"And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia." —Ezra 6:14 They …
Continue reading When God Confirms What You Knew, but Everyone Else Forgot (Ezra 6)
They didn’t mean to quit. At first, they were full of passion. The Israelites had returned from exile with a mission—to rebuild God’s temple, to restore what had been lost. The foundation was laid, and the people celebrated. But then came resistance. Threats from the outside. Doubts from the inside. And before they knew it, …
Ever started something for God, only to run headfirst into resistance? Maybe you stepped out in faith—launching a ministry, pursuing a calling, building something meaningful. At first, the fire burned bright. But then came the opposition. The critics whispered. The complainers drained your energy. The tattletales stirred up trouble behind your back. Ezra 4 tells …
Continue reading When Critics, Complainers, and Tattletales Try to Stop You – Lessons from Ezra 4
Life rarely lets us feel just one thing at a time. We think joy should be clear and uncomplicated. We assume sorrow arrives alone, heavy and unchallenged. But more often than not, the two walk hand in hand. A single moment can stir both a tear and a smile, both a pang of loss and …
Continue reading The Beautiful Tension of Weeping and Joy (Ezra 3)
A Good Word 