Hi Faith Family,
Wow, what an ocean of enjoyment I’ve had these past few weeks, from spending time playing in the Atlantic Ocean in Daytona for my participation in the Coaching Network, to these past few days looking at the beauty of the Pacific in Newport, Oregon during the WELS/ELS Fall Pastor/Teacher Conference.
The pictures on this page are from the past three days on the Oregon Coast.
Pretty amazing scenery! I’m thankful to have the opportunity to see this part of God’s creation. I think of this portion of Nehemiah’s prayer:
“You alone are the LORD.
You made the heavens,
even the highest heavens, and all their starry host,
the earth and all that is on it,
the seas and all that is in them.
You give life to everything,
and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” 9:6
Nehemiah was an important figure in the history of God’s people. God used him to direct the people to rebuild the physical walls of Jerusalem following the exile. But God also used him to rebuild the spiritual walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah interceded for the people and expressed deep and strong feelings for God’s people to place their trust in God and worship him.
Nehemiah was a servant of the king of Persia, yet his hope and trust were not placed in this man, powerful as he was. Nehemiah placed his hope and trust in the one true God who created this world for his people and is in control of all things, even when the storms of life gather.
In the 2500 years that have passed since Nehemiah’s time, God has not changed. The Fall Conference theme was God’s Providence even through suffering, as we see it expressed in Job’s life. God is in control and has our ultimate and eternal good in mind for all the difficulties, disasters, and even suffering we endure. Too often, we fall into temptation that crosses the line from questioning to challenging why God would allow something to happen. From our lack of trust, our fears grow large and scary. Our eyes, like Peter’s, too quickly lose their focus on Jesus and rest instead on the waves and wind of life’s blustery gales. Such are evidence of our life-long struggle against sin with which we were born and is as sure as the tides in our daily life. If sin is the casting of our nets, then the haul is death itself—in every way possible.
Maybe that’s why I love Nehemiah’s prayers. Here, Nehemiah’s prayer includes the assertion that God is the true life-giver. This is true in every sense and deepens our trust in him. Your breathing is proof of God’s gift of life, but Jesus also came to give you life to the full and life forever in heaven. It is as sure as the ocean’s waves. God bless and keep you in this assurance of his love for you.
Prayer idea: Ask God for a renewed appreciation for his act of saving you and assurance of sins forgiven and a future without end.
Have a blessed week!
--Pastor Dan