Blessings

"The ability to find joy in the world of sorrow and hope at the edge of despair is a woman’s witness to the courage and her gift of new life to all”

~ Miriam Theresa Winter

This quote was included in my bible study time this morning. Today I read the first chapter in Ruth. The story of Ruth is by far my favorite book in the bible. I love to read about Ruth’s devotion and commitment to her mother in law Namoi. Ruth is a stout woman. She left the only home she ever knew, her friends, family and her own religion. She followed God’s will and she is now in Jesus’ genealogy.

Today’s devotion was just what I needed to hear from God. Although I shouldn’t I find it funny how God works that way. He seems to provide for us what we need to hear when we need Him the most or are struggling. Sometimes we don’t always realize that it was we need the most, but today was one of those days.

I first met Jackie Wilks when I was a freshmen at OBU in the fall of 2004. Along with Rhonda Brister, she lead our freshmen women’s bible study. I looked forward to this time each week. God continued to use these women to influence my life during college. They shared their faith stories, their triumphs and joys. Jackie loved horses. She used her horses to help children with disabilities. Each week students from OBU would come to her house to help run this ministry. They would tell the children bible stories, do crafts and then they would get to ride a horse. Jackie is always finding ways to minister to other people

In December 2009, Jackie was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Jackie and her husband Tom immediately left for South Korea where Tom had previously received treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Jackie was determined to fight. While in Korea not only did Jackie fight but she shared the gospel with those she came in contact with. One hotel employee even asked for a bible. One night Jackie passed out. She had a massive internal bleed. Jackie tells the story of how two women came in and saved her life. But these women were not alone they both saw another person in the room with them. They believe that the Lord sent an angel to watch over Jackie that night. Jackie was finally able to come home early this past summer. She began treatment at the Cancer Treatment Center here in Tulsa. As summer progressed her tumor makers dropped below normal and the scans showed that there was no tumor. It was determined that Jackie was now cancer free. Doctors stated that they had no explanation for Jackie’s healing except that it was a miracle from God. Jackie told her story to everyone. She gives glory to God for healing and wants to spread the gospel with everyone.

Tonight Jackie is in Cancer Treatment Center. This week they found numerous tumors in her lungs and abdomen. We pray for healing. We pray for miracles. God has already worked miracles in Jackie’s life and we pray that He will continue to work one in her tonight. We also pray knowing that God knows best. Jackie praises God no matter what her situation is. She fully trusts the Lord in every circumstance. When I read the quote above I immediately thought of Jackie. Jackie is one of the most joyful people that I know. The joy of her salvation overflows from her life and it challenges me to let the joy of the Lord overflow in my life. Jackie is a courageous woman. She has been through so much in the past 15 months. Jackie defines a stout woman. Strong, Courageous, Determined, and Brave. She continues to fight this battle as she has for the past 15 months and refuses to give up. She recognizes that her healing comes from the Lord.

Please join me tonight in praying for Jackie. She is fighting for her life and in tremendous pain. Pray that the Lord’s will is done in Jackie’s life. I know that true healing in this life or the next comes only from our Lord. In conclusion I would like to leave you with the lyrics from a song that I heard last night on the radio. It’s called Blessings and it is by Laura Story. The Lord has used this song as a comfort to me. It reminds me that many times we pray asking God for blessings, for healing and removal of pain. We get upset when the Lord doesn’t answer our prayers the way we would want Him to. I reminded through this song that sometimes God says no to our prayers because He knows what’s best for us because He loves us. I'm blessed to call Jackie not only mentor but friend. Tonight I praise God for the blessings He has given me. Even the ones that I didn't recognize were blessings at the time.

Father,

Be with my friend Jackie tonight. Watch over her. Keep her in your perfect peace. Heal her. Take her pain away. May your will be done. May you be praised in this situation. May people come to know you through Jackie.

Blessings

Laura Story

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

But long that we'd have the faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know the pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home,

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise

This week I have decided to write about my grandmother Mary. This Wednesday my grandmother would have been 85. She was the oldest daughter in her family and helped her mother take care of the family. My grandmother would wake up early start the fire and cook breakfast for the family. Cooking was my grandmother's act of service and I believe I get my love of cooking from her. She spent several years of her life making delicious meals that were made with love. My grandmother would also spend countless hours each summer putting away vegetables and canning jellies and jams. She would work in her flower beds and in her garden. She enjoyed taking time to go fish in the pond and then making a southern fish fry dinner with the fish that were caught.

Many of the memories that I have of my grandmother are in the kitchen. I remember one time I was sitting in the living room and I heard a scream coming from the kitchen. Grandma had been boiling eggs for lunch and one didn't get done so she put it in the microwave. When she went to crack it it exploded. I ran into the kitchen to find egg everywhere. For those fish fry dinners on summer evenings she would make coleslaw I remember watching her cut the cabbage. It had to be done just perfectly. One day my uncle decided to help cut the cabbage and she took over because it wasn't cut right. She wanted everything to be perfect for us. When I would come to visit she would have roast beef, potatoes, onions and carrots, along with a chocolate cake for dessert. This was my favorite meal. She would call and ask me what I wanted and I would always tell her to cook what was easiest. It didn't matter what I said she would have it made.  If I were to look up the word hospitality in Webster's it would probably have my grandmother's name listed there. She taught us what it means to be the hostess. She taught me the value of serving others.

My grandmother was defiantly a stout woman. She was a hard worker who never gave up. She had her elbow replaced twice and worked hard through physical therapy each time. The last summer we had with her she instead on helping my mom and I in the kitchen. She wasn't happy when she couldn't sit around that table and work. It was what gave her joy. Her joy was found in her service to others. This is one of the greatest lessons that I learned from her. It is in service to others that you truly find joy. Stout women live selfless lives. They also persevere. This is the other lesson that I learned from my grandmother. I remember the summer that she passed. I was studying for my MCAT for entrance to medical school. I didn't know how I would do it and I felt like I should just cancel the exam because her death was so close my exam date. But I knew that I would not honor my grandmother's memory by doing that. So I choose to persevere. I choose to move own although times were tough. My grandma continues to inspire me to persevere even when times are difficult.

Most of all my grandma was a beautiful woman both inside and outside. Her smile is one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen. I enjoy looking at old pictures of her and my grandfather. Her smile lights up the room. I could go on about how she was beautiful on the inside but I think that I detailed that above.. I hope that I can be like her.  A determined woman, who serves others and is beautiful on the outside but more importantly on the inside.

Faith to Be Strong

Now that my tests are over with for a while, I decided to update the blog. I’m also going to deviate slightly from my Stout Women discussion. Today I’m going to write about my brother. I’m dedicating this blog post to him.

This coming Saturday March 12, marks the first anniversary of my brother’s accident. Many of you know that my brother Stephen was in a serious car accident on March 12, 2010. While he was driving to workout after work on that Friday afternoon, he ran into the back of a semi. The driver’s side of his car was underneath the backend of the semi.  When crews arrived on scene they told us that they were preparing for a fatality but when they go to his car they found that Stephen was still alive. The fire fighter’s had to use the jaws of life to cut him out of his car. Stephen was rushed to the emergency room. Upon his arrival, they found that Stephen only had a LaForte fracture of his face. He had no internal injuries and he had no brain damage.

I arrived at the hospital with some family friends. I couldn’t recognize my brother, they had placed a tube down his throat to help control his airway. I was overwhelmed and brought to tears. We immediately began activating our support system and praying. After they got Stephen a room in the neurotrauma ICU we meet Stephen’s doctors. They told us that in order for them to do the facial reconstruction surgery the swelling would have to go down. Because it was the weekend of spring break they could either do the surgery Sunday or Thursday. We began asking our friends and family to pray that the swelling would go down so they could do the surgery on Sunday. The Lord answered our prayers and Stephen had surgery on Sunday. This was the first of many answers to prayers that came in the coming weeks.

During this time the Lord showed my family the power of prayer and his providence and protection. We firmly believe that he Lord was with Stephen that Friday afternoon in his car. We found out this fall that he was inches away from the back the semi. The Lord sent an angel to stop his car. We realized that we could have lost my brother that day. I learned to appreciate how valuable our lives are.

Stephen was released from the hospital 1 week to the day of his accident. His jaw was wired shut and he was on a liquid diet for 8 weeks. We were so happy that we were able to bring Stephen home.  Stephen began a long recovery. I can’t imagine how hard these initial weeks were for Stephen.  But I saw my brother persevere and finding a new strength in the Lord. He has not allowed himself to be held back by his accident but has chosen to use it to witness to the power of God in our lives. I admire my big brother. He has been through a lot in the past year and hasn’t given up. He still is recovering from his accident. He is currently wearing braces. In the accident he lost five teeth. After the braces have correct the area he will then have implants to replace the teeth that he lost. He refuses to give up and continues to persevere. My big brother is an extra special person to me. He came to live with me when I needed a roommate. He is the best roommate I have ever had. I have enjoyed the past six months living with my brother and getting to know him better.

This week I think God for my brother. I think the Lord for his providence and protection. I think God for answered prayers. I realize that times in our lives we get frustrated because we think that God doesn’t answer our prayers. I firmly believe that our prayers don’t go under heard, but sometimes the Lord says wait. There is power in prayer and my family is living proof of that. The Lord promises to never give us more than we can handle. All though it seemed like it at the time the Lord made us a stronger family through that week we spent at St. John’s last March. I recently heard a song by Andrew Peterson on the radio. It’s called Faith to Be Strong. I feel that this song is a theme for my family of the past year whether we knew it or not, God knew it. God knew that only faith could bring us through this difficult time.

Give us faith to be strong

Father, we are so weak

Our bodies are fragile and weary

As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead

Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn

Mend us up when we break

This flesh can be wounded and shaking

When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take

Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us hearts to find hope

Father, we cannot see

How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom

And as hard as we try, Lord, it's hard to believe

So, give us hearts to find hope

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith, faith to be strong

Stout Woman #2

Charlotte was born on December 12, 1840 in Charlottesville, Virginia. She was raised on a plantation that had over 50 slaves. Her mother believed that al girls should have as good of an education as boys. So Charlotte received a good education. She attended a Girl’s boarding school in Virginia. There she was known as a practical joker. One day she wrapped sheets around the bell in the bell tower, classes started late that day. She then attended Albemarle Female Institute in Charlottesville that was run by the Virginia Baptists. Charlotte wasn’t a Christian at the time. Many students became burdened for her soul. They began praying that Charlotte would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. She would scoff at these classmates, but one night she decided she would examine the Christian faith intellectually. That night he couldn’t sleep and spent the night in prayer. The next morning she decided to give her life to Christ. She immediately took a stand for Christ. Many of you know Charlotte, as Lottie Moon, one of the greatest Southern Baptist Missionaries of all time.

Many of you may know all about Lottie’s journey to China and her missionary work there. After all it is for that work and her example that we name our Christmas offering after her. What you may not know that long before she reached the mission fields of China she was a stout woman.

Immediately following her conversion Lottie felt called to the mission field. But before she could go, the Civil War broke out and Lottie was called home to help with the plantation. She tutored her sister “Eddie”. Her mother had converted all her money into confederate money, which was no longer useful once the war ended. After the war her mother had family troubles so Lottie took a job teaching in Kentucky.

Lottie lived among the Chinese people off and on from 1973 until her death in 1912. She made some return trips back to the state to raise funds. While in China she taught school and would make cookies for the Chinese people.  During famines Lottie and her fellow missionaries frequently gave up their food so that the Chinese people could eat. Lottie worked hard to raise awareness and money for missions. In 1912 war broke out in China. Famine and plague once again ravaged the land. Once again Lottie and other missionaries gave all they had to relief groups. In December of 1912 Lottie was sent back to America in an attempt to save her life. She never made it back to America. She died off the shores of Japan on Christmas Eve.

Lottie’s story is too long for me to share here. Lottie Moon was a strong woman. She lived a life of love. She was strong willed and determined. She was bold. She was brave. She traveled to an unknown land to serve an unknown people. She poured her life into them. She gave her all to serve the Lord.  Lottie stood up in a male dominated society. It wasn’t acceptable for woman to serve in the mission field if they were not married. Lottie pushed to allow single woman to serve in this capacity. She believed that the Lord called woman to spread the gospel just as he called men.

“Our Lord does not call on women to preach, or to pray in public, but no less does He say to them than to men, ‘Go, work in my vineyard.’” Lottie Moon

In 1918 the Foreign Mission Board (now the International Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention named a Christmas offering after Lottie. The funds from this offering every year go to support international missions. Lottie has inspired many to serve the Lord with boldness and with all their heart. She has also inspired many to give whole-heartedly to missions.

This week my challenge is that we may become women who follow our passions. Who stand up from what is right. May we give of ourselves to those in need. May we have Lottie’s passion for those that do not Christ. May we reach this world from Christ from  one corner to the next.

"How many there are ... who imagine that because Jesus paid it all, they need pay nothing, forgetting that the prime object of their salvation was that they should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in bringing back a lost world to God."

- Lottie Moon

Tungchow, China

Sept. 15, 1887

"Why should we not ... instead of the paltry offerings we make, do something that will prove that we are really in earnest in claiming to be followers of him who, though he was rich, for our sake became poor?"

- Lottie Moon

Tungchow, China

Sept. 15, 1887

Stout Women

I've decided to start writing about what I like to call "stout women". I'm going to write about the strong women in my life that have inspired me and encouraged me with my walk with the Lord and the women in the bible that have also inspired me.

I guess I should begin with explaining what a "Stout" Woman is and that leads to the first woman that I'm going to write about...My Mom. So this will probably make her cry since yesterday's post did so Mom I apologize in advance for any tears you may cry. I love you very much. Several years ago when my dad's mom, Virginia died my mom and her best friend Jan went down to her house to set up an estate sale. Now my dad's parents had some land and they had cows. So while my mom and Jan were in Warner my dad asked them to take care of the cows. It was very cold the day of the estate sale so my mom had to go chop ice on the pond for the cows as well as making sure they got some feed. So my mom and Jan went out the field to feed the cows and chop the ice. When the Indian man that had helped my grandparents for years came by to check on them and see if they need anything, he was surprised to find out that my mom had already fed the cows and chopped the ice. He told my mom that she was a stout woman. This was quite a compliment for my mom, after all I have to agree she is  stout woman.

 Webster's defines stout as: brave, bold, determined, obstinate, uncompromising, sturdy, vigorous, staunch, enduring. I only hope that I can live up to this definition. My mom fits many of these definitions. She is brave. I think about her moving to Oklahoma as a newlywed, away from her family. She learned to form a support group to help her as she raised by brother and myself. She made friends that became family.  My mom is also determined. She like her mother sets her mind to do something and she does it. I spent many summers in Georgia watching those two women work side by side to put up vegetables and can fruit jellies. She is bold she is not afraid to speak her mind. She is enduring, she has stuck with my brother and myself through many difficult situations. She is sturdy and when trouble come she doesn't run away but faces it. She has taught me how to persevere and the value of hard work.

I think of Mary the mother of Jesus. She was a stout woman. Can you imagine, being a young woman, unmarried and pregnant? This was punishable by death in Mary's time. She must have been so brave to carry the savior of the world in her womb and to travel to Bethlehem nine months pregnant on the back of a donkey. To give birth in a dirty stable. She must have been scared but she didn't let her fears stand in her way. She was determined to keep Jesus safe. Remember how her and Joseph fled after Herod came looking for them. They traveled again by donkey to Egypt with a newborn. A new mother trying to figure it out on her own. Her own mother wasn't nearby to teach her what to do. She was enduring. She did her best to raise this child so he could fulfill his purpose. Can you imagine the grief and sadness she felt as she felt as she watched her son die? Yes Mary is indeed a strong woman.

What kind of woman is the Lord calling you to become? Bold?, Determined? Obstinate? Uncompromising? Strong? Enduring? Oh that we would become women who earnestly seek the Lord's face, that we would become stout women who serve the Lord.

‎"God is the one who put the Savior of the world into a woman's womb. He showed the risen Lord to women first, not to men, God is not biased toward men, he's an equal opportunity deity. When you give him your devotion when you sit at his feet and learn from him, he'll treat you with dignity and give you the delights of your heart"

This was from my devotional this morning. I have the New Woman's Devotional bible. I highly recommend this bible if you don't have one or are looking for a new bible. The reading came from Numbers 27:1-11. Zelophehad's daughters came to Moses because their father had died and he didn't have any sons. They wanted to inherit his property. Moses took this before the Lord and the Lord told Moses that it was right for the women to inherit the property. This is just one glimpse of how the Lord sees women. It is hard to realize at times in our society how women have been looked upon in other times. During Moses time it was a male dominated world. Women had no rights. But we see throughout the bible that the Lord uses women just as he uses men. He is not in the business of being sexist. God wants to use those who want to serve Him.

I'm named after Sarah from the bible. My mom was inspired by her faith. My middle name is Elizabeth named from my mom's grandma Bessie. Thank you to my dad for not allowing mom to actually name me Bessie. I found out last week while at home with my mom during our blizzard what a wonderful Christian woman my great-grandmother Bessie was. My mom told me that during WW2 her grandparents had German prisoners of war working on their Land. At lunch time my great-grandmother Bessie would cook a big lunch and invite these German POWs to sit at her kitchen table. To her these men were young men much like her son, my grandfather who was off in the Pacific. It didn't matter to her where they were from. She showed them Christian hospitality. When the military found out about this they told my grandmother she had to stop and serve the prisoners in the fields.

I think about Mary and Martha. Martha was busy trying to make all the preparations for Jesus' visit. while Mary sat at his feet listening to his teaching. Jesus was pleased with Mary because she took the time to listen at His feet. It seems that as women in 2011 we have so much to be busy with. I'm a medical student so my life consists of sleep, eating and studying and not necessarily in that order. I find it hard to sit at the Lord's feet and learn from Him. But when I do I come away refreshed and able to do what He has called me to do better. There is so much demanded of us as women. We are expected to maintain a house, raise children, and the list goes on. I feel that as women it is important that we are strong that we take time to rest at the Lord feet to refresh ourselves for what the Lord has called us to.

Todays devotion has made me think about other women in my life who have been wonderful examples to me and the one that comes to mind right now is my grandma Mary. She was an amazing woman. She was strong and determined. She was like many of the women that read about in the bible. She was spent her life serving others. She would always have my favorite meal made when I came to see her...roast beef and chocolate cake. She was determined she worked hard through her therapy for 2nd elbow replacement. Even in her last month she was determined to work. I sat at the kitchen table with her as she would help cut vegetables for dinner. She didn't want to stop. Her strength and determination inspire me to work hard and never give up. Her attitude of service challenges me to have a servant heart. She inspires me to sit at the feet of Jesus to listen and be refreshed to do his work. To give my heart fully to him. It was hard for her to be like the Mary of the bible at times. But I fully believe that when she entered heavens gates the Lord met her and said well done my good and faithful servant. For the first time in her life someone else made the banquet food and she sat down. No one had to push her to go through the line. My grandmother would always want to wait until we all went through the buffet line before she sat down.

So today I challenge myself and all other women out there, to be women of faith, endurance, and service. Take time to sit at our Savior's feet and learn from Him. Take time to devote yourself to His service what ever that may be. And I truly believe that He will give you the desires of your heart.

To a New Year

Happy New Year!!! 2010 proved to be a trying year for me and my family, although it is not lacking many life lessons.

1. The Lord is a provider. God has provided for my family in ways that I could have never imagined in this past year. March 12 my brother Stephen was in a terrible car accident. He ran into the back of a semi trailer. We learned this summer that he was only inches from the bumper of the semi when emergency crews arrived on scene. Stephen came away from the accident with several facial fractures, but no other broken bones or internal injuries. It is a miracle that he survived the crash and with no more injuries than he had. He spent a week in the hospital.

2. The power of prayer. First with Stephen's accident it was amazing to see how many people were praying for him. There were people all over the world that lifted Stephen up to the Lord. The Lord answered many prayers in the weeks that followed the accident. The swelling went down in his face and he was able to have surgery just 2 days after his accident. After taking a swallow test 3 times to make sure that he could swallow effectively and not choke he finally passed. His vision was corrected. He is now in braces continuing to work on the healing process. Secondly many people had been praying for me that I would make the right decision regarding my engagement. I didn't not realize how many people had prayed for me until I decided it was the Lord's will to call it off. The Lord answers prayers in unusual ways. Third one of my mentors from OBU was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in December 09. She was given 6 months or less to live. She is still alive today and fighting cancer. In July 2010 she was pronounced cancer free and remained that way for a couple of months before doctors found new tumors. While having treatment last spring she suffered a severe hemorrhage and those helping her saw angels in the room with them. Her story has inspired hundreds around the world. She insist on telling it to everyone that she meets so she might share the gospel.

3. The Lord is faithful. Many times God wants us to go a in a direction but it takes us awhile. My dad tells me stories about his cows that get out of our fences and how he has to coax them back in. They keep doing, not seeming to learn their lessons. Many times in our lives we want to leave the fence or the path the Lord has set up for us. We want to try things on our set out on our own way. At the time it doesn't matter to us that we have to go through the barbed wire like my dad's cows. We are stubborn and we want things our way. But the Lord is faithful. He waits, calling on us, begging us to listen. He wants us to following in His path for our lives. But he is a loving God that allows us to choose our path. The Lord brings people into our lives to help bring us back to where He wants us. For me this has not only been my parents and friends but a special lady. Jan Studdard, my mom's best friend. She allowed the Lord to use her when I needed the most and I will forever be grateful to that. I challenge you to listen to voice of God. It may be small, and quite but He seeks you. He wants to be in relationship with you. He desires good for your life. At times it may not seem that His "good" is really good. Being in the Lord's will means trials will come. But it is in the trials of life that we grow stronger, that we are made into the men and women God desires us to be. In all actuality the Lord's will is really good for us.

In this New Year, I challenge you to seek out the Lord's will for your life, His good and perfect will. Listen to the still small voice of God in your life this year. Elijah longed to hear God's voice. He ran to a mountain after a show down with the followers of Baal. He was scared for his life. He ran and hid a mountain he didn't want to work any more for the Lord. Read the passage below. Don't worry if you don't hear the Lord's voice in big ways. THe Lord spoke to Elijah through a gentle wind. May the Lord bless you in 2011. May He teach you and show you things you never knew as you seek to follow Him.

And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹¹ The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁴ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” Elijah 19:10-14

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” - 2 Corinthians 5:17