Divine Mentor: Rebuild Your Lives - by: Laila Wahba,PHD

Rebuilding the Walls

Nehemiah 3

I find the sequence of the gates built very interesting. It is not by chance that they built the gates in this order, but I think that this is the sequence we need to rebuild our lives too.

1. They rebuilt the Sheep Gate: we always need to start rebuilding with the Lamb of God, Jesus, if we want to rebuild our lives and make sure it will be secure. If we start anywhere else, the building will surely fall down... our lives will crumble at the first wind, the first problem, the first sickness, the first broken relationship, the first hurt.
2. The Fish Gate; the symbol of the Cross of Jesus. This is why many Christians choose to put a fish on their bumpers, but let us put the Cross..not on our necks or bumpers but in our hearts that Jesus might reign; that the Cross might always keep us humble and pleasing to God.
3. The Old Gate: Revisit the old things in your life and clean them by the Blood of the Jesus, the blood, the sign that we have a blood covenant with God and nothing can separate us.
4. The Valley Gate: Build the deep pits in my character that no one knows about but me. Let Jesus fill my guilt, my shame, my sin, my unbelief, my shortcomings, my shaky knees, my relationships, my sorrows, my fears, my discontent, and I can go on and on... let Jesus fill the Valleys with His Love, forgiveness, freedom, appreciation, encouragement and redemption.
5. The Dung Gate: Get deeper to the dirtier, darker areas in my life. Amazing how God reveals our shortcomings little by little. He gets deeper and deeper into our souls and does a deeeeep, deeeep cleansing that no one else can do. And although He sees the dung in my life, yet all the while He is loving me, and encouraging me, and helping me...and when He does get rid of the dirt, He applauds me as if I have done it on my own. PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME, MY SWEET SWEET JESUS.
6. The Fountain Gate: Now comes the washing, the cleansing. Now I am refreshed by the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit.
7. The Water gate; More and more cleansing. 
8. The Horse Gate: Now comes victory. Go charging on telling others about your new found love: Jesus.
9. Inspection Gate: Re examine your life, and start all over with the Sheep Gate.

What Matters Most

Today’s Reading

Ezra 7 & 8

Luke 20

The one thing I have found to be true since I have begun to journal is when God wants me to know something it will jump off the pages.  Today I received two messages that my heart needed to hear.

Luke 20:34-38

Jesus told them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.  But those who are counted worthy to take part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.  For they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are sons of God, since they are sons of the resurrection.  Moses even indicated in the passage about the burning bush that the dead are raised, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jabob. He is not God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to Him.” (HCSB)

I occasionally think about what my earthly relationships will be like in the Kingdom of God.  The question that the Sadducees asked Jesus about the woman with seven husbands provided an answer for me today.  They wanted to know which of her seven husbands will be her husband in the Kingdom of God. 

Jesus is telling us that once we enter the Kingdom of God we are all his children making us brothers and sisters.  There will be no need for any other relationships.  We are here on earth to do what is required of us according to God so that we can be with Him when the time comes.  That is why Luke 20:38 is so important, “He is not God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to Him.”  We must believe that Jesus died for us and rose from the dead 3 days later, understand that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, be biblically baptized to be born again, and build a relationship with Christ to be considered alive.  As believers we must not concern ourselves with who God will raise from the dead because those that haven’t accepted Jesus as the only way will not be born again so they are not the living. 

Please continue to show me patience and mercy as I continue to live under Your Grace.  I am alive because Jesus saved me and I am grateful for that sacrifice every day. Please continue to help me to remember there is no relationship more important than my relationship with Christ.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ezra 7:28

…I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me…

This is what God wants us to always remember; that we are empowered through His strength.  Daily we should be courageous.  When we encounter situations or even people that fear shows its ugly face in, we are to be courageous not because we can handle anything but because we can handle everything with God.

I must remember that because I am touched by God nothing or no one can ever cause me any real injury.  I must move forward with courage.  No matter how large or small God is with me.

Please continue to show me patience and mercy as I continue to live under Your Grace. I want to always be courageous in all my daily activities and especially my challenges.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Divine Mentor- Prepare My Heart Daily

Ezra 7-8; Luke 20

Scripture: Ezra 7:10 " For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. "

Observation: The world would tell us to prepare our minds, but God desires our hearts. Because his heart was in tune with God, he was able to hear what God was saying to him. He was then willing not only to do it but to teach it to others.

Application : How do I prepare my heart? For years I tried to do it with Sunday morning worship, a Bible Study during the week, and a quick devotional in the morning ( or before bed if I forgot that morning or was running late). Now He is showing me that it is vital that I rise early every morning so that He can prepare my heart for the day. God' s word is new and specific each morning for what I am to learn, to do, and to teach.

Prayer: O God, my heart desires to hear You as my day begins. This day belongs to You. What have You planned for me this day?

When I go unrecognized

Esther 2:23
When the affair was investigated and found to be so, 

the men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was 

recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence

 of the king.

We are living in the instant world, instant coffee, instant oatmeal, instant 
satisfaction..., but what if God intentionally delays recognition for 

something we have done? Something so great as saving the King's life!!!! 

Will I feel bitter? Cheated? Angry? Will I go around telling others 

how ungrateful the king is? How faithful I am yet unappreciated? 

Well Mordecai did none of this. He did the right thing. Period. 

He did his job faithfully. Period. 
When the time came for him to be recognized, it was not because 

of his pushing, but because GOD, in His sovereignty and omnipotence 

woke the King up and had him read in the middle of the night

 a history book!!!! Have you ever heard of someone read a

 historybook when they have insomnia? But God had a plan 

to promote Mordacai. What an awesome God we have.

Lord, let me do what is right even if no one will ever know. 

I lay down today every spirit of entitlement for I deserve 

nothing but death. 

You, in your love gave me life through YOUR Blood. 

Praise you Jesus.Let me not get angry, or have self pity 

when I am unrecognized, or when others do not thank me 

or appreciate what I do. YOU see, Lord and this is more than

 enough. I love you Jesus.

Laila Wahba

Divine Mentor: Contentment by Laila Wahba

Contentment

Esther 2:9
And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided 

her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen 

young women from the king's palace, and advanced her and her young 

women to the best place in the harem. Esther 2:13 when the young woman

 went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to 

take with her from the harem to the king's palace.
Esther 2:15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail 

the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, 

to go in to the king,she asked for nothing except what Hegai the 

king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. 

Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.

What a great opportunity for any woman: to get whatever she desires, and 
probably get to keep it even if she does not become queen. But Esther was so 
content with what was given to her, not asking for what she might have thought 
to be her right; not taking more out of fear of not becoming the queen. She did 
not think of taking more to ensure her future in case she lost the beauty 
contest. Her contentment won her not only a kingdom, but also the favor of 
many..of everyone who dealt with her which would later be in her favor, since 
people did know her in her poverty and before she had any queenly power. She 
realized that Hegai would know much better than anyone what the King liked, so 
she trusted his judgement even if it meant getting smaller jewelry or a color 
she did not like too much.
This made me think: am I content with God's choice for me? To tell you the 
truth, not always. Am I content that I am in a transitional period waiting with 
many uncertainties? Do I trust God's choices for me knowing that He knows best? 
Hmmmm sometimes..
Lord, I pray for contentment today, for contentment brings blessings far beyond 
what I would choose for myself.
Let me be satisfied with what You choose to give me, because You, Lord know 
best.
Laila Wahba

Divine Mentor: Follow Me?? by Debbie McGrath

Today's Reading: Esther 3-8, Luke 18

Even though I know the story of Esther, God teaches me new things every time I read the story.
I love the part when she fasted and prayed before she rushed in to speak to the King.
She went to God first and sought His direction.  She waited on God's timing - Esther was wise.

When I got to Luke 18:22 - the Lord says: then come and follow me.

I thought about what it really meant to follow me.  It is more than a salvation prayer!
I made a list of what I believe it means to Follow the Lord:
 I am sure when you read this, you will think of many other ways to follow Christ.

Follow Me:

To saturate my mind in the Word.

To trust God.

To turn from Sin.

To have a heart change.

To lose my life.

To abandon my safety/security.

To leave my comfort zone.

To die to self wants.

To realize Christ controls everything.

To realize Christ is in charge.

To learn to wait on the Lord.

To give beyond my ability.

To be grateful in all circumstances.

To see an urgency in sharing the gospel.

To give myself to others.

Divine Mentor: Who Am I? by Debbie McGrath

Today's reading: Ezra 5-6, Psalm 138, Luke 16

As I spend time in the God's word tonight, I am refreshed. God's Word fills me like a tall glass of water in the desert. When I miss my time in the Word - I am empty, selfish and malnourished.

Love what I read in Ezra 5:11 - The workers of the temple were confronted by the Persian appointed governor. He asked the workers - Who are you?? Love this response: - We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.  

When I read this, I had to ask myself -would others say that I am a servant of the God of heaven and earth by my actions or the words I speak.  Do my actions prove that I put Christ first and others second in my life?  Do the words I use everyday represent the fruit of the spirit?

As I question myself - I know that my priority is to implant the Word of God in my heart. God's word gives me wisdom and direction for my life. When I put God first, others will know whom I serve.

That is my prayer -that no one would question me when I say: I am the servant of the God of heaven and earth.