Ezra 3 & Daily Bread Reading List for next 5 days- see below the reading

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.

See Below for DB Reading List of next 5 days….

Ezra 3

1 In the seventh month, after the Israelites were settled in their home- towns, they met together in Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests joined Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and began to build the altar of the God of Israel where they could offer burnt offerings, just as it is written in the Teachings of Moses, the man of God. 3 Even though they were afraid of the people living around them, they built the altar where it had been before. And they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord morning and evening. 4 Then, to obey what was written, they celebrated the Feast of Shelters. They offered the right number of sacrifices for each day of the festival. 5 After the Feast of Shelters, they had regular sacrifices every day, as well as sacrifices for the New Moon and all the festivals commanded by the Lord. Also there were special offerings brought as gifts to the Lord. 6 On the first day of the seventh month they began to bring burnt offerings to the Lord, but the foundation of the Lord's Temple had not yet been laid. 7 Then they gave money to the bricklayers and carpenters. They also gave food, wine, and oil to the cities of Sidon and Tyre so they would float cedar logs from Lebanon to the seacoast town of Joppa. Cyrus king of Persia had given permission for this.
8 In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the Temple of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, their fellow priests and Levites, and all who had returned from captivity to Jerusalem began to work. They chose Levites twenty years old and older to be in charge of the building of the Temple of the Lord. 9 These men were in charge of the work of building the Temple of God: Jeshua and his sons and brothers; Kadmiel and his sons who were the descendants of Hodaviah; and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers. They were all Levites. 10 The builders finished laying the foundation of the Temple of the Lord. Then the priests, dressed in their robes, stood with their trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, stood with their cymbals. They all took their places and praised the Lord just as David king of Israel had said to do. 11 With praise and thanksgiving, they sang to the Lord: "He is good; his love for Israel continues forever." And then all the people shouted loudly, "Praise the Lord! The foundation of his Temple has been laid." 12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and family leaders who had seen the first Temple cried when they saw the foundation of this Temple. Most of the other people were shouting with joy. 13 The people made so much noise it could be heard far away, and no one could tell the difference between the joyful shouting and the sad crying.
New Century Version

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
When the fix was had, when things were well at home - spiritually speaking (not perfect, but well into in the seeking, finding, being made whole state) THEN they who sought after Him met together, took who they were and who they we seeking after so diligently and joined their priorities together for God’s corporate Kingdom to come on earth.
They were of the mind, heart, and attitude to work on that. Self centeredness was dealt with and God centeredness was made to be the main focus. Outward things did not dictate their dedication to the work of the Lord. Yes, it was hard work. Yes it was not easy, nothing really worth having is. Even pure gold must be fired hot and tried to be made pure.
They were of the corporate mind to go after God’s work and set it back up, wherever it was broken down, to repair that, not just be involved only in self repair, but after the repair God’s dream and plan.
They offered the proper amount of sacrifices each day, not just once or twice a week…..Prayer, Daily Bread reading and studying, loving God and people work, and outreach; all on a day to day basis. They changed their whole lives for this. No, maybe they didn’t go to movies as much, or go be entertained or shop till they dropped as much if any; and maybe they didn’t go out on the boat as much as they used toor do as many personally fulfilling things. They are personally fulfilled, but that is secondary, for they are responding to a new set of priorities. There was a need to spend that time on preparation for the work of His heart. Maybe they were more interested in Kingdom work now, His building project, which more involves seeking to be a great example to people than of working for and seeking for more things. Sacrifices, yes, but gladly given with great longing to be more and more as He is.
The giving part, this is another expression of love. Its deep meaning- giving of life and time, for it takes a life’s time to obtain something to give away. Its symbolism is, I give the thing that is needed, but inside of my gift is a part of me. I give me. A part of me away for the work He deems He wants done. It is another form of response and of sacrifice.
Someone has to be in charge. Do you ever like to submit to whoever God has put “in charge” over you? Will you lay down your own opinions for the sacrifice of unity, following another man’s way of doing it? Or do you get stuck in the mud becoming immoveable merely based on a difference of opinion of the manner in which something should be accomplished? Have you allowed the work of God to cease for this type of hindrance?
Is our love becoming like God’s love on purpose? Is our love (for one person and for all persons) eternal and long-lived, does it endure, yield, continue without condition, give, and work hard for others? This is how the love of God behaves. We can change, we can learn the love of God, become the love of God, for Love is a decision, not a feeling. Feelings change and are temporary. The Love of God endures forever.

Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”

Daily Bread reading while Lena’s away -
Thursday 11-30-06 1 Cor 11
Friday 12-1-06 Judges 6
Saturday 12-2-06 Judges 7
Sunday 12-3-06 Proverbs 11
Monday 12-4-06 Romans 12
Tuesday 12-5-06 John 8