New Website Launched!

Hello Everyone!

I am pleased to announce the launch of my new website. You can view it at the following link:

Nicole Marie McKay

Here you can read updated information regarding my music, upcoming performances, One Year: A Practical Guide for New Ministers, and additional contact information.

We trust you will be blessed during this season!

What to do with the Nay Sayers

Highlights are in red for those of you who don't have time to read all of this through.

I don't know if I'm the only one who has experienced this, but have you ever been told you couldn't do something that you KNEW God called you to do?

I'm reminded of many times when I would sing or play guitar and hear people laughing because my playing stunk or saw their faces react when I hit a wrong note. Some have even gone out of their way in the past to tell me that I wasn't doing things right and that I will never succeed. Have you ever experienced this type of opposition that goes against everything you believe that God has spoken into you as your purpose? We often are crushed under such opposition and frequently give up. Nehemiah took a different stance that, I think, we can learn from.

Some background to the text: Nehemiah and the exiled Israelites have reunited in order to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem because God had placed it in Nehemiah's heart to do so.

Let's read Nehemiah 4:

1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?"

Oh yeah, not only does one person oppose us at times, other people like to chime in, too:

3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!"

What I see here is a scene from high school. One of the not-so-cool freshman has some good things going for him, then the seniors come in, surround him, and take their shot at bruising his ego until he's crushed and no longer poses a threat to the seniors. Not so with Nehemiah, however. Here is Nehemiah's response:

4Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of [a] the builders.

6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."

11 Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work."

12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."

13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

How to Respond to Opposition:

1. Pray (vs.4)

Express your heart to God and turn to Him for help as Nehemiah did. When opposition arises against something God has spoken into your heart and you feel you are not capable of completing your task, remember this, "God does not call the equipped, He equips the called." (Author Unknown).

2. Persevere (vs. 6)

Even though there were naysayers about Nehemiah's task, he and the Israelites continued their work.

3. Make Practical changes (vs. 13)

Nehemiah took the opposition seriously and took practical steps to assure that the words of his opposers would not come to fruition. When they said they would fight against him and his people, Nehemiah placed the people strategically along the wall with weapons.

When people oppose you or what God has placed in your heart, you might just have to make some changes. My example is perfect: people told me I stunk and I would never succeed so, to this day, I practice and practice ... and practice. I made practical changes to my 'game-plan' so that even if the opposition I faced was true, I would correct what needed to change (persevere) and come out better than before.

Nehemiah's practical change was a solution to the opposition he faced, but may also have been a proactive way of integrating rest into the Israelites' schedule. When something is meant for evil, God often means it for our good, and He makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him.

If you've been crushed from opposition against something God has placed in your heart to do, take the steps Nehemiah took: Pray, persevere, and make practical changes, if necessary.

May He cause you to prosper in this season. :-)