July 29, 2011 by Worship Director.

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. - Matthew 25:35

Jesus is very clear on our responsibility to care for the needs of others.  He fed the five thousand by faith, and His disciples by His own blood.  What we may miss in His example, however, is that by feeding the hungry we are ultimately nourishing ourselves.  We are all one body – when one is hurt, we all feel the pain.  When we share what we have, everyone benefits.

Nothing given in love is ever for nothing.

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July 26, 2011 by Worship Director.

Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good?  Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen and you will find life. - Isaiah 55:2-3

Are you filling up on “junk food?” Is your soul getting sugar-coated selfishness, deep-fried disillusionment or fat-laden fiction? That’s not the diet we were made to consume.  Our perfect engine was designed for a healthy appetite of super-charged scripture, power packed prayer, and fatigue fighting fellowship.   When we push back from God’s table, we feel full and satisfied – not sickly and malnourished from the world’s gluttony.

So, how hungry are you?  The table is set and a feast has been prepared – do you really want junk food instead?

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July 24, 2011 by Worship Director.

Jabez prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that You would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request. - 1 Chronicles 4:10

Jabez asked for what he wanted – so often we have not, because we ask not.

He asked for what he had to be enlarged – acknowledging what he had already been given and knowing that more responsibility comes with more territory.

He asked for God’s presence in his life and guidance in his affairs – it was not a request for blessings with immunity.

Jabez knew the formula for prosperity and God rewarded his prayer.  We don’t always make the right choices nor have the best motives behind our requests, but when we do – God is always faithful to bless.

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July 23, 2011 by Worship Director.

1 Kings 3:5-12

That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”

Solomon replied, “You showed faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.

“Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!

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July 21, 2011 by Worship Director.

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]. – Genesis 12:2, The Amplified Bible

Our God loves to bless us – and not just in small ways.  He knows what we need, what we want, and how much we can handle. He gives us all that we can appreciate and are willing to share.  His blessings are never the result of selfish indulgence, but as a conduit to bless others.  Our obedience frees Him do His best work in our lives - and not only ours, but so many others through us.

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July 18, 2011 by Worship Director.

“Look,” Naomi said to Ruth, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.” But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” - Ruth 1:15-16

Sometimes being in a family means sacrifice. It often requires putting someone else’s feelings and needs above our own.  God, the Father, demonstrated the extent He would go to make us part of His family through the sacrifice of His own Son. For us, it may be the sacrifice of time, or finances, or exercising Tough Love when it hurts our hearts.  We may be asked to extend the boundaries of our “family” to others who need the love that only a Christian family can provide.

Welcome to the family of God and all the rewards and responsibilities it brings.

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July 16, 2011 by Worship Director.

Joseph said, “…Hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him. - Genesis 45:13-15

There’s just something special about family. They see the best in us and know the worst of us.  We’re not like turtles that are born and left to make our way through the world alone.  God put us into a family, where the young are to be protected, where every member learns and grows together, where we can find comfort, laughter and love.  Not everyone lives up to God’s plan for the family, but He equips us with a generous supply of grace and forgiveness to help us through.

Taking time for family fun and making memories with those closest to us lays the foundation for a healthy, happy life now and for living as a member of God’s family forever.

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July 15, 2011 by Worship Director.

I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness.  I hear the ever-approaching thunder, which will destroy us too.  I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end and that peace and tranquility will return again.  In the meantime, I must uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time will come when I shall be able to carry them out.

- Ann Frank, July 15, 1944

Hope. When you feel afraid, depressed, or oppressed by the many big, far reaching things that are out of our control  - make room for hope.  Take courage from the words of a teenager, who lived in a time when it seemed the world went mad, and could yet believe in a better day to come.  Ann Frank may have been victimized by a political power and  misguided ideology, but from her writings, we can clearly see that she was never a victim.

When all is craziness around you, take control of the one thing which is always within your control - yourself and your response to whatever is happening.  Remember that you’re never alone.  There is a God that will stay beside you even in the very worst of times.

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July 12, 2011 by Worship Director.

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”  - Jonah 4:1-3

There are times that we can’t comprehend the extent of our God’s mercy.  We invoke our own limited understanding of forgiveness on an infinitely compassionate God.   Like Jonah, we certainly appreciate that quality for ourselves, but not always so much for others.

Pride can be a powerful obstacle to obedience, kindness, forgiveness and so much more that we need to know.  We learn humility, not by giving in, but by giving up the burden pride and its partners, place on our lives.

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July 10, 2011 by Worship Director.

The Lord gave this message to Jonah: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord…  - Jonah 1:1-3

Jonah got a message from God – and it didn’t come in a bottle – its intent was crystal clear.  However, Jonah had another itinerary in mind. He thought he’d just cruise some place God wouldn’t find him, or at the very least, put Him off until a more convenient time. Big mistake. First, there is no place that God won’t go looking for us and secondly, there is always a consequence to choosing our own map over His travel plans for us.

Jonah could have gone fishing, but ended up fish food instead.  Go with God or your final destination may be some where you really didn’t want to go!

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