March 19, 2012

Opening Hymn:
I will Rejoice (Red 27)

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 31:31-34

Message:
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). Doesn’t it just give you chills to read it? For anyone with low self-esteem, these verses can provide comfort. For anyone who thinks they are worthless or unforgivable… these verses offer a different point of view.

Each covenant that the Lord has presented to His creation has been a wonderful blessing. It seems as though it just gets better and better. In this covenant we are called “My people” by God. What a beautiful blessing to be offered such a relationship. Our challenge then, as I have said before, is to accept it and to acknowledge it. It is sometimes difficult to accept forgiveness and love… sometimes it is even harder to love ourselves than it is to show love to others.

Nevertheless, through faith in God who loves us, we can trust that we are creatures worthy of love. We then can likewise show love to ourselves and those around us. We can show forgiveness to ourselves and others. We have been welcomed in to the greatest community of them all. Through this covenant we are called children of God.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, we are grateful that You have called us Your children. Thanks for the blessings and the love that You have shown us. Let us share that love with each other as we live out each day. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
May Your Kingdom Come (Red 34)

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

March 17, 2012

Opening Hymn:
Holy Ground (Red 147)

Scripture Reading:
John 3: 14-21

Message:
To me this scripture touches on quite of few passages in the Old Testament. Jesus, of course, is referencing the scripture that we had just read about in Numbers, where the Israelites are complaining to God about the food that He has provided them with. However, when He says “people loved darkness more than light because their deeds were evil” it reminds me of one of the first stories in the Old Testament. All the way back to Adam and Eve. The world was created, the plants creatures and man was created. Man sins… what is their first reaction? To hide.

It was true then and it is still true today. When we sin our gut reaction is to hide from God (the light) rather than going to God for forgiveness. Hopefully we eventually crawl out from behind the bush and admit our wrong doings… but rarely is our first reaction to seek forgiveness. Our solution? Love the light. Love God with all our hearts. Spend time with God, learn about Him and His love. When we know Him, and spend time with Him, not only will we be more like Him…. We will also like our darkens (the places we hide) less. How can we both love good and evil? God is waiting for us to come out from behind the bush, so that he can banish us from the garden of Eden… just kidding… so that He can love and forgive us. Jesus paid the price for our sins. We should no longer fear the light.  

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for Your forgiving love. Guide and strengthen each of us now so that we may know and love You with all our hearts. Lead us out of the darkness that has consumed us. Lead us into Your love and light. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
Great Is the Lord (Red 11)

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

March 16, 2012

Opening Hymn:
Most Holy One (Red 12)

Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 2:1-10

Message:
Grace is an amazing thing! The kind of grace we find in God we cannot find anywhere else. His patience lasts forever. When I was a student I know that I wished that some of my teachers were more like that. But if they let that happen, everybody would be turning assignments in late and no one would be holding themselves accountable for their own work. Some people wish land lords would be more lenient like that, but then they could become in debt thousands of dollars. Still some wish for lovers who are like that… who will forgive them their every sin… while many can and do forgive every sin, expecting someone to forgive like God is impossible and will lead to an off balance, and a potentially abusive situation. This world itself punishes us for our sins. While it is less forgiving than God, it can also be a way for us to learn and grow.

Our world, though created like God, does not love like God loves. In its non-forgiving nature we can learn lessons. We can learn to be responsible with our money and with our relationships. We can learn hardships as well. Some people may feel like outcasts who don’t fit the requirements of their own society. We might not be able to count on all our teachers to forgive a late assignment. We might not be able to count on all our friends to forgive us of our wrongs. However, we can count on God. I’m sure it hurts him to watch us do wrong, but how happy He is when we repent, and turn back to Him for forgiveness. Our health is not certain, our wealth is not certain, nor is the health or wealth of our loved ones. But God will love us through it all. Through sin, sickness, and health He is by our side no matter what. He is there, encouraging us to love like He has loved us. However impossible it might seem.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for the love that You have given to each of us. Many times this world can seem cruel and unforgiving. Remind us of Your love, remind us of Your forgiveness. Help us today to go out and show Your love to those in need. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
We Bow Down (Red 97)

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

March 15, 2012

Opening Hymns:

Oh How He Loves You and Me (Red 238)

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Red 227)

Scripture Reading:
John 3:14-21

Message:
None of us will ever be able to fully grasp the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. We are saved from condemnation. We are not condemned to an eternity separated from God. Nor will we ever experience the full punishment for our sins because Jesus paid the price. We aren’t experiencing the punishment as the Israelites did in the desert. At least not fully…

Whenever I sin I feel the separation from God. Not because God has gone from me, but because I have turned from God. It is an inner self punishment. The knowledge that I have done something that my Savior would not be happy with. This separation cannot compare with an eternity without God, but it does give me a glimpse of what we are being saved from. The day or hours of self-inflicted separation are some of the darkest moments in life. I cannot imagine an eternity with them throughout death.

Thankfully, we have been saved. We are loved by our God, and we need only call on His name and He will be with us. The only barriers that are there, we put up ourselves. Though we might not know it or feel it, during our darkest moments… God is still with us. There is no barrier that He cannot get through. He will forgive us even when we don’t forgive ourselves, and He will reach out to us, even when we don’t reach out to Him. He will always be here to tell us that He loves us. His greatest example of love was Jesus, our Savior.

Time of Prayer
 Dear Lord, forgive us when we sin. Guide us to Your loving arms when we feel so far away from You. Reach out to us when the barriers arise, and help us let the barriers fade away. Thank you for Your perfect gift of love. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
More Precious Than Silver (Red 237)

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

March 13, 2012

Opening Hymns:
He Is Exalted (Red 111)
Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22

Message:
This psalm perfectly goes with yesterday’s scripture reading. This psalm touches on the Israelites and their “rebellious ways” leading to their “affliction.” What is the psalmist’s response to the Israelites and to us? “Give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy” (Psalm 107:21-22).

This psalm shows us God’s mercy and forgiveness, and touches on our inadequacies. It challenges us to praise and worship, and to make sacrifices for God. Nowadays our sacrifices are a little bit different though. We would not go to our churches to sacrifice lambs or other animals. Instead, I feel we are called to sacrifice time and energy to serve God and others. We are also called to praise and worship God… our way of saying “thank you” for all that the Lord has done.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for all Your wonderful deeds. Thank you for guiding us through our times of struggle. Help us be a kind hand when others are in need now. Let each of us never forget to say “thank you” for all that You have done. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
Great is the Lord (Red 101)

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

March 12, 2012

Opening Hymn:
Meekness and Majesty (Red 214)

Scripture Reading:
Numbers 21:4-9

Message:
I am so glad that I am not one of the Israelites that was traveling with Moses to the promised land. I have had my doubts throughout my life. I doubt silly things like ‘can I make it through school?’ and ‘can I make it through this long shift.’ I’ve even questioned God’s call to me. I can all too well relate to the Israelites right now; however, it is a little bit frightening, since they are getting bit by venomous snakes. I can’t imagine wandering through the desert for forty years. I’m sure I would have my own doubts and concerns. But we should never doubt God in any situation. He has created the entirety of creation, and has created each and every one of us. He knows what He is doing.

Yet we still can doubt… but God will not abandon us even as we question Him. He didn’t abandon the Israelites even when they spoke against Him and his prophet. The Israelites were bitten by snakes, but they were able to realize that they had sinned. They repented, believed, and God healed. God had Moses create a snake. When the people looked up at the snake they were healed. In John 3:14 Jesus tells us “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” We are all saved from our sin. We only need to look to Jesus to be saved.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, You have saved us. You have forgiven us, and I am forever grateful. Thank You for letting me know when I sin, and for giving me the bible and a mind to judge what is good and what is bad. Forgive us when we do bad instead of good, and let us look to our Savior for forgiveness. Thank You, my Lord, for Jesus, my Savior. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
White as Snow (Red 190)

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God