Nehemiah and Ezra are men of opportunity. The Lord had a special work for them to do. They were to call upon the people to consider their ways, and to see where they had made their mistake; for the Lord had not suffered His people to become powerless and confused and to be taken into captivity without a cause. The Lord especially blessed these men for standing up for the right. Nehemiah was not set apart as a priest or a prophet, but the Lord used him to do a special work. He was chosen as a leader of the people. But his fidelity to God did not depend upon his position.

The Lord will not allow His work to be hindered, even though the workmen may prove unworthy. God has men in reserve, prepared to meet the demand, that His work may be preserved from all contaminating influences. God will be honored and glorified. When the divine Spirit impresses the mind of the man appointed by God as fit for the work, he responds, saying, “Here am I; send me.”

God demonstrated to the people for whom He had done so much that He would not serve with their sins. He wrought, not through those who refused to serve Him with singleness of purpose, who had corrupted their ways before Him, but through Nehemiah; for he was registered in the books of heaven as a man. God has said, “Them that honour me I will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30). Nehemiah showed himself to be a man whom God could use to put down false principles and to restore heaven-born principles; and God honored him. The Lord will use in His work men who are as true as steel to principle, who will not be swayed by the sophistries of those who have lost their spiritual eyesight.—The Review and Herald, May 2, 1899.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 271
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray especially hard for E that God will do what is best for her and the children. R
—-Please pray for a friend who is having a multitude of trials. Rose
—-Please pray for a friend’s mother who may have had a stroke. Her name is Rita. Debra
—-Please pray for my friend Robert, He had an accident several months back and seemed to recover from wounds. But a few weeks ago suffered from rare stroke in his back and is paralyzed except for some movement in arm. He’s in his 60’s and has been very healthy He is struggling with being so helpless. Ann
—-Please pray for my new grandson. My son, Hudson married Heather Aug. 20. Keigan just turned 15. I think he has been in the hospital more than home the last month. He went home last Thursday and back to ER and admitted Friday night. He had a new gtube put in last week and a new PICC line. Now he’s been bleeding from the gtube, has had 2 transfusions and now has a blood clot at the PICC line site. Maybe in the morning they can do a scope to try to find what’s bleeding. They can’t do blood thinners because of the bleeding. He really needs your prayers. So do the parents. And they all need some sleep. So if you believe in prayer I would appreciate prayers for them all… Keigan, Heather and Hudson. Carol
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Dear Friends,

A friend of mine had an experience some years ago, that I thought I’d share with you. She lived about forty miles from the nearest big city, so she didn’t get there very often. Whether she was distracted by someone or something, or because she had been sick for several days, she ended up locking her keys in the car when she and the children went into a store in town. They had an hour in between doctor appointments, so she used her time to get some needed items. Here is their experience as she wrote it [slightly edited]: “I didn’t realize I didn’t have the keys until we tried get into the car. I told the girls it was okay, I had a spare key in my purse. Well, it wasn’t there. I had one of my girls hold up the purse so I could search every pocket and corner, no spare key for the van door. I had two spare keys, one for the VW bug and one for the Suzuki Swift and 3 padlock keys. I knew we didn’t really have time to get someone to come unlock the door and still make it to our appointments on time so I prayed out loud, “Please Lord, could you make just any key work to open the door for us,” reached in my purse, grabbed a key, shoved it in the lock and turned………….. and the lock popped up! I had grabbed one of the padlock keys. I said, “Wow, God just did a miracle for us!” We got in and drove to the orthodontist. When we got out and locked the van I told the girls to wait a minute, I wanted to know if it was a super key that could open any door or if it was a real live miracle we had just witnessed. I tried every key in my purse and not a one even turned, let alone unlocked the door. My girls eyes were wide open, they’d just seen a real miracle.” My friend has been going through some severe trials, and this event greatly encouraged her.

How good God is to help us in our time of need! Truly He is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Ex 34:6 Our Dear Saviour assures us, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Luke 11:9, 10

God promises, “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Ps 50:15 When our Gracious Redeemer grants us our request, we are not to hide it under a bushel, keeping it to ourselves. No! We are to spread His Goodness far and wide that God may be glorified. This she did. She shared it with those whom she knew needed encouragement as well. Later after they had been back home for a bit, she got a call from a friend that was really discouraged because she had so many troubles going on in her life. My friend shared the story of her experience that day, and her friend was greatly encouraged to go on in spite of her trials.

May we also be quick to recognize God’s great blessings that He daily showers upon us, dwelling upon those good things rather than the evil all around, then encourage others with the blessings we have received is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/ezra-and-nehemiah.html

A confession of Christ means something more than bearing testimony in social meeting. Daniel is an example to believers as to what it means to confess Christ. He held the responsible position of prime minister in the kingdom of Babylon, and there were those who were envious of Daniel among the great men of the court, and they wanted to find something against him that they might bring an accusation against him to the king. But he was a faithful statesman, and they could find no flaw in his character or life.

“Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God” (Daniel 6:5). So they agreed together to ask the king to make a decree that no one should ask any petition of any God or man for thirty days save of the king, and if any disobeyed this decree, he was to be cast into the den of lions.

But did Daniel cease to pray because this decree was to go into force? No, that was just the time when he needed to pray. “When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” Daniel did not seek to hide his loyalty to God. He did not pray in his heart, but with his voice, aloud, with his window open toward Jerusalem, he offered up his petition to heaven….

We may know that if our life is hid with Christ in God, when we are brought into trial because of our faith, Jesus will be with us. When we are brought before rulers and dignitaries to answer for our faith, the Spirit of the Lord will illuminate our understanding, and we shall be able to bear a testimony to the glory of God. And if we are called to suffer for Christ’s sake, we shall be able to go to prison trusting in Him as a little child trusts in its parents. Now is the time to cultivate faith in God.—The Review and Herald, May 3, 1892.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 269
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Prayer Requests
—-E and children need your prayers. R
—-Please continue to pray for Richard and Sarah. He has started chemo and radiation and she had a major seizure because of all the stress and is still having problems because of it. Rose
—-Please pray that them trying to shut down the currency will be delayed because this is going to affect everyone. Rosemary
—-Prayers for my friend Jaclyn. She has recently had her 3rd seizure of the year. Docs think she may have a form of epilepsy and are trying to get her in for a sleep study to diagnose. Prayers that she gets answers and healing. It’s hard for her as a single mom because she cannot drive until cleared by her doctor. It seems like when she’s just ready to get cleared, she has a setback. She’s extremely discouraged right now. Jennifer
—-Please continue to pray for baby Wyatt. Mary
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Dear Friends,

Ever since my mother took me to the Cave of the Mounds when I was nine, I have taken cave tours whenever I could. Some years ago, when we were on vacation in South Dakota, Esther suggested that we go to Jewel Cave. I was ready for a wonderful view of God’s handiwork under the earth despite the fact that I had been warned about that cave a few years before. Somehow, I just forgot all about that.

When the person at the ticket counter told us that there were 723 stair-steps in the cave, I asked if the tour guide went slowly and if the stairs were short flights interspersed with level areas. After being assured that was the case, we paid for the tickets. We began the cave tour by joining the rest of the people who were waiting for the tour to begin.

When we descended into the cave, however, I knew I was in trouble. Most of the path was either up or down on metal stairs. The “short flights” of stairs were not short at all. There were few level places to catch our breath. To add to my misery, the tour guide was a young, tough, no-nonsense type girl who could run a marathon without any exertion. She walked so fast, that I felt like a child trying to keep up with the long strides of a tall adult. I asked the guide if they ever had to call the paramedics. She replied, “Not often.” That was no comfort. Even worse was the fact that most of the cave was uninteresting limestone. There were very few crystals, even less flowstone, and only tiny stalactites and stalagmites in one area of the cave. Basically, it had two small areas that were “living.” About half-way through, I felt like I could go no farther. My legs felt like jelly. Thankfully, Esther came to my rescue. She got behind me and literally pushed me up the stairs. Seeing out dilemma, some nice man and his wife helped with the pushing. I was too tired to be too humiliated. I was just thankful when we got out of that place.

How often we need a helping hand spiritually just like I needed one physically in the cave. Paul tells us, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:1-8 Just as Jesus set aside His Own position as King of the Universe to come to this dark and cave-like world in order to serve mankind because of a love for us, so we must, from a heart of love help others on the path of life. He says to us as He said to His disciples when they were striving amongst themselves who would be the greatest, “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” Matt 20:25-28; John 15:12-14

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/daniel.html

The prophet’s duty was plain; he was to lift his voice in protest against the prevailing evils. But he dreaded to undertake the work without some assurance of hope. “Lord, how long?” (Isaiah 6:11) he inquired. Are none of Thy chosen people ever to understand, and repent, and be healed?

His burden of soul in behalf of erring Judah was not to be borne in vain. His mission was not to be wholly fruitless. Yet the evils that had been multiplying for many generations could not be removed in his day. Throughout his lifetime he must be a patient, courageous teacher—a prophet of hope as well as of doom. The divine purpose finally accomplished, the full fruitage of his efforts, and of the labors of all God’s faithful messengers, would appear. A remnant should be saved. That this might be brought about, the messages of warning and entreaty were to be delivered to the rebellious, the Lord declared, “until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land” (verses 11, 12).

The heavy judgments that were to befall the impenitent—war, exile, oppression, the loss of power and prestige among the nations—all these were to come in order that those who would recognize in them the hand of an offended God might be led to repent. The ten tribes of the northern kingdom were soon to be scattered among the nations, and their cities left desolate; the destroying armies of hostile nations were to sweep over their land again and again; even Jerusalem was finally to fall, and Judah was to be carried away captive; yet the Promised Land was not to remain wholly forsaken forever.—The Review and Herald, March 11, 1915.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 266
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my husband Richard who has just been diagnosed with Throat cancer. Pray that he will recover fully through medical treatment or by a miracle from God. Sarah Jane
—-Please pray for me as I have several job interviews over the next two weeks. One is with a company for which I have wanted to work for quite some time. Please pray that I will get the job that God wants me to have. RJ
—-Please pray for several situations affecting various family and friends. May God take complete control of each. Rose
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Dear Friends,

The other day I was talking with someone who was adopted and in the course of the conversation, I told the story of Mrs. Russell and a baby that was literally left in her lap by a young lady who had struck up a conversation with her while they were riding on a train. This took place in the 1800s, so she was able to take the baby home and raise him as her son. She named him James. She loved him as her own son. She made one big mistake, however. In all his childhood and all through his teen years, she never told him that she was not his birth mother.

When he was 21, Mrs. Russell told him the story about the young girl on the train and how she chose Mrs. Russell to raise him as her own. She explained that the note the young woman had pinned to her baby said that on his twenty-first birthday, he was to go to a certain bank and it would be told him who he was and be given a large sum of money to go to college or to start a business. Poor James was shocked and horrified. He was repulsed by the whole situation. All the security of home vanished. How could this woman who had raised him NOT be his mother! She had never even hinted that he was not her own son. He felt deceived and forsaken.

After thinking about it for a few days, he decided that he did not want to know who he was. He did not want his real mother’s money no matter how much or how willingly it was offered. Mrs. Russell had loved him, and he loved her. She had raised him as her son. She was his mother: not the one who gave him birth.

When my mother was a little girl, she lived next door to James. He was a bent-over, white-haired old man who walked on crutches because he had arthritis so badly. Because of his decision, he had lived his life as a common laborer, owned only a small house, when he could have had a good education and great riches.

When I was a little girl, I used to look at his picture. He and his wife (a squat little woman with her hair drawn up in a strange-looking knot on the very top of her head) were standing on the steps of their very tiny wooden house. I would think of the life he could have had. It was within his reach. All he had to do was ask for it. But he would not.

I often thought, too, of his birth mother. She must have been at the bank on James’ birthday. She must have been searching the face of every young man as he entered and wondering if this could be her son. Long years, she had waited for this moment. All her desires were to hold in her arms that baby she was forced to abandon. As the day came and went, her heart broke even more than it had that far-off day. Had her son died? Had she chosen the wrong woman and she had taken him to an orphanage? Had she failed to tell him of the good news, the new life that was waiting for him? That evening, when the bank closed, a tearful, heartbroken woman left the bank never to know the answers to her questions……..

Even so, our Heavenly Father has provided everlasting life for us, but we must claim it as ours. All that can be done for mankind’s salvation has been done, but if we do not reach out and take it, it does us no good. How our Dear Saviour longs for us to accept His great provision. How He desires us to put our hand in His and allow Him to lead in our life. How much desire He has to give us His great gifts of love. He will not force us, however. He does all He can to draw us to Himself. As He tells us through the prophet Jeremiah, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer 31:3 He assures us, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” Isa 49:15,16 With longing desire in His voice, He pleads, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa 45:22

How our Great Redeemer’s heart of love breaks when we do not accept His grace. He says to us as He said to Jerusalem of old, “how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matt 23:37 “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11

May we never turn away from His great love. May we reach out and accept His Great Gift. May we love Him with all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our strength is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/isaiah.html