“So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's fury subsided.” – Esther 7:10

Alexander Bogdanov was a Russian physician. In 1924, Bogdanov started his blood transfusion experiments, apparently hoping to achieve eternal youth or at least partial rejuvenation. Lenin's sister Maria Ulyanova was among many who volunteered to take part in Bogdanov's experiments. After undergoing 11 blood transfusions, Bogdanov remarked with satisfaction the improvement of his eyesight, suspension of balding, and other positive symptoms. His fellow revolutionary Leonid Krasin wrote to his wife that "Bogdanov seems to have become 7, no, 10 years younger after the operation". In 1925–1926, Bogdanov founded the Institute for Haemotology and Blood Transfusions, which was later named after him.

A later transfusion in 1928 cost Bogdanov his life, when he took the blood of a student suffering from malaria and tuberculosis.

The actions we sow, we shall also will reap. Today in prayer, confess to the Lord any sin in your life and seek to be Christlike in all that you do.

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.” – George Washington Carver

God’s Word: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” - Esther 4:14

In 1901, a certain handcrafted lightbulb was first installed at the Livermore, California fire department hose cart house on L Street. Shortly after it moved to the main firehouse on Second. In 1903 it was moved to the new Station 1 on First and McLeod, and survived the renovation of the Firehouse in 1937, when it was off for about a week. During its first 75 years it was connected directly to the 110 Volt city power, (subject to the power outages), and not to the back-up generator for fear of a power surge.

In 1976 it was moved with a full police and fire truck escort, under the watch of Captain Kirby Slate, to its present site at Fire Station 6, 4550 East Ave., Livermore, California. It was then hooked to a separate power source and has suffered only one interruption in May, 2013, when the UPS failed and it was off for at least 9 1/2 hours. For more than 120 years, the Livermore Centennial Light has been faithful at doing what it was created to do – shine light.

Our time on earth is all to short. We should desire to do the will of our Heavenly Father. Today in prayer, consider what the Lord is a task calling you to do, and then enthusiastically follow Christ in all of your work.

“God accomplishes His purposes through people.” – Warren Wiersbe

God’s Word: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

RESOLVING TO DO RIGHT                                   Wednesday – June 28, 2023

“When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.” – Esther 3:5

Bible teacher Donald Grey Barnhouse told the following story: A young son of a missionary couple in Zaire was playing in the yard. Suddenly the voice of the boy’s father rang out from the porch, “Philip, obey me instantly! Drop to your stomach!” Immediately the youngster did as his father commanded. “Now crawl toward me as fast as you can!” The boy obeyed. “Stand up and run to me!” Philip responded unquestioningly and ran to his father’s arms.

As the young boy turned to look at the tree by which he had been playing, he saw a large deadly snake hanging from one of the branches! At the first command of his father, Philip could have hesitated and asked, “Why do you want me to do that?” Or he could have casually replied, “In a minute.” But his instant obedience without questioning saved his life!

Doing right means listening and obeying our Heavenly Father. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you wisdom, courage, and resolve to do what is right.

“To cling always to God and to the things of God--this must be our major effort, this must be the road that the heart follows.” – John Cassian.

God’s Word: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” – Romans 8:37

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.)” – Nehemiah 13:2

In his book “Waiting on God”, Wayne Stiles writes:

“Most of life is lived in the gaps between great moments. The peaks seem to protrude only after miles and miles of death valleys. While the Bible reveals its characters in terms of their high points, we, on the other hand, tend to evaluate our lives by the lousy week we just slogged through.

We read and assess the Bible intellectually, but we evaluate our own lives emotionally. Sometimes that disconnect seems huge. And often, discouraging. But gaps are normal. And expecting gaps is essential if we hope to maintain a life of faith as well as discern God’s hand in our lives.

Even Jesus’s life had gaps—huge ones. We need to accept the gaps between great moments as God’s will, but we also must learn how to live in these dull spaces. Because most of life is gaps, we never know which days will prove significant.

We have the obvious exceptions, of course, like births, graduations, weddings, and occasionally even deaths. But the list drops off after these few predictables. Only hindsight reveals the significant days of God’s sovereign design. God sees them in advance.”

We often do not have the full perspective of life. What might seem to be a negative can become a blessing from the Lord. Today in prayer, thank Jesus that life brings, knowing that He can turnaround any curse into a blessing.

"I have a point of view. You have a point of view. God has view." - Madeleine L'Engle

God’s Word: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.” – Nehemiah 10:37

In his book “Wild Goose Chase”, Mark Batterson wrote: “Several years ago I was part of a small group with a friend who was working with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Georgetown University. As we shared prayer requests at the end of one of our meetings, my friend said their ministry needed a computer and I said I’d pray for him. I started praying that God would provide a computer, and then I felt as if God interrupted me. It’s hard to describe the tone I heard from God. It was stern but not unkind.

It was as if the Holy Spirit whispered these words to my spirit: Why are you asking Me? You’re the one with the extra computer! So I quit praying midsentence and decided to do something about it. I told my friend I had a computer that I wanted to give him. And I became the answer to my own prayer. Why ask God to do something for us when it is within our power to do something about it ourselves?”

No matter how much you have, consider how to give to the Lord’s work. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you wisdom on how to best give to His work.

“For it is in giving that we receive.” - Francis of Assisi

God’s Word: “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” – Proverbs 3:9-10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them” – Nehemiah 9:17

In November 2012, in the middle of an eastern Chinese city's new main road, rising incongruously from a huge circle in the freshly laid pavement, was a five-story row house with ragged edges. This was the home of the duck farmer who said "no."

Luo Baogen and his wife were the lone holdouts from a neighborhood that was demolished to make way for the main thoroughfare heading to a newly built railway station on the outskirts of the city of Wenling in Zhejiang province.

For weeks Luo and his wife held out after completion of the road, welcoming foreign journalists to their bizarre home in the middle of a highway. But in December, Luo finally relented of his stubbornness and consented to move. The home was demolished soon after.

God’s love is stronger than our stubbornness. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He loves us despite our stubbornness and is gracious and compassionate, desiring all people to come to Jesus for forgiveness.

“There are few people so stubborn in their atheism who when danger is pressing in will not acknowledge the divine power.” - Plato

God’s Word: “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” – Romans 2:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.” – Nehemiah 8:2-3

In article “Don’t Treat the Bible Like a Spiritual ATM”, Jen Wilkin writes: “Around fourth grade, I was taught the spiritual discipline of spending “time in the Word.” Like many, I was encouraged to have a “quiet time,” 15 or 20 minutes in Scripture, preferably in the morning (because, you know, Jesus rose early in the morning). This practice was supposed to calibrate my day, to fill my spiritual tank for whatever the rest of that day may hold.

When we think of quiet time as transactional, we treat Scripture as a debit account that offers us meaning or feeling on our timetable. Each day we insert our debit cards and withdraw 15 minutes of inspiration. Instead, we should take a savings account perspective, where we make faithful deposits, investing ourselves over days and weeks and years without expecting immediate emotional or intellectual yield.”

Do you desire to study God’s Word? Today in prayer, thank Jesus for the Bible and take some extra time today to study God’s Word.

"We have done almost everything that is possible with these Hebrew and Greek writings. We have overlaid them, clause by clause, with exhaustive commentaries; we have translated them, revised the translations, and quarreled over the revisions...There is yet one thing left to do with the Bible: simply read it"  - Richard Moulton 

God’s Word: “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” – Psalm 119:14-16

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands.’” – Nehemiah 6:9

David Jeremiah tells the story of Dr. P.P. Job, who spoke at a Christian rally in New Delhi, India, in 1998. After the rally, he received threats against his family. At the time, his son Michael was training at the university to be a medical missionary. One evening, a white Fiat with Delhi plates, traveling at a high speed, changed lanes, rammed into Michael, and sped away without stopping. Michael died from the injuries.

Dr. Job was inconsolable. “It happened because I am a preacher of the Word of God,” he said. “I was shattered. There are no words to describe the pain I went through.” As he read his Bible, he found Philippians 1:12: “The things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.”

That verse strengthened Dr. Job’s faith, imparting courage to advance the gospel. Today there is the Michael Job Orphanage, the Michael Job High School, the Michael Job Residential Art and Training College and the Michael Job Memorial Chapel. Multitudes have been inspired by this story, and God is gaining glory for Himself throughout India because a father was inwardly strengthened by the Holy Spirit. 

The Lord will strengthen us to do His good work. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He can carry and strengthen you to do His work.

“You become stronger only when you become weaker. When you surrender your will to God, you discover the resources to do what God requires.” – Erwin Lutzer

God’s Word: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?” – Nehemiah 5:9

In his book “Living the Resurrection: The Risen Christ in Everyday Life”, author Eugene Peterson writes: “In the Hebrew culture and the Hebrew Scriptures … the word *fear* is frequently used in a way that means far more than simply being scared. … *Fear-of-the-Lord* is the stock biblical term for this either sudden or cultivated awareness that the presence or revelation of God introduces into our lives. We are not the center of our existence. We are not the sum total of what matters.

We don’t know what’s going to happen next.

Fear-of-the-Lord keeps us on our toes with our eyes open. Something is going on around here, and we don’t want to miss it. Fear-of-the-Lord prevents us from thinking that we know it all. And it therefore prevents us from closing off our minds or our perceptions from what is new. Fear-of-the-Lord prevents us from acting presumptuously and therefore destroying or violating some aspect of beauty, truth, or goodness that we don’t recognize or don’t understand.

Fear-of-the-Lord is fear with the scary element deleted.”

We need to love the Lord and to follow Him in all that we do. Today in prayer, fear the Lord by loving and honoring Him in all that you do.

“The fear of God kills all other fears.” – Thomas Browne

God’s Word: “He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.’” – Revelation 14:7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.” – Nehemiah 4:6

In the spring of 2010, a skiing accident took the life of Taylor Storch, the thirteen-year-old daughter of Tara. What followed for Tara and her husband, Todd, was every parent’s worst nightmare: a funeral, a burial, a flood of questions and tears. They decided to donate their daughter’s organs to needy patients. Few people needed a heart more than Patricia Winters. Her heart had begun to fail five years earlier, leaving her too weak to do much more than sleep.

Taylor’s heart gave Patricia a fresh start on life. Tara had only one request: she wanted to hear the heart of her daughter. She and Todd flew from Dallas to Phoenix and went to Patricia’s home to listen to Taylor’s heart. The two mothers embraced for a long time. Then Patricia offered Tara and Todd a stethoscope. When they listened to the healthy rhythm, whose heart did they hear? Did they not hear the still-beating heart of their daughter/ It indwells a different body, but the heart is the heart of their child.

The Lord continually listens to your heart. Today in prayer, praise Jesus for the work He has given you and do it with all of your heart.

“Work as if you were to live 100 years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow.” – Ben Franklin

God’s Word: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” – Colossians 3:23

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“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.’” – Nehemiah 2:20

In a famous study by Victor and Mildred Goertzel, entitled “Cradles of Eminence”, the home backgrounds of 300 highly successful people were investigated. These 300 subjects had made it to the top. They were men and women whose names everyone would recognize as brilliant in their fields such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Winston Churchill, Albert Schweitzer, Clara Barton, Gandhi, Einstein, and Freud. The intensive investigation into their early home lives yielded some surprising findings:

Three fourths of the children were troubled either by poverty, by a broken home, or by rejecting, over possessive, or dominating parents.

Seventy-four of 85 writers of fiction or drama and 16 of the 20 poets came from homes where, as children, they saw tense psychological drama played out by their parents.

Physical handicaps such as blindness, deafness, or crippled limbs characterized over one-fourth of the sample.

How did these people go on, then, to such outstanding accomplishments? Most likely by compensation. They compensated for their weaknesses in one area by excelling in another.

God expects us to use what we have to the best of our abilities. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that by faith in Him we have success. 

“A man is not far from the gates of heaven when he is fully submissive to the Lord’s will.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.” – 2 Chronicles 26:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“Then I said: ‘O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands’” – Nehemiah 1:5

A.W. Tozer said: “What come into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Author Allison Richmond wrote: “Our very lives and character center on how we view our God. If we see Him as a weak, passive and unnecessary God, our lives will reflect this. We will not trust or rely on Him and will likely fall into sin, seeing no need for God. On the flip side, if we see God as a powerful, active and life-sustaining being, we will cling to Him and praise Him as our Savior. This will be visible to others and will point them to God too.

We must pursue an accurate view of God and not lose sight of His true nature. Our relationship with God, a result of our view of Him, is what makes us who we are. He loves us. He wants to have a relationship with us, and it starts by getting to know Him for who He really is.”

Our Lord is awesome! Today in prayer, praise Jesus that He is awesome in all of His ways.

“Raise your hands, all you nations Shout to God all creation How awesome is the Lord most high.” – Jon Abel

God’s Word: “You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!” – Psalm 68:35

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.” – Ezra 10:4

During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Corrie ten Boom and her family were involved in the Dutch resistance. The family stole food ration cards and harbored Jews in their home. They oversaw a network of smuggling Jews to safe places. All in all, it is estimated that around 800 Jews were saved by Ten Boom's efforts. But only Corrie would survive the war, her father and sister would die in concentration camps.

Once Corrie tried to enlist a pastor to help hide Jews. Showing him a Jewish baby in need of rescue, the pastor said “No. Definitely not. We could lose our lives for that Jewish child.” Corrie’s father stepped forward, “You say we could lose our lives for this child. I would consider that the greatest honor that could come to my family.”

Be of good courage and do not be afraid, the Lord is with you! Today in prayer, praise Jesus that in His strength you can have courage in any situation.

“God, grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right, even though I think it is hopeless.” – Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

God’s Word: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“and prayed: "O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.” – Ezra 9:6

In her book, “Let Go of the Guilt”, Valorie Burton writes: “I’ll break down each of these truths in a moment, but first, say them out loud: Guilt is a message. Guilt is a debt. Guilt is an opportunity. 

1. Guilt Is a Message

Guilt is information.

It is your conscience trying to tell you that either:

you caused harm or did something wrong, or          

you are telling yourself you caused harm or did something wrong even though you haven’t. Your job is to accurately read the message of guilt so you can take the right next step to address it appropriately.

Remember this: if you misread the message of guilt, you will react in ways that are unhealthy and counterproductive.

2. Guilt Is a Debt

Guilt means you owe something. Just as a defendant found guilty deserves a sentence, guilt tells you there is a consequence to your actions or lack of actions. Someone must be compensated. You must give up something—your rights, your freedom, your money, your voice. It might mean you do not deserve the good you might otherwise enjoy if you were not guilty. Remember this: guilt costs you something, and that cost can drive the decisions you make when you feel guilty.

3. Guilt Is an Opportunity

Most powerfully, guilt is an opportunity to change something or accept something. It is up to you to decide which it will be. Rather than using guilt to beat yourself up and make decisions, intentionally choose your response to it. Be curious about guilt, and use it as a chance to

clarify your values and expectations;         

forgive or be forgiven;         

set or strengthen your boundaries;         

have meaningful conversations;         

grow spiritually and strengthen your faith; or         

be a more courageous, authentic, better version of yourself.

When we realize our guilt, let it be an opportunity to grow closer to Christ. Today in prayer, confess any sin in your life to Jesus and know He died for those sins.

“You cannot repent too soon because you do not know how soon it may be too late.” – Thomas Fuller

God’s Word: “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"--and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” – Psalm 32:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.” – Ezra 8:23

In his book “Celebration of Discipline”, Richard J. Foster writes: “More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We cover up what is inside of us with food and other things, but in fasting these things surface. If pride controls us, it will be revealed almost immediately. David said, “I humbled my soul with fasting” (Ps. 69:10) Anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, fear—if they are within us, they will surface during fasting…. We can rejoice in this knowledge because we know that healing is available through the power of Christ.”

Fasting reminds us that we are sustained “by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4).  Food does not sustain us; God sustains us.”

We become more attentive to the Lord’s will when we fast and pray. Today in prayer, praise Jesus that He desires to answer your prayers and seek His will through fasting and prayer.

“Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.” – Andrew Murray

God’s Word: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” – Matthew 4:1-2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“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.” – Ezra 7:10

James M. Gray was a pastor in the Reformed Episcopal Church, a Bible scholar, editor, hymn writer, and the president of Moody Bible Institute. He told a story that underscores the importance of reading the Scriptures for personal growth. He said that when he was a young Bible teacher he became deeply impressed by the peace and spiritual poise of a friend with whom he often talked. Since Gray wanted that same stability, he asked his companion the secret of his confident bearing and positive outlook. "It all started through reading Ephesians," said the man. Gray was surprised by this simple response. He had read Ephesians many times but had never experienced the same strength he saw in his friend. Noticing Fray's puzzled look, the man explained. "On one occasion, when I was on a short vacation, I took a pocket edition of Ephesians with me. Lying down one afternoon, I read all six chapters. My interest was so aroused that I read the entire epistle again. In fact, I did not finally lay it down until I had gone through it some 15 times." He then said, "When I arose to go into the house, I was in possession of Ephesians; or better yet, it was in possession of me. I had the feeling that I had been lifted up to sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus--a feeling that was new to me." This testimony encouraged Gray to master the Scriptures for himself. He began to saturate his mind and heart with God's Word so that he could freely and effectively communicate it to others.

We only become more like Jesus as we spend time with Him in His Word.  Today in prayer, thank the Lord for His Word and spend some extra moments today studying it.

“Believe me, sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed.” – General Douglas MacArthur

God’s Word: “Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” – Psalm 119:17-18

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.” – Ezra 6:22

In their book “Does God Really Like Me?: Discovering the God Who Wants to Be With Us” authors Cyd and Geoff Holsclaw write:

“On a trip to France during college, I (Cyd) was walking through a historic garden in Paris with my older sister. Rounding one of the reflecting pools, we both caught a familiar scent and stopped dead in our tracks. “Grandpa and Grandma’s backyard in Washington!” Joy swept over us.

We had no idea what the smell was or where it was coming from, but in a split second we were transported from a thriving metropolitan city in Europe to a quiet backyard in the northwestern corner of the United States. All by a smell.

When we were with our grandparents, we were sure we were loved because of the delight they took in being with us. And in response we experienced the joy that came from being with people who were glad to be with us. This delight, this joy, is what home is all about.”

There is joy when we know Jesus. Today in prayer, give your heart to Jesus and receive His joy.

“You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace,

The mountains and the hills will break forth before you.

There’ll be shouts of joy and all the trees of the field

Will clap, will clap their hands.” – Steffi Karen Rubin

God’s Word: “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:46-47

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“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.” – Ezra 5:5

When Leonardo da Vinci was commissioned to paint the Last Supper on the chapel wall in Millan, Italy, he decided to break artistic conventions of the time and try new techniques and compositions. In addition to choosing to paint in tempura, rather than traditional fresco, Leonardo also focused on the facial expressions of each of the 12 disciples, at the exact moment when Christ announced that one of them would betray him, to depict Judas.

Leonardo used one point perspective, which involves all the lines in the painting converging in one place, known as the vanishing point. This strategy was used to emphasize the importance and central position of Christ. The lines all converge in His right eye, drawing the viewers gaze to this place. 

The Lord is not only watching but He actively is in control.  Today in prayer, praise Jesus that His eye is upon you.

“Faith is the gaze of the heart at God it is but the raising of our inward eyes to meet the all-seeing eyes of God.” – A.W. Tozer

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

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.” – Ezra 4:4

Nicknamed the “Iron Nun,” Sister Madonna Buder in 2012 became the world record holder in her age group and the oldest person, 82 years old, to complete the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run that makes up the Ironman Triathlon. Now in her 90s, Sister Madonna continues to race.

On the subject of discouragement, she said: “Tomorrow, when things get tough out there, remember, you were loved into existence. If you get discouraged and want to quit, if you get injured and can’t finish, if things don’t go the way you hope even though you have trained for this day for months or even years, even then remember: You were loved into existence.”

“I love being outside, in nature,” she said. “And every time I’m tempted to discontinue competing, inspiring others keeps me going.”

Be encouraged! In Jesus Christ we have victory. Today in prayer, give Jesus your discouragement and follow Him in all that you do.

“A clear cut vision of what God wants you to do can survive under the pressures of discouragers.” – Marilyn Murphree

God’s Word: “Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” – 1 Chronicles 22:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: ‘He is good; his love to 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.” – Ezra 3:11

In his book, “Our Good Crisis: Overcoming Moral Chaos with the Beatitudes”, Jonathan K. Dodson provides a wonderful analogy of what happens when we cultivate the virtues in our lives:

“When goodness becomes who we are, not just what we occasionally do, we become virtuous. When I was a kid, I ate sticks of rock candy that had the word Brighton stamped on the end. No matter how much I licked, the word didn’t disappear. The letters seeped all the way through. Virtue is like that. No matter how far down you go, goodness still shows up.”

God is good. Today in prayer, let the goodness of God be part of your life.

“The great gift of Easter is hope - Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God, in his ultimate triumph, and in his goodness and love, which nothing can shake.” – Basil Hume

God’s Word: “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” – Psalm 145:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

All Belongs To God                                   Thursday – June 2, 2023

“When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver and 100 priestly garments.” – Ezra 2:68-69

Pastor John Maxwell tells the following story: “My friend James Crocker, a successful entrepreneur, recently shared a story with me…James and a few of his friends went out on a boat trip to fish for lobsters and had succeeded in gathering a massive catch of 125 lobsters.

When he got home, he had a freezer full of lobsters—more than enough to last him an entire year. The day after James got home, his friend Jeff dropped by the house, and James offered him a lobster. Jeff was delighted. This interaction prompted James to ask himself, ‘Who else do I know who might like to have a lobster?’ James got so excited by the idea of giving friends lobsters that by the end of the week, he had given away 122 lobsters, leaving only three for himself. He had such a great time giving, he didn’t even mind that his supply had dwindled from enough for a year to enough for a meal.

A few days later, James went into his garage and was assaulted by a terrible stench. He followed his nose to the freezer and opened it to find that the electricity had gone out, and his remaining three lobsters had spoiled. As he cleaned up the mess, he felt sorry for himself. But then he remembered all the lobsters he had given away, and it gave him great joy. If he hadn’t shared his bounty with others, all of it would have been wasted.”

All that we own belongs to God; we are His stewards. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He has given you charge of some of His wealth and give to others as He would give.

“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” – Amy Carmichael

God’s Word: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing” – Ezra 1:1

An old shoemaker’s awl is on prominent display in the French Academy of Science. That awl fell from the shoemaker’s table one day and put out the eye of his 9-year-old son. Soon, the child became blind in both eyes and had to attend a school for the blind. At this school, the child learned to read by handling large, carved, wooden blocks.

When the shoemaker’s son grew up, he thought of a new way for the blind to read. It involved punching tiny dots onto paper, and Louis Braille devised this new method using the same awl that had blinded him in his youth.

When Patricia Houch Sprinkle told that story in Guideposts in 1978, she suggested that there would be a falling awl in each of our lives. She added, “When it strikes, some of us ask, ‘Why did God allow this to happen?’ Others ask, ‘How will God use it?’”

The Lord calls each of us to do his work. In Isaiah 6:8, Isaiah responded to God’s call by saying "Here am I. Send me." Today in prayer, consider how you answer the Lord’s call and then follow Him in all that you do.

"I would rather walk through a mile of burning brimstone every night than spend over again those midnight hours when I fought against the call of God." - Dr. Robert Bruce

God’s Word: “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing” – 2 Chronicles 36:22

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER †