“The Journey”

Sermon by Liz Lane

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For Further Study

Summary. We are all on a journey, whether we know it or not. This life is temporary and eternity awaits us. The Bible says in Matthew 7:13-14 that we should, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

These verses bring up images from the classic book, Pilgrim’s Progress, in which Christian travels the long road to the Celestial City and encounters all sorts of dangers and temptations along the journey which threaten to take him off the road and away from his destination, the Celestial City. These verses also remind us of the beautiful allegorical book, Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. In this book, we are taken along on the journey with Much Afraid as she follows the Shepherd from the Valley of Humiliation where she is weighed down by fear to the High Places where perfect love casts out fear. As she journeys with the Shepherd and longs to be transformed and reach the High Places, she learns that she must trust Him in all things, even during times of suffering and sorrow. Through her journey she is transformed and made new. Hurnard writes this in the forward, “The lessons of accepting and triumphing over evil, of becoming acquainted with grief, and pain, and ultimately of finding them transformed into something incomparably precious; of learning through constant glad surrender to know the Lord of Love Himself in a new way and to experience unbroken union with Him-these are the lessons of the allegory in this book. The High Places and the hinds’ feet do not refer to heavenly places after death, but are meant to be the glorious experience of God’s children here and now-if they will follow the path He chooses for them.”

The Lord can take our sorrow and pain and redeem it all in a number of ways. We can find ourselves looking back at those difficult times and see some of the most precious intimate times with the Lord Himself as we cried out to Him and He made Himself known to us in tender ways, comforted us, poured out mercy to us and intervened and/or nudged us in a direction along the path of knowing Him more and being transformed more and more like Him as we continually journey toward Heaven. Heaven awaits those who trust Jesus as their Savior and will be more wonderful than our minds can conceive! But even on this side of Heaven, there is joy in the journey and tastes of Heaven and intimacy with the Lord as we journey and walk each other Home.

Read. Isaiah 48:17

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Seven Things to Pray for Your Children Article by Jon Bloom

Some years back a good friend shared with me seven Scripture texts that he and his wife prayed for their two daughters from the time they were infants. The girls are now grown. And it’s beautiful to see how God has answered and still is answering the faithful, specific prayers of faith-filled parents in the lives of these young, godly women. I have frequently used these prayers when praying for my own children. And I commend them to you. But, of course, prayers are not magic spells. It’s not a matter of just saying the right things and our children will be blessed with success. Some parents earnestly pray and their children become gifted leaders or scholars or musicians or athletes. Others earnestly pray and their children develop a serious disability or disease or wander through a prodigal wilderness or just struggle more than others socially or academically or athletically. And the truth is, God is answering all these parents’ prayers, but for very different purposes. That’s why Scriptures like John 9:1–3 are in the Bible. We must not too quickly assess God’s purposes because they can be the opposite of our perceptions. God measures success differently than we do, which is why he often answers our prayers in ways we don’t expect. So, pray for your children. Jesus promises us that if we ask, seek, and knock, the Father will give us good in return (Luke 11:9–13), even if the good isn’t apparent for forty years. And because Jesus regularly asked those who came to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51), we know that he wants us to be specific with our requests. So, here are seven helpful, specific things to pray for your children. 1. That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (Matthew 19:13–15) 2. That they will respond in faith to Jesus’s faithful, persistent call. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) 3. That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments. And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37–39) 4. That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14) 5. That their thoughts will be pure. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8) 6. That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord’s work. All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. (Exodus 35:29) 7. That when the time is right, they will GO! And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–

Article by Belinda Jobe

I want you to picture in your mind, standing on a beach at night, watching your last hope of ever returning to the world you know - go up in flames.

What would that feel like? You’re probably very familiar with the term, “Burn the Ships” it was said to have originated in 1519 when Hernan Cortes set said to Veracruz, Mexico. When they arrived, his crew became scared and wanted to return home to their old lives, to familiar ground. Cortes solution was to burn the only way possible they could leave – the only way they knew to get home. It was said that the Vikings did this much earlier than Cortes, and Ceasar did it before them. It struck me as such a powerful illustration on what Jesus is calling us to do. When we come to faith, we often try to hold onto some of our old ways that feel familiar to us. We still hang out with friends who have proven to be harmful, we numb problems with food or binge watch tv - all the destructive habits that have comforted us when the seas got too rough. It’s like secretly hiding a dingy in the bushes - knowing we can always float away in times of trouble. But what is Jesus calling us to do? I believe He is calling us to rely on Him and not ourselves. Even if you have been walking with the Lord since you were 5, you still sin and fall short. When you have shortcomings, what do you reach out for in times of trouble? We read in Psalm 46:1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” So what does that look like in real Christian life? There is nothing more refreshing and heart-mending than to kneel down and ask the Father for forgiveness. Tell Him what you have done, what breaks your heart, who hurt you, and what you can no longer carry all by yourself. Tell Him everything, He already knows your deepest longings and secret shame. Let Him wash forgiveness and refresh your soul, you don’t have to do this alone. Even when we burn our ships, rid ourselves of the things we run to instead of God, you will not be standing on the shore alone. God promises in Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." I don’t know about you, but just invisioning the Lord singing over me – instead of reaching for a glass a wine, is music to my soul. I ask you, keep searching your heart for the “emergency rafts” you hide among the weeds. I hope one day, you will be able to set them all ablaze and never look back.

CHURCH NEWS Dining with Church Family on Tuesday, August 20th 12:00 to 4:00pm at Demetrios Pizza & Grill. Please sign up at the Info Center to attend, this will be a self-pay lunch with church family! RSVP at Church Info Booth by Sunday, Aug. 18th please. 1st Annual Back to School Movie Night! Friday, August 30th at 6:30pm. We will gather in the Community Hall to watch "I Can Only Imagine”. Invite friends and neighbors. The movie is rated PG and the summary is: 10-year-old Bart Millard lives with his mother and abusive father Arthur in Texas. One day his mother drops him off at a Christian camp where he meets Shannon. Upon his return from camp, Bart finds his mother has left and movers are removing her belongings. He angrily confronts his father, who denies that his abusiveness was the reason she left. Years later, in high school, Bart and Shannon are dating. Bart plays football to please his father, but is injured, breaking both ankles and ending his career. The only elective with openings is music class, so he reluctantly signs up..(Great music)!

The Southeast Mennonite Conference Annual Assembly, Sunday October 4th – 5th at SCC. Save the date and plan to attend a weekend of worship and fellowship, everyone is welcome. Pastors and Delegates will be helping to discern SMC’s future affiliation. Registration brochures will be available soon. For more information contact Lee Miller, Conference Administrator, at 941-321-7132 or leemiller@smcmennonite.org. 12:15 SCC Potluck Ham* Dinner Sunday, September 22 Community Hall & Kitchen at 12:15! Sign up at the Info booth and plan to join us after 2nd service. The church will provide the Ham and desserts. You provide a large side dish to share with others. If your last name begins with: A-C... Potato dish. D-G... Noodle Dish H-L ... Chips and Dip ...And any 16oz bottle of salad dressing. M ....Casserole of any sort. N-R... Mixed greens for a salad..like various lettuces' (washed & chopped) S-X... Hot veggies like corn (on or off the cob), peas, green beans or other. Y-Z... Cold veggie and/or fruit tray. *If you can't do Ham, let your side dish be a different meat. Christmas Pageant at First Baptist Church! Space is Limited!! Join us for a two day Christmas trip on December 5-7th to Ft. Lauderdale and Ft. Myers. We will see a beautiful Christmas Pageant presentation at the First Baptist Church in Ft. Lauderdale. Please sign up today at SCC’s Info Booth on Sundays!