Still Spoken Today

Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the LORD; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the LORD, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:4 (New King James Version)

Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people who lived at the time of Haggai no longer live in this world but the words that were spoken to them by God almighty are still being spoken to us today. That has been the most precious concept of Scripture for me during this decade of my life. My view of Scripture and approach to God’s Word forever changed the day I realized how much of what God said in the Old and New Testaments is meant for me as much as it was meant for the original recipients.

Every time God sent His people into battle or gave them instructions to follow He emphasized the truth that He was with them. He continually reminded them to take courage in the realization of His presence and help. He was not a mere “spectator” to the events of their life and daily happenings, He assisted, aided, and upheld them. It is no different for us today.

As I enter a new day, I am already aware of His words to me, “Be strong, Pam, and work, for I am with you!” Whether it is working at my place of employment, walking through issues, seeking change, resisting temptation, or dealing with the ordinary “stuff” of life, His instructions to me are the same. Be strong….not in my own strength but in His. Work….stay at it with purpose. For I am with you…..a reason as well as a promise. Think of it! Each step, each choice, each task, each moment, strengthened by Him and accompanied by Him.

I have known the preciousness of individuals coming along side me in time of need. How much more precious that the Creator of the universe does that. It settles my heart and straightens my back to know that truly I am never alone at any given moment of the day. With or without the company of others, the Author of Scripture is my personal Aid and Assistant. My Heavenly Father is my Faithful Companion. My Savior and Lord is my Counselor and Guide. I take comfort in those thoughts this morning, as I view today with a limited view and perspective. I take courage in knowing that at no time will I be out of His view or care.

Father, any feelings of loneliness, failure, or fear will be met with the truth You have shown me this morning. Amen.

Cry Out to Jesus - Jeremy Camp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoK6Pkzq1E&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Touching God's Heart

Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. Haggai 1:8

God derives pleasure and glory when we obey. What a thought! And the opposite has to be true as well, disobedience brings displeasure and robs Him of glory. The Bible is full of commands for us to obey. Practical daily principles are ours to embrace and follow. Each act of obedience no matter how small brings God both pleasure and glory. Others may not notice it but God never misses an act of kindness, mercy, love, sacrifice or compassion.

It reminds me of times I have been in a crowd of people looking for one familiar face. There is instant joy and delight when my eyes finally lock with the person I am searching for. God too is looking for the moments of obedience and easily spots each one. Like a miner panning for gold, they stand out to God as precious treasures.

It use to be so easy to see Him as a God who took more notice of my sin than my sterling moments. I was blind to the fact that I could even bring God pleasure. I now rejoice in the thought that while He casts my sin behind His back and discards it in the depths of the sea, He remembers the times I have actually obeyed Him and joined His heart. In eternity He will reveal the things He took notice of and I will marvel at what things in my life brought Him pleasure and glory.

Within the next 24 hours how many opportunities await me to bring Him delight? So often we forget it is not about waiting for eternal rewards ~ though they certainly await us. But rather it is in knowing that right here and now I can touch the heart of God as surely as He touches mine.

Father, the fact that You are affected by my actions astounds me! May I bring You much pleasure today! Amen.

Futile Living

You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes. Thus says the LORD of hosts, Consider you ways. Haggai 1:6,7

It is easy to pour our energies into something only to have the results come up insufficient for what we hoped for. People are capable of doing the right things without gaining the full benefits.
My younger brother, Timmy, was born with Cystic Fibrosis in 1970. He died at the tender age of 9. His physical condition pictured this verse so well. Before he was diagnosed with CF he was literally starving to death. Although we fed him, his body could not properly digest the food. He ate but received no nutritional value from the food. Upon being properly diagnosed he was put on medication that compensated for his physical weakness.

In the spiritual realm we must come to the place of realizing we too are malnourished and in need of God's compensation. When I spent decades living my Christian life out of fear, duty, and performance the emptiness and frustration were waiting to envelope me. God had to teach me to take an honest look at my way of living the Christian life. There were several reasons for my unsatisfactory results.

I had a wrong view of God for one. I saw Him as a harsh judge with love that was dependent on what I did for him. I cannot tell you the freedom that engulfed me when I realized His love was unconditional. My actions would not diminish or increase His love for me.

I depended on other Christians to define my Christian life for me. I felt better if my standards came from them. My Christian life had been reduced to the external rather than the internal world. God always desires that our hearts would affect our actions....not the other way around. The denominational walls were built, versions of the Bible were suspect, and music was VERY limited. It had become a recipe for disaster.

Father, You wanted me to know there was abundant freedom if I would just open my hands to receive all You had for me. I do so with joy! Amen.