ELIJAH

It is interesting to read 1 Kings chapters 17–19 and see that Elijah, the great prophet of the Lord, went through some of the same emotions that we do.

In Chapter 17 he goes to Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, that there will be no dew or rain for years because of the idol worship in Israel. 

Then God sent Elijah to Zarephath where God used him to provide for a widow and her son through the drought and when the widow’s son died and Elijah prayed and God restored his life. 

Elijah challenged the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets to prove who the real God was.  Almighty God proved himself to them and the false prophets were slain.

Then because Elijah killed the false prophets, Jezebel threatened to kill him.  This great man of God who had just accomplished so many great things for God, went into the wilderness, sat under a juniper tree, pouted and told God he wanted to die. 

Elijah later went and lodged in a cave.  God asked him why he was there.  Elijah said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.“

God told him to go stand outside.  God sent strong wind, an earthquake and fire, but God was not in them.  Then with a still, small voice God spoke to Elijah.  He again asked him what he was doing here and Elijah responded again with the same words. 

God did not sympathize with him.  He gave him his orders:

 

  1.  Anoint Hazael king of Syria

  2.  Anoint Jehu king of Israel and

  3.  Anoint Elisha to be the prophet to take his place when he was gone

He also told Elijah that he wasn’t alone, there were 7,000 prophets that had not bowed down to Baal and were serving Him.

God had used Elijah many times, but he got tired and discouraged.  The devil loves for us to get tired because then he can come and start telling us his lies.  We may get afraid of the threats we hear.  We might believe him when he says we are standing alone.  We are not alone.  God is with us.  Jesus said, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). 

As God was with Elijah, so will He be with us even when we are tired and the devil is taunting us with fear.  We are not alone.  Others go through the same tests.  Now we need to listen for the still, small voice of God telling us the next things He has for us to do.

Here is my card for this week.

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THE CHURCH ACROSS THE STREET

She put the phone back in its cradle, and leaned against the wall

Devastating silence, from the long awaited call

Congratulations, had confirmed her deepest fear

As she gave herself the label, unwed mother, eighteen years

Chorus:

And at the church across the street, the band played on

The choir sang another verse of another lovely song

But her world was crashing, in apartment 33

And she wondered if she would ever meet

Someone from the church across the street

She left her apartment, at a quarter after eight

Drove a mile to the clinic, walked inside the iron gate

She was greeted warmly, with reassurance in his voice

A simple, safe procedure… had she made the proper choice

Chorus…..as she paid the doctor's fee…..

Making recollections, she tries to forget

But the room where she had lived alone

She shares with her regret

She sits by the window and longs for something more

As she listens to the baby cry in apartment 34

Tag:

And she wondered if she would ever meet

Someone who can help her with her need

Maybe someone from the church across the street.

This song always tears at my heart.  

It is not just because another another baby is sacrificed 

to abortion, but because the church failed her.  

You may think I am being harsh or critical, 

but didn't Jesus say, "Go ye"?  

Did He say, "Sit in your church and worship Me 

and when someone comes in with a need try to help them"? 

 Did He say, "Plan all kinds of activities to attract 

those around you to the church"?  

No, He said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations" (Matthew 28:19) 

and "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, 

that ye should go and bring forth fruit" (John 15:16).  

He also said that we should start at home and in our neighborhood, 

"... ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, 

and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8).    

Jesus left the glories of heaven to come to earth to give His life so that 

we could be saved.  He didn't sit in heaven and wait for us to ask Him for help.  

What a sad situation it would be if that were the case.  

There are so many around us who need our love and witness.  

Our love, as Christians, should reach out to those around us. 

We may not know how they are hurting or what their 

needs are, but the love of Christ shining through us 

will reach them in their time of need.

Let's let our love for Christ shine out to others

to bring them into the fold in these last days.

My card for the week 

May God's grace be with you this coming week.

Song by Timothy Mark / Global Outreach Music / BMI Sung by the Whisnants

The Lord Knoweth

Every morning I read several chapters in my Chronological KJV Bible.  

I enjoy reading the Bible through using this Bible since it gives me a better feel 

for what happened when.  I can relate the prophets to the time period during 

which they prophesied.  It helps the Old Testament flow in chronological order 

and therefore I understand it better. I have been using it for several years.

One morning this week I was needing some encouragement and reassurance 

to help during a troubling time.  I looked in my regular Bible to take a look at 

Psalm 1 which several others had mentioned.  

When I looked at the last verse, these words jumped out at me, 

“The Lord knoweth”.  

Yes He does!  It was such an encouragement.  

I rejoiced and cried just knowing that the Lord of the universe, 

my Lord, knows the situation and knows what I need. 

As I started to close the Bible another verse that I have highlighted drew my attention.  

It was across on the opposite page, Job 42:10.  It says, 

“And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends…”  

Job’s friends had not supported him during his trial of loss and disease.  

They got together to come and mourn with him and comfort him, 

but after seven days of silence they became his accusers.  

Eliphaz said that if his heart was as righteousness as he (Job) boasted, 

he would not have been so suddenly cast down by adversity.

       

Bildad said that the heavy affliction proved that Job was under God’s wrath 

and that proves that Job was being punished for his sins.

Zophar was the most hard hearted of Job’s accusers and speaks without feeling or pity. 

In his arrogance he insinuates that God afflicted Job because of his iniquities and 

that he thought that God had inflicted less punishment upon him than he deserved.

Oh, what a lack of understanding and compassion, even cruelty, in talking with Job!  

Neither they, nor Job, knew what had taken place in heaven and that 

God knew He could trust Job through his losses and with this affliction.

Now skip to the end of the account.  God tells Job’s three “friends” to 

“go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; 

and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept.”

After all that they have done, after all they put Job through, after all the hurt, 

God wants Job to pray for them. 
Not a prayer of revenge, but a prayer for their forgiveness.   

After the false accusations of his friends,
their rejoicing in his affliction and their bitter speeches, 

God clears his character and he is to pray for them to prevent God’s wrath on them.

This is proof of the innocence and integrity of Job,  

to be able to sincerely pray for them that God will not bring His wrath on them.

I felt that God directed me to this verse (Job 42:10) because that is what 

He desires in the situation I am dealing with.  I wonder if I will be able to do that. 

Only with God’s help! 

Isn’t it wonderful how the two verses go together.   God knows what the situation is and 

He knows what I need to do.  God never requires us to do something that 

He will not provide a way to accomplish it.  I am trusting Him for strength to 

sincerely pray for those who have negatively touched my life and need God’s forgiveness.

Thank you dear friends for letting me share with you. 

I am entering the following card in the Word Art Wednesday challenge this week:

Just a post of my entry to Word Art Wednesday.  I am a little late this week, but many things have been happening and I am trying to catch up.  Love the verse for fall.