Last Wednesday night our Bible Study was on Haggai. Yeah, that's right. One of those little books at the end of the Old Testament that you have to thumb through the pages several times to find. And the passage read could easily have been an autobiographical description of my feelings. Here's the Monica paraphrase:
You work hard, but it's not enough.
You get new clothes, but they're either not warm enough or too hot (or don't fit right).
You eat (and cook and clean up afterward) but it doesn't really satisfy (or else is unhealthy).
You finally earn money, only to find it's already spent.
Your big expectations? They turned out nothing like you had hoped.
Think about what you're doing. What are you doing to build up God's kingdom?
Only after you've quit worrying about yourself, your own house, your own needs and focus on God's temple and kingdom will there be peace.
Do you hear me uttering OUCH! ? Did you hear me almost gasp Sunday morning when the visiting Haitian pastor made this statement: "It's time for us to get serious."
There are times in my life when I think I'm doing okay. Not great, but not bad. Then circumstances and situations arise, and I realize how woefully not okay my situation truly is. "When God asks us questions, He's not seeking information. He's looking for our reaction." (also from yesterday) I so badly want to be in control of my life. And yet when I am, I find that's when I'm the most discontent.
He must increase, but I must decrease. And that's about as easy as dieting.
You work hard, but it's not enough.
You get new clothes, but they're either not warm enough or too hot (or don't fit right).
You eat (and cook and clean up afterward) but it doesn't really satisfy (or else is unhealthy).
You finally earn money, only to find it's already spent.
Your big expectations? They turned out nothing like you had hoped.
Think about what you're doing. What are you doing to build up God's kingdom?
Only after you've quit worrying about yourself, your own house, your own needs and focus on God's temple and kingdom will there be peace.
Do you hear me uttering OUCH! ? Did you hear me almost gasp Sunday morning when the visiting Haitian pastor made this statement: "It's time for us to get serious."
There are times in my life when I think I'm doing okay. Not great, but not bad. Then circumstances and situations arise, and I realize how woefully not okay my situation truly is. "When God asks us questions, He's not seeking information. He's looking for our reaction." (also from yesterday) I so badly want to be in control of my life. And yet when I am, I find that's when I'm the most discontent.
He must increase, but I must decrease. And that's about as easy as dieting.
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