Lynna Clark

By Lynna Clark

I had a gut feeling my time on earth was up. I wasn’t even sick, just scheduled for surgery on the thyroid. But our oldest daughter was given a plane ticket here by some friends at her church so she could be with me. She’s a pastor’s wife in the mid-west, and seldom gets to come. What if God were preparing for the worst? Then I was at the dollar store with my buddy Sue, and kicked over a stack of buckets. It’s one thing to kick THE bucket. What does it mean to kick over a whole stack? On hands and knees, gathering buckets, I knocked over a display of Halloween tombstones. Not a good sign. Everything pointed to impending doom. Better write kind things about my children and spouse in my Bible in case anyone looks in there when I’m gone. When I spoke to my friend about my reservations regarding the upcoming surgery, she commented, “It’s one thing to let those birds fly over your head. Just don’t let them build a nest in your hair.”

Southern wisdom at its finest.

Circumstances cannot be ignored. They are a part of life, just like people. It’s how we react to them that mark our lives. Nehemiah 4 tells of the mockers and scoffers. It is no fun to be laughed at. Verse 4 records the reaction of Nehemiah to those who laughed and scoffed. He prayed. “Hear us, O our God, for we are being mocked…. Do not ignore their guilt….. They have provoked You to anger here in the presence of the builders.” Nehemiah believed, and I do too, that God takes it personally when His loved ones, those who are trying to build a work, are ridiculed.
Verse 6 says “…for they had worked very hard.” If you are working as hard as you know how to honor the Lord, and you hear ridicule, or even just criticism about your work, remember this: that voice is not the voice of Christ.
Verse seven says the opposition planned to “bring about confusion there.” Satan loves to bring about confusion, and he really loves to do that through those close to us. Right after the famous love chapter, 1 Corinthians 14 says in verse 33, “God is not the author of confusion,” or disorder. This verse is tucked away in the instruction about how to handle church members who all want to talk at once. Sounds like God knows us pretty well.
So today, or tomorrow, or some other day, when you hear the ridicule, plan to recognize that voice. It is not the voice of God. His voice says, “Fear not, for I am with you.” His voice reminds us, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” His strong voice whispers the words of Nehemiah 4:14, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, Who is great and glorious, and fight for your friends, your families, and your homes!” That is the wonderful prize of church done well; Friends, families, and homes, loving and living for Him.
Today, the prayer is for victory in the battle against discouragement, circumstances, and yes, even for those close to the situation who tear down the walls. Stick your fingers in your ears and sing “Jesus Loves Me” if you must. Just stay strong and pay attention to who you listen too. May His voice be loud and clear! And may you live to tell about it!

More: Exodus 14:13,14; Hebrews 13:5-8

By Lynna Clark

Did I mention that I had surgery? Wanta see my scar? Yesterday marked a week after the main event and I decided to celebrate by going to Lowe’s. Suddenly, after being cooped up a while during beautiful weather, mulch sounded very exciting. Shortly after arriving, I had a near death experience in the restroom. I had to be air lifted back home… or was that a plant cart hauling me back to the truck? I really need a sarcasm font. All I know is that the strength I was so sure of was quickly sapped and replaced with near panic.

Nehemiah 4 continues the story of the workers, their frustration, weariness, fear, and overall lack of strength. There’s a lot to love about Scripture. One thing I love is that it doesn’t gloss over reality. These people had worked until they were too tired to think. Then they got wind that they may be attacked, and not just in a verbally abusive kind of way. They literally had to have tools in one belt and weapons in the other. Can you imagine? We helped our youngest daughter and her husband some as they built their house. I cannot even think of how weary we would’ve been if we not only had this huge project in front of us, but also had to be on the lookout for angry neighbors who might take a shot at us. [Not to mention how bad we all needed baths.]

Verses 21-23 finishes the chapter by saying they “worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset….“ Always on guard; and none of them ever took off their clothes. Don’t you know those were some nasty weary Hebrews?
So on to the prayer for today.

Dear Lord of Heaven, thank You for understanding the reality of where we live. You know we get tired. Strengthen us against weariness. Strengthen us to do Your work. Strengthen us with wisdom to know what is worth putting every effort into, and what is worth giving up, so that we are not spread too thin. Protect our families. Help us never give up these loved ones You have so sweetly blessed us with, in order to meet the expectations of others. Remind us often of what is important to You. Give us clear thinking and strength to honor You. Help us do everything we can, but nothing we shouldn’t. And make our efforts successful!

More: Galatians 6:4-10 Psalm 90:15-17

By Lynna Clark

Chapter 5 of Nehemiah tells the plight of those in debt so heavy that they had to sell their children. Let that thought sink in a little. Can you fathom selling your own children? I can’t imagine ever being so desperate, although I’ve met some children that would make that option attractive.

These poor folks were working as hard as they could, with no end in sight, no hope, no future. We think our economy is bad. I am certainly not making light of where you are. Our family has been through some stuff. All the Larry Burkett and Dave Ramsey courses in the world could not rescue us from financial trials when God is in them. Sometimes we have to come to the end of our own plans in order to recognize that the Lord really does know what is best for our family, including our finances.

The gist of the story in chapter 5 is that the uptown crowd continued to make more than they needed off those who were already poor. Nehemiah appealed to them to do right by their neighbors by reaching out and giving them a hand. Has anyone ever done that for you? It happens to us all the time. God reaches down and takes care of all we need day after day. Many times it is through the generosity of our brothers and sisters in Christ. And you know what it makes us want? We want to give, give, give! Suddenly there is nothing out there more important than what God wants us to invest in. No house, no toy, nothing. What joy! So the prayer for today is that each of us will be wise financially, and that even our finances will be used to the very best for His glory.

Dear God please strengthen us with true Godly wisdom, as in what can we do to honor You with our gifts. Help us to say with King David, when he was looking for a place to build an altar, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord, that which costs me nothing.” -2 Sam. 24:24

Help us take an honest look at all the stuff we have, and see it the exact same way You do. Then we can say with Jesus, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done!”

More: 1 Timothy 6:17-19

By Lynna Clark

Now that our hearts are giving, it’s okay to ask God for a blessing. It’s a beautiful cycle giving, receiving, blessing and being blessed until it’s hard to tell which is which. We bless our community with what we can to meet their needs. They are encouraged and in turn give back to the church. We are enabled by those gifts to reach more and the blessings continue. Wouldn’t you hate to miss all that? Galatians 6:2-10 sums it up by saying, “Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.” [Come on Paul. Don’t hold back. Tell us how you really feel.]

“Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else; for we are each responsible for our own conduct. Those who are taught the Word of God should help their teachers by paying them. Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death.” [Designer shoes are looking pretty worthless right about here.]

“But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.”

WOW! Did you hear all that? Or did you revert to some sermon you heard years ago that caused you to think the Lord is waiting on you to mess up so He can take your stuff? Look at the part where we reap a “harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” Sounds bountiful! Sounds like a big ol’ cornucopia [thank the Lord for spell check] spilling out blessings we cannot even begin to ask for! Some basic principles of sowing and reaping are:

1. We always reap the same thing we sow
2. We always reap later than we sow
3. We always reap more than we sow

Easy illustration: You plant corn, you get corn. You get it later and you get more than the few kernels you dropped in the dirt. In ministry it works the same. Plant; receive; harvest; increase.

Prayer for today: Let’s ask the Lord of the harvest to bless our sowing and multiply our reaping. We can plant and we can water, but only God gives the increase. Now watch out! Fire up those John Deere and get ready for the bounty. The barns are about to explode!

More: Ephesians 6:6 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

“Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.” –Nehemiah 5:19

By Lynna Clark

Have you ever wished for Cliff Notes of the Bible? Like yesterday when I gave you all that Scripture and you started hearing, “Blah blah blah designer shoes blah blah …” Well, here ya go.

I came across a passage that sums it all up. In Matthew 22: 34-40, Jesus is being questioned by the religious experts of the day. These guys were careful to obey the details of the law down to the length of their sleeves. Trying to trick Him, they asked what He considered to be THE most important law. His reply is well known, but not well practiced. “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important. Love your neighbor as yourself.” Then He says it.

“All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” So here’s the scoop. If we get those two things right, all the other stuff falls into place. The God of details gives us an easy button. Well, at least He narrowed it down to two things. So should I take that job? Can I fulfill Christ’s royal law of love there? No? Then the money is not worth it. Should I work in the yard today? Will I in any way defeat the goal of loving God and loving people? No? Then go for it.

Just a little jump off the Nehemiah bus for today. Because if we bear down on these two things, Christ says we’re good to go. Love God. Love people. And it’s also amazing that He places loving others “equally important” as loving Himself!! Knowing that He is a jealous God and wants us to love Him with every ounce of our being, makes that statement even more astounding!

Can I be real with you? Loving Him and loving people is certainly harder some days than others. I bet you already knew that. Here’s what I prayed. You fill in the blanks where you have been.

Strengthen me Lord to love You so much that I never doubt You again. When people hurt me and You are silent, help me rest in Your Word and believe You when You tell me You love me. When we both lose our jobs, both cars break down, the house has a tax lien, and medical bills mount up, [summer of 1990] help me remember that You love me. When I blow my cool and bless out the person I feel to be responsible for our job loss; when I slam the door so hard the windows are still rattling, [also summer of 1990] help me to know that You still love me. When I lose my strong and beautiful mother because she gets an illness that is so rare that only 3 in one million in the U.S. get it [winter of 2004]; When my very first grandson dies before I hold him in my arms, [summer of 2010] help me to rest in the fact that You love me. And when we come out on the other side of heartache with a stronger understanding of Your great love, help us use that understanding to love people better. Everyone is going through something. Strengthen me, and all of us today, to lighten someone’s load just a little; Because You love me while I am most definitely unlovable.
More: Ephesians 3:14-21; Romans 8:31-39; Matthew 22:34-40

By Lynna Cark

There’s a trap set for you. I don’t know what that looks like in your world. In Nehemiah’s it was set for him in the valley of Ono. I’m guessing that’s pronounced, “Oh NO!” Wouldn’t it be cool if everything were labeled by descriptive words, so we knew what we were getting into? “Hey honey. Wanta buy that house on Money Pit Lane, or the one over in Rainbow Valley?” or “Let’s try a vacation at the Shark Pit Villas.” “Where you wanta eat tonight?” “Oh I don’t know, maybe that new place, Hurler’s Grill.”

Somehow Nehemiah knew the invitation would not turn out well. So he stalled. He was even diplomatic. But they persisted. Finally he responded in a voice much like the witch in Princess Bride… “LIAR!!” I love that line. We use it often at family functions. Princess Bride is so deep… so quotable.

Nehemiah called them out as the liars they were and watched his back [and most surely his front as well.] Verse Nine gives the goal of his enemy and ours too. “They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining they could break our resolve and stop the work.” Next line holds the key to his success and ours. “So I prayed for strength to continue the work.”

Today, name your trap. It could be anger, past hurt, secret sin, or something as simple as mine, which is fear. I actually had to go to counseling to figure that out. When I finally named my crippling fear for the sinful choice that it is, my life changed. Now that I recognize the trap, my thought patterns are more deliberately opposite of fear. Do that for yourself, for your family, for the God you love. Name the trap that Satan, uses to hold you captive. Is it pride, criticism, or something you don’t even recognize? I know it took me a long time to realize what was holding me back. Ask the Lord for help. Then pray for strength to continue the work.

God has big plans for His church. Everyone has something to give. I really believe it all starts with prayer. He seems to emphasize that a lot. So let’s do it His way, realizing we cannot accomplish anything without His blessing. So look that old devil in the eye and call him the liar he is the next time he whispers that you don’t matter. Because God really does want to complete His work in you and use you for His glory!

Today Lord, reveal the trap set for me. Give me wisdom to recognize what holds me back. Then strengthen me to avoid anything that would hinder Your plan. Give me strength in You.

More: Philippians 1:6; Romans 12:1,2; Hebrews 12:1,2

By Lynna Clark

Nehemiah 8:13 tells us that the spiritual leaders and the family leaders got together to go over God’s Word in greater detail, kinda like life group but without the pizza. While studying, they discovered that the Lord had introduced a special family time of camping out. They were to go up in the hills, and drag back some branches. They are told what kinds of trees to take from. Then they were to make these into shelters for their families to live in the great outdoors for a whole week each year; sort of a stick house that would be built on top of the flat roof of their regular house. This was to remind them of years ago when God delivered their ancestors from slavery in Egypt, and they made temporary homes. So I’m guessing they would sit with the children, in their homemade shelters, maybe watching the sunset or stars and telling the story of their relatives. Who knew that God is the Inventor of Staycation?

I can imagine that their children were much like ours saying, “Tell us the part about the frogs! Eewwww! Where is Egypt anyway? Tell us the part about the death angel! Tell us about the Red Sea opening up and the walls of water they walked between. Could they see the fishes?”

Do our children know where we came from? Do they know any stories of miracles God has done in our lives? Do they ever say, “Tell us about the time we had no money for school clothes and God brought the lady by with the bag of clothes that fit us just right!” “Tell us about the time you and mommy prayed for food in college and someone left a meal on your doorstep.” “Remember the time we locked our keys in the car and the policeman stopped to help us?”

Intentional thankful remembering; God is very honored by it. It helps us recall what He’s brought us through. It gives us hope that the future will be just fine, because He is in it.

Today, think of some things God has brought you & your family through. Maybe take a little time to talk about how the Lord has blessed you. The next time you bring a need to the Lord, write it in your Bible and put the date beside it. You’ll be surprised at all you recall next year at this time. His care is worth remembering!

Lord, strengthen us today to remember and rejoice in You. Thank you for all You’ve done, and all You are about to do through us and our beloved church. Forgive us for forgetting. Help us be more intentional about remembering. Remind us to say “Thank You!” to You and to those around us often, because it is important to You.

More: Nehemiah 9- The people recount their deliverance from Egypt

Psalm 103:2 “Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things He does for me!”

Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to Him by caring for other Christians, as you still do.”

By Lynna Clark

So, what’s your story? Where have you been? When was the first time you realized that you couldn’t be good enough to earn Heaven? Who helped you understand that you needed a Savior, Someone to cover the unsightly details of your life when you stand before a holy God?

Let me give you a little peek into my story. I was brought up in church, but didn’t get the whole “You need a Savior” business. I figured I was decent enough. Once when we were headed home from church, we passed the Baptist parking lot. They were gettin’ outa Dodge, and we nearly got run over. My dad said, with his dry humor, “You have ta watch out for them Baptist. They think they know where they’re going when they die!” I never dreamed it was true. Who could know such a thing?

One night, my boyfriend asked me to a youth meeting at a friend’s home. Lame, I thought. Oh well, there’s nothing better to do on a Thursday night. So sitting on a carpet square, singing “Give me unction in my gumption, let me function, function, function,” and … all together now, “Give me wax on my board, keep me surfin’ for the Lord…”, I understood for the first time that I actually needed Jesus to stand for me before His holy Father. The youth pastor, with a gentleness I had never heard, explained 1st John 5:13, and I knew for the first time that I could know… just because I asked Him to save me. So I did. While guitars played, and some dude thumped a cord hooked to a pole on a washtub, I raised my hand to say that, yes, I am trusting. I want to be Yours dear Lord. And with that, I became his daughter forever.

Thank the good Lord, my then boyfriend, later became my now husband, and we have skipped happily through life together ever since! … Well except for the skipping part. So anyway, are you willing to tell your story? Someone needs to hear it. The section in Nehemiah we covered yesterday gave a few stories in all those numbers. That’s the interesting part. You have a story and you are loved. The Lord is honored when we tell what He has brought us through. And, it helps us know He will get us through whatever comes next, because we are His. Consider telling or writing your story this week. You’ll be surprised how it will help you speak to others about the Lord. Today, ask the Lord how to use your unique background to praise Him.

Lord, strengthen me to be honest about my past. I bring my hurts, and victories, to You, and ask You to turn them into praise. Strengthen me to continue my story for Your glory.

More: 1 John 5:13; John 20:31; Titus 3:5,6

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” –Psalm 107:1 KJV

“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will give us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are!” -Romans 8:18,19

By Lynna Clark

Yesterday we talked about God giving us ideas. Today let’s look at Nehemiah 7: 5 -73. The idea that God gave him was to make a list. Lists are great! I love lists. They help keep me on task. They remind me of what’s important. Lists are our friends.

The list in this passage is a list of families. It is also a record of how many men were returned from exile. Listed are those from the family of Beth-azmaveth with a mere 42, to the clan of Pahath-moab, with 2,818 [I bet they drew names at Hanukkah instead of buying gifts for everyone; cause you know you have to cut back somewhere]. Looks like God is interested in numbers. Maybe it’s because each number is a person; and each person has a story; and each story needs to be told; because each life has a purpose.

Numbers matter. When I get my checking statement, I tear it open to see if we have won “Beat the Bank” this month. Just kidding. We can’t play that anymore since we have entered the age of suck that money out of your account as soon as you swipe the card. Yep. Numbers determine if we get to swipe our card some more… or not.

In our family, on my husband’s side, there are 41 in the immediate family. Most of us eat lunch together every other Sunday. And a bunch of these bring girlfriends and boyfriends. I look up sometimes and think, “Do I know you?” My beloved mother-in-law has hosted lunch like this for longer than the 40 years I’ve been in the family. When they line up to fix plates, she says without fail, “Here comes the thundering herd!” When you’re preparing lunch, numbers matter. In fact, I can’t think of a place where numbers don’t matter, especially when they represent people.

Prayer for today: Lord God, the One Who shows us continually that You love details, bless our church with numbers. Not just bodies in chairs. Please bless our church with more salvations and more souls committed to serving and loving You. And as our numbers grow, strengthen each of us to take care of the ones You bring to us. Help no one fall through the cracks unloved and unnoticed. Because You love every single soul.
More: Acts 2:41-47; Matthew 10: 30,31; Matthew 18:12-14

By Lynna Clark

My husband’s mom is one of the sweetest, funniest, most determined people I have ever met. When her son & I married, she hugged me and called me her “other daughter,” stating matter of fact, that “daughter-in-law” was not a term that fit our relationship. How kind. And she has never treated me less than her very own daughter. Her hugs are like those of her son. She wraps me in her arms and locks down so tightly that I am left breathless; partly because I am overwhelmed with being loved so much, and partly because she is squeezing the life out of me. How rare are hugs like that?

We were in the family car between the funeral home and the cemetery on the way to bury her husband. As we drove by the Krispy Kreme, she noticed the “HOT NOW” light was on. She suggested to the driver that we lead the funeral procession through the drive through. There was no disrespect to her husband of over 50 years. He was certainly used to her off-beat humor. It was her way of making us feel better.

Did I mention that she is stubborn? That is actually an understatement. Because she is in her eighties, we worry that she will do something that will hurt herself, since she doesn’t know she is too old to climb in the attic or down into the creek. She has at least enough wisdom to ask someone to come “watch her” while she puts a ladder on the creek bank so she can climb back up after situating the rocks so that water won’t pool. One spring, her son asked her several times not to climb her rickety attic stairs to retrieve seasonal items. We noticed one day, that Easter had been taken up, and summer was upon us in the decorating sense. So he went over while she was gone and put screws into the attic door so that she could not get the steps down. On the string hanging from the door, he attached a note saying, “Pull all you want. They are not coming down. Call me if you need something.” He is a lot like his mom.

She told us one day, that her favorite word in life is steadfast. She says in that word is expressed all she strives to be. And yes she is, steadfast. Throughout her life of 86 years so far, she has always been faithful, steady, strong, loving, but unwavering on the things that matter. And funny trumps stubborn any day! She goes to a contemporary church on Saturday night. If the band is especially good, they get the OK sign with a little wink that says, “Well done!” Then on Sunday mornings, she attends her traditional church and enjoys their fine choir. She loves both. I respect so much that she is wise enough to understand that we are not in competition. And she never lets age, or the opinions of others hold her back!

You may feel that because of your age, you do not have anything to give. YES YOU DO! YOU MATTER TO THE BODY OF CHRIST! Put your unique background, experience, and expertise to work for Him! And again, someone really needs to hear your story!

Lord, help us look at people like You do, each one having great worth, no matter their stage in life. Help us, no matter our age, health, or background, to realize that You have a job for us to do. Strengthen us to be steadfast, and to faithfully carry out our part in Your great plan!

More: Psalm 92:14; Job 42:12; Isaiah 46:4; Jeremiah 29:11

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV- “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

PS: Our beloved Nina remained steadfast until she walked right into the arms of her Savior. Though she is no longer my neighbor, I will always think of her as one of my favorite people. She taught me so much about life and love. I miss her every day.