Colossians 1:20-23 (New International Version)

²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

²¹Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of^a]">[a] your evil behavior. ²²But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— ²³if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Paul reminds us that we should be different with Christ than we were without Christ. When we were without Christ, we were enemies of God. But, now because of Christ's death, we are His servants. Jesus paid a huge price for me and it reminds me to not act like I'm still an enemy of Christ.

Acts 16:1-13 (English Standard Version)

Acts 16

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

1Paul[a] came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named(A) Timothy,(B) the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2He was well spoken of by(C) the brothers[b] at Lystra and Iconium. 3Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he(D) took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance(E) the decisions(F) that had been reached by(G) the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5(H) So the churches were strengthened in(I) the faith, and they increased in numbers(J) daily.

The Macedonian Call

6And(K) they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but(L) the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8So, passing by Mysia, they went down(M) to Troas. 9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10And when Paul[c] had seen the vision, immediately(N) we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Conversion of Lydia

11So, setting sail from Troas, we(O) made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12and from there to(P) Philippi, which is a leading city of the[d] district of Macedonia and(Q) a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13And(R) on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate(S) to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we(T) sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.

Wow, it's been a while since my last post! Life has been busy. If you're interested in what I've been doing, check this out. Anyway, this passage of scripture is pretty important to me. It was a passage that God brought me to often when my family and I found out that we would no longer be ministering on the west coast. We went to Washington in 2003 planning to stay there the rest of our lives. However, the Godly men who lead our ministry decided to move us in a new direction. God has called us now to minister at Word of Life's headquarters in Schroon Lake, NY. At first, this was a very hard thing for us, but God gave us this scripture to help us wrap our heads around what he was doing. It was exciting to read it again in today's Quiet Time.

Always before when I have read this or seen it preached at missions conferences and the like, I always see the emphasis put on the man in Macedonia calling out to Paul to come help. Then the application usually goes something like this..."get off your rear-end and start telling people about Jesus because there are people all over the world like the Macedonian man." That's a GREAT application. However, I saw it in a little bit different light this fall. I realized that this passage is not about calling someone into ministry who has been sitting around doing nothing. Instead, it's about how God through the Holy Spirit changed the direction of a man who was already in motion, doing stuff for God... a seasoned "professional." He definitely was not sitting around on his rear-end. However, even though he was going full steam ahead, God would not allow him to continue with his plan. Paul was sensitive to this and did not try and force God's hand. The result was that God gave Paul a brand new vision and direction and WOW, am I glad. I'm saved today because of Paul's ministry and obedience to the Lord. I'm sure the people in the places where Paul wanted to go may have been disappointed, but bottom line... it's always better to obey. I feel just like this. It was so HARD to leave the west coast. But, it's always better to obey. And, already God has given us new vision and new direction. We are so pumped about what He has in store for the ministry from here that goes out across the world. PRAISE GOD!

New King James Version (NKJV)

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Acts 6:1-15 (New King James Version)

Acts 6

Seven Chosen to Serve

1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

8 And Stephen, full of faith[b] and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous[c] words against this holy place and the law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.


The pastors of the church cannot keep up with everything, so they come up with a strategy that we still use today. They appoint deacons whose main purpose is to see to that the physical needs of the people are met. They are like mini-pastors in ways as Stephen here was even doing signs and wonders like the apostles. It's amazing to me to see how different deacons function in most churches today. I wonder what impact it would have if deacons around our country returned to this model. It seems like a lot of times a deacon's job ends with making sure the grass is cut and the walls are painted. In reality it should be much more than that. For me personally, I'm seeing a huge challenge in the way Stephen lived his life regardless of who was around. He didn't care what kind of threats were out there. He only cared about his God and he lived for Him. So much so, that people could see it on his face. I want to be THAT kind of chrisitian!

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Acts 5:24-32 (English Standard Version)

24Now when(A) the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison(B) are standing in the temple and teaching the people." 26Then(C) the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for(D) they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28saying,(E) "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you(F) intend to bring this man’s blood upon us." 29But Peter and the apostles answered,(G) "We must obey God rather than men. 30(H) The God of our fathers(I) raised Jesus,(J) whom you killed by hanging him on(K) a tree. 31God exalted(L) him at his right hand as(M) Leader and(N) Savior,(O) to give(P) repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And(Q) we are witnesses to these things, and(R) so is the Holy Spirit,(S) whom God has given to those who obey him."

This is the famous passage where Peter lays it out and says, "When it comes down to a difference between what God says and what man says.... I'm going with what God says!" It's better to obey God than man. Wow, stating that can really come with some great consequences. I fear sometimes that in the very near future we may have to make this choice more and more often. When I'm faced with this challenge will I be able to have the courage and backbone to say what Peter said? I guess I need to make sure I start right now. When I think about it, there are lots of ways I can make sure I obey God rather than man...maybe not with the same visible consequences. But when there are rules I need to follow, am I doing it because man told me to? Or because I want to obey God? Because, if I'm obeying man, when man's not looking, there's no reason to obey. But if I'm obeying God, he's always watching. I need to always obey.

Acts 3:12-26 (New King James Version)

12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,[a] 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’[b] 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold[c] these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’[d] 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”


Peter remembered who he was and who he wasn't. It may have been easy to want to take credit for the healing, but he knew where the credit belonged.... with God. When God does great stuff in and through me and I need to be very careful to always point people back to the truth that HE is the only one who deserves credit!

New King James Version (NKJV)

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
[NKJV at Thomas Nelson] [Thomas Nelson, Inc.]
Acts 2:14-21 (New King James Version)

Peter’s Sermon

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Shall be saved.’[a]

Peter, true to his own exhortation to be ready in season and out to give an answer for the faith that is in you uses this perfect opportunity to stand up and proclaim the truth. Peter was ready to do what needed to be done at the time. This is a great example for me. I can't afford to not be right with God or not be in a place where I am not ready to speak for God. I never know when that opportunity will come. I need to be ready. Peter wasn't perfect, he certainly had failed his Lord not long before this by denying him, but the point is he got it right with the Lord and now had confidence to seize the opportunity and boldly speak for God. Usually when I am timid to speak for God it is because I am not right with Him. I need to stay right with Him so I am ready for the opportunities.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Nehemiah 13:1-14 (English Standard Version)

Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah’s Final Reforms

¹On that day^A)">(A) they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written^B)">(B) that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, ²for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. ³As soon as the people heard the law,^C)">(C) they separated from Israel all^D)">(D) those of foreign descent.

⁴Now before this,^E)">(E) Eliashib the priest, who^F)">(F) was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to^G)">(G) Tobiah, ⁵prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil,^H)">(H) which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. ⁶While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for^I)">(I) in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes^J)">(J) king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king ⁷and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah,^K)">(K) preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. ⁸And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber. ⁹Then I gave orders, and they^L)">(L) cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.

¹⁰I also found out that^M)">(M) the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each^N)">(N) to his field. ¹¹^O)">(O) So I confronted the officials and said,^P)">(P) "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. ¹²Then all Judah brought^Q)">(Q) the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. ¹³And^R)">(R) I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah,^S)">(S) for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers. ¹⁴^T)">(T) Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

As they read God's Word and found stuff that was out of line with their life, they changed. No excuses, no rationalizations, just obedience. This is a great example I need to follow. When my life is not in synch with God's Word, I need to change

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Nehemiah 8:13-9:3 (New International Version)

¹³ On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to give attention to the words of the Law. ¹⁴ They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month ¹⁵ and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make booths"-as it is written. ^a]">[a]

¹⁶ So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves booths on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷ The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.

¹⁸ Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.

Nehemiah 9

The Israelites Confess Their Sins

¹ On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and having dust on their heads. ² Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers. ³ They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God.

Footnotes:

1. Nehemiah 8:15 See Lev. 23:37-40.

It is so cool to see that when people get back into God's Word and they start doing the things in there how great their lives become. So many times we think, "If I live my life by the Bible, it will be so boring and aweful." That's not the case at all. These people (like us many times) had no idea what the Bible said. But when they found out and started doing what it said, they had more fun than they had had in a long time!

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Nehemiah 3:17-32 (English Standard Version)

17After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district. 18After him their brothers repaired: Bavvai the son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah. 19Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at^(A) the buttress.^[a] 20After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired another section from the buttress to the door of the house of^(B) Eliashib the high priest. 21After him^(C) Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22After him the priests, the men of^(D) the surrounding area, repaired. 23After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house. 24After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress 25and to^(E) the corner. Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at^(F) the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh 26^(G) and the temple servants living on^(H) Ophel repaired to a point opposite^(I) the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. 27After him^(J) the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.

28Above^(K) the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house. 29After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired. 30After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him^(L) Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite^(M) his chamber. 31After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate,^[b] and to the upper chamber of the corner. 32And between the upper chamber of the corner and^(N) the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.

Wow, at first glance at today's passage I was thinking how in the world am I going to apply this? But God is good and as I dug a little and looked in to a couple of friend's posts on this and also looked at the Quiet Time Commentary, I found a couple of great things. The first thing that struck me is that most of these people here who were doing work on the wall were doing work right near their house. I think this is another reminder from God (there have been several recently) that when doing His work, it starts at home. It starts in my home, then with the people right in my community. It's easy to think about the mass body of people in the world, but the problem with that is that it's easy to use that as an excuse. The mass body in the world has no individual face, it's easy to hide behind, not get my hands dirty, and really do nothing. But when I go to work for God right at home and right with the people in my community, then everything becomes real, not just theory. This is kind of hard since I just recently moved and am now in a brand new community. But God help me as I attempt to go to work for him right where I'm at

Nehemiah 2:1-8 (English Standard Version)

Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah Sent to Judah

1In the month of Nisan,^(A) in the twentieth year of King^(B) Artaxerxes, when wine was before him,^(C) I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but^(D) sadness of the heart." Then I was very much afraid. 3I said to the king,^(E) "Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad,^(F) when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" 4Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed^(G) to the God of heaven. 5And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it." 6And the king said to me (^(H) the queen sitting beside him), "How long will you be gone, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me^(I) when I had given him a time. 7And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given me^(J) to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of^(K) the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy." And the king granted me what I asked,^(L) for the good hand of my God was upon me.

I can't imagine the way Nehemiah felt when he was before the king. I'm sure in one sense he was scared to death. On the other hand, he knew what God wanted him to do and was willing to do whatever it took to obey. I need to have that kind of spirit. A lot of times, it's easy to get distracted from doing what God wants because it's hard or doing my own thing is easier. I've got to be willing to obey God even when it's hard.

Ezra 9:1-5 (English Standard Version)

Ezra 9

Ezra Prays About Intermarriage

 1After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, "The people of Israel and the priests and the^(A) Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands^(B) with their abominations, from the^(C) Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2^(D) For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the^(E) holy race^[a] has^(F) mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost." 3As soon as I heard this, I^(G) tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and^(H) sat appalled. 4Then all who^(I) trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat^(J) appalled until the evening sacrifice. 5And at the^(K) evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment^(L) and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees^(M) and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,

Ezra took sin seriously!  He was grieved for his nation.  He took extreme action and was completely undone for his nation.  At very best, my nation is just as bad as his.  Truefully its probably much worse.  How much do I care?  A whole lot of people waste a whole lot of energy pacing back and forth and wondering if we're going to make it through this economy, through this political landscape, etc.  That's completely the wrong thing to be consumed with!  I ought to be consumed, but not by that.  I ought to be grieved for my nation knowing that we stand on a precipice - perhaps like never before.  What does God have for me to do today?  I must get busy knowing I may not have more time.