An Empty Barn

“Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.” Haggai 2:19

God’s way with words is always thought-provoking but can also be entertaining in its inquisitive nature. In short, God loves to answer His own questions! In the time of Haggai, God had finally gotten the people’s attention through the scarcity of certain provisions. He pointed out the obvious…there was no growth hanging on the vines. His question was more of an underlying consideration of the location of the seed. As the people were discouraged that nothing had come to ripeness as they looked on the vines, God reminded them that they had planted the appropriate seeds for future growth. The seed was in the ground so it would only go to reason that blessings were coming although the vines were currently bare. ‘Soon, whatever they had planted would grow. Whatever they sowed would sprout. They will have plenty once again. They will live in abundance. But the evidence of God’s promised blessings was not yet hanging on the vine. What God said and what they saw didn’t seem to match.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p.166.

Whew! Now that last sentence preaches for this girl who has been promised a major blessing for 15 years and yet His ‘yes’ still looks like a ‘no’ on the vine. I am constantly checking the vines for growth…a sign of life…a single bud. Impatient at best, discouraged at worse. God reminded me this morning with a question, ‘Is the seed still in the barn?’ It struck my heart that He was saying, ‘Have I not promised you the yield of your desire? Have we not planted and sown what will be ripe for the gather?’ He wants me to fully embrace the wait and understand that while I don’t yet see the growth, there is growth within me. ‘When a blessing takes a long time to show up, it gives us time to grow up…The process of patience matured me…As we grow in patience, we grow in faith. As we grow in faith, our capacity for patience grows. We are all in process. You can be patient with the seed because God is faithful with the seed.’ p. 167

I wonder this morning, what vine in your life has not yielded the fruit? Do you really believe that the seed has been planted and no longer is in the barn based on God’s promise to you? Are you going to God daily in partnership and fellowship to water and nourish the seed? There are many verses that speak to the question of doubt, ‘Is the seed still in the barn?’ Any questions we have regarding our future has already been answered in the holy writ of God’s book.

‘The vision is yet for an appointed time; at the end it will speak and will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come.’ Habakkuk 2:3.

“Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’” John 13:7

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:3

Taking Courage

 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid...for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

As I turn the last page on my Bible Study, Take Courage by Jennifer Rothschild, I cannot leave you without her closing encouragement. I couldn't express this any more eloquently, so I will exhort you with her heartfelt words as you go about your day on this beautiful Fall morning.

"When the landscape of your life seems dotted with the rubble of hopelessness, take courage, you are not alone. God is with you, and He will give you strength to rebuild what is broken.

On those days when your priorities get confused, take courage and consider your ways. God will stir up your spirit to do the next right thing.

When you're worn out and feel like your fatigue is stronger than your faith, take courage. God will strengthen your hands and heart.

During the times you feel like you can't stand, take courage because Jesus will stand up tall in you and for you.

In those barren seasons when you get weary in well-doing, take courage because you build more than you see.

When you are burdened by the weight of your discouragement, take courage because a far greater glory grounds and anchors you.

And, ultimately, when you feel like you just can't hold on to hope, take courage. You are held securely in the hand of God forever."

Choosing Joy Again!

 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

Yesterday while on our church's Zoom Prayer Team call it was my turn to share what request I had for prayer. The only thing I kept focusing on was how grouchy I have been over the past two weeks. Typically, I am full of optimism and encouragement but those companions recently have seemed hidden. Sheepishly, I asked the team to pray that my grouchiness would leave me. In their prayers the call for one thing kept arising...the call for joy in the Lord. Ahhhh...how did I forget about joy? This morning, I immediately opened the lid on the treasured writings God has given me over the last 12 years. I searched on the word joy bringing up past writings and found this treasure. Sometimes when we need our emotions to be settled, joy is something we choose rather than something we feel. Our decision to choose to be joyful is blessed by God giving us His joy. His joy is our reward for seeking Him for what we lack.

Our morning passage used to seem more like a fairy tale than verses in the Bible to me. Who on earth can consider the multiple trials in which we have all experienced ‘pure joy’? Before we roll our eyes and skip over this passage let me share with you the most complete definition I have ever read defining joy. Years ago, I read Kay Warren’s book called Choosing Joy, Because Happiness isn’t Enough. Her definition of joy is ‘the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.’ And that is the core of joy – choosing it despite our circumstances.

Joy is the overflow of spiritual maturity and completion once we really embrace God's track record. Joy is cumulative and progressive as God proves Himself faithful in all seasons. Joy runs the race to the very end, while happiness constantly searches for another path. We are certainly going to face trials until we step into Heaven so why wouldn’t we choose joy understanding that our trials are not empty? Why wouldn’t we step into maturity and move towards completion in God? What does it look like when are living a life lacking nothing? It looks like the woman who despite her broken relationship fully understands that God is still in control of every detail. It is the man who has God’s assurance that provision will be there to carry him through the lean times. It is the parent that continues to praise God even while awaiting the prodigal to return…a settled assurance… a quiet confidence…a determined choice to praise God through it all.

Seasons come, and seasons go, and they are strung together with both beautiful days and heart wrenching moments. Most times we cannot control the hardships that crash into our lives, but we can walk through them with joy…pure joy as the author described. God promises that we will have everything we need to face any trial. In Him we will lack nothing, so with that truth we can take comfort and choose joy!

From Mess to Message

 “Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did’… They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Many of the Samaritans…believed in him because of the woman’s testimony…” John 4:28-30, 39.

I just love the story from the Bible of Jesus and the woman at the well. Her story eerily echoes my story of bad choices…wrong priorities…flawed thinking. We can assume that this woman was possibly in the mid-season of her life since she had already had five husbands and was involved with another man. Her life had been filled with chasing the approval and acceptance of men. Her heart revealed misplaced priorities and futile pursuits of love. Day after day she placed that empty water jug on her head and walked to the well. Little did she know her heart was as empty as the pottery she usually temporarily filled. But instead of filling her jar that day, she met a man who filled her heart and changed her life…His name was Jesus.

But the next part of the story is seldom highlighted when considering her interaction with Jesus. It is the story of a woman whose life was radically transformed giving her hope and a new direction. It is a story of a person who interacted with a Savior and couldn’t keep quiet about it. It is a testimony that had to be told to everyone back in her town resulting in new believers. We must remember that most likely she was shunned by her community because of all her past failures. The very people who had judged her were the very people she courageously shared the good news of Jesus with.

It will require boldness to point others to God. It will require a listening ear as others may question our knowledge of Jesus. Since the Garden of Eden our experiences with God matter and should be shared with others for their benefit. God has given us a spirit of courage and power, not a spirit of fear and cowardliness. When we witness about the transforming love of God, our messes will turn into our messages and God’s work will be displayed through our lives inviting all to Him.

Latter Glory

“‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts.” Haggai 2:9

I just adore our church! By the time we walk into the worship center the greeters have been positioned to welcome us and video screens have been prepared to display God’s word for us. Every seat has been prayed over prior to our arrival and a prayer team has been chosen to both encourage and pray for us at the end of the service. We are surrounded by the sweet voices of all as we lift our songs of worship to God. They work all week to ‘prepare the temple’ and we are the beneficiaries of the hard work.

‘Preparing the temple…’ such a phrase falls fresh upon me this morning. We all carry within us the temple of the Lord…the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I wonder if I am working as hard as my church in preparing my meeting place with God where we fellowship? Do I examine my heart’s worship center to ensure it is not cluttered with distractions? Am I praying for His will over every facet of my life, not just some of them? Am I doing everything I can to keep my temple holy? Have I created a center for worship like my church has? The more attention we pay to the seat of our heart where God indwells, the greater glory He will show in our lives. Every action…every word…every thought should be aligned with the attitude of Jesus. He stated that everything He gave was what God had given to Him. We are no different since we have been given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of things to come. With each passing day, the intimacy we gain with God will be more than the previous days…the latter will be greater than the former.

But like my church the preparations must be done…the heart must be hungry…the temple must be attended to. When our devotion and love grows for God through daily supplication and meditation, our lives will fling open the doors of our temple welcoming all people to benefit from the glory of God.

A Little While

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty." Haggai 2:6-9

When I was a little girl one phrase that I rarely enjoyed hearing was ‘In a little while.’ I would get so irritated to hear that because it lacked any new information. What I sought, was never found with that short answer. It seemed that my world was controlled with those four little words. Although frustrated, I trusted my parents that what they promised would be received. They had proven themselves over and over again.

I have a promise from God tucked deeply in my heart. Year after year I hear His whispers, ‘In a little while.’ When I see nothing on the horizon that looks even remotely like a hint of the fulfillment, I run back to Him, pulling on His hem asking, ‘Now, Father?’ Like my parents, He never ignores me nor tires of my question. He knows that I am confident that with Him, promises made are promises kept. There have been other times when He has shaken heaven and earth and filled my circumstances with His glory and peace. The beautiful words that follow ‘in a little while’ couldn’t be more encouraging. Those words…’once again’…anchor my soul and remind me that what I am waiting on now has already been done by Him in the past. He is able…capable…faithful...unstoppable…when the proper time is revealed.

What ‘in a little while’ situation are you facing? Is it a reconciled marriage? Is it a new job? Is it a prodigal child? Is it a cure? I know that when the heart is aching and the journey gets long, a day can feel like a year. ‘What might seem to us as God dragging His feet about a promise is actually a reflection of His patience and plan. We need to keep this in mind so we don’t get discouraged…impatient…exhausted of doing good…of building and rebuilding. Some fruit takes a long time to grow and show. However, that doesn’t mean the seeds you planted are not taking root.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 128-129. Because we can fully trust God’s future promises on past fulfillments our answer is ‘when and not ‘if.’

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Ga 6:9

Picking Up Straws

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…It is the Lord you are serving.” Col 3:24-25

This morning I read something in Take Courage, my Bible Study by Jennifer Rothschild that seemed odd at first consideration. She encouraged me to ‘practice God’s presence.’ I found that strange because God controls His own presence and tells us that He is always with us, never leaving our side. So, to practice His presence seems foreign to me, but she gave a beautiful illustration in a story of a monk who lived in the seventeenth century. His name was Brother Lawrence and he worked in a monastery kitchen ‘where his love for God grew and his awareness of God’s presence became a practice.’ He wrote, ‘We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love for Him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before Him, Who has given me the grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.’ pp. 118-119.

When we practice His presence, we view every little action we take as doing it in the presence of God and out of our love for Him. Through this awareness the smallest of things can elevate its value since it is a love offering to Him. In considering my calendar for this week, I began picturing every item as doing it for God because I love Him. I need to sweep the dead leaves off of my front walkway so I will practice God’s presence by thanking Him for the new crisp season that only He could create. I am keeping my great-nephew for my niece on Friday and I will practice God’s presence by praising Him for breathing life into Him. I need to mail a few bills and I will worship Him with gratitude that He has given us the provision to cover them. I’m sure your calendar is bogged down but when we commit to practice His presence with a keen awareness that He is the beneficiary of our efforts ‘even picking up a straw’ can be motivated by our love for God. When we practice His presence, our focus shifts from grumbling to gratitude and troubles to triumphs.

“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.” 2 Co 4:18