And You divided the sea before them,

so that

they went through 

     the midst of the sea

on dry land....

             Nehemiah 9. 11

(God leads in

     unexpected ways,

through unlikely places,

and on dry land in

 impossible situations).

...for they perceived 

that this work 

had been accomplished 

   with the help of our God.

                  Nehemiah 6. 16

(Live in such a way

         that He is seen,

not just in the extraordinary 

or in the seemingly impossible,

   but also in faithfulness 

    even in what would appear

             as ordinary.

God always somehow some way

bears fruit

       in what is selfless.

God is at work

               in you

and through you

     to bring Him glory

in incredible corners of this world).

So we built the wall,

and the wall was joined together

              to half its height.

For the people had 

         a mind to work.

                 Nehemiah 4. 6

(What has God set before me?

That which is proximate 

     enlarges and deepens my vision,

not what is way off in a distance.

Willingness in the ordinary,

faithful to Him right where I am,

                even in this,

is how God builds His kingdom.

There is nothing mundane

in God's economy,

nothing He cannot use

       in extraordinary ways).

                  

Now I was 

cupbearer to the king.

          Nehemiah 2. 1

(Where has God 

strategically placed you today

for His purposes 

    and for His glory?

Being faithful to Him.)

But I trust in You,

            O LORD,

I say,

   "You are my God."

My times are in Your hand.

                  Psalm 31. 14-15

(Even today.

Even in this mess 

or mystery 

    or deep water 

 where I cannot touch bottom.

God is already redeeming,

   not in spite of this,

       but through).

I will rejoice and be glad

     for Your steadfast love,

because You have seen my affliction,

you have taken heed

           of my adversities,

and have not delivered me

     into the hand of the enemy;

You have set my feet

            in a broad place.

                 Psalm 31. 7-8

(No matter where,

       or among whom,

nor level of scariness,

I am secure in Him.

My security is in the LORD,

    not in favorable circumstances).

Now after this....

                Ezra 7. 1

(That is how God leads us.

That is how we follow Him,

one step at a time,

into a deeper dimension 

            of knowing Him.

"Obey God

in the thing He shows you

and instantly 

the next thing is opened up."

         -- Oswald Chambers)