Zechariah 4:5 and 13 Zechariah was a prophet. He was supposed to understand what was going on. But position does not always guarantee understanding. When this angel showed up and asked a question, Zach told the angel what he saw but asked the angel what this was about. The angel seemed surprised that Zach did not know and at least twice asked "do you not know what these are?"
It isn't too surprising to identify with Zechariah is it? There are times when we should have learned something God has been trying to get us to understand but when we ask what is going on, God could easily reply just like this angel with "don't you know?"
Why does it take us so long to get it? Psalms 119:59 and 60 give a clue. Instant obedience is what God is after. If I delay doing what God wants, the learning curve is lengthened and it becomes easy to not understand what God is up to in my life.
I would like to blame anything but my lack of obedience, but God knows better and asks this question of us to get us to focus on the right issue.
Are you having a hard time understanding something going on in your life right now? There could be another reason but maybe you are delaying doing something God has spoken to you about.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Blowing in the Wind
This is not a blog about Wyoming. It is connected to Haggai 1:9
There are always consequences to living like I want to and not like God has in mind. It was the same for these people. They neglected building God's temple because they were preoccupied with their own houses. As a result, their expectations were too high. It is not that they could not be achieved but rather their preoccupation with their own lifestyle adversely affected their expectations. What they earned and brought home, God diminished significantly. Having your gain blown away by God has to reveal how God sees this kind of lifestyle they were living. Too bad for them...right?
How easy to focus on what I want to do, what I am convinced is important for me or my family, or even what ministry I want to focus on. But what is on God's heart for you and I? It is not so much things to do but rather relationship to develop in order to know what we are to be giving our time, motivation and energy to. We easily justify so much of our stuff and neglect what God says is critical. There are consequences to this attitude or behavior. What do you think God will blow away in your life? God has a determined purpose for us and is focused on it beyond what we could imagine.
What are you thinking about buying this week? Doing next weekend or Thursday evening? To follow Jesus means we intentionally carve out time to do what he has said is critical and are involved in people's lives rather than spending more time than necessary on our computer or whatever we do for ourselves.
There are always consequences to living like I want to and not like God has in mind. It was the same for these people. They neglected building God's temple because they were preoccupied with their own houses. As a result, their expectations were too high. It is not that they could not be achieved but rather their preoccupation with their own lifestyle adversely affected their expectations. What they earned and brought home, God diminished significantly. Having your gain blown away by God has to reveal how God sees this kind of lifestyle they were living. Too bad for them...right?
How easy to focus on what I want to do, what I am convinced is important for me or my family, or even what ministry I want to focus on. But what is on God's heart for you and I? It is not so much things to do but rather relationship to develop in order to know what we are to be giving our time, motivation and energy to. We easily justify so much of our stuff and neglect what God says is critical. There are consequences to this attitude or behavior. What do you think God will blow away in your life? God has a determined purpose for us and is focused on it beyond what we could imagine.
What are you thinking about buying this week? Doing next weekend or Thursday evening? To follow Jesus means we intentionally carve out time to do what he has said is critical and are involved in people's lives rather than spending more time than necessary on our computer or whatever we do for ourselves.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
I'm not going to the doctor for an examination!
After a break to work on a document that I am still working on, I have decided to restart the blog. It will be shorter.
Haggai 1:7 is my first thought for the new start. "Give careful attention to your ways..." What does this mean, how do you begin to do it and what might result from doing this? The NLT says it this way "Look at what's happening to you."
First Stop "Careful" What does careful mean to you? Some of my thoughts-thinking through, taking my time and not rushing, not overlooking areas of my life I want to avoid, asking God to give me insight into how I am living my life. this is not a glance but rather is deliberate focusing on my life. It requires no distractions and perhaps a day away with God.
Second Stop "Thought" Is it difficult for you to think? I find it easy to rush through this and miss the heart of what God is wanting to say to me. Part of what this means is to think about what God's purpose is for me and think about how my life looks compared to it.
"Your" This word makes it personal. I do not need to think about how someone else is missing it but rather only look at my life. There is enough here that I will not have time to critique someone else. Look also at Romans 14:12,13
"Ways" How am I doing with Frannie, friends God has brought into my life, people in the small group I meet with, my disciplines, temptations, busyness, the church aspect of my life, following Jesus, being distinct from the culture I live in. I am sure you get it. Take some time to let God show you the areas of your life he wants you to "carefully" examine. I wonder how our summer would look if we did this now.
Haggai 1:7 is my first thought for the new start. "Give careful attention to your ways..." What does this mean, how do you begin to do it and what might result from doing this? The NLT says it this way "Look at what's happening to you."
First Stop "Careful" What does careful mean to you? Some of my thoughts-thinking through, taking my time and not rushing, not overlooking areas of my life I want to avoid, asking God to give me insight into how I am living my life. this is not a glance but rather is deliberate focusing on my life. It requires no distractions and perhaps a day away with God.
Second Stop "Thought" Is it difficult for you to think? I find it easy to rush through this and miss the heart of what God is wanting to say to me. Part of what this means is to think about what God's purpose is for me and think about how my life looks compared to it.
"Your" This word makes it personal. I do not need to think about how someone else is missing it but rather only look at my life. There is enough here that I will not have time to critique someone else. Look also at Romans 14:12,13
"Ways" How am I doing with Frannie, friends God has brought into my life, people in the small group I meet with, my disciplines, temptations, busyness, the church aspect of my life, following Jesus, being distinct from the culture I live in. I am sure you get it. Take some time to let God show you the areas of your life he wants you to "carefully" examine. I wonder how our summer would look if we did this now.
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