“If My people who are called by my name become humble and pray, and look for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will. Hear them from heaven.  I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
On April 8, 2018, my brother and author, Mike Parker, preached his first sermon as an interim pastor at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Georgia.  The messages he has spoken since that date has been in preparation for the July 1st sermon. God has put a fire in Mike’s heart for Christ and he strives to encourage and counsel others in God’s ways.  Y’all, I am so stinkin’ proud of Mike and the conviction from God he portrays in his life!
While listening to the July 1st sermon, I could sense a feeling of heaviness in Mike’s voice. He normally will sprinkle lightheartedness and laughter throughout the messages from the pulpit, but in the “Heal Our Land” sermon…pure compassion, passion, and urgency was the tone intertwined in his words.  As Mike mentions in this lesson, yes a lesson…he is a teacher and administrator at heart, he is “calling’em as he sees’em”.
Here are some highlights to peak your interest:

• Every action begins as a thought.
• The church is wrong in their thinking.
• “They” are not the problem.  “We” are the problem.
• We (Christians) need to do three things:
  • Humble ourselves
  • Seek His face
  • Turn from our wicked ways.
• When we do, God will:
  • Hear us
  • Forgive us
  • Heal our land
• The heart of God is saying, “HOLD ON…I feel a healing coming on.”
• When the church gets right, others will see:
  • True joy
  • Bitter-free people
  • The power of God in our lives
  • A compassion about us that draws them to us.
  • AND…”they” will benefit from it all.

This is just a taste of what Mike brings to the church.  
I want to encourage you, implore you, to listen to the sermon (I did while driving from Plant City to St. Pete, then again in the comfort of my study).  After you listen, pray. Pray for yourself, your family, your community, your church, your state, our country. Also, share. Share this with others, especially those in the political scene.  Actually, just share with all. We all need to hear this.
I turned on Fox News this morning to see protestors against our President of the United States while he is in England.  And for what? Who knows. I for one am impressed by the people President Trump is surrounding himself with as counsel, the business tactics he is using to get our country back in shape, and the continued growth that is occurring in the United States of America.  He may not be gracious and always eloquent in the process, but great positive things are getting done, in our country and across the world. We are instructed to respect the position of our government. Did I care for the direction our previous president was heading? No. Did I make his life miserable by calling him names (and degrade his family) daily and protest every time someone turns around? No way.  Did I respect his position and PRAY for him? Absolutely! No matter what political affiliation you are, please pray for your government.
Towards the end of the message, Mike says that he would like for the next governor of Georgia to hear this sermon.  I’d like to have all politicians and news media hear this encouraging and challenging message. Promoting this message isn’t because I love my brother…well, partly…but it is because I believe in this lesson.
God bless America.
Click on this link to listen:  http://www.shadygrovenow.com/sermon-audio/index.html
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
 
Mike Parker is the author of My Emmaus:  God is Faithful 24/7