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Northland Lutheran Church
N9880 St Hwy 49, Iola, WI 54945
Office: 715-445-2956 email: northlandchurch@hotmail.com
WE ARE LCMC
N9880 St Hwy 49, Iola, WI 54945
Office: 715-445-2956 email: northlandchurch@hotmail.com
WE ARE LCMC
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Northland Lutheran Church
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Spread His Word
AMBER BIRLING BRINGS HELP TO HAITI
Amber Birling has a passion for life, her faith and for the mission work she does in Haiti. You can see it and hear it when she tells what’s happened there since the earthquake and the devastation it left behind.
I met her through a mutual friend by what I will call “God’s preplan.” Amber is from the Rosholt area and knows many members of Northland Church, so we were soon chattering away. We talked about mission work, spreading God's word and Northland Church’s new “Purpose Statement”. We and brainstormed some other ideas that could help us grow both in numbers and spirit.
I was impressed with her and what she had to say. I was impressed when her face and eyes told me she meant every word she said. And Amber was impressed with what we are working towards in our effort to fulfill God’s purpose for Northland Church. She told me so.
We were fortunate to have her speak at Sunday services. Our church had contributed money to the mission she works with in Haiti, so she reviewed how that money was spent. It was interesting and also reassuring because we knew the money had reached the people it was meant for, not diverted or stolen to meet someone’s greed.
Amber Birling has a passion for life, her faith and for the mission work she does in Haiti. You can see it and hear it when she tells what’s happened there since the earthquake and the devastation it left behind.
I met her through a mutual friend by what I will call “God’s preplan.” Amber is from the Rosholt area and knows many members of Northland Church, so we were soon chattering away. We talked about mission work, spreading God's word and Northland Church’s new “Purpose Statement”. We and brainstormed some other ideas that could help us grow both in numbers and spirit.
I was impressed with her and what she had to say. I was impressed when her face and eyes told me she meant every word she said. And Amber was impressed with what we are working towards in our effort to fulfill God’s purpose for Northland Church. She told me so.
We were fortunate to have her speak at Sunday services. Our church had contributed money to the mission she works with in Haiti, so she reviewed how that money was spent. It was interesting and also reassuring because we knew the money had reached the people it was meant for, not diverted or stolen to meet someone’s greed.
THE PRESSURE OF CRISIS: One of life’s challenges is learning how to manage a crisis. This is a practical issue because crises, problems, and adversity are all part of life on this broken planet. Being a follower of Christ does not exempt us from crises, and neither did being the King of Israel.
After becoming King, Saul faced a series of battles that tested his integrity, patience, and loyalty as a servant of God.
Saul passed his first test with flying colors. When the people of Jabesh Gilead were attacked by the Ammonites, the Spirit of God came upon Saul. He rallied Israel, defeated the enemy, gave God the credit for the victory, and was confirmed as King by the people. [see 1st Sam. 11]
Saul seemed to be off to a good start. In fact, in Samuel’s farewell speech, he assured the people of Israel that even though they had sinned in asking for a king, Saul and the nation could still experience God’s blessing if they would remain faithful to the Lord.
1 Samuel 12:20-24
"Don't be afraid," Samuel reassured them. "You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart and that you don't turn your back on him in any way. [21] Don't go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they really are useless! [22] The Lord will not abandon his chosen people, for that would dishonor his great name. He made you a special nation for himself.
[23] "As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right. [24] But be sure to fear the Lord and sincerely worship him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.
Samuel was also clear that if they did not serve the Lord, they and their King would be “swept away”.
Unfortunately, Saul’s initial success in leading Israel seemed to go to his head. In an ensuing war with Philistia, Saul set the defenses while his son Jonathan attacked a Philistine encampment. Then Saul blew the ram’s horn to signal to the people that he had attacked the Philistines and that they were to gather for war at Gilgal. [1st Sam.13:3-4]
The Philistines’ anger was aroused, and they mobilized their forces in a huge show of strength. But the Israelites responded in a way that indicated they felt Saul had started something he couldn’t finish.
1 Samuel 13:6-7
When the men of Israel saw the vast number of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and cisterns. [7] Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead.
Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.
The people had the king they wanted to lead them into battle, but it was now clear that they needed more than Saul. Some were so underwhelmed by Saul’s leadership that they hid wherever they could.
From verse 8 we learn that Samuel had earlier told Saul to wait 7 days at Gilgal for him to arrive and tell him what to do. But inactivity is painful for people who want to make something happen rather than wait for God to work. This desire to force the action would be the first step in Saul’s undoing.
After becoming King, Saul faced a series of battles that tested his integrity, patience, and loyalty as a servant of God.
Saul passed his first test with flying colors. When the people of Jabesh Gilead were attacked by the Ammonites, the Spirit of God came upon Saul. He rallied Israel, defeated the enemy, gave God the credit for the victory, and was confirmed as King by the people. [see 1st Sam. 11]
Saul seemed to be off to a good start. In fact, in Samuel’s farewell speech, he assured the people of Israel that even though they had sinned in asking for a king, Saul and the nation could still experience God’s blessing if they would remain faithful to the Lord.
1 Samuel 12:20-24
"Don't be afraid," Samuel reassured them. "You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart and that you don't turn your back on him in any way. [21] Don't go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they really are useless! [22] The Lord will not abandon his chosen people, for that would dishonor his great name. He made you a special nation for himself.
[23] "As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right. [24] But be sure to fear the Lord and sincerely worship him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.
Samuel was also clear that if they did not serve the Lord, they and their King would be “swept away”.
Unfortunately, Saul’s initial success in leading Israel seemed to go to his head. In an ensuing war with Philistia, Saul set the defenses while his son Jonathan attacked a Philistine encampment. Then Saul blew the ram’s horn to signal to the people that he had attacked the Philistines and that they were to gather for war at Gilgal. [1st Sam.13:3-4]
The Philistines’ anger was aroused, and they mobilized their forces in a huge show of strength. But the Israelites responded in a way that indicated they felt Saul had started something he couldn’t finish.
1 Samuel 13:6-7
When the men of Israel saw the vast number of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and cisterns. [7] Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead.
Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.
The people had the king they wanted to lead them into battle, but it was now clear that they needed more than Saul. Some were so underwhelmed by Saul’s leadership that they hid wherever they could.
From verse 8 we learn that Samuel had earlier told Saul to wait 7 days at Gilgal for him to arrive and tell him what to do. But inactivity is painful for people who want to make something happen rather than wait for God to work. This desire to force the action would be the first step in Saul’s undoing.
SPREAD
HIS WORD
HIS WORD
Help and Hope for Haiti
Amber Birling and Lavaud Cheristin have seen and experienced the lack of help and hope in Haiti. Lavaud founded the Haiti Christian Ministry Center and Amber is affiliated with The Voice of Compassion. Both are commited to feeding and helping the citizens of Haiti and spreading God's word .
Amber's story below is an inspiration for all of us.
BUCKLING UNDER PRESSURE: Ironically, a nation marked by impatience got a king who was also impatient. Sometimes waiting is the most difficult thing for us to do. It must have been for Saul, as he watched the enemy troops arrive day after day. The pressure continued to mount as Saul’s men began to desert. And after an agonizing week of watching and waiting, the pot still didn’t boil. The Prophet Samuel still had not arrived.
1 Samuel 13:9-11: So he demanded, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!" And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. [10] Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, [11] but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?"
Saul replied, "I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn't arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle.
In an apparent attempt to gain God’s blessing, Saul offered the sacrifices himself. It’s important to note that there is a serious difference of opinion among Bible scholars as to exactly what happened here:
1. Some say that Saul was justified in offering sacrifices, as Solomon did at the inauguration of the temple [1st Kings 8].
2. Others say that Saul was simply seeking God’s blessing and provision for the upcoming battle and should not be judged too harshly.
3. Still others say that Saul was almost superstitious, treating the offerings of sacrifices like a lucky charm instead of the serious act of worship they were.
At the very least, Saul’s action exposed a weakness in the fabric of his character, a weakness revealed by an impatience familiar to many of us.
As Larry Richards wrote in The Teacher’s Commentary: Saul had been effective in action. But he was unable to stand the pressure of waiting. Saul was like so many of us; he was fine when he had something to do, but when God put him in a position where he had to wait for God to do something, he couldn’t handle it. When there are pressures facing us, and we sense others are looking and waiting for us to do something, waiting on God does not seem to be politically wise. And so we rush in and screw everything up.
What happened? As the smoke was still rising from the offerings, the Prophet Samuel shows up. And Samuel is not happy. It seems that Saul assumed that Samuel’s arrival confirmed his decision to offer a sacrifice. He went out to meet Samuel expecting to be affirmed- but he was sadly mistaken.
1 Samuel 13:9-11: So he demanded, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!" And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. [10] Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, [11] but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?"
Saul replied, "I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn't arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle.
In an apparent attempt to gain God’s blessing, Saul offered the sacrifices himself. It’s important to note that there is a serious difference of opinion among Bible scholars as to exactly what happened here:
1. Some say that Saul was justified in offering sacrifices, as Solomon did at the inauguration of the temple [1st Kings 8].
2. Others say that Saul was simply seeking God’s blessing and provision for the upcoming battle and should not be judged too harshly.
3. Still others say that Saul was almost superstitious, treating the offerings of sacrifices like a lucky charm instead of the serious act of worship they were.
At the very least, Saul’s action exposed a weakness in the fabric of his character, a weakness revealed by an impatience familiar to many of us.
As Larry Richards wrote in The Teacher’s Commentary: Saul had been effective in action. But he was unable to stand the pressure of waiting. Saul was like so many of us; he was fine when he had something to do, but when God put him in a position where he had to wait for God to do something, he couldn’t handle it. When there are pressures facing us, and we sense others are looking and waiting for us to do something, waiting on God does not seem to be politically wise. And so we rush in and screw everything up.
What happened? As the smoke was still rising from the offerings, the Prophet Samuel shows up. And Samuel is not happy. It seems that Saul assumed that Samuel’s arrival confirmed his decision to offer a sacrifice. He went out to meet Samuel expecting to be affirmed- but he was sadly mistaken.
RECEIVING A SURPRISING CORRECTION: Samuel said “What have you done???!!” Samuel must have been very disappointed. And so he confronted Saul with his failure, but Saul tried to justify his behavior. Saul told Samuel that his men were deserting the army and that he waited for Samuel to arrive to do the offering but Samuel was late, so he went ahead and did it himself.
Really, Saul was saying, “it’s not my fault! It’s the Philistines’ fault because they threatened us. It’s your fault, Samuel, for being late. But it isn’t my fault!”
Saul is trying to pass the buck but Samuel will have none of it. Samuel knew that Saul did not follow the directions he gave him. 1 Samuel 13:13-14
"How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have disobeyed the command of the Lord your God. Had you obeyed, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. [14] But now your dynasty must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already chosen him to be king over his people, for you have not obeyed the Lord's command."
These strong words can be boiled down into two hard facts:
1. Saul had not passed the test. His failure to listen to the voice of God through Samuel revealed his unfitness to lead.
2. He was unwilling to wait for God on His terms.
The result? There would be a new king. A man after the people’s heart failed, so a man after God’s heart would be needed. Saul’s impatience in acting on his own disqualified him, and God would remove his crown. Saul had it all, but he began to lose it all through a foolish and impatient decision.
.
Really, Saul was saying, “it’s not my fault! It’s the Philistines’ fault because they threatened us. It’s your fault, Samuel, for being late. But it isn’t my fault!”
Saul is trying to pass the buck but Samuel will have none of it. Samuel knew that Saul did not follow the directions he gave him. 1 Samuel 13:13-14
"How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have disobeyed the command of the Lord your God. Had you obeyed, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. [14] But now your dynasty must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already chosen him to be king over his people, for you have not obeyed the Lord's command."
These strong words can be boiled down into two hard facts:
1. Saul had not passed the test. His failure to listen to the voice of God through Samuel revealed his unfitness to lead.
2. He was unwilling to wait for God on His terms.
The result? There would be a new king. A man after the people’s heart failed, so a man after God’s heart would be needed. Saul’s impatience in acting on his own disqualified him, and God would remove his crown. Saul had it all, but he began to lose it all through a foolish and impatient decision.
.