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When we read the prophets we tend to put ourselves in their place.  We read them as if we are Jeremiah, Isaiah or Haggai.  We read them as if we see things clearly and shake our heads at the people who are living in rebellion to God.  Yet, the reality is we are most often the people not the prophet.  We are being assimilated into the sinful ways of our world not rising above the world and speaking truth.  As we studied Haggai God spoke powerfully to me about what had happened to the returning people of God.  They called to rebuild the temple yet they left the project and took care of their own homes.  Even as God punished through a lack of crops and blessing they continued not even realizing God was punishing them.  Enter Haggai.  Haggai like the other prophets doesn’t beat around the bush he speaks straight to the issue.  It is time for you to live in paneled houses while the Lord’s House is in ruins?  How could they (after exile) so quickly forget their purpose?  The church today has done the same thing we have lost our purpose- Worshiping God by reaching the lost and teaching them to obey ALL He has commanded. 

The people’s response was refreshing.  They repented and the Bible says God stirred their hearts to complete the project!  That is my daily prayer for our church now.  I pray God will help us to repent and finish the project we were born to complete- reaching every person for Christ.  To do that we need a stirring of the Spirit!  Pray with me that God will stir us.

Eddie

Jn 3:30

By loss I just mean for now.  In the middle of losing Larry it’s hard not to encounter our Savior.  Loss drives us to the cross.  The cross is the place where we can relate our pain to God’s.  If we are willing we can lay aside our loss and dwell for a time on His loss.  We are able to empathize with a God willing to suffer.  By the very nature of God it seems impossible that He should suffer.  Our wonderful creator who loved us so, why should He suffer?  The cross puts all of life in proper perspective.  God can comfort us because He understands through experience what it is to suffer loss.  Though Christ was restored after three days we should never trivialize those three days.  One second is far too long for the Wonderful One to have to suffer.  In losing Larry we find Jesus.  In fact it’s hard for me not to think of Jesus when I think of Larry.  Every their personalities seems similar in so many ways.  Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and I will give you rest for your souls. 

                There are many people who are more like Christ because God used Larry to show us what Jesus looked like.  Every time I was around him I was blessed.  I wish he were here so I could hug him and tell Him how much he means to me and my family.  We will always be different because of Larry and I am certain we look more like our Savior.  I wish I could call and ask for the thousandth favor or see his truck pull up outside the office one more time.  I can’t help but wonder in all this why God would take someone who looked so much like His Son and then I remember He let His Son leave Heaven so we could have His presence.  He knows how we feel.  He is a good and compassionate God.  May His compassion be felt by all as we wait for His return…

Father,

Thank you for putting Larry into our lives.  Thank you for the days we spent together dreaming about your Kingdom.  Thank you for the beautiful picture he is of a son, husband and father.  We praise you for his never ending energy and love.  We are eager to see him again and serve you together once again.  Father thank you for your sacrifice and suffering we would be hopeless without you.

Love Eddie