Grundy's Blog

Haggai 2:6-9 (ESV) For thus says the Lord of hosts: “Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord of hosts. “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,” declares the Lord of hosts. “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former,” says the Lord of hosts. “And in this place I will give peace,” declares the Lord of hosts. The book of Haggai was written to those who had returned from Babylonian to rebuild the destroyed temple of God. It was an encouragement and a call to rebuild amidst rubble, hope despite desolation, and believe even during times of hardship and disappointment. In verses 6 to 9, Haggai spoke of a time to come when the world would be shaken up as it had never been shaken before. Ironically, this was intended to be a comfort for

Longing It is right for me to feel this way about you, since I have you in my heart, for whether I am in chains, or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me, God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Jesus Christ. Longing for something is much more than just wanting something.   Longing is primal, a craving, a hungering.   Longing is not being able to live without whatever the object of my longing is.   In a the documentary, Nothing Left Unsaid , a nostalgic Gloria Vanderbilt shares with her son (CNN’s Anderson Cooper) that for all of her ninety-five years, she has achingly longed for a home. She was raised by nannies away from her divorced mother who resided in Paris.   After a few years of living in a mansion on the east coast, she was sent to live with her aunt.   Then back to the nanny. Then back to her mother. Then back to the nanny. Her life was a never-ending transition.   Vanderbilt longed for a permanent refu

Loving My Enemies You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 Man oh man, Lord, how can I ever love my enemies? You are asking the impossible. It’s much easier to love those who believe and live as I do.   It’s much easier to hate my enemies, not love them.   Like Linus in the Peanuts cartoon strip says, “I love mankind, it’s people I can’t stand.” In other words, I love everyone, except for th

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it…. This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.’”(Genesis 28:16,17, NIV). “When Jacob awoke from his sleep…” There is more than one form of sleep. I sleep when a valuable friendship disintegrates, I sleep while a brother or sister in Christ battles sickness, I sleep while my next door neighbor fights for his marriage, I sleep when Jesus prompts me to pray, I sleep while my missionary friends are overcome with loneliness. I sleep too often. And if you are anything like me, when I sleep, I become spiritually draggy.   This can go on for weeks, even months.   But our loving God will not allow me to stay in this place: “He awakens me from my sleep.” I am struck by the phrase…”and I was not aware of it.” How often am I not aware that the Lord in “this place.” He is here, with me. Better yet, He is in me.   When I sleep, He is in me; when I weed my garden, H