Learn about the fire of God and all of the things that it wants to be as a part of your life!
Enjoy the video!
Sermon Notes: https://www.heartofgraceministries.com/blog/after-the-fact/fire-god/#.VdvF_CVVhHw
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Valley Faith: Finding The Rose of Sharon
God is the beauty and hope in unlikely times and unlikely places
Song of Solomon 2:1-3
2 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
The rose of Sharon is a large hibiscus shrub. It grows about 12 feet tall, has large three-lobed leaves, and a lovely rose, purple, white or blue flower. The uniqueness of the rose of Sharon lies in the fact that it blooms at an unlikely time and in unlikely places. The rose blossoms in the fall, when few other shrubs are in bloom. It grows well in unfavorable conditions and does not seem to be partial to the city or the country.
Unfavorable growing conditions? In our honest moments we sometimes marvel that the soil of our lives could produce anything beautiful. It is full of the stones of selfishness, the weeds of deceitfulness, and the acidity of our pride. Yet the Rose of Sharon persists, blooms, and grows, even when other plants are dormant.
The lily is a very noble plant in the East; it grows to a considerable height, but has a weak stem. The church is weak in herself, yet is strong in Him that supports her
While it doesn’t look like God is among you it is simple not in natural view. If you pray you will see him.
Hebrews 11:2-4
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
If we never endure the valleys we will not learn to hope when we are struggling to survive.
James 1:12
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
So Tell Me About Your Day
Have you ever had that moment where you get to talk to your spouse or loved one and you asked them “So how was your day?”. As small as this question seems, it goes without saying that for most of us this may be one of the only moments where you show your concern for their well-being and what they do. Some of us may be saying, “but I do care about them!”, and no doubt that we all do. There is one thought I want to remind you about using this example.
God is concerned about your day. I am so thankful for that. When all else lose concern for how you are or if you need help God is ready to talk. In fact God is ready at any time for you to cast your cares before Him! I know that you may not be cool with sitting at your kitchen table chatting it up with God but there is definitely a means for you to do it: prayer! Prayer is not only for the devotion and worship time we give to God but is purposed as a means to cast our hindrances aside through faith.
Show concern because you want to. For one example, teenagers often do not want to communicate everything openly, but I encourage you to try anyway. When teens get in the years of rebelling or attempting to define their self it appears that they could care less about what you think. The one thing that should not change, regardless of how much a person does, is your love and concern for them.
As God reflects concern for you daily, remember to show it in kind for all. The world needs that love to be drawn to almighty God.