(Stewardship 6) “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Chain of Spirit-led decisions

Christian living is a chain reaction of Spirit-led decisions. Every decision is a spiritual reality. One life and death choice will lead us to abundant living one choice after another. I don’t need to have all the answers. I don’t even need to copy what others have done, even though God can use others’ stories to inspire us. EACH path is unique. Each calling is certain with God’s Unwavering love. Even when we walk astray, He is loving and powerful enough to bring us back on track.

Here are links to all 16 posts in the “Stewardship” journal from Elyse’s Journal written around 3/25/2023. (The link will not work until the post is posted.)
1. Seeking His will to take back the stewardship of the land (Rob’s Introduction)
2. I. “Who”: Rescued from the System
3. II. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 1: Work System
4. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2a: Medical System
5. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2b: Birth System
6. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Chain of Spirit-led decisions
7. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 3: Education
8. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Aliens and Strangers in the world
9. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Freedom
10. Simple, Abundant Living as a family wherever you are
11. Called to the Land
12. III. Land – “Inheritance”
13. Land – “Inheritance” (continued)
14. IV. How (resources)
15. Resources
16. Conclusion

(Stewardship 5) “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2b: Birth System

When it came to birthing choices for my second child, I was more prepared and empowered by what I had learned about natural birth. Comparing statitics of risks, I was able to make a more informed lower-risk choice. God carried me through one natural birth at the hospital and two successful home births. I was 37 when I gave birth to my third child. Age is not a limit to me anymore as I used to think 35 was too old to bear a child. How little my faith was!

Here are links to all 16 posts in the “Stewardship” journal from Elyse’s Journal written around 3/25/2023. (The link will not work until the post is posted.)
1. Seeking His will to take back the stewardship of the land (Rob’s Introduction)
2. I. “Who”: Rescued from the System
3. II. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 1: Work System
4. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2a: Medical System
5. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2b: Birth System
6. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Chain of Spirit-led decisions
7. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 3: Education
8. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Aliens and Strangers in the world
9. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Freedom
10. Simple, Abundant Living as a family wherever you are
11. Called to the Land
12. III. Land – “Inheritance”
13. Land – “Inheritance” (continued)
14. IV. How (resources)
15. Resources
16. Conclusion

(Stewardship 4) “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2a: Medical System

The next shake-up moment was the decision to home birth. That was a challenge with the medical system, a biggie nowadays! I confess it is much easier to go to the doctor and just do what I am told. Don’t get me wrong: there is definitely a place for doctors and medical care. The issue nowadays is the overuse of medicine and surgical practices for quick fixes. I wanted those quick fixes with a short-sighted view of the future. I regret all the shots, drugs I took before I knew better for those so-called quick fixes, which didn’t heal or cure in the long run. 

Thankfully, our Creator is so gracious in His design of our bodies. If we feed our bodies the right God-made food along with an active lifestyle, our bodies can generally heal on their own over time. Our family has no need for medical intervention, no need for sick visits for over a decade. Doctors are for the sick. If we take charge of our health and eating habits, we have less need of a doctor. Real, good doctors don’t want to see their patients that often either.
After I was introduced to a whole-food product by my mother-in-law in preparing to get pregnant, I was intrigued by the power of whole food nutrition. All the old-fashioned Chinese holistic healing ideas I was exposed to came back to me with a new light. The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know about the natural healing methods. We continue to explore the benefits of real food, herbs, essential oils, mushrooms, organ meats and fermented foods, sprouts, etc.. We utilize what we learn in our lives one step at a time.  I am delighted to continue to discover the power from God’s storehouse of abundance in nature. Thankfully, many resources are made available by holistic-healing-minded experts if we simply have a heart to learn and receive the truth.

Here are links to all 16 posts in the “Stewardship” journal from Elyse’s Journal written around 3/25/2023. (The link will not work until the post is posted.)
1. Seeking His will to take back the stewardship of the land (Rob’s Introduction)
2. I. “Who”: Rescued from the System
3. II. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 1: Work System
4. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2a: Medical System
5. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2b: Birth System
6. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Chain of Spirit-led decisions
7. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 3: Education
8. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Aliens and Strangers in the world
9. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Freedom
10. Simple, Abundant Living as a family wherever you are
11. Called to the Land
12. III. Land – “Inheritance”
13. Land – “Inheritance” (continued)
14. IV. How (resources)
15. Resources
16. Conclusion

(Stewardship 3) “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 1: Work System

Psalm 25
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
and their descendants will inherit the land.

Fast forward two decades, now a mother of three healthy happy boys on earth, one child in heaven, one child in my womb in my forties, I am in awe to see how much I have been set free from many worldly-operating systems. Life is full of many big and small changes and decisions. I can’t go into the details of all the decision-making moments, but a few turning-point decisions can serve as bookmarks of His continual and consistent work to bless me with more freedom.

After my first son was born, I gave up my career as a language teacher and became a full-time home-maker. I loved my job and the interactions with adult students. To many of my friends and family in China, my choice to give up my education, degree, and stay at home was out of the norm. Especially these days, as my boys are getting older, they have a hard time time understanding why I don’t go back to “work”. I was in the darkness before and I understand the value system simply doesn’t compute the same way any more. I see my time with my boys as the best career choice I have ever made! This holy ground of home is my primary mission field, a safe place to grow and train disciples, a resting place for receiving weary and wandering passengers with hospitality, a nesting place for growing love and tenderness, a free place to exercise our creativity, and so much more. As my children grow, their talents, personalities only add to the richness and complexity of this God-designed institution.

Here are links to all 16 posts in the “Stewardship” journal from Elyse’s Journal written around 3/25/2023. (The link will not work until the post is posted.)
1. Seeking His will to take back the stewardship of the land (Rob’s Introduction)
2. I. “Who”: Rescued from the System
3. II. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 1: Work System
4. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2a: Medical System
5. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2b: Birth System
6. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Chain of Spirit-led decisions
7. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 3: Education
8. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Aliens and Strangers in the world
9. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Freedom
10. Simple, Abundant Living as a family wherever you are
11. Called to the Land
12. III. Land – “Inheritance”
13. Land – “Inheritance” (continued)
14. IV. How (resources)
15. Resources
16. Conclusion

(Stewardship 2) I. “Who”: Rescued from the System

Psalm 25 
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
    He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
    and their descendants will inherit the land.

Today is E’s special day (the day he was born, but not the month). By schedule, I started my day by reading Psalm 25, 55, 85, 115, 145 and Proverbs 25. I started this reading plan a few years ago after attending a Jewish Scripture exhibition and learning about this helpful reading plan. I need His wisdom, comfort, conviction or simply to hear the genuine outcry from the Psalmists. His Word is living, active and enduring. In different seasons of life, His word breathes life to my weary soul. 

As a human-being made in His image, I don’t just live life ignorant of what the future holds unless I ignore the gentle voice deep within. I can try to muffle that voice by pursuing temporary pleasures, obtaining earthly possessions and fame, or simply getting busy so I don’t have time to think. The worldly system feeds that desire for convenience, pride and pleasure. We willingly or unwillingly jump right into the worldly traps generation after generation. I was a slave to my own evil and fallen desires. I was in bondage to the crippling worldly systems. I had a love-hate relationship with the dysfunctional system. The system abused me and I was using the system to get what I wanted. Life seemed good! I was following the system so I felt and looked good by the standards set by the system. 

However I felt or looked normal from the outside, I was despertely helpless and needy from within.  I needed freedom from the worldly standards and systems. I was trapped. 

I needed a Savior to drag me out of the dark pit with His loving firm grip. I needed a Savior to woo me by His gentle love so I could have the strength to come out of the darkness willingly. I needed a Savior to take off my filthy rags with His tender love.

My Savior is also my Lord and Redeemer! He pays the high price of the penalty of my sin. He shed blood on the cross so I can live. I have a new Master, a good Master. I fear Him because I love Him. I follow Him because He leads me to my inherited land. The promised land for Israelites was a real place overflowing with milk and honey. God’s heart is to bless His people, even if it takes painful discipline. There is always hope in His eternal promise of His presence in the land to come in our Heavenly Kingdom. 

When the Gospel first came to me over two decades ago, I was living my secular life in a secular country receiving a secular education. Accepting the Truth was a choice, but more accurately put, was an unstoppable calling. The Almighty God has revealed His power and unrelenting love to me, a stubborn sinner. By His mercy and grace, I chose life, eternal life with Him! 

That was a total paradigm shift. My values, philosophies, priorities all turned upside down or jumbled up. Little did I know, that was only the beginning of a life-transforming journey on earth. Not only was my belief system transformed, but also every aspect of my life started to take a new path with my new Master. 

We generally sense the disdain of the concept of slavery due to our knowledge of the wicked masters in the world. You cannot genuinely love your good master without knowing Him. The more I know my Master, my Lord, Jesus, the more I delight in my identity as a bond servant of His. This bondage gives comfort, security and joy! He even chose me! He will choose you too if you are willing to surrender. He will instruct you in the ways you should go, one step a time. Abundant life in Him will look different from the standards of the world, but surely it will come as He has promised. 
“ Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?” If you are one of them, read on and hope you are encouraged in your seeking of His will. If you don’t know the Lord, you probably don’t know what “fear the Lord” really means. That’s okay! I invite you to join our adventure with Jesus.  If you are seeking the truth, He will be found. Just continue to do the next right thing for those you love. He is the Truth! God may be calling you to the country without your acknowledging His leading. His calling may start with a physical place but it can end up at a much higher spiritual place. Just press on seeking life in the light of God’s Word! (Biblegateway.com is a good place to start if you don’t have a Bible yet.)

Here are links to all 16 posts in the “Stewardship” journal from Elyse’s Journal written around 3/25/2023. (The link will not work until the post is posted.)
1. Seeking His will to take back the stewardship of the land (Rob’s Introduction)
2. I. “Who”: Rescued from the System
3. II. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 1: Work System
4. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2a: Medical System
5. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2b: Birth System
6. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Chain of Spirit-led decisions
7. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 3: Education
8. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Aliens and Strangers in the world
9. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Freedom
10. Simple, Abundant Living as a family wherever you are
11. Called to the Land
12. III. Land – “Inheritance”
13. Land – “Inheritance” (continued)
14. IV. How (resources)
15. Resources
16. Conclusion

(Stewardship 1) Seeking His will to take back the stewardship of the land (Rob’s Introduction)

We are about to post Elyse’s journal that she wrote for a few days starting on March 25, 2023. This was before we purchased property in Missouri and before we moved. We are now in Missouri and we have been so busy getting the house “fixed up” (an understatement that will need to be a separate post), that I hadn’t had time to read it. I finally read it and could hardly stop, even though it was well after bedtime. She caught so many of the areas that we are processing in our lives: the world’s systems (medical, school, food, city conveniences, comfort, etc.) which blind and control, compared to the freedom we have experienced that comes with hard work, difficulty and the need to actually think while bringing meaning, accomplishment and growth spiritually, physically and mentally. She talked about marriage and parenting (including difficulties in both), true inheritance and many other topics, all within the context of looking to Christ, depending on the Holy Spirit, and joyfully following God’s plans for our lives. She provided many of the key resources that have helped us in our journey. It caught glimpses of so much that we have been learning and living over the past year or so.

We are now going to post this journal, broken down into a string of shorter posts. It follows Psalm 25:12-13 for its format.

Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
They will spend their days in prosperity,
    and their descendants will inherit the land.

I pray that it will challenge, encourage and make you think, as much as it has me.

To God be the Glory!
Robert Goll

Here are links to all 16 posts in the “Stewardship” journal from Elyse’s Journal written around 3/25/2023. (The link will not work until the post is posted.)
1. Seeking His will to take back the stewardship of the land (Rob’s Introduction)
2. I. “Who”: Rescued from the System
3. II. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 1: Work System
4. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2a: Medical System
5. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 2b: Birth System
6. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Chain of Spirit-led decisions
7. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 3: Education
8. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Aliens and Strangers in the world
9. “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Freedom
10. Simple, Abundant Living as a family wherever you are
11. Called to the Land
12. III. Land – “Inheritance”
13. Land – “Inheritance” (continued)
14. IV. How (resources)
15. Resources
16. Conclusion

Rhyming Sermon Notes: Resurrection Day 2023

Why is Good Friday good?

1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

This year our church and another church restarted their tradition of celebrating Good Friday together, and for Resurrection Sunday our family joined my parents and sisters at my parent’s church.

While we missed seeing our friends this morning, it is also a blessing to see my family and to join with the larger body of Christ for worship through song and the preaching of the Word. It is meaningful to see the diversity and unity of worship, within the body of Christ!

By his blood and in his life we are one in the family and body of Christ! Praise be to God that “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!
We are risen in him, by his death we are freed!

GCNO & Cornerstone Bible Fellowship together – Good Friday, 2023-04-07
Pastor Dean Good
Galatians 3:10-14

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
The theme of the passage and letter.
A false teacher had led them to the law
Paul reminds them that Christ’s redemption is better.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
The work he did on the cross.
Our redemption on Good Friday.
Our life purchased at his loss.

When he died, his people redeemed.
The work was finished in full.
Our need for redemption from the curse of the law.
We did not perfectly obey his rule.

Our temptation to think of the things we do.
The law goes well beyond.
To love the Lord with our whole heart
for his glory to him respond.

“Thou shall not covet.” All of us have.
All of us under the curse.
There is nothing we can do to justify ourselves.
All of our motives for sin make it worse.

The nature of the curse,
we all die in the end.
Spiritually, separated from God
Physically, from the body death does send.

The evidence we are all under the curse
We all die, it’s the way we all go.
This world is one great tomb, for death.
We come and go, condemned to death to flow.

We have tried to soften death.
The way that we all will go.
Evolution tries to make it good
these seeds of acceptance to sow.

What is the means of our redemption?
In the Incarnation he came.
The Messiah came anointed.
Born under the law, like us the same.

He perfectly kept the law.
Doing the will of his Father above.
At age 30 years,
The voice said, “This is my son whom I love.”

Christ our substitution
Humbled… a curse… for me.
He gave his life, paid our penalty
when he hung on a tree.

Many lambs sacrificed.
A picture of what was to come.
He the spotless lamb,
He was made sin, it was placed on the Son.

Our sins imputed to Christ.
He took them all on himself.
The soldiers mocked, beat, killed.
This all should have fallen on myself.

The result of my redemption,
we are no longer under the curse of law.
Instead under Abraham’s blessing,
all the nations of the earth, redemption saw.

Because we are now forgiven,
purchased by Christ’s blood.
Instead of slaves to sin,
we’re slaves to righteousness, in his love.

The reception of my redemption,
done by faith alone.
Humble and repentant
by grace he does alone.

We are justified by Christ
not by works of the law.
Turn, repent, change our ways.
Declared righteous, not slaves to the fall.

The life which I now live,
I live by faith alone.
He loved me and gave his life,
His death did my life atone.

Abiding Faith Bible Church – Easter Sunday, 2023-04-09
Pastor Michael Lehman
John 14:6 – Jesus Christ as the Life

Jewish expectations
of Messiah who was to come
No Trinity, no suffering,
the Law redeemed the nation

John 14:6
I am the way, the truth, the life
This title Jesus gave himself
This “heresy” with the Jews brought strife.

Jesus as the way
Holiness and sin
Who God is. Who we are.
This work through him begin.

Jesus as the Truth.
Exclusive just to him.
Any truth that we may seek
must always in him begin.

If I’m living “my own truth”
It’s all falsehood in the end.
To seek and know the truth
must call out to him, in his word, to send.

Pride keeps us from seeking him.
A truth seeker must be humble.
We may leave all we know and thought
perhaps be crazy, in this world seem to stumble.

When Jesus on the cross,
who was in control?
Though he bled and died,
the tomb was empty, we do extol.

The life, and death, and burial
and the resurrection all in the plan.
Jesus is the life
All this in his powerful hand.

Jesus as the life
exposes the deadness of man.
Why do we celebrate his life?
Why do we rejoice in this plan?

Eternal life is found in Jesus.
Do you have him or do you deny?
1 John 5:10 reveals our heart,
Do we call him Life, or a teller of lies?

Do we look at God
and call him a liar to his face?
That is a damning sin,
though he is a God of grace.

Seeing him as the Life,
highlights our deadness in sin.
Anyone outside of Christ
is dead, really dead, in sin.

Every intention of our hearts
only evil all the time.
We are dead in the trespasses of our sins
guilty of every crime.

Walking as a dead man.
Walking in our sin.
Though we seem to live in life,
we can be dead spiritually, in sin.

Romans 8:7, 8,
the mind on the flesh hostile to God.
Those who are living in the flesh
are unable to please God.

This is foolish to the world.
We are dead, though we’re alive?
Jesus spoke to the hypocrites
though full of sin, for appearance to strive.

Physically we’re born, live, die.
Spiritually born dead, need life in him.
Ephesians 2, “But God”
By grace we’re saved from sin.

God makes us alive.
Together with Christ raised up in him.
Romans 6:5-8
Set free from sin, have new life again.

The deadness of man
this story complete
it reveals not only our sin.
but our only hope, to with Christ retreat.

Jesus the way, truth, life
Perfection the only way.
Through the truth in him, his word,
His word will light our way.

Without his word like breath in our life,
religion, our own creation.
Am I breathing the Word of God,
Dependent on him in every situation.

Rhyming Sermon Notes: 2023 March

Whether just for myself, or my family, too.
Rhyming notes helps me focus, and then helps us review.

If they bring you a blessing, a meaningful read.
I pray that by Jesus, your spirit is freed.

A free man in Christ, and his bond servant, too.
By His grace, as his child, is our spirit made new!

Color Code:

  • Sunday School
  • Church Service
  • Wednesday Church
  • Special / Visiting another church

If these rhyming notes are a helpful review (or just a fun read), feel free to Subscribe to receive them and other reflections each time we post.

!! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2023-03-01
TJ vanWingerden
Deuteronomy 32

When we think of a song we think of happiness and joy.
This song, “a song of witness”, God blessed and did destroy.

One of Moses’ last times, speaking to the crowd.
In 33 gives blessings, then to Joshua passes the shroud.

This song one of instruction. How then should we now live?
A finale for Moses, in Deuteronomy, a message to their heart does give.

In the form of a lawsuit, they had broken faith.
With the contract broken, we hear what God now sayeth.

Heavens and earth be my witness, of the accusation given.
While as a lawsuit, meant to give refreshing to the living.

The greatness of God, followed by the accusation.
The faithfulness of God, and their full rejection.

The facts of the trial, in verses seven to fourteen.
God was their protector, as in the wilderness seen.

In 15 through 18, their rebellion brought to light.
In 19 through 26, God’s faithfulness, though they fight.

Though God was always faithful, they ran to something new.
Satan uses that today, to distract us from what’s true.

God will hide his face, see what their end will be.
God is angry and sad. He wants to see them free.

The extent of the verdict, arrows. beasts and plague.
Yet for his glory spares them, though they ignore him, his word drag.

Verse 28, they’re foolish, don’t see and understand.
We often miss his truth, and turn to sin again.

The possibility of restoration and justice in 34 and 43.
God remembers all their enemies’ sins, vengeance is the Lord’s, he can always see.

In 39 to 42, their enemies destroyed.
In 43, God looks to the future, when Israel restored.

This Psalm a song of witness, we need take heed today.
Don’t grow fat, reject him and foolishly turn away.

!! Christ the King Church – Sunday, 2023-03-05
Pastor Jeremy Sexton
Romans 5:18-19

Man’s ruin in Adam, And rescue in Jesus Christ
Paul’s words quickly flowing, they flow out with force.

Discernable redemption, man’s ruin, redemption, reign
Paul’s pastoral message: In Christ? Sin no longer reigns.

Our sin is our choice, only enslaved as we allow.
Sin and Death no longer reign over us. Do we follow now?

If sin and death reign through Adam, How much more life in Christ?
In sin we renounce our sonship. It’s not just a little tryst.

God has called us royalty, to live in his kingdom at hand.
But we eat scraps at another king’s table, we need to take a stand.

God has given victory, to conquer over sin and death.
This sin entered through Adam, sinners from our first breath.

The word of Christ more powerful, reverse Adam’s sin and more.
It trumps over the power of sin, in this confidence we’re sure.

Jesus’ perfect obedience becomes our righteousness before God.
He doesn’t just take our sin, he gives righteousness, to spare the rod.

We now reign with Christ, have dominion over sin.
He brings life to heart and mind, to be dead to death and sin.

“As all sinned”, “All righteous standing” this often used to say all saved.
This misunderstanding to be addressed later, we know all men depraved.

Our status before God, our covenant head Adam or Christ?
This came through Christ’s obedience, his sinless life leading to the cross.

Christ humbled himself to death, even death on a cross.
He took the curse, hung on a tree, our saving took his loss.

It was in God’s heart to redeem us. He redeemed us to his hurt.
He obeyed and stood in the face of God’s wrath then was buried in the dirt.

Adam and Eve sinned, God mercifully covered with animal death.
Jesus obeyed the Father, he willingly gave up his last breath.

Adam’s sin doomed all mankind, all of us depraved.
Christ born under the law, but stood sinless, clean to save.

He gave us his perfect obedience, gave us his righteousness.
We are justified by works, HIS works, HIS righteousness.

Barnhouse’s testimony, the weight of God’s wrath on you.
Transferred over to Christ. This transfer is what Christ did do.

1 Peter 2:24 – When reviled he did not revile back.
Isaiah 53 – He took our iniquities, like sheep he brought us back.

He took my sins, my sins; my sins all laid on Christ.
We like sheep turned away, He then made us right.

How do you answer the question, “Whose sin was laid on Christ?”
Can you reclaim your authority, over sin through Christ’s death and life?

Don’t try to go do better. You cannot fight the fight.
Plug into the power source. Abide in Jesus Christ.

Communing with Christ is not a task. It’s a blessing, full of life.
Love Him, Know Him, Rejoice in Him. Have fullness in Jesus Christ.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-03-12
Speaker
Passage

Trusting ourselves to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
Summarize and culmination of First Peter “bring truth to light”.

We are sojourners in the world, this is not our home.
How to respond to opposition, as in this world we roam.

The most basic response to suffering, trusting ourselves to him.
Depositing our soul to God, joyfully following again.

Something very precious, trusted to someone else.
We trust our very ….???

6 Questions

  • Why are we to entrust our souls to a faithful Creator?
  • Who is to trust their soul to a faithful Creator?
  • What are we to entrust to a faithful Creator?
  • To Whom are we to entrust our souls?
  • How are we to entrust our souls to a faithful Creator?
  • ???

Why are we to trust our souls, to our faithful Creator and Lord?
He is always working, for our purification and good.

The suffering of the believer, nothing compared to the lost.
God is using it. Though the suffering is not just.

Our trials are for our testing. Will we keep his commands?
Will we trust and obey, and on him take our stand?

Our suffering is temporary, It is passing, gone for good.
For the unbeliever, the suffering is still coming, more than the believer ever could.

The true believer follows Christ, no matter what may come.
The hypocrite will turn away, not following as a son.

Christ is our example, to follow in his steps.
Trusting his soul to the Father …???

Who is to trust their soul to their Creator? Those who suffer for him.
Start the day with surrender to him, not hurrying to begin.

Suffering according to the will of God, for doing right not wrong.
Not for our own ways and sin as this life drags us along.

Share the sufferings of Christ, reviled and rejected.
For this he chose his people, by their God selected.

Often those who suffer, question, grumble, and complain.
We see ourselves above God. This view is not very sane.

Job and Jeremiah suffered. God brought this about.
Job did not know the reasons, and was tempted to doubt.

We are often tempted to justify not God, but ourselves.
Job does this, complaining and saying this was not done well.

Jeremiah suffered in a city, captive to Babylon.
The people said to be silent, told him he was wrong.

The false prophets promised rescue, Jeremiah said the city to be destroyed.
Jeremiah mocked, rejected, told his words would not be deployed.

Both wished they never born, brought to this world of suffering and shame.
Our suffering not as theirs. It is not the same.

Great is thy faithfulness, even in God’s rod and wrath.
We are sometimes brought to despair, we don’t see God directing the path.

God will always provide. He will strengthen on the way.
It is good as we wait on him, with fresh joy day by day.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-03-19
Chris Pierre
1 Peter

Believers, Beloved, be not surprised
but rejoice when trials come.
Entrust your souls to our faithful God
Seems simple until the trials have run.

Saying “trust God” and “do what’s right”
can even seem distant and cruel.
But our God is gracious, full of good gifts.
We trust by his power and rule.

Looking at one who suffered in faith
Joseph, another chosen son.
1 Peter 4:19 an outline of one faithful in suffering
Suffer, God’s will entrust, do right, with him run.

Believers have life, peace and hope.
In the world the opposite we see.
We live in the world, with trials, distress
In the trials, perseverance, and glory to be.

Trusting God that his plans are best,
even when life is hard.
Joseph’s mother died, brothers despised, betrayed.
Taken from home, put under guard.

Betrayal, abuse from family around
abandoned and feeling alone.
Did he fall into depression and bitterness?
He lived knowing God on the throne.

Entrusting our soul to a faithful Creator.
Doing what is right.
Joseph’s example from inside to out.
Keeping God in his sight.

Gain the whole world, yet lose your soul?
Your soul, priceless, belongs to God.
Our most important things are what we entrust.
We don’t hand meaningless things slipshod.

God brings the suffering and yet I entrust.
He is faithful, he gives us all good.
Physical, Spiritual, Life all for him.
We live, not die by trusting as we should.

God can bring comfort, he can bring life.
From all our trials and pain.
God the Creator the Maker of all
Wait for him who rings the sun and the rain.

Wait on the Lord, know his promises true.
He will bring it about in his time.
Joseph never complained, but trusted the Lord.
Joseph knew God was faithful and prime.

Joseph knew the promise brought blessing,
but also came with pain through it all
He trusted God, and wasn’t surprised
He knew God’s word, the suffering was temporary and small.

God was his shield, He’s with us, he guards us.
The Lord was with Joseph, gave success.
Joseph knew God was able to create good from bad.
To give life, in the suffering to bless.

Are you trusting your best, your life and your soul.
to the Savior who promised to save?
You have more of God’s word than Joseph ever had.
Do you know God enough, him to crave?

He gives us his word. It allows us to know
all holy, all righteous and good.
Job new God could do all, he ways came to be.
They all go and end as they should.

Only he is worthy of our hope and trust.
All things hold together in him
He gives us his Spirit, the Spirit of Christ.
The Spirit of God lives within.

We can know him, unlike the world does.
Him in us and as us in him today.
We will see him again, our soul is safe.
This our hope and Joseph’s last hope he did say.

God promised the Land, that they would soon go up.
Joseph had his bones ready to go.
God will take care, bring us out in his time.
This faith in actions will show.

We can’t do what is right, if we don’t trust in him.
Without faith, there is no way to please.
All we do in the flesh, is broken and full of sin.
We know God is, he is God and he sees.

To know who God is, the master of all,
the rewarded of all who seek him.
Seek him diligently, push to the end.
As a vine, connected to all strength in him.

The purpose of the trial, to see if we have faith.
Is our faith lasting or small?
Does it stand by God’s power as we trust in Him?
or depend on our strength and fall.

!! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2023-03-26
Dave Howard
Exodus 2:23-25

Moses kills the Egyptian
then judges among his brethren.
Defends the daughter of Ruel
Then marries his daughter and has children.

God provides for Moses.
Protects him again and again.
Physically and spiritually
In Midian with a God fearing man.

In Exodus 18,
Jethro counsels Moses,
God provides Mentorship
That Moses can lead and know this.

Moses a sojourner in the land.
Lived there, though not his home.
He wants to be with his people.
for now in the desert alone.

He is not building wealth.
but living a lonely life.
He then has two sons
with his Midianite wife.

God sovereignly plans our life,
our locations and our days.
He takes us from here to there.
Watches over all our ways.

The king of Egypt dies.
Nothing for the Israelites improves.
430 years have passed.
God’s plan to get on the move.

God miraculously worked in his people
Children from a barren womb,
danger, slavery redeemed,
fiery pillar, come out from a tomb.

God wants his people to grow,
to depend on him more and more.
The most dependent on his God
was Christ himself, cried to his Lord.

The people called to God.
God is the God who hears.
God is not slow to respond.
He cares for them after all these years.

The people don’t see the plan,
God’s been developing along the way.
All things work together for good
for those who love and follow each day.

The relationship of the prayers of the saints
and the sovereignty of God.
Did Genesis 18 change God’s plan
or point to God’s character and just rod?

Now the delivered put in place.
and the hardened heart, Pharaoh, too.
The covenant always on God’s mind.
The people cried out when the time was due.

God is ready to deliver,
When he inclines our heart to ask.
God leads us to pray, repent,
when he has all prepared for the task.

When God doesn’t seem to answer,
we know his plans are best.
He’s working to grow his children,
that we may in him rest.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-03-26
Chris Pierre (Pastor Good in Israel)
1 Peter (continued from last week)

Trust God, Do what’s right.
Simple it may seem.
When struggles come, life can be hard.
In Joseph’s life, God’s faithfulness is seen.

Joseph suffered according to the will of God
From God not his brothers come.
Joseph saw God’s hand in it all.
Knew from where it all did come.

The purpose of the trials.
To stretch and grow our faith.
When the trouble is great, great deliverance.
Trusting what God saith.

In the midst of tribulation,
the believer can take heart.
Christ already conquered every trial.
As we trust him, peace in Christ can start.

Joseph an example,
trusting his soul to a faithful Creator, God
Suffering temporary. ???
???

The internal proceeds the external.
[3] Joseph’s example in doing what is right.
What does it mean to do what is right?
To walk with God in the darkness of night.

God has given a light in the darkness.
His Word a lamp and light to our path.
Reveals the character and will of God.
Following God over our will ???

Faith without works is dead.
Doing what is right.
Not doing what is wrong.
Living by God’s might.

Our actions prove our heart,
not only what we say.
Galatians 5:16 to 26
What to do and not today.

How did Joseph model,
doing what is right?
Our attributes reflect our heart.
Were we joyful or full of fright?

What do our words show?
Reveal about our trust?
Our actions reflect the state of our heart.
Do they show faithfulness as they must?

4 ways Joseph showed faith
[1] Joseph’s model of submission, not rebellion in trial.
He submitted to authority.
Not his own will, he went the extra mile.

Joseph told to check on his brothers.
Joseph submitted to the will of the father.
His brothers then sold him as a slave.
He worked hard to bless and not to bother.

He worked to bless the man
who held him as a slave.
He submitted ultimately to his God,
Did not act on all he did crave.

This led to false accusations.
Then to prison he did go.
But the Lord was with Joseph.
Joseph blessed as these seeds he did sow.

When suffering in the will of God,
do you submit yourself
to a faithful Creator?
He keeps every tear in a bottle on his shelf.

He will bring you out.
We need to trust in him.
Sin needs to be revealed, brought out
We’re not to obey in sin.

Second way Joseph serves as a model
Focused on God not on self or the world.
Not looking for his own justification.
Just wanting God’s will and word to be heard.

When Joseph came to power,
Did he use his authority to repay?
He didn’t focus on himself
or complain in his powerful day.

Jesus did not revile,
but entrusted his life to God.
He obeyed in pain and sorrow,
as his blood was shod.

[3] Joseph a picture of compassionate love.
not controlling anger.
Those who hurt him did not control his heart.
Of love he was no stranger.

When he could not restrain himself
it was in love and not in sadness, worry, hate.
He wanted relationship with them
before it was too late.

He didn’t gloat over his position.
Show them how they did bow.
He heaps love and compassion on them
His eyes on his Creator now.

God sent him to preserve life.
God was with him on the way.
God gave him love.
God was in control from day to day.

You meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good.
We need to pray and bless our enemies,
Only by the Holy Spirit do as we should.

Our eyes need to be fixed on Christ,
not looking side to side.
Christ will hold us when we fall.
He brings us to in him abide.

[4] Joseph modeled hopeful freedom
not slavery to the past.
It didn’t control and weigh him down,
What was broken did not last.

Give wrongs over to God,
Who is the perfect judge.
Let them go, rejoice in him
Let him your heart to nudge.

Love those who have wronged you.
Speak faith and love to them.
Rejoice in God and all he’s done
Praise him again and again.

Praying Scripture: Psalm 119:1-8 א ALEPH

This morning as I woke up, God put it on my heart to set aside my planned reading in Jeremiah and to write a prayer through a Psalm. I hadn’t realized that it was the 31st, when my Psalm reading for the day would be Psalm 119. (I often include Psalm 119 on months with 31 days instead of it’s “normal” place on the 29th of the month with 29, 59, 89, 119, 149.) Instead of praying through the entirety of Psalm 119 (the longest Psalm/Chapter in the Bible, which is divided into subsections going through the Hebrew alphabet), though that would also be great, I would like to focus on just one section to get the Psalm started.

א ALEPH

1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way,

  • Oh Lord, I see the word “undefiled” and my sin flashes before me. My selfishness, my quick tongue, my lusts, my fears from lack of faith, my self reliance.
  • Lord, I pray that you would help me not to be self reliant, but more and more reliant on God. Our culture emphasizes to be self-reliant and for children to grow to be self-reliant. Instead, help me to grow into true maturity of reliance on you.
  • Lord, on my own I cannot be “undefiled”. I may be able to put on a show, and even to fool myself, but only you can give a clean heart and a new mind. Only you can give me a heart for you. Lord, I pray that you would search me and know me and help me to see any wicked way in me. Only by your Spirit can I change. I pray that you would bring this change in me.

Who walk in the law of the Lord!

  • In this is blessing, to be undefiled and to walk in the law of the Lord. Help me to delight in your law, your word, your commands, your precepts, your testimonies, your statutes. Lord give me a heart that can never have enough. That is always hungry for your word. That instead of having my plans for the day and having time reading your word as an activity before the others begin, Lord help my highest delight be to have time to meditate on your Word and be quiet before you. Help that to be the primary activity of my day and my delight and then all other activities, conversations, and thoughts to flow from that time as an extension of it.
  • What blessing! What blessing would this bring to my life!?!

2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!

  • My whole heart. My heart is so divided. I am already thinking about my work and worries, my plans and productivity for today. What needs to be done for this? How will I handle that? This is what goes through my mind as I read your word. Lord, help me to seek you with my whole heart! This world and all it’s cares are passing away, and yet I live so much for them. Lord help me to seek you with my whole heart!

3 They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways.

  • I look at my life and I cringe. “do no iniquity”. Lord, perhaps there is a differentiation between “iniquity” and “sin”, but either way, I know that I fall far short. My thoughts are of iniquity and my actions naturally pour from there. Lord, I pray that you would first give me a pure heart and a clean mind, and that from a constant focus on you, my thoughts and actions would flow with righteousness instead of iniquity. Help me to grow to where walking in your ways becomes my habit and delight instead of plotting my own course.
  • Lord, help me to be a repenter, for this to be a distinguishing characteristic of my life. You have said that when we confess our sins, when we repent, you purify us from all forgive us our sins and purify us from all iniquity. Having no iniquity is not something I can do. It is only something that you can gift.

4 You have commanded us
To keep Your precepts diligently.

  • Praying your word is so convicting. It’s like when I see my guilt, it continues to throw salt on that wound. Lord, thank you for this persistence. It does not let me simply move on and forget, though I am still so prone to move on and forget….
  • Lord, you have “commanded us”. The Creator, Sustainer, King of all of Creation “commands us”, and yet that command is so often as nothing before me.
  • I am guilty and deserving of wrath and judgment. Lord, help me to keep your precepts diligently. By the self-control that the Spirit gives, not by my own strength, which is impossible.

5 Oh, that my ways were directed
To keep Your statutes!

  • “Oh, that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!” This echoes my cry. “Oh, that my ways…” Lord, I need you to direct my ways.

6 Then I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all Your commandments.

  • I live in so much shame, so much fear, so much uncertainty. I feel so inadequate, not knowing what to do or how to do it.
  • How different would I be if I “look into all Your commandments”? How would this grounding in your word change my life, my heart, my confidence and understanding? It wouldn’t be dependent on me. Like stated before, it would be by my being more dependent, more dependent on your Word, your leading, your strength.

7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart,

  • Oh, for joy! To truly be able to praise you with uprightness of heart! To not be so consumed with my own glory and things of this world, but with uprightness of heart, meditating on you and your word. Walking by the power of your spirit. Oh for joy! Lord, give me a pure heart and a new mind! Only you can do this!

When I learn Your righteous judgments.

  • This morning, you have been leading me to just a glimpse of your righteous judgments. Lord help me not just to hear, but to “learn”. Help this to work it’s way into my life, that my life would be guided, corrected and freed by your righteous judgments. Lord, give me more dependence on you!

8 I will keep Your statutes;

  • Lord, may this be true! May this be true!

Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

  • You have promised to always be with and never forsake your children. Lord, search my heart. Help me not to be deceived by the family I grew up in, the church I am in, the Bible studies I join. Help me not to be deceived by the outward appearance, but to test my heart. Am I walking with you? Am I your child? Lord, call me to yourself. Call me ever deeper into you. Help me to be increasingly connected to you.
  • Thank you that you are faithful, even when I am faithless!

What a joy to pray through your word. To slow down from my reading and to pray through Your Word! Lord, help me to be quiet before you. Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Help me to not just be a hearer of the Word, but a doer also. Help me to have faith and not to doubt. Help me to be grounded in your word, to be steady in my word, deed and thought. Lord, help me to not be self-sufficient, but increasingly God dependent.

Thank you for this time in your Word!

In the name of Jesus, the Word of God, and our redeemer, who is always with us and never forsakes us!

Amen! Let it be so!

Rhyming Sermon Notes: 2023 February

Whether just for my self, or my family, too.
Rhyming notes helps me focus, and then helps us review.

If they bring you a blessing, a meaningful read.
I pray that by Jesus, your spirit is freed.

A free man in Christ, and his bond servant, too.
By His grace, as his child, is our spirit made new!

Color Code:

  • Sunday School
  • Church Service
  • Wednesday Church

If these rhyming notes are a helpful review (or just a fun read), feel free to Subscribe to receive them each time I post.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2023-02-05
Chris Pierre
Exodus 1: ?-?

Shrewd dealing with the covenant people
From fear that they may go
Confront with worldly wisdom
not God’s effectual wisdom they did show

The world cannot know God,
and the blessings which from him come.
So they seek to curtail God’s blessing to his people
keep them from multiplying, to kill their sons.

The world wants to declare God’s people
to be cursed and stopped and dead.
They stand against God’s anointed
We need discernment and not dread.

If you are in God’s covenant people
You are blessed, alive.
The Egyptians and the world, want to control God people
not acknowledge that under the control of God they abide.

This all contrary to God’s Word
that they would leave supplied.
We need to live by God’s word
to rest and in him hide.

Continuing in Psalm 2, we see the folly of the world.
They want to break control from him
The attempts to control God’s people, is to control God
God laughs at their folly and their sin.

We should not be surprised
when the world tries to confront, curtail, control
They never can confront your God
Though in his plans they play their role

Run to God as your refuge
and he will surely care
He will bring you up and out
all his blessings share

Your job is not to save America
but to point to Jesus Christ.
The world takes action against the Savior
with attacks and pressure, deceive and heist.

The sons of Israel oppressed with hard labor
as a way to oppose God’s plan
But God had planned this all before.
It was all in his powerful hand.

The plan was to knock them down.
But instead they built the cities, and took the blow
This oppression was the precursor
Their freedom was coming, this they did know.

Christ has overcome the world.
As we look to him our faith is grown.
He gives us every spiritual blessing.
In him true life is shown.

They used violence against God’s people.
Violence is a tool of the world.
We see it all through history
And God judges, his power unfurled.

We don’t respond with violence
but turn to Christ in faith
Even if we suffer and die
We trust in what God saith.

The bitterness with hard labor
The world brings trouble, lies and pain.
But God gives strength and blessings.
He is with us in the shadow, his presence we obtain.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-02-05
Pastor Dean Good
Passage

Keep on Rejoicing, Glorify God,
Entrust your soul to Him
We will be attacked and slandered by the world
and tempted into sin.

Our temptation when bad things come,
to question God’s goodness to us.
There is no darkness in him.
His ways and character we can trust.

We may not understand
how his good plans all play out.
But I can trust that he is good
of this I need not doubt.

Entrust your soul to a faithful Creator
And in him rejoice
If the righteous is hard to save
What becomes of the sinner by choice.

The righteous may suffer here
This world with evil filled
But how much more the sinner
their soul is dead and killed.

When we entrust our souls
It’s because we trust God in truth.
We also fear the Lord
He judges sin as proof.

This all lends to thankfulness
to what the Lord has done.
Judgment begins with the house of God
Foundation, ___, Application of his rod.

The foundation of this principle
God is a God of love.
The judgment and law of God
Reflect his love from above.

He is righteous and perfect
His judgments always just.
He calls us to be righteous.
To obey him without a fuss.

He is a God of judgment.
He has made this clear.
God will judge the wicked.
Our purpose to obey and fear.

Christ was judged on the cross for our sins
Undoing the work of Satan, sin and death.
A substitute a spotless lamb
He placed my sin on him, for his final breath.

Galatians 3 verse 10,
the works of law under a curse
None have done a good job
He was cursed on a tree, out substitute, he took it worst.

Romans chapter 5
we have peace with God
Our feelings go up and down
but we are saved from his wrath and judgment rod.

Our sins are taken away
as far as east and west
Christ has given peace
He has given rest.

Judgment begins with the house of God
God calls his people “be holy to me”
We are not our own
Sin brings judgment, but he sets us free.

When God’s people worshiped in their own way
apart from what God prescribed
God will be treated as holy
when they sinned, he judged and they died.

God receives sinners
who come with weeping and tears
God used far more wicked nations
to judge his people for years.

Those who belong to God
Have an obligation to be holy to him
We picture a grandfather God
He is holy and good and judges sin.

When we take the name of Christ.
We become a slave to him.
We become an ambassador.
We become a temple, holy from sin.

The purpose of the cross
not just a ticket to heaven.
But that we would trust and obey
pure and holy ______

God will chasten the son he loves
Uses trials to set our affections on him.
Christ judges his church
Root out those who are not his, but live for sin.

God is exceedingly patient with his children
and gracious with the humble.
Entrust your soul to him.
He’ll carry you when you stumble.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2023-02-08
Steven
Psalm 149 (Series: Psalms)

Fourth of Five “Hallelujah Psalms”
Focused on Yahweh as King.
All opposition will cease with his reign
As all his people sing.

One through five or one through four.
Can be divided either way.
One through five praises from his people
live for him new each day.

We worship in spirit and truth
with renewed passion and praise.
God called sinners to belong to him.
Why did he choose me to raise?

We may have joy when promoted in this world
But this joy is fading and dead.
Praise with dancing and music
As many through Scripture have said.

Dancing also associated with paganism.
Worship must have praise and self control.
The Lord takes pleasure in His people
and will beautify and save their soul.

God is patient, long suffering
Using pagan nations to humble and bring his people back
“The Lord” here is “Yeshua”
pointing to Christ, through all scripture on track

The praise of God’s people for eschatological deliverance
Working while holding a sword
In Nehemiah praise on the way to the battle
knowing the result based on his Word.

Our battle not against flesh and blood
but in the spiritual world
Anything that stands against Christ
will fall and be bound at his word.

We can praise with an upright heart.
As he purifies us from sin.
If you don’t know this king
Repent and for eternity sing.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2023-02-12
Chris Pierre
Exodus 1:15-22

The people came, known by God, welcomed by the Egyptians
Blessed, conceived, their numbers grew by many multiplications.

The people now a real concern. The Egyptians with fear and dread.
The people cursed, work them hard, do whatever they said.

The hard labor didn’t work, the people continued to grow.
The Pharaoh has another plan to murder them, not to let them sew.

We do not live by the word of man, but by the Word of God.
Possible or impossible, irrelevant when under his rod.

Believe God’s promise, he will fulfill as unlikely as it may seem.
God had promised to Abraham, the fulfillment would soon be seen.

Man declared righteous, by faith from God a gift.
We must believe, trust in him, in his time our soul will lift.

From death to life, we will pass, when we look to him, believe.
God loved the world, so gave his Son, that we may life receive.

The wisdom of the world, against God’s sovereign plan
God has blessed, the world has cursed, to murder not just ban.

What’s the plan? How will it be done? The midwives now are called.
A daughter – live, A son – destroy. By this have their numbers fall.

The kings of the world, then and today, their call it has not changed.
The call is hidden. Only a few knew. This plan was all deranged.

The call was given within the clan, within God’s  people given.
This deadly call, attack from within, stop the men of war from living.

A hidden call. A deadly call. First against the men.
We see that in the world today, against the men again.

This call of Pharaoh a testing call, what would the midwives do?
Would they live for the world, or be separate and stay true?

“Live by the world, all will go well”, this lie is often told.
“Just listen to the Pharaoh and all will go well.” Be Bold!

The call of worldly wisdom, will come to test deceive.
This may come from within the church, makes it easy to receive.

Jude 12 speaks of the deceit within, that would lead us to sin.
Keep yourself in the Word of God, with his call begin.

The Godly call of the midwives, to live for God and not the world
This open call, not hidden, clear, proclaimed so all have heard.

Living with the fear of God, obey all his commands.
Receive, obey, Do what is said. On his word take a stand.

A living call, for life not death. Let the Hebrews live.
Love God? Love life. The world? Love death. Our love a result will give.

God’s call is a proving call, not “testing” like the world.
It showed their faith in God. Lived by fear of God, what they heard.

God commended them for their faith, gave them children of their own
By this their homes established, by trusting God, they built their home.

Then Pharaoh called to all the world, not in secret to a few alone.
They were all to kill the children, there was no safe place to go.

This was a genocidal call, throw them in the Nile.
You won’t have to hear their cries, Satan worship in this style.

Satan will end up being thrown into the lake of fire.
Do not live for the world’s plans, live only by God’s power.

This is a devouring call, to assimilate God’s children.
Jesus will protect us, all life is from him given.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-02-12
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:17-19 – Judgement begins with the house of God

Entrust your souls to God, in afflictions great and small.
Pray God’s will not mine, and trust him, follow his call.

Judgment begins with the household of God, with difficulty the righteous saved.
But at the end the way is easy, the burden is light, we trust him and our souls crave.

We trust him for he is good. We trust him because of fear.
The true and living God, saved from hell and meaninglessness here.

We entrust our souls to a faithful Creator, On Christ our judgment fell.
Four points to explain that judgment begins, on the house of God it fell.

1. God will judge his own people before he judges the world.
2. God will purify the believer.
3. God will purify the local church
4. God will purify the universal church

God will judge his own people before he judges the world.
He comes and fills his people. Like the temple filled.

You are now filled with the Spirit, an ambassador and slave of Christ.
He is committed to purity, for purity he paid a high price.

God had promised through the prophets, the judgment for sin would come.
Ezekiel 9 in a vision, Israel’s leaders were worshiping the sun.

They thought the Lord did not see them, as they worshiped Satan, other Gods.
They did it there in the temple, Abominations will be struck with the rod.

God called the executioners of the city
Start in the sanctuary, be clean.
The presence left the temple
and stays like that until Christ is seen.

If you are a child of God, holy you must be.
Know and follow the Word of God or judgment you will see.

God died to make you holy, that you may love him, what is true.
He will judge the sin of the believer, though his wrath is not for y ou.

God is extremely patient, though he chastises his son with love.
God alone is holy, he makes us holy as we submit to him above.

I thank the Lord for his discipline, he does if for our good.
We need to purify ourselves, follow him as we should.

The sooner we learn to obey, the easier life will be.
Don’t set our eyes on the things of the world, seek him alone to see.

Do not be bound with unbelievers, we are the temple, God with us.
Cleanse ourselves, in action and mind, our thoughts need be of trust.

Search me Oh God and know me. Lead me to righteousness.
Cleans me of my internal sin, give me a heart of trust.

If you are an unbeliever. God may give you what you seek.
You may have money, success, this will destroy your life, make it bleak.

If any one defiles the temple of God. God, he will destroy.
We see this with Ananias, Saphirah. They lied, put on a ploy.

Peter said “Annanias, how has Satan filled your soul?”
His wife did the same, they both fell dead. Sin had taken it’s toll.

Pride and reputation, seeking glory from men.
This brought the cost of death. Did it once and then again.

When taking the cup of the Lord, we must judge ourselves in truth.
Not taking it unworthily, resulting in sickness and death as proof.

God is committed to the purity of his people, sin must be removed.
If believers are living in sin, They need to repent or by the church be moved.

Many in the church, hypocrites through and through.
They may know that their living for self, the wicked he will remove.

Every secret thing will come to light, the darkness will be known.
The book of Jude shows the church at the end, the leaders lead astray, away from God’s throne.

The church leaders live for the flesh, pointing to God’s grace.
God saved his people from Egypt, then they died as they didn’t have faith.

Jesus judges his church, before judging the world.
There are those in the church, who are living for self and the world.

Is your name in the book of life? Would you rather have discipline over sin?
Lord, help us to be faithful to you. May your life in me begin.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2023-02-15
Kevin Williamson
Psalm 150(Series: Psalms)
Note: Started teaching through the Psalms on March 2019

Psalm 1, six verses long, meditate on His word.
Psalm 150, also six verses, always praising the Lord.

Where, Why, How and Who, should we praise the Lord?
In his sanctuary, in his presence to adore.

A sanctuary in scripture, both physical and place of rest.
Also in heaven, the Lord himself, the very best.

The veil is rent in two, so we can enter in.
To dwell with the Savior, as he cleanses us from sin.

Praise him in the firmament, from the sanctuary to the heavens.
Praise him for his mighty acts, creation and all else.

Praise him for who he is
for his excellent greatness.

How to praise the Lord, with trumpet, a loud call to praise.
a lute and a harp, a delicate, gentle sound to raise.

Praise him with timbrel and dancing, Miriam also called to praise.
Praise with strings, and pipes and cymbals, call to our voices raise.

Who should praise the Lord? Everything that has breath.
If we don’t praise the Lord, even the rocks will praise from death.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-02-19
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:17-19

We live in a fallen world,
all subject to the pain of sin.
Though this life may have good things,
in the end we die, though believers win.

The unbeliever often suffers for sin.
The believer for righteousness.
We’re called to suffer as we follow Christ
with our eyes on his gloriousness.

Judgment begins with the household of God
He purifies his own
It is through difficulty that the righteous are saved
Jesus came down. He now sits on his throne.

Jesus took God’s wrath,
the punishment for my sin.
Judgment begins with the household of God
to purify his children again.

He is committed to holiness
His children’s purity.
Judgment begins in the household of God
from sin to set us free.

Entrust your souls to God
We can, we should, we must.
Entrust our souls to a faithful Creator
to put on him our trust.

We tend to think of afflictions
in the same way as the world.
1. We need to know our afflictions
come from God, from him unfurled.

They are not accidental
he does not need to explain.
God is God, he does what he does.
We can trust him in joy and pain.

We tend to blame others
or situations as they come
We need to know its all from him
Given with love, from Christ the Son.

2. The afflictions are beneficial
Given from God in love.
The purify his people
a gift from God above.

We are born to a living hope
the joys come after death
We tend to be distracted
We waste our time, energy, breath.

Lusts are our desires.
They naturally come to us.
They more we have, the more we want.
We’re our own enemy in thus.

God breaks our lusts through affliction.
He takes things away, or brings us pain.
It’s in the deep difficulty
that our eternal focus, he does train.

We put our joy, our hope on people,
a business, money, things.
If it all disappeared tomorrow
Would you his praises sing?

Romans 5 verse 1, justified by faith
Peace with God through Jesus Christ
Exalt in Glory and tribulation
Our hope only laid on Christ.

“Hope” is not wishful thinking
setting our affections on his certainty.
Testing produces endurance.
The benefits of afflictions we will see.

3. Our afflictions are evidence of our sonship
That he judges, helps us grow.
Unlike the afflictions of the world
They come when we live for Christ and show.

In all of our afflictions
a godly response is evidence,
is confirmation we’re born again
trusting him in all circumstance.

Hebrews chapter 12
with endurance run.
Like Christ kept his eyes on the throne of God
Keep our eyes on the Son.

4. Our afflictions are just
brought from a holy God.
Our sufferings in this life
fall far short of what we should have from his rod.

We deserve far worse,
so receive his judgment with praise.
Knowing that the judgment is worse
for those who unfaithfulness raise.

You were headed to hell
he redeemed you from the pit
he restores your youth
and gives you all, you need to with him sit.

He’s removed your sins
as far as the east from the west.
We complain in trial
as we don’t see our sin and just want blessed.

5. Our afflictions are light
with eternal destruction we can compare.
When Jesus’ revealed from heaven
every eye will at him stare.

The day of judgment comes
it’s horror, and it is real.
It matters what God said
not only what you feel.

When we know that we are saved
we can rejoice through our pain.
We can learn and grow through affliction
It changes our perspective, keeps us sane.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2023-02-26
Dave Howard
Exodus 2:5-10

The Lord hears the cries of his children.
the deliverer already prepared.
His plans are good and cannot be changed.
His people need not to be scared.

Jochebed, “Yahweh is glorious”
Amram, sees the baby needs saved.
The times drawing near, 400 years to an end
Follow the Lord in this world that’s depraved.

90% of God’s will
is given clearly in God’s Word.
We don’t need to wait for revelation
to know what to do, if we’ve heard.

Jachabed releases her baby
trusting his life to the Lord.
Trusting the sovereignty and power of God
Holding on to his Word.

Pharaoh’s daughter different than Pharoah.
Has compassion on the child to save.
The pharaoh is wicked and calloused
No one is safe when the ruler is depraved.

When the plagues are afflicting Egyptians
he stays stubborn and doesn’t relent
A river of blood, thank East Palestine,
he is hardened when the deliverer is sent.

Why did Jachabed place the basket there?
Know of the princess or him to hide?
The princess sees the baby, has compassion
After the baby has cried.

The Lord used unlikely situations
to undermine the plotting of men
Genesis 11:7 to 9
at Babel confusing them again.

1 Corinthians 1:27
God chooses weak over strong
To Egyptians the Nile considered sacred
so the princess cam down with her throng

They put their faith in the Nile
God chose it first to strike down.
God is the strong deliverer
He’s the reigning king with the crown.

Miriam offers to help her
find a Hebrew to nurse him to health.
Then Moses keps with his mother
with the protection of the king and his wealth.

God blesses his people
When they live faithful to him
God blesses Jochebed, Moses’ mother
has her baby and payments begin.

Jachabed meets the princess
given Moses and wages as well
able to openly care for the child
at her home even  as other children fell.

Moses trained in the people of God.
Connected with God’s family
The first four or more years of his life
This came back when the oppression he did see.

Jachabed finally brings him to Pharaoh’s daughter
Giving him over to the pagan world.
Physical danger as a baby.
Spiritual dangers now starting to swirl.

Eighty years later Moses still knew his brother
when they met when Moses came back.
It seems he grew up with his family
of his training, his mother was not slack.

Our culture has degraded motherhood
at the cost of children’s training and growth.
The princess gives Moses his name,
Egyptian and Hebrew cultures, he had both.

Moses, “drawn out” in Hebrew.
Moses, “son” in Egyptian his name
He straddled two cultures for all of his life
His choice when he’s older the same.

Exodus 12:38
“A mixed multitude” from Egypt went out
Hebrews along with Egyptians
Left Egypt with quite a shout.

We need to be faithful for his sake.
Not looking for fortune and fame
trusting him to take care of it all
He every day is the same.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-02-26
Kevin Williamson (Dean away)
Romans 12:1-2

Three years ago C19 came
shut the whole world down.
Then riots burning cities
depression rising all the same

The culture going woke around us
history moving faster
Christian living 101
Live with him to last here

A basis for the appeal
Our body a living sacrifice
Quality, Strategy, result
——

Romans 1-11
Doctrine “mercies of God”
Sin abounded, Grace much more
Living sacrifices we are to God

Present yourselves to the Lord
your body a sacrifice
Waiting for his redemption
of our body when he comes twice.

“Living” sacrifice
continuing, not one time
our flesh says “no”, and wants to quit
We must give our best, not just “fine”

The condition of the heart
Obey over sacrifice
A broken and contrite heart
our reasonable service

We need to be made alive.
not living by the world’s systems.
The systems promote Satan’s plans
from before the flood back then.

Before the flood, then Daniel
all bow to the statue or die
Today the pressure to conform
political, economic… or die.

Environmental Social Governance
Gay agenda, Morningstar
Social Credit scores reward/shutdown
Conform or cancel, the day of the Lord not far!

The tribulation coming
get the mark or don’t buy and sell
Do not be conformed to this world
It’s leading us to hell.

But be transformed by the renewing of your mind
a living sacrifice.
A battle being waged for your heart and mind
Fill your mind with the Word, have peace.

The result of the appeal
Able to approve the will of God
90% in God’s Word
the rest will come as we submit to his rod.