Serve the Lord with Integrity and Joy

                Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drink it with integrity! 

                In the book of Nehemiah we learn much from the example of this great leader. Nehemiah not only possessed the qualities of an exceptional philosophy of leadership, but he lived it out.  At the beginning of the book, Nehemiah served as a cupbearer to the king. That doesn’t sound like an impressive leader, does it?    But through this seemingly insignificant role, Nehemiah proved his faithfulness and trustworthiness.  He gained the trust and confidence of the king; (which facilitated the decision by the king to allow Nehemiah to take a “leave of absence” to go Jerusalem to rebuild the wall.)

                Reflecting on our own lives, let’s ask ourselves:

• Are we faithful and loyal “servants”?
• Do people around us see us as trustworthy and a person of integrity?
• When God reveals His plan to you,  do you trust HIM to show you the way or do you give up because you know you cannot do it in your own strength?
• Are you in a job or a role that you see as insignificant?

Let us take encouragement from Nehemiah!  Because of his complete trust in God’s plan and God’s timing, he went from cupbearer to builder to governor!  No matter where we are, we are to serve the Lord…faithfully and with total commitment. Our example should be one of integrity and complete surrender to God’s plan….which leads to joy in serving the Lord! 

                As David wrote in Psalm 32:11: “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart”.