HOW LIFE FEELSThe Lenten Journey | Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles | 2016

Ever found yourself in a really dark place?

Looking for Light in the DarknessPsalm 23 & Psalm 38

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;

for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

“I believe that You’re with me, Lord. So no matter how dark this gets, no matter how hard it gets, I will not be afraid of this!” The Lord is

my shepherd.

But there are other dark times where we don’t easily sense the Shepherd’s presence, where we really struggle not to be

afraid

Psalm 389 Lord, all my desire is before You, and my sighing is not hidden from You. 10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me.

Psalm 3813 But I, like a deaf man, did not hear; and like a dumb man, did not open my mouth. 14 Thus I was as a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

Psalm 3815 For in You, O Lord, do I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, “Lest otherwise they should rejoice over me. When my foot slips, they magnify themselves against me.”

Psalm 3821 Do not abandon me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me.

22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.

The Original Plan (since 2014)

EBCLA

RETIRE from

Pastoring 6/16 or 6/17FULLER

AAI+FULLER

AAI

EBCLA

RETIRE from

Pastoring June 2016FULLER

AAI+FULLER

AAI

The Blown Up Plan (28 January 2016)

Looking for the Light in the

Darkness๏ Lots of Questions Without Answers ๏ Lots of Competing Voices ๏ Uncertain and Disillusioned ๏ Where are you, Lord? Save me!

The New and Approved Plan (as of 12 Feb ‘16)

EBCLA

RETIRE from

Pastoring June 2017FULLER

AAI+FULLER

Teach

RESIGN as Exec Dir

of AAI June 2016 EBCLA

Full-time Final Year

We are never truly alone in the dark.

Trust the Lord.

Look for the light.

Reach for the

rope.