Tag: truth

God chooses to reveal Himself however He chooses to. In the Garden of Eden, He met Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. He spoke to Moses through a burning bush. He spoke to several people through dreams. To Mary and Joseph, he sent an angel to deliver a message. For Elijah, in a moment of depression and burnout, he goes and sits under a broom tree for an old-fashioned pity party. But God met him there and sent him to a mountain where Elijah learns that God doesn’t always speak in the spectacular and miraculous ways. Sometimes He speaks through the still small voice.

From mountain top experience to the valley of shadow of death

For Elijah, He had just had the mountain top experience of God sending fire to consume a water-soaked sacrifice, proving to all of Israel that God is God and Baal is nothing. Elijah then rounded up all the prophets of Baal and executed them. When Queen Jezebel heard about it, she sent a messenger to Elijah to let him know she planed to have him killed by the next evening.

Even though Elijah just experience God answering his prayer through a spectacular and miraculous way, he allows his fear to take over and he forgets the powerful display of God’s might with the sacrifice. The bold prophet who taunted the prophets of Baal now runs and hides. He goes out to the wilderness and sits down under a broom tree and asks God to let him die.

An exhausted and burned out prophet hides under a broom tree

In this moment, Elijah is physically and emotionally exhausted and as a result his faith crumbles. He is in deep depression. He demonstrates apathy, emotional distancing, a cynical attitude and a desire to escape from it all. Elijah also has a false sense of failure. Perhaps he believed that after God’s miraculous display of His power, all the people would turn away from Baal and follow God – but Queen Jezebel was furious over the execution of her prophets and now had a price on Elijah’s head. So Elijah, sees himself as a failure. Elijah is experiencing what we would call “burnout.”

God met Elijah at the broom tree

Even in the midst of Elijah’s depression and burnout – God meets him where he’s at and He miraculously provides for Elijah’s needs. Elijah needs rest, food, and spiritual nourishment.  As Elijah slept under the broom tree, God sends an angel who tells Elijah to get up and eat. When he wakes up he finds a cake baked on coals and a jar of water. He ate and then laid down and went back to sleep. God sends he angel again with the same message. So Elijah gets up and eats and the Bible tells us that he went on the strength of that food for 40 days and 40 nights all the way to the mountain of God.

From the broom tree to the mountain of God

God brings Elijah back to the place where the covenant had been given, the place where his personal faith would also be nourished. Elijah goes into a cave and spent the night there. During the night the “word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9) Elijah replied: “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

Read that again. Where is the emphases being placed? This verse is all about Elijah – Elijah was very zealous for the Lord. Elijah was all alone. Why? Because the children of Israel forsook God and killed all the other prophets – and now they want to kill Elijah too.

A burned out prophet with tunnel vision

We might say Elijah has the right to be depressed and to run away. He’s scared. He feels alone. He has shifted his focus from God and now has tunnel vision. Instead of seeing God at work, he only sees this predicament he is now in. It almost sounds like he is whining about his predicament and maybe even blaming God that he’s in this predicament to start with.

Don’t we do that too? We go all out for God – giving Him 100% of what we have to give – maybe even more. And then when we hit the point of exhaustion we forget all that God has been doing through us and we acquire tunnel vision so that all we can see the right now – this moment. Then we want to throw in the towel. Quit. Blame God that it didn’t work out.

A prophet at a crossroads

But God is not caught off guard by Queen Jezebel wanting to kill Elijah. And God still has work for Elijah to do. But Elijah is at a crossroad in His faith. So God meets him where he is – let’s see what happens next. 

From hiding under a broom tree to an encounter with God

God tells Elijah to go out and stand on the mountain before Him and there God reveals Himself to Elijah. Whenever we find ourselves under a broom tree, exhausted, depressed and feeling alone, God longs to reveal Himself to us. And this is what He does for Elijah. First, God reveals His greatness and power through wind, earthquake, fire – but in all of these God was not there – just his power. Then, when everything gets quiet, God speaks in a still small voice.

God can speak to us in any way He chooses. And when he speaks, it is in the way we most need it. Exhausted, depressed, and afriad for his life, Elijah didn’t need in that moment a God who spoke in the wind, earthquake, or fire. What he needed was the still, soft, small voice of a Good Shepherd who would lead by still waters to refresh his soul and remind him that he would be with him in the valley of the shadow of death — or on the mountain top.

God still speaks in a still, small voice

He still speaks today in the same still, small voice. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” It can be difficult in today’s fast paced world to just be still – and even if we sit still for five minutes, our minds are still going. 

If we are honest with ourselves, we’ve all been “under the broom tree” with Elijah. There has probably been a time when you have given all you have to serving God and it seems that all your efforts are in vain. You feel drained, broken, and have no idea what to do next. Instead of running to God, you run from whatever God wants you to do and sit under a “broom tree” and have a pity party. God still had work for Elijah to do and he has work for you to do. So stop sitting under your “broom tree” and seek out the God who will refresh you soul.

We constantly want to see God move in big, powerful ways – after all He is a big, powerful God. But more often than not, God reveals Himself when we simply be still. It’s then we can hear His voice.

God’s still, small voice message: “You are not alone”

The still small voice of God reveals to Elijah that he was not the last prophet alive, as Elijah assumed. God told him there were still 7000 people alive that had not bowed down to Baal that He could choose to work through. And if you are sitting under a broom tree today – God wants you to know that you are not alone. It’s time for you to get up and eat – get re-nourished spiritually. Maybe you need to return to the place where God first called you. Maybe you need to take a weekend away and get alone with God and just be still. Whatever you need to do to breathe life back into the ministry God has called you to do – God will meet you there. What will He reveal to you? It’s time to find out – arise and eat! Be still in His presence. Listen for His still small voice. 

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Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

[Download not found]

Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

[Download not found]

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This week’s featured Christian Tees designs:

Revive Us Again, God bless the USA and Honor the Sacrifice

Our freedoms come from the sacrifice of many. Memorial day is the day we remember and honor those who sacrificed. It’s also a good time to come together as a nation and pray for God to Bless the USA.

See our graduation tees and products:

Graduating Seniors, Class of 2021, #Done2021, and Tassel worth the Hassle

Once in the store, you can click on the customize tab and add your school name or graduate’s name!

The slide show below highlights some of our favorite Christian Tees designs available in our Spreadshop and Teespring stores.

Canvas art and posters are available in the Teespring store. Many of our Christian Tees are also available at Teespring.

To see the collection of Canvas and Poster Prints

---

Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel

---

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
• Conversation Starters.
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
• Romance Builders.
• Relationship Builders.
• Personal reflections.
• Date ideas.
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

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Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

Christianbook Distributors Search: Title Author/Artist ISBN CBD Stock # Keywords Publisher

Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.

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A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 

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We all know people who claim to be Christian, but if you look at how they live their lives you can’t tell much difference between them and the rest of the world. They dress like the world, talk like the world, and eat and drink like the world. They might show up for church on Sunday, wearing their best clothes and best smile. And they lift their hands in the praise songs and as soon as church is over and they are back in the car, they look just like the world again. It’s as if they can’t decided who’s side they are on – team Jesus or team Satan. It leaves you wanting to ask, “Whom will you follow?!”

Elijah challenges Israel to decide whom to follow

In 1 Kings 18, we find Elijah who challenges the Israelites to decide what God they are going to follow. Throughout Israel’s history, they had a tendency of worshipping false gods. At this particular time, the false god was Baal. Elijah tells Ahab to gather all of Israel to Mount Carmel along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah and he then issues his challenge.

He pits himself as the loan prophet of God against all the prophets of Baal. He tells the people two built two altars and bring two bulls – one for him and one for all the prophets of Baal. They each prepare the bull for sacrifice and lay the wood on the altar – but Elijah tells them to not put any fire on the sacrifice. Instead the prophets of Baal would call on their God to send down fire and Elijah would call on his God for fire. The God that answered by sending fire to consume the sacrifice would be identified as the one true God. The people all agreed that this was a good solution.

When you follow a false god, don’t expect an answer from him

Elijah then let the prophets of Baal go first. The people prepared their altar and bull and laid the wood on it. They called on Baal from morning till noon – but there was no answer and no fire. They began leaping around the altar – still no answer. Then around noon Elijah calls out, mocking them, telling them to cry louder because maybe he is meditating or busy or away on a journey or sleeping. So they cry out to Baal louder and begin cutting themselves until blood gushed out on them – but no answer from Baal and no fire. 

When you follow God, expect an answer

Now it’s Elijah’s turn. He calls all the people near him. He takes 12 stones and rebuilds the altar of the Lord and dug a trench around it. Elijah puts the wood on the altar, cut the bull in pieces and laid them on the wood. Then he told the people to fill four water pots with water and pour it on the sacrifice and wood. They did this three times, filling the trench around the altar in the process.

Then Elijah steps up and prays: “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” God answered – not in words, but in results! Fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and dust. It licked up all the water that was in the trench. Only one prayer. God answered. That’s the power of a living God for one who believes and trusts in Him.

Today, we still must decide if we will follow God – or someone/something else. You can’t travel down both paths. You are either all in or all out. Which are you?

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Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

[Download not found]

Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

[Download not found]

---

This week’s featured Christian Tees designs:

Revive Us Again, God bless the USA and Honor the Sacrifice

Our freedoms come from the sacrifice of many. Memorial day is the day we remember and honor those who sacrificed. It’s also a good time to come together as a nation and pray for God to Bless the USA.

See our graduation tees and products:

Graduating Seniors, Class of 2021, #Done2021, and Tassel worth the Hassle

Once in the store, you can click on the customize tab and add your school name or graduate’s name!

The slide show below highlights some of our favorite Christian Tees designs available in our Spreadshop and Teespring stores.

Canvas art and posters are available in the Teespring store. Many of our Christian Tees are also available at Teespring.

To see the collection of Canvas and Poster Prints

---

Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel

---

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
• Conversation Starters.
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
• Romance Builders.
• Relationship Builders.
• Personal reflections.
• Date ideas.
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

---

Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

Christianbook Distributors Search: Title Author/Artist ISBN CBD Stock # Keywords Publisher

Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.

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Here’s some of our recent posts.

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 

Follow us on:

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on earth at the same time Jesus did? I’ve heard people talk about going over to the Holy Land and walking in the same traditional spots that Jesus would have walked, seeing the Garden of Gethsemane where he prayed, seeing the traditional place people believe he was buried and rose again. Even seeing those things and walking in the same area He walked has to be thrilling for any believer. I mean, Jesus (who John refers to as “the Word”) was God in the flesh who came and dwelt among the very people He created. What’s not exciting about that?

The Word became flesh

In the opening of the book of John, John presents Jesus as the eternal “Word-become-flesh” Son of God that was pre-existent before the creation of the world. The very “word” of God was spoken and everything about our universe came into being. Then, God’s only begotten Son stepped out of the splendor and glory of heaven and took on flesh so that He could live among us, die for us, and rise again so that we could have eternal life.

The Word dwelt

The word “dwelt” literally means “pitched His tent.” If you remember, God “dwelt” among the Israelites after they left Egypt in the tabernacle, which was a tent. That was then followed by the temple after Solomon built it. At best, God’s voice was heard or he was seen as a cloud or pillar of fire. But with his birth, Jesus took on flesh and lived, breathed, talked, and walked among the people of His day. He felt hunger, pain, cold, hurt, disappointment, anger – everything we do. He was both 100% human and 100% God.

The Word lives in our hearts

Today, as Christians, we say that Jesus lives in our heart. The idea of Jesus living in our hearts comes from Ephesians 3:17, which says, “and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love.” In Romans 5:5, Paul wrote that “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” So for those who have recognized they are sinners and have a need for a Savior, have repented of their sins, and place their faith and trust in His death and resurrection become children of God (John 1:12-13), Jesus lives in our hearts.

The Word cried “Abba! Father!”

As a result, Galatians 4:6 says “God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba! Father!'” The word “Abba” is much like our word for daddy – it’s personal. There are only three people in this world who get to call my Dad, “Daddy” and that’s me and my two sisters. We have that privilege because we are his daughters. But when Jesus became my Savior, I also was “born again” into the family of God – and now I have the privilege of calling Elohiem – the God who created the heavens and the earth with just His spoken word – Daddy. The Great “I AM” is my spiritual daddy. As His child, I can call out to Him, “Abba! Father!” No matter what I face in life, Elohiem is my Abba. 

My words and actions reflect on The Word that lives within me

Just as my actions, words, and behavior reflect on my parents, because I am a child of God, my actions, words, and behaviors reflect on my spiritual Father. Because He lives in us, we should live in a Christ-like way that honors and glorifies who our Father is. Our words and behaviors should honor Him. What we do when we think no one sees should honor God. What we say when no one is around to hear it, should honor God. Our thoughts should honor Him. The places we go should honor Him. How we treat others should honor Him. I’m reminded of a song we used to sing as children:

Oh be careful little mouth what you say
Oh be careful little mouth what you say
For the Father up above Is looking down in love
Oh be careful little mouth what you say.

Then we’d go on to sing the other verses that were Oh be careful little hands what do, Oh be careful little eyes what you see, Oh be careful little ears what you hear, and Oh be careful little feet where you go. When they do, His glory is seen by everyone. Does your life demonstrate that Jesus – the Word who became Flesh and dwelt among us –  is living in you?

Because Jesus lives in us, we should live in a Christ-like way. Our words, thoughts and behaviors should honor Him. When they do, His glory is seen by everyone. –click to tweet

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Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

[Download not found]

Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

[Download not found]

---

This week’s featured Christian Tees designs:

Revive Us Again, God bless the USA and Honor the Sacrifice

Our freedoms come from the sacrifice of many. Memorial day is the day we remember and honor those who sacrificed. It’s also a good time to come together as a nation and pray for God to Bless the USA.

See our graduation tees and products:

Graduating Seniors, Class of 2021, #Done2021, and Tassel worth the Hassle

Once in the store, you can click on the customize tab and add your school name or graduate’s name!

The slide show below highlights some of our favorite Christian Tees designs available in our Spreadshop and Teespring stores.

Canvas art and posters are available in the Teespring store. Many of our Christian Tees are also available at Teespring.

To see the collection of Canvas and Poster Prints

---

Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel

---

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
• Conversation Starters.
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
• Romance Builders.
• Relationship Builders.
• Personal reflections.
• Date ideas.
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

---

Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

Christianbook Distributors Search: Title Author/Artist ISBN CBD Stock # Keywords Publisher

Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.

---

Here’s some of our recent posts.

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 

Follow us on: