Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
January 11, 2025
Nehemiah 1:1-11
1 These are the words of Nehemiah, Hacaliah’s son. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the fortress city of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came with some other men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had escaped and survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 They told me, “Those in the province who survived the captivity are in great trouble and shame! The wall around Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire!” 4 When I heard this news, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said: “LORD God of heaven, great and awesome God, you are the one who keeps covenant and is truly faithful to those who love you and keep your commandments. 6 Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant, which I now pray before you night and day for your servants, the people of Israel. “I confess the sins of the people of Israel, which we have committed against you. Both I and my family have sinned. 7 We have wronged you greatly. We haven’t kept the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 “Remember the word that you gave to your servant Moses when you said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. 9 But if you return to me and keep my commandments by really doing them, then, even though your outcasts live under distant skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.’ 10 They are your servants and your people. They are the ones whom you have redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. 11 At that time, I was a cupbearer to the king.
Good Morning. By God’s grace, we are redeemed!
No matter how impossible the task before us seems, God is ready to guide us through our struggles. As we approach the completion of the Rose Park Restoration, I know that we have reached this point only by God’s grace.
When I look back at the pictures of the utter darkness, I remember all the overwhelming feelings of loss when we walked into the building. We had many times when our tasks seemed greater than we could ever manage to overcome. Every step forward was followed by two or more steps back. There were periods of dissonance as we met to discuss what was next. The time and energy required to manage all the meetings, emails, texts, and conversations was immense, and there were times when I struggled to see even a glimpse of light.
Our attempts could not have allowed us to succeed without God's amazing grace. Our greatest blessings came when we recognized evidence of God’s hand in our project: the Christ Candle that stood tall despite the immense heat of the fire, the windows that didn’t allow additional oxygen to fuel the fire, the donations from our community, the opportunity to hire the right people when all seemed doomed . . .
Thanks be to God, who directed and led us through this impossible task. Luke 18:27: "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." God chose us, the ordinary people of Rose Park, to do extraordinary things to God’s glory.
Loving Lord, Maker of all things! We are sinners who struggle to get things right. By your grace, we manage to find our way in the darkness. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God can make the impossible possible.
I believe that with God, all things are possible! Pastor Liz
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