Greater Glory

But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty. 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.' "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.  I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty." Haggai 2:4-9

This is one of my favorite passages. Many years ago our Pastor at a former church spoke on this passage; at the time, Dan and I were struggling with so many things in our life: I was on bed rest during my pregnancy with our daughter, Dan had been laid off from work and had been out of work for 5 months, we lost our home and we were financially stressed to say the least. But this passage gave me great hope that the former glory of our home would change to a greater glory because God owned the gold and the silver…He was sovereign and had us and all that we were facing in the palm of His hands. All we needed to do was not fear and remember that God’s Spirit was with us. In the end, God proved to be faithful to us and He did provide for us in amazing ways that we could not fathom or think up on our own.

As we leave 2011 and all its’ glory, successes, and struggles, we can look forward to 2012 with hope that God’s Spirit is with us and what he had planned for us in 2011 doesn’t even compare to what He has planned for us in 2012. With this promise we pray for our future and we trust in His provision. I look forward to His handiwork in our lives and in the ministry of Kids Quest at River Club.

Dear God,

Thank you for your provision, your covenant, and your Spirit. Thank you for being faithful to us in 2011 and for continuing your faithfulness to us in 2012. We start a new year with new hope for greater glory than the past glory we have experienced. We pray specifically for the children of Kids Quest that this year would be marked as the year they grow deeply in YOU and widely in INFLUENCE at school, their neighborhoods, and their family.  Empower the leaders and the volunteers with Your wisdom, with Your vision, with Your heart, with Your character, so that we only implement what YOU desire in the lives of these children. Grow the volunteer team numerically and spiritually so that we are equipped to do Your will and help each child and each family know you intimately through Your word and Your presence. You have promised that if we honor You, You will honor us. Honor our request, Lord. And give us success in Your kingdom work! Shake us Lord, Fill us with Your Glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen.