Grandmal's Favorite Verse

Trust The Process  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Intro

7:45 in the morning
Grandpal
Grandmal struggling to get ready in time
It was a family tradition that will forever replay in my head
Well fast forward a few years and the men revving the engine passed away.
It was a difficult transition for everyone
Fast forward around 14 more years and this little boy on the screen found himself stay up all night to drive back from Florida.
After finally arriving, having only had 4 hours of sleep total in two days I made my way to the hospital.
There that little boy that is now 21 sat in a chair studying for midterms as his Grandmother clang to life.
Conversation was rare and just the slightest mumble would catch your attention.
As Sunday passed, Monday, September 28th began
This now 21 year old has arrived back at the hospital after a long day of midterms
He sat in the chair next to her as he struggled his way through the tears to read some of her favorite verses.
This is how it went...
​

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2  He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3  He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5  You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

Recap the Story

You see this 21 year old boy is me
I left the hospital on Friday thinking everything was okay and went down to Florida to watch the Vols play
Little did I know I would receive a text on accident from my Cousin the morning before the game asking if I was going to be able to make it to the hospital or not.
That night I left Gainesville, Florida after a heartbreaker of a game which as a Vols fan is just the normal and drove all the way back to Knoxville.
Around 4:30 or 5 am I arrived back in town and instantly went to the hospital.
As I read verses and we sang songs she rarely had a reaction, although a few songs seemed to give her that ole sponkey attitude back.
But as that Monday morning turned into night, no words had been spoken by this one of a kind lady.
You might ask… if no words were spoken what makes it so special...

Breakdown

Seek first the Kingdom (Matt. 6:33)
Jesus is the door (John 10:9)
Come to Jesus for rest (Matt. 11:28)
We had once fallen, but now restoring comes

Next Slide

10  Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God!

Let your good Spirit lead me

on level ground!

Teach me to do your will! Your will God.
Look at the people who have gone before us!

Next Slide

Noah and the ark (Genesis 6-8)
Abraham and Issac (Genesis 22)
Joseph with is brother (Genesis 37-50)
Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6)
Ananias and Saul (Acts 9, 22)
They all have on things in common… They did not question the Lord, but simply followed the Lord
They did not draw up their own plan, but instead followed God’s plan even though they didn’t know the outcome.
They trusted and they knew that God would provide for their needs
They did not place worldly things before God’s plane or put man’s opinion before God’s
Why? flip to Psalm 31

Next Slide

For you are my rock and my fortress;

and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;

4  you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,

for you are my refuge.

5  Into your hand I commit my spirit;

you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

My rock, my fortress
You lead me and guide me (bible today)
The world is attempting to hide us in their net
Hide God in their net
but he has redeemed us and has taken us out of their net and into his hands
At one point we were bound in the shackles of this world
Looking and longing for love, acceptance, forgiveness, and a salvation story of our own
All of the failures from times past seem to remain constant in our head and bring to us this constant reminder that we aren’t good enough...
It’s in that moment that the seed that was planted seems to receives its growth and out of the words from this sacred writing we learn that the battle has already been won.
And a once we realize that the chains have been broken and we have been set free, those worldly nets can no longer hold us, for we have been redeemed!
We are plunged into this water and every stain, every blemish, and every mistake are wiped away and we are renewed to a new life and a new hope
All those days of being reminded of your past and being told you’re not good enough and unworthy have been down away with.
We are now meet with this one simple reminder… Oh, God you’re not done with me yet!
He was not down with Noah when the rest of the world was corrupt
He was not down with Issac as he approached the altar with Abraham
He was not down with Joseph when his brothers threw him into a pit
He was not done with Daniel when they rolled a stone before the den of lions
He was not done with Saul although he had killed Christians
As just like God was not done with Jesus when the stone was rolled before his tomb, God is not done with you either.
Great things are ahead and rejoicing comes in the morning.
Because we’ve been set free, we’ve been redeemed!

Next Slide

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

and your right hand delivers me.

8  The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;

your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands.

He has a purpose for you!
No matter your past and not matter your mistakes God has allowed a way for us to be set free.
Life is full of hills and valleys, but one thing will always remain....
The love of the Father!

Next Slide

1  The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

2  When evildoers assail me

to eat up my flesh,

my adversaries and foes,

it is they who stumble and fall.

3  Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet I will be confident.

4  One thing have I asked of the LORD,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to inquire in his temple.

5  For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will lift me high upon a rock.

You see family he is our light and our salvation.
In him and him alone do we find our rest, our hope, and cleansing blood.
If we have those things, who shall we fear.
We fear this world and stress over things in this world as if we don’t have a second home.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

We must not fear people of this world who attempt to blot out Jesus our cancel our speech, but instead we must fear God.
For if we fear him we shall lack nothing Psalm 34:9 tells us!

Next Slide

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

7  The LORD is on my side as my helper;

I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8  It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in man.

9  It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in princes.

Two Options

Grab demonstration
Yet here is our two options for life
First with this one I will completely fill it with golf balls
next i will feel it with beans
next i will add rice
Now if i were to reverse these steps it would go like this.
You see this golf ball represents the big things in life...
God, Church, Salvation, family, etc
The beans represent the little bit small things in life
Things like sporting events possibly, reading books, work possibly, or whatever else falls into the second tier of importance.
Lastly, the rice represents the small things in life...
things like drama, sinful habits, anger, etc
We if you take all these small things in life and you completely fill your cup you have no room left over for anything else....
Essentially, you have blotted Jesus out of your life because you choose to focus on the non-important things in life.
You see no matter how hard i try to force this golf ball into this jar it doesn’t fit.
Yet, if i rid those things of my jar the golf ball will now fit
You see on Monday night, September 28th, 2015 the once vibrant grandmother that I had laid silent...
that was until we reached verse 6 of Psalm 23
As I read the words “and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
A sound, a mumble came from the bed
Being caught off guard, I asked “what did you say Grandmal”
As she struggled to mumble the words, I asked her if she had a house with the Lord and she just nodded her head.
Knowing how my grandmal was I asked a follow-up question of “are you ready to go home?”
She for the first time spoke up and said “I’m ready to see momma and daddy”.
That was the last time she spoke and before the sun could rise on Tuesday, September 29th. 2015 she took her final breath.
You see family, so often in life we get caught up trying to fill our jar with the profitless things in life and dont leave room for the profitable things in life
While life is full of curve balls, hurdles, road blocks, and uncertain times we must “Trust The Process”.
Our Lord has promised us great things if we just finish the race and fight the good fight.
In order to do that we must rid our jar of the profitless things and make room for the profitable things.
In the grand scheme of things… life is short, really short in fact...
It’s over in the blink of an eye
but not a moment goes by that I wish my grandmother could come back… I rest assured knowing that the common hope that we shared has allowed her to reach her forever home and that something I never want her to leave.
So, to the lady in red fleeced lined crocs with pink sweet pants suit on reading a newspaper in your favorite recliner I hope you’re enjoying your forever home.
Now if anyone here this morning is still bond by the chains of this world, wrapped up in sin, wanting to break free of the chains and be cleansed of your stains come forward this morning and have your sins washed away while he’s still calling.
Thank you!
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