Read Malachi 1-4, Psalm 50 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. Malachi 1:1 Real love confronts. As we read the whole book of Malachi, it’s clear God, out of love is speaking direct. Malachi 1:11 is our reminder to take time to pray, in every nation, in every place. Regifting an unwanted item is not a sacrifice. This is like what they were doing, and God was not having it. God is talking about his altar, having real fire on it not useless fire. Useless means wasted money and time. Have you ever wasted someone’s time or money or…

Read Esther 6-10 Powerless people who put their trust in God, can modify and drastically change the world. The influence of Esther was only plausible because of her willingness to be vulnerable with her own life. She risks all. Mordecai is honored. Take notice of his character and actions to consistently work for the good of his people, the welfare and peace of his whole nation, and the good of the ruling king. His actions are rewarded and yet the verdict unchanged. (Esther 10:3, 6) Esther must break her silence. (Esther 7) Where is God calling you to break your…

Rest Day He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while”—for there were many [people who were continually] coming and going, and they could not even find time to eat. Mark 6:31

Read Esther 1-5 You are where you are for a purpose.

Read Zechariah 8-14 I will save you that you may become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong. Zechariah 8:13 is the encouragement the unsure needed to hear. And just like the time I was doing an event, and my daughter wrote Jesus on the RSVP list in her elementary age handwriting, I needed that scribble of encouragement. Who would also want to know God will come?! God’s plan is to do just that. Zechariah 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly your king is coming to you. He is just. He is confident and his arrival is with a gift,…

Read Zechariah 1-7 Return to me, and I’ll return to you. This is pretty direct. God is clearly looking for reciprocity. Zachariah begins prophesying in the second year of king Darius and yes he is successful in what God is planning, for the days ahead. And boom the Temple is finished in the sixth year of king Darius. (Ezra 6:15) Zachariah and Haggai work in tandem although Zechariah is younger. The purpose of these ‘priest-prophets’ messages is for the Israelites to build the temple. This book has an incredibly beautiful, Messianic motif. God will come humble and distinctly human (Zechariah…

Read Haggai 1-2 If Haggai were a local preacher today he would start with, ‘Give careful thought to your ways.’ Is it working? Are your current efforts yielding a harvest? For a moment, take your eyes off your house, your family and yourself. Is there anything you could do for God’s house? Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. And work. Do the thing you can for God. GOD is with you. Do not fear. Greater glory and a gift of peace is promised to God’s people. Haggai charges them to give careful thought. ‘From this day on I will bless…

Read Ezra 4-6 King Cyrus commands the building of the temple. Opposition and accusations ensue in order stop the rebuilding. Where have you made progress? How has the enemy tried to stop you? Jesus has all eternal dominion and authority. In Ezra 5:3, the governor asks the question, who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it? The enemy will use rulers and men in authority to interfere and intimidate and even to attempt to halt the building up of God’s kingdom. God himself was working, and the prophets were working in conjunction with God, Haggai, and Zechariah…

Read 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1-3 Ezra starts off with the fulfillment of the prophecy’s of Jeremiah. God will do what he has spoken!

Rest Day “Sabbath is that uncluttered time and space in which we can distance ourselves from our own activities enough to see what God is doing.”     – Eugene H. Peterson