11/21/2019
On Sunday morning, we continued in a series where we explore four different Old Testament persons who each had a 40 day experience which challenged and grew their faith. This last week we discussed Elijah.
During those 40 days, Elijah was instructed by God to stand in the mouth of a cave. A giant wind, a strong earthquake and a fire went by but God was not in those. Following those, there was silence and a still, calm voice of God that spoke to him. It was in a calm and silent moment that Elijah experienced the small voice of God speaking to him.
I shared a video clip of a moment in 2003 that reminded me of what that small voice speaking in his ear must have felt like. CLICK HERE to see that clip.
The small voice of the coach of the Mavericks, Maurice Cheeks, literally spoke into Natalie Gilbert’s ear giving her exactly what she needed at that moment to continue. I believe that was the experience that Elijah had in that moment at the mouth of the cave in the silence.
What I did not share on Sunday is what happened next to Natalie. She went on to have some significant air time sharing her experience and doors of opportunity were opened for her. The following year at play offs, she was invited back to sing the National Anthem which she did beautifully.
Following the time that Elijah heard God’s voice, he went on to serve according to God’s will with strength.
We desperately need to stop living our lives of our own accord and our own energy and to be still and listen for that still small voice of God. We are so blessed to have a God whom did not create and desert the world but instead who continues very present with each of us daily. Can you regularly practice this stillness in your life so you may hear God’s voice? I especially pose this challenge as we run into what tends to be a busy and distracting season...Christmas.
Archived Posts
What just missed the cut for Sunday’s Sermon
Naaman’s servants may actually become one of the hidden gems of the sermon. They say, essentially: “If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it.”
One of the Longest Benedictions I Ran Out of Time to Share
Maybe you know the story of how Joseph and Mary accidentally left Jesus at the gas station on their way home from Jerusalem. Well, not the gas station bathroom in Jesus’ case. Joe and Mary are far down the road before they realize Jesus isn’t with them...
So many quips and quotes...
So little time to preach
I wonder what Mary and Martha’s phones might look like:
* Martha = the open browser with 27 tabs
* Mary = the single window that matters
* Psalm 46 = God saying, “Close the tabs.”
Quotable Outtakes That Didn’t Make the Sermon This Week
“When you try to control everything, you don’t just exhaust yourself—you quietly replace trust in God with trust in you.” & more
There is a challenge when it comes to preaching the Word of God.
Preachers are called to open up and interpret the word—inspired and written down thousands of years ago—and make it relevant to a very different world. On top of that there’s a degree of persuasion that goes along with the process.
What Jessica Really Meant to Say in Her Sermon…
When Jessica or Rick or a guest preacher takes the pulpit it’s hard for me to write a One More Thing Blog. I can’t share with you what didn’t make it into the sermon because I have no idea, not having written or delivered it.
Jesus Keeps On Ruining Funerals!
I didn’t have anything this last week that didn’t end up in the sermon. No catchy illustrations that didn’t make the cut. No theological insights that slowed down the main point. No one can ruin a funeral like Jesus. Told as I saw it and that was it. So I did some quick research and I thought I’d share just a reminder of what Easter is all about.