1 Kings 17:1-7 covers the story of Elijah confronting Ahab, telling him that it would not rain for three years, and hiding in the desert. It takes great faith and boldness to confront a King and say, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” After such an act, Elijah was probably riding high but then he hears from the Lord to go flee to the desert and hide out for a while.

This would have been pretty disheartening for Elijah. He stood up to the King, proclaimed that it would not rain until he told it to, and then had to go run and hide but that is where the Lord wanted him. While he was hiding out, God provided food for him by having ravens fly over head and drop bread to him. He got his water from the river and there he lived while he waited to hear from the Lord.

Over time, the river started drying out and there was no more water for him to drink. Courson asks if we are sitting beside a drying, dying brook. A relationship that is drying up? Finances drying up? Physical strength drying up? He offers three reasons why the brook we thought the Lord led us to is drying up.

1. The Lord would restrain us from getting ahead of Him.

God was preparing Elijah for something greater ahead. He had a plan and His own timing but needed Elijah to be removed from the picture for a while. Elijah would do some miraculous acts but for this season he was in the desert relying on God to provide for the most basic of needs. We see other great men of the Bible going through similar periods in the desert. Moses, David, Paul, just to name a few. Even Joseph, who had a dream where his entire family would bow down to him, was sold into slavery, wrongly accused of a crime and thrown into jail only to be brought out and made the second most powerful man in the world.

In order to keep us from getting ahead of Him, God will hold us back as He prepares our path.

2. The drying brook allows us the opportunity to get to know God.

While in the desert, Elijah would have had daily reminders of God’s incredible power and provision. When the brook is drying up, when relationships are going the wrong way, when finances are absent, it forces us to look to God’s Word for our bread and water. It is the times of struggle and difficulty that bring us closer to the Lord and cause us to search His Word and draw closer to Him.

3. The drying brook brings us back to God

Only Jesus can truly satisfy us. As He told the Samaritan woman by the well, He can offer water that will cause us to never thirst again. If we are trying to find our satisfaction through relationships, finances, or anything else we will never find it. God will cause those brooks to dry up so that we are forced to go to the only source of true satisfaction.

I have talked to a lot of people lately who are going through dry seasons. If we are saved we can find hope and joy in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God loves us and allows struggle in our lives to shape us according to His needs. It may be to bring us back to Him as the source of our satisfaction. It may be to bring us to a deeper knowledge and understanding of Him through His Word. Or, it may be that He is preparing a great and mighty work that He will graciously use us for.

The one thing we can know for certain is that He loves us and whatever the reason is for our dry season, it is working together for good. As Jeremiah 29:11 says, the Lord’s thoughts toward us are good and He has a future and a hope for us.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor — and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be — That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks — for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation — for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility [sic], union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed — for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted — for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions — to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually — to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed — to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn [sic] kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord — To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease [sic] of science among them and us — and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York
the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington

Our vision is to develop this property into a place that brings love, hope and a better tomorrow for the surrounding community. The Field of Dreams is situated 10 miles outside of the capital city of Kampala, the largest city in Uganda, in the district of Wakiso. Through this family centered project, we will bring hope to the hopeless in a region of well over 1 million people. The potential uses for the land are numerous. Part of the land will be farmed, to provide food for the children that we are caring for. The children will also have an opportunity to learn farming techniques as well as how to properly care for the land. Other parts of the land will be used to build new children’s cottages for more orphans, a medical clinic, a vocational training center, a guest house and recreational areas for the children. This Field is not just an isolated island, however. The purpose is also to reach into the local community and to encourage the children and adults to work together making their entire region a better place to live.

To donate to Show Mercy International, please visit http://www.showmercy.org/donate/

1. Take your problems/struggles to the Lord.
2. Take care of your family.
3. Heed the Word of the Lord.

Hannah did the right thing by taking her struggle to the Lord and He heard her and blessed her.

Eli was the Priest of Israel and failed to make sure he raised his sons properly.  He had no idea about the sins his sons were committing against the people as they served. Ultimately, Eli and his sons were killed by the Philistines.

Samuel heard the voice of the Lord calling him and answered that call and became a great prophet.

We had always planned a huge trip to someplace like New York, Washington D.C., or Hawaii for our 10th anniversary but instead found ourselves on this small island in the middle of the Puget Sound in a tiny little cottage right on the water. It turned out to be a great getaway though. It was the first time in 6 years since having our first child that we were able to spend more than a night without kids (though we still technically had one with us:) The place we stayed was very nice and relaxing and the Island was nearly empty since we went during the off season.

Mt. Constitution was the highest peak on the Island and you could drive up to the top during summer months. When I decided to go up to the top, I didn’t realize that there was still snow at the top and the closed the road 3 miles from the top. I drove my car as far as I could until I reached the gate. I really wanted to get to the top but didn’t know what to do. I really didn’t feel like walking 3 more miles uphill but decided to give it a try. I made it about 100 yards past the gate then heard someone ask me, “You want a ride?”

A utility truck was heading up to the top and the driver told me I could stand on his door step and hang on to the mirror. That sounded like a great idea until wet road debris started flying up, snow started pelting my face and the freezing wind made my hands numb. I was pretty sure my wet shoes would lose grip on the step and my frost bitten hands would be unable to hang on for the entire 3 miles.

By the time we reached the top, I could feel my hands and face, my backpack and jacked were soaked and my pants had black stuff from the road all over them but I was at the top and didn’t have to walk. After taking a few minutes to warm my hands and face up I went to the little lookout building and started reading Psalm 34.

With all that had been going on, this Psalm was much needed.

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth

It is really hard to praise the Lord when times are tough. At the same time, it is when times are tough that we cry out to the Lord and seek Him more fervently. Conversely, it is easy to praise the Lord when times are good but it is during those good times that we get comfortable and forget to spend as much time with Him.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Too often we go to other sources for help or in times of need. Ephesians 6:12 says that we are not battling flesh and blood but spiritual enemies. The answer is to seek the Lord. Verse 7 is comforting knowing that the angel of the Lord is with us protecting us. It is the Lord that delivers us.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Over the past 2 years I have done a lot of crying out to the Lord. He has done quite a bit of stretching and growing and shaping in our lives since during that time since I decided to leave teaching and follow the path the Lord took me down. We did not always display perfect faith or behavior and threw a lot of “tantrums” when things didn’t go our way but the Lord was always faithful and provided just what we needed to keep going.

1 Corinthians 2:5 tells us not the put our faith in the wisdom of men but rather in the power of God. I thought I had everything figured out. I had taken a job that significantly increased my salary, I figured I would work there for a few years then take something better. We were ready to sell our house when we had a good amount of equity and move to California. It was a great plan but it was my plan. God had a much different plan. He was going to strip us of much of what we had and teach us to trust in Him. He was going to force us to cry out to Him for help.

In a “funny” turn of events, I did get another job after 16 months of being unemployed in March of this year. My previous job lasted 5 months before I was laid off and we found out about baby #3. This job lasted 7 months and, a week after it ended, we found out about baby #4. It is almost like we get a do over. So many things have happened recently that parallel the events of 2008. The Lord took us through that and taught us a lot of lessons. It is almost as if He is saying, “OK, that was a test run. You made it through and now I am going to test you again and see how you handle it this time. Do you trust me?”

This Psalm ends with:

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

It is awesome to read verse 19 and know that no matter what we go through, the Lord has our back and will not allow anything to happen to us beyond what we can handle and beyond what He can deliver us out of. He is our redeemer and no matter how bad we may act during our trials, we will not be condemned if we go to Him.

Verse 20 is a great reminder to us that God always keeps His promises and that His Word is true. This verse is a prophecy that, though Jesus would be killed for us, He not have any of His bones broken. John 19:33 tells us that when Jesus was on the cross, the soldiers came to break His legs to make sure He died, but didn’t have to because He was already dead. God will always be true to His Word. It may not happen in our timing or according to our path but it will happen.

4 Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5 For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
6 For the Lord has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God.
7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you.
8 In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer.

This was written to Israel and Israel was going through some rough times largely due to its own sin and turning away from the Lord. They deserved to be wiped out entirely several times for how they acted and rejected God instructions. Look at what the Lord says to them though. They would not be disgraced. They would forget the shame of their youth. God declares Himself as the husband of Israel who would redeem. He let them go in their sin for a little while but would not forsake them, rather He would gather them back with an everlasting love.

11 O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones.
13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.
14 In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
15 If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.
16 Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy;
17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.

Even though Israel was rebellious and horribly sinful through much of its existence prior to being kicked out of the land in A.D. 70 these are amazing promises from God. He will teach their children and give them peace. He would establish them in righteousness and they would be free of fear and terror. He would protect them from all enemies.

As I was thinking through this I realized how we are no different as individuals. If we take an honest look at our lives all the way back to our first memory can we claim to be any better than Israel? I am a pretty good person until I start looking closely at every though and every word and every action of my life. I am a huge horrible sinner and so is everyone else. We don’t deserve anything good from the Lord yet act as though we are suffering when we have to eat leftovers or something inconveniences in the slightest.

Despite our wretchedness, how much do these verses relate to our lives as well? The Lord loves us all so much that He came down Himself to take our punishment for us and pay for all of our sins. It doesn’t matter how bad we have been, how much we have blown it, how far away we have walked away from the Lord, He has for a moment hidden his face from us while we do our thing but has an everlasting love and compassion for us and will gather us back to Him.

This is illustrated in Luke 15:11-32 with the story of the Prodigal Son. God will let us walk away at times and do our own thing and sin stinks. Sin is hard to live with and it will wear you down and beat you up but look how excited the Father was in that story when his son came home. Jesus told that story to give us a picture of how much our Father loves us and wants to welcome us back home into His arms.

The Lord has been doing some major work in our lives to prepare us for an upcoming season in our lives where He will use us for some specific purposes. Paul gives Timothy some good instructions in verses 12-16 that we all can use in our own ministry as believers.

12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

I have been posting about “The Jesus Style” by Gayle Erwin and these verses fit nicely with it’s thesis of Jesus as a leader by example. Paul tells Timothy to be an example and if you notice, he is telling him to be an example to the “believers.” Sometimes we as Christians get in the mindset that we have to only be examples to non-believers but there are just as many in the Church that are watching us to see how we act. How are we doing in front of other believers when it comes to our words, our conduct, our love towards one another, our spirit, our faith and our purity?

Are we giving attention to reading the Word as Paul tells Timothy? What about exhortation, which is Godly pointed advice? Are we sound in our doctrine?

Earlier in the chapter, Paul tells Timothy:

6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
11 These things command and teach.

I looked up the definition of fables and it says, “a story not founded on fact; legends or myths collectively; an untruth, a falsehood; idle talk”

With 24 hour news channels and the internet, there are so many things going around that may or may not be true and it is very distracting. Christians, and I can be as guilty as anyone, are so easily thrown off course by focusing on all of this “stuff” we hear or read or see on TV. Paul even brings up exercise saying it profits a little but so many people are obsessed with looking good and feeling good. All these are distractions to keep our focus off of what is truly important, exercising ourselves towards Godliness. While it is good to be informed and take good care of ourselves, they should be secondary to how we are doing in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity as we give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Paul starts the chapter by telling us why our focus needs to be on these things.

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

We are in a time where people are falling from the faith. There are so many false teachings and lies out there making it hard to figure out what to believe. This is why we must be diligent to read God’s Word and hold fast to sound doctrine, otherwise we will be susceptible to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. There is a huge spiritual battle going on in the world, and specifically here in America. There is a war and the goal is to get as many people to go to Hell as possible. Does it really matter who gets elected to office, what food we eat, where we send our kids to school, or where we live if people reject the Truth and go to Hell? We are focusing too much on the symptoms rather than the disease. America, along with the rest of the world, is falling apart not because the wrong people are in office or because kids aren’t doing advanced Algebra by 5th grade but because we are falling away from the Truth and embracing the doctrines of demons.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and all those other things will be added to us.

If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last

This statement goes so completely against human nature, especially for those us of who live in America. America is driven by competition, who can be the first, who can be the best.

While competition itself is not necessarily bad, Erwin argues in this chapter that it does not have a place in the body of Christ. That is not to say Christians can’t get together and play games, he is speaking specifically within the context of how we treat each other, how we present ourselves to non-believers, how we operate within the body.

For competition, there has to be a winner and a loser and typically a prize at the end given to those who defeat their opponents. The ultimate prize of Christianity is Heaven and eternity. The goal is to grow spiritually as we mature as believers so there is no real way to measure who is winning. If a Christian who is older and wiser and more mature in their faith says to another, “fellow believer, I am much better than you in these areas and I am winning” I would say that they have a pretty big issue with pride. Our job as mature believers is to go to those who may be less mature in our faith or struggling with issues and love them as Jesus did with the motivation of building them up.

That goes against everything competition is about. If you were playing a football game, it wouldn’t work well if you stopped during a play to help an opponent up after slipping in the turf or taking time to explain to the defense how they could better defend against a certain formation. Your goal is to cause the other team to stumble or confuse their defense so they can’t defend your offense.

The body of Christ will not do well if all of the members were trying to outdo each other.

For the full story, visit

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/10/12/rescued-chilean-miner-returns-surface/