May 19, 2012 by Worship Director.

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. - 2 Timothy 4:6-7

The Apostle Paul was fully committed to the path he had chosen – following Christ and building the Kingdom of God.  Just like an Olympic athlete, success means daily devotion to reaching a long-term goal.  It takes study, concentration, repetition and sacrifice.

Being a “Christ follower” is a marathon, not a sprint.  Choices must be made to use resources that benefit the future instead of the present.  Talents are carefully molded into skills and precious time is allocated to those activities which are focused on the mission, not the moment.  Jesus, Himself, is the greatest example of total commitment, making the ultimate sacrifice to achieve an eternal aim.  We may be a tourist to a religion, but must immerse ourselves completely in a relationship with Christ.

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May 17, 2012 by Worship Director.

And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. - Luke 11:9

Persistence and patience; neither are characteristics that come naturally to most human beings.  We want what we want.  We want it now and we want it our way.  When we don’t get what we want, we think our prayers are unanswered. We can’t imagine that the answer may be “no.” When we pray, God always gives to us in our best interest.   He will provide, though it may not be exactly in the way we thought He should or on our time schedule.

We are told to keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on believing and God will respond.

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May 15, 2012 by Worship Director.

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As He finished, one of His disciples came to Him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray…” -Luke 11:1

Prayer.  If it is so easy, why doesn’t everyone do it? While at its core, praying may be just “talking to God,” but like every relationship – it takes work to communicate effectively.  It requires the dedication of time and the commitment of will.  It is an extension of our compassion for others and our concern for the world who doesn’t know Him.  While prayer brings peace like a warm glow, it also attracts power like a lightning rod. When we pray, we connect and recharge.

Teach us to pray, Lord, so that we can connect more fully to You!

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May 14, 2012 by Worship Director.

“Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the LORD.  I asked the LORD to give me this boy, and he has granted my request.  Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life.” - 1 Samuel 1:26-28

Hannah gave her long-awaited, only child to the Lord - not figuratively, but literally.  It must have been a day of intense emotion when she took her little boy to the temple and then walked away without him in her arms.  Her sacrifice gave the world one of the greatest prophets of Biblical history, Samuel. Her selfless gift to God was blessed and so was she, as the Lord then gave her five more children.

No act of sincere sacrifice to God - great or small - goes unrewarded.  We praise our God for mothers, who teach us the meaning of sacrifice and unconditional love.

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May 13, 2012 by Worship Director.

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…When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more. - Ruth 1:16 & 18

Naomi must have been a remarkable mother-in-law.  She must have raised wonderful boys that became loving husbands to gentile young women.  In the ten years Naomi spent with her daughters-in-law, their home must have been filled with loving inclusiveness, comfort in grief, and living her faith. We don’t know the family Ruth came from, but we know the mother she chose when the going got rough.  A mother is more than one that gives birth - she is one that often gives all that she has, more than she should, notices needs and is clothed in compassion. God created women with a special balance of soft and strong, wit and wisdom, patience and practicality.

God bless the mothers in our lives and moms everywhere!

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May 11, 2012 by Worship Director.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. -Romans 12:2

Change is good, but change is hard. It takes time, effort, dedication and practice, which is why so often,  it just doesn’t happen. Our value of the change may be the true culprit of failure, as adopting behaviors according to external fashions or shifting trends simply doesn’t “stick” to the soul.  Real transformation  only comes from the inside, adjusting the way we think, feel and practice new behaviors because we know it will make our lives better.

It’s never too late to make a change. God’s plan for us is always better, so step out on a new journey today.

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May 9, 2012 by Worship Director.

“The Lord needs it.” -Luke 19:35

“The Lord needs it.” That is all Jesus had to say for His disciples to act on His command, for strangers to hand over a valuable asset, to set the incredible plan into motion.  That is unmistakable power, unchallenged authority, not enthroned by fear or threat, but by love and sacrifice – simple worthiness.  He needs us to serve His Church as He has served us.  He is worthy of our submission.

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May 7, 2012 by Worship Director.

“Go into that village over there,” Jesus told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.  If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” -Luke 19:30-31

This was really it - the last leg of Jesus’ journey to the cross began here, on the back of a donkey.  He didn’t make the journey on a proud stallion or royal carriage, just a young and humble working animal much like the one it would carry. The little donkey may have been equally uncomfortable with the noisy, overwhelming entry into Jerusalem as was Jesus, who knew it was just a fleeting moment in the long days to come.  The life of this beast would not be an easy one, neither would the remaining days of the Messiah, yet they both went on, embracing their duty, bearing their burdens, and fulfilling God’s plan for each them.

Regardless of how small we may feel, how insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe, God cares for each of us individually as demonstrated by the Easter experience.  Shout “Hosanna to the King” today and prepare to walk with Him through the rest of His journey through the cross.

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May 5, 2012 by Worship Director.

…“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. -Matthew 28:5-6

Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we never have to be afraid again.  Every day we can wake up and say “Fear not!” Nothing the world throws in our way can hurt us, because it could not defeat our Savior.  Remember, when the day looks darkest, the Son is just behind the clouds waiting to break through.

If we look for Him, we’ll find Him.  When we invite Him in, He’ll make our hearts His home.  By His resurrection, we have new life.  Celebrate!

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May 3, 2012 by Worship Director.

For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

For God so loved, He gave everything.  What are we willing to give in the name of love?  We generally are generous to our families and sometimes to our friends. We may even support a local charity or give a dollar to the man we pass each morning on the corner with his sign.  We may give out of guilt or obligation, but God wants us to give out of love - out of a heart of gratitude and joy.

It is not just gifts from our treasuries that are important, but the use of our time, the gift of our praise and intercession for others that our God values.  Jesus spent time with His friends.  He made time to talk with strangers to teach truths to the crowds, to sit with children, to speak with His Father and search His soul.

On this National Day of Prayer, we are reminded to set aside some of our valuable time to talk with God. To praise Him,  to thank Him, acknowledge our sins, and pray for ourselves and the needs of others.  We can especially pray for our country, our leaders, and our military men, women and their families, that God would guide, direct and protect.

We have received from His compassion - may we give all we have in the same spirit.

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