New Year's Challenge

  I'm not sure the title really fits this blog.  I'm not really one for New Year's resolutions, but I usually do use the changing of the year as a time of evaluation of the previous year and a time to look forward and see what needs to change for the coming year. 
  It happened this year that as the end of Dec. rolled around, I found myself reading in the book of Haggai.  Haggai was a prophet contemporary with Ezra.  He prophesied to a remnant of God's people, who had returned from Babylonian captivity, and were tasked with rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.
  Things had not gone well.  They had begun the work with excitement and enthusisasm, but soon found that the work was hard, the outcome wasn't looking as grand as they had envisioned it, and worst of all they had enemies who reported unfavorably to the king and he ordered the work stopped.  For about 16 years the temple stood uncompleted and the people built their own homes, and went about their daily lives.  Then God spoke to Haggai, and he brought a message for the people.   Essentially the message was for them to obey God, do what they were called to do, and build the temple. 
  This message has gone over and  over in my heart since I read it.  Do what you are called of God to do FIRST, and fill the other things in around it (not the other way around as I find it so easy to do).  I tend to be pretty distractable and almost everything interests me..... so keeping resolutely focused on what God has called me to do, and making sure that is what gets done first is definitely a challenge.  Haggai's message really speaks to my heart, hope it blesses yours too.