No Satisfaction!

"These people say, 'The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord's house'....
The Word of the Lord says, "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while my house remains a ruin?"
"Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." 
The Lord says, "Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored. You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. Haggai 1:2-9

The temple of the Lord still lay in ruins. The Israelites started to rebuild after their arrival from captivity, but opposition hindered them and eventually discouraged them. They quit building and focused instead on their own houses and lives.

Fifteen years later, complacency and procrastination set in. They kept saying, "it's not time yet to rebuild the temple. It's not good timing right now, other things are higher up on the priority list, etc....

Frustration and distractions now settled in. nothing seemed to go well. They expected so much, but it turned out to be little. Why? Why is their path so hard? Does it have to be such a struggle? Nothing seems to satisfy. I'm so disquieted.

God's word cut through to the heart of the problem. They have used all their efforts, put all their hearts into enriching their own lives and homes while God's house lay in ruins. They have neglected the most important thing. 

We are a temple of the Holy Spirit, when we give our hearts to Jesus, His Spirit dwells within. 

Our enemy tries to distract us. To skew our priorities. Our focus can become distorted. And so we turn away to other things. Give our hearts and efforts to fill the emptiness. 

It just doesn't work. Nothing quite does it. Life is a struggle. Our expectations of people, work, etc.... falls short and disappoints. 

The Temple is neglected. That most Holy Place inside where we meet with Jesus. We commune with Him. Lay down all the hurts and disappointments. Satisfaction is there. Our starved, battered souls finds rest and peace. 

Why do we neglect this? Why do we push Him away? I don't have an answer. Sadly, I do it too. But He woos me, calls to me, and pulls me back. I pray He never stops. I need Him so badly. 

Beloved, answer His call. Go to Him now. Don't neglect your Temple. Rebuild it, keep the oil lamps burning, spend time there in His presence. You will never regret it. 

I gave up Candy Crush and ended up with far more than I asked for

I honestly never thought about Lent for most of my life. The church I attended never talked much about it. But I'll never look at it the same after this season. 

The early English meaning for Lent is "Lengthen." Daylight lengthens as we reset our clocks. 

Lent reflects on the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness, before His three years of ministry, death and resurrection. He went without food, was tempted and strengthened by His Father. 

Lent is a time to slow down, stretch out and grow spiritually. To rest in the presence of God, rather than force the pace. Not that we shouldn't do this all year round, as we should. 

If you follow Lent, you give things up. Something we feel we can't do without. This sounds laughable now, but I gave up Candy Crush. 

Early this spring in a women's study, we were asked to give up something. It was kind of a "Lent". 

Then the virus happened. Quarantine happened. Lent was basically forced upon us. Days have definitely lengthened! March seemed to be an eternity. 

We've been forced to give up things we wouldn't have volunteered, surrendered before. We've been stripped down to the bare necessities. Even control has been taken away from us. 

I've been forced to slow down. I've had to do without luxuries I've enjoyed before. I've been close to tears many times. 

Nevertheless, this Lent season has changed me. For the better. I probably won't be the same afterward. I've prayed more, leaned more on Jesus. I've been present more, which ironically is why I gave up Candy Crush. 

I've been stretched. But like a muscle, stretching is good and needful to grow and be stronger. It can be uncomfortable and painful, but in the end my faith is stronger. I've drawn closer to Jesus. The unnecessary weights have been removed. 

Eventually Lent will be over and hopefully normal life will resume. But I don't want this season to be a waste. I pray the Lord uses this time to grow me and change me. 

After Jesus' time in the wilderness, it says He returned to Galilee in "the power of the Spirit." Luke 4:14 

It's my prayer that when I walk out of this wilderness/Lent season: that I will be more tender to the Spirit's leading 
that I hear His voice more clearly
that I be more effective in however He uses me
that I have pure motives

So many more I could list. So thankful for His faithfulness to me, His servant.