Sunday Words of Encouragement November 12, 2023 - Serving in Action.

I am attending church with my son and family while in Illinois. His pastor and wife just returned from a missions trip to Africa where one of the local ministers, even in a situation of having little, noted: “We are blessed and we need to bless others.” The pastor then prayed over many Samaritan boxes that had been gathered by the church and will be mailed to bless children around the world.

The message was presented by a female Veteran. She noted that female veterans may often be overlooked. She served 30 years ago and has had to mourn the deaths of coworkers over the years. She learned last year as she had a series of losses that, ever (or especially) when mourning people others don't know, we shouldn’t mourn on own. It is an unhealthy place to bear losses alone. We are better off acknowledging and being accountable for the pain.

Veterans started their time of service by saying goodbye to families and friends. Once established in their new surroundings, they made new families and friends. They fought for freedoms, some at home and some in the field. Some faced emotional warfare, while others faced physical warfare. Most veterans share an unspoken bond. The Veteran honors did not come for free but had to be earned. Veterans go through huge changes in their lifestyles. Each veteran should stand tall and be proud. And we should all give thanks for the service of veterans and families.

The message then incorporated the lessons that have been the focus for the past several weeks: the Language of Worship. First there was Prayer as worship; then Praise; then reading the Word;
Serving, and finally, Giving. This week’s focus is on Serving. Even the Son of man, Jesus, came not to be served, but to serve. Mark 10:45. Acknowledge God and serve.
We are to be living stones to build into a spiritual house. 1 Peter 2:5.
Use the gifts of the spirit to build up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:10-12.
All Worship is a form of communicating with God. Ministry happens when we worship.

Even Jesus served for the Glory of God. He said in John 5:30 “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”

Military service teaches taught the speaker these lessons:
1. Respect for authority which is non-negotiable. Withholding respect is a slight on your character, not the leaders.
2. Most leaders lead with a big picture. Each person in the assignment has to determine the details. They have to learn to “do the next right thing”. Commit to the vision of the mission. The worker’s attitude has to come into adjustment to meet the assignment. Learn God’s mind and will for the assignment.

We are to serve rather than seek high position or honor. Mark 10:35-45. Serve with humility, not seeking honor. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10.
Serving with humility brings us to the foot of cross, to the Spirit of Christ.

I think this song fits today: Spirit Lead Me.

A Verse for Today:
Mark 10:45 NIV
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Lord, help my attitude to seek Your Will for the every day assignments of my life.

Sunday Words of Encouragement March 5, 2023 - Grow Spiritually

Although it creates a longer post, I am including my notes from both Sunday School and Sermon. It happens quite often, without planning, that the messages share elements of teaching! I love seeing God at work in this way through two teachers who listen to the Spirit.

Our Sunday School teacher wrapped up his thoughts from the Asbury revival with a discussion of the new movie, Jesus Revolution. First, he noted the childhood abuse suffered by Lonnie Frisbee, his struggle with sin, and his short time as a homosexual that resulted in the consequence of death by Aids. According to the biographies, Lonnie did renew his relationship with God, as well as having a restored contact with Greg Laurie and Chuck Smith shortly before Lonnie’s death.

Then, our teacher discussed similarities between the youth of the 70s and the youth of today.
The Jesus Revolution was deemed to come from the disillusioned youth of the 70s searching for meaning. Like the 70s, the youth of today are facing much disillusion and isolation. There is a high incidence of suicide among the youth of today. One third of youth aged 18-25 are dealing with mental and emotional issues. There are 3700 suicide attempts daily for high schoolers.

As shown in the movie, Pastor Chuck chose to preach only with the Word, separating Lonnie and the gifts of the Spirit (what Chuck viewed as emotional involvement) from Chuck’s services.
Teaching the Word without gifts of the spirit is educational and leads to knowledge, but it denies the power of God given in the gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:28-31.
Paul warned Timothy to be careful of this in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
We are to be ever learning. God is a God of communication by Logos, the Word in text, and Rhema, the spoken Word. John 6:63.
How much of the Word is getting into you?
We each need a balance of the Word, Spirit, and prayer.

Our Service opened with worship that led to a call to allow God to test our hearts. We also had a testimony of a miracle healing for a child we prayed for early in the week.

Pastor’s message for giving this week was from Malachi 3 where the Lord asks, ‘will a man rob God?’ Verse 8. The Lord goes on to say, “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse” and he will give overflowing blessing and protect the giver from “the devourer...” Verses 10-11.

Pastor started a new series with today’s sermon he called: Becoming Like Stones. The scriptures are 1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV. He reminded us that we are all called to ‘make disciples’. Matthew 28:16-20. But every denomination and every preacher uses their own approach. They each “Season the meat by their own vision.”

Chapter 2 verse 1* opens with “Therefore…” or “So…” That means you need to look back to the concept of the previous verses. The verses 22-25 of Chapter 1 talk about the living and enduring word of God. Things of men change but the Word doesn't change. We can be excited by the Word and the gifts of the Spirit. (See the Sunday School message!)
*(Pastor reminded us that chapters and verses were set out by men for study as they were not part of the original texts/letters.)

Now return to Chapter 2 “in light of God’s word….”

• Rid yourself of Malice…. Put away; Take off the carnal nature. “So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:11-12. Cast off the works of darkness. There are things in our lives we need to get out of our lives. We all have sins (of commission or omission) that we need to confess. Then we need to repent; change our ways.
• Rid yourself of all Deceit… We need to be people of light not dark and deception. Deception is close to witchcraft. It is an attempt to manipulate the situation.
• Rid yourself of Hypocrisy... Too many people wear a mask instead of being real. We are not to pretend but to be authentic people. We all have issues. Our Image and identity have to line up.
• Rid yourself of Envy… Do not hold spite towards others. Rejoice with those who receive blessings. And acknowledge the blessings we each have from God and that “but for the Grace of God” our lives could have more trouble.
• Rid yourself of Slander… There is enough hateful and hurtful speech in the society without any coming from believers.

Believers need to allow God, through the Word and Spirit, to make us who He wants us to be.

I watched several song videos and liked this one to share today.

Verses for Today:
1 Peter 2:1-3 NIV
2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.


Lord, help me to draw into your Word and your Spirit. Make me who You want me to be.

Sunday Words of Encouragement June 28, 2020

We shared in praise and worship through our online service again this morning. Pastor’s message this morning focused on the graduates in the Class of 2020 and the question What Next?

This year’s graduates have come through two major interruptions in their high school experience: Hurricane Michael in 2018 and this spring the Coronavirus.
Graduation is one of the important milestones of live. It is also a stage when we look to ‘What comes next?”

This may be one of the times that we cry out “Jesus take the wheel”. Really, we should be letting him always control the wheel.
Proverbs 3:1-26 gives good wisdom for graduates and all of us on how to live. We are reminded to remember what we have been taught. And more importantly, seek His will in all you do.
Seeking His will is the struggle we all have throughout our lives.

This is a good time to ask: Do I believe God designed a life for me? Does He have a perfect plan for me?
Trust God, not you. Seek God's will.
The Psalms tell the ebb and flow of David’s life. Psalms 1 opens with more wisdom for graduates and all of us.

The Church is here to partner the graduate (and the congregant).
Keep growing
Grow in love of God
Grow in word.
Grow in fruit of Spirit.
Grow in generosity.
Grow in wisdom.

I found this song for today's message:
Spirit Lead Me!

Verses for Today:
Proverbs 3:1-6 (NIV)
Wisdom Bestows Well-Being
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

I should pray this prayer every day: Lord, thank you that You are always with me. Help me to seek Your will each day, in all things. Lead me please!