Use your resources

The more I study Nehemiah, the more I love the story.  The story is dripping with God honoring principles that can be used in any life circumstance.  Nehemiah got real, he engaged the grief process, he went to the source to develop a blueprint and used his resources to get the job done. 

What resources do you need to help you rebuild your walls?  People are our most valuable resource but we often act like we don't need them.  This week we will explore how Nehemiah used the resources he had available to rebuild the walls.  

Read Nehemiah  2:5 and 2:17-20 in preparation for Sunday.

We have about 10 extra tickets to see the movie Courageous tonight at 7:00pm.  I would love for you to join us.  Email me and let me know.

See you Sunday,

Alex

Building Block #3

Between Sundays

In the past two weeks we have looked at Nehemiah’s story of rebuilding the walls.  Each week we are giving you a building block principle that you can use as you rebuild the broken-down walls around you.

Building block #1 – What is reality? Nehemiah faced the reality of the walls in Jerusalem and wept.  When we grieve what is real and broken, space is created for the new.

Building Block #2 – Go to the source.  Nehemiah prayed and fasted for almost four months.   God used Nehemiah to help be an answer to his own prayers.

This week we are looking at Nehemiah’s vision in Chapter 2:1-8.  Come prepared to wrestle with the vision God is giving you to be a rebuilder of walls.

Building Block #3 – Create a blueprint.  Paint a picture of the new walls to be rebuilt.

See you Sunday,

Alex

What is Reality?

Survey the scene in your life.  What are the broken walls around you?  Last week we explored how Nehemiah responded to the reality of the broken walls of Jerusalem.  He heard the news and wept.  Nehemiah shows us Building Block #1 to rebuilding the walls: Come to grips with reality and grieve what is not right.  The process of grief allows us to face our situation (broken families, friendships, relationships, marriages, community problems, addictions, etc) head on.  When we grieve an issue, we are able to let go of what should be and address what is.  The reality of our broken down walls is sad because it is not what we ever wanted.  I didn’t want my marriage to fail.  I didn’t want to be alone.  I didn’t want my sister to hate me.  I didn’t want to be addicted to drugs or alcohol. I didn’t want my spouse or child to die.  We use massive amounts of energy holding on to the ideal or what should have been.  We use massive amounts of energy on stuffing our sadness, ignoring the problem or denying what is real.  Yes, we are living in the wake of Genesis 3 but the radical good news is Jesus Christ offers us redemption and renewal of our broken down realities.

Weeping for something broken often leads us to our knees in prayer.  Come explore with us Nehemiah’s bold prayer and Building Block #2.  Read Nehemiah 1:4-11 for Sunday. 

Don’t forget……….

·      Good News! We still have a few openings for church directory photos! Sign up on Sunday!

·      Men sign up for the men’s retreat and purchase your ticket for the Courageous Movie!

·      New Sunday School Grow Group Electives begin in 2 weeks!

See you Sunday!

Alex

Rebuilding the Walls

Let's get RADICAL!  The Radical auction is this Saturday at Wabash Friends Church at 10:00am.  All proceeds from the auction go to missions.   There is still time to get your auction items to the gym.  In my mind, God has orchestrated this auction in line with our last series; listen with wide-open ears, give with wide-open hands and serve with wide-open hearts.  Have you asked God to whisper to you about this auction?

This week we are starting a five-week series entitled Rebuilding the Walls.  Nehemiah shows us a God honoring way of restoring what is broken.  As Christians, we should reclaim and restore what belongs to God.   Everyday we see walls broken down around us.  There are walls in our life and family that are broken.  There are walls in our relationships that are broken.  There are walls that need to be rebuilt in our schools and community.  We will start this series by addressing the reality of brokenness.  In the weeks following, we will work towards a God honoring game plan for restoration.  You can start this journey by reading chapter one in the book of Nehemiah. 

Don’t forget!!!
Sign up for your church directory photo! Photo sessions begin this Wed. Sept 14. Go online to: www.ucdir.com Click on Schedule my photo; Enter Church Code: IN735; Password: friends and schedule.
OR Sign up on Sunday!

See you Sunday,

Alex

Deeper whispers

Oh! give me Samuel’s ear,

   An open ear, O Lord,

Alive and quick to hear

   Each whisper of Thy word;

     Like him to answer to Thy call

     And to obey Thee first of all.

God does speak to his people today.  Do we practice putting ourselves in a position to hear God’s voice?  Last week we talked about what is at stake.  Our freedom, blessing and children are at stake.  Most importantly, the Gospel of Christ getting to those who need it is at stake.  The stakes are high!  We must practice God’s presence by lighting up our soul with the light Christ, renewing our minds and storing the Word in our hearts. 

This Sunday we are going to talk about the deeper whispers that might come as you journey with Christ.  These are whispers where God shows us what is on his heart.  These whispers cause us to look outside of ourselves and into the lives and situations of people in the greatest need.   These whispers are the things that break God’s heart and will most certainly break ours.  When we choose to respond to this type of whisper we are never sorry.  The blessing, compassion, purposeful interaction, transformational growth and good that God allows us to be a part of are worth the cost.  Read Isaiah 58:6-12 in preparation for Sunday. 

Don’t forget….

Send me your whispers

 Bring your auction items starting Sept. 6th

 Sign up to get your directory picture http://www.ucdir.com Enter IN735 for the church code and friends (lowercase) as the church password.

See you Sunday,

Alex