52 Days

Our church just finished a sermon series entitled, "52 Days", which was a study of the book of Nehemiah, in the Bible. In this book, a man becomes burdened for the city of God to be rebuilt and established for the worship of the One True God. Through many miracles of favor with the king, to unlimited resources, to victory over discouragement and doubt, to hearts being renewed in the strength of the Lord, to families being united in purpose, and ultimately all to the glory of God with an onlooking city from ruins to restoration. Nehemiah led the people in the building project and in the pursuit of God. He demonstrated perseverence and hope, and led the people in humiliy, diligence, and honour.

We had been through Nehemiah, as a church, with our previous pastor. It was a fitting time in my life then to learn of security, boundaries, protection and continuing when it's hard. But this time, the approach was different, yet just as fitting.

This time our pastors' approach was 'for the gloy of God!' That's why they had to build the wall. God loves people, He loves the city and He desires for people to be drawn in to Him and to ultimately display Him to the watching world. See, the city of Jerusalem had been conquered and overtaken. In such doing, it had become a place of worship for many gods and many people groups. There were lots of 'non-Jews' living there at the time of Nehemiah. God had a plan. He would bring His people together again to demonstrate His greatness through them-- through rebuilding the wall around the city in just 52 Days. With a world audience watching.

The first week, our pastor challenged us to pray and consider what it was that God wanted to build in our lives personally. He reminded us that only God can do the building, He has to be the initiator or else it's all in vain. He also reminded us that God DOES desire to do a work in our lives. He does! He wants to demonstrate His greatness to those watching through doing only what He can do. We were offered bricks to take to continuously remind us of the building God was doing in our lives. The going would get tough, it did for the Hebrews, but we have a God that we can trust to complete the work He has begun in us.

This was one of those perfectly, divinely fitting moments in my life. He had already begun prodding my heart and initiating the work He wanted to do in my life. I knew exactly what my 'brick' would be. (Later to find out, He had two bricks for me.)

At the end of the "52 Days", we had an assembly to gather and worship to celebrate all God had done. We had live testimonies, communion, and worshipful singing. I was so encouraged by the range of things God had done.

Artie and I sat down that night and shared our 'brick testimonies' with each other. What had God done in those 52 Days that only He could do? It was so sweet to worship the Lord together over our 52 Day journeys, that really felt more like a beginning than an ending. But it just wasn't enough to share it only there. My heart is burning to proclaim what the Lord has done. That's part of the building too in a way, isn't it. To the glory of Him-- is the reason for it all anyway!

I have two 'bricks' to lay and tell of the work of the Lord in my life. I hope they will encourage and inspire you, to let go and allow God to do the building in your life.

We closed out the service that Wednesday night, with the song Jill Phillips wrote called "Wrecking Ball"...

"Piece together these, little mysteries. It isn't hard to see the writing on the wall.

Triumph and Tragedy, only God can be, both the Builder and the Wrecking Ball."