Scott Beyer

“So I prayed to the God of heaven.” (Nehemiah 2:4) When Nehemiah prayed this prayer, it was as he stood before the king of Persia.  It is doubtful that he had time to step aside and head to his inner room for a lengthy petition with the Almighty.  This prayer would have been short, silent, […]

“But now for a brief moment, grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant…” (Ezra 9:8a) Grace isn’t just a gift; it’s an opportunity.  Ezra recognized that God’s grace had brought the people back into the land and that grace had opened a window of opportunity that they

“Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.” (Proverbs 17:28) If you don’t have anything wise to say, just fake it by saying nothing.  After all, that’s what the wise people do. “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and

“The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.” (Proverbs 17:14) A crack in a dam seems like a small thing until it widens enough to flood the town.  A husband and wife don’t think their little quarrels are a big deal until their children grow up

“For in the eighth year of his [Josiah’s] reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David” (2 Chronicles 34:3) You are never too young to seek God.  Josiah started young and gave his best years to God and left a legacy behind worth having. Teach your

“…the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for

“The LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom…” (Ezra 1:1b) Cyrus thought it was his idea to let the Jews go free.  Silly Cyrus, God was the one in charge, not him. Rulers are only in charge because God lets them be…

“He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 17:5) Bad things happen to people.  Sometimes those bad things are their fault; sometimes, they aren’t.  Either way, there is no joy to be found in the suffering of your fellow man.  There should be no rejoicing

“For such is God, our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.” (Psalm 48:14) When Sir Edmund Hillary scaled Mount Everest, he received the fanfare, but Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa was his guide every step of the way.  Hillary was wise enough to enlist the help of a guide that knew the

“Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us.” (2 Chronicles 29:10) A wise man recognizes that he doesn’t want to have powerful enemies.  We build alliances with those who have strength and we make peace treaties with them