3rd Culture Living

(Stewardship 8) “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Aliens and Strangers in the world

I am leaving out TONS of details here to give a quick overview of how He has instructed us from one step to the other. This review of His work has helped me to see His preparation for the next new assignment. Each decision by itself seems strange enough in the world. My past journal states we are becoming one of those weird people but we feel completely normal about being weird now. So I will not be offended if you think we are strange but just stay open-minded to continue the truth-seeking. As Jesus’ disciple, we are called to be set apart.

As an immigrant due to cross-cultural marriage, I had no desire to immigrate to America. Life in China was purposeful and fruitful. After much wrestling, my heart is at peace with the Lord’s plan for us to remain in the U.S.. He has shown me so many times of His faithfulness as we trust Him. However, I always wondered what the Lord’s plan was for me to be used for the Chinese being overseas. I am grateful that He has timely provided different Chinese connections through the local Chinese church, Chinese story time at different libraries and Asian markets, etc.. For the past couple of years, the Lord has miraculously allowed me to share the Gospel freely through short wave radio to Chinese audiences. I am humbled and privileged to be a part of this radio ministry, something I never thought I would be qualified to do. Once again, I am blown away by His way as we trust and obey Him. I am thankful for the freedom to proclaim the truth without compromise and pray for His will to be done in using those radio programs.

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 7) “Fear the Lord” and “He will instruct”: Shake-up 3: Education

As the children grow, the next real life challenge is to train them in the way they should go. In their most formable years, I simply don’t see myself with the capability to sort through 5-day-week public school indoctrination and peer influence. Year after year, the cumulative effects from outside influence and secular education would be too much work for me and my family to filter through for holy living. I am not saying public school should be banned altogether or homeschooling is for everyone. However, we are living in this free country with options, so I do appeal that public education should not be the default choice for Christian parents. Like any choice in life, we need to seek the Lord and counsel from respected fellow believers to raise the next generation prayerfully for His glory. Most importantly, the husband and wife need to be both actively involved for home discipleship, whatever education choice we make. Passing our faith on to the next generation is our high calling as Jesus-followers.

That being said, I am not implying in any way that home education is easy. On the contrary, teaching my own children has turned out to be the most challenging and rewarding experience I have ever had in life. I feel inadequate (understatement) to educate my own children. He equips those He calls. Where I am weak, I am strong in Him as I depend on the Lord daily to train my boys. The calling to home education goes deeper into my soul. More importantly, it is not just me. The Lord led me to the path of home education through my husband’s initiation, provision and strong support. I can’t imagine doing home education on my own. I admire moms who have done home education mostly alone by God’s grace. However, if at all possible, home education is more rooted and authentic when both parents are on board. (“Why home education, why do we continue to home educate”… This is written, but not yet posted. This link will be updated after posting)

I made many mistakes unlearning and relearning what Christian home education is supposed to be like. I still don’t know all the answers, but I know I can surrender my unknowns to the One Who knows all the answers. In fact, I constantly feel I am only scratching the surface of the heart education God has designed for us from His Word and His World. I need greater faith to follow Him one step at a time. What works for one family may not work for another. What works for one season may not work for another. What works with one child may not work for another child. I have to stay sensitive to His lead and my child’s needs, not what others are thinking or doing, or what I am feeling.

The older my boys get, the more urgent I feel the need for them to exercise what they have learned in the real world. After all, we are homeschooling and we don’t simply need to repeat school at home. Home is first of all home! I am breaking free from the old educational system slowly but steadily. Both my husband and I were in the public education system for a long time, so it takes us a while to unlearn and to find new freedom and natural rhythm in life. Yet, he is faithful and patient in His leading and instruction.

(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.

(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!

(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.

(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.

(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.)

(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

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.

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