"Cast not away your confidence because God defers his performances. That which does not come in your time, will be hastened in his time, which is always the more convenient season. God will work when he pleases, how he pleases, and by what means he pleases. He is not bound to keep our time, but he will perform his work, honor our faith, and reward them that diligently seek him."
--- Matthew Henry
"Sadness does not equal unbelief. There are things that can and should break our hearts and make us sad. It’s called lament and throughout the pages of scripture, there seems to be an awful lot of it. When I see glimpses of God’s goodness amidst the sadness, I can stare directly into the sadness and yet worship. Lament is a kind of worship that says, “This is wrong, but I know You are good.”
--- Nancy Franson
(Thanks to Jen Hughes for finding these. They were way to good not to share.)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
1 Kings 18:17-39 - "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God!"
Rob Edwards the pastor at Mercy is doing a series on Elijah and Elisha. This was last weeks and as soon as yesterday's sermon is up I will post it. Yesterday it was like God was speaking directly to me and smacking me upside the head. But this story is one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament. It fills you with awe and fear at the same time as it pumps you up because that is the God we serve, Christians!
17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?" 18And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. 19Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table."
20So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word. 22Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken." 25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it." 26And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." 28And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. 30Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. 31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name," 32and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. 33And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." 34And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time. 35And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. 36And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." 38Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God."
17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?" 18And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. 19Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table."
20So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word. 22Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken." 25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it." 26And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." 28And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. 30Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. 31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name," 32and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. 33And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." 34And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time. 35And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. 36And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." 38Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God."
Summer Conference Seminar Link
Finally here is the link for Summer Conference 2011 Larger Group recordings. Richie Sessions is who I heard so go on there and check out his mini series on Sanctification. It's beautiful!
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Richie is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from Belmont University and then attended Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He graduated from RTS in 2004 with an M.Div. He ministered as the Associate Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, Mississippi, before becoming the Assistant Pastor to Young Adults at Independent Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2009, Richie was called to be the Senior Pastor at IPC. Richie is married to Laura Steele Sessions and they have three children: Mamie, Griffin, and Margaret.
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Richie is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from Belmont University and then attended Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He graduated from RTS in 2004 with an M.Div. He ministered as the Associate Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, Mississippi, before becoming the Assistant Pastor to Young Adults at Independent Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2009, Richie was called to be the Senior Pastor at IPC. Richie is married to Laura Steele Sessions and they have three children: Mamie, Griffin, and Margaret.
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Saturday, June 25, 2011
Life Goes On
Life after college so far hasn't been to different from life in college. I still live in the same town. I still work for the same business doing the same thing. I still live in the same apartment. I still hang out with most of the same people. The only thing that is really difference is that I am not getting graded for anything I do, and let me tell you that is just fine by me. People told me that after college I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I didn't have homework and didnt have a grade to be working for. Well maybe I am just not that type of person but the fact that I am not getting graded for anything has not left me at a loss as to how my life is going or how much worth I have in life. Something that God has been showing me is that life goes on. Yes, there are disappointments. Yes, there are set backs but the sun still rises every morning and sets every evening. Church comes every Sunday. Rent still has to be paid. My car still needs gas on a regular basis. I still have friendships that need to be invested in to survive and you know that really isn't so bad. Sure it may seem mundane and dry and at times I would agree with you. But for the most part and over all in its own small way my life is fulfilling. Even if I am still in the same town I have been praying to get out of for years. God isn't done with me. I still have His glory and His enjoyment to live for. It's not certain as to what is in my future but it is certain that I won't be alone for a second of it. And that has made all the difference. This mindset that God is growing in me has made life less bleak at times when I want to give up. It's not about me and what happens in my life its about who God has put into my life for me to serve right where I am no matter where that is. It is about reading my Bible and growing in my knowledge and love of God. It's about facing my demons head on with Christ as my defender. Life is not about me. It is about who and what is a reflection of Christ. When you spend your time looking for that everything else just doesn't seem so bad.
Now please don't think that I am just smiling all the time and nothing ever gets me down. Trust me a few days ago I could not have written this post. I have my dark times when I feel like the whole world is against me and it is only my head knowledge that God does in fact care about me that gets me through the heartbreaks and disappointments (job hunting can be very discouraging) but by the shear grace of God life goes on and He knows exactly what to do to snap me out of my pity parties and get me to see that it's all about him. A few days ago, when I had once again been turned down for a job that sounded just perfect for me and that sounded so promising I was having one of my drama queen pity parties where God didn't love me and just liked to tease me with good things only to rip them away at the last minute and laugh mercilessly at my tears (yes, my heart is that corrupt and melodramatic, haha!) an excerpt from 2 Corinthians 12:9 kept coming to mind. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I didn't know why it kept sitting in the front of my brain and then I looked up the whole verse "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." It hit me that what was making me so depressed was that my pride had me thinking that I was the most important person ever and I didn't understand why the God of the universe could even think that he had a better plan or better lesson for me then what I had devized myself. "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." Again it is not about me. It is about Christ being manifested in my life through gladness and sorrow; through victory and failure. So it is my prayer as in Galatians 6:14 "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." May it be his glory manifested in my life and not that of my own doings because "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
Life goes on and God is at work.
TTFN
Rach~
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Now please don't think that I am just smiling all the time and nothing ever gets me down. Trust me a few days ago I could not have written this post. I have my dark times when I feel like the whole world is against me and it is only my head knowledge that God does in fact care about me that gets me through the heartbreaks and disappointments (job hunting can be very discouraging) but by the shear grace of God life goes on and He knows exactly what to do to snap me out of my pity parties and get me to see that it's all about him. A few days ago, when I had once again been turned down for a job that sounded just perfect for me and that sounded so promising I was having one of my drama queen pity parties where God didn't love me and just liked to tease me with good things only to rip them away at the last minute and laugh mercilessly at my tears (yes, my heart is that corrupt and melodramatic, haha!) an excerpt from 2 Corinthians 12:9 kept coming to mind. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I didn't know why it kept sitting in the front of my brain and then I looked up the whole verse "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." It hit me that what was making me so depressed was that my pride had me thinking that I was the most important person ever and I didn't understand why the God of the universe could even think that he had a better plan or better lesson for me then what I had devized myself. "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." Again it is not about me. It is about Christ being manifested in my life through gladness and sorrow; through victory and failure. So it is my prayer as in Galatians 6:14 "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." May it be his glory manifested in my life and not that of my own doings because "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
Life goes on and God is at work.
TTFN
Rach~
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