Sunday Words of Encouragement September 22, 2019

We shared praises and prayers. Then we watched a video interview with Jonathan Cahn sharing how he came to be a Christian and sharing on his newest book release, The Oracle.

Church service was ushered in with praise and worship music. Then we celebrated a baptism of one of our youth. Hallelujah!

Pastor continued his sermon series, Culture Shift. He reminded us of last week’s message that God wants us to be an Acts 2:42 church. This is focused on relationships; loving one another.

This week he started with the question: How often is doubt part of your decision making or future plan? Positive thinking is more likely to see your plan succeed. Doubt defeats more athletes than lack of skill.

Some people are challenged to complete what they are told they can't do. We are meant to live with the opposite of doubt: Hope; the absence of doubt. The final shred of any possibility is hope.

In the Bible, Hebrew and Greek the word Hope (Bataj and elpis) had no doubt. It is sure and certain.

Jesus says: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.” John 6:47.
Believing in Jesus - Believing who He is, that He has the power to save. As soon as you believe, you have eternal life. This is Hope for a future. No doubt.

As one well known song says: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand

Once we believe in Christ, we should always be ready to explain our hope. 1 Peter 3:15.

The Point: the world grasps for hope as a last chance. The church offers Hope as a certainty and His name is Jesus.

This world needs to know Jesus. Our community needs Jesus. People need a life with no doubt, no fear. Hope is Jesus. The world needs us to bring the message of Hope for the desperate, depressed lost.

If you have this Hope; give this Hope.

I’ve had this video in my Song List for a long time.

I think it fits today. It's a longer video but I think it is worth listening to the end.

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,...

Lord I give thanks that You gave Your live for my salvation. Thank You for the Hope of eternal life!

Sunday Words January 6, 2013

Good Day--This is the Day the Lord Has Made!!
We had a lovely service this morning with missionaries visiting from Lybia. Their primary ministry is to children and they shared a beautiful message and example. They teach that our service is first to the Lord, then to minister God's Love to each other.

Each of us are here to minister to God first.  Think about children -- we don't think "Oh, I'll have a baby so that my child can do the house chores. And let's have another to do chores in the field." We give birth to children to have someone who needs us and will love us. We are blessed when our children want to spend time with us and miss them when they start to ignore us (like when they become teens). Aren't we like that with God? He created us to love Him and He misses us when we ignore Him to spend time with friends or games or work.

The minister showed us an example of three tennis balls in a tube which represent the Triune God. The tube represents our lives. If you remove the three balls (Father, Son and Spirit) and pour in a jar of sand, representing stuff in our lives (work, games, friends), then the three balls no longer fit.  If you pour out the sand and put the three balls back in - first read the Bible, pray and talk with God, have a devotional and meditate each day - then you can pour the sand in over the balls and it will fit. But only when God comes first.

We start a new year knowing that we have a Hope!

A Verse for Today
Mark 3:14 NIV
He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with Him and that he might send them out to preach. [Emphasis added.]

I pray Lord that you will help me seek you first each morning and at all times.

Sunday Words of Encouragement June 26, 2011

I am expecting to go to a church mini-group after service today so I have prepared this post ahead of time from notes of our Pastor’s sermon a few years ago. (Yes, I keep journals of the sermons so occasionally I can review them for inspiration and calming peace.)
A favorite encouraging Bible passage is  Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 God has a Master Plan for each life. He always knows what you are going through even when your life feels like a messed up puzzle.

1.     God may only give you one piece of the puzzle at a time.

2.     God sees the completed, whole picture when you cannot.

3.     God is assembling things according to His plan.

Sometimes pieces don’t seem to fit, sometimes pieces look alike,but remember, the completed puzzle is a work of art even when the back side is a lot of criss-crossed strings!

This is a favorite song acknowledging that we have a Hope and a Future.

A Verse for Today

Psalm 32:8

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
   I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

I will pray this Sunday for peace of mind for any who may be struggling; I will pray that you will see a Hope.