Perfectly Imperfect Together

Jesus' very first miracle took place at a wedding. Jesus is returning and it will be the biggest celebration of all time as He returns for His Capital "C" Church Bride. It's "now" time to drink from the very best - Jesus. The things of the world will never compare to what Jesus will bring us to - for all eternity. (John 2:1-12)

In Esther 5, after 3 full days of fasting and praying as a nation, Esther moves forward into action. She risks everything and stood in the courtyard before the king. He invites her in and she arranges for a back to back banquet with her, the king, and Haman. In doing so, God is setting up the perfect timing, the perfect place, in the perfect way, and with the perfect audience that He needs for His...

In Esther 4, Mordecai takes action. The entire nation is about to be killed due to the death decree issued. Esther has no clue any of this is happening. He succeeds in getting her attention and gets a message to her. He reminds her that her life is not safe just because of where she lives. She needs to be all in for God because God placed her in this position for this exact moment. Revival breaks...

In Esther 3, we see that Haman - who is completely evil - is given authority in the kingdom that he doesn't deserve. He uses that authority to try to wipe out the entire Jewish nation. He lies to the king and ends up getting a decree of death approved for all the Jews in the kingdom and it would all happen in 1 day just short of a year away. God has everything in place He needs to save the nat...

In Esther 2, God is getting everyone set in the exact positions He needs them to be in for His perfect plan to unfold to save the Jewish nation from extermination. God's sovereign hand is at work behind all the elements unfolding. Esther is crowned as queen, Mordecai is placed in an official role at the king's gate, and a plan to assassinate the king is revealed to the king by Mordecai - w...

John 3:16 tells us if you believe in Jesus, you will be saved for all eternity. James 2:19 tells us even the demons believe. The original Greek words used for believe are different in these two passages. So what does it look like to have the kind of belief that saves you for all eternity? Let's take a look....

In Esther 1, God sets everything into place for His mighty and sovereign plan to save the Jewish nation. The king is filled with pride and wealth and likes to show off his great wealth with banquets in the kingdom thus feeding his pride even further. He is having a merry old time enjoying all the food and drink at the banquet and gets too full of himself by asking his queen to come stand before al...

Matthew 21:33-46 God chose Israel and Jesus came and flipped the tables making it possible for each and every one of us to choose Him. God made a way for us to be united with Him. Jesus' death paid for our sins and His resurrection proved death has been defeated. He desperately wants each of us to turn from our "selves" and choose Him - the Cornerstone - and live with Him, in Him, an...

In Nehemiah 13, Nehemiah had returned to his duties as the king's cupbearer and after about a year, went back to check on the people in Jerusalem. He found the enemy was living in the Temple of God, they had compromised with the enemy and stopped worshiping God. They stopped taking care of God's Temple, they stopped honoring the Sabbath, and they gave the enemy a wide open door to the city...

In Nehemiah 12, the wall is finished and complete so the people dedicate God's wall to Him. They joyously gather in praise and worship to God. The enemy said the wall wouldn't hold a fox, but now the people of the nation stand on the wall singing praise and worship to God so exuberantly that it can be heard from afar. They give God all the glory for the completed project and in doing so, o...

In Nehemiah 10 & 11, revival has broken out in the nation. The Word is being read for hours as people stand with wide open hearts hearing and pouring through every Word. Hours of repentance and worship follow the reading of God's Word. It doesn't end there. The people don't just say "Amen", shut the door, and go on with their lives. They are wholeheartedly All In! They ma...

In Nehemiah 9, revival continues to pour out through the nation as people stand before God's Word for hours and then repent and worship Him for several more hours. A passionate love of God and an outpouring of acknowledgement of His goodness, His greatness, His love, His mercy, His faithfulness, His power, and His devotion and care for His children is evident in the written prayer of His peopl...

The Pharisee vs the Tax Collector. Things are not always as they seem or as society tends to believe. Jesus is concerned about our hearts, not our social status.

In Nehemiah 7 & 8, the walls are now built and the gates are restored, but Nehemiah's work had only just begun. A city isn't walls, gates, and houses - a city is people. The people existed for the walls in the first step of the mission, now the walls must exist for the people. It was time to organize the community. At the Water Gate, Nehemiah calls on Ezra to read the Word of God. The...

In Nehemiah 6, Nehemiah continues to face opposition from the enemy as the enemy tries to personally attack and discredit him. Nehemiah doesn't waiver from the mission God placed before Him. He remains mission minded. Every attack that comes is given to God in prayer and brought to the Word of God. Nehemiah knows the Word, so He knows when false prophets or deceit is trying to whittle its way...

Our prayers are a sweet aroma to our Father. They fill the golden bowls and join in the 100s of millions of the heavens in worship to God. They rise to Him and encompass His glorious presence right at His Throne. Don't. Stop. Praying.

In Nehemiah 5, the people of Jerusalem bring Nehemiah a serious issue that has been going on in their nation. There was a great famine in the land and people were forced to sell their property, homes, and even their children to survive. Their fellow brothers and sisters in the nation who were wealthy were using the crisis to exploit their brothers and sisters by charging impossible interest to any...

In Nehemiah 4, the enemy steps in to try to stop God's plan - God's mission. He has since day 1 and he will not quit. When God is moving and you are stepping faithfully forward in Him, expect opposition - be ready for it. Just as Nehemiah and the builders never took their clothes off and never took their swords off, we too are to keep the Armor of God on at all times. Nehemiah didn't a...

When our Father sees us coming home to Him, He rejoices, He runs to greet us - He celebrates us, heart and soul. He is overwhelmed with love and compassion for each and every one of us. Nothing under the cosmos is too big for Him to forgive. It's already been forgiven - all of it. He's just waiting for us to realize His massive love and kindness and come home. He's arms are wide open w...

In Nehemiah 3, the mission is moving. God's people are working and the wall is being built and the gates repaired. It was all done for God's great glory. Everyone had a different part and piece in the project and everyone did their part. The gates being repaired are all noted, beginning and ending with the Sheep Gate. Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world an...

In Nehemiah 2, we see that one person can make a big difference in this world and communities if we are willing to know God and really trust Him, His Word, and His lead. Faith makes all the difference in our world to the glory of God. Nehemiah had the faith to wait on God and His perfect timing before moving into the mission God was stirring in his heart. When the opportunity came, he had the fait...

In Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah picks up where Ezra left off. They are buddies in the mission of Jerusalem's restoration. He cared enough to ask how God's remnant are doing and found heard the dreaded report that all was not well. They were suffering greatly. He cared enough to mourn this news deeply and cries out to God in fasting and prayer for God's people - because he cared. God put him in...

In Ezra 9 & 10, Ezra learns the devastating news that the remnant who returned to Jerusalem have intermarried with the pagan nations around them which would allow false god and false idol worship to seep in. It would also mean the priesthood of the nation was no longer pure. The news of this great sin devastated Ezra. Sin should devastate us. Nothing good comes from sin. Ezra cries out to God...

In Ezra 7 & 8, Ezra arrives to Jerusalem with the hand of God on him as well as the mission God put before him. God even stirred the kings heart to send a letter with Ezra giving him permission to move forth in the mission and provided all that was needed in materials and workers to ensure the mission is completed. Ezra was humble, obedient and faithfully lived out the Word of God in his life....

Every person is created by God and God has a purpose and plan for every person He gives life to. When we see people how God sees them, loved and cherished and created by Him, we can also see the love they deserve. Regardless of any of our differences, every person belongs to God and deserves mercy, grace, and love.