Challenged To The Core - Del Brixey

Sunday was a great day! One week after a fire chased us from our mountain community we received word that we could finally return home. Going home was almost like a scene from an old war movie. People were honking horns, flashing headlights and waving to the firefighters who were already beginning to leave the mountain. We were greeted by a couple along the highway who were holding a “Welcome Home” banner and waving to everyone as they drove into town. Signs of all types and sizes are all over the community expressing thanks to the men and women who bravely fought to save our homes. People who had very little in common before the fire are now talking like old friends because they have a shared experience.

However, there are two sides to every fire because not everyone has had the “same” experience. While victors experience the joy that their homes were saved, the victims experience the pain that their homes were destroyed. It creates an eerie silence that lurks in the background. Like the “elephant” in the room that no one will talk about; people with joy and people with pain find it hard to celebrate. The devastation around us is more than breath taking; it is heart breaking. The key to a successful recovery in any crisis is learning how to harness the power of the victor’s joy and the passion of the victim’s pain, to produce an “ACTION” that all can celebrate.

Attitude - “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." When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 1:3-4. Most of us don’t have a problem when it comes to having an “attitude”, but Nehemiah wanted to have the “right” attitude for the task he believed needed to be accomplished. He “mourned, fasted and prayed” for the attitude to begin the huge task of rebuilding. This “attitude” would carry him through all of the obstacles he would encounter along the way. What “attitude” do you need God to help you with?

Connections - “The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 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 fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." Nehemiah 2:4-5. Armed with the right “attitude” Nehemiah now needed the right “connections” to start his project. God answered his prayers by lining up all the “dots” long before Nehemiah knew what was going on. So when Nehemiah finally stepped out in faith he couldn’t miss. The dots where so close he could have used a fine point pen to connect them. The next time you need a “connection” just remember that God is way ahead of you preparing the way.

Timing - “I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem…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." Nehemiah 2:11-12, 17. It’s been said that “timing is everything”. When God plans something scripture usually says that it happens “in the fullness of time”. God wants all of the pieces of the puzzle to fall into place at just the right time. Too often we try to force “our timing” instead of waiting on “God’s timing”. When we look back at our life we can see that He had to teach us various principles or give us just the right experience to handle the situations we would face later in life. Are you having the “time” of your life or are you always wanting to live in the “past” or the “future”?

Inspiration - “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.” Nehemiah 2:18. When we have the right “Attitude, Connections, and Timing” God also gives us the inspiration to help bring others on board with the project. People are waiting for leaders to come along and inspire them. People want to live better lives, be better people or accomplish great things. Sometimes all they need is a little motivation. I want to encourage everyone I meet to be more, do more and enjoy more of what God has for them and in turn they will do the same for others. What “project” have you been ignoring? Get up, get out there and get going! God wants to bless your faithfulness…go!

Obstacles - “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?" Nehemiah 2:19. These individuals were a constant source of contention for Nehemiah while he was working on the project. Try to think of “obstacles” as “obvious” (ob-stac-les), “stacks of stuff” (ob-stac-les) that “let everyone see” (ob-stac-les) the importance of your project. Let them advance your position, bring light to an issue or increase your “tribe” of warriors. View them as “road signs” not “stop signs”. A road sign doesn’t tell you to stop, it just advises you of a way around an obstacle. When God calls you He will provide the wisdom (if we ask) to know if we need to go “over, under, around or through” an obstacle. After all, isn’t it God’s plan for your life?

Notice - “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.” Nehemiah 6:15-16. Notice that God is one who gets all the credit. When we are following His plan, it’s God who deserves all the glory because we are just the “instruments” or “tools” that He chooses to use. We get the satisfaction of doing what God has called us to do and the “rights and privileges” of being on the winning team. Isn’t that why sports fans wear all of their “teams” accessories (branded clothing or equipment)? They didn’t win themselves but they want to associate themselves with their winning team. So…whose team are you on, yours or God’s?

As you “check your pulse” this week continue to pray for the fire victims throughout California that have either been victors or victims. Consider your own life, think about any personal crisis you are facing or have faced in the past and then commit yourself to following God’s plan for your life so “that all can celebrate”.