Hello, My Name is....

If it weren't for the fact that I keep in touch with the majority of my friends and run a business through it, I would get rid of Facebook. Hurtful talk and acts run rampant on that site. People use it to passively speak to others which can be either about you or about someone else, but still hurts you all the same. It ruins relationships, it cultivates gossip, it destroys communication, it distracts from work and what needs to be done in "real" life. In short, Facebook is the devil's playground. Beware!

The other day, someone said something mean about me on someone else's public Facebook status. Just plainly put it out there where they knew I would see it.  They persecuted my new found love of Christ and my blatant display of my walk with and trust of God saying that I was putting on a show. 

Normally, I would publicly fight back and call said person some choice names that would not pleasing to the Lord. I would retaliate by sharing their missteps and downfalls publicly and banding my friends together to form a hate group about them. Basically, I would stoop to their level.

But just as this happened, God said, "You got it wrong!"  Remember the other day when I posted a blog about standing up for myself and time to speak? I was wrong. My interpretation was off.  I'm glad I sat back and prayed about that more asking God for a very clear answer as to whether or not I was to speak yet. What I thought He was saying to me was wrong.

God was preparing me though the book of Nehemiah to be able to defend my faith.  He was telling me that it was time to speak in this situation. Not in what I had thought a few days ago.

I wrote to the person, who is a "Christian" woman, and asked if she believed that the Bible is truth.  I said that if she did, as any Christian would, then she would believe that anyone can be made new in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Through my time in the word over the last 2.5 months, I was able to stand up straight and use scripture to say what needed to be said.

I am Nehemiah. I am rebuilding a home, I am fighting the enemies' persecution and mocking, I am using scripture to defend what I am doing.  I will continue to build no matter what comes my way and I will defend.

I am Saul.  I persecuted Christianity and let my faith fall, I was blind...then I heard God's voice and now I see.  I am Paul.  I am mocked. I have people who do not believe me.  I have people casting stones and trying to beat me down. But I will stand as God has asked me to.

Hello, my name is child of the one true King 

I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free

“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing

Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I am no longer defined By all the wreckage behind

The one who makes all things new

Has proven it’s true

Just take a look at my life

-Matthew West

Time to Speak?

A couple weeks ago I started reading a devotional plan based on the book of Nehemiah.  Late last week, a devotional blog that I follow started a new plan on Nehemiah too.  I found it kind of redundant and thought to myself that I didn't have to read this new one because I had already read about it in a different devotional. But then I thought, "No, God must have a plan here or he wouldn't want me to study this twice."

Now a little back story here.  Nehemiah was working for the king far away from home when he found out that his home was destroyed.  He waited 4 months until the king finally asked him why he was so sad, and upon telling him what had happened, the king immediately said to go help his people rebuild. (Nehemiah 2:1-2)  Nehemiah waited silently until it was the right time.  Home destroyed, wait silently.  Sound familiar?

Nehemiah knew God's plan for him was a great one. He was to step out in faith and rebuild the walls around Jerusalem.  Nehemiah wasn't a carpenter or construction worker.  He didn't have a crew.  He didn't have the materials.  He just was to go there and do it.  Just do it!  And because he trusted that God would provide, he did it.

While he was building the wall, the enemies started taunting him and his faith (also sounding familiar?).  Nehemiah took time out of his work to pray for them.  Not to yell back and argue.  Not to fight with them and call them names too.  No, he prayed.  (Nehemiah 4:1-5)

Then through his faith he fought back to protect the wall he was rebuilding with the other Israelites.

"We must post our defenses in our weakest points, ready to defend, with other followers, with strength of His word, with the power of the Holy Spirit."  --Nehemiah 4:13

I didn't know it the first time I read these words, but I did the same thing.  I have been talked about behind my back pretty badly for two months now.  As I sit and wait in silence, I pray for them.  And moreover, I got ready to defend myself with The Word.  I have read and read and learned so much in the last two months. Still a long way to go, but I know so much more than I did a few months ago.


I had fallen behind on my devotionals recently, so the first one I read today was from May 20th titled "The Gift of Friendship to Accomplish God's Work".

"Nehemiah has a gift for asking for help and being specific in his needs.....When we ask for help and work with others for the Lord's calling, we open doors that might have been impossible to open alone....Our Christian friendships allow us to use each other's God-given gifts to work together for His greater plan." --She Reads Truth

For several weeks, God has answered one of my questions clearly.

Should I say something, Lord?

"No, ZIP YOUR LIPS!  I am working on this right now."

I have sat back quietly.  Praying and praying.  Every day among my prayers, I would ask the same thing, every day I would get another scripture that says to stay still and be quiet.

This weekend, my prayers changed slightly asking God to put someone in my husband's life that will tell him what he is doing is wrong.  At church on Sunday, I prayed this over and over. I had these strong urges to talk to a couple of people who I thought would be a good person for this job, but when I asked God if this was where I was to speak, I didn't get an answer.  Since I had so clearly gotten an answer over and over again not to speak.  I knew I needed to wait for an answer to speak.

And today I read this devotional about Nehemiah asking for help.

Is it time, Lord, that I should speak?  And if so, whom shall I speak to for help?  Guide me, God.  Help me find the right person and tell me clearly this is who I am supposed to be asking for help.  Give me the courage and strength to ask them and give them an open and willing heart to help me.  Give them the courage to step in and tell their friend that what he is doing is wrong in your eyes, Lord.  Help them help me bring his heart out of darkness and back to the light.  I ask you all these things in your son's name, Amen.