Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.

James 5:17

Saw a post from Casting Crowns’ Facebook page in my feed today, written by Mark Hall (the lead singer). Timely reminder, and pretty cool illustration.

“Believers are a lot like Oak Trees.
They have about as many roots as they do limbs.
There’s just as much going on under the surface as there is on top. Roots are important. Limbs are important.
But you need both!

Your roots come from your time with Jesus. Prayer, Bible study, worship.
Your limbs are your ministry and reach into the world around you…. Serving, sharing, loving the world with your time, talents, and treasures.

If you’re all roots and no limbs: studying the word and always going “deeper, deeper, and deeper…” but never reaching out in Jesus name to others… that’s useless and proves that our depth might not be as deep as we thought.

If you’re all limbs: serving, helping, sharing, and spending yourself on people but never guarding your own time with Jesus, the first storm that blows through… you’re gonna blow right over.

Dive into the word of God, into prayer and worship.  This is a relationship, not a world view. Grow your roots. And reach out in ministry to the world around you. Serve but not for service sake. Let our cups of cold water all be given in His name.

And fruit? Well that’s what God produces in us. Fruit comes from a healthy tree!”
 

Three generations gathered around a kitchen table praying and seeking His face.

“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”

— C.T. Studd

Very excited for the youth retreat tomorrow!

Came across this quote in my feed from A.W. Tozer’s The Purpose of Man:

Many great hymns I didn’t like in my early days, because I heard them sung in some dead prayer meeting with a dead song leader who did not expect anything, and a dead congregation in front of him who did not expect anything. Both would have been shocked if anything happened. They had a spirit of no expectation.

True worship that is pleasing to God creates within the human heart a spirit of expectation and insatiable longing.

Really interesting how he puts it, and it made me think about the retreat tomorrow. I hope we will go with the right attitude, with a spirit of expectation and a heart that is prepared to receive.

Lord, I pray that we would go to the retreat tomorrow with open hearts excited and ready to receive all that You have to show us. May Your presence be made known, may You speak personally to each and everyone of us, and may we grow stronger as one body.

Super excited; God is good!!!