I've got that Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart

When we think of the differences or characteristics of men and women, the list goes something like this WOMEN Rounded frame Smaller stature Outer Beauty MEN Squarish frame Larger stature Outer STRENGTH

But where do we ultimately get our strength !!! "o understand lets read a#out one of the strongest men in history Judges 13: !" #, 1!:#"$, 1!:1%"1&, 1#:1!"1$ So, Samson$s strength was not tied u% in his hair! Where did it originate from "his understanding works for true #elie&ers in 'hrist, howe&er we are called to #e s%iritual leaders in our own li&es, those of our families, our community and the world! (nfortunately, there is sin in the world, our churches, our relati&es and our own li&es! What can we do )or this we need to follow the story of Nehemiah! *t #egins with Nehemiah 1: "$! So what is our first ste% + 'hroni()es *:1!, Once released, we do what +according to Neh :11"1$, "his task is accom%lished in secret +at night,!!! why So, the %eo%les of -erusalem #egan to fi. the gates, working together! What is /od telling us a#out our %ersonal li&es, and what was so different a#out the Water /ate +Neh 3: $,! "he Water /ate re%resents the Word of /od which sa&es, cleanses and sanctifies +E+hesians #: #" $,! 0t this %oint, we may #e tem%ted to look around and wee% at the desolation and %ast missed o%%ortunites while we were wandering in the wilderness! But here is where we do what +Neh %:1"3, 0nd how should we res%ond +Neh %:&"1 , ,sa)ms 3-:#, "hey were redeemed and should ha&e focused on their sal&ation! *s /od saying something to us (nderstand 1oy is N.T ha%%iness! Ha+%iness is #ased on an e&ent that ha+%ens to you! *t is tem%orary and can also %roduce unha+%iness! *t reminds me of a &ery %o%ular song written #y "wila 2aris!!! "he 1oy of the Lord will #e my strength * will not falter, * will not faint 3e is my She%hard, * am not afraid "he 1oy of the Lord is my strength /(ts 13:# , 0i(ah 3:% What causes a 1oyful cele#ration in hea&en +1u2e 1#:*,1-, 0nd that would #e remarka#le if we 1ust finished there! But /od says, theres more work to #e done! We$&e %rayed and fasted o&er oursel&es, our churches and our nation! We$&e looked honestly into the mirror and %in%ointed our flaws! We$&e set a task of re#uilding our li&es and those amonst us according to the Word of /od! We cele#rated the return of the lost community to 3im! 0nd now that we are healed, /od #egins to deal with our #iggest %ro#lem +Neh &:1" ,! What was the sin of their forefathers, how should we res%ond and how did /od res%ond +Neh &:1#"1*,! 0 /od ready to %ardon4 *nstead of kee%ing away from /od under a sense of unworthiness, let us come #oldly to the throne of grace, that we may o#tain mercy, and find grace to hel% in time of need! 3e is a /od ready to %ardon! 0men