Poem and today's sermon

I enjoy Elisabeth Elliot. She was the widow of Jim Elliot (think Through Gates of Splendor or The End of the Spear) and has since remarried twice. Her second husband died of cancer, and her current one is doing quite well and doesn't show signs of keeling over. Her books such as "Passion and Purity," "Keep A Quiet Heart," and others are simply wonderful.

This poem from one of her books is one that I really enjoy and have tucked away quite visibly in my journal:

If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
And hope in Him thro’ all thy ways,
He’ll give thee strength, what-e’er betide thee,
And bear thee thro the evil days;
Who trust in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the rock that naught can move.

Obey, thou restless heart, be still
And wait in cheerful hope, content
To take what-e’er His gracious will,
His all discerning love, hath sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.

Sing, pray, and swerve not from His ways;
But do thine own part faithfully.
Trust His rich promises of grace,
So shall they be fulfilled in thee.
God never yet forsook in need
The soul that trusted Him indeed. Amen.


~Georg Neumark (Catherine Winkworth, Translator) Inter-Varsity Hymnal

Today's sermon was on Matthew 27, which talks about Jesus' crucifixion. Although a sad story, it's familiar, and our pastor's twist on it was new and interesting. He talked about Matthew's focus throughout this book of the Bible, how he focuses on Jesus' not coming to create a kingdom on earth but in heaven.

He then said that we are all looking for a hero that will make us happy, someone that will love us, that will be our hero. All of us have been made to realize that there's a true hero out there. Some of us find the true Hero, while others enthrone the wrong ones.

Okay, my eloquence (or whatever it's called...) has run out. I hope you are having a restful Sunday and a great weekend!