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Haggai * 1:1-11
The prophet dragged his sandaled feet across the parched ground, worn from the unanswered questions taunting his thoughts. Another poor harvest. A sigh birthed itself in his empty belly, sped through his heavy heart and burst from taut lips.
“Haggai, Haggai, where is that God of yours?
“Be still,” the prophet growled. “The LORD gives and the LORD takes away. His name is blessed forever.” He approached an unfinished structure, reaching out one hand to caress the hand-hewn stone.
“He’s sure doing a lot of taking now, isn’t he? First, he drags you all off to Babylon. After your return, which you insist was God ordained; your neighbors gave you so much flak that you stopped building this temple to your generous God.”
The taunts continued. “Let me think…oh yes, that was 14 years ago, wasn’t it? He really is some rock and fortress…shield…yikes…gotta run…see ya…”
Haggai welcomed the silence.
“Good morning, Festive,” A resonant voice replaced the high-pitched whine so recently vanished. “Why the long face?”
“My name is a mockery.” A short, unpleasant laugh burst from Haggai’s tight lips.
“Why do you say that?” God asked.
“We have no cause to celebrate.”
“Why not? Are you not back in the land of your fathers as promised?”
“Yes, but it’s been much harder than we expected or imagined it would be.”
“How so?”
“The people work so hard for so little return,” Haggai complained. “And here the temple sits…unfinished.” He slapped at the unresponsive wall.
“But their homes are beautiful,” God pointed out. ”Filled with all the latest interior decorating fashions.
“But they tell me there’s no money left over to put into the temple after meeting their basic needs,” Haggai explained. “Harvests continue well below expectation.”
“I’ve noticed that,” agreed God. “They plant so much and harvest so little. And no matter how much they eat and drink, they’re always clamoring for more, running after the latest delicacies.”
They stuff their closets with clothes and moan for more. Money evaporates like water in their hands.”
“They’re hard workers,” Haggai grumbled. “King Solomon promised in his proverbs (14:23) that all hard work brings a profit, but we feel like we’ve been spinning our wheels here. Year after year our harvests fall far short of projected returns. It’s frustrating.”
“Give careful thought to your ways,” warned God.
“What do you mean?” asked Haggai.
“I’ve had to hamper their efforts.”
“You, Lord? You’ve done this?”
“Yes.”
“Why, Lord?”
“To get their attention.”
Haggai rubbed his furrowed brow. “I don’t understand.”
“Ah, Festive,” God sighed. “Life is so much more than the false security money offers, the temporary satisfaction of fancy homes and cars. I want my people to experience real life…life filled with abundance. The false must be stripped away to reveal the true.”
“How can we do that?”
“Finish my dwelling place”
“But Lord,” Haggai objected. “They have no time to spare for building and guarding against hostile neighbors.”
“Not in their own strength…no.” God gentled his voice. “Have you forgotten how King Jehoshaphat beat three enemy armies?
Haggai rubbed his chin. “You instructed him to send the musicians out ahead of the army. They worshipped…you fought…we won.”
“Yes,” said God. “Worship maximizes my power while minimizing human challenges.”
“You mean it puts everything into proper perspective?”
“Exactly.”
“What do you want me to do, Lord?”
“Go to Zerubbabel, the governor of the people, and Joshua, their spiritual leader, with this message. Remind them that I am the Almighty LORD and I am with them. Tell them to invest in my kingdom first and I will prosper them, in spirit first, and then in their labor.”
“Thank you, Lord.” Haggai bowed low. “I praise you and honor your great name.”
The prophet hurried to the governor’s mansion, stopping at the high priest’s house on the way. “Come, Joshua,” he urged. “I have a word from our mighty Lord. He is with us!”
* meaning – Festive
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Motivation
I admit...I am a tea-bag toting...Don't-Tread-on-Me flag waving...demonstrator for conservatism and liberty. But, under all the enthusiasm, my spirit stirs with unsettling thoughts.
Finally, finally, the body of Christ appears to be uniting. Did she unite when prayer was removed from school, then the Bible? Did she unite when America legalized the murder of unborn children?
She is uniting now...as our wallets are seriously threatened by higher taxes and more government regulation and control.
While I am all for reining in excessive government, I question the church's motives for reacting NOW. And, I question my own motives.
Do I want God to reign in America or the return of my former comfortable standard of living?
If God chooses to allow financial crises to awaken the lost...will my spirit sing "Amen" or grumble?
Serious questions for serious times.
Finally, finally, the body of Christ appears to be uniting. Did she unite when prayer was removed from school, then the Bible? Did she unite when America legalized the murder of unborn children?
She is uniting now...as our wallets are seriously threatened by higher taxes and more government regulation and control.
While I am all for reining in excessive government, I question the church's motives for reacting NOW. And, I question my own motives.
Do I want God to reign in America or the return of my former comfortable standard of living?
If God chooses to allow financial crises to awaken the lost...will my spirit sing "Amen" or grumble?
Serious questions for serious times.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Annoyed Delight
His sleek limo drew up to the convenience store/gas station, overfilling the tiny parking lot. My mind jumped from worry over unpaid bills to annoyance at the car’s length and how other customers would have a hard time maneuvering around it.
The back door opened, unattended, and the rider stepped out. My breath caught and froze in my throat. Adonis, Prince Charming and the Ultimate Male all packaged in tailored comfort strode towards the door, opened it and moved to the cooler section. Moments later he brought two chocolate milks to my counter.
I rang them up in silence, head bowed to my task. When I lifted my eyes to give him the total, he drew a breath sharp into himself.
“Oh my dear. What lovely eyes you have. So blue and clear and…perfect.”
My stunned mind refused to process the compliment. First, why would this rich somebody talk to poor nobody me? Second, my work attire wouldn’t attract a lonely fly, let alone a man.
Our gaze met, held and locked. Time stopped. Worry fled. I, insignificant-cashier-of-a-gas-station-convenience-store ceased to know who I am.
“Please,” he coaxed with a smile as broad as Texas and teeth as white as Montana snow. “Come away with me.” He held out his bronzed hand.
Reality vanished as I lost myself in his gaze. Dumbly I placed my chilled un-manicured hand in his large, warm one and allowed him to lead me to his limo. He opened the door, ushered me in, slid next to me and closed the door behind us.
“Drive on,” he said with a cheery wave. The driver asked for no directions. Perfect Man offered none.
Within moments, we pulled up to a Tudor-styled mansion, black beams stark against gleaming white. I followed my tender captor into the house and down a long, spacious hallway. He opened a far door, and stepped aside, allowing me to precede him.
A lone wine-colored loveseat adorned the room, facing a wall-sized screen. “Sit,” he invited, before joining me on the couch. With a gentle snap of fingers a movie began.
I gasped, its sound loud and echoing in the room, as my life from birth to present rolled by. He grasped my hand. When I lied, he squeezed it. When someone lied to me, he held it harder. My misdeeds, others’ misdeeds against me, happy times, sad times, embarrassing times all rolled, tumbling together like the Niagara, across the screen. Every hope and dream exposed. His grasp on my tainted hand never lessened. The movie ended, showing us sitting on the loveseat in the same room. I turned to him for explanation.
“Come,” he beaconed again. We moved to a side door and into another room. Gold velvet blanketed every wall, warming and illuminating the bareness. We sat together on another loveseat, of gold crushed-velvet.
Another snap of fingers. Another movie. His life. His hopes and dreams. Suddenly my figure waltzed onto the screen.
My back stiffened. My hands clenched. How did I get there? Why was I there? He placed an arm about me, pulling me back against him, giving my shoulders a gentle squeeze.
“Ah,” his contented sigh bushed my ear. “This is my favorite part.”
The back door opened, unattended, and the rider stepped out. My breath caught and froze in my throat. Adonis, Prince Charming and the Ultimate Male all packaged in tailored comfort strode towards the door, opened it and moved to the cooler section. Moments later he brought two chocolate milks to my counter.
I rang them up in silence, head bowed to my task. When I lifted my eyes to give him the total, he drew a breath sharp into himself.
“Oh my dear. What lovely eyes you have. So blue and clear and…perfect.”
My stunned mind refused to process the compliment. First, why would this rich somebody talk to poor nobody me? Second, my work attire wouldn’t attract a lonely fly, let alone a man.
Our gaze met, held and locked. Time stopped. Worry fled. I, insignificant-cashier-of-a-gas-station-convenience-store ceased to know who I am.
“Please,” he coaxed with a smile as broad as Texas and teeth as white as Montana snow. “Come away with me.” He held out his bronzed hand.
Reality vanished as I lost myself in his gaze. Dumbly I placed my chilled un-manicured hand in his large, warm one and allowed him to lead me to his limo. He opened the door, ushered me in, slid next to me and closed the door behind us.
“Drive on,” he said with a cheery wave. The driver asked for no directions. Perfect Man offered none.
Within moments, we pulled up to a Tudor-styled mansion, black beams stark against gleaming white. I followed my tender captor into the house and down a long, spacious hallway. He opened a far door, and stepped aside, allowing me to precede him.
A lone wine-colored loveseat adorned the room, facing a wall-sized screen. “Sit,” he invited, before joining me on the couch. With a gentle snap of fingers a movie began.
I gasped, its sound loud and echoing in the room, as my life from birth to present rolled by. He grasped my hand. When I lied, he squeezed it. When someone lied to me, he held it harder. My misdeeds, others’ misdeeds against me, happy times, sad times, embarrassing times all rolled, tumbling together like the Niagara, across the screen. Every hope and dream exposed. His grasp on my tainted hand never lessened. The movie ended, showing us sitting on the loveseat in the same room. I turned to him for explanation.
“Come,” he beaconed again. We moved to a side door and into another room. Gold velvet blanketed every wall, warming and illuminating the bareness. We sat together on another loveseat, of gold crushed-velvet.
Another snap of fingers. Another movie. His life. His hopes and dreams. Suddenly my figure waltzed onto the screen.
My back stiffened. My hands clenched. How did I get there? Why was I there? He placed an arm about me, pulling me back against him, giving my shoulders a gentle squeeze.
“Ah,” his contented sigh bushed my ear. “This is my favorite part.”
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Rainbow of Life
Pink-slipped.
My breath whooshes away like an unknotted balloon.
I sag into my chair, clutching the slender paper with numbed fingers.
Dreams derailed.
Orange-clad
Arms cross to pillow my aching head.
Drugged lethargy coaxes me into hopeless stupor.
Stunned surrender.
I tumble into nothingness
Landing on feet as silent as death.
I find myself centered in a gigantic room.
Mirrored walls catch and toss myriads of chandelier lights.
Brilliant bewilderment.
My dressed-for-success suit
Morphs into a luxurious satiny gown
With a rainbow of diaphanous scarves veiling its skirt.
Rapt wrappings.
A man approaches, impeccably groomed, perfect of form.
“Shall we dance?” His melodious voice ripples
Over my weary soul as a stream in the desert.
Gently he closes warm fingers over my own chilled ones.
Sensitive stranger.
He draws me into a waltz.
We glide over the polished floor, whirling and swirling, feet in perfect accord.
Matched mates.
He plucks a scarf from my skirt, enveloping us in its pinkness.
I am a child – carefree – dancing in my father’s arms.
I throw my head back as laughter bubbles up
And out of me, rolling all adult burdens away to oblivion.
Incandescent innocence.
Vibrant orange
Slides through his bronzed fingers,
The flaming brilliance pulsating youthful optimism.
Eternal energy.
Serene blue
Swaddles us in contentment as life dreams
Are met and filled, marching in expected precision.
Loving husband, good job, comfortable home.
Goals gained.
I glance down and gasp.
The gray of disappointment
Swallows innocence, energy and serenity.
My steps slow and I lose the timing of the dance.
Black sorrow and brown doubt fuse with the gray.
The tortuous trio circles me, weaving their lethal pattern,
Smothering my heart to
Dreadful despair.
Why did God upset the life’s harmony
By placing a defective newborn in my arms,
Knowing my mate would abandon us in the crisis?
I weep in my partner’s arms, my feet stumbling,
Forgetting the steps which had flowed from me moments before.
Piercing pain.
Gently we sway together as sorrow surges and ebbs,
Surges and ebbs through my heart.
He leads, I care not where.
I press my storm-ravished face into his chest,
His heartbeat thuds against scorched cheeks.
I sense his love as he imparts relaxed strength.
Confusion and doubt dribble from my heart.
He holds me tighter and tighter in his
Granite Grip.
Soothing green
Laves off desolation as we twirl the whys of life away.
I embrace the disappointments that shifted my vision from internal
To external, now conscious of other shattered hearts.
I laugh at hurts that sharpened my senses for other suffering souls.
Healing hope.
Yellow joy
Surges through my being as my partner spins me faster and
Faster, wrapping us in a cocoon of golden ecstasy.
Glorious glimmer.
Dazzling light Radiates from my unveiled dress, a beautifully
Beaded and flowing wedding gown.
I grin at my partner, who has led me with unfaltering steps
Through this dance of life.
My forever bridegroom.
Jesus.
My breath whooshes away like an unknotted balloon.
I sag into my chair, clutching the slender paper with numbed fingers.
Dreams derailed.
Orange-clad
Arms cross to pillow my aching head.
Drugged lethargy coaxes me into hopeless stupor.
Stunned surrender.
I tumble into nothingness
Landing on feet as silent as death.
I find myself centered in a gigantic room.
Mirrored walls catch and toss myriads of chandelier lights.
Brilliant bewilderment.
My dressed-for-success suit
Morphs into a luxurious satiny gown
With a rainbow of diaphanous scarves veiling its skirt.
Rapt wrappings.
A man approaches, impeccably groomed, perfect of form.
“Shall we dance?” His melodious voice ripples
Over my weary soul as a stream in the desert.
Gently he closes warm fingers over my own chilled ones.
Sensitive stranger.
He draws me into a waltz.
We glide over the polished floor, whirling and swirling, feet in perfect accord.
Matched mates.
He plucks a scarf from my skirt, enveloping us in its pinkness.
I am a child – carefree – dancing in my father’s arms.
I throw my head back as laughter bubbles up
And out of me, rolling all adult burdens away to oblivion.
Incandescent innocence.
Vibrant orange
Slides through his bronzed fingers,
The flaming brilliance pulsating youthful optimism.
Eternal energy.
Serene blue
Swaddles us in contentment as life dreams
Are met and filled, marching in expected precision.
Loving husband, good job, comfortable home.
Goals gained.
I glance down and gasp.
The gray of disappointment
Swallows innocence, energy and serenity.
My steps slow and I lose the timing of the dance.
Black sorrow and brown doubt fuse with the gray.
The tortuous trio circles me, weaving their lethal pattern,
Smothering my heart to
Dreadful despair.
Why did God upset the life’s harmony
By placing a defective newborn in my arms,
Knowing my mate would abandon us in the crisis?
I weep in my partner’s arms, my feet stumbling,
Forgetting the steps which had flowed from me moments before.
Piercing pain.
Gently we sway together as sorrow surges and ebbs,
Surges and ebbs through my heart.
He leads, I care not where.
I press my storm-ravished face into his chest,
His heartbeat thuds against scorched cheeks.
I sense his love as he imparts relaxed strength.
Confusion and doubt dribble from my heart.
He holds me tighter and tighter in his
Granite Grip.
Soothing green
Laves off desolation as we twirl the whys of life away.
I embrace the disappointments that shifted my vision from internal
To external, now conscious of other shattered hearts.
I laugh at hurts that sharpened my senses for other suffering souls.
Healing hope.
Yellow joy
Surges through my being as my partner spins me faster and
Faster, wrapping us in a cocoon of golden ecstasy.
Glorious glimmer.
Dazzling light Radiates from my unveiled dress, a beautifully
Beaded and flowing wedding gown.
I grin at my partner, who has led me with unfaltering steps
Through this dance of life.
My forever bridegroom.
Jesus.
Monday, January 11, 2010
I Cried...the Lion Died
Tonight I watched Chronicles of Narnia on Disney. This is the 3rd time I've watched the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I enjoyed every moment until Aslan left camp to go to the Witch's and the girls followed. He told them to go back and they insisted on staying with him. He thanked them and said "I could use the company for awhile."
"I could use the company for awhile." That one simple sentence hit me with all the force of God's truth. Jesus wants to be my friend and he wants me to be his friend as well. I get so busy with life's busyness...I forget he wants my friendship.
He wants my friendship. Like old friends sipping iced tea on a hot day and reminiscing of memories...he wants to sit with me...share life with me...share secrets...mine and his.
Tonight I repented for taking for granted the best friend I've ever had...Jesus.
"I could use the company for awhile." That one simple sentence hit me with all the force of God's truth. Jesus wants to be my friend and he wants me to be his friend as well. I get so busy with life's busyness...I forget he wants my friendship.
He wants my friendship. Like old friends sipping iced tea on a hot day and reminiscing of memories...he wants to sit with me...share life with me...share secrets...mine and his.
Tonight I repented for taking for granted the best friend I've ever had...Jesus.
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