CHN Newsletter October 2003

“Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the Lord.” (Haggai 1:8).

October 2003

Dear Friend,

Trusting that all is well with you and your loved ones. We are fine, and we are praising God for allowing us to celebrate 14 years of ministry this month. What an awesome God we serve! Glory! Would you like to take a walk down memory lane with me today? Was that a “Yes?” Okay... let us put on our sneakers and walk together.

Many of you will remember how we met almost 26 years ago as phone counselors for Christian Broadcasting Network’s 700 Club. Pastor Dean Whitney, who has since gone home to be with the Lord, was the Area Director at the time. I remember very clearly how God led me to this wonderful ministry, and how God worked in my life at that time. You may even have a story to tell...

Let us stop for a minute at this point, and talk about Haggai. Haggai, whose name means “Festive” had all the qualities of a good pastor. He was an encourager, and was in tune with the hearts of the people, and with the mind of God. He addressed three problems mutually shared by people at all times, and gave solutions to those problems. The first problem was disinterest. (1:1-15). The people had started the task of rebuilding the temple for God, but then the work stopped as they focused on life, and their own concerns. How many of us begin to do something to build God’s Kingdom, and then let the trials and tribulations of life take our focus away from it? God calls us, we respond, but then we take our eyes off Him, and look to the things of this world. I did that, for a while. I was going to church, but not serving God. My eyes were on my problems instead of Him. After promising God that I would tell the world how He healed me of polio, I went through a very difficult part of my life, and for a while, ceased to seek Him in the way that I had before.

The second problem was discouragement. (2:1-9). Some of the older people had seen Solomon’s temple when they were children, so they knew that no temple could compare with it. Their discouragement passed on to the younger people, and in less than a month after rebuilding, the work stopped. Haggai addresses this discouragement, by telling the people to be strong, and work, that they were building for the day when God would fill this house with His glory, and that it would exceed the glory of Solomon’s temple. (2:9). How many times do we allow discouragement to take our joy and hope away? We begin something new, and then we lose heart when it becomes hard, or we feel as if we cannot measure up to the task. As a result, our dream fades away, and we feel as if it can never happen. Life has a way of beating us down, and making us feel like we can not achieve the success that we yearn for.

The last issue was dissatisfaction. (2:10-23). Haggai talks to the people about clean and unclean things, and their influence on one another. He addresses the problem of expecting the work of three months to undo the neglect of many years. Isn’t it amazing, how we can get ourselves into situations, mess things up, and then think we can undo everything in a day? Or we neglect our prayer life; perhaps get lazy, and then expect to have this great relationship with God, where we hear from Him daily? Our relationship with God takes work, and commitment! If our husband, or wife, never spoke to us, except for once in a while when they needed something, how would we rate our marriage? Not very well, I am sure!

Amazingly, after all this, the next word was a surprise! God says “But from this day I will bless you.” (2:19). Imagine! After all that, God will bless them! What a Loving God we serve! We do not deserve it, but God’s blessings are a gift! The people had to learn that God’s blessings could not be earned, that they are gifts from a giving God.

Haggai gives a clear call to his own people, and to us, that we should set ourselves to the work that God has called us to, and not allow difficulties, or selfish ambitions to turn us away from God’s plan for our life. Today is a new day! Today we can start fresh! We can put the past behind us, and begin brand new! God’s mercies are new every morning! Praise God!

One Sunday morning, with a broken and contrite heart, I reached out to God, asking for forgiveness, and for His direction in my life. My pastor preached on the Scripture, “...Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). I said “Yes, Lord!... but how?” The very next week, on the 700 Club, Pat Robertson said that phone counselors were needed at local centers, and to call the Area Director to sign up for training. I did that, and in January,1977, I began the most wonderful journey of my life.

Once we have grasped the significance and importance of having a vision from God, we are to wait. God will surely show us what He wants us to do, day by day. If we hear of a need, and can do something about it; we have a call. God opens the door, and that is it! We are then on our way, to fulfill His purpose in our life.

We each have a purpose in life. We each have something to do, that only we can do. We were born for this purpose. Day by day, as we travel this journey, seeking God, He will reveal His plans for us. When we fall, He will pick us up. When we are not faithful, He is faithful. He will always love us, and He is a Giving God, wanting to shower us with His blessings. He has blessed us tremendously at Christian Hope Network, giving us 14 wonderful years of ministry, following the closing of the 700 Club center, in 1989. He has allowed us to meet you, and we partner together to bring the gospel to this generation. Thank you for your role in this ministry! Happy Anniversary!