WHEN THE CUPBEARER ISN’T SMILING…

Posted on January 12, 2026 by randscallawayffm

Growing up with parents in the last century (1951-1970 to be exact); we were trained to “read the room” of emotions and feelings of our parents at any given moment. Being  taught the commandment to “honor your mother and father” in ways pleasing to God meant giving them the respect they deserved.  For me, honoring my parents, and my grandparents who also attended our church and who were very much a part of my life; meant to be of help to them.  To be helper meant putting aside what I wanted until it was the right time to ask or be asked.

You see, in that era, most children growing up in the fifties instinctively knew when our parents had a hard day at work because of the look on their faces.  We knew when they had been challenged by people not pulling their weight at work or when others had  mocked them for their faith while working to do their best. Their look told of their challenges and their sighs of their weariness without saying a word. Later, they would talked about it to each other. And I listened—with knowing they would figure it out.

Most children also knew those times when our parents were disagreeable with each other and needed time to sort it all out. They were human.  Most of us knew this was not the time be in the room but to go outside and play while they did.  This “knowing” is developed over time with “trial and error” but most of us knew when to ask for our current desires and when not to ask. Timing was something most learned well. 

When it came to our silly, childish behaviors; most of us also knew the line we must not cross.  I say most of us, for I had a younger brother, seven years younger than I, who failed often at “reading the room” with asking, nagging, and begging for his wants to be met immediately even at high stress moments.  I would try to warn him.  But my younger brother, thought he was the center of the room attention. He assumed his wants must be met no matter what was going on at any given moment.  I cringed when he asked with complete confidence that his needs be met. The weird thing was that most times he got what he wanted because my parents would give in just to end the begging. As the oldest, I felt this was discipline fail on their part! (Smiling), but looking back at the whole; my training led me to stronger faith in God with honor for them.

You see, in my era, most children knew they were loved and cared for by God loving parents, but we also knew their love was accompanied by the discipline to know that we were not the most important person in the room—or in the world! The word “discipline” does not mean beating someone into submission as many think today of believing parents trying to raise their children.  Godly Discipline is merely the process of learning and growing to be consistent in doing what is right. Discipline is not abusive but loving with extreme care for their well being in all ways.

The children of the fifties were certainly loved, protected, and provided for by most parents. But Godly parents also disciplined us to walk humbly with God, while listening for God, with attitudes of trust and obedience to God. They taught us that God’s Word, coupled with His Holy Spirt living in us, is our Life Source for a developing discipline of faith, hope, and love for God and others.  Godly parents often model what Jesus taught and demonstrated on earth. Redeemed parents also teach forgiveness by modeling forgiveness for others who sinned against them. These lessons of disciplined faith with committed hearts for God do not go unnoticed by the children of parents who know they are not perfect but perfectly forgiven and disciplined to seek God first in all they think, say, and do. 

This child saw, knew, and believed it. God gave me the ability to read the room which is aids me in pointing the Way to Jesus in helpful ways. I’m grateful for my parents and grandparents who were not afraid or timid about demonstrating their faith to me and to the rest of world with a quiet, unrestrained discipline with purpose—to please God. 

Nehemiah, the Cupbearer, comes to the throne with a “look” that troubles the King.  In our passage yesterday, we read how Nehemiah responded to the devasting news of Jerusalem’s brokeness.  When he heard of the decrepit condition of the gates and walls of Jerusalem, he wept but then he prayed.  Nehemiah asked the Lord for success and kindness.  God, who has knows all and “reads all the rooms” before we enter is about to answer Nehemiah’s prayer for help.

God began by giving the king the ability to notice the “look” on Nehemiah’s face!

Nehemiah 2

Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brough t for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. 9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Nehemiah prayed to God while weeping over God’s people.  God heard and He answered.  God gave Nehemiah favor from the king he served! In fact, Nehemiah’s answer is coming before he expected it to be answered!  The king sees Nehemiah’s look of distress and inquires of him first!  So when the King asks what is needed; Nehemiah, maybe flustered a bit, prays again before telling the king.  Ah, friends if only we would learn to pray first before speaking; we would avoid a lot of troubling miscommunications with others, right? Nehemiah is one who prays to seek the Lord’s wisdom and help before doing anything of significance.  God’s Son did that, too!  How beautiful it is when God’s people asked for God’s help first before jumping—to human plans, ministry projects, along with jumping to conclusions of what we think others think!  Prayer is vital in our walk with God who is our Life Source!

Max Lucado writes; “When God says to pray, he really means it. To pray is the most commonly mentioned command in Scripture. It is mentioned more than “love your neighbor,” more than “go to church,” and more than “evangelize.” More than anything else, God calls us to pray.

We should be people of great prayer. We should be prayer warriors. We should be people who use the ministry of prayer to its fullest capacity. The highest and greatest calling of Christians is the ministry of prayer.” –Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible

The story of God continues in succeeding chapters of the Nehemiah Diaries. There is much to learn! King Artaxerxes surprised Nehemiah, His Cupbearer who the king trusts, with permission to travel to Jerusalem, with materials to rebuild the walls of the city! Opposition from the surrounding enemy nations, has caught wind of God’s plan to rebuild. Lessons will be learned with how to deal with those who oppose.  But, for now, Nehemiah inspects the damage to assess the work and materials needed to begin the reconstruction. The hand of God is on Nehemiah and he knows it! God called Nehemiah to the task and then empowered him to do it. Where God guides; He provides!  We learn that we can trust in God to help us accomplish His will.

How then will we respond when God calls us to a specific task? I hope our first response is to pray to God first; then do what He says.  It’s not as complicated as humans make it out to be.

Lord,

Even today, in my mundane sustain chores of life, lead me. May my first response be of you, seeking your wisdom, relying on your strength, while leaning on your everlasting arms of love and support.  May your will be done.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE CUPBEARER

Posted on January 10, 2026 by randscallawayffm

“Leaders care. They care about the right things, and they care in the right ways. Every leader brings unique skills and abilities to the challenges he or she faces, but one of the traits leaders share is an attitude of attentiveness that sees opportunities and who cares what happens next. God may place countless opportunities before us, but we will ignore each one if we’re not prepared to lead. The Bible is filled with people who were able to lead, prepared to lead, and already leading long before God gave them the opportunities that made a mark in history. In each case, they noticed opportunity and responded to opportunity because they cared.” Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe Study Bible (Emphasis mine)

Nehemiah was one who cared.  He inquired of his friend from Judah how the exiles were doing since coming back home to Jerusalem. The news was not good.  Nehemiah’s first response: “He sat down and wept.”  In our world today, sometimes I wonder if we are so accustomed to detailed news reports of murder, rapes against the helpless, child trafficking, the innocent families living in war zones killed or tortured in wars as “collateral damage”, the plight of a small country run by gangs who kill and burn down the huts of the helpless in Haiti, the hungry in the hills and valleys who are within driving distance (and sometimes walking distance) in our own country, along with all the hopeless who are lost without God that we no longer have the “band width”, as some say, to care?  When was the last time we sat down and wept over the news?

Nehemiah’s caring response revealed his relationship with God.  His weeping came from a heart that sought the heart of God. Nehemiah’s tears of mourning were accompanied by fasting, focusing on God, calling out to God on behalf of his exiled friends trying to rebuild what was ravaged by the enemy. When was the last time we skipped a meal or two to call out to God on behalf of our brothers and sisters in crisis?

Nehemiah was convicted and confession soon followed.  When we care, God stirs our hearts and transforms our thinking to be more in line with what He thinks.  God cleanses as a first step in His equipping us to be of service to Him and His people.  God is doing this for Nehemiah.  God has a plan for Nehemiah who cares. When has God stirred our hearts so deeply that we confessed our own sins but confessed of the sins of our church as a whole—the Body of Christ?

Nehemiah was the Cupbearer to the King.  We will learn much from God’s amazing story of Nehemiah. The last line in our passage today is hinted precursor to what happens next.  As a cupbearer to the King, Nehemiah is the entrusted with the life of the King. Just like a secret service agent willing jump in front of the President and take a bullet for him; The King trusts Nehemiah to drink the first sip of his cup to see if it is okay to drink or filled with poison with purpose of wanting to kill the King!  If Nehemiah does not die then it is okay for the King to drink. What a line of work to be in, right?!

Hold this thought—Nehemiah’s job will be what God uses to gain favor with the King to help His people in Jerusalem!  When was the last time our vocation helped others find Jesus who transformed and restored their lives?

Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah’s Prayer

The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Leaders rise from the crowd who have caring hearts.  Leaders’ hearts are stirred by God. God equips those whose hearts are completely committed to Him. God has a plan for all circumstances and He works His plan in and through all who care, cry out for help, confess our sins with surrender to God. It is then that we become more focused, ready to listen, trust, and obey.

This story has just begun!  There is so much more to learn—stay tuned! 

Nehemiah is one of my personal favorites who demonstrated a heart for God and His people. We watch as God used him in powerful ways. Nehemiah, cupbearer to the King, became God’s wisdom and His cheerleader to the exiles when the opposition  hammered God’s people with slander, mocking, and outright rebellion as they worked hard, trying to do what God told them to do.  We, as the Body of Christ, will learn much—if we listen attentively.

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your story of power, wisdom, and strength through your servant Nehemiah who cared. Thank you for teaching us “between the lines” of his story.  There are many leadership principles at play here; don’t let us miss a single one!  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within us.  It could be the difference for someone else you are running after to save.  To you be the glory, honor, and praise!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE POWER OF PRAYER!

Posted on January 9, 2026 by randscallawayffm

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:13-16, NIV

How often and how specific do we pray for lost souls who are our friends, or the coworkers we relate to daily?  How passionately do we pray for our dearly beloved within our family?  Never underestimate the power of prayer, James teaches.  Never underestimate all believers who fall to their knees, crying out to God, in Jesus Name, on behalf of all who need Him. This is called “intercession.”  When we pray passionately for each other we are standing in the gap for each other when one of us is need of God and His help.

Be assured, God hears the sincere prayers from those who intercede on behalf of their friends and family and even for their enemies!  Yes, enemies!  Jesus said to not only “love our enemies but to pray for them!” (Matthew 5:44) Jesus teaches prayer in ways the people on the mountain had never heard before!  When we pray for our enemies,

Jesus is teaching us to pray with a heart that actively desires their good. Then Jesus tells us how.  We should ask God for their blessing, seeking their transformation, rather than seeking revenge, for them to overcome evil with good and become more like God. This involves praying for their salvation, restraint from evil, and even their divine justice, while keeping our own hearts free from bitterness and leaving the work of salvation to God.  

Who else is better fitted for prayer for our enemies than one who believes that Jesus forgives us when we forgive and pray for those who have sinned against us?  Think about it! 

Never underestimate the prayers of only one concerned person!  Prayer can make a difference in what God will do to and for His people. As Ezra prayed and wept at the altar before the house of God, “a very large assembly of men, women, and children” came together, and they fell under conviction of sin.

Ezra 10

The People’s Confession of Sin

While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. 2 Then Shekaniah 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. 3Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. 4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.”

5 So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. 6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

7 A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. 8 Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.

9 Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt. 11 Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”

12 The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: “You are right! We must do as you say. 13 But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. 14 Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.” 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.

16 So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, 17 and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.

Those Guilty of Intermarriage

18 Among the descendants of the priests, the following had married foreign women:

From the descendants of Joshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah. 19 (They all gave their hands in pledge to put away their wives, and for their guilt they each presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.)

20 From the descendants of Immer:Hanani and Zebadiah.

21 From the descendants of Harim:Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel and Uzziah.

22 From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.

23 Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer.

24 From the musicians: Eliashib.

From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem and Uri.

25 And among the other Israelites: From the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah and Benaiah.

26 From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth and Elijah.

27 From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza.

28 From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.

29 From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal and Jeremoth.

30 From the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui and Manasseh.

31 From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluk and Shemariah.

33 From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei.

34 From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai and Jaasu.

38 From the descendants of Binnui: Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah and Joseph.

43 From the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel and Benaiah.

44 All these had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We pray.  God works.  When we pray to God; we join Him in His work. In prayer, we are molded and shaped for the work He has prepared for us to be and do.

At times God’s people need to stop laughing at sin or mocking those who sin and start weeping and confessing on behalf of those who sin—along with ourselves because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, preaches Paul to the church then and now. James has something to say about us who are saints and sinners;

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:7-10

THIS is God at work in all who intercedes for others and confesses sins in Jesus Name.  Conviction leads to confession.  Kneeling before the Lord is the humbled position God uses for revival and restoration!

James includes the call to “pray without ceasing”! What does this mean?

There is nothing we cannot ask God!  He knows.  He hears. He is with us always. He answers with His best because of His love for us and His desire to talk with us. So, we pray, talking to Him as we would our best friend, ready to listen to Him speak to us—with every breath we take, “on all occasions,” James teaches.

Pray while folding laundry. Pray while rocking your babies to sleep. Pray, asking God for wisdom in stewardship as you buy groceries. Pray for what or for whoever is on your mind because God sees what or who is troubling you. God knows that when we pray to Him, asking for His help and guidance, our worries diffuse our anxiety and our burdens made lighter when we offer all to God for His help. 

Don’t forget!  God’s help comes with power, the same power that reserructed Jesus from death to life!  So, yes, prayer is powerful because God is all powerful!

“In the closing episode with the pagan wives, we see the same issue Paul dealt with among the Corinthians. He described it as unequal yoking, or having “a part” with unbelievers (see 2 Corinthians 6:14–18). This was not a case of racial or moral superiority but a case of spiritual survival. The problem with the marriages wasn’t foreign partners; the problem was believers marrying pagans and letting the pagans set the spiritual tone in the family. Any alliance that makes our allegiance to God secondary creates a commitment that undermines and ultimately destroys our faith.” –Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe Study Bible

Faith moves mountains indeed.  Prayer is the key to a strong relationship with the Mountain Mover! God/Jesus/Holy Spirit the Three-in-One who tells us which mountains to move!  But how will we know unless we talk with God in Jesus Name with power from His Holy Spirit?

Lord,

Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh my soul with your new mercies for today.  Restore the joy of your salvation at work in me. I pray for our family, church family, extended family, friends, and our enemies to see your glory at work today and be drawn to all you are!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES

Posted on January 8, 2026 by randscallawayffm

A person who studies Truth, knows God is Truth.  One who knows all are created in the image of God, knows the consequences of not obeying God, our Creator. We also know we are given a choice to follow Truth or the Deceiver.

If we choose to follow the Deceiver, he will lead us to all things not of God.  In our disobedience to God; the consequence of our sin filled minds lead us to unsavory and detestable to God behaviors that are not for our good or His glory and ultimately to lead us to our death.  In the meantime, our lives are driven by guilt. Explained fears overcomes us as we cling to shame.  We hold tightly to our guilt and shame, always looking over our shoulders to see if anyone knows we are full of it—sin.

Guilt rains on all we do and rises like a flood as we realize we not only sinned against each other; but we have sinned against God, Himself.  Left unchecked and unrepented, guilt and shame hold us in bondage.  While chained in bondage, we fall for more sin thinking we can out maneuver the Deceiver. But we are digging our own grave. Sin, our chosen lifestyle, has consequences. Guilt and shame becomes an unwanted chronic illness.  But sin is what we chose and these are the consequences. Our brokenness leads to broken relationships with each other.  For when we leave our relationship with God, all other relationships are affected—not for good but for evil. 

Ezra, one who has studied God through His Scriptures with disciplined devotion to God knows the consequences of disobedience to God—called sin.  One who seeks the heart of God seeks to know the heart of God.  Ezra is one knows God’s heart so well that his heart breaks over the sins of God’s people.

Do we know the heart of God?

Do we know what breaks the heart of God and the reason our sins grieve the heart of God?    

Ezra 9

Ezra’s Prayer About Intermarriage

After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. 2 They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.”

3 When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. 4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.

5 Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God 6 and prayed:

“I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. 7 From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.

8 “But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. 9 Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.

10 “But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commands 11 you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: ‘The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. 12 Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.’

13 “What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this. 14 Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor? 15 Lord, the 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.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Habit: They’ve done it before and they’ll do it again!  Israelite men intermarried with women from the surrounding pagan countries which lead to all that is unholy, even practicing the sacrifice of their own children to bonfires made to worship idols! God made a law against marrying women who worshiped idols because He knew the hearts of mankind were/are weak and might fall for the Tempter’s seductions. Alas, the Law only convicts us; it does not save us from sins. God knew the temptation to turn to idols of evil, which leads to death, would occur unless He drew their attention to Him with a law against it.  See Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5) Notice that the first four laws concern our relationship with God:

1. You shall not have any other gods before God.

2. You shall not make yourself an idol.

3. You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain. 

4. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy.

The final six commandments, written in stone, are concerned with our relationships with each other.  Our relationship with God is first, followed by our relationship with each other, because our relationship with God affects all other relationships!  Jesus spent three years in ministry telling us why!

      5. You shall honor your mother and father.

      6. You shall not murder.

      7. You shall not commit adultery.

      8. You shall not steal.

      9. You shall not testify or bear false witness against your neighbor.

    10.  You shall not covet.

But a law, as we know today, does not necessarily change our inner self talk, attitudes, or behaviors—even if the laws are “written in stone”!  As we recall, God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone tablets and gave them Moses to share with all the Israelites soon after they left captivity in Egypt (Exodus 20:1-26). Moses reiterated them 40 years later in Deuteronomy 5:1-22 as the Israelites neared the Promised Land.

FACT:  Even thousands of years after Moses was given these laws directly from God, they still influence and guide the moral principles of Christianity today.

Let’s talk about Jesus who fulfilled The Law because He was the Law come down from heaven.  Jesus, Son of God, came down to reteach, relate and demonstrate all that is Holy to God. Jesus came to serve; not to be served. Jesus told and demonstrated the love of God as he sought the lost and healed the sick—all so ohers would see the glory of God in Him for their good.  While “showing the full extent of His love”, The Master Teacher, on His last night with His followers, served the Passover Meal to His disciples along with foretelling their futures of service to God!  Then, without warning, Jesus left the Table, wrapped a towel around His waist, like a servant, and bent down to wash their dirty, well-traveled feet.  All of them, even his betrayer!  (John 13)

After the meal, they sang hymns as they walked to the Garden where Jesus passionately prayed to His Father once last time before the Plan was fulfilled according the Scriptures.  Jesus’ final request as Son of Man/Son of God: “Not my will, but yours be done.” 

Immediately after those words of surrender to God’s plan, Jesus, Master Teacher, was was arrested and falsely accused of sin—He who knew no sin.  Jesus knew what was before Him but His love for us compelled Him to do what God said for He was the Plan from the beginning of creation.  Jesus was God’s Plan to save the world once and for all who would believe.  Jesus willingly and obediently laid down His life so evil could nail our sins through Jesus’ hands and feet to the cross in payment for our sins. “Forgive them for they know not what they are doing” was Jesus’ response to evil who worked in His accusers’ hearts. Evil thought he had won; but three days later…God resurrected His Son, scars and all, to full Life, giving us Hope of eternal life for all who would believe.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

The Law convicts us of our sins.  Jesus was sent to remove us our repented sins. Paul explains to Jews and Gentiles (anyone not a Jew by birth, in Romans 3;

“…whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it’s clear enough, isn’t it, that we’re sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God’s revelation doesn’t put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else’s sin.

God Has Set Things Right

But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.  God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. Romans 3;19-26, MSG  Read the whole passage to understand truth!

Jesus was the ultimate Lamb of Sacrifice for our sins–the fulfillment of the commandments of God.  King Jesus is our Savior, Redeemer, and Lord of all who believe with a discipline devotion to learn to imitate His ways.

Ezra modeled how believers should hate sin and disobedience, be grieved by sin and the consequences of sin.  He also modeled a heart that grieved for others in sin.  Ezra powerfully demonstrated who God is to all who heard; “Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence”—Ezra  

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” This truth, written by Paul who called himself the “chief among sinners” knew the freedom that comes from repentance of our sin to Jesus.  Because I have felt the weight of guilt for my own sins and the freedom that comes from surrender; my heart aches to see the struggle of those who have not yet surrendered in repentance.  So, I pray almost as passionately as Ezra daily: Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh my soul with your mercies, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within me.  May they see You in me and come to You! In Jesus Name, so be it! Amen

Jesus is Our Hope: Although we do not deserve to stand in His Presence, through surrender of our sins to Jesus, we are given full access to the throne of God!  Jesus is the Way to God.  Jesus is the Truth we seek in a fallen world.  Jesus is Life eternal!  THIS is amazing Love!

Jesus changes Everything

A man is never the same after he simultaneously sees his utter despair and Christ’s unbending grace. To see the despair without the grace is suicidal. To see the grace without the despair is upper-room futility. But to see them both is conversion. —Max Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible

Lord,

I surrender all to you. I repent of all my sins, those known and those I have ignored as sin. Remove them all.  May my guilt and shame of sins repented cease to have a hold on me.  I stand in awe of You, Way Maker, Chain Breaker, Redeemer of my Soul.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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DISCIPLINED DEVOTION

Posted on January 7, 2026 by randscallawayffm

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

These two powerful verses spotlight God’s truth to us who need direction today.  This truth of and about God were given for specific moments in the history of God’s people who needed Him but went their own way.  But when we look closely at those moments when wickedness was all around them and they were living confused broken lives, these very words give us clear direction to obtain the disciplined devotion to God that we need for today!  We, too are broken, confused by the world’s behaviors, and shaded by the evil that tries to overtake us.  IF we will call on His Name with honest, humbled, contrite hearts ready to hear God and turn our backs from the evil that shackles us; God hears us!  God forgives our sins because Jesus, His Son became the ultimate once and for sacrificial payment for our sins! Not only that, God brings healing to broken lives who are battle scarred from sins that once held us down.  God restores us.

It is not God’s desire that anyone perish!  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 We learn that God is not one who stands ready to take us out or bring us low—that’s what the enemy of God does.  God is a loving, patient, compassion Father who sent His One and Only Son, a part of Himself, to save us from our sins and set us free to love Him back with disciplined devotion to Him. God is Father who knows we are not perfect so He provides perfect forgiveness of our sins.  Relax, God is not about making our lives miserable but blessed with all we need to walk with Him in a world that is full of evil. God delivers us from evil when we pray the prayer Jesus taught us to pray;

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptations of evil; but DELIVER us from evil.” –Jesus, Matthew 6:12-13

God has all authority and power over the Number One Enemy—Satan, AKA The Deceiver and Destroyer of Life.  God is Life.  God reigns supreme.  We are blessed with provisions and protection from God Almighty when our discipline devotion includes calling on the Name of Jesus, (which our enemy hates), seeking God’s will for each new day.

As we pray, imagine God doing what this scripture says!  God’s eyes constantly scan the world to find and empower people whose hearts are fully devoted to Him! God is not looking down with condemnation, watching to see when we fail, ready to stomp his foot on our progress, like a lot of us think! 

No! Ratherit’s God’s desire, according to scripture, to demonstrate His strength on their behalf, not to condemn, but to support those who trust Him completely. This call to disciplined devotion to God is a reminder that God actively seeks opportunities to bless the sincere and committed. Wow! (Read all of King Asa’s story in 2 Chronicles who relied on man instead of God.)  

The Principles of Disciplined Devotion

  • Seek God first and we will find Him: God isn’t looking for perfection, but for genuine, complete commitment (a “blameless heart” or “fully committed heart”) to show His power.
  • God’s Active Support: The searching is to “strengthen” or “show Himself strong” for these individuals, not to judge them.
  • Trust in God versus Trust in Self: This verse often follows rebukes (like to King Asa) for relying on man (like doctors or other nations) instead of God, highlighting the foolishness of self-reliance.
  • Believing that God is Sovereign: His gaze covers the entire earth, showing His omnipresence and interest in all humanity. 

THIS is the message of hope and encouragement: God is actively looking for people to uplift and empower through their unwavering trust in Him. 

Ezra is one whose heart was disciplined and devoted in seeking God, recording His words, and who also did what God said with complete trust and willing obedience.  Ezra is a great example of one with disciplined devotion to God for all the details of his life.

Ezra 8

List of the Family Heads Returning With Ezra

These are the family heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes: 2 of the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom; of the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel; of the descendants of David, Hattush 3 of the descendants of Shekaniah; of the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men; 4 of the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men; 5 of the descendants of Zattu,[a] Shekaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men; 6 of the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men; 7 of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men; 8 of the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men; 9 of the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men; 10 of the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men; 11 of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men; 12 of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men; 13 of the descendants of Adonikam, the last ones, whose names were Eliphelet, Jeuel and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men; 14 of the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zakkur, and with them 70 men.

The Return to Jerusalem

15 I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, 17 and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. 18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; 19 and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. 20 They also brought 220 of the temple servants—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.

21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 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.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their brothers, 25 and I weighed out to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God. 26 I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold valued at 1,000 darics, and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.

28 I said to them, “You as well as these articles are consecrated to the Lord. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your ancestors. 29 Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem before the leading priests and the Levites and the family heads of Israel.” 30 Then the priests and Levites received the silver and gold and sacred articles that had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God in Jerusalem.

31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. 32 So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.

33 On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, and so were the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. 34 Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.

35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Ezra, being the devoted disciplined person he was, recorded the names of the heads of each family departing from exile back home to Jerusalem. Like a disciplined accountant, he also recorded each amount of offering given to each family to carry and protect until it was handed over to the priest in Jerusalem.  God called and blessed Ezra, whose heart was fully devoted to Him, to lead another group of exiles home.  Ezra’s careful study of Scripture throughout his life enabled him to be an effective minister to those in need.

Disciplined Devotion requires Daily Surrender.  So, it seems, the more disciplined in our devotion to God we are, the more effective we will be in His service for His glory.  To know God is to do His will, “his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” –God, Psalm 46:10 Be still and know God. Be still and know. Be still. Be.

Lord,

Thank you for giving us your strength as we seek to know you more, letting go of what we think and dwell upon to allow Your Holy Presence to indwell in us.  Forgive us as we forgive others who sin against us. Deliver us from evil.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE HAND OF GOD ON EZRA

Posted on January 6, 2026 by randscallawayffm

“I see Jesus in you when you tell what He has done, when you quote His Word and do what He says.”  What a powerful testimony of one by another believer who is also led of God with His hand of protection, provision, power, and wisdom laid lovingly on them.  As believers, in our seeking of God, we seek to see God in each other.  There is a holy relationship of trust and comradery not found in any other relationship because it is our relationship with God that affects all other relationships in our lives!

In our imperfect world were evil deceives us consistently we long for and seek God’s truth and evidence of His truth in others.  When we can readily see God at work in another person, we are drawn to them instantly because we “speak the same language” of truth, who is God. There is a beautiful trust between us that develops readily and easily as we both seek God together. God puts these people in our lives on purpose with His purpose to strengthen and help us navigate this world that is temporary in preparation for our final permanent home with Him.

God also works through unbelievers who know of God but they do no fully know God as their one and only God.  They know enough to be impressed by what God has done in and for others who believe. They might be in awe of God’s power readily seen in miraculous ways. But fear of God is what leads them to be aware of how they treat others who believe without believing themselves.   

King Artaxerxes of Persia is one of those who does not believe but fears God. He is impressed with Ezra who knows and lives God’s Truth.  Because he wants no trouble from God for the people of Persia; he allows God to lead him to help God’s people through Ezra—sixty years after the first return of exiles to Jerusalem! It time to send back more refugees back home.  Amazing how God works through all humans He has created no matter what language or culture that have become accustomed. There is no one like our God!

Ezra 7

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. 7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel:

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings,

To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:

Greetings.

13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem. 17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.

18 You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. 20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.

21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you— 22 up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons? 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.

25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Probably the greatest affirmation we can receive from another is, “I see Jesus in you when you talk about God!”  I received this affirmation from a twelve-year-old studying for her confirmation at her religious school. I am her mentor for the next two years as she completes her coursework in God’s Word while seeking to do His will in her life. I was about to say the same to her over our lunch mentoring time together, but she beat me to the words!  Her shining eyes danced as she talked about what God says in His Word each day to her along with how He is affecting her behaviors.  There is no doubt that God has His hand on this young lady. I look forward with expectant hope for what God will further do in and through her as she draws other to Jesus for His glory!   

King Artaxerxes sees God in Ezra and says so!  Ezra has dedicated himself to God and His teachings.  Ezra has made quite an impression on the king all because of God in him!  “The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.”

The hand of the Lord is upon any believer who has surrendered their lives to God in Jesus Name.  All believers who call on the name of Jesus are redeemed and set free.  All who believe live with expectant hope to live with God forever!  All who surrender to God with humbled committed hearts for God gets the full attention of God.  “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 

God’s hand of protection and help falls over those who seek justice, love mercy, as they walk humbly with Him. Micah 6:8 tells us simply this is what God requires of us who seek His hand upon us.

God’s Hand was on Ezra whose lineage could be traced back to Aaron, the first priest. He didn’t squander his rich spiritual legacy they had entrusted to him but used it to honor the Lord and serve His people.  Even unbelievers saw God in him.  The king entrusted Ezra to lead another group of refugees from Babylon back to Jerusalem.  The king also ordered that Ezra seek justice with mercy for all returning exiles and teach them the ways of God!  All the work of God!  There is no one like our God!

Ezra’s response? “Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.” 

Pause, prayer, reflect, evaluate with the help of God’s Holy Spirit—

  • Who or what do others see in us?
  • What is the current condition of our hearts? 
  • Do we seek justice for all no matter what language others speak, for unbelievers and believers alike? 
  • Do we extend mercy in the same ways that God has extended mercy to us—without conditions? 
  • These are behaviors that will demonstrate our true belief. 
  • Do others know our desire is to walk humbly with our God? 

They will know if God’s love is present, alive, and active, working in and through us. To know God is to know His love for love is God.  1 John 4:7-8

Lord,

May others see You in me so they will know and follow You, not me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE WORK CONTINUES

Posted on January 5, 2026 by randscallawayffm

As Superbowl approaches, we watch the brackets be filled in as football players work hard to prove their worth on the field in the pregames.  Quarterbacks use their minds as well as their agility to execute the plays that have been diligently practiced and drilled into each player. Receivers keep their eye on the one throwing the ball and will give all they have as they perform incredible moves with their bodies to catch anything thrown in their vicinity.  Blockers work hard against the opposing team to move their team members forward. Tacklers do all they can to bring the opposing team members down. Each player wants to be the best in the work they have been assigned to do. We don’t have to know everything about this game to know the desire of each team.  Each team of players want to get across the goal line more often than the other team to win the trophy! And, they will do anything to get it done!

We read yesterday how the Gentiles of Judah and Jerusalem tried to block the rebuilding of the temple. But God used elders and prophets to secure permission to resume building.  Life can be very difficult on earth, especially when arrogant people who are full of themselves because of jealousy and envy when others pull together victoriously to build something new.  These people love self-made power and control so they are opposed to God and those who love Him back.  But what is truly beautiful about the troubles the arrogant cause is this: God knows. They don’t have to tell God of the unfairness executed by the opposition. God knows and He knows all the players.

God sees our hearts, He knows our story.  And God is always with us and helps us.

Our Pastor taught us these truths yesterday that add to our study today:

  • God has not, is not, or ever will not give up His authority over heaven and earth.
  • God is the creator and designer of all He has made.
  • God owns all that He has created. 
  • God knows how each part of His creation works because He designed our inmost being.

God knows us. We humans, “made in the image of God” are at the top of Design Creation work! What God desires will happen. What God promises will come to pass. God’s Plan never fails or gives up on us—even if we give up on Him. God is faithful even when we are not.  God’s love never fails and is unchanging.  His mercies are new and fresh each day!  God is compassionate and patient with us.  He doesn’t expect perfection but surrender.  Because of His grace, He gave us His Son to redeem us from our sins in Jesus Name.  Yes, there is no one like our God!

GOD AT WORK—

We need to know that God’s work will carry on whether we join Him or oppose Him.  Whoa, what?  Yes, God does not need us to do His work. Does this burst our bubble of self-worth? Only if we have not fully surrender all we are to God.  But here’s the good news of surrender; because we are created by design to work, He invites us to join Him in His work as He faithfully fulfills His work in us!  Read that again with a pause.

Shocker, to some: Life is not all about us and the work we do as much as we so easily think.  Life is God. Life is all about God molding and shaping us to be more like Him as we work.  That’s why Jesus calls his followers “to seek first God, then the others things will be added…”  We must willingly surrender our lives to him as an offering for His use. We will never be the same when we do!

Jesus tells us that God’s agenda is lighter and easier to manage.  He keeps us in harmony with His will to relieve the stress we put on ourselves that comes from our carnal overthinking and overachieving in the work we do for ourselves. God reminds us that we are not placed on this earth to compete with others in the work—not His plan.  We are created by God to work together as this is His plan for our good and His best.  We work enthusiastically, Paul writes to the church, with all our hearts, minds, and souls so that we may please Him and bring Him glory— “so that no one can boast.” We don’t try to outdo God’s work; we are His work! Our obedience to God demonstrates our love for God!  Life becomes less about what we do; but who we are in Christ!

We are reminded in our passage today that God never promised an easy life, but he did promise to always be with us. Watch how God’s influence supersedes the actions of secular authorities to accomplish His desires. God wins.  Every time, God wins in the end when all is said and done.  To God be the glory!

Ezra 6

King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archives stored in the treasury at Babylon. 2 A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written on it:

Memorandum:

3 In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem:

Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide, 4 with three courses of large stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid by the royal treasury. 5 Also, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; they are to be deposited in the house of God.

6 Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and you other officials of that province, stay away from there. 7 Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site.

8 Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God:

Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. 9 Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, 10 so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.

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. 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

13 Then, because of the decree King Darius had sent, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates carried it out with diligence. 14 So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. 15 The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

16 Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. 17 For the dedication of this house of God they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred male lambs and, as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they installed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their groups for the service of God at Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.

The Passover

19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover. 20 The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their relatives the priests and for themselves. 21 So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the Lord, the God of Israel. 22 For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival 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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

In my past God called me to plan and implement numerous short term mission trips to various countries for young adults. In our pregame training drills we taught students God’s truth to be known and lived while on the field of play:

  • We are going to join God in His work that is in progress.
  • We are will be not be doing a work we think they cannot do.  That is arrogant.
  • We will not do God’s work to or for them but with people like us who love God. 
  • We will humbly come alongside others who are in progress of doing God’s work that we have been invited to join for a brief time.
  • We look forward to learn from the experience by offering to do whatever is asked from us that will be of help in God’s work. 
  • We come to make the load lighter—not heavier for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
  • We will come into all groups we will meet with a smile. A smile translates in all languages.

These principles apply at home as well.

Our invitation to join God in His work comes with power and authority to complete it.  We begin with what Jesus commanded with a promise;

“Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”—Jesus, Matthew 28:18-20

“Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”—Paul to the church, Ephesians 6:7

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

What a privilege to join God in His work by His invitation with His help and Presence!

What a privilege to walk humbly with Him as we work and serve with gladness.

What a privilege to talk with Him daily to receive His agenda for our day ahead.

And what a privilege to see His glory at work in others which lifts our praise to Him!

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for inviting me, your child, to Your work. I will serve You with gladness so others will be drawn to the benefits of trusting and obeying you, too!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE OPPOSITION STEPS UP THEIR GAME

Posted on January 3, 2026 by randscallawayffm

Life is not fair.  Those who know me well know that I am not a pessimist. I am the opposite—I tend to think that somehow unfairness that leads to heartache can be and must be turned around with love, kindness, and understanding.  But there are some days that I must accept that life here on our imperfect planet earth is not fair.  “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” says Jesus our Savior. But too many of us skip over the “you will have trouble” part to thinking of Jesus as our Fixer of all the things that we don’t like about this world and how others treat us.  This thinking seems a bit shallow of us, isn’t it?

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4, NLT (Bold emphasis mine.)

God inspired James, most say the brother of Jesus who believed after the resurrection, wrote these words of wisdom.  WHEN troubles come; not if.  ALLOW these troubles, unfair or not for that is not the issue.  Rather allow troubles to be used by God to grow our faith, trust, and love for God! 

Want to be more like Jesus?  How did Jesus handle the unfairness of life?  Did He not live with unfair accusations, betrayals, whippings with spikes that torn his skin from the bone, and then be nailed to a cross designated for criminals to publicly die upon in humiliation ?  Jesus was without sin, committed no crime, but yet He willing allowed His Body to be used by God, His Father, to pay the debt for our sins.  Did he once cry out to God, unfair!  Jesus, in the garden, prayed passionately for another way to accomplish what God wanted, but then thought of us and what God commanded and resigned Himself to finish his prayer—“Not my will; but Yours be done.” 

Paul, blinded briefly which stopped his mission to kill new believers, was led by the hand to be transformed completely by Jesus who changed everything about Saul/Paul in this scary experience.  Paul with a new heart began a new mission to lead people to Christ.  But in his new calling in a troubled world; he faced beatings, imprisonment, along with constant mocking from unbelievers and former friends. 

Life was not fair for Paul.  But unfairness, betrayal, and all troubles didn’t stop his mission—God used it for His glory and many lost were saved in Jesus Name!  Inspired by God’s Holy Spirit, active, alive, and working in Paul to mature his faith; he passionately wrote;

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:7-12

Paul’s letter to the Philippians—dubbed by theologians as the “joy in all circumstances,” and the most positive book of the Bible.  Paul wrote this letter to the church while in chains, sitting in a jail cell. 

“In this world you will have troubles…” Life is not fair—but that is not the issue for Paul—knowing Jesus is his complete focus.

In our continuing saga of God’s story of the rebuilding of the Temple by his returning once exiled people, the opposition to God’s direction raises their game by writing a “tattletale” letter to the highest power available to them—King Darius.  Since the mail system crawled at a snail’s pace, (making our USPS look amazing in speed), God’s people continued the work in the wait.  Why, because God also gave His people “cheerleaders” to encourage them!   

Never underestimate the power of the faithful preaching of God’s Word. Haggai began his ministry of the word 520 B.C. (Haggai. 1:1), and five of his messages are recorded in the book that bears his name. A month or two later, he was joined by a young man named Zechariah, a priest whom God had called to be a prophet (Zechariah 1:1). These two men delivered God’s Word to the leaders and the remnant.  Even though the opposition fought unfairly; God’s people kept on doing what God told them to be and do.

Ezra 5

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

3 At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?” 4 They also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?” 5 But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius. 7 The report they sent him read as follows:

To King Darius:

Cordial greetings.

8 The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.

9 We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?” 10 We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

11 This is the answer they gave us:

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.

13 “However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. 14 He even removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon. Then King Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor, 15 and he told him, ‘Take these articles and go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem. And rebuild the house of God on its site.’

16 “So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished.”

17 Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

Notice how the Jewish workers framed their answers to glorify the Lord! They didn’t try to cover up the sins of the nation and they openly acknowledged that they were “the servants of the God of heaven and earth.” Both in their words and their demeanor, they presented a clear witness to this important Persian official. 

How will the king answer? Another cliffhanger!  Stay tuned, God’s story of rebuilding and restoration continues!

Lord,

Thank you for Your Word that not only teaches us with corrections in our thinking and behaving; your Holy Spirit also reminds us of your love and care and opens our eyes to see and know you more!  You are truth that is higher and greater than the momentary troubles of this world.  Use all the challenges I face to grow me to be more and more like you in all your ways.  I know you are not finished with me yet for I have not arrived at getting this completely right!  Thank you for not giving up on me!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE OPPOSITION LIES IN WAIT

Posted on January 2, 2026 by randscallawayffm

FACT:  When people gather as a group seeking God, ready to do His will; God is there.

ALSO FACT: When people gather as a group seeking God, ready to do His will; the Enemy of God is there in opposition to God.

As believing followers of Jesus Christ who is Head of His Church; It is imperative to be alert and aware of the evil who slithers into our gatherings.  We need to be educated. God’s Word teaches us the difference between God and the enemy of God.

KNOW THE ENEMY.  To know the enemy is to recognize quickly his age-old tricks used to destroy our faith.  With God’s words of wisdom and His power living in us we are more than able to form strategic ways to defeat him in our lives before “the devil takes a foothold” in the doors of our hearts!  Our enemy is God’s enemy, called Satan or the Devil.  He is not the flesh and blood people we face each day but an evil spirit who seeks to destroy all our relationships, beginning with our relationship with God.

Satan’s Backstory:  He was an angel of God but then decided he wanted to be God so he formed an army of demons to support him in his cause.  But God being God alone, holy, and perfect in all His ways, kicked this opposition out of heaven and into the dark recesses of earth.  The Enemy’s tools were, are, and always will be hate, pride, ego, envy, jealousy, arrogance, deception, slander, mocking, irreverence (all characteristics opposite of God) to distract, deceive, deconstruct progress, confuse the congregants by pitting one against the other over small irrelevant  details in committee meetings, with the sole purpose to destroy our faith in God.  Our true enemy is not each other but the evil one.  He will tempt us through our own egos and measures of our self-worth in an aggressive attempt to work in and through us, in the lives of those we love within our family, among our friends—including the Body of Christ.  Jesus calls him, “the father of lies”!  Shouldn’t we?  Jesus was tempted by him; don’t think for a nanosecond we who follow Jesus will not be tempted by the same prince of this world!

His sole desire is to deceive, to deconstruct progress with distractions, to halt what God has given His people to be and do for His glory and their good.  But his powers are limited. We have the power to resist him.  When we call on the Name of Jesus—our enemy flees.  The enemy hates believers on their knees calling on the Name of Jesus.  You see, Satan knows and fears the Son of God!

From the writings of Billy Graham, we learn;

Three times Christ designated Satan as the prince of this world. The Bible is clear that either the world’s inhabitants are under the influence of this world with its cunning, deception, and spell; or they are in Christ and under the direction of the Spirit of God. There is no neutral ground. The lines are drawn by the Bible.

The Bible teaches that worldliness is a force, a spirit, an atmosphere of the cosmos that is in opposition and in contradiction to all that is godly and Christian. Its goal is selfish pleasure, material success, and the pride of life. It is ambitious and self-centered. God is not necessarily denied; He is just ignored and forgotten.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians reminding them that in times past they had walked according the course of the world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2-3).

Now the words “course of this world” carry the meaning of current or flow. There is an undertow, a subtle current, which runs against and in contradiction to the will and the way of God. Satan employs every device at his command to harass, tempt, thwart, and hurt the people of God.

Paul reminds us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age” (Ephesians 6:12). The Christian is not left defenseless in this conflict. God provides the power to give us victory over Satan. Paul said, “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). This is why Jesus proclaimed: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” John 10:10). –Billy Graham, Find Peace with God.

WHY all this talk concerning our “clear and present danger”? Why tell the truth of all that our Enemy daily dishes out to us? 

Because of the appalling statistics of George Barna who surveyed the Body of Christ in our country.  With other executive denomination leaders, I was privileged to attend a special meeting where Barna revealed “The State of the Church” in the United States.  With tears in his eyes, this prophet of our time reported the results of survey. The one finding that caught us all “off guard” was the revelation that, according to believers surveyed; MOST did not believe that Satan even existed! WHAT!?! What a devasting finding—among others!

According to Barna Group research regarding the State of the Church, roughly 60% of American Christians believe Satan is not a living entity but merely a symbol of evil. Only about 27% of adults (and 35-40% of Christians) are convinced that Satan is a real force. 

Key Findings from Barna Research on Satan’s Existence:

  • Widespread Disbelief: Approximately 6 in 10 (59-60%) American Christians agree (either strongly or somewhat) that Satan is a symbol of evil rather than a living being.
  • Low Conviction: Only 27% of all adults and roughly 40% of born-again Christians strongly believe that Satan is a real entity.
  • Uncertainty: About 8% of Christians are unsure about the existence of Satan.
  • Contradictory Beliefs: Despite not believing in a literal Satan, 64% of Christians believe that a person can be under the influence of spiritual forces like demons or evil spirits. 

WE MUST KNOW OUR REAL ENEMY who plagues us!  I am not trying to lift him up but bring him down in Jesus Name! 

Satan is the bully in our lives who constantly pecks our purposes as a child of God. How do we deal with this bully?  I’m going to again refer to a spiritual mentor in my past, the honorable and trusted pastor of pastors, Billy Graham.  He writes;

When it comes to bullying in a spiritual sense, the ultimate bully is Satan. God has taught us how to defend ourselves against him—never listen to the devil. This was Eve’s problem at the beginning of time on Earth—she “listened” to the serpent (the devil).

Satan will do everything he can to discourage and defeat us. He attacks us where we are weakest. He wants to keep us from serving God and living according to His ways. “Resist [the devil],” the Bible says, and be steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:9).

Spiritual training is necessary to build us up in our minds, like physical exercise makes our muscles stronger. Christ has provided everything we need to arm ourselves against Satan’s attacks. He communicates with us through His Word and brings a sensitivity to the working of His Spirit within.

God has promised to be with us when we face any trouble; we must remember that He is bigger than every problem! Most of all, we must never forget that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, Satan has already been defeated—and someday the battle will be over.

The same book—the Bible—that tells of God’s love, also warns us of the devil who desires to come between God and His people; he is ever wanting to ensnare the souls of mankind. Remember, the closer we stay to Jesus, the farther away we are from the devil.  –Billy Graham, Excerpts from “Find Peace with God Today.”

The enemies of the exiles work to rebuild what the Enemy hates—a place to gather to worship God.  Is it surprising that they suddenly have opposition? Let’s see how they dealt with their bully who created more bullies.  There is much more to this story.

Ezra 4

Opposition to the Rebuilding

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.”

3 But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.”

4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. 5 They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

6 At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language.

8 Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

9 Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, together with the rest of their associates—the judges, officials and administrators over the people from Persia, Uruk and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa, 10 and the other people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.

11 (This is a copy of the letter they sent him.)

To King Artaxerxes,

From your servants in Trans-Euphrates:

12 The king should know that the people who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.

13 Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and eventually the royal revenues will suffer. 14 Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king, 15 so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed. 16 We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.

17 The king sent this reply:

To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates:

Greetings.

18 The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence. 19 I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition. 20 Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. 21 Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. 22 Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?

23 As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.

24 Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Cliffhanger:  It’s not over—stay tuned!

Lord,

Thank you for sending me to research the true enemy to know his tricks and tempts so that I can call him for who he is—your original enemy.  Thank you for reminding us there is no neutral ground. We either choose you who is Life or we choose Satan who is death.  I choose you, Savior and Lord, for you chose and loved my first. There is no one like you who gives, helps, guides, protects, provides, and is always loving, faithful, compassionate, forgiving and kind. I trust you with my life for you are Life!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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MIXED EMOTIONS

Posted on January 1, 2026 by randscallawayffm

It is a bittersweet time when we mourn the passing of a dear loved one who believed.  We remember our loved one with tears of weeping for we have lost a part of our lives, a person who contributed to our story.  On the other hand, we rejoice with smiling tears of hope knowing our loved one is finally home enjoying all the benefits of heaven.  Our past collides with future with mixed emotions that overwhelm us.

The exiles are back home. The older ones remember how it was before they were ripped from their homes, their way of life, and their ways of worshiping the Lord.  They look over the rubble and ruins of the Temple area that included the Altar where sins were atoned with burnt offerings of sacrifice…and they weep with mixed emotions.  The younger ones’ memories do not go as deep. They are more hopeful and less mournful for they have been given the provisions to rebuild and restore what was taken from the Israelites almost a century earlier.  God’s people have mixed emotions.  Both are viable and understandable.  God accepts both in worship to Him.

Ezra 3

Rebuilding the Altar

When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem. 2 Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices. 4 Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day. 5 After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the New Moon sacrifices and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred festivals of the Lord, as well as those brought as freewill offerings to the Lord. 6 On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid.

Rebuilding the Temple

7 Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and gave food and drink and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.

8 In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak and the rest of the people (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years old and older to supervise the building of the house of the Lord. 9 Joshua and his sons and brothers and Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Hodaviah) and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together in supervising those working on the house of God.

10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:

“He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.”

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But 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 others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

It is not our place, authority, or work to judge the emotions of God’s people—or anyone else for that matter. God speaks to hearts seeking Him sincerely and openly with healing, comfort, and forgiveness. God comes to repentant hearts and helps those whose hearts are fully committed to Him to rebuild and restore their relationship with Him.  It was God who arranged for the captive release to come home with funds from the unbelieving King of Persia to rebuild and restore so they could worship God once more “in accordance with what is written by God to Moses.”  God’s people have come home to Him as they recited King David’s psalm of praise as they worshiped and thanked God for bringing them home; “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” 

Some shouted praises to God.  Some wept tears of what was but is now with joy and daring hope at merely seeing the foundation once more!  Both emotions were heard by God as holy and honest.  Be holy, humble, and honest before the Lord.  He already knows our hearts!

Gratitude comes from having the right perspective. Holy gratitude is sbeing able to look at what you have and being thankful for that, rather than longing for what you don’t have. When they had finished laying the foundation of the temple of the Lord, great rejoicing took place. They praised the Lord with shouting as others wept with joy. They recognized what God had done for them in the past and would do for them in the future.  Hope was renewed and God’s glory seen in the foundation alone.  All these mixed emotions are of gratitude for God’s everlasting faithfulness!

When was the last time we paused to behold the foundation of our faith, Jesus, with grateful tears of joy and shouts of praise? 

A believer’s firm foundation is Jesus. We must allow our whole being to be built upon Jesus who is the foundation of our faith. Jesus is our solid, unmoving rock upon whom we stand firmly when the storms come, the winds of change blow, and the torrential rains come a tumbling down all around us.  Jesus is the Rock we cling to with knowing His Holy Spirit living in us gives the power to grow our faith through it all!  No one or no circumstance can separate us from His love and faithfulness.

Be confident that the LORD, our Rock and firm Foundation will hold us through anything and everything this world throws at us. Let us assuredly and confidently say, “Thy will be done” knowing God’s plan for all His children is a wonderful and perfect future with Him in eternity forever!  (Jeremiah 29:11)

How do I know? The Bible tells me so!  And I’ve seen it with my own eyes! There are over 100 verses that back up God’s Truth of an unfailing love, new fresh mercies, with unending grace foundation that stands firm forever. Here are but a few from Jesus, Himself, His disciples, and God’s prophets—

  • Matthew 7:24-27 ESV
    “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”—Jesus
  • Isaiah 28:16 ESV
    Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
  • 1 Corinthians 3:11 ESV
    For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  —Paul
  • Luke 6:48 ESV
    He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. —Jesus
  • Matthew 16:18 ESV
    And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. –Jesus
  • 2 Timothy 2:19 NIV
    Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”—Paul
  • Ezra 3:11 ESV
    And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

Jesus Christ is our Firm Foundation today for all who believe and call on His Name.

Believe, repent and stand firm on the rock of our salvation, and be saved for eternity.

Lord,

Thank you for rebuilding and restoring our lives on the foundation of you, dear Jesus who died in our place for our sins’ payment in full. There is no other rock like you in which to stand.  You are my confidence and hope! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In grateful praise, In Jesus Name, Amen 

So be it for our good and your glory!

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