“Always guard against self-chosen service for God.  Self-sacrifice may be a disease.  If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace; if he has made it bitter, drink it in communion with him.  When the providential order of God for you is a time of hardship, go through it.  But never choose the scene of your martyrdom.  Abraham didn’t choose the sacrifice he would make; God chose for him.  And Abraham did not protest.  He simply went through it.

If you aren’t living in touch with God, it’s easy to pass a rash verdict on him.  You must go through the crucible before you have any right to issue a verdict, because in the crucible you learn to know God better.  Once you do know God, you recognize that he is working toward his highest ends and will continue to do so until his purpose and humanity’s purpose become one.”

This is a quote from Oswald Chambers and goes along with the past two sermons on loss.  I thought it would be good food for thought.

Another plug for a person to oversee the potluck luncheon next year.  If you are interested, please speak to Elizabeth Shelton or me.