Esther 9–10 – God gave the Jews favor and they soundly defended themselves and defeated those who wanted to harm them. We do not have to fear those who want to harm us. God is our protector and defender.

Proverbs 17:15–28 – Wise people are good friends because they are loyal and ready to help when needed. It is foolish to act injustly, to enjoy quarreling, to tell lies, to take bribes, and to talk endlessly. These are attributes of a fool and you should be careful around them.

Luke 20:20–26 – The religious leaders were always trying to get Jesus to take a stand about something so they could trap him. He always gave an answer they didn’t expect and couldn’t argue with. You don’t have to satisfy the demands of religious people. You just need to honor God in all that you say and do.

Philemon 12–25 – Paul pleads with Philemon to forgive Onesimus and receive them back as a brother. He leverages his relationship for the sake of the unity and the gospel. This is what it looks like to be a peacemaker. 

Esther 7–8 – Even though it seems that there was no hope of protecting the Jews from those who wanted to harm them, God wasn’t finished yet. Our God can rescue us even when all hope seems lost. God didn’t only deliver them, he gave them a position of power and strength.

Proverbs 17:1–14 – It is not wise to listen to those who gossip and slander and speak lies. It is wrong to listen to that and to take pleasure in the misfortune of others. We should live simple lives that strive to reflect God‘s love as we forgive others and serve others humbly and work to live at peace with others.

Luke 20:9–19 – The religious leaders rejected Jesus because they rejected his authority in their lives. This is sin. Rejecting God’s authority. When we reject God’s authority to guide any area of our lives, we are rejecting Jesus just as the religious leaders did.

Philemon 1-11- Paul appeals to Philemon on the basis of their friendship to show kindness to Onesimus. Onesimus had sinned against Philemon in the past so Paul is asking him to extend grace and forgive him.

Esther 5–6 – God gave Esther favor with the king and protected Mordecai from Haman. No human plan or scheme can stand against our God. Noticed that Esther had been fasting before she approached the key. Before we act on what we think God wants, we must be sure that we have spent time asking God first.

Proverbs 16:17–33 – Humility will keep you from self-destruction and will help you listen to instruction. It is wise to follow God’s path rather than our own and to influence others through kindness. It is wise to work hard and to use our words for good.

Luke 20:1–8 – The religious leaders refused to answer Jesus because they refused to except that his authority was God-given. This also shows they had rejected God's authority in their own lives which is at the heart of sin.

Titus 3:9-15 - Don’t let foolish discussions over philosophy of ministry or theological positions divide you. Anyone who insist on dividing the church is living in sin.

Ezra 3–4 – Mordecai remained faithful to God and refused to bow to Haman. This caused him and all Jews to become a target for persecution. Mordecai encouraged Esther to intervene, proposing that God had put her in this position for such a time as this. We must realize that God gives us a favor and uniquely positions us for his purposes to make a difference for his kingdom.

Proverbs 16:1–16 – God guides the steps of those who seek him through wisdom. We should seek to honor him with our lives and trust his ways over our own. He delights in honesty, integrity, and justice and will not tolerate the opposite.

Luke 19:39–48 – Jesus did not rebuke the crowd for the praise because he was the promised Messiah. He then drove out the people who were in the temple profiting from selling animals that were required for sacrifice. People should not use the worship of God for personal gain. When Jesus taught, people hung on every word. When God speaks to us, we need to learn to listen and hang on every word.

Titus 3:1–8 – The life of a believer should be characterized by humility, gentleness, and peace. God gave us Holy Spirit to help us follow him and give us confidence that he has saved us.

Esther 2 – God‘s favor on our lives is greater than our greatest strategies and efforts. He is the one who positions us for his purposes.

Proverbs 15:18-33 – The Godly don’t make hasty decisions in what they do or say. They seek wise advice from other Godly people and consider the weight of their words before they speak. They welcome constructive criticism and learn from it.

Luke 19:28–38 – Jesus fulfilled prophecy when he rode into town on a colt. This was another sign that he was the Messiah.

Titus 2:1-15 - By God's grace, we have been saved and by his grace through the power of the Holy Spirit we have the ability to fully follow him.

Esther 1 - The king's pride was hurt and he made a big decision while he was emotional and not thinking clearly. As a result we find out later that he regretted his decision. It is not wise to let our emotions make life decisions for us.  True leaders don’t rule with ethics. They lead others by caring for them and meeting their needs rather than demanding those they lead serve them.

Proverbs 15:1–17 – The words of the wise are gentle and help to deflect anger. They make knowledge attractive and they help bring correction. Wise people receive and respond to correction. God knows our hearts and detests the ways of those who act wickedly. Wise people are hungry for truth and wisdom.

Luke 19:11-27 - Those reject Jesus as their Lord will one day be destroyed. Those who use the life God has given them to build his kingdom will be rewarded in eternity. If you use what he gives you well, more will be given.

Titus 2:1–10 – Training the next generation starts with practicing what you preach. Follow Jesus and invite them to follow you.

Nehemiah 13 – When Nehemiah returned, he discovered the Israelites had already begun to turn away from God again by not keeping his commands. We can’t compromise with what God has told us to do. Nehemiah spoke up and spoke truth even when it was unpopular.

Proverbs 14:19–35 – Wise people work hard and benefit from it. They have peace and are not quick to get angry.  You can’t grow in wisdom by surrounding yourself with fools. Wisdom is found in godliness and godliness in a nation will make it great.

Luke 19:1–10 – Zacchaeus came looking for Jesus, but found out that Jesus came looking for him. Zacchaeus had power and wealth, but it didn’t satisfy. When he experienced God’s grace through his faith, his response was to give away his wealth which was the very thing he had built his life on. To truly follow Jesus, you must be willing to surrender your old ways completely and let God direct your life and give it new meaning.

Titus 1:10–16 - If a person's life doesn't reflect the love and truth of God, then be careful about listening to what they say and teach. A person will show themselves to be true followers by following the example of Jesus.

Nehemiah 12 – The Israelites celebrated the wall being built and had a ceremony of dedication where they sang praise to God and brought their tithes and offerings. Singing and giving are ways we can celebrate with God has done.

Proverbs 14:1–18 – The wise stay on the wise path and their lives are better for it. Fools will destroy their own lives with foolish decisions. Liars are fools, but the wise are honest and careful with your words.

Luke 18:31–43 - Jesus connected himself to the prophecies that told of the promised Messiah. Jesus asked the blind beggar what he wanted. He didn’t ask for money this time, he asked for site. Do we ask God for the right thing? Do we ask him to do the miraculous? Maybe the reason we don’t see the mighty hand of God as we don’t ask him for it.

Titus 1:1–9 - There are guidelines for who should lead the church in order to protect the church from bad leadership. It is important to look for leaders with these qualities and characteristics. 

Nehemiah 11 - 10% were chosen by God to live in the holy city of Jerusalem. In this culture, they had to leave the land of their family inheritance to go to a place where they had no earthly inheritance. It may have seemed unfortunate to be picked, but to be chosen by God to serve in the holy city was an honor. How you view your calling impacts how you feel about it. I am blessed to be called by God to preach his word and lead his church.

Proverbs 13:13–25 – It is wise to receive correction and advice with a humble heart. It will help keep you from trouble and distraction caused by your own bad decisions. To receive correction and wise advice, we must spend time with wise people and give them permission to speak into our lives. It is unloving to not discipline your children because it will lead them to destruction one day.

Luke 18:18–30 - Jesus emphasized the truth that only God is good which included himself even though the man didn’t realize it at the moment. The rich man thought he was good because he had been very moral in the way he lived and probably appeared to others to be good. Jesus pointed out that he loved his wealth more than God. Jesus saw his heart and knew he loved his money and served his wealth. This was confirmed when the man went away sad because he was unwilling to part with his stuff. If we get upset when God wants us to give financially, it is a good sign that our money is our God. This is why many people don’t like it when the church teaches on money because it is the one area of their lives they have made off-limits to God.

2 Timothy 4 – Keep your conscience clear by doing what God tells you to do and preaching what he tells you to preach. Run the race he has given you to run and trust him with the outcome regardless of what others do. Be faithful. Follow Him with your whole heart.

Nehemiah 10 – When they finished the wall they recommitted themselves to God. Their commitment to God affected the way they did business, their work, relationships, their time, and their resources. They committed to honor him by giving him their best. What does your commitment to God look like in those areas of your life?

Proverbs 13:1–12 – It is wise to receive correction and foolish to reject it. It is foolish to talk without restraint, but wise to control your tongue. Lying is foolish and the Godly hate it. Lies are the opposite of the nature of God so we shouldn’t tolerate it. Wisdom and Godliness go together because true wisdom comes from God and only by applying it to your life do you become Godly and wise. Godliness and wisdom will keep you from destruction and leads to a life full of light and joy.

Luke 18:9–17 – No one can make themselves good by their works. We are only good through the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our lives. Humility acknowledges our need an allows Jesus to work in our lives. God will humble the proud, and raise up the humble.

2 Timothy 3:10–17 – Living a Godly life won’t always be easy, and will invite persecution at times. We must hold onto what we have learned and been taught through scripture. It will equip us and give us strength to do what God wants us to do.

Nehemiah 9 - When they read the word of God to the people, they recognized their sin and responded in genuine repentance. They recognized the pattern of sin of those who went before them and vowed to follow God going forward. When we are confronted with truth from God‘s word, we should respond with repentance and obedience.

Proverbs 12:15–28 – The words of the wise are truthful, encouraging, and help others. Godly living leads to life.

Luke 18:1–8 - In a culture that devalued women, Jesus elevated their value and invited some to follow him closely. Spiritual maturity is seen by what the “seed“ produces in your life. We can’t cause it to grow, but we can allow the Holy Spirit to work the soil of our hearts so the seed can grow well. Any soil can become good soil if we let the Holy Spirit do his work in us.

2 Timothy 3:1–9 - In the end times people will only love money and themselves. We already see this. They will act religious but will not reflect the love of God or display the fruit of the spirit. Be on guard.

**Hey Readers - I apologize for getting behind on posts.  I have struggled with internet at my house at night lately which is when I would normally add posts and schedule future posts.  I am hopefully getting that resolved and hope to be able to schedule posts to come out on time.  Thanks for your patience!

Nehemiah 8 - The people gathered to hear God's word and as they discovered what it said they begin applying it to their lives. Our response to God‘s word should be to apply what it tells us to do.

Proverbs 12:1–14 – Godliness is demonstrated by how a person lives and what a person says. Godliness leads to good results but foolishness or wickedness will lead to destruction for you and your family.

Luke 17:20–37 - The return of Christ will happen in an instant. No one will know when it will happen so we must be ready.

2 Timothy 2:14–26 – We need to work hard with the grace and strength God gives us to allow his truth to change and guide our lives. If we live pure lives, we position ourselves to be used by God for special occasions.

Nehemiah 7 - After the war was complete, Nehemiah was given the responsibility of governing because he feared God more than most. When selecting people to lead, Godliness is essential. He told him not to leave the gate open in the hottest part of the day. It is likely that they would leave it open during the heat of the day because they didn’t expect an attack then. I think it’s a warning to them and to us is to not grow complacent in defending against the enemy. He will often attack when you least expect it.

Proverbs 11:16-31 - The evil and wicked will love money, be greedy, and their reward will be judgement.  A beautiful woman who lacks discretion will find herself in slop like a gold ring in the nose of a pig.  The wise will gain respect, be kind, find stability, find real life, be generous, prosper, be refreshed, refresh others, and win friends.  Wisdom is real wealth.

Luke 17:11-19 - Only the foreigner returned to Jesus to thank him for healing their leprosy.  Maybe the others just wanted something from Jesus, but the Samaritan wanted to know Jesus.  Maybe they felt like they deserved it while the Samaritan understood he had no claim to it.  Our response to God's grace should be gratitude that causes us to be drawn to him and to give him glory. 

2 Timothy 2:1-13 - Following Christ will likely mean suffering, because Jesus suffered. We can't get caught up in the things of the world bc it will prevent us from fully following Jesus.  God will reward those who work hard because he is faithful. 

Nehemiah 6 – While Nehemiah was leading efforts to build the wall, Tobiah and other leaders tried to intimidate him in order to stop the building process. Nehemiah recognized they were merely distractions and told him he was too busy with a great work to stop. We can’t let the schemes of the enemy keep us from being part of God‘s great work.

Proverbs 11:1–15 – Godly living brings security to you and those you lead. The Godly don’t use their words to hurt others and know how to keep secrets.

Luke 17:1-10 - We must not tempt others to sin and we should always forgive regardless of how many times others sin against us. Faith grows as we simply obey what God has told us to do.

2 Timothy 1:8–18 – Be bold in sharing your faith. God’s plan was to rescue us and our response should be to join the rescue mission.

Nehemiah 4–5 – When the people became discouraged, Nehemiah reminded them to look to God and encourage and fight for each other. Nehemiah confronted those who are taking advantage of their Jewish brothers by charging interests during the famine. Nehemiah did what was best for the people, not what was best for himself and he asked for God‘s blessing because of it. Good leaders put the needs of those they lead ahead of their own.

Proverbs 10:17–32 – When a wise person talks, it helps, but those who lack wisdom hurt others and lead others to disaster. God says that he will bless those who walk with integrity and wisdom.

Luke 16:19–31 – Those who love their wealth more than God could miss out on eternity with Jesus. If you trust in riches more than God, you may have your faith in the wrong thing. Are you willing to use the richest God has given you to build his kingdom, rather than yours?

2 Timothy 1:1–7 - God has given us a spirit to help us become who he wants us to be and do what he created us to do. We must learn to listen to and rely on the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Nehemiah 3 - To rebuild the wall, it took a lot of people jumping in to help. Nehemiah led the unified effort to rebuild the wall. What God has called us to do is bigger than any one person or any one church. It takes all of us. People worked on the wall that was right in front of where they lived. We can be part of the solution by addressing the needs right in front of us first.

Proverbs 10:1–16 – Laziness is foolish living and will lead to poverty. Integrity will keep you safe. And if you are wise, it will be evident in what you say.

Luke 16:10–18 - People who love their money more than God will scoff when the church talks about money. Your heart before God is more important than what people think about you.

1 Timothy 6:11–21 – Run from the love of money and foolish desires that will destroy you. Pursue righteous living through your faith in Jesus. Fight the good fight. Don’t put your trust in riches. Put your trust in God alone.

Nehemiah 1-2 - Nehemiah was only a cupbearer when God stirred his heart for the condition of the wall around Jerusalem. Often when God stirs our heart for a problem, it is because he wants to use us to help with a solution.  God didn’t call a carpenter or a mason to build the wall, but instead he called a cup bearer who was willing to lead the way and trust God with the rest.  God may call you to do something that you don’t know how to do, but all you have to do is obey God and trust him with the rest. 

Proverbs 9 - Wisdom and foolishness both invite you to join them. Wisdom is available for anyone who will seek it, however it’s foundation is a right view of God. If you reject God and his ways, you reject wisdom. Foolish living will destroy you.

Luke 16:1-9 - Our earthly resources aren’t our own. They belong to God. We should use what he has given us to bless others. Our time on earth should be used to influence others for eternity.

1 Timothy 6:1-10 - We don’t do ministry for money. Money can be a blessing, but it is not the goal. The goal is godliness with contentment. Being content and living a godly life will keep you from compromising your calling.

Ezra 10 - Ezra mourned for the sin of the people. We are all prone to return to sin even after experiencing God’s grace. When we do, we should repent. True repentance requires a change of mind and attitude towards sin that results in a change of behavior.

Proverbs 8 - Wisdom is available to anyone who humbly and earnestly seeks it.

Luke 15:11-32 - Both sons in this story traded their identity for their behavior. God loves you for who he made you to be, not because of what you do. God’s love is not earned, it is given.

1 Timothy 5:16-25 - There should be respect and care for those who lead the church, as well as accountability.

Ezra 9 - God spared the righteous remnant, but some still did not faithfully obey God and decided to intermarry with the foreigners in the land who worshiped false gods. The problem with this is God knew they would not remain faithful to him if they married people who worship false gods. Today we see the struggle with Christians who marry unbelievers which is why Paul warns people about being unequally yoked.

Proverbs 7 - Don’t put yourself in a position to be tempted with immorality. Stay away from the immoral woman. Wisdom will protect you from these situations that could destroy you if you will listen and apply it.

Luke 15:1-10 - Jesus came to bring joy in heaven by coming to find what was lost. Our mission is to carry out his mission.

1 Timothy 5:1-15 - We have a spiritual responsibility to take care of the widows in the church and our own family as they get older.

Ezra 8 - Ezra and the people made the dangerous trip to Jerusalem without soldiers to protect them. They prayed, fasted and trusted in God and he kept them safe. Do we look to God for protection, not just in the physical realm, but also in the spiritual realm?

Proverbs 6 - It isn’t wise to guarantee debt for someone. Laziness will destroy you. It is foolish to reject Godly advice. Immorality will ruin your life and your relationships.

Luke 14:25-35 - Following Jesus will result in life change, because to truly follow Jesus, you must let go of your old life completely. 

1 Timothy 4 - Instead of getting caught up in fruitless debate, we should focus on teaching the scriptures to people and encourage them to grow in their godliness.

Ezra 7 – Ezra was determined to study God's word so he could obey it and teach it to others. The reason many struggle to follow God is they have not given the effort to study God's word. God‘s favor was on Ezra, and the king, who was not a worshiper of the one true God, sent Ezra to Israel to offer sacrifices to God. God can use anyone to accomplish his purposes.

Proverbs 5 – Immorality will destroy your life. Stay away from the immoral woman and practice self control. Honor God by honoring your spouse.

Luke 14:15–24 – The Jews were told that the messiah was coming but when he came they didn’t believe in him. The gospel then went to all who would believe and respond in faith. God's desire is that the house will be full and our mission is to help bring others in.

1 Timothy 3:11–16 – How we live out our lives as followers should help people believe in the gospel.

Ezra 6 – God used a foreign king to help the Israelites complete the rebuilding of the temple. God often provides in ways we would never expect. Our job is to do what he tells us to do and trust him with the rest.

Proverbs 4 - Pursue wisdom and allow wisdom to determine the direction of your life. Decide where you want to go and use wisdom to determine the path that will take you there. Maintain a heart for God and protect it from the evil one using wisdom as your defense.

Luke 14:1–14 - The religious leaders brought this man with a deformed hand into the temple to see if Jesus would heal him. Jesus wanted them to understand that the law was never meant to keep us from acting in love. Live humbly and allow God to honor you if you wants to. Care for those who can’t pay you back. Selfless living is how we reflect God‘s love to others.

1 Timothy 3:1-10 - The leaders of the church are held to a higher standard of living to protect the integrity and ministry of the church.

Ezra 4–5 – The enemies of Judah and Benjamin resisted the rebuilding of the temple. They attempted to disrupt their work and even sent a letter to the king to get him to order the work to stop. When you are doing what God wants you to do, you should expect resistance. We have a real enemy who wants to prevent us from doing what God wants us to do. Stay focused on what God wants you to do and don’t give up.

Proverbs 3 – Wisdom is found when we seek God and trust him wholeheartedly with every part of our lives. God is the source of true wisdom.

Luke 13:22–35 - A better way to translate “work hard to enter“ is “there is a great cost to enter.“ The only way is through Jesus and he paid the price that no one could ever pay. Only those who enter through Jesus will be saved. Now is the time to be saved. Jesus‘s words then foreshadowed his death and he identifies himself as the Messiah by referring to one of the prophecies.

1 Timothy 2 - The way we conduct ourselves as a part of the church should help others know Jesus. The church should pray and intercede for people and there should be order in what is done.

Ezra 3 – The Israelites assembled in Jerusalem with the unified purpose of rebuilding the temple. When the foundation was complete, they took time to give God praise. We should take time regularly to recognize God‘s goodness in our lives and praise him for it.

Proverbs 2 - Continually seek wisdom. It will protect you, keep you on the right path, help you know what is right, just, and fair. Wise choices will keep you from destructive living. Wisdom will protect you from being led into destruction by the immoral woman.

Luke 13:10–21 – The religious leaders opposed Jesus healing on the Sabbath because they believed it was a violation of that holy day. Jesus healed anyway and pointed out that they took care of their animals on the Sabbath, so why would he not take care of a person in need. Jesus didn’t come to build religion but to build his kingdom through his love for people. Just as sin started with one man and spread to all, God’s kingdom came with Jesus and has been made available to all. 

1 Timothy 1:12-20 - God is the one who gives us strength to serve him. He rescued us so we could rescue others and he alone gets the praise. As we follow him we must listen to the Holy Spirit as he often uses our conscience to guide us.

Ezra 1–2 – God fulfilled the prophecy given through Jeremiah by causing King Cyrus of Persia to send the Israelites back to their land to build the temple. God can use even a godless king to carry out his plans.

Proverbs 1 – The purpose of the proverbs is to teach wisdom and discipline, give insights from the wise, help people live disciplined and successful lives, and help them do what is right, just, and fair. Fools despise wisdom and discipline. Greed will rob people of life.

Luke 13:1–9 – Tragedy happens because we live in a broken world full of evil. Following Jesus won’t keep us from experiencing tragedy, but it will keep us from perishing. Those who have repented should produce fruit or evidence of a changed life.

1 Timothy 1:1–11 – Don’t waste your time in Long meaningless discussions that don’t help people follow Jesus better. Teach God’s word in a way that helps people know the truth and how to apply it.