NELSON MANDELA DAY-
12 For on consideration, it was plain
to me that God had not sent him; rather, because Tobiah and Sanballat had
bribed him, he voiced this prophecy concerning me, 13 that I might act on it out of fear and commit this sin. Then they
would have had a shameful story with which to discredit me.
Whenever you rebuild you will meet opposition. Here
much like today those in opposition will conspire against you. Nothing seems to
change with human nature. Just look at the current events with our own country
being rebuilt. According to John Maxwell Commitment is needed before anything
else in a leader’s life.
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When
Israel's enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem again—hear that the wall's been
completed, they ask to meet with Nehemiah.
·
Nehemiah
sees that they plan to do him harm. No fool, this guy.
·
He
refuses, asking why he should take time off from his work to do this.
·
They
ask him four times, and he answers in the same way. No dice.
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The
fifth time, they up the ante.
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The
enemies' servant brings a letter saying that they've heard that the Jews intend
to rebel against the Empire and that Nehemiah wants to be their king, with the
prophets supporting him.
·
Nehemiah
knows they're just trying to intimidate him.
·
He
tells them that they're making all this stuff up just to scare them away from
rebuilding.
·
He
still won't meet with them. Talk to the hand.
·
Nehemiah
goes to visit a guy named Shemaiah who says (actually, falsely prophesies) that
they should go hide in the temple, since men are coming to kill Nehemiah.
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Nehemiah
cleverly sees that Shemaiah's been hired by Sanballat and Tobiah to trick him
and make him an object of ridicule.
·
Only
priests are allowed in the temple, so obviously he's trying to get our man to
break the law.
·
He
asks God not to forget what Shemaiah and the wicked prophetess Noadiah and
other prophets did to try to trick him.
·
The
wall's finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul, impossibly fast.
·
The
surrounding nations are all disheartened and scared by this.
·
They
understand that God supports the Jews, since they haven't even been able to get
their contractor to return their phone calls.
·
Nehemiah
also mentions that some of the nobles were friends with Tobiah, due to his
family's intermarrying with Jews.
·
The
nobles try to make Tobiah sound good in Nehemiah's presence, while Tobiah sends Nehemiah letters
designed to intimidate him.
Nehemiah drew out others and inspired them to complete
the wall in 52 days: despite his adversities. When we complete a good work we
can say with Nehemiah, “All our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around
us saw these things…they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they
perceived that this work was done by our God”. Leaders who complete tasks have:
1. A compelling purpose: They make a
great commitment to a great cause.
2. A clear perspective: They don’t let
fear cloud their view of the future.
3. A continual prayer: They pray about
everything and gain God’s favor.
4. A courageous persistence: They move
ahead despite the odds.
Nelson Mandela Day
seeks to celebrate the political and social achievements of former South
African President Nelson Mandela. Mandela, who spent three decades in prison
for his political activism, became the first black president of the Republic of
South Africa in 1994. His presidency ended the long-standing apartheid in which
whites ruled over blacks and saw the birth of democracy
and equality among all citizens. He was also active in combatting poverty,
encouraging land reform, expanding health
services, supporting education and setting an example of peace,
anti-racism and human rights
adherence for other nations.
Nelson Mandela International Day was designated by the United Nations and the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 2009. It is celebrated on Mandela's birthday, July 18th, in an effort to recognize the impact of Mandela's values and his contribution to humanity. Mandela passed away in December of 2013 at the age of 95.
Nelson Mandela International Day was designated by the United Nations and the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 2009. It is celebrated on Mandela's birthday, July 18th, in an effort to recognize the impact of Mandela's values and his contribution to humanity. Mandela passed away in December of 2013 at the age of 95.
Nelson
Mandela International Day Facts & Quotes
·
Nelson
Mandela has received several awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993,
the Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St. John and the Order of Merit from
the Queen Elizabeth II and the Order of Canada.
·
When
Nelson Mandela was born his name was Rolihlalala Mandela, which meant, to pull
a branch off a tree and trouble maker. He was given the name Nelson in school
when he was seven years old.
·
Nelson
Mandela was sentenced to life in prison and ended up spending over 27 years in
prison. He was eventually released from prison due to secret talks he had with
the president of South Africa at the time, F.W. de Klerk.
·
It
is easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and
build. - Nelson Mandela
·
We
must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do
right. – Nelson Mandela
Things to do
·
Devote
67 minutes of your day to helping others (volunteering, helping mom, cleaning,
etc.). For 67 years, Nelson Mandela fought for humanity and on every July 18th,
Mandela's birthday, the UN and the NMF ask citizens of the world to devote 67
minutes of time to helping others.
·
Watch
one of the movies detailing the life of Nelson Mandela or apartheid. Some
suggestions are: Mandela: Long
Walk to Freedom
(2013), Invictus (2009), and Mandela and de Klerk (1997).
·
Nominate
someone or an organization that you think serves every day. If you think
they make a positive change in your community, you can nominate those you think
deserve acknowledgement as a Madiba Change Maker by sharing their stories on
social media with the hashtag #Time2Serve.
·
Spread
awareness by using the hashtags #NelsonMandelaInternationalDay, #MandelaDay and
#mandela.
·
Research
South African history to gain a better understanding of how the apartheid
system came about, what it entailed and learn more about the segregation in the
country. Books such as The History
of South Africa
and South African History shed light on the
colonial periods and the beginning of state-run segregation.
Daily Prayer to Saint Ann
O glorious St. Ann, you are filled with compassion for those
who invoke you and with love for those who suffer! Heavily burdened with the
weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take
the present intention which I recommend to you in your special care.
Please recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and place it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted. But, above all, obtain for me the grace one day to see my God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the saints to praise and bless Him for all eternity. Amen.
Please recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and place it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted. But, above all, obtain for me the grace one day to see my God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the saints to praise and bless Him for all eternity. Amen.
Our Father, . . . Hail
Mary . . .
O Jesus, Holy Mary, St.
Ann, help me now and at the hour of my death. Good St. Ann, intercede for me.
SECOND DAY
From the depths of my
heart, good St. Ann, I offer you my homage this day and ask you to shelter me
under the mantle of your motherly care. You know, good mother, how much I love
you, how gladly I serve you, how happy I am to praise you, how eager I am to
call on you in time of distress.
Good St. Ann be pleased
to extend your helping hand in all my wants. Listen to my prayers, for I place
my trust in your gracious bounty. Make all my thoughts and desires worthy and
righteous.
Jesus, I thank You for
all the graces which in Your infinite goodness You have lavished upon St. Ann;
for having chosen her, among all women, to be Your grandmother on earth and
exalted her in heaven with such great and miraculous powers. In the name of her
merits, I humbly recommend myself to Your infinite mercy.
Daily Devotions
·
Spend
some time in Eucharistic devotion.
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