Despite their houses being paneled, looking great

God then said, “Give careful thought to your ways”

Rebuild the temple to bring honor for all the days

So the high priest and the remnant of the people

Obeyed the Lord’s voice and raised a new steeple

Per Zechariah one, the prophet had a vision

It seems that God had made a big decision

Angels “found the whole world at rest and in peace”

So the Lord’s anger with Jerusalem would cease

He promised to “return to Jerusalem with mercy”

And “his towns will again overflow with prosperity”

When Judah’s enemies heard the plans, per Ezra four

The temple for the Lord they offered to help restore

But the heads of the families this offer did refuse

Building it alone is the path they preferred to choose

So the other people set out to make them afraid

They did things which made the project delayed

But Haggai and Zechariah continued to preach

Eventually the objective the people did reach

The temple was built according to God’s command

For many more years, it would continue to stand

15 June 2014 - ENCS

Pastor Larry continued the "Greater Than" series this Father's Day

Talking about suffering which of course happens in many a way

But first we took some time to hear the testimony of the family Brill

Who went through tough times but are now living per God's will

To Joel chapter two verse twenty five they in conclusion did refer

That God can repay the years of suffering, they clearly do concur

 

From John sixteen and James five, Pastor Larry did then read

Despite our worldly troubles, God offers all the mercy we need

"God is Greater than Bad Days" was the apt title of Pastor's talk

Reminding us that none of our bad days compared to Job's walk

On one day, he lost all his cattle and most of his family as well

On the second, he got sores all over his body the Bible does tell

Into his life and actions and faith, Job's wife and friends did prod

Job corrected them, prayed, remained silent, and repented to God

 

Job suffered loss and emotional pain greater than most could bear

But per Isaiah sixty one, we are told to praise instead of despair

When Job was faced with the losses and pain, God he did worship

"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away," he did astutely quip

 

Job suffered sickness and much physical pain, Pastor went on to say

Per John nine, sometimes this comes so God's work He can display

When faced with this, Job's wife asked him to curse God and die

He rebuked her strongly and instead focused on how to God glorify

 

Job suffered accusations from his friends and therefore mental pain

Per Matthew five, for the kingdom of heaven the persecuted will attain

Despite that, Job knew that God knew the way that Job would take

God was ultimately in control and happy is what He would Job make

 

In conclusion, Pastor Larry then read from First Peter chapter number four

Which said that no matter what trials we face, we will be blessed even more

So remember that struggles and challenges this world will momentarily bring

And we should worship, glorify, and give thanks in the midst of any suffering

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As I listened to Pastor's sermon, I thought of another poem once done

About suffering and perseverance, using Romans five from verse one

"Therefore", the start of this passage sayeth
"We have been justified through faith"
"We have peace with God through Christ"
For it was his sacrifice that sufficed
"In the hope of the glory of God" we rejoice
But also in our sufferings, for we do have a choice
For "suffering produces perseverance"
Which then leads to character's appearance
From character we then get hope
Can hope disappoint us? Nope!
"For God has poured out his love into our hearts"

That is where the work of the Holy Spirit starts

1 June 2014 - Daniel Reads the Writing on the Wall

“King Belshazzar gave a great banquet”, per Daniel five

He served wine in gold goblets when the guests did arrive

Although from the temple in Jerusalem the goblets came

They praised “the gods of silver and gold” all the same

Then “suddenly the fingers of a human hand” did appear

“And wrote…on the wall,” leading the king to greatly fear

None of his wise men could decipher what the hand did write

So the great king became filled with more terror and fright

The queen came into the hall and said not to be alarmed

For she knew of a man who with great insight was armed

For Belshazzar’s father, Daniel interpreted many a dream

So could thus determine the writing’s meaning and theme

“Daniel was brought before the king” and promised riches

He said Belshazzar’s father had gotten too big for his britches

This arrogance and pride are what led to his big downfall

Yet Belshazzar was doing the same in the banquet hall

By praising the gods of silver and gold and the like

He did not honor God who had the power to strike

So God’s hand wrote “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin”

Meaning that a big mess Belshazzar was now in

His days were numbered, Daniel then confided

His kingdom to his enemies would be divided

And “that very night Belshazzar…was slain”

Darius the Mede thus began his lengthy reign