Sunday Words of Encouragement March 19, 2023 - Unloading Docks.

Sunday School our teacher shared this video from Louie Giglio about Fruit Cake and Ashley, regarding the importance of sharing faith through love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sCvmaEUxFU

Our service was sparser than usual as many are out for spring break and the pastor’s family (a large group) were out after a very lovely wedding service for his eldest daughter yesterday. We had a guest evangelist who is a minister sharing the Holy Spirit.

He reminded us how Paul encouraged Timothy to be an evangelist. 2 Timothy 1:11-12; 2 Timothy 4:4-6.  When we are in the presence of Almighty God, we won't be able to stand under own power.
The Minister’s message was titled: The Unloading Docks based on Acts 21:1-3.
Paul had an assignment, and we still have that assignment today.

We are here for a reason and purpose. Our assignments get hindered by distractions because we live in a fallen world. But we have been called from darkness to light. 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

We are to walk by faith, and by the Holy Spirit. It is a journey of faith and not everyone goes along with you. The people Paul had been ministering to did not want to see him go. Acts 20: 36-38. Paul had to wrestle away from his friends in order to follow God. Obedience is better than sacrifice. There are times when we have to tear loose from hindrance in order to move forward with our assignment.

We have to recognize that it is not enough to just get to heaven. It is not appropriate to just sit around when there is work to be done. We are to take someone with us to heaven!
Many can come up with excuses not to go to church: my back hurts, I have a headache, the kids want to go to the beach, it’s my only day to relax, etc.
The longer we stay put, the harder it may be to move. We need to be ready to push past the junk in our life to fulfill the assignment God has for each of us.
Too often we start and stop, start and stop. We decide to coast, we claim to be weary. Do not just sit. Get up and move. Follow God. Be steadfast to keep going. Move out in faith onto the open water.

Paul’s ship was ready to unload. We need to unload our burdens on God. Cast your cares on God.
Pour it all out. Coming to Christ is a place of repair. Whatever is needed there is a repair. Syria (where Paul’s ship went) means rock or stone. Don't carry too much, unload it. Isaiah 40:29-31.
When there are rivets to be repaired on the ship, you take it to the dock for repair. God will keep the ship afloat especially when you go to him for restoration. Lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus.

Don't let distractions remove you from your path to Jesus. And share with others to give them the opportunity to come to Christ. One thief next to Jesus on the cross accepted the offer of heaven, the other did not.
Don't look back. Release the old wine skin.
We do not know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow.
Unload your burdens on the one who carries you. Allow God to do his work while responding to do your assignment.

Verses for Today:
Acts 21:1-3 NIV
21 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo.


Lord, I thank you that I can unload my burdens on you, that you restore my strength, and that the Holy Spirit is available to direct me in the assignment you give me.

Sunday Words of Encouragement Februrary 28, 2021

We had another good church service which my husband and I attended online. Pastor continued his Crash and Burn message series this morning. He asked: Where is your citizenship? Too often we struggle to have dual citizenship. We need to remember we are citizens of Heaven living in a messed-up world where we are messengers to deliver God’s message.

Conditions of our world are becoming more unfavorable for Christ followers. We can remember that the world hated Jesus first. We consider ourselves blessed to live in America. But America is not truly a Christian nation anymore. America was founded on Christian principles, but sin has always been around. We have been like the frog in the pot – dropped in when the water was cold but now it is getting hot.

We may feel like we are facing giants in today’s society. We serve a God who has a reputation for facing and defeating giants. Numbers 13:25-31 tells the story of the group of scouts who went to explore the land God was promising to give the Israelites. Most of the men who returned spread a bad report. (Spreading misinformation is happening all around us today.) Instead of following God, they wanted to go back to Egypt.

Only Caleb and Joshua said: “…the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid…” Numbers 14:8-9. Instead of going, the Israelites waited and got stuck in the wilderness for 40 years. Numbers 14:20-35.

The Church needs to remember why we are here. When Jesus sent His disciples out to spread His message, He said “Go…” He didn’t say anything about surviving or coming back. We trust because He says: “I will be with you!” Five powerful words: The Lord is with us!

The gates of hell can not withstand the attacks of God. Who is on the offense? We need to stop being on the defensive and go on the offense. We need to lead revival- not for the exiting believers but for non-Believers. What will the cost be if the Church doesn’t engage our world head on?

We need to be out I the messed up, fear-stricken world taking the message of the Good News to the people.

The Point: Our messed up, fear-stricken world is starving for the truth and peace of the Gospel and we are the messengers.

Believers aren’t going to a party. We are going into battle. Put on the full armor and go to the battle! Ephesians 6:11-18.

The message can’t be contained, it needs to be delivered.
How do we do this?

• Purposefully form relationships with non-believers.
• Ignore the mess of the messed-up world or messed-up person. Cleaning them up is not our job. (The messier they are the more they need Jesus.) Show compassion. The Holy Spirit will sort them out if they surrender to Him.
• Stick to the message of Jesus. He wasn’t political. Lives are changed only by the truth and light of Christ.

Get ourselves in alignment with Jesus so we can share His message.

I went through an hour’s worth of songs (always an inspiring time) and came to this song for today:  Mighty to Save!

Verses for Today:

Numbers 14:6-9
6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Lord, Thank You for being with me. Help me to be a faithful messenger sharing Your Good News!

Sunday Words of Encouragement September 25, 2016

We had a good Sunday morning. Out substitute Sunday school teacher discussed some end time matters. I have some good notes to share on this another day.


Our Pastor concluded his BE series with: BE the Church!
Games sometimes lose the original “intention”, just like life. The cares of this world can be overwhelming. We have all these issues: health, finances, home and contents, vehicles, work, relationships with family, co-workers and friends are just the beginning. The church can get distracted from its mission too.

Do we understand ‘Who is the church’? Every Christ follower is the church. The church is not a place (building) where we go. It is who we are.

The Point: I am the church. My life’s mission and the church’s mission are not different; they are the same.

We should not have the attitude that we ‘deserve it your way, right away’. Paul explained in Philippians 2:1-11 that Christ gave up His divinity and humbled Himself to suffer the lowest death of a criminal. Jesus didn’t live to rule the world; He lived and died to save the world. He told His followers to go out and build the church. Matthew 28:19.

'Winning' in church sometimes becomes distorted. It is not an issue of “how large is your church”. The goal is to change the population between heaven and hell. We are to bring freedom to the lost; to bring them to the level ground at the foot of the cross.

Pastor exhorted us to remember and pursue the Assemblies of God mission statement:
1. Evangelize the world
2. Worship God
3. Disciple believers (train and build the body)
4. Show compassion (God’s love)

This is a praise song we sang this morning and it fits.

A Verse for Today:
Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Lord, I pray, please help me to stay on track with the right mission; Your mission.