Ezra 8:23-24 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” 24 So we fasted andContinue reading “Put in a Pickle”
Tag Archives: Ezra
Blessing and Curse
Ezra 6:11 Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble. Here in Florida we have these rain showers that are very mysterious. PeopleContinue reading “Blessing and Curse”
Second Exodus
Ezra 1:6 All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings. Déjà vu all over again! Many of us have had the feeling the present moment is really a flashback to some previous experience. We feel like weContinue reading “Second Exodus”
8Aug 2011 Ezra 10:2
2Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. Sin’s choices can have some very negative consequences and some very difficult choices connectedContinue reading “8Aug 2011 Ezra 10:2”
7Aug 2011 Ezra 9:15
15O LORD, God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence. Guilt can be a good thing! But guilt has gotten a bad rap in recent years. Starting especiallyContinue reading “7Aug 2011 Ezra 9:15”
6Aug 2011 Ezra 8:22
22I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” It can be very hard to trustContinue reading “6Aug 2011 Ezra 8:22”
5Aug 2011 Ezra 7:10
10For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. It is good to excel at something. We should all strive to be really good at something, and then use that talent to serve others. That is exactly what EzraContinue reading “5Aug 2011 Ezra 7:10”
Ezra 6:22 – 4Aug 2011
Ezra 6:22For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the LORD had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel. It is one thing to have a leaderContinue reading “Ezra 6:22 – 4Aug 2011”
3Aug 2011 Ezra 4:4
4Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. Some people just cannot stand the success of other people. When someone else is doing well, they will do everything they can to stop the success. Today, lawsuits have become the preferred method ofContinue reading “3Aug 2011 Ezra 4:4”
2Aug 2011 Ezra 3:12
12But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many other shouted for joy. The same event in life can have multiple emotional reactions, all being equally valid. At first I thought the tearsContinue reading “2Aug 2011 Ezra 3:12”
The Arnold Journey 