Together

Good Morning!

After posting yesterday morning, I poked around in Facebook for a few moments … and I got to see some friends from the past enjoying their family Christmas. I remember teaching some of these “kids” who are now grown with children when we were at Valley Hill Baptist church. They are sweet memories for me … though sometimes they weren’t so sweet while growing up. A number of times I was tempted to call in their parents to apply the hand of discipline. Fortunately I never did … and I note that these young people have grown in grace.

I think every once in a while God grants us a few flashbacks to remember the good times He has provided. We need those flashbacks to keep us encouraged when it seems everything is going wrong in our lives. Sometimes we get focused on the challenge of the day and forget the victories of the days preceding. We should be building our faith with each new challenge. But sometimes we let the least challenge get us down even after we have witnessed a great victory. We aren’t alone … Elijah, one of God’s great prophets, had his moment. He had just witnessed the defeat of the prophets of Baal … and then he got word that Jezebel was after him. Here’s the Biblical account:

1 Kings 19:1-18 (English Standard Version)
Elijah Flees Jezebel
1Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." 3Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." 5And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." 6And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you." 8And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
The LORD Speaks to Elijah
9There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." 11And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.[a] 13And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." 15And the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
Footnotes:
a. 1 Kings 19:12 Or a sound, a thin silence

When Elijah should have been on the pinnacle, he chose to be in the pit. Why? Some human queen made a threat … and Elijah listened to the threat. He ran and hid … even wished that God would take his life … because he thought he was alone. He was not. God was with him … and that’s all he needed.

We don’t go through challenges alone. God is with us all the way. And usually a large number of Christian brothers and sisters have our back as well. Sometimes we forget that we have a large family of people who love us warts and all. Sometimes we are afraid that our Christian brother or sister will look down upon us if we admit we have a need. And in the process, we miss out on a blessing and deprive them of a blessing.

Elijah wasn’t alone … and neither are you. Isn’t that a great way to start a day?

Agape’


Mr. Jim


New Prayer Need:

All:
Good morning. I have a prayer need for you all. My good friend Dee, who lives in Chattanooga, spent all last week in the hospital with abdominal pain. Finally on Friday she underwent gall bladder surgery. The doctor also found a hernia and repaired that as well. She is home recovering but still in pain. Also her sister Hazel is in a hospice situation in NC and not expected to live much longer. Please pray for her husband Hoyt and daughter Amy as well as for Dee, since she will very likely not be able to travel to NC to be with the family.

love
anna