It ain't over till God say's it's over. So on with the mission!

Maurette Brown Clark's gospel hit single "It Ain't Over Till God Say's It's Over" filled my soul this morning as I read today's text from 1st Kings 19:1-18. Today we see the story of Elijah one of God's chosen prophets. At this time Elijah was the last man standing, Jezebel and others had killed all of God's good people. Then Elijah went and took out over 100 false prophets. Now he is wanted DEAD, by Jezebel with a bounty on his head and he is afraid, worried, ready to give up, give in, roll over and die.

Ever been there? Have you ever been in a place where you feel like you are the only one who is a believer? Have you ever been so frustrated, scared, tired, worn out where you said God just take me now, it's too hard? This is where Elijah was, he asked God to take his life before the world & his enemies do.

It seems that because of the severity of the circumstances that Elijah was not thinking about all that God had brought him through, including defeating the prophets he just did. I see myself in Elijah as I also have given in to bad situations in my life. Sometimes I choose to focus on the tragedy and not all God has brought me through.

During times like Elijah and us should hear the words of Mrs. Clark saying it ain't over till God say it's over! God spoke to Elijah and fed him twice preparing him for the journey ahead! God gives us the same spiritual food Sunday after Sunday preparing us for our journey. The God spoke to Elijah saying why are you here, there is still a mission? God tells the prophet go to a place of worship and let's talk. God invites us to places of worship where we can experience God. God comes not in the fire, or earthquake, but in the silence and speaks to Elijah telling him that it's not over. God tells the prophet to go there is still a mission to do.

Family God still speaks to us also, we still have a mission to do. God who has brought us thus far on the way will not leave us. I ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO WEEKLY choose a MISSION DAY. Take one day to give in MISSION to God. Sunday does not count because that's a day of worship. MISSION is a day of service, witness, testimony, and building the kingdom. It ain't over- So on with the MISSION!!!

1 Kings 19:1-18 (NRSV)

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.

Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."

He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."

Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."

Dear God, please enable us to endure the trials of life understanding that you cover and keep us. Plant within us a special seed of mission and drive to continue your work unto completion. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!