Sunday Words of Encouragement September 13, 2015

We had another awesome service today. Our Sunday School teacher talked about the signs of the end times, but more particularly, what is our response to them? I have set those notes aside for a Sunday message when we are away from town.

Pastor’s Sermon was titled: He's Still God!
He noted that the God we serve is still God.

He is Our Protector. He was with Daniel and the other Jews even when they were exiled to Babylon. He is still with us today no matter what we may go through. "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Lord." Psalm 91:1. When things get bad run to God. He covers us in times of distress. He is our refuge and fortress. Psalm 91:2. He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. Psalm 91:3. He is our ever present help in trouble...Psalm 46:1-3.

He is Our Provider. Most cities were built near rivers for a water source. But Jerusalem had no river. There was a spring above the city and King Hezekiah's built a huge water tunnel to supply water in the event of any siege. God provides a river of living water for His people. Psalm 46:4; John 4:14; John 7:38-39 and Jeremiah 17:13. Our source of provision is not through our own smarts, but from Him – especially if you recognize that any smarts you may have were a gift from Him in the first place.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19.

God is The Proven One.
He proved himself to the Israelites time and time again as He brought the people out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Exodus 33; Deuteronomy 8:2; 2 Chronicles 20:6; Psalm 25: 5-8 and Psalm 46:8-9, 10-11. "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13. We should be ready to do what He says when He directs and then trust Him as He is in control and holds the world in His hands.

Once again I started with one song but ended up with another.

You Never Let Go

A Verse for Today:
Psalm 25:5-6 NIV
5Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
6Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

I am so glad that I believe that God has proven His greatness and that He is still in control. I can trust Him to protect me, provide for me and never let me go.

Sunday Words of Encouragement November 17, 2013

[As always, my comments are based on Pastor’s sermon with a bit of interpretation and/or summarizing from me.] 

This morning’s sermon was entitled A Night in the Hardrock Motel and was centered on Jacob’s story in Genesis 28.  Jacob was in trouble for stealing his brother’s blessing. Jacob’s mother, Rebekah,  convinced his father, Isaac, to send Jacob away, back to her family, to seek a wife. Jacob was in distress, estranged from his brother and father, in turmoil, away from home, fearful and worrying about selecting a wife.  As Jacob approached a certain place outside of his destination the sun was setting.  “Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.” Genesis 28:11. The Lord appeared in Jacob’s dream; stood above him and made promises. Verse 12-14.

‘That place’ was a lonely, hard, rocky place... not a gentle, fertile valley.  When in a desert, dry place you can find vultures looming for death or hummingbirds looking for new life in the fresh flowers. One focused on what was the other looking to the present. Do you dwell on what was or take joy in what is?  Instead of accepting the hard place, let your rock be Jesus’ strength and peace. (1 Cor 10:4.)  Jesus brings calm, ‘Peace’, in trouble. Mark 4:37-38. 

When Jacob awoke he recognized the place as a place of God and he made a promise back that  ‘the Lord will be my God.’  We shouldn’t give up when we know God is on our side. Gen 28:13-17. Fear is a faith killer but Faith is a fear killer. Our purpose in life is not to “be comfortable” but to radiate God’s Love to glorify Him.

I set this song aside a few weeks ago but it fits today.
I trust and He is Faithful to give me peace and to never let go of me!

A Verse for Today:
Genesis 28:15 NIV)
15 “...I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Thank you Lord for being there to calm us through the hard places until we are walking smoothly with You by trusting You!