JANUARY 8

“Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace” - Nehemiah 2:17

When Nehemiah rallied God's people to take on the challenge of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, for them it was a new start, and a new challenge, and the hand of God was upon them. Our lives in this 21^st century are also a challenge – challenges which keep on coming. But one thing I have learned over the years is that it's better to start over, then to give up – there's great value in a fresh start. Maybe that's what New Year resolutions are all about – a desire to put the past failures of the old year behind us, and step 'brand new' into the year ahead.

Past American Presidents have been known to make the resolution to get their strength for the year ahead of them from the Bible....such as -

Ralph Waldo Emerson, who wrote, “What lies behind you and what lies before you, pales in comparison to what lies inside you.” If you read the Bible, it will change your life, and you will never regret it.

John Adams, the second president of the United States, read the entire Bible every year. He studied the Scriptures every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Regularly reading the Bible shaped his character, and his character shaped our country.

Andrew Jackson, our seventh president, referred to the Bible as “the rock on which our Republic rests.” He read three to five chapters each day. Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, called the Bible “the best gift God has ever given to man … But for it we could not know right from wrong.”

Woodrow Wilson, our 28th president, said, “The Bible is the Word of life. I beg that you will read it and find this out for yourself. When you have read the Bible you will know it is the Word of God, because you will have found in it the key to your own heart, your own happiness, and your own duty.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 34th president, and his family used the Bible each day during family devotions, with each family member taking his or her turn in reading a passage. Jimmy Carter, our 39th president, reads the Bible daily and has taught a Sunday school class for over four decades.

Ronald Reagan, the 40th president, wrote, “Inside the Bible’s pages lie all the answers to all the problems man has ever known. I hope Americans will read and study the Bible … It is my firm belief that the enduring values presented in its pages have a great meaning for each of us and for our nation. The Bible can touch our hearts, order our minds, and refresh our souls.” (Fox News)

These are just three of the many Bible characters who also made resolutions -

Jacob’s Resolution to Give His Tithe (Gen. 28:22)

David’s Resolutions concerning God’s Word (Psalms 119:15-16)

Daniel’s Resolution concerning a clean life (Daniel 1:8)

But, what about you? Did you make a resolution to either build or rebuild a wall or two? What happened to last year's resolutions? If you would like to share, email the best - or worst - to me, and if you are willing, a selection could form a future blog.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” - Theodore Roosevelt

Today's music is sung by Fountainview Abbey - “Create in me a Clean Heart”  Click on the picture to listen.

       

     Housekeeping details for you

     The point of this short blog will become clear if you decide to use this reading in the way we intend it. Netherfield Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in healthy churches. You can see what that means if you head to the relevant Healthy Churches page of the website. We also want other churches to be healthy. That means you can join in our campaign to create healthy churches, with healthy people serving the people in those churches.

     A healthy church is one where Jesus comes first. A healthy church is one where the people work together to put Jesus first. One thing we are doing is to join people together to spread that news. I would like you to look at our prayer partners page. This will explain how we want you to use this short devotional. Very basically we want you to find a like-minded Christian friend who you will join with to : choose to pray together every day, decide together on a way to serve other people together, to help them grow as Christians - and to invite the Holy Spirit into your life every day. This blog that you will receive every day simply gives a common spiritual purpose. If you are a newcomer and want to join the blog with this object in mind click here