[00:00:00] Let us break bread together on our knees
[00:00:06] Let us break bread together on our knees
[00:00:13] When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun
[00:00:20] Oh Lord, have mercy on me
[00:00:26] Welcome to Words of Inspiration with your hosts and teachers,
[00:00:30] Oddly McClain and Elgin Carelock. Now let's hear from Oddly and Elgin.
[00:00:35] We've heard from some of you that our words of inspiration are a blessing.
[00:00:42] Elgin and I have been talking together for the last several broadcasts.
[00:00:46] Today he couldn't be with us so guess what? He's stuck with me.
[00:00:50] Anyway, yesterday when he and I spoke and shared from the scripture
[00:00:55] we were still talking about getting over to the other side.
[00:01:00] And we looked at Psalm 84 yesterday and talked about the imperative, I guess,
[00:01:08] to go through the valley of Bacchus if we're going to go from strength to strength.
[00:01:15] We discussed this from Psalm 84.
[00:01:17] And I want to read Psalm 84 again today.
[00:01:21] And I promised to tell you about a pastor I heard many, many years ago.
[00:01:26] I can't even remember his name to be honest, but I remember the message.
[00:01:30] And it was on Psalm 84 verse 2, going from strength to strength.
[00:01:38] And then he who had been, I'm told, a very lovely soloist
[00:01:42] and he certainly knew the word of God. He was preaching with clarity.
[00:01:47] But he had lost his singing voice and he had lost part of his speaking voice.
[00:01:56] The quality and the tone had changed.
[00:01:59] And he said, I learned what Psalm 84 meant.
[00:02:04] He said, I would have liked to have gone along my Christian journey
[00:02:07] and service leaping from mountain top to mountain top.
[00:02:11] But he said, God allowed me to go through the valley of tears.
[00:02:16] There were many tears, he said, as I realized that my career, my calling,
[00:02:22] my ministry was now in jeopardy because I couldn't sing anymore.
[00:02:28] I could hardly preach.
[00:02:29] But God brought me through.
[00:02:31] His singing voice at that point had not been restored to him
[00:02:35] and his speaking voice was still somewhat scratchy.
[00:02:39] But he spoke with clarity, conviction, the broad tears to my eyes
[00:02:46] as he talked about how tragically he felt life had treated him
[00:02:51] as he was going through that period when he couldn't talk or sing.
[00:02:55] God brought him up the mountainside to the other side.
[00:02:59] And I wanted to just share his experience with you
[00:03:03] or his report of his experience with you
[00:03:07] because I wonder if there is somebody to whom that kind of message
[00:03:11] has a real special meaning.
[00:03:15] Remember, the God who promises to take you to the other side
[00:03:22] may bring you through the valley of tears
[00:03:26] or as in the case of the disciples in Mark 4
[00:03:30] going to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
[00:03:34] Whatever your circumstance, the storm and the sea
[00:03:37] or the valley of Bacchar, before you can climb up to the other side,
[00:03:42] remember that God is with you.
[00:03:45] The Lord Jesus said,
[00:03:47] "'Lo, I am with you always,' even to the end of the earth
[00:03:53] and the end of the world.
[00:03:56] God, Almighty God, is with you.'
[00:03:59] Or maybe you haven't handed over to him.
[00:04:02] Today would be the time to begin.
[00:04:06] Let God, let God, let God, God loves you,
[00:04:11] Jesus died to save you
[00:04:12] and life is full of meaning when God is in control.
[00:04:17] Till tomorrow, keep looking up. Amen.
[00:04:32] Now I'm coming home.