What? Two sermons in one week? What’s up with that?
The Lord gave me two. That’s all I got.
Home Alone is a movie about a boy named Kevin who wishes that his family would just disappear. And this time his wish comes true as he is accidentally left home as his family travels to France for Christmas. At first, he is elated at the fact that his family isn’t around to as he views it, make his life miserable. However, the euphoria doesn’t last long as he soon finds himself not only battling two of the dumbest crooks ever, but finding himself very lonely, missing the family he thought he wanted to disappear.
So, you wished for a break from the hustle and bustle. Now you have it. And now you don’t appreciate it as much as you thought you would.
If you are feeling isolated and alone think about this. During the Apollo lunar landing missions, the Command Module Pilot was alone in the capsule and at times, something like 3.600 km from the other two astronauts. No one has ever been so far away from any other humans. Being on the back side of the moon, away from Earth and the other astronauts on the moon. That would be isolating. The pilot would be unable to communicate with Earth or the other two. BUT they had so much to do that they never felt lonely.
So, let’s get busy. (Answers below.)
If I am holding a bee, what do I have in my eye?
1 UTILIZE YOUR TIME WISELY I TIMOTHY 4:12-13 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
Paul stayed busy. No sitting on the coach moping No feeling sorry for himself.
Answer: Beauty, because “beauty is in the eye of the beeholder.”
If you have me, you want to share me. But if you share me, you don’t have me. What am I?
- MINIMIZE THE HURT I TIMOTHY 4:16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
Do not exaggerate the pain. Do not rehearse it over and over. Some people make it their ever present theme.
Answer: A secret
I am heavy and hard to pick up, but backwards I am not. What am I?
- RECOGNIZE GODS PRESENCE I TIMOTHY 4:17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
Hebrews 13:5 “I will not leave you nor forsake you”
Psalms 139: 7-8 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Answer: A ton
You’re in a dark room with a candle, a wood stove, and a gas lamp. You only have one match, so what do you light first?
- EMPATHIZE WITH OTHER PEOPLES NEEDS I TIMOTHY 4:17 …so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.
Start thinking of other people.
Answer: The match
A woman stands on one side of a river, her dog on the other. There is no bridge. The woman calls her dog, who immediately crosses the river without getting wet. How did the dog do it?
Psalm 63. You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips, my mouth will praise you.
David was in the wilderness of Judah with no physical comfort, but also no emotional or spiritual comfort—except from God. David says, “I will eagerly seek You.” The Hebrew word is “at the dawn”. The idea is that you put God as first priority. There are many ways for us to have a sense of security and satisfaction in this age, but none more important than that which we get through a relationship with God that has primary importance.
Answer: The river was frozen
What is unusual about the following words: revive, banana, grammar, voodoo, assess, potato, dresser, uneven?
Psalm 63 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
So, we see that David is on his bed and it’s night, often the time when our troubles come to mind without our ability to control them, the so-called “night brain.” David instead “thinks” and “meditates” on the Lord.
Answer: If you take the first letter of each word and place it at the end, it’ll spell the same word backwards.
What makes this number unique: 8,549,176,320?
Loneliness is a subjective experience; if a person thinks they are lonely, then they are lonely. Solitude can have positive effects on individuals. One study found that it helped to improve concentration. (You should be doing better on these riddles!)
Answer: It contains each number, zero through nine, in alphabetical order.
What can be seen once in a minute, twice in a moment, and never in a thousand years?
Loneliness can also play an important role in the creative process. In some people, temporary or prolonged loneliness can lead to notable artistic and creative expression. (It’s time to get that book written or those memoires.)
Answer: The letter “m”.
Heavenly Father, we come before you to humbly ask that you comfort us in our moments of loneliness. Be our shelter in the midst of the storm. Walk beside us every step of the way. Amen.