I took the three questions at the end of your message and searched the scriptures toward the goal of bringing myself encouragement. Be encouraged (as I was).
(KJV was used this time)
1. Could it be that the present situation is a display of His mercy calling us to seek Him?
1Kings 3:6 “…..showed Thy servant David…..great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee…..” Take away: my heart is at the “heart” of great mercy.
Psalms 85 (A prayer of the returned exiles) with special notice to verses 6,7,8 and 10. Take away: when He revives us again……rejoicing, salvation, and peace arrive……and V10 “mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other”…..no more social distancing 🙂
Even Daniel took time to prioritize his situation by seeking the Lord God….Daniel 9:3-6. First for himself (v3, 4a) and for others (v4b, 5, 6)
[Other verses: Matthew 6:33; Matthew 7:7; Luke 12:31]
Sadly, my humanity usually is played out in Philipians 2:21
However, my son-ship requires me to live out Colossians 3:1-2
At the beginning of Christ’s ministry he asked: “WHAT do you seek?” John 1:38
*three years of ministry*
At the end we read his new question: “WHO do you seek?” John 18:4
Take away: after years of being a believer, have I moved from seeking “what” I can receive to “who” I can receive?
During this time I choose to SEEK HIM!!!!
2. Could it be that what looks like fear of the future could become a place where faith causes the church to arise?
Ezra 9:9 “For we were slaves; yet our God that not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations of it…”
Psalms 5:7 “But as for me I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy……”
Take away: in order for the church to arise I must arise and REPAIR (which implies I work in community, not independantly), living out MESSY GRACE even with social distancing.
3. Could it be that that which looks like weakness could be the seed that purifies the church?
2 Cointhians 13:1-5 “…..examine yourselves….” Paul exhorts us.
The many hero’s of faith in Hebrews 11: 32-40 were weak ….verse 34….BUT “were made” strong.
HOW? I am so glad I asked…….
1 Corinthians 2.1-5
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
Take away: my weakened state opens up space for JESUS. And JESUS IS ENOUGH!!!
Keeping things simple is what Yahweh and Christ were all about (get to know me/follow my example).
It is us humans that keep asking for the complicated (laws/rules/judgements/doctrines/theologies).
Hosea 6:6 ” I desire mercy NOT sacrifice; the knowlege of God more than burnt offerings” ( repeated in Matthew 9:13)
Micah 6:6-8 Micah 6:6-8 “With what shall I come before the Lord……..what doth the Lord require of thee, but to DO justly, and to LOVE mercy, and to WALK HUMBLY with thy God.”
Hi Karen, thank you for doing this. Trying to keep the messages shorter does not give me much time to add the supporting scripture. So, I appreciate this.
Comments(2)
Karen Fuller says:
April 7, 2020 at 11:59 amThank you so much for this message Pastor Freda.
I took the three questions at the end of your message and searched the scriptures toward the goal of bringing myself encouragement. Be encouraged (as I was).
(KJV was used this time)
1. Could it be that the present situation is a display of His mercy calling us to seek Him?
1Kings 3:6 “…..showed Thy servant David…..great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee…..” Take away: my heart is at the “heart” of great mercy.
Psalms 85 (A prayer of the returned exiles) with special notice to verses 6,7,8 and 10. Take away: when He revives us again……rejoicing, salvation, and peace arrive……and V10 “mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other”…..no more social distancing 🙂
Even Daniel took time to prioritize his situation by seeking the Lord God….Daniel 9:3-6. First for himself (v3, 4a) and for others (v4b, 5, 6)
[Other verses: Matthew 6:33; Matthew 7:7; Luke 12:31]
Sadly, my humanity usually is played out in Philipians 2:21
However, my son-ship requires me to live out Colossians 3:1-2
At the beginning of Christ’s ministry he asked: “WHAT do you seek?” John 1:38
*three years of ministry*
At the end we read his new question: “WHO do you seek?” John 18:4
Take away: after years of being a believer, have I moved from seeking “what” I can receive to “who” I can receive?
During this time I choose to SEEK HIM!!!!
2. Could it be that what looks like fear of the future could become a place where faith causes the church to arise?
Ezra 9:9 “For we were slaves; yet our God that not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations of it…”
Psalms 5:7 “But as for me I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy……”
Take away: in order for the church to arise I must arise and REPAIR (which implies I work in community, not independantly), living out MESSY GRACE even with social distancing.
3. Could it be that that which looks like weakness could be the seed that purifies the church?
2 Cointhians 13:1-5 “…..examine yourselves….” Paul exhorts us.
The many hero’s of faith in Hebrews 11: 32-40 were weak ….verse 34….BUT “were made” strong.
HOW? I am so glad I asked…….
1 Corinthians 2.1-5
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
Take away: my weakened state opens up space for JESUS. And JESUS IS ENOUGH!!!
Keeping things simple is what Yahweh and Christ were all about (get to know me/follow my example).
It is us humans that keep asking for the complicated (laws/rules/judgements/doctrines/theologies).
Hosea 6:6 ” I desire mercy NOT sacrifice; the knowlege of God more than burnt offerings” ( repeated in Matthew 9:13)
Micah 6:6-8 Micah 6:6-8 “With what shall I come before the Lord……..what doth the Lord require of thee, but to DO justly, and to LOVE mercy, and to WALK HUMBLY with thy God.”
Freda says:
April 7, 2020 at 12:59 pmHi Karen, thank you for doing this. Trying to keep the messages shorter does not give me much time to add the supporting scripture. So, I appreciate this.