Nehemiah 8:9-12 This Holy Day

(Nehemiah 8:10 ESV) Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

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Please pray with me. Jesus, thank You that you do not leave me wallowing in repentance. Thank You for Your mercy and forgiveness so that I can start all over again. I celebrate with joy the strength You give me to keep on keeping on. Amen.

March 18, 2026 for the Joy in Spite of Stoopidity writing.

H2304 The Hebrew חֶדְוָה chedvâh | ḥeḏvâ is pronounced khed-vaw' and means gladness, joy. It is used two times in the Old Testament.

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Self, you messed up
You know it
You wasted your time
doing that
and you cannot go back
to redo it
Nope. No do overs
So stoopid
Just learn from it
and keep going

 

Pick yourself up
and start all over again
That's life's lesson

 

The Israelites
messed up
They had God's Law
disobeyed it
exiled for a while
returned home
only to rebuild
the temple gone
the city walls torn down

 

Nehemiah, Ezra,
and the Levites
read the law
Self, you messed up
You know it
You wasted your time
doing that
No do overs

 

Cue the tears
they understand
the mess is whose fault?
great sinner am I
convicted, guilty
Repentance
This mess
no one to blame but me
How could I have been
so stoopid?

 

Ezra, Nehemiah,
and the Levites
say to the people
this day is holy to God!
Hey, Hey! Deep breath
Don't be sad
stop that emotional spiral

 

Pick yourself up with
food and drink
and do the same for
others too
who are unable to pick
themselves up
and start all over again

 

For the JOY of the Lord
is your strength
That's right!
God's mercy is here for you!

 

Stop wallowing in tears
move forward with JOY
Get the strength to do so
in the forgiveness of God
Ohhhhhh! Now I get it!

 

I ponder oh the feelings
I can relate
Loving to hike
making a wrong choice
at the Y
wandering down
oh so far the wrong way

 

That moment hits
and smacks me upside the face
Oh no! I messed up
I know it now!
and I have so far to go
to get right back
where I was
What wasted time!
could be this far down
the right trail!

 

My body is exhausted
How will I ever do it?
How will I ever find the
strength to fix it?
I just want to cry!
I can only blame myself
my mistake got me here
Cue the tears

 

And I take a deep breath
looking up from my feet
The view is breathtaking!
Thanks God
for the reminder
found in Your creation
You are my strength
to fix it
You fix it all; not me

 

Self, pick yourself up
and start all over again
That's life's lesson
How many times
must I relearn it?

 

I cannot sit here forever
and feel bad
Hey, this is a good day!
See that view!
God forgives me
so forgive myself
And find strength
to keep on keeping on

 

Drink some water
have a snack
Walk forward
one step at a time
Celebrate with JOY
because I know
God is not done with me
ever
I'll never grow
standing still in regret