Shalom,


Proverbs 28:1:


 1 THE WICKED flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion.


The wicked, those without God in this world, flee (as in terror) from all sorts of supposed calamities and things that they FEAR will come upon them! You've seen this for yourself if you have been paying attention to what is happening in the world around you! Why do they do this? Because they have no HOPE! They certainly can't call on the One they don't believe in! The righteous, on the other hand, step out and "own" their lives with a supernatural boldness that can only come from being filled with the Holy Spirit and meditating daily on God's Word - which IS Truth! Be THAT one! The world around you is counting on you!


Ephesians 6:8:


8 Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free. 


God repays! He will owe NO man! So continue to do those good and Godly things that bring blessings to others, and then stand back and watch the One True God bless your socks off! And then on again! AMEN!


Nehemiah 8:1-3:


1 THEN ALL the people gathered together as one man in the broad place before the Water Gate; and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first of the seventh month. 3 he read from it, facing the broad place before the Water Gate, from early morning until noon, in the presence of the men and women and those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.


Now THAT was no30 minute sermon! Would YOU be so attentive and appreciative if your Pastor stood to read the Word of God from early morning until noon? That IS the First Love! Let's get back to it! We are so blessed with the freedom we do still have in this nation to worship the Lord; read, study and meditate on the Word; and fellowship with like-minded believers around the Word! Let's not take it for granted! Verses 5-6:


5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above them; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with faces to the ground. 


The people stood up to acknowledge and respect the Word of God and His presence! Then they worshiped God because of the Word! How do YOU respect and honor the WORD of the LIVING God?


Shalom in Him!