They changed the name after we left. When we were going there is was called Mercy's Cross. Not sure why they changed the name, maybe to be catchy. Anyway they do this series every year where they take popular movies and pull a biblical theme from it. This particular sermon was on Jaws. Now that isn't one that I thought would be relevant but I was completely wrong. The theme of the sermon was worry and how it is a sin. I guess I never thought about my worrying as being sinful but this sermon changed my mind. My current worry is my goat Sarah. Goats have worms in their stomachs all the time and the key is to keep the worm load low so it doesn't cause any health issues. Well I didn't keep a close enough eye on her and now she is severely anemic, this can kill a goat. Now I know some of you would say it is just a goat, what is the big deal? The big deal to me is this...God gave me these goats to take care of and I feel like I am not being a good steward of the gifts He has given me. By letting this goat get sick I failed in my duty to God to care for these goats. I expressed this to Jon last night and he says I am being too hard on myself, that he doesn't know anyone who worries more about their animals than I do but that really doesn't make me feel better. As silly as it might sound I pray for my goats. I lay hands on them and ask God to heal them and keep them safe but I wonder if God is listening and if his plan is for this goat to get better. I hope and pray that she will overcome this but what if God has something different in mind? Is this suppose to be a learning experience for me? I often think about this when I look back at other things that have happened in my life like when my dad died. He had so many people praying for him but God obviously had other plans. Was I suppose to learn something from his death and/or did it affect someone else to bring them to know Christ? In the end all the worrying I did didn't change the outcome and I am learning to accept that God had a plan even if I don't know what it was. I know he is in control of everything but that doesn't make it any easier to not worry. Philippians 4:6-7 says
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes that is a hard thing to do. To give everything over to God and trust that he has your back but by worrying I am questioning whether God is big enough to do that. By worrying I am doubting God's ability to take care of my concerns and that is sinful. I know I will continue to worry, I think it is just human nature, but I will try to worry less and rely on God more, to pray more and give my worries over to Him. If you get a chance I highly recommend you listen to this sermon and any others they have on their website. ThatChurch.com is one of the things I miss most about living in Arkansas.
https://youtu.be/OOFZ5L0GFiQ
God's Blessings
