Good morning,
The Lord blessed us with a Spirit-filled weekend. The Evening of music and celebration on Saturday Evening at the Historic First United Methodist Church in Endicott was anointed and powerful. Various musicians presented numbers on grand piano, grand organ, guitar, and voice. It was great blessing. The Lord blessed us with a joyful and celebrative day in His House yesterday. It is a great thrill and joy to worship the Living Lord.
One of the readings for yesterday was taken from Joshua 3, the story of a group of people who refused to be paralyzed by the dangers of the times in which they lived. Many people are familiar with the crossing of the Red Sea, but not as many are familiar with this crossing of the Jordan river when the people of Israel came into the promised land. Yet, it was the dramatic story in their history of God’s deliverance from Egypt and parting the Red Sea that gave them the faith to be able to cross the Jordan. It was God’s powerful hand of deliverance in the past that gave them the faith to face the challenges in their future. They knew they were going to face dangers in the future, but they knew they were going to face them with God — a God who makes a way even when there is no way. There had been no way through the Red Sea, and there was no way through the Jordan during flood season. In spite of the apparent impossibilities, God made a way.
Though God made a way, it was not a guarantee that it would be easy. God is always faithful, but doing his will is not always easy. The Lord says to us what he said to Joshua, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). He says to us what he said to Isaiah, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:1-3). There will be high waters and hot fires, but the Lord will be with us and save us.
Over and over in the book of Joshua we hear the words, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.” God is calling us today to be strong and courageous. The Israelites of the previous generation passed through the Red Sea after God parted the waters and the dry ground appeared, but in crossing the Jordan the water did not part until the priests actually placed their feet in the water. Not only was there water in the river, but it was at flood stage. The water was raging. The priests came closer and closer to the swirling water’s edge, but nothing happened until they actually stepped into the flood. God is helping us to understand that the dangers and difficulties ahead are to be an adventure in faith. He says to us, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
One of the hymns we sang yesterday was "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". There is a strange word " Ebenezer' in the hymn, which refers to "the stone of Help". Maybe each of us needs to set up an Ebenezer, a “stone of help” as a reminder of the Lord's help for us in our lives. It could be in the form of a writing, a plaque, a picture, a marking, an object, a trip, a celebration. Think of some creative way that you can mark a significant event in your life where you say, “This far has the Lord helped us, and we know he will take us the rest of the way.” Let it be a permanent testimony to those who come after us .
Hudson Taylor was the missionary who founded China Inland Mission. In his home he kept a plaque with these Hebrew Words on it: EBENEZER, meaning “Stone of help,” and JEHOVAH JIREH: “The Lord is my Provider.” One of the plaques looked back at what God had done and how he had helped in the past, and the other looked forward to how he believed God would provide in the future. One reminded him of God’s help and faithfulness, and the other helped him to focus on God’s provision and assurance of help in the days to come.
As we begin this brand new week and (tomorrow) a brand new month, let’s raise an Ebenezer to God’s faithfulness in the past, and let’s believe that God is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.
Over and over in the book of Joshua we hear the words, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.” God is calling us today to be strong and courageous. The Israelites of the previous generation passed through the Red Sea after God parted the waters and the dry ground appeared, but in crossing the Jordan the water did not part until the priests actually placed their feet in the water. Not only was there water in the river, but it was at flood stage. The water was raging. The priests came closer and closer to the swirling water’s edge, but nothing happened until they actually stepped into the flood. God is helping us to understand that the dangers and difficulties ahead are to be an adventure in faith. He says to us, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
One of the hymns we sang yesterday was "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". There is a strange word " Ebenezer' in the hymn, which refers to "the stone of Help". Maybe each of us needs to set up an Ebenezer, a “stone of help” as a reminder of the Lord's help for us in our lives. It could be in the form of a writing, a plaque, a picture, a marking, an object, a trip, a celebration. Think of some creative way that you can mark a significant event in your life where you say, “This far has the Lord helped us, and we know he will take us the rest of the way.” Let it be a permanent testimony to those who come after us .
Hudson Taylor was the missionary who founded China Inland Mission. In his home he kept a plaque with these Hebrew Words on it: EBENEZER, meaning “Stone of help,” and JEHOVAH JIREH: “The Lord is my Provider.” One of the plaques looked back at what God had done and how he had helped in the past, and the other looked forward to how he believed God would provide in the future. One reminded him of God’s help and faithfulness, and the other helped him to focus on God’s provision and assurance of help in the days to come.
As we begin this brand new week and (tomorrow) a brand new month, let’s raise an Ebenezer to God’s faithfulness in the past, and let’s believe that God is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.
In Christ,
Brown
Saturday , November 5.2011
Praise and worship service:
First United Methodist Church , Endicott
Sponsored by Union Center UMC
6PM Gathering- Coffeee- Fellowship
6.30PM Worship
Music: Laureen Naik
Speaker: Rev William Turner
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