Devotional

I’ve been reading through the Bible and journaling as I go through each chapter. It sounds like I’m so on top of things, but I’ve actually been doing this for the past two years and am only to 2 Kings! And it’s not even because I’ve been searching out the root of a specific Hebrew word or because I’ve done in depth study on the culture of the people I’m reading about but simply because life is busy and sometimes I don’t take the time to sit down and study the Bible. Anyway, that’s another topic for another time!

Today I wanted to reflect with you on a story I recently read, and I wanted us to just digest this incredible story. We’ve all heard it more times than we can count. It’s one of those familiar stories that’s used quite a bit in sermons. However, when you REALLY think about this story and try to apply it to your life….wow! It’s a game changer. At least for me it was.

The story is found in 1 Kings 19. Elijah is the main character in this story and we find him post show-down with the pagan prophets of Baal. Ahab is king of Israel and he is truly wicked, persistently doing evil in the sight of God. Jezebel, his wife, is really who is leading the kingdom and is playing puppeteer to Ahab, using him to bring about her wicked plans. The true prophets of God have been hunted down and killed.

There’s this question about whose God is stronger and it comes down to a show-down on Mount Carmel. The prophets of Baal and Elijah are trying to prove whose God is most powerful, shown by fire being sent down from Heaven.

The prophets of Baal are giving it all they have by dancing, yelling, singing, and self-mutilating. Anything to get their god to hear them. Of course nothing happens.

Then it’s Elijah’s turn. He has people bring water to pour over the altar. Mind you, Israel has been in a three-year drought. What kind of jerk would just waste water like that? Ah, but there was a plan. To receive a blessing in all its glory, sometimes we have to sacrifice something in order to truly understand the abundance that comes later. Elijah prays to his God and fire comes down, showing all those witnessing that God is the true God.

THIS ALL HAPPENED WITH ELIJAH AS THE MAIN CHARACTER AND THEN ELIJAH HITS ROCK BOTTOM. He literally just witnessed God showing up and then RIGHT after, we find Elijah depressed and discouraged, crying out to God to help him, telling God that he’s the last prophet of the true God in Israel and he’s running for his life. Jezebel is out to kill him and he’s at the end of his rope. Wait, what?? Didn’t he just see God send literal fire from heaven??

You and I have been there. We can testify and witness to how God is showing up in our life but then another blow comes and we feel alone, sad, discouraged, maybe even angry. Life’s struggles and problems raise up in front of us like giants and that’s all we can see. Our vision becomes obscured by something that is so much bigger than us that all we can do is simply cry out to God and tell him that we’re done for. We don’t know what to do and it seems there is little hope.

Elijah is hopeless. But then, something happens. Elijah finds himself on Mount Sinai and suddenly, there’s a gale of wind coming across the tops of the mountains around him and the whistling of the wind intensifies! He has to hold onto something so he’s not blown away! The rocks start to come loose and crash to the ground. Is that God? Is he showing up in all this power? Elijah holds his breath…but no, he does not hear the voice of God nor feel His presence.

Then out of nowhere, the ground starts to shake, things are crumbling around him. He hears a roar as the very surface he’s standing on seems to be rolling under his feet. God’s arrived! He’s making a statement, too! But wait…..there’s nothing. The shaking stops but nothing but crumbled rocks are all around Elijah.

Then, there’s something bright that he catches out of the corner of his eye. It’s glowing and hot! It’s a fire! He can feel his skin start to prickle and beads of sweat form on his forehead and arms. It might burn him but is this God?? Maybe he should stay close, maybe he’ll hear the voice of God coming from this blaze. It’s so obvious that it’s Him! Finally! Nothing. God wasn’t in the fire. All of a sudden the flames start to wave wildly back and forth and something makes them extinguish and the flames begin to fade. Nope. God’s not there. Where could He be?? Has He left for good? Does He not care anymore?

Then...Elijah hears something. It’s so very faint. Someone is talking to him but he can’t make it out. It sounds…whispering? The voice isn’t raised to a loud volume, not even a normal volume. It’s a voice that’s small…..and it’s calm. Elijah stops moving. He can’t hear this voice if he keeps walking and kicking around dirt and stones that are at his feet. He doesn’t want to run because then he’ll pant and won’t be able to make out what the voice is saying. He starts to calm his breathing. He closes his eyes so that he doesn’t get distracted by looking at what the earthquake, fire, and wind did to the surroundings. There. He can hear it now…that still, small voice.

God tells Elijah what to do next. There’s a mission God sends Elijah on, to go and anoint a few people because big things are to come for Israel. I have a feeling more was said but of course I don’t know for sure. Whether it was explicitly said or not, I think there was an underlying message that said, “I love you and even when everything is falling apart around you, I’m still here and I will never leave you.” Why a whisper? I once heard a pastor say that God chose to speak in a whisper because He was that close to Elijah. And God is that close to you, ready to pick you up and carry you, to walk hand-in-hand with you, and to dance with you along every step of our pilgrims’ journey to the celestial city.

Dear sister, may you feel God’s presence so close today that even when he speaks in a whisper, you know instantly that it’s your Heavenly Father who loves you dearly.

Chelsea Sutherland

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

"The heart of Infinite Love yearns after those who feel powerless to free themselves from the snares of Satan; and He graciously offers to strengthen them to live for Him."



Profits and Kings, Ellen G. White, p.16

"Heaven is open to our petitions and we are to come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace in time of need."

E.G. White, Prayer, p. 15.4.

• Remember in prayer Charmon Dennis as she grieves the loss of both her brother and David's brother's wife.

• Pray for Gail and Mike McKenzie as they grieve the loss of his sister.

Getting to Know You

Jeanelle and her husband Ramone Gibbs come to us from Alabama and now serve the Winchester and Stanton Church's in Kentucky.

Jeanelle was born in Pasay City, Philippines, and attended Milleville Senior High School and Adventist University where she earned a degree in nursing. She is presently a stay-at-home mom.

She says she was raised as an SDA. "Both parents and their parents are SDA. But it wasn't until college, freshman year, that I began to accept Jesus truly into my life and develop a real relationship with Him. I was first baptized when I was twelve years old in 1999, then was re-baptized in 2017. What made the impact on my life was meeting sincere young people who wanted to serve Christ, and I experienced firsthand their love and care towards me and saw their dedication to Christ. That's when I began to really read the Bible for myself and pray. Nursing college was tough! But whenever I put Christ first before my studies, I saw how the Lord really blessed my exam scores and helped me with my projects, too. I was touched to experience God's love, mercy, and grace. I realized during those years that I wanted to live for Christ and not for self anymore."

Jeanell shares how she met her husband: "We met in a canvassing program back in 2014. I wanted to try canvassing for the first time and joined a nearby program in Alabama where I was working at the time. He was one of the leaders for the summer. He caught my interest, but I made sure not to make it known and just surrendered it to the Lord. Then in 2019 I moved to Kentucky to join the ministry group Thrive. The Lord led me there and gave me peace in my heart about joining the group even though he (my future husband) was one of the leaders there. That year the Lord opened my husband's eyes to see and consider me. We began our courtship in January of 2020 and were married that December. I praise God for how He brought us together and fulfilled the desires of my heart!" They were married December 20 of 2020 and now have a twenty-one-month-old son Joseph Daniel.

Jeanelle has a special interest in playing violin, singing, reading, and going on nature walks. As a family they enjoy nature walks together.

A favorite Bible verse for Janelle is "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Hebrews 13:5-6. (KJV)

Welcome, Jeanell! Kentucky-Tennessee Conference is happy you are now a part of our team! May Gods richest blessings be on you and your family as you minister to those in your new home.

Joan and her husband Clinton Meharry come to us from Washington state and now serve the Pewee Valley and Shelbyvillle churches and LaGrange company in Kentucky.

Joan was born in Redding, California, and attended Auburn Academy and Southern Adventist University where she earned a degree in nursing. She is an IV infusion nurse.

She says she grew up in an Adventist home and was baptized around twelve years old. "I have always loved the Lord and wanted to serve Him."

Joan shares how she met her husband: "We played in the band together at Auburn Academy. I didn't know him though. When Clinton and his brother, Terry, came to college, I knew who they were. His older brother, Marlin, and my sister were good friends. (Clinton was three years younger than me.) As good friends, he would hang out with me quite a bit. I started thinking, 'How am I ever going to get a date with him around?' So, I finally asked him, 'Do you want to go with me or not?' He thought a long time and said 'no.' He had broken up with a girl in the past and the relationship was never the same. He feared that would happen to us. We still stayed good friends and ended up becoming more serious and dating through letter writing. We still have all those letters almost forty-five years later!" They were married December 30 of 1979 and have two grown children, Jonathan and Cherie.

Joan has a special interest in gardening, piano, and clarinet. Clinton enjoys preparing food that tastes good and is healthy. He also wrote "The Compelling Love of God" and the tract "A Love Letter from Jesus" for Signs of the Times.

As a family they enjoy nature walks, tandem bike rides, water sports, and pickle ball.

A couple of special Bible verses for Joan are "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So, we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6. (NIV)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Joan, we welcome you to the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference and are happy you are now a part of our team! May God bless you in your new home for ministry.

Brooke and her husband Jeremy Wong come to us from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and now serve the Madison Campus Church where she is the Children's Pastor, and he the Youth Pastor.

Brooke was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and attended Great Lakes Academy and Southern Adventist University where she earned a degree in Pastoral Care.

She says she is third generation Seventh-day Adventist and was baptized at twelve and again in 2008.

Brooke shares how she met her husband: "We were in classes together every semester!" They were married March of 2012 and have two children J.J. and Sammy.

Brooke has a special interest in NBA, volleyball, beach time, reading books on grief and children's ministry. Jeremy enjoys NBA and Colts football.

As a family they enjoy vacationing on the beach!

A special Bible verse for Brooke is John 14:1-3: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (NIV)

Welcome to the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference, Brooke! May God bless you in your new home and ministry. We are very happy to have you and your family as a part of our team!