The 7 Observations from Sunday @ The Ridge

For those who have been asking about getting a copy of the 7 Observations from my talk Sunday, here they are.

If you were not at The Ridge on Sunday, the back story is this. 1 Kings 17:1-8. Elijah was sent by God to the brook. The brook gave him exactly what he needed for an extended period of time. Then the unthinkable happened… the brook dried up.

I hate it when that happens!! Not literal brooks...I mean when relational brooks dry up ... vocational brooks dry up ... emotional brooks dry up... financial brooks dry up. When what once was a roaring flow of essential life nourishment begins to slow to a trickle, and then gets muddy, then gets dusty. And we look at God and say “What the heck are you thinking?!!!!”

You are too spiritual to ever question God but I do occasionally. As a matter of fact, many times God and I just disagree. I understand He is God and I am not but I don’t always like what He does. And, I really don’t care for some of the stuff He calls me to do at times. That “love and forgive those that hurt you” thing He tells me to do… I’m not a fan. If I were God I wouldn’t have said that.  :)

I have learned that trusting God is all about when we disagree on a course of action. It is in those times I learn if I am trusting Him or me. And, it is in those times I learn it is ALWAYS better to trust HIM.

The 7 Observations from Sunday:

1. Yesterday’s right answer is not necessarily today’s right answer.

God lead Elijah to the brook but he didn’t intend for it to be his permanent landing spot. I know many who are still stuck living the right answer to yesterday’s question. They are committed to it because they are confident it was the right answer. They are right… key word… WAS! Brook is now dried up! Time to move on Ethel!

2. God’s direction always includes his provision.

3. Seasons of change are painful and frightening. Remember, they aren’t conclusions, just transitions.

God wasn’t done with Elijah and he is not done with you. It seems fatal and final when brooks dry up. It’s not. It’s just time for a new season.

4. Be as willing to be obscure as to be prominent.

Everything in God’s creation has a dormant season. Including you. Dormant seasons seem like dead seasons to the untrained eye. Many pick up the leaves that are falling off, paint them green, tape them back on and declare that they are living in victory! Bull! (I can say that now that I am not a pastor.) Dormant seasons are better lived when you accept both words. Dormant: it’s true, I am not at my best and most beautiful right now. Season: seasons are temporary. The Fall is inevitable but Spring is coming. Give it time.

5. The God who gives the supply also removes the supply. Blessed be the name of the Supplier.

6. Trust God for the PRESENT season.

7. Your dried up brook may not be a sign of failure, but completion.

Elijah, Hoss, this project is done. How cool! Heck, my world is full of started, procrastinated, considering, paused, in progress but rarely DONE. Wouldn’t it be cool to say at the end of your day that your project is done? Wouldn’t it be cool to say done at the end of your week? Month? Year? What if at the end of your life you could say, done? I know two people who can. More on that on Thursday’s blog. Very cool stuff. See ya then.

Comments

[Mary McGuire]

Love those 7 observations !!! But I have to admit in thinking of the "dried up" streams of my life I can remember how hard it was to get through those transition times and was in tears at times. Thanks for reminding us that we all go through these and God knows our destiny from the minute we are born to the minute he takes us home...
Your sister in Christ,
Mary

[Gene]

Love it...numbers 4 and 7 are particularly profound.

[Wayne Ogle]

Okay . . . for starters, I'm slow. I only figured out that you are no longer at Westridge about a week ago. Second, that message on Brookside is the best thing I have read in years. It really hit home. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go curl up in a ball somehere and have a good cry.