“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” — Jesus, John 8:36
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” — Paul, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” — Paul, Galatians 5:1 Come celebrate freedom in Christ!
In Afikomag’s first annual young adult conference, we’re looking forward to worship, teaching, sports, line dancing, film, food, fireworks, and fellowship!
My drive into work finds the car filled with an unfamiliar silence. This space is typically flooded with prayers and contemplation woven together with an outburst of worship songs. But not today. Fatigue weighs on my shoulders like a wet blanket…pressing down, smothering. I am trying hard to pray, but nothing escapes my lips but a deep sigh. “Lord, there’s nothing I can say that I haven’t already said. I am worn. So, if it is ok with you, I will exhale a silent prayer.”
I wait in uncomfortable silence. Will He speak? If He does, will it be the answer to so many prayers I have wept? Will strength find its way to my weary bones?
Then in the quiet, I hear that still small voice, “Look around.” Hands clutched tight around the steering wheel I glance to the left. The sun is peeking up over the eastern horizon spreading rays of vibrant orange, plum red, and canary yellow across the sky. I turn to the right and catch a glimpse of cornfields, swaying gently with the rhythm of the wind. My heart inhales deep gratitude for the farmers who thought their fields would lie in muddy waste this year. My eyes are waking up as I spy geese skimming the diamond-studded ponds on either side of the road. The fog begins to lift off of the landscape and my heart as I take in the wonders of His handiwork.
He speaks.
“My child, you have prayed all your wants, concerns, and needs. Though I long to hear your heart, there is something you are missing. You are consumed with expressing your weaknesses, while I am more concerned that you understand my strength. This life is less about you constantly remembering your inefficiencies and more about embracing my all-sufficiency. Remember me, who I am. I am God.”
God
With that simple yet profound word whispered to my heart partnered with the visual reminder of His creative power, hope and strength begin to rise.
There are books of the Bible that get referenced abundantly when we face trials. David paints a picture of the authentic heart throughout all of the Psalms. We get a front-row seat to his deepest struggles and his resolve as he concludes that God is God. Somehow, his version of man’s inner wrestling is easier to identify with than say that of Lamentations. Just the mention of Lamentations and I feel as though I have watched a movie where all the heroes die in the end.
Yet today, that is precisely where God led me. Tucked away in this book of deep grief is a passage that solidifies what God has been speaking to me in the car. Written by someone whose prayers were steeped in more pain than the ones I have been praying. But someone who in the middle of the crushing remembered the very character of God…and that was enough.
But this I call to mind, and therefore, I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore, I will hope in Him.”
Lamentations 3:22-24
There is truth to be gleaned from the old hymn Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace.
It has been quite some time since I have shifted my gaze toward Him. I had allowed the weight of my circumstances to nag at me, reminding me of lack. But one glance in his direction was all I needed to remind me that He is enough. No matter what surrounds me, He is enough to face it head-on.
What about you? Do the voices in your head pull your gaze away from the one who loves you more than you love yourself? Are your eyes locked tight on your failures rather than His faithfulness? Then maybe these verses from Lamentations will guide your vision back to His glory like they did mine.
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:25-26
Oh, my friends, life gets so busy and burdens pile up. It is in our nature to grab hold of our failures rather than reach for His faithfulness. But if we are to be a people of hope in troubled times, then we must turn our gaze away from our inadequacies and behold the One who is more than enough.
“Father, the landfill of my failures continues to pile up. But You, oh God, are the faithful one. Today, fix my eyes on you the one starter and finisher of my faith. Remind me of all the ways you have led me up to this point in my life. And as I remember, may hope rise out of the ashes. May I see with a fresh vision that you God, who created all things, is the very one that cradles my heart in your hands.”
Until next time, let’s find hope in the journey, Evelyn Sherwood
Hi There! My name is Evelyn. I am a lover of all things family, faith and Fall. So grateful that you found your way here. The chaos of life can leave us feeling a bit worn around the edges. Sometimes a little ray of hope is all we need to provide courage for the next step in our journey. So come on in, take a deep breath. My prayer is that in this space, you will be able to grab hold of hope. For more of Evelyn’s columns, see her blog Hope for the Journey.
Saturday, August 10, 2019 | 6:00PM Cross America (840 Daniel Dr., Kokomo)
Youth groups and young adults groups are invited to a night of worship, praise and great speakers on Saturday, August 10th. This FREE event is the first time The Rock has held their event outside of Tipton. They are excited to bring this worship opportunity to Kokomo and to Cross America.
Our prayer is that you will encounter God’s unconditional love for you as you come into a place where the Spirit of the Lord is able and willing to rescue you where you are no matter how impossible it may seem. We pray that not only do you experience the Holy Spirit’s presence, but that you will make the exchange from your old self to your new self in Christ. We want to go with you on this journey and know that you will be set free and set a blaze with passion for God by the power of Jesus as you let Him invade your life.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners.” (Luke 4:18)
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, June 28, 29, & 30 Doors open at 6PM; Program starts at 7PM First Church of the Nazarene 2734 S. Washington St. www.kokomonaz.org (765) 453-7078
Lately, I keep hearing the word “delight” whispered to my heart. It has been following me through the day like a puppy longing for attention. So tonight, I turn to face this word head on and ponder why God keeps dangling it in my view.
I retrace the steps of my day looking for clues. Woke up, prepped for the day, ate breakfast, grabbed the to-go coffee cup, and headed in to work. On my drive to the office, I spent time in prayer. Told God all my requests, my hopes, my dreams, my burdens, my sorrows. Arrived safely and jumped into the piles of paper on my desk.
Then it hits me- I have been so caught up in me that I have been missing Him.
Did I notice the sunrise this morning? On my way home did I take note that the farmers were finally out in the fields prepping to plant due to a day filled with sun rather than rain? Even now as I type this out, I am catching hints of God’s daily presence; the songbirds outside my window, the hummingbird as it lands so delicately on the feeder, and the fresh blooms dotting the backyard with color.
The pleasure of delighting in Him had slowly been replaced by the duty of doing for Him. It happens so swiftly and yet subtly. This has been His whisper. He has been calling me back to His heart, to the simple act of delighting in Who He is. To delight is to give keen enjoyment or to take great pleasure in.
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. –Psalm 37:4
Several years ago, while experiencing a waiting time in my life, the Lord impressed upon my heart this little essay/song. It rocked my heart then, and today it calls me back to the joy of delight.
Hush. Be Still. Don’t rush away.
Don’t just settle for a touch from Me.
Stay. Linger. Come know Me.
As did Adam, come walk with Me
In the cool of the day.
Know Me. Know my heart.
Do you see it?
Do you see the delight in my face as we walk together?
It’s because of you.
I created you and I bought you.
You are my precious treasure.
I do-I do delight in you.
Do you delight in Me?
Sarah Young once wrote in her devotional Jesus Calling, “I begin each day with a sunrise, announcing My radiant Presence. By the time you rise from your bed, I have already prepared the way before you. I eagerly await your conscious thought. I rejoice when you glance my way.”
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24
When was the last time I truly delighted in, took great pleasure in the person of Jesus Christ? Today, may we take time to glance His way. To delight in His love, His grace, His communion with us, and to behold His beauty.
“The one thing I ask of the LORD— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.” – Psalm 27:4
Hi There! My name is Evelyn. I am a lover of all things family, faith and Fall. So grateful that you found your way here. The chaos of life can leave us feeling a bit worn around the edges. Sometimes a little ray of hope is all we need to provide courage for the next step in our journey. So come on in, take a deep breath. My prayer is that in this space, you will be able to grab hold of hope. For more of Evelyn’s columns, see her blog Hope for the Journey.
We want to invite you, your friends, and your family to join us in 2019 to attend 1 of 16 conferences we are doing nationwide on our Real Solutions Tour. There you will learn the foundations for healing and restoration in every area of your life and find the Real Solutions you have been looking for.
Friday, April 26, 1PM through Saturday, April 27, 6PM DoubleTree by Hilton-Cincinnati Airport | 2826 Terminal Dr. Hebron, Kentucky
Many people have come to us after many years of trying everything, frustrated and tired, but were rejuvenated with hope and experienced lasting healing they found nowhere else.
Along with teaching we will also be doing laying on hands ministry at the end of each conference to allow our Father to come and work powerfully in our brothers and sisters lives.
There is no fee to attend. Freewill offerings will be taken and our resources will be available for purchase.
During the conference, we will have two exclusive Q&A events with the Be in Health® team. Dinner Friday evening and lunch Saturday afternoon. Seating is limited so reserve your seat today!
Dr. Henry Wright and Be in Health® would love to teach you how to be an overcomer: to come alongside you and show you how to recognize the root issues behind disease and to overcome the works of the enemy in your life. Issues like, bitterness, rejection and fear, anxiety, and stress (just to name a few) that break down relationships and lead to disease.
May we lead you into restored relationships with God, others and even yourself?
We believe that when your spirit is healed and recovered that your body with follow suit. Thousands of people are healed and whole because of the principles they’ve learned here at Be in Health®. And we strive to provide a safe, nurturing environment for you, our brothers and sisters.
If you were given the opportunity to learn not just how to survive but to truly thrive would you take it?
We would like to extend that opportunity to you right now. We invite you to walk with us in our mission to establish generations of overcomers: “May the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” — Jesus
God created life, and He gave us countless ways of enjoying it! Join us for some fun in the Son!
• Worship with music
• Watch the film “Faith Like Potatoes”
• Play volleyball
• BYOBook and come ready to share some of it
• Bring a talent to share (the sky’s the limit!)
• Brainstorm ideas for the future!
Meat will be provided. Please bring a side to share!
Grab a friend and prepare your heart to be filled with Jesus!
When: 7:30PM Sunday, February 28 Where: Indianapolis Why: God is worthy!
It’s “we R the CHRCH,” a movement that unites brothers and sisters from all walks of religions, cultures, and backgrounds in worshiping our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ as one church, The Revivaled Church, The Greater Church.
We hope you can join us and others from around the city as we seek to unite the divided individual churches into a greater church for the revival of the city.
