Skip to main content

Dry Bones to New Life

We are visiting ministries here in the Roanoke Valley and today we attended a Baptist ministry in Salem. Service was excellent. The women's ensemble provided the worship songs: a very talented woman was the pianist, director, and one of the vocalist. Each selection glorified God and reminded all in attendance that faith in Jesus is the answer to every situation. 

The sermon was based on Ezekiel 37:1-7...the valley of dry bones. When you carefully read the verses, you will see that there were many, many, dry and disconnected bones. God asks Ezekiel a question: "Can these bones live?" Ezekiel gave a very wise answer: "O Lord God, thou knowest." In other words, Ezekiel was saying "God, You know the answer to Your question." God responded and told Ezekiel to speak the word of the Lord to the bones. Ezekiel obeyed and the dry, disconnected bones came together; God added tendons, muscle and flesh. But there was still no life. God commanded Ezekiel to speak to the wind and command the wind to bring breath to the bodies. Ezekiel obeyed, and the army came alive. 

Today's sermon resonated with me deeply. God has brought us to the Roanoke Valley, and given us a brand new life. And not only that, He has breathed new life into us. I have a new job that I love: each day I am allowed to bring my best to the work that we do, and my contributions are valued. My husband has been asked to speak at a ministry that is in need of a Pastor: we know we are to shepherd a flock here. Each day is a new experience, a new opportunity to glorify God, and a new day of blessings. Our "bones" are fully alive.

Blessings and peace!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Green Spring Baptist Church

We have been very, very busy getting settled in Virginia. God has favored us tremendously. We have met so many nice and helpful people, and this has allowed us to feel at home here. One thing that was at the top of our list was to connect with a ministry, so that we could continue to walk in our pastoral calling. God orchestrated what I call a "divine appointment." A local pastor, who befriended us early on, invited us to a pastors' prayer breakfast. He introduced us to the attendees while the breakfast was in progress. Immediately after the breakfast, a gentleman approached my husband, introduced himself as a deacon from Green Spring Baptist Church, and asked my husband to come and speak at the ministry. He shared they had been without a pastor for several years and they were hoping to find the right person to fill that role. Dates were arranged. Fast forward to today. My husband is now the interim pastor, and I have been welcomed as a minister. The members are hungry fo
2 comments
Read more

Unwanted Gift

Before I get into today's post, I want to say "Thank you!" When I started this blog I had no idea there would be so many people who would take the time to read what I write. I want you to know I greatly appreciate each of you and your readership is very encouraging to me.  Unwanted Gift Have you ever received a gift and thought "What were they thinking?" or "What am I going to do with this?" I confess that I have. However, once I got past my initial reaction and opened my mind to the possibilities, some of those unwanted gifts have proven to be a blessing and have become part of my daily lifestyle.  Every believer is a gift that God has given to the world. Each of us has unique talents, abilities, and skills that bring great benefit when we are received and allowed to perform the function that God had in mind. Believers make things better!  However, there are times when what we have to offer will not be wanted, received, or appreciated. Jesus warned hi
1 comment
Read more

I Grant Thee POWER!

We are having some outside work done on our home, and the contractor knocked on the back door. I went to see what was needed. He was holding the plug to a heavy duty electrical cord and his words were "I need power." I showed him where the outdoor socket was, and asked if he needed water or anything else. He assured me he was fine and I went back to what I was doing. A few minutes later, my sense of humor kicked in. "I need power" popped in my head, and I pictured myself extending my hand toward the contractor, and saying with solemn authority "I grant thee POWER!" I laughed to myself at the thought...and was very grateful I did NOT do that to the contractor.  But as I kept on thinking, a parable came forward. I must always stay "plugged into" God. Just like the contractor, the "tools" that I have cannot function as well, or may not function at all, if I don't stay connected to God through prayer, reading His word, and allowing the
2 comments
Read more