Thought for February 18

 History:

  • 1678: John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" published
  • 1856: The American Party [Know-Nothings] convene to nominate Millard Fillmore for President
  • 1885: Mark Twain publishes "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
  • 1908: First US postage stamps in rolls
  • 1930: Pluto discovered
  • 1948: Father Butrus Sowny of St. Mark's Orthodox Monastery asks John Trever to examine an old manuscript--first discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls
  • 1954: Church of Scientology formed in L.A.
  • 1965: Jimmie Lee Jackson is beaten and shot during a march in Marion Alabama inspiring the Selma to Montgomery marches
  • Born: Allessandro Volta [battery], George Peabody, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Wendell Wilkie, Hans Asperger [Nazi doctor for whom Asperger's syndrome is named], Bill Cullen, Jack Palance, Helen Gurley Brown, George Kennedy, Toni Morrison, Yoko Ono, Judy Rankin, Cybil Shepherd, John Hughes, John Travolta, Matt Dillon, Dr. Dre, Molly Ringwald, 
  • Died: Kublai Khan, Martin Luther, Michelangelo, Willaim Sandys ["First Noel"], Frank James, Robert Oppenheimer, Andy Devine, Harry Caray, Dale Earnhardt, Eddie Matthews
Thought:
Reading in Haggai 2 this morning. A month had passed since God spoke through Haggai in 1:1. The people had been building the Temple, but had become discouraged. Why? Some of the people remembered Solomon's Temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586, some 65 years earlier. They recall the beautiful stones. They remember the gold used in the construction [45000 pounds of gold]. Now this Temple would not compare at all to Solomon's Temple. Ever had that experience. Something happened and you had to downsize your house, lower your vacation standards, buy a cheaper car, shop at Target and not Nordstrom. You get discouraged and sink into despair. 

Look at what God says to these people:
  • The silver and gold is the Lord's [2:8]. God does not need a Temple covered in gold--He owns all the gold and can speak more into existence. Don't worry about the outward appearance, God is looking at your hearts. Paul said that he learned to be satisfied with much and with little--why? The Lord was his sufficiency. 
  • Take courage, do not fear, I am with you. [2:4-5] Don't get discouraged, don't despair. Look up, look to God. God promises to abide in their midst. He promises to be with them. Now what does that say to me. Jesus sent another Comforter--the Holy Spirit--to guide, teach, encourage, strengthen. Do not fear for God is with you. And notice, He calls himself "Lord of Hosts," Lord of the armies of God. He comes in power and strength. 
  • Work [2:4]. Knowing that everything belongs to God means we never lack resources. Knowing God is with us means we never fear or doubt and we always have power. So we work to show ourselves approved. We work to demonstrate our faith. We work to bring glory to Jesus. We work to proclaim His Good News. 
  • Remember His promise. [2:9] His coming glory will make the past glory pale. When he comes in His glory He will make all things new. 
Today do not fear, take courage, work for the day of the Lord is coming. 
Blessings
Larry

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