In this second episode in our series on Seasons, pastors Jeff Sherrod and Ashley Moore discuss the importance of trusting in God's character and seeking His guidance in all seasons of life. They emphasize the need for reflection, prayer, and community support in discerning God's will and serving with a selfless attitude. The conversation highlights the significance of remaining faithful and anchored in God's truth, despite changing circumstances. Ultimately, they stress the idea of seeking God in times of struggle and anxiety, encouraging listeners to apply the teachings from the sermon to strengthen their faith and relationship with God.
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[00:00:09.67] - Mitchell Buchanan
Hello, hello, hello. Welcome to the Sermon podcast for the community church for God. My name is Mitchell Buchanan. I'm pumped to be here. I want to get more animated each.
[00:00:22.23] - Jeff Sherrod
Time you did it. That's it.
[00:00:24.46] - Mitchell Buchanan
I want to start freaking people out in here.
[00:00:26.89] - Jeff Sherrod
I'm going to start doing it just to surprise you guys.
[00:00:29.46] - Mitchell Buchanan
But this is our sermon series on seasons. We are with Jeff Sherrod with Ashley Moore.
[00:00:36.63] - Ashley Moore
Hello.
[00:00:37.60] - Mitchell Buchanan
Chris Jones. You get that? This is Ashley Moore here.
[00:00:39.64] - Ashley Moore
Oh, my gosh.
[00:00:41.00] - Mitchell Buchanan
But we just wanted to have a time to come together. We're going to talk about Ashley's sermon from psalm nine. So if you just want to highlight a little bit of the text, even some background on, like, your thoughts and bringing together and then your main points. Hey, let's talk about this. This, this. But this is always a great time centered on God's word to find the conversations we have in church to kind of break into our everyday lives.
[00:01:05.37] - Ashley Moore
So, yeah, so, yeah, I spoke from psalm nine and just one, one verse, which I love doing. So the verse was, and those who know your name and put their trust in you for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. So a couple things I talked about was what is name in the context of the Lord? Like, what his name? Look, you know, what does that mean, trust in your name? It's not like a mere acquaintance kind of thing. It's more of what is God's character. And so we went back to Exodus 34, which is one of my favorite, like, foundational passages that I learned at the institute back with Mister G, which was so, so great to kind of reminisce about. But just talking about that character of God and who he reveals himself to be, you know, I'll be what I will be. And then it's like, the Lord, the Lord and God, merciful and gracious and slow to anger, abounding in his steadfast love, forgiving iniquity. Like, that's the character. That's who God is, and that's who he reveals himself to be in scripture and in the life of Jesus and so on and so forth. And so just talking about trusting in that character of God, that's what's going to be steadfast. Like, that's what we can trust in, is like, God is going to be this way to us. That was one thing. Other thing was just, I was pretty vulnerable. I cry every time I preach, apparently. So at the time where I was crying again, I was just talking about, you know, of late, just having, you know, having to deal with questions of just my own reflection of is what God has built in me and is building in me. Is that going to be enough? Is that sufficient for me, you know, to put it like, lord, will you provide for me in this next season of life? You know, and I think that's where I came in with. I think my point from that was just to say, like the psalmist says at the beginning of the psalm is like, we need to recount the wonderful deeds and that God's done so that we can see God's hand in it all and, like, see how God's been moving and connecting, you know, my narrative with. With y'all's narrative and whoever else, like, God's story that he's writing. And just to remember, like, God's always been enough. The Lord has always provided. The Lord has always been sufficient for me and even more. Even more so, like, if you. Yeah, so I think those were some of the points I was talking about and sharing about. And hopefully it was encouraging.
[00:03:37.08] - Mitchell Buchanan
It was super encouraging and challenging. I think you kind of dismiss it. I'm like, I'm always just gonna cry. Or it's like I say, like, you're really genuine. Like, apparently it just means I'll cry up here.
[00:03:49.50] - Ashley Moore
I had to make it. I was already, like. It was the point where I was like, I'm going to just. It's going to be. It's going to be distracting if I keep crying. Like I was about to start crying.
[00:04:00.13] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah.
[00:04:00.50] - Ashley Moore
I was like, let me just. So I just. That's probably good that I got to pull in something to just take a pause. So I brought in you. So good.
[00:04:06.71] - Jeff Sherrod
Thanks for that pro move.
[00:04:08.36] - Ashley Moore
Yeah.
[00:04:11.08] - Mitchell Buchanan
It is always encouraging. I think impactful of like, that so many times. I think you can hear this podcast. You can listen to a sermon, and it can be like, all right, we're talking about psalm nine. It's like, let's kind of get the nugget out of there of, like, the scripture. But it's, you know, when you bring yourself to every situation you're in, like, very engaging, you know, so, like, when you're speaking, it's like, hey, this is. Let me lay it out for you. Here's, like, my struggle. Here's how I celebrate how God has led me. And I think it kind of, like, punched you in the face of, like. Cause everyone in the room is dealing with, hey, am I. I think, yeah, like, your quote is like, is what God building me is gonna be enough, like, from everybody in the room. I think has, like, those notions or feelings. And I think it's powerful when it's a simple scripture of like, hey, you know, like, you know the Lord's name and you brought up, it's like that. This is personal. Like, you know, like, it's not just like, oh, I'm trusting in God. It's like, no, no, like this, this was a very intimate moment that he had with Israel, you know, in giving or with Moses, that I will be what I will be. And it's like that is a whole sermon in of itself. But I think from that question of like, is what God's building me enough? I think something I was even wanting to explore a little more was like, there's maybe a couple ways that could come about is, do you feel that you are really perceiving from other people? Like, hey, I'm behind. Or like, oh, I'm looking, and I feel like I'm inadequate because I'm not living up to this standard or that or what's going on. Or do you feel even that those feelings of inadequacy are birthed from a real moment of need of like, oh, I was, I, like, snapped at my kids and like, I shouldn't be doing that. And it was like, kind of I'm falling short in how I'm responding or acting. Cause I think, or maybe, I'm sure it's both to some degree, but yeah.
[00:06:01.68] - Ashley Moore
I think it's both in. I think, you know, I'm gonna be 36 next week, so that's not anything. I mean, it's like, I don't think that's mid it.
[00:06:11.23] - Mitchell Buchanan
Please have the biggest, right. Biggest adult party ever.
[00:06:14.56] - Ashley Moore
No, I'm good, but I'm time to plan it also. Let it go. But no, I think I was, you know, for me personally, just, I think. I think dealing with having, having little kids, I, you know, wanting potentially to have another one, Lord willing or whatever, and then feeling like. But I. There's also, you know, things I want to, you know, I think striving might even be the word. I'm an ambitious person. I want to do a lot. I get bored with doing the same things over and over again. So just wanting to strive for what's next and not knowing if that's, like, reaching for something that I shouldn't be. I don't know. I think it sounds pretty vague, but I think it's probably just a reflection of, like, okay, where am I at in my mid thirties? Am I doing what I think the question has been, am I doing what I want to do. And I don't think that's been the right question. I think it should be like, what is God asking me to do?
[00:07:14.85] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right?
[00:07:15.45] - Ashley Moore
And I think that, you know, if I be just vulnerable, I think there have been some. Some moments where it's like, those two aren't matching. And so I think this was, like, a vulnerable reflection of, like, I feel like I'm getting back on the right track, but this has been a process for me.
[00:07:29.44] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah.
[00:07:29.81] - Ashley Moore
You know, over the last few months. Several months, I guess.
[00:07:32.98] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah.
[00:07:33.64] - Jeff Sherrod
Was when you're thinking about. Because I'm interested in reflection, too, because seasons can be reflective. Right. But when you're saying, last couple months, has that been, like, just kind of part of your morning prayers or you're talking to people or you just had, like, I'm gonna sit down today and think about my life.
[00:07:48.08] - Ashley Moore
I think it's. Well, I'm not. I'm not. See, I'm not a super reflective person. Like, I feel like I don't like to sit in. I think you can.
[00:07:55.56] - Jeff Sherrod
I think it's a skill that we're losing in our society.
[00:07:57.76] - Ashley Moore
So I'm interested in it probably is. I think. I think that has been. There probably been a time. I think part of the issue is that there have been times, there's been a season where I've not been diligent to, you know, seek out the Lord every morning and, like, ask him for help on these things. You know? I think that's been a point where I've really had, you know, recently just been like, sorry, lord. Like, I've. I've not. I'm letting these. I think we talked about last podcast, but letting these ideas pop in at me from social media or just, like, seeing people my age and, like, what they've achieved and feeling, like, why do I need to, like, why do I feel like I've never felt the need? I've always felt like what I'm doing is, like, superior to anybody else that I know. You know what I mean? But, like, feeling, like, where did that switch come in? Where I'm like, what? You know, I wouldn't say that I felt that, you know, and that's not good. Like. But recognizing that, like, what I've been building, what God's been building to me is something that he asked of me, and I've always had that resolved. So just feeling, like, a dissonance, I guess, in those. In that. I don't know. I guess I'm not explaining it well. Cause I'm probably just processing out loud here, but I think just dealing with the real questions, like, whether that be professionally or like, you know, I went to school to learn the Bible, you know, I didn't do like, you know, whatever degree that was initially. And I felt, I felt like that was the best decision I've ever made. Like, I still would say that. But then I think there are times where, you know, that the ideologies that can make you go, you know, I think ephesians four talk about two and fro. Like those things can creep in and they're not good because it makes me question decisions that I made in faith and that God confirmed time and time again. And so I think I've just been, I feel like the last several months, I think it's just been, I think it's spun me a little bit, but I feel like I'm rooted, you know, I don't feel like I'm like, hand to the pile, I'm turning back. I don't, I don't feel that way. But I think it's been just a interesting mid thirties reflection on the, in this season of my life. And I was, I mean, it sounds, sounds worse now that I'm saying it out loud because I'm like, I have such a strong resolve to serve God. And I even said that in my sermonous.
[00:10:28.10] - Mitchell Buchanan
And I think I want to be.
[00:10:29.27] - Ashley Moore
Found faithful at the end of the day, you know?
[00:10:31.33] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah, I mean, that's the core of your person is like, I want to be a faithful person, but I, and I think just encouraging or kind of like what I started with, I think it's something you spoke to that everyone has a part of this 100% somewhere in their psyche at this point of like, hey, am I really doing what God has for me? Or it's like, because time is undefeated. Like, every day we grow older, and every day I think we feel the finiteness, obviously, as we get older and older. God sits outside of that. And I think the seasonality is something that happens to us as, you know, human beings. That time is passing, that I think seasons are coming and going. You look back and it's like, oh, I just had Deacon. And then now he's, it's like those, he's in school, he's doing this, and you're like, where did those five years go? And it's like, because that we're kind of subject to this time. I think seasonality, we can all of a sudden, whether from reflection or just something just like, innocuous, can, like, spark is like, holy crap. Like, where have I been sleepwalking? Like, where am I at in this path? Because I don't feel. I'm not intended to stray from the Lord. You know, I'm not intended to do just what I want to do or what's comfortable, but it's just like, it can very quickly turn into a situation where it's like, oh, I'm not, you know, exhibiting, you know, spiritual disciplines. I'm not, like, digging into God's word. I'm not praying. Like, I'm not finding moments with other people to, like, encourage them in the faith. And it's like, where am I? Where have I been the last two years? So it's like, it's a very. I think it's really interesting where something very profound, hey, I feel that I am losing, or I've lost a little bit of, like, my striving with the Lord. It can happen so unceremoniously. It can happen without trauma. It can happen without. I lost my job and I'm at wits. I hit rock bottom. It's like, because just like, the brutalness of the seasons and time that kind of hits us. It's like it can happen in a road, a road, a road. And it's like we kind of lose that nearness to the Lord. Yeah, yeah.
[00:12:41.07] - Jeff Sherrod
I think it's a great practice. I mean, even the psalmist here in verse ten, right. It's like, I have not, oh, Lord, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. And we know it's true. Right? Like, that's true. But it's also the psalmist writing this at a particular time as a declaration, probably both individually and collectively. Like, we're gonna write something that I know is true. And I love that practice or even kind of what you're saying, you know, you're going through. Like, I just don't think that we do enough reflection in our society. Maybe for a number of reasons, it's just so easy to reach for our phones that we've lost small moments where maybe we could think about our life. Maybe we have a sense we're not gonna be happy with the answer, so we don't wanna engage it.
[00:13:26.19] - Ashley Moore
I think that's challenging. Cause it's like, you know, especially when it's like, you know what God's word says, you know his name, like, you know this. And that was the thing where I was also, like, it's cause and effect. Like, those who know your name put their trust in you. So it's like, you don't have one without the other. So it's like, if I'm not actively trying to even just know God more, to seek him more, like, it's gonna be way easier for me to put my trust in something else or to trust something else.
[00:13:51.84] - Mitchell Buchanan
And you brought up a couple times like that, these moments, like, knowing the Lord in, like, the revolving seasons. If you have, like, a constant where it's like, you had, like, these moments where you're like, I felt like a consecrated moment where it's like I was changed after this moment where I knew I would note I could not see the world any differently. I needed to pursue the Lord. It's like we have these moments in our faith. I think you highlighted so awesome that it's like, don't just, like, celebrate those when they happen or, like, remember, you know, back to them. It's like we can have those as, like, a real moment that we can cling to of, like, no, no, no. Regardless of how my emotions I'm feeling or the inadequacies, like, I know I've been called, you know, I know I've been changed. And it's like, I think you did that so well in your sermon of, you know, kind of going through the story and then just really kind of standing on that truth of, like, these are moments where I know God's name, like, I know the Lord met me, and it's like, you can't take that away from me. Time, seasons can't take it away. It's like that's going to withstand. And I think that brings us back to, like, reno changing that, our mindset being born from above.
[00:14:59.27] - Ashley Moore
Yeah, I guess one of my. I guess to that just to. I think the statement I made in that is, despite changing seasons, God remains unchanged. Seasons change. People change. Human developments, real, those reflective moments that are real and just human development. People write, I'm sure very smart people write lots of books on. I've read a few of them. But God does not. He remains the same. And I think, thank you, Lord. I was gonna say thank God, but I was, like, talking about it.
[00:15:32.50] - Mitchell Buchanan
Let's do it here.
[00:15:33.25] - Ashley Moore
Let's do it right now. Because that's the stability I need. We need. It's like God remains unchanged. I have trusted him. I see the faithfulness. I can't deny it. I need to move forward in that same faith again. And I feel like we have, like, despite whatever season I'm going into. I was chatting with Greg about this, but, you know, we were just like, whatever season you're in, currently has never happened before. You know, like, that's the first time you're experiencing it. So, you know, sometimes we can build it up like we. Because we know God's name, we know he's gonna be faithful in our minds. But then, like, getting our. Getting everything else to follow through can be the challenge sometimes.
[00:16:17.24] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah.
[00:16:17.83] - Ashley Moore
Yeah.
[00:16:18.65] - Mitchell Buchanan
And I think I just thought of something kind of connecting with what Jeff said and then what you were just mentioning of. I think we can vacillate. The Lord doesn't, and it's just being able to properly reflect. Like, I was watching the scene. There was a Stanford study. They did VR with a group of children. I think they were five and under, but they had them, like, put on the VR headsets, and then they were. I think they were, like, swimming with whales or, like, swimming in the ocean with, like, wildlife. So they had some of them do that, and they had. They took some of them to the beach and, like, actually had them go there, and then it was, like, two weeks later, they had them, like, reflect on the experience and that even for the VR headsets, they. Most of them were conflating it where they couldn't. They couldn't explicate. They couldn't say if it for sure happened in real life or if it was just VR, that it's like it, you know, in that way, it became, like, a very real moment. And it's like, in reflecting back, even, I think the. Our times, where it's like, whether that's technology or the pace at which we do things or the way things are presented to us as, hey, this is real. This is pressing. This is something that, like, needs your attention. Like, I think we can have that same phenomenon where it's like, we struggle to reflect back, struggle even to, like, discipline our minds of, like, what, you know, what is real or what's not. What's the. A true anxiety that we should trust the Lord and work through, or what is like, hey, this is really just us not trusting the Lord at all. We're giving in to our own anxieties, and it's like we're kind of, like, stuck in this moment, which having that foundation of, like, you know, we know the character of the Lord doesn't change. It's like, that can be profound in, like, anchoring us into, I think, like, a faith that isn't just kind of tossed to or fro. So, yeah, super, super interesting. Another kind of observation I had, and I think something that can be easy to do with what you're saying of, hey, I'm in a bad season. Or you had, like, a story where Jen's asking to do something. You're like, this isn't Jen. This is not a good time. And then eventually I think you're like, no, the Lord wants to use this. And it was, like, a beautiful thing of a way you could serve, it seems, because of just the human experience, when someone's like, hey, I'm just stressed out. This is a bad season. The easiest thing to do is just to give time of, like, all right, well, I was just checking in, like, let me know if you want to hang out next week or, you know, it's easy. Or for yourself of like, hey, I'm, like, snapping at everybody in my family. I, like, spill tomato sauce on the floor, and I'm, like, losing, you know, every bit of my christianity. We have moments, and then the easiest thing to do is I just need space and time. I just need to, like, go drive somewhere. I need to do this. And I think, you know, I think you kind of touched on it, but it's, are we giving ourself too much leniency where it's like, hey, we're just at that point. You are subjecting, I think, your spiritual life, your spiritual existence to just the seasons. Hey, time and chance happens to us all. Sometimes I'm going to be like, you know, super, super overwhelmed. I need more time. Sometimes I'll have, you know, openness and, oh, I can serve. I can do stuff now. Is that. Is it natural to give someone that leniency of, like, hey, we shouldn't talk about it. You need some time, just take a rest? Or do you feel like we need to press through more of those moments of, like, hey, are you trusting the Lord? Like. Cause I think there's a battle we have of, like, our human experience that needs that moments of time. And then I think the challenge from the lord of like, hey, I don't change. I don't exist in time. So, like, even if you're tired, you can press through with, you know, with my spirit. I think there's that kind of tension that we have all the time.
[00:20:07.64] - Ashley Moore
I feel like that. I think that's a really good question. I think it's a really tough one because. Because I think there is an element of discernment which is not, you know, that's a spiritual gift. It's not something that you just are like, I don't know. I think you have to tap into the Lord's spirit to. To be discerning, you know? So I think, for, for me, in that moment, I had such a Jen in that specific scenario. Jen knows me and so, and she also was aware of, you know, my, my season, you know, being postpartum, whatever, but she also just knew that I felt Jen is a very discerning person, just in general. So the fact that she was like, I'm going to ask you just to chat with me about it. I'm going to take that as like, okay, like, I need to, I need to consider this because she's not letting it go, which she wasn't doing it in a forceful way. It was just like, no, like, I thought the Lord's prompted me to ask you about this, you know, so let's, can we at least chat? Can we at least, can I at least tell you about it?
[00:21:15.77] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right.
[00:21:16.00] - Ashley Moore
You know, and, like, how I feel like I see God using you in this role or whatever. There have been other times where, you know, someone asked me to do something and, you know, I've said this, truly, I really cannot, like, at this time. And it was like, that makes, that makes sense. You know, that that makes sense or, yeah, that's totally fine. You were the first person to ask. Let me see if there's someone else that could fill this slot. You know? So I think it just, it's hard to be like, yeah, this is where we always need to push through. I do think that when you ask people questions, it at least gives them a moment to, you know, for Jen to ask follow up questions to me, just saying, really not into really not looking to do this right now, like, not, not my season or whatever, and then for her to ask questions, I at least have to hopefully approach the Lord about it.
[00:22:12.01] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right.
[00:22:12.55] - Ashley Moore
You know, and I think that's where it's like, it's gonna press me to do some reflection and to at least, at least to go to the Lord about it. I think. I think if you're not even asking the Lord about it and taking the time to at least, you know, pray and to seek him, that's gonna be a problem. Yeah.
[00:22:34.10] - Jeff Sherrod
There's never a harm when someone's asking you to pray, right? And someone's like, well, I already said no. And they said you should pray about it. The gall. And I'm just like, I mean, yeah, I mean, just pray about it. Then I don't know what the issue is. It still have the same result. Yeah, yeah. Just, I don't know. I get what you're saying there. It's like we want to be people that feel like we want to treat people like adults, right? Like trusting everyone, trusting one another. And it's like love believes all things, right? You're too busy. Okay, I'm gonna believe that. But at the same time, maybe there's patterns that we do see, right. I think that that's the challenge, is that we want to be loving to one another, not just accommodating to people's weaknesses, where, you know, there's a reality. Jesus tells people who are sick to get up and walk. Probably not the most comfortable thing. Probably not the thing that people are like, oh, do you know that that person doesn't walk? You know, like, but it's still this thing where it's like, you know, the next thing you should do is get moving. Like, get going. That's part of healing. And I do think Ashley's right. It's a discerning task. But I hope that people would love me enough if we can at least say it that way. If I'm in a period of inaction and not thinking right, that someone's like, hey, you're coming off a little weird.
[00:23:49.11] - Ashley Moore
Yeah, absolutely.
[00:23:50.24] - Jeff Sherrod
Do you want to pray about that? I would feel real loved. As opposed to, oh, I'm not going to bother because I want to deal with it. That's not going to make me feel as loved. So I want to try to love someone the same way that I would want to be loved.
[00:24:00.49] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right. And ultimately, it's not as if, you know, I think the conversation is like, hey, I'm too busy. And then it's just like, well, we need productive people. You got to do it. It's really about people's heart and where their mindset is of, like, hey, like, if you're responding to, I think, either inquiries of service or, hey, just fellowship or moments that are, I think, natural for us as believers, where it's like, we should be plugged in as, like, servants, as people fellowshiping, encouraging others. If we're kind of, like, bristling at that as out of a self preservation of, like, I don't have time. I'm overworked. I have too much stress. It's like, I think, even again, this isn't just to get someone to commit to roles, because we have to fill every spot. It's like when people are in that spot, responding that way, it's like, hey, how do we know them? And then how do we communicate them where they can hear us and saying, like, hey, like, you know, I. Can I pray for you? Or, like, hey, I want to. Can I get you dinner? It feels like you're just really overwhelmed. I want to make sure that you can, like, you know, respond in faith or that you're, like, really can feel the Lord's relief in your life. Like, what are ways that we know one another and, like, can actually, like, serve and make sure it's just communicating? Because the worst thing is, like, can you do it? No. Did you pray about it? No. You know, it's like you're kind of. You feel like you're, like, pestering someone or something. It's like, we don't want to do that. And I think, at the same time, not let people kind of off easy where it's like, hey, I said I'm busy, and it's like, yeah, I'm just discerning. Or it's just like, it. It seems like you're really responding in a way that isn't, I think, giving the spirit of the Lord a chance to really sit where it's like, hey, it's very easy to. At least I don't respond quickly. It's easy for some people to respond quickly and be like, no, I know my schedule. I can't. I'm just not that organized. But I think it's probably a helpful practice for all of us, whatever the activity or whatever the interaction is, just to give it a moment to say, like, hey, is this, like, you know, like, where does God have me in this?
[00:25:59.08] - Ashley Moore
I think sometimes I think this is just a societal issue, maybe with millennial generation, I don't know. But I think you can come after.
[00:26:07.35] - Mitchell Buchanan
Gen Z if you want. We know.
[00:26:08.79] - Ashley Moore
No, it's okay. They're doing great. No, I think there's. There's been a. There's a reluctance now. I think we're moving more to just an individualistic society, to certain degrees, where we've, you know, it's. I see it expressed in different venues. Maybe social media be the one. But, like, where it's like, people don't feel the freedom to ask for favors anymore, because it's like, everything needs to be monetized. Everything needs to be, you know, a transactional experience. And so it's like, man, like, I don't want to get to that point. I want to. I want to, you know, I don't want to get to the point where it's like, I've got so many boundaries that I can't have. Like, even the Lord can't get through them. It's like, I have so many, like, personal things of, like, well, you know, I'm setting up this for my sake, to feel safe, talk about it, you know, psycho pop pop psychology, which I can get behind in certain ways. You know, I. Setting up boundaries. But I think sometimes we do that so much where it's like, man, I'm just. I'm asking that. I'm asking to do this because it's a need and it's for your good and because Jesus asked me to. And his life demonstrates service, you know, and it demonstrates, you know, there he didn't get a lot of convenience things that, you know, handed to him. It's, like, didn't always work in his schedule, but he worked it in, you know, he made it happen. Like, things popped up, and he was ready to meet the need. I think it's. I think it's an offense. I think it's offensive to our generation, the way that Jesus lived. Yeah, I think, I mean, it should be. That's. That's the offense of the gospel. But, you know, to see it play out, like, I was happy. You're talking about productive people. Like, we just need productive people. Like, you know, absolutely not. Because I know that, like, I've been able to grow from that experience. Like, it was good for me to serve and serve in that, you know, role as resident director or whatnot. Like, it's been good for me.
[00:28:02.32] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right.
[00:28:03.79] - Ashley Moore
I think it's been good for the institute and all that, but it's been a joy to serve in that way, you know? But if I had just said, no, this isn't my season, without even in with. If I put up that boundary so strong that, like, no one was gonna break through, not even. Not even Jesus, and that was. That's gonna breed, you know, unhealth in my life.
[00:28:26.91] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah.
[00:28:27.30] - Ashley Moore
And, you know, has. I'm not just affecting me, it's affecting others, too, so.
[00:28:31.07] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah, for sure. And I think overall, being the type of people, I think you're saying that it's just an individual kind of approach or individual mindset that I think we're collectively having more and more and more. And I think as believers in our church community, it's like, not saying that we're subject. We're all subject to the Lord, and then to some degree, we're subject to, I think the Lord, like, the journey that we're all on together, where it's like, it's that. That one on that interaction you have with people, where it's like we are trusting each other, where it's like you're reflecting back to me. You know, it's like, either. You know, how you how I'm living if I'm, you know, doing something egregiously wrong or even just like, hey, I'm a friend to you. Like, are you okay? Are you cool? And it's like we. We are, like, subject to one another. And it's like, because we all are trying to pursue the Lord, all trying to grow in this maturation. It's like if you had, I think, just been the most individualistic, like, oh, I'm not subject to you, Jen. Like, hey, yeah, I don't want to talk about it. Like, find someone else. I already said my answer. You know, it's like, it, in moments of stress or anxiety is easy to get there, but it's like, it's those moments where, like, we are, like, you know, trying to image this, you know, produce this image of God together. You know, it's like, you see that in Genesis that it's not just one person exemplifying what it means to live for Christ. It's like our church community doing it together where it's like, hey, we can help each other and support each other and, like, kind of bring down our walls of, like, hey, I need to watch out for mine and protect my time. This is not my season. This is, you know, I know my season. It's like, hey, like, you know, the Lord is the only one who doesn't change. Like, we all vacillate, you know? It's like if we can all trust each other and I think work together of, like, hey, remind of, like, how God's led you. Remind of, like, what you're gifted in and how well you would do in this way. And it's like, I think working together towards, like, we can kind of erase those mindsets that are not biblical, you know, and mindsets that are ultimately just produced to protect us from being hurt. And it's like, I think, yeah, you said it really well. So just part me.
[00:30:41.28] - Ashley Moore
Any.
[00:30:41.69] - Mitchell Buchanan
Any other last thoughts or comments or.
[00:30:45.00] - Ashley Moore
I. Oh, I think the last, I guess my last point, and this might be a good thing to anon is just that, like, oh, Lord, you have. Sorry, oh, Lord, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you, is just the idea that God remembers us. As you seek the Lord, as you think, as you do things for the Lord, as you have him on your mind, he's. Wait. As you have him on your mind and are seeking him, you're on his mind, I guess, is what, like, and that was, I think, a really precious part of the verse for me. It's like God sees you. God remembers you. He keeps you like he's the keeper of Israel. And just, you know, psalm 121 talks about just a reminder that God's our keeper. He kept Israel to the point where he was so intent on watching them that he could sleep nor slumber. You know, it's just like that. I feel like that's just like, such a precious part of not being forgotten by God. Like, so as we seek him, like, you're remembered, like, if you're in a tough moment, like, come to. Come to the Lord, you know, seek him, keep. Keep striving to be in his will, you know? I think that's what we can strive for and to love others in the process.
[00:31:59.44] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah, no, that's great, Jonah. Jonah learned that when it's like, hey, if you're just, like, sitting it out, it's like God will find you. You know, it's like in, like, kind of get washed up in those moments where it's like, hey, like, you know, we all. We're all striving for the Lord, and it's like the Lord is so near, and it's like either you're going to get found in, like, this place of destruction and this place of, like, real hurt, and it's like the Lord will be there after that, you know? Or it's like, hey, you'll open yourself up and, like, when you start to feel anxieties or pressures or you start to feel those things, like, you feel you're alone, it's like. No, like the Lord in the most intimate ways. Like the Lord is the one who's most near to us. No, that's great. Perfect. I feel good.
[00:32:46.13] - Jeff Sherrod
Yeah?
[00:32:46.49] - Ashley Moore
Yeah.
[00:32:47.10] - Mitchell Buchanan
I did my mental checklist of, like, do we need to do anything else? But I think that's good.
[00:32:50.31] - Jeff Sherrod
Thank you.
[00:32:50.72] - Mitchell Buchanan
Thank you for joining. I'll go back to my animated hands after we got quiet.
[00:32:53.96] - Jeff Sherrod
Thank you, everybody.
[00:32:57.26] - Ashley Moore
So loud.
[00:32:57.97] - Mitchell Buchanan
I pulled the mic away. Chris appreciated it.
[00:33:00.04] - Ashley Moore
Sorry. For those of you wearing Airpods, I don't know.
[00:33:02.20] - Mitchell Buchanan
I did my duty. All right, I thank you for joining us at the Sermon podcast. As always, like, review, send a text to Chris Cameron thanking him because he does he so diligently. We appreciate it as, like, members of the church, but we need you to keep talking about what we talk about on Sundays. It's not a ploy or anything. Or even I love that this fills the gaps in accountability groups where we can always have, like, some content to work through. But I let the word be in our minds, on our tongues, where it's like we're encouraging each other, asking questions, just trying to seek more and more of how we can find God's word living out in our lives, because that's what's going to set us apart from everyone else in the world. So thanks for listening. We'll see you next time.
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