Ep 44: Something Sweet on a Sour Day

Speaker1: Well. Good morning, I'm Daniel Dorp, and this is for your Sunday morning drive. The short podcast with the goal of providing your motivation, your drive on your way to worship and recentering your mind on spiritual things on those hectic Sunday mornings. We are brought to you in partnership with the Ministry League Network of podcasts. You can always find a link to their information in the show notes of every episode, and I do encourage you to check them out for some amazing spiritual resources and other great podcasts. We have recently launched a website on for your Sunday morning. Com we do offer several ways to listen to the podcast, as well as information on how to support the show, and you can share your thoughts and answers to our discussion questions every week right there on the website. I do really appreciate everyone that makes us a part of your weekly routine. If you would, please take some time after the show today and give us a rating and review. Let's get into the show. This is episode 44, something sweet on a sour day. Let's go to church.

Speaker2: Are we there yet?

Speaker1: A few weeks back, I preached a funeral, and I was honored to be able to be there for the family and their time of need. But it was, as all funerals are somewhat bittersweet. You know, you're there to celebrate the decedent's life, and the family is mourning their death. And it can be really hard. And I've got to admit, I was a little nervous. You know, you want to make sure you do a good job and you do things to the best degree possible so that the family is pleased and that you honor their relative. And as I was standing there in the lobby of the funeral home with another brother in Christ, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was an older man, one of the funeral home directors, and he looked at me and and handed me and my good brother each a little heath bar. And then he said something profound. He said, just a little something sweet on a sour day. Wow. How kind, how generous. Now, he did advise me that it would likely be in bad taste to consume it right before the service began, and to save it for after which I did barely. But the gesture and the words that he spoke have stuck with me. You know, it reminds me of me of another sour day in acts chapter nine. When Peter comes to Joppa, the disciples there are grieving terribly the loss of Tabitha, who in her own right did many good deeds for the believers there, and clearly made an impact on them. And Peter, through the power of God, provides some help in a time of trouble.

Speaker1: Acts chapter nine. Starting in verse 36. Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which translated in Greek is Dorcas. This woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did. And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died. And when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. And the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, do not delay in coming to us. So Peter arose and went with them. And when he arrived they brought him into the upper room, and all the widows stood beside him, weeping, and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. But Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes. And when she saw Peter, she sat up, and he gave her his hand and raised her up, and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. You see, Peter provided something sweet on a sour day. He returned, and encourager to the people that needed encouragement. Think of all the widows that were there mourning the loss of Tabitha. It's clear they were reminiscing about all the kindness she had shown them while she was still alive. The first time, and I think it's amazing that Peter gives this woman a second chance to double down on her kindness. Acts chapter nine says, she did these things, these acts of kindness and charity and good deeds, that she was abounding with them and that she did them continually. What an amazing legacy.

Speaker1: And to have that opportunity to do that twice. How awesome. Friends, how often do we see others having a sour day? And instead of acting, instead of doing something about it, we say, well, it's none of my business. It's best not to get involved. Someone else will help. Or maybe we say, I just don't have time to care about it. You see, Scripture says in Proverbs 327, one of my favorite passages, do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. You know, that verse really highlights how we should approach our charge as Christians to do good works. If we can do something to bring someone joy or alleviate suffering. Do it. And it's my prayer that this podcast can do that for you if you're having a sour day. I hope this little show can be something sweet and I hope it's encouraging to you. I hope you are reminded that God loves you, and because of that, he sent His Son to die for you. And friend, there is no truth sweeter than that. Well, those are my thoughts for your Sunday morning drive. Now it's time to hear yours. Our discussion questions for this week are. What act of kindness has been done to you when you really needed it? That still sticks with you. Are we too caught up in our own lives to notice where we can show kindness to others? Who do we know in our lives that has been going through a rough patch? And what can we do this week to show them the love of Jesus?