https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-na5z3-17395f7

Is there yet any seed left in the barn? ~ Haggai 2:19

As the days fly by on my calendar, I’m well aware of the passing of time. In fact these days, way too often, it seems as if life is rushing by …and then with it comes these feelings of self deprecation.

Age has a way of creeping up on us when all of a sudden we’re doing second takes at the image in our mirror, but it’s the nature of our existence that we are one notch closer to the end when we wake each day.

Our world is so youth focused that it’s inevitable that we’re going to face some self doubting as we age, but lost in our aging doldrums is the realization that we’re not, depreciating in God’s eyes. His plans and purpose for us don’t slow down or end at the world’s stated retirement age.

In Haggai 2:19 we hear God ask, “Is there yet any seed left in the barn?” In this context he’s challenging some lazy folks who aren’t working hard to rebuild the temple, but the challenge is still there today in each of our lives. Is there any seed left in your barn?

As you age you may not be producing as much fruit as you used to do, but you’re still capable of being a vibrant contributor to this world …and none of us want to fall short of God’s design for our lives.

So wherever you are in your journey, remember that God is in control, and that He has established that we are alive with value until He decides differently. Regardless of what the world says, be strong and work, and remember that God is with you.

Pray on…

Song: All That I Am (Album: Love Strands)

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-j9ija-16c01db

“you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.” ~ Habakkuk 1:13a

Do you ever look at the world and feel confused by its behavior? Not a day goes by where we’re not bombarded with an endless supply of examples. It seems that every time I really step back and look at it, the world insults my faith. It makes me, a believer, wonder how can this continue …day in, and day out?

The prophet Habakkuk was wondering the same thing as he watched his world spin in an undesirable free fall. He prayed in what he thought was vein, but God was doing something, something radical.

Like us, Habakkuk was  grappling to align God’s nature with his actions, or lack of …he knew that God wanted justice throughout the world, but wasn’t able to comprehend  a plan being executed …but God was working, as he is today, and just because we don’t understand how he’s implementing it, doesn’t diminish its brilliance.

Like Babylon, our world seems to worship its power …as it gets rich at the cost of others … and yes, it insults our faith! …but we can rest in the promise that God has a plan, and will, and is, enacting it in his time, and in his way.

I encourage you to read the little book of Habakkuk, he exhibits an example of how to respond …a way of lament.

Pray on…

Song: Once Again Lord

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-4ieb2-16c01d5

“I am against you,”  ~ Nahum 3:5a

It’s human nature for all of us to want to be liked, to be accepted, and to be supported by others. Whether in business, or our personal lives, we want to be smiled upon. Just take a glimpse of our social networks and the vein attempts being made to get positive feedback.

None of us want to hear the words, “I am against you,”  ~ (Nahum 3:5a) …but that’s exactly what the Assyrian city of Nineveh heard from Nahum’s prophecy. And making the situation worse, is that this is God …it’s the God who created all things that’s saying,  “I am against you.”

In fact twice in the book of Nahum God tells Nineveh, I am your enemy (also 2:13).

Nineveh’s judgment stands as a historical reminder that the Lord abhors sin and will deal with people and nations according to their deeds … and yes, that includes us, in case you found yourself looking down your nose (at this Assyrian city’s brokenness.)

Revelation 17-19 tells us one day, God’s justice will fall worldwide on those who have rebelled against him. So keeping that in mind, should help us to strive to stay on the  straight and narrow.

Melanie Hurlbut says, “We should join with the Lord and laugh at the futility of human evil as it try’s to resist the goodness of almighty God.”

I’d like to believe that more often than not, I’m on the Lord’s side, standing right next to him, laughing …and not on the other side of his justice.

Lord, let your people hear your message clearly, and be strengthened, comforted, and healed by it.

Pray on…

Song: Into Your Presence

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-xb24n-16c01ca

His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,

and clouds are the dust of his feet ~ Nahum 1:3b

The closest thing to God’s fury that I can think of is weather related. I’ve experienced some harrowing weather events in my lifetime, events that made me reflect on how I was in control of very little, if anything at all.

Those are great equalizer moments. In those moments we realize just how weak and small we are. In fact I don’t know of anyone who enjoys those kinds of situations. In general, we strive to be in control at all time, that’s our happy place. So when the world starts to spin out of control we’re uneasy and uncomfortable.

In Nahum 1:3 we read,

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;

the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.

His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,

and clouds are the dust of his feet

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power (this was revealed to Moses; in Exodus 34). We’re told the Lord will not stand by and let wickedness destroy his planet.

His generosity and forgiveness are staggering, but for the non-repentant there will be judgement. Well, I don’t want any part of that! I do however, want to linger in his staggering generosity and forgiveness.

In our world of questionable behavior; in our world of lost and angry souls; in our world of darkness induced blindness; let us as Nahum did, shine a light; a light of comfort; and a light of hope, through the love of LORD.

Pray on…

Song: Divine Nature

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-i5vu3-16c01c5

hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea ~ Micah 7:19

My daughter once lost a teething ring in a swampy bit of water in St. Augustine Florida. What compounded the retrieval of the ring was that it settled onto the snout of a rather large alligator. Just relocating where the ring was a miraculous achievement on my part as I realized after the fact that it was gone, but the sight of this rainbow colored ring on an alligator’s snout was not one that would ever be forgotten. Now to be clear, we were guests at an alligator farm so this wasn’t a wild and dangerous setting, and the walkway that we were traveling on made it impossible for me, dad, to do anything stupid, as in trying to retrieve the ring, but the hurling of the teething ring into the swampy water was the end of it. It was gone and after a short period of time very rarely ever thought of.

Micah 7:19 says of God, he hurls all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Corrie ten Boom (Dutch Resistance Hero) says,

“When God buries our sins in the deepest sea,

he then post’s a sign that says, no fishing allowed.”

There is no need for us to return to the scene of the crime, to continue to replay the act, or to cry over the broken moment.

God pardons, …shows compassion, …triumphs over his peoples’ sins, …and seals those sins away. By his unfailing love, God continues to offer hope to those who trust in him.

Lord, help us to live for today’s opportunities, and to remember your pardons, your compassion, and your unfailing love.

Pray on…

Song: Relentless Love

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-7ya9a-16c01c0

He will stand and shepherd his flock ~ Micah 5:4

There are countless stories where love lies bleeding. Where the love for another is the driving force for sacrifice that sometimes leads to death. Have you witnessed this kind of love in your life time?

Seven hundred years before the gospel, in Micah 5, we read about a deliverer that is foreseen. The character of the deliverer will be that of a shepherd. He’ll be wanting to feed and nourish his people. This is in direct contrast to others who’ll be oppressive dictators. This deliverer will bring peace. He’ll be the source of peace. The prince of Peace.

Skip’s Heitzig said, “One of the most beautiful descriptions of Jesus is when he said,

‘ I am the good shepherd.’”

But between the first coming and the second coming, is a cross where the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. His unmatched love will lead to him sacrificing his life …for all mankind.

He will stand and shepherd his flock ~ Micah 5:4

O’ that we’d recognize and embrace the great sacrifice of the good shepherd.

Today …and everyday.

Pray on…

Song: Through His Life