Ruthie's Inspirations

Nehemiah 8-10 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.     So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.     And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, this day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.     Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.     So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, ...

Nehemiah 6-7 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?   Nehemiah 6:3 What work is it that God has given you to do? Do you give yourself fully to it? Even when you'd rather do something fun, do you choose to opt out if it gets in the way of what God wants you to do? Or make sure your responsibilities are covered by someone else so it doesn't get left undone while you’re gone? Any work that God gives you to do is a great work. No matter how small you think it is. Will you make God's work a priority in your life?

Nehemiah 1-5 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.   Nehemiah 4:6 Things get done faster when everyone is helping. As the saying goes: "Many hands make light work." But do you have a mind to work? Or do you have a mind for laziness? Do you choose whatever is fun or feels good? Or will you set my mind to do what's right and be willing to work no matter how hard it is? Serving God is the best thing you could ever do but it takes a lot of work. Where is your mind? Are you willing to work for what matters? Are you ready to do whatever it is God asks of you?

Ezra 7-10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.   Ezra 7:10 Ezra prepared his heart for three things that everyone should prepare their heart for. First of all, to seek the law of the Lord. Do you read and study your Bible? Do you memorize and meditate on it? Do you know the word of God? Second, to do it. Do you apply what you learn from God's word? Do you live what you learn? You can't help others if you don't live it yourself. Third, to teach others. After you've learned and applied the word of God, who are you telling about it? Who are you teaching and passing on what you've learned to? As life continues, the cycle repeats. The longer you live, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more you apply and grow. The more you grow, the more you have to pass on to others. Are you prepared for it? Is your heart ready to receive the word of God as you read it or hear it taught and...

  So Haman came in. And the kings said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?     And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,     Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:     And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.     Then the king said to Haman, Make hast, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that ...

Esther 1-5 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.     For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall ther enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy faither's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?     Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,     Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.   Esther 4:13-16 In a time of great darkness when the threat of death loomed over the heads of the Jews, there was no time to stall and to give in to fear. Esther was the people's...

Zechariah 10-14 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.   Zechariah 12:1 God has a burden for His people. So much so that He's preserved everything we need to know and that He wants us to know in His word. He is the creator of the universe and the one who made us and gave us life and yet He still cares about us enough to die on the cross and leave us instructions on how to have the most abundant life we can live! The question is though, do you follow His instructions? Are you living an abundant life? Are you grateful for His love and care for you?

Zechariah 5-9 These are things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:     And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.   Zechariah 8:16-17 How easy it is to gossip. Thinking bad thoughts are even easier. That's why God says not to do those things but rather to speak truth and not make any false promises. And throughout scripture, we are told to love our neighbor. How are your thoughts and actions towards others? Do you follow the thought patterns listed in Philippians 4:8? When bad thoughts try and push their way in, do you resist them and fill your mind with the word of God instead? God hates it when we mistreat each other. Will you take the time to be kind to people and surrender the reactions of your flesh to the Lord?

Zechariah 1-3 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.     And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?   Zechariah 3:1-2 Satan will try to oppose us. He does everything he can to distract and derail those that follow Christ. Where most people get it wrong is they think that we should be rebuking Satan and telling him to get out of our life. While we are to resist the devil and he will flee from us, it is only the Lord that is shown throughout scripture that actually verbally rebukes Satan. It is only God that is more powerful than Satan. We can have victory over the temptations he brings our way and we can in Christ's strength resist him, but we are not more powerful than he is. Will you focus on Christ and doing what He wants you to do? Will you leav...

Haggai 1-2 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.   Haggai 1:5 How often do you go about your days just doing what you deem important or what you think is right without thinking about it? Are there things that you’re working really hard at or for that seem to be failing? Have you asked God if that's what He wants you to do? Everything you do should be purposeful and you should be taking steps as God directs. Your life isn't supposed to be you just floating through your days and doing whatever just to fill time. Will you acknowledge God in everything you do and consider why you do what you do?

Ezra 4-6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:     Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.     Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expences be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.     And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:     That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of...

Ezra 1-3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.     And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.   Ezra: 1:3-4 God calls us to build His church. Maybe not physically build the building, but building the people. And if someone needs help, we are to help our brethren. What are you doing to build God's house? It is people reaching people that builds it. How are you reaching out to others? Are you witnessing to the lost and bringing them to Christ? Are you discipling new believers and helping them grow so that they can follow Christ on their own and reach others for Christ? You are also to be giving monetarily to help wit...

Daniel 10-12 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.   Daniel 12:3 What are others going to know about me when I get to heaven? This verse says that if I'm wise, I'll shine as the brightness of the firmament. Will I be bright or dim? Others will be able to know if I was wise based on how brightly I shine. How much like the stars will I look? It's based on how many I've turned to righteousness. Others will be able to know if I've brought many or few to Christ. Will I choose to be wise and to be a soulwinner and try to bring people to the Lord?

Daniel 7-9 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.     Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.                  Daniel 9:13-14 Why is it so often that the first response to trouble is to blame God? Or at the very least complain to Him and ask Him why? Have you examined your own heart and life? Do you have sin in your life that you have not confessed before God? Do you choose not to turn from your iniquities but rather to make excuses for them? God is watching you and what you do. When you don't obey Him, He has to punish you because He is righteous and just. Will you accept your punishment, repent of your sins,...

Daniel 4-6 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.     Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.        Daniel 4:2,37 Nebuchadnezzar learned his lesson the hard way. He chose to live in his pride and lift himself up above God and for that, God punished him. He was made to be like an animal for seven years. After that, God restored his mind and kingdom back to him. Not everyone gets a second chance. Nebuchadnezzar didn't take his for granted. He chose to use it to praise the Lord and tell everyone of what He did. What are you doing with the chances God has given you? Do you praise Him in front of others? Do you show everyone what He's done for you? Will you praise and extol and honor your King?

Daniel 1-3 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's gaurd, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:   Daniel 2:14 When put in a tough spot, how do you respond? Do you stress yourself out and hyperventilate? Or will you trust God and answer people and face the situation with counsel and wisdom as Daniel did? It saved the lives of him and his friends. In staying calm and asking God for direction, God showed him the answer that he needed. When you don't know what to do or where to go, will you take the time to ask God for direction? Nothing takes God by surprise. He knows what's going on and what you need to do. Will you turn to God and allow Him to show you the way you ought to go?

Joel 1-3 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:     And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.     Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?    Joel 2:12-14 When it comes to repenting and making a change, God is more interested in the heart change than the outward change. The outside will change when the inside changes. Where is your emphasis? Are you working so hard to change things on the outside when there are things in your heart that need changing that are fighting against the goals you are trying to achieve? It is when there is a heart change that God takes notice and acts on your behalf. Is there something tha...

Ezekiel 46-48 But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD int he solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.   Ezekiel 46:9 The phrase "Come as you are" is often said when inviting people to come to church. And it is a good motto to have. We should come as we are, but we shouldn't leave like we came. Do you allow God to work in your heart and life? Do you let Him work through the music and the message to soften your heart? To teach and grow you as He desires? Do you let Him prune away the parts that He doesn't want there? Even if it hurts? God wants to mold you into a beautiful masterpiece that He can use for His glory. Do you allow Him to make the changes necessary to make you more lik...

Ezekiel 43-45 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.     And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.   Ezekiel 43:5-6 When following the spirit, He leads us to the house of God. What do you see and hear? Is it just another service, another message? Do you sit and think about the time? Or are you there to see God's glory and to hear Him speaking to you? When you are in church, God wants you to focus on Him. To worship Him in song and bask in His glory. But He also wants you to listen to the message with intent because He wants to speak to you through His word. Do you hear God's voice? Do you listen for it and get what He has for you each week?

Ezekiel 40-42 And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.     Ezekiel 40:4 Are you paying attention when reading God's word? Is there something God wants to show you? Are you seeing and hearing what God wants you to see and hear? When God shows you something, is your heart set upon it? Do you apply and live out what you learn? Is there something God wants you to tell or show others? When God speaks, you need to listen and give Him your full attention so that He can speak to and through you as He wants to.

Ezekiel 37-39 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.     Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.     Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter in to you, and ye shall live:     And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.     So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.   Ezekiel 37:3-7 When God presents an impossible idea or task, what is your response? Do you believe Him and trust that He knows what He's doing? Would you be willing to obey whatever crazy thing it is He asks you to do? Or do you laugh it off...

Ezekiel 34-36 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.     I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.   Ezekiel 34:15-16 People are people. They do good things, and they make mistakes. They're only human. It's a good thing you have a good Shepherd that will always take care of you. When you’re hungry and tired, He gives you food and causes you to rest. He seeks you and guides you when you are lost. He brings you back to Himself when something or someone drives you away, including yourself. When you have been broken by people or by life, He is the one that binds you up and heals you. When you are sick and you can't take care of yourself, Jesus is right there to give you strength. And those who try and hurt you or lord their strength...

Ezekiel 31-33 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:     If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;     Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.     He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.   Ezekiel 33:2-5 Who is the person or people that God has set up to be a watchman in your life? When they warn you of danger in your life or on the path ahead that you’re taking, do you listen? Will you heed their warning and go the other way? When you are blind to a fault in your life, will you listen when someone tries to correct yo...

Ezekiel 28-30 Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:     Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.     I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.         Ezekiel 29:18-20 Your work for the Lord will not go unnoticed by Him. As the Lord made sure that Nebuchadnezzar and his army got paid for what they had done for the Lord, so will you get  rewarded for what you do for Christ. You may not see the rewards right away, or even until y...

Ezekiel 25-27 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;     Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.     And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.   Ezekiel 25:15-17 The Philistines took revenge in to their own hands and they did it out of spite and hatred. Because of that, God says that He will execute His vengeance on them. When God says that vengeance is His and He will repay, He was serious. You need to leave the vengeance and the wrongs that you have endured for Him to do with as He wills and when He wills. If you take things into your own hands, He will take His vengeance out on you. ...

Ezekiel 23-24 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.     Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.     So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.   Ezekiel 24:16-18 God had Ezekiel go through the worst trial of His life, only to tell him that he can't take the time to mourn or process his wife's death. Instead, he was to continue to speak to the people and to use what had just happened to him as an analogy of what the people had done about their sin toward God. If God wanted to use you to get His point across to others, even if it means losing what you most hold dear, would you continue to serve Him? Would you allow Go...

Ezekiel 21-22 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.     Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.     And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.     The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.     And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.   ...

Ezekiel 18-20 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.     All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.     Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?     But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.   Ezekiel 18:21-24 God's mercy is great. The wicked who have sinned against God can be forgiven if they choose to turn from...

Ezekiel 16-17 None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.     And when I passed by thee, ands saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou was in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.   Ezekiel 16:5-6 When you were unwanted, God wanted you. When you were cast away, God found you and brought you to Himself. When you were left in the disgusting mess of sin, God saved you, and washed you clean. When you were about to die, God gave you life. God is the reason you’re alive and got a new start to life. What have you done for Him? What have you given Him in return? Do you express your gratefulness for all He's done for you and then seek to please Him in everything you say and do? He thought you were worth saving, so He is worth serving.

Ezekiel 13-15 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:     Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.   Ezekiel 13:22-23 God works on behalf of His children and He sees everything. He sees how the world treats you and those that follow Him. He sees the injustice and how it encourages the wicked to continue in their sin and how they make His children sad when He has not. He will one day take away the things that they enjoy and will show them that He is Lord. Even though it's hard, and we may or may not see Him work right away, He's got everything under control. He will protect you and in His time, He will avenge His children. Will you wait for Him and His timing and continue to keep doing what'...

Ezekiel 9-12   Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.     Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.   Ezekiel 11:15-16 God gave Israel over to their enemies because they were pushing others away from God. But even in the midst of their punishment, God promised to be with them and to be a little sanctuary wherever they were. How are you influencing others? Are you the friend/family member that draws others closer to God, or that pushes them further away from God? Does God have to remove you from your comfort zone to get your attention? Does He have to distance you from ...

Ezekiel 5-8 And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.   Ezekiel 6:9 God is a just judge and He is angry with the wicked and can't abide sin but this verse shows a different side of God's view of those that He loves. He was broken over their sin and that they wouldn't come back to Him but rather went after idols. God is broken when you sin and turn to other people or things instead of Him. He wants you to come back to Him and to be faithful only to Him. He loves you so much! Will you stay faithful to God? If you break His heart, will you apologize and come back to Him?

Ezekiel 1-4 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,     Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.     When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.     Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.     Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be rememb...