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September 23, 2021
WOMEN’S NIGHT OUT
Ada, MI
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October 22-24, 2021
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With: Mary Southerland, Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith
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As a child, my parents took me to church every time the doors were open. I heard thousands of sermons in my childhood and every sermon held at least one illustration. I certainly don’t remember all of them, but there is one that stuck. One Sunday morning, the pastor explained that when we’re driving a car in the dark, we can’t see all the way to our destination. But we get in the car and trust that the car lights will remain on. As we drive, little by little, the roads are illuminated.![]()
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No one ever stomps their foot and says, “Well, I’m just not going to go anywhere tonight because my car’s lights aren’t shining all the way to where I need to go.” How ridiculous, right? No, we get in the car and trust that the lights will reveal the path as we move in the right direction. ![]()
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Sometimes life turns out the lights and we feel like we’re left standing in the dark. Maybe you find yourself living in a dark moment right now and you have no idea what the future holds. Heartache, diagnosis, or loss has landed in your home or heart and suddenly, you don’t know where you’re going. You’re not alone! Today’s key verse, Genesis 15:6, is an affirmative, beautiful description of Abraham’s faith: Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6 NIV). However, moments before this verse, Abraham flat-out told God, “I know You are Who You say You are, but I can’t see how Your promises are going to come true.” ![]()
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You see, Abraham had been promised by God that he would have a son. And yet, here he was, “as good as dead” (Romans 4:19), and still, no son. Not only did Abraham grapple with the lack of provision, but he also struggled to see a glimmer of hope that God would provide what He had promised. He looked at the path ahead and started drumming up his own plan B. “If the car lights won’t shine all the way to where I can see, well, then I’ll just decide to stay right here.”![]()
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But in God’s graciousness, He revealed to Abraham a part of His plan. He told Abraham to look up at the sky and count the stars, and then added, “You’ll have as many children as stars in the sky, Abraham.”![]()
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Abraham had a choice in that moment of God speaking to him. He could have chosen to continue looking down. He could have chosen to look up and be completely overwhelmed. Or he could have chosen to look up, yet not believe the promise of God. But he chose to take God at His Word. ![]()
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On that dark, starry night, Abraham shifted his gaze to the awesome wonder of his gracious God and said, “God, I believe You. If You can speak to me so clearly, if You Who created the night sky and thousands of stars is promising to make a way when I can’t see it, then how could I not choose to trust You as the divine Creator who loves me and has a special plan for me?”![]()
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Abraham didn’t see a way that God could grant him what he promised: family and opportunity. Yet even as he questioned God with “how” and “where,” God revealed to Abraham that he was standing on the land that would be a part of fulfilling His promises. ![]()
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Could it be that perhaps you are standing on the very ground that God plans to use to take you to the next destination He has for you? That maybe you are missing it because of dark circumstances and a glance up at the God who created the stars would be enough of a shift in perspective to reveal the next step He has for you? ![]()
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May He open our eyes to the plan He has for us, even and especially in the dark.![]()
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Lord, I come to You, the One who placed the stars and multiplied them. I’m empty and needy and I don’t know what to do. It seems I’ve waited for an answer and yet there is none in sight. Open doors of opportunity and provide the wisdom and discernment I desperately need. When fear overwhelms me, let me hear Your voice speaking to my heart. ![]()
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.![]()
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Steve and I were on a trip to celebrate my birthday. He’s not a very techy guy, so I did most of the reservations online. One night, we were trying to get tickets to a show using our hotel Internet. I kept getting kicked off and grew frustrated. ![]()
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In a huff, I said, “I wish you could do this! I feel like I’m having to do all the work and it’s my birthday!”![]()
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With the saddest face ever, Steve looked down and said, “Well, I am good at some things.”![]()
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That broke my heart. Of course, he’s amazing at many things. He’s a fabulous husband, a hard worker, a great friend, and a godly man. He’s handsome, gentle, and strong. At the moment I was focusing on the .0001% negative rather than the 99.9999% positive.![]()
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In the Song of Solomon, Solomon and his Shulammite bride had a little spat. Even though she couldn’t wait to be intimate with her man before they got married, she was indifferent about the bedroom after they were married. One night he knocked, and she didn’t answer.![]()
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When she realized how she had rejected him and ran to open the door, he was gone.![]()
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Trying to console her, the Shulammite’s amazing friends said, “Girl, tell us, what do you love about your man. Let’s talk about that.” (my translations)![]()
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My beloved is radiant and ruddy,![]()
outstanding among ten thousand.![]()
His head is purest gold;![]()
his hair is wavy![]()
and black as a raven…![]()
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His mouth is sweetness itself;![]()
he is altogether lovely.![]()
This is my beloved, this is my friend,![]()
daughters of Jerusalem. (Song of Solomon 5:10-16)![]()
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She recalled that he was ruddy and radiant—glowing and tanned by the sun. He had wavy black hair, seductive eyes, and cheeks that begged to be kissed. Even though he was gentle and tender with her, she admired his strength. ![]()
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She compared his arms with rods of gold set with topaz, certain parts of his body with polished ivory tusks decorated with lapis, and his legs with pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold—all the finest resources that the land had to offer. ![]()
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Most likely “his mouth is sweetness itself” refers to the words he speaks to her—tender, loving, kind. I envision her wanting to hold his face in her hands and giving him that kiss he wanted earlier.![]()
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Her conclusion? “This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem,” she sighs. “Thank you for reminding me.”![]()
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So where’s your focus. The .0001% or the 99.9999%? Tomorrow, look at your husband. Really look at him and admire his wonderful qualities rather than focusing on his worst.![]()
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Proverbs 12:25 reminds us, “Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” All through the day, your husband has words thrown at him that could cause anxiety to rise and self-esteem to fall. But you have the ability to make him glad with a word…especially glad that he came home to you.![]()
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And here’s more good news. Notice Proverbs 12:25 says, “a good word.” You don’t have to have a lot of words. Just one. You don’t have to wax eloquent, write a discourse, or make a speech. Just one word of encouragement can give a man’s hungry soul nourishment. I’m not all that great at one word, but I can certainly do less than ten. ![]()
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• “I’m so proud of you.” ![]()
• “I missed you today.” ![]()
• "I love you so much.” ![]()
• “Thank you for working so hard.” ![]()
• “I’m so glad I married you.” ![]()
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Robert Louis Stevenson said, “Make the most of the best and the least of the worst.” Too many times we flip what Stevenson said and make the most of the worst and least of the best. Let’s change that. Today. Right now.![]()
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