Rebranding at its Best

“My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt.” Haggai 2:5

(NIV)

We don’t have to look far to find the concept of rebranding in our culture. Rebranding is taking something broken or irrelevant and rediscovering new purposes. Rebranding is seeing value in something that seems to have lost its worth. Rebranding is transforming a previous existence into a meaningful future…a new identity if you will.

The reference to Egypt in our verse would have gotten the Jew’s attention and reminded them of the dark stories of their ancestor’s previous captivity. We can be confident that this generation had heard accounts of all the horrible treatment from their parents and grandparents who worked as slaves. ‘These Jews had every reason to feel dark emotions and remember negative stories when it came to the word Egypt. Egypt was slavery. Egypt was pain. Egypt was sorrow and loss and hardship…That’s why God, Who redeems everything, rebranded Egypt for the Jews in Haggai.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 112. He brought up one of the most difficult seasons and reminded them that He had never left them. He promised that His past faithfulness was the same faithfulness upon which they could depend. He rebranded the pain of the past to His faithfulness in the present.

I began considering this morning, what is the word that triggers your heart to need reminding of God’s faithfulness? Is it grief…unemployment…divorce…bankruptcy…prodigal child? When I canvas the landscape of my past seasons of sorrow it is easy for me to remember the dark moments I experienced during those times. But God comes along echoing His past promises of carrying me through those times. Through the comfort that only He can give, He rebranded my past sorrows into my strength for today. Through His promise, He rebrands my discouragement from unanswered prayers into hope for fulfilled promises. Through His presence, He rebrands my loneliness for my loved ones into my confidence of eternal reunions.

When we place past pain and hardship into the hands of our faithful Father, we will see His transforming work. We will watch His movement in our circumstances and receive His guarantee that His Spirit is still among us working for us. Everything we experience…the good and the bad… will lean into the repurposing of our faith. God will turn our previous dark seasons into a meaningful future when we trust Him for His promises. No matter on earth or in Heaven, He will redeem all things in His time. 

Snap, Crackle and Pop

“So the LORD stirred up the spirit…of the people…and they worked…” Haggai 1:14

I LOVE a bonfire! Many years ago, before our community exploded into houses upon houses and bumper to bumper traffic, this area was mainly farmland with huge tracts of land owned by families for generations. Sitting in the middle of our property still seems like the old days until we have to get out of our road to go anywhere. Over the years, we have built pretty big bonfires and many nights sat there with red cheeks watching the flames dance. As the night went on the fire retreated and in the middle were glowing orange embers begging for attention. We would suddenly notice the embers when we would begin to feel the chill. Bruce would take a big stick and stir the embers up, bringing them back to life and would throw more wood on the fire. I can still hear the snap and pop of the fire when it was stirred.

I recalled this image today while reading our short little verse. Scripture draws a snapshot of what can be accomplished when God stirs up the Spirit placed inside of us as believers. Phrases for ‘stirring up’ are to awaken…to rouse…to incite…to ignite. God never intended on us looking to our own energies to serve…to build…to plant. ‘Divine initiative called for human response…Human energy could never accomplish the work of God, yet God did not accomplish his purposes without it. The two functioned in perfect harmony, and people cooperated with and contributed to what God did in them and in the world.’ Dr. Richard Melick, Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p.107.

It is not by our strength or abilities that anything is accomplished in us, rather by God’s Spirit as Zechariah 4:6 states. God places His spirit in us and then He gifts us with talents, strength and service. ‘You give Him your grit; He gives you His grace! So how do we live stirred up by God’s Spirit every day? God’s Word. If you want to be stirred up you need to be raised up!’ p. 108. I’m so thankful that God brought to mind those small embers from yesteryear to remind me of the state of my heart when I fail to get in His word. When I begin to 'feel the chill' I know that my heart needs to be stirred up again. By camping out beside the beautiful gold-trimmed pages of the Bible, the embers are stirred and hope and power once again begin to crackle and pop…the flame rises…the warmth returns.

‘Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.’ 2 Timothy 1:6-7

The Crooked Stick

“Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?” Haggai 2:3

As the work on the temple continued, the Lord asked a question that revealed the hearts of the older people as they watched the temple being restored. Scripture doesn’t say that these people were grumbling and whispering about how much grander the original temple was. Since this was 70 years later no doubt these people had experienced Solomon’s temple as young children or young adults. They knew exactly the difference between ‘what was…and what is.’ But the Lord read their hearts and knew they longed for grander surroundings. Their comparison between the ‘good of what was and the minimal of what is’ echoes our own disappointments.

I am a member of our Prayer Team at church which has been meeting via Zoom during the pandemic each Thursday to lift prayers for our people, missionaries, community and our nation. Our pastor who leads us shares the prayer requests and calls on people to lift those prayers. In the beginning I would always disconnect at the end feeling inadequate. The prayers of those warriors were so beautiful and came from the overflow of their hearts for God. I have told them before that I feel like I am eavesdropping on their holy ground. I must admit that like the older people in our passage, I compared my prayers to their prayers. I found myself longing for a future time when my prayers would be fueled by my love for God. As time when on the Lord said to me the same thing, He said to them, ‘Is this…as nothing?’ ‘Comparison is a trap, and it takes courage and wisdom to avoid it…it can feel like nothing if I choose to compare. Using someone else’s gifts, callings, [circumstances] is like using a crooked measuring stick. If I use those things to compare, then my flesh wants to rise up and compete…the real danger of comparing is missing the real glory.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 95-96.

Whew! She is reading my weaknesses! When God called me to be on that Prayer Team, He equipped me to be myself in Him. My prayers are as unique as my personality and that is how He wants us to be…uniquely called…divinely equipped…obediently accessible. To compare my prayers to others is to fall into the trap set by Satan…I must keep this truth before me in all I do.

I’m wondering today, what comparison bait pulls you into the trap? What former set of circumstances do you long for as you stare at your current situation? We all have the Lord’s standard of measurement written in 66 chapters of the Bible. God will always bring greater glory out of former things. He is a God who blesses cumulatively and progressively when we trust Him to whatever He calls us. Whenever God does a new thing in our lives we must avoid longing for the last thing.

Precious Echoes

 “King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken…” Ezra 1:7

When the refugees were released by the edict of King Cyrus, they were free to return to their homeland of Jerusalem. That alone would have been enough to sooth any broken heart and turn their sadness to joy. But the king encouraged them further by returning lost items previously belonging to the temple and stolen by Nebuchadnezzar 70 years earlier. ‘The vessels represented Judah’s history and identity. They represented precious memories and reminded the people of God’s presence and their sweet communion with Him. Tokens from our past can serve as reminders of God’s presence and faithfulness.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 83.

When I read this today, I was reminded of a small inexpensive bracelet that Bruce surprised me with for Christmas when we were dating. He provided a list of clues which eventually led me to his parent’s basement. I loved that bracelet and wore it all the time. A couple of years later it went missing and remained that way for many years. One day, when we were putting together our new bed, I discovered the long-lost bracelet under the old mattress. I was elated that it was recovered and have worn it ever since. When my oldest daughter saw it on my wrist, she was so excited to remember the bracelet because it reminded her of her childhood. We both had precious memories from that time…that bracelet…that life. I was so grateful that God returned what was lost that represented a sweet relationship…a simple time…a divine reminder of a beautiful blessing given by God.

All of us have lost much greater things than a small bracelet…the loss of a loved one…the loss of a job…the loss of a relationship…the loss of normalcy and peace. Whatever it is for you, God has not forgotten your pain. If God can return a 30-year-old bracelet He can return anything or anyone who was taken from us. If God can restore my joy of a lost piece of jewelry, just imagine when He restores our joy as we are reunited with our loved ones in Heaven. Until then, our memories will be our echoes of precious past blessings and God's promise will be our hope for all things lost to be recovered.

‘God chooses relatable, material things to help us learn, understand, and remember who He is and what He’s done in our lives…They are reminders, pointing us to the One who does have all power…On those days when you’re weary in well doing…look on that precious thing and remember who God is and remind yourself who you are…a person who doesn’t quit, always trusts, and walks with courage!’ p. 85

Carrying Our Stone

 ‘Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place…’ John 19:17

 

I read an old African legend which is not a true story of Jesus but certainly points us to a true spiritual principle regarding obedience.  The story was about Jesus and His disciples walking upon a rocky path.  Jesus asked them each to pick up a stone and carry it up the mountain.  Peter picked up a small pebble while John picked up a heavy rock.  When they arrived at the top of the mountain Jesus turned the stones into bread.  The disciple with the small one barely had anything to eat, while the one with the large stone had a huge loaf of bread.  A few days later they were walking on another rocky path and were instructed to pick up a stone and carry it for Him.  This time Peter picked up a large stone while John picked up a small one.  Jesus led them to a river and asked them to throw them in the water. The men watched for a miracle but nothing happened.  No bread…no miracle. As Jesus saw their disappointment and confusion, He looked at them and asked, ‘For whom did you carry your stone?’    

 

For whom indeed…Christ obeyed God all the way to the cross.  He not only carried the heavy cross up the hill but willingly was placed on it.  The cross boasted anything but blessings.  His motivation to surrender everything was fueled by His love for God and His sacrifice for us.  Many times, the overflow of our obedience may bless us and many times the blessings are for other people.  If we are only obeying God with an expectation to receive, we are missing the whole point.  We receive God's best when we are giving Him the best of our love.  John Piper says it perfectly, ‘God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.’   When Jesus asks us to carry something for Him, we must leave the decision of blessings up to Him.  Every action we take to serve God should be out of the overflow of our hearts for Him.  ‘When we are obedient…we live in spiritual abundance…When we’re disobedient…we find ourselves in spiritual poverty.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 74

 

Obedience is not a pick and choose endeavor, rather a decision to lean into the complete agenda of God.  We should not try to measure or determine the pro’s and con’s ‘picking up our stones.’

A Better Way

 “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9

 

We have all had seasons in our lives when we have been discouraged, deflated and disappointed.  Many times, it suddenly appears through a tough set of circumstances.  Other times, it comes at the hands of someone with whom we have a close relationship. I believe those are the most difficult to reconcile because they are attached to our heart.  

 

We only have to look as far as the cross to fully understand what it means to adhere to this command.  The Trinity, ‘one mind’ tells us to make attempts to feel sympathy for others.  One mind tells us that as believers we are brothers and sisters through the cross of Christ.  One mind desires our hearts to be tender and humble towards everyone.  One mind, Christ Jesus, showed us how to repay evil with blessings by becoming sin for us and paying our price in spite of us.  God has called each of us to give life speaking words to another who insults us.  He promises us that when we pay back with blessings, we will inherit His.  We cannot do this in our strength and neither did Christ on the cross.  God applied His strength to Jesus to forgive those who placed Him there.  God applied His forgiveness to all of us who should have been on the cross.  God applied His power to raise His Son blessing us with an inheritance through Christ’s work on the cross…grace by our association with Christ.  

 

To love each other is to look to the cross.  To have compassion with each other is to look at the criminal next to the cross.  To have forgiveness for all is to look at the empty cross.  Maybe to attain the blessing of this passage is to look through the eyes of Jesus.  He affirmed the value of every life He came upon, friend or foe.  He took the time to look beyond the behavior, and recognized their brokenness.  He repaid insult with grace and evil with mercy which is our ongoing blessings from Him.  So why shouldn’t we?

 

“Christ Jesus, forgive us when we insult others for you showed us a better way.  Forgive us when we fail to love in the manner you call us to love.  Help us repay discouragement with your grace and help us to see the value you placed in every one of us as we walk out our journeys.  In your great love, amen!”

The First Move

 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2.

The other day while walking I was almost swept over by the all-consuming currents of grief. I was trying to remember how old my sister Beth was when she got pregnant. When I finally came up with age 32 it struck me again that she only had 8 ½ years with her daughter before the Lord took Beth home. My mind immediately was drawn back to the 11 months that she ferociously battled a relentless cancer. I became overwhelmed thinking about the bigger battle – the battle in her mind. I began imagining the utter anguish and despair that must have been her private companion considering the probability of missing Sydney growing up. Tears starting running down my cheeks, my heart started feeling the crack again, and the ground beneath me felt like disappearing sand as the ocean beckoned the crashing wave back out to sea. But in that very instant, the Lord placed on my heart through a song a reminder of His constant Presence with her during that season. The song reminded me that there was another in the fire standing next to her…there was another in the water holding back the sea…there is a cross that bore that burden of how she’s been set free! (Based on Another in the Fire by Hillsong)

No matter how daunting our situation looks like up ahead, He has gone before us. No matter how heartbreaking our grief currently is, He is right beside us. No matter how big our failures have been, He has followed behind us to sweep it all away through His forgiveness. He will be faithful if we tune our ears and focus our eyes on His movement through it all.

As Casting Crown's song states, 'The cross is the proof that God made the first move' in His faithfulness towards you and me. The cross bears the burden of our failures carried by Christ. The cross boasts victorious triumph over sin and death. The cross displays the love that covers us by the Trinity. And finally, the cross points the way to eternal life in Heaven.

Writing our Letter

“Let it be known…Let it now be known…Let it now be known…We inform the king…” Ezra 4:12-16

I have never read this passage before but was so entertained by the process. It reminded me of when my children were very young. I don’t believe one day passed without someone ‘letting it be known’ to me the evils that had been leveled against the other. Not one day passed when one of them didn’t ‘inform’ me of the other one’s trespasses. It seems we played court everyday as I tried to judge between plaintiff and defendant…the wounded and the wounder. Most times there were no witnesses so I was left to determine the facts, the fiction, the judgment, and the punishment.

In our passage, the servants of the king hated the Jews and didn’t want the rebuilding and restoration of God’s temple to be successful. They wrote a letter to the king that was full of lies, complaints, fearmongering, and misrepresentation in an attempt to enlist the king to act on their behalf. The laundry list of complaints and lies against the Jews was called a Letter of Accusation. ‘Accusation seems to be a favorite weapon for the enemies of God’s people.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 52. But truth be told, we can be God’s people and impose our own letter of accusation on another. When we tear down others, we form our own accusatory attacks. When we exaggerate the action of others, we misrepresent the facts distorting real truth. When we recruit others to support our slander, we dishonor another who God created. God has a plan for each of His children, and an accusatory spirit goes against the grain of what God is trying to accomplish in both us and them. If we are to write any letter, it should be to the King who has all the facts of every situation…who knows the heart of every person involved…and who is well aware of the motivation of all parties concerned. We must always remember that what we dole out to others might be doled out to us one day. Accusations in any form sting and may do irreparable damage.

‘Sometimes the only thing that will give us the umph we need when the accusation is stiff, the opposition is rough, and the discouragement is deep, is God’s word.’ P. 54. God’s word will settle any emotions whether we feel wounded or know that we have wounded another. We must leave all judgment up to God when we have been hurt, and must pursue forgiveness when we have harmed others.

‘By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.’ 1 John 3:16

Building Good Influence

 “Now when the adversaries…heard…they were building the temple…they came…and said to them, ‘Let us build with you…’ But [the leaders] said to them, ‘You may do nothing with us to build…’” Ezra 4:1-3

Over the course of my marriage to Bruce there has been no shortage of projects he has worked on. Many times, he would enlist my help so I would set aside time to help him. Most of the time I would just stand there doing nothing but watch him work. Oh, occasionally I would have to run down into the garage to grab something or fast forward to the next song on the music we were listening to. But he always appreciated the fact that an extra pair of feet and hands were with him. But can you imagine if I didn’t have his best interest at heart and I offered to help him? I would have the access to complicate or frustrate his project, possibly compromising the success of his work.

That is what was happening as the children of Israel were trying to rebuild. They were approached by a group of people who were compromised in their faith. They served God but as one of many gods instead of the THE God. The leaders who were in charge of the work were both aware of their adversaries and protective of the temple for which they were building. They were whole-heartedly devoted to obeying God and protecting the things of God. They knew that ‘to receive their help was to invite their influence. And to invite their influence was to endanger the purity and single-minded devotion of the Jews. We, too, must be wise in our relationships. In our relationships, we love all with the love of Christ, yet we also vet everybody through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 50-51.

Our devotion to God will be directly impacted by those with whom we surround ourselves. Are we allowing people to help us ‘build our temple’ who are double-minded in their relationship with God? Are we living out habits that compromise the purity of our ‘temple?’ We should all seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to determine what habits compromise our faith, and which people endanger our spiritual walk. Just like the Jews, we must be picky and protective of whom or what we allow to influence our lives. Only through the vetting of the Holy Spirit can we be guided into a circle of influence that shares our devotion to God.

Preparing the Worship Center

 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?’  1 Co 6:19

 

For the past two weeks we have been back in church and it’s been awesome!  Just walking into the worship center and feeling the collective worship of God has been nourishment for the soul.  The praise and reverence of God in that place provides an environment of whole-hearted joy.  You can tell that the whole church was prepared to receive us, the greeters were masked but welcoming…the chairs had all been prayed over…the spaces provided the safety of social distancing.  What good would it have been if only the sanctuary had been prepared but the other parts of the church had not?  

 

As Paul wrote, our bodies (heart, soul and mind) are the full temple of the Spirit.  Relegating Him to one of the areas instead of the whole of our body is like me only being able to use one room in my house.  The Spirit is to move throughout our bodies making every part holy and righteous.  In Matthew 22:37 Jesus responded to which commandment is the greater of all.  Jesus claimed the greatest commandment was to ‘love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the whole-hearted devotion that gives the Spirit full access to move in and through us.  The Spirit is a gift given directly to us by God’s great grace. Col 3:2 echoes the charge to set our hearts and minds on the things of God.  Another word for ‘setting our hearts’ is ‘heartily’ which means with all sincerity.  ‘It speaks of our motivation, our focus…God asks us to consider our ways and set our hearts on Him as priority.  If your heart isn’t all in, you are destined to burn out, wear out, or freak out when you face certain obstacles or opposition.’  Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 46.

 

When we set our mind on God, we allow the Spirit to show us what ‘room in our worship center’ has been marked off from Him.  Is it our time…our resources…our health…our devotion?  Where are we misusing or abusing our temple where the Spirit indwells?  Living heartily means more peace and less frustration…more focus and less distractions…more satisfaction and less discouragement.  The Holy Spirit is one of the most precious gifts we have been given but it is up to us how freely we allow Him to move throughout our ‘temple.’ We must be all in as Colossians 3:23 people!

"Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men." Col 3:23

A Bag With Holes

 “Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, ‘Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins? Consider your ways!’” Haggai 1:3-4

I loved the home in which I grew up as a young girl and teenager. It was a beautiful house and my parents did a great job of building it into a welcoming environment. Our family room had goldish shag carpet with a beautiful brick fireplace surrounded by dark paneled walls. When I close my eyes, I can remember many precious memories of being in that room with no cares and few concerns. All of my needs were met and with my dad in his chair and my mom on the couch I felt safe, secure and constantly cared for. When I read this passage, it immediately brought to mind this snapshot of nostalgia. But in our passage above the paneled walls and houses meant more to the Jews than what it meant to me as a child. ‘To them, a paneled house was a sign of wealth. Walls and ceilings overlaid with cedar were common in wealthy residences.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 37. God’s message was crystal clear when confronting them: ‘The priorities you have chosen for now are misplaced and self-focused while My priorities lay in shambles! Just look around and examine what you are spending your time on…your money… your pursuits.’ Once He got their attention, He made them aware of the folly of building lives based on their own priorities.

‘You have sown…and bring in little; You eat…but do not have enough; You drink…but are not filled; You clothe…but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes’ Haggai 1:6. YIKES! I think that God is still communicating that message to us all these years later. He knows that building a life of ‘me-first’ doesn’t bring about contentment. He knows that time spent on our own agenda takes away opportunities meant for His. When we build our lives with our own interest at heart, nothing can satisfy our desires. ‘We often can trace our discontent, discouragement, and dissatisfaction to a priority that is out of whack. When self-promotion is above God-devotion, we end up dissatisfied. God wasn’t after their houses…He was after their hearts’ p. 39.

‘Lord help us consider our ways as we make choices today, tomorrow and next week. Help us become aware of what You are trying to do around us and in us. Show us how to hold up what we most focus on and examine what place, if any, it has in Your heart. Give us clarity on the things that will bring us spiritual contentment and satisfaction in Your purpose for our lives. Amen.’

His Good Word

“And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away…pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace…After…years are completed…I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.” Jeremiah 29:7, 10

 

This beautiful passage rarely gets recited like the verse that follows it.  We all know that Jeremiah 29:11 sings the beautiful melody of God knowing His plans for us.  They are not just any plans but plans that will not harm us but will prosper us.  As my pastor says, ‘context is everything!’  The precursor to the melody is quite a different tune than some might believe.  God is promising that while He has great plans for His children, those plans are many years away.  His encouragement is to offer His peace during the exile and to participate while in it.  He tells them to build houses and settle in…to plant gardens and eat the growth…to increase and multiply in numbers.  All of these things infer that His children will experience their exile for many years.

 

I began considering the years that I have been in exile in certain areas of my life.  I was wondering how many years have you been in exile whether it is a job, a medical condition, a relationship or something else.  One of the most powerful statements I heard this morning during the Take Courage Bible Study audio session by Jennifer Rothschild.  She stated, ‘We don’t know where the current of God’s plan will take us…but we must focus on the promise, not on the calendar.’ She goes on to say that while exile can have a long shelf-life it also has an expiration date set by God.  Scripture exhorts us to participate (build…plant) with our exile instead of isolating from it.  Jeremiah urges us to pursue God for peace during it instead of focusing on the chaos of it.  And lastly, we must be patient in the exile with ourselves…with the process…and with God.

And one beautiful day, we will walk in the day of ‘His good word’…the day He is to visit us…to act on behalf of us…and to return and restore us in the beautiful land He planned.     

 

Marching On

 “In order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” Daniel 4:17b

This powerful verse out of the Book of Daniel gives us a great reminder that ‘we the people’ don’t have the final word on who becomes President of our Nation. The Most High God determines who will rule over the ‘kingdom of men.’ This verse sits in the middle of the narrative of King Nebuchadnezzar who because of his pompous pride, was abolished into the fields of the wild. Through God’s discipline he literally lost his mind right in the middle of ruling over the people. God has been using terrible leaders with horrible flaws for thousands of years. In our story of King Nebuchadnezzar, God referred to him as ‘My servant.’ How on earth can a king this hateful and vile be a servant of God? ‘The Hebrew term for servant is used to describe people the Lord calls or uses for special service, whether they are followers of God or pagans.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 30.

I find comfort in the truth that whomever is sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office was specifically placed there by God to be used in God’s overarching story. I find relief in knowing that man is only allowed to serve according to the manner in which God determines. I’m thankful that I can claim God’s supremacy over man after the election no matter who is speaking on Inauguration Day. It will be God who places Him there and uses him to accomplish things beyond his awareness, beyond his abilities and beyond his own plans.

‘God has ultimate influence over the hearts of leaders who influence the future of nations. When we realize that God has priests, prophets and leaders in His hands, we can stop wringing our own. We don’t have to be discouraged, no matter how bleak the national news gets or how dysfunctional the government is. Instead, we can take courage and march on ‘For the kingdom is the LORD’s, and he rules over the nations.’ Psalm 22:28.

Rings of Honor

 “‘I will take you…and make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the LORD of hosts.” Haggai 2:23

One of the most exciting times as a teenager was when a boy asked me to be his girlfriend in high school. It was more exciting in high school than any other time because sometimes it accompanied wearing his high school ring. I can still remember dripping hot wax in the ring as it sat upside down on the counter so it would fit better. It was big and bulky on my finger which made it seem even grander! It was a symbol that I belonged to someone, was loved, and chosen. Even now I wear a symbolic ring…my wedding ring…that is an outward sign of my inward love of Bruce.

In Old Testament times kings wore a signet ring along with their royal garb. ‘Signet rings affirmed authority, honor, or ownership. Every signet ring had an emblem that was unique to the king who wore it.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p.26. As believers, God has lured us into His love…taken us as His own…and has chosen us for eternity. He has placed His unique emblem of purpose upon all of our lives. His authority over us gives us authority through grace. Through God choosing us we are exalted in His power, and can walk confidently in His plan. ‘God’s plan isn’t uncertain or incomplete just because your future or project is…He has authority over your project [or situation] in every season, so don’t get discouraged by the process,’ p.27.

Just as my boyfriend’s high school ring adorned my finger, we will be adornments of God when we seek Him and grow in Him. We are His signet rings showing to whom we belong…to whom we love. When we accepted Christ as our Savior, we were stamped in honor and ownership into God's family. May we wear our emblem boldly and beautifully as we relish in the blessing of belonging to the King.

Our Crown of Gray

 “O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” Psalm 71:18

Since the beginning of creation, humanity has been marked by the turn of seasons, both literally and figuratively. The Bible is a library of God-inspired writings by His people who documented certain seasons in their lives. Throughout the Bible we discover that many times the calling on the lives of God’s children have been in the sunset years. In considering the life of the prophet Haggai, we are introduced to him later in life. He didn’t begin his ministry of prophecy until his early 70’s most likely when God called him to deliver four messages to His people. Most likely Haggai as a young boy witnessed an overtaking of his community, his church, and his life. Along with most of the people in his land, he would have been carried off to Babylon as a prisoner and lived the majority of his life as a refugee. That would have been the longest season in his life. As the Book of Haggai opens up, so does a new season…a season of rebuilding…of restoring…of reconciling disrupted things. God raised him up in his ebbing years for a specific time and a special mission.

Praise God, that seasons come and season go! We as God's people have also had our land invaded by an enemy, throwing our lives into disarray and anxiety. This season feels like it has been upon us for many years, although the calendar shows only 7 months. Some of us are experiencing these tough times as children, while others are walking it out crowned with gray hair. Either way, we all have a story to share just like the people of the Bible. God has been with each of us since He breathed life into us and has taught us things through every season. The work of His hands has been faithful and wondrous! Through all of our seasons we can testify to His strength that carried us through them. We have a watching generation for whom we are responsible to share the stories of God’s involvement in, and delivery from those tough seasons. ‘Every season of life represents the end of an era and the start of something new…You are a part of what God is doing and wants to do in our world. Be encouraged that you are never too young or too old for kingdom work. You can embrace any season of life with purpose!’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 15-16

Greater Than Now

 “‘Consider your ways…Yet now be strong…I am with you…My Spirit remains among you; do not fear! The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former…And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.” Haggai 1:4-5, 9.

For the Book of Haggai to only contain 38 verses, God’s message is clear for His people…‘consider your lives…I am within you and among you…be courageous…what we accomplish now will be even greater than what we have accomplished in the past.’ I can’t think of a more beautiful promise than this one made to God’s children in 520 BC. They had become complacent in doing the things God had planned for them. They had turned their back on building for God and returned to their own interests. Unintentionally their lack of commitment forfeited the pleasure and glory that would have been brought to God through their work. ‘Go…and bring…and build…that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the LORD.' Haggai 1:8.  

It is so easy to take our eyes off the things that are important to God and focus on things the world places before us. It is easy to forget that we have been positioned by God and are to go into the world…to bring unbelievers to God…to build up God’s people when things are falling down around them. His encouraging message and vision for our future produces great hope. Because He is with us, the future ahead of us will be much greater than the lives behind us. What greater message is there, from a God who has no rival in His love and faithfulness to you and to me?

For the person who is considering giving up on a dream or desire, be strong in the Lord because hope does not disappoint. For the couple who is building their marriage, allow God’s Spirit in the center, and your married life will be so much greater than your previous life. For the wounded heart who has turned their back on God, do not fear because He has not turned His back on you. For the unemployed who is feeling discouraged, the work God has for you will bring Him even more glory than the work you have already done for Him.

Whatever has become broken in our eyes, God will restore in greater glory than it originally was. We have this promise from God which anchors our hope for a far better future than we can ever imagine. We just must be willing to consider our ways and choose to receive the promise and peace He gives us in our lives.

Still in the Land

 “Take courage, all you people still left in the land, says the LORD. Take courage and work, for I am with you, says the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 4:2

Right out of the gate my new Bible Study, Take Courage by Jennifer Rothschild exhorts us to reach into the deepest parts of our disappointments, and grab hold of the invitation of courage that the Lord extends to each of us. This invitation to be bold and work at the point where He finds us…our land…our life…our situation is the overarching theme of the book of Haggai. The refugees have returned to their land which was previously burned out and destroyed by the enemy. For a year they worked hard to rebuild but then turned their attention to their own self-interest and lost the heart for rebuilding what God had called them to restore.

I believe each of us can relate to being a refugee to our home as 7 months later we still must isolate… must cover our faces…must be cautious in every decision we make. But like Haggai reminds the people, God is reminding me this morning that we are ‘still in the land.’ There is great work to do and He invites us to take the courage we may not have…His courage…and get to work doing the things of God. He is exalting the urgency of rebuilding His priorities over my priorities. It takes courage to go through tough times no matter who we are and what we are facing. Taking courage is a daily invitation from God and our decision to accept it every single day. The Word of the Lord is clear… ‘take courage…and work…for I am with you.’ Jennifer eloquently beckons us to receive the courage God desires to give each of us. We can take courage from His presence, His promise and His people. Our courage is not an empty hope, but a robust determination in the Lord to do everything He calls us to do.

‘God gives us courage liberally. If your fatigue feels so much greater than your faith, the Word of the Lord will encourage you to not quit because you build far more than you see. No matter what you fear or what you face, the Word of the Lord says we can take His courage to rebuild what is broken. And ultimately if we feel discouraged and don’t feel courageous the Word of the Lord invites us to take His courage because He is with us always.’ Take Courage, p. 7

What area of life do you most need God’s courage? Rebuilding of health? Rebuilding of family? Rebuilding of marriage? Rebuilding of vocation? No matter what fear you are facing, God will give you the courage to shake foundations and move mountains. Just take Him up on His word and walk in boldness and belief!

The Same Ending

"So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father's household." Genesis 50:22

There couldn’t be a better title for my Bible Study by Kelly Minter than Finding God Faithful. Chapter upon chapter the song remains constant and the promise continues in truth…The Lord was with Joseph. The last five chapters of Genesis chronicle the life of Joseph, his father, and his brothers. Once Joseph returned from honoring his father’s wishes of being buried in the land God had promised, I’m sure reflection over his life settled in. He had been a boastful brother…a favored son…a teenager sold as a servant…a presence in the palace… a criminal constantly handcuffed …rescued and exalted…reunited and reconciled with family. Those circumstances had occurred in the many years behind him with fewer years to live ahead of him. We’re not sure how old he was when his dad had died, but he was certainly in his later years.

Yesterday when I was walking, I was considering the reflection that Joseph must have been contemplating which led to my own reflection of my life. Over the next 12 months, our little group of friends will usher in our 60th birthday one by one. There are more years lived behind me than the years ahead of me. As I straighten the rearview mirror glancing at the years past, my first thought was that I pray that my legacy would not be based on the years leading up to 2006. 2006 is the year that God had seen enough with the squanderings of my life and called me deeper through His word. He had witnessed my pits and palaces…my sins and a little bit of righteousness…my failures and successes. But in considering my legacy, I became aware of the spiritual work the years behind me has done, and the growth God brought out of those seasons. Without my mistakes and failures of the past years, I would never have grown in the freedom and faith for the years ahead of me. Had I lived in the guilt and regret of past sin, I would be denying God’s forgiveness and forgoing the freedom God wants for me. So I find myself this morning humbled and grateful as I finish the narrative of Joseph’s life.

God’s narrative for him seems hauntingly similar to our stories. Some of us were born into chaos while others were born into favor. Some of us were betrayed by family members while others were protected by family. But all of us have experienced seasons in the pit while other times we have lived in the palace. And just like Joseph, in all those times the Lord has been with us every step we took.

Joseph's story is a story of caution that man’s favor is fickle so stay anchored in Christ. His story is one of encouragement that the pit is not permanent so stay hopeful. His story reminds us that no matter what situation in which we find ourselves, the Lord is with us so stay faithful. We all have different stories that are unfolding on our different horizons, but we all have the same ending…the Lord was, and is, and will be with us all the way to eternity!

Finding Freedom in Forgiveness

 “Joseph said to them, ‘…for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day…’” Genesis 50:20

These words were spoken as a response to Joseph’s brothers begging for forgiveness from their past treatment of him. The brothers were fearful that Joseph would retaliate since their father had passed away. But instead Joseph’s heart was full of what our heart needs to be full of…God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness. You see, Joseph had already forgiven them before the begging began because Joseph fully understood that he didn’t stand in the place of God as Judge. He walked in freedom because he held nothing against his brothers before receiving the apology. He had come to the point of truly believing that God wasn’t part of his story, but that his life was a small part of God’s overarching story of love and purpose. “John Sailhamer makes the connection, ‘Behind all the events and human plans recounted in the story of Joseph lies the unchanging plan of God. It is the plan introduced from the very beginning of the book, where God looks out at what he has just created for humanity and sees that it is good.’” Finding God Faithful, Kelly Minter, p. 200

I began thinking of my beginning and your beginning as God breathed His breath into our lives. When our heart took its first beat and when we inhaled our first breath, I imagine God looked down and said ‘It is good.’ When we celebrated our marriage and our children’s birth, God’s joy was paramount as He nodded and whispered, ‘Now that is so good.’ When we experience betrayals and heartbreaking circumstances in our lives like Joseph, and draw near to God we will hear Him tendering speaking, ‘It’s going to be okay, it will be good.’ God’s goodness and faithfulness runs parallel with our stories of heartbreak and celebrations…darkness and light…sadness and joy. We will see the good that God has for us when we discover the beauty of our position in Him. It is His story that is unfolding and for some remarkable reason, He gives us the privilege of joining Him.

When we embrace every situation through God’s eyes, we can always find our ‘it is good’ moment having confidence in God’s goodness. ‘Joseph directed his brothers’ attention away from himself and toward God, knowing the limits of his authority. One of the fundamental elements of forgiving others is realizing we’re not in the place of God. When we forgive a person who’s wronged us, we’re placing the situation and outcome in God’s hands’ pp 198-199. Whatever we experience we are called to allow God to make it good according to the purposes He has in mind.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28