Pastor Harry’s Thoughts for August

“The Second Half Still Matters”

Hello again, Bath Christian Church:

“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” — Haggai 2:9 (NIV)

Can you believe we’re already deep into the second half of the year? August often feels like a pivot point— the last stretch of summer, the doorstep of fall. It’s a natural time to reflect on how far we’ve come and how much we still want to accomplish. For some, the year so far has brought unexpected blessings. For others, it’s been a season of struggle, waiting, or weariness.

But here’s the truth we need to hold on to: the second half still matters. In fact, God often does His greatest work not at the beginning, but in the finishing. In the book of Haggai—a small, often overlooked corner of Scripture—God speaks to a group of people who had started something important but lost momentum. They were rebuilding the temple after years in exile, but the progress didn’t look like much. It was smaller, humbler, and some were even embarrassed by it. But God says something powerful: “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former...” (Haggai 2:9). That’s not about how things look—that’s about what God does. The second temple, though less impressive to the eye, would one day welcome Jesus Himself. God was reminding them: I’m not done. And what’s ahead can be even greater than what’s  behind.

Some of us need to hear that again as we step into August. You may feel like the year hasn’t turned out the way you planned, but God isn’t bound by the calendar. He doesn’t measure your year by how you started it, but by how you walk with Him through it. He can still do something new. Something greater.

So as we move toward fall, here are a few encouragements for your spirit:-

-Reflect without regret. Let the past inform you, not define you. God’s grace covers every missed step.

-Refocus with faith. Return to what God put in your heart. It’s not too late. He can redeem the time.

-Run with endurance. August is not the end—it’s the next chapter. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

The best is still ahead.

Let’s finish this year stronger than we started—not in our own strength, but in the strength of the One who promises peace, purpose, and glory still to come.

With you in the race,

Pastor Harry & Jennifer