Bible reading notes
The hope that gives perspective on the present (Hag 2:20-23)
Hag 2:20-23 In my twenties, I was a volunteer for a year with a Christian mission for international students in the UK and had the hope of this ministry leading on to a long-term role. However, the door promisingly open…
The attitude that affects everything (Hag 2:10-19)
Hag 2:10-19 Some years ago, a local government leader in New Zealand had an extramarital affair for two years. Some called for his resignation, but many pleaded for his private life to be left alone. A century ago, such a…
How God responds when we feel overwhelmed (Hag 2:1-9)
Hag 2:1-9 When my husband and I moved to New Zealand, I had a hard time adjusting to life here. I reminisced about the years we had in the UK, the beautiful historic buildings we could visit, how close everything…
How change happens and the difference God makes (Hag 1:12-15)
Hag 1:12-15 There are times when we look at our difficulties and feel they are much too great to deal with. The obstacles seem insurmountable, and we wonder if we will ever be able to overcome them. If the situation…
Are natural disasters a sign of sin? (Hag 1:7-11)
Hag 1:7-11 When we read a passage like Haggai’s that makes a connection between events in nature (like a drought) and the disobedience of His people (Hag 1:10), we may feel uneasy. Are natural disasters a sign of sin? Most…
Discerning when we lost our way (Hag 1:1-6)
Hag 1:1-6 When we were children, my brother was once asked what he wanted to become when he grew up. Remembering Hungarian folk tales, where battle reports often concluded with a set phrase about how ‘not even a messenger remained’…
Difficulties in God’s work and His purposes (Ezra 4:4-24)
Ezra 4:4-24 There are periods in our lives when everything goes swimmingly, the timings are perfect, the details fall into place and difficulties evaporate like the morning mist. There are other phases when everything goes wrong, and we wonder why…
What does it take to build God’s Church? (Ezra 4:1-3)
Ezra 4:1-3 From our modern context, the returnees’ categorical refusal of help from local people feels harsh. Some commentators condemn the exiles and blame them for the subsequent retaliation that comes on them. Is this a fair assessment though? Interpreting…
Waiting for the promises of God (Ezra 3:8-13)
Ezra 3:8-13 As a young Christian, I shared my struggles about singleness with a godly Christian woman who felt the Lord give her a verse for me, Ps 107:28-30. Like the psalmist, I felt storm-tossed at times and while I…
How to reconnect with God and strengthen the relationship? (Ezra 3:1-7)
Ezra 3:1-7 We have all known times when our connection to the Lord was lost or weakened. Weeks went by without praying to God or we read our Bible with one eye on the clock and thoughts buzzing with the…