August 26, 2011 by Worship Director.

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. -Acts 8:35-38

Baptism is a symbol of new life in Christ; an expression of submission to God’s will and a sign of rebirth into the Christian family. The water itself, however, has no special power, no mystical quality to save.  It does clean the body, but it can’t purify the soul.

Water can be powerful enough to move mountains from their foundations and carve canyons out of rock, but it is only the Spirit of God that directs the rain and pulls the tide to the shore. Floods can be dangerous, but not as perilous as living without the cleansing flow of God’s saving grace.

We submit ourselves to the water – with courage and fear – to rise refreshed, renewed and ready for any rapids of life that may come. Have you taken the plunge?

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August 24, 2011 by Worship Director.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir, “the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again…  - John 4:13-15

We are made of mostly water. It flows in us and through us, and we need it desperately to live; so much like the Holy Spirit. The water in our cells doesn’t control us, but directly impacts our quality of life. Water sustains us, but only as long as we keep drinking it in.  The Holy Spirit, however, keeps us hydrated and dripping in blessings once immersed in its midst.  To be satisfied, content, in need of nothing – a fresh, bubbling spring of continuous supply – is God’s promise to us.  If we only ask and let it rain down on us.

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August 20, 2011 by Worship Director.

In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday. -Esther 8:17

God’s people are meant to celebrate.  Throughout the Bible, we are encouraged to remember, to commemorate, and celebrate the glory of our God.  Too often, we are tied to the calendar, only taking time to remember all the wonderful, magnificent, amazing things He has done just one day of each year.  We should celebrate His miraculous gifts to us every day - sending His Son to walk with us, sacrificing His only child for our salvation, showing us the meaning of love and inspiring gratitude for His abundance.

Every day is a “holy day” when we make time for a special remembrance of God’s gifts in our hearts, through our songs, and by our fellowship together.

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August 18, 2011 by Worship Director.

The Austin Samaritans, our partners in ministry, have an announcement to share!

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August 17, 2011 by Worship Director.

For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, “The stone that you builders rejected, has now become the cornerstone.” - Acts 4:11

Hind-sight is 20/20.  “IF” is in the middle of “LIFE.” If only we had done this, or said that, what may have been the outcome? We make mistakes, we make wrong choices. But this scripture inspires us to believe that God can still make it right.

Just as Jesus was rejected, underestimated, battered and brutalized yet rose to be the most influential individual of all time – with the power of God, we can surely pick ourselves up, brush off the disappointments, and choose a new path toward a better tomorrow.

Laid off from a job? Lost investment value in the stock market? God’s will for us can still win out when we take the “IF” out of “LIFE” and get an IV infusion of His Spirit so that we can fully “LIVE” by faith.

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August 15, 2011 by Worship Director.

In the same way, He will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. - 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

Generosity abounds with our God. He gives to us as a gift and as an example of how we can give to others.  In order that we can experience the joy of blessing others, God wants to bless us abundantly – if we only let Him.

“Give and you will receive.” It is a simple premise, but so hard to grasp.  Picture this – we have no room to receive if our plate is already full.  The emptier we are, the more we can be filled – the more gratitude we can show.  Living a life of gratitude is a life that glorifies God.

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August 14, 2011 by Worship Director.

Romans 10:5-15

For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven’ (to bring Christ down to earth).  And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead’ (to bring Christ back to life again).”  In fact, it says,

“The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.”

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.  As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

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August 13, 2011 by Worship Director.

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. -Acts 4:13

This is where the Christian Church began - a few ordinary men and women who stood out from the crowd.  They had no special education or social status, just a small group that surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ and a mission of sacrifice and service in His name.  Their message of love and joy, born from a personal relationship with God, spread by the power of His Spirit.

Scared, flawed, anonymous people became bold, unfettered, infamous proclaimers of the Word that would save the world. They claimed victory in the face of insurmountable odds and we are the beneficiaries of their faith.

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August 11, 2011 by Worship Director.

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will bless you for it. -1 Peter 3:9

“Pay back” some call it “an eye for an eye.”  That was Old Testament law, but Jesus was known to turn things upside-down.  Really – what good can come from two people stumbling in blindness?  Pay back leaves no room for healing.  No chance of bringing that person back into the team, working together, moving ahead together.  God has called us to bless others - regardless of what they do to us – because it’s going to take all of us to reach His goals.

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August 9, 2011 by Worship Director.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. - Psalm 119:105

Sun scorched days were quite common in sizzling Texas.  Welcoming a cooler night, Amy Sanders headed home from work. Uncomfortable darkness seemed to be waiting to grasp Amy in every tree and bush.  Something seemed amiss and for the first time she sensed danger lurking within close proximity. Passing her nonsense off to watching too many scary movies, she scrambled for her keys. Unable to shake off her fear, she wished she could walk straight through her door to the safe comfort of her home. Remembering she had a battery operated light in her purse, the bright light calmed her fears as she entered her cozy home.

Heaven’s welcome mat is far away and many will have to trudge through life for some time before they reach it. Human nature makes us fear our future, provisions, death and the list goes on. Learning to trust God is certainly not embedded into our daily walk.

One of the benefits of being a child of God is much like having a light in the dark. His word provides the nourishment to our souls in our time of needs. When you spend time focusing solely on Him, fears, past hurts, anger and sorrow all dissipate leaving room for joy. This action is not by our power but by our willingness to seek God and let Him harvest comfort in our lives.

 by Ann Reilley

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