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Worship Ministry - October 2023

Firm Foundation
24“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”  (Matt 7:24-27)

It was a normal Monday; the kids went to school, Sarah and I went to work, everyone came home, and dinner was eaten. Then, in a matter of moments, seconds even, the whole day was flipped on its head. Everything I had planned for the rest of the day, changed and canceled instantly. Fear, panic, and confusion flooded in, but there wasn’t time to let it overwhelm me cause action was needed.

When you find yourself looking down at the floor at your eighteen-month-old daughter, who’s lying face down and unresponsive, fear sets in pretty quickly. Everything was normal, just getting ready for bath time. Kids were crying, but who doesn’t find themselves crying on a Monday? Just like that, Charlotte was passed out on the floor. Are there greater fears in a parent's life than something happening to their child? You love them with everything that you are, and everything that you have, and you want nothing but good for them.

But we aren’t in control.

She came to, crying a little bit, but not completely alert; we started toward the hospital. As we sat in the cold, bright, and uncomfortable ER room, it was easy for the worst outcomes to start creeping into my mind. What if there is something seriously wrong? What could I have done to prevent this? Easy to become frustrated, because you want answers but no one can give them to you fast enough. What are you supposed to do?

I found myself thinking about the love of God. These feelings, this worry I had for my daughter, this caring, pales in comparison to how much God cares for her…and cares for me. He sent His son to die because He loves her. He meticulously formed every part of her. He gave her that crazy, fun, and happy personality. So, how in a time of panic, worry, and uncertainty do we rely on God and His love over ourselves?

Through the promises, we find in His word. Building our lives on the firm foundation of God's truth. So that when “the rain falls (fell), the rivers rise (rose), and the winds blow (blew) and pound (ed)” in your life, your hope and faith will remain. Your faith will not be easily shaken but you will find yourself depending on God’s strength. We are not in control, but we trust in the one who is, and He will not let us down. For His glory and honor, we live and breathe, praising Him for His greatness.

I am praising Him today for providing and protecting Charlotte, who is healthy and living her best life. We each have a reason to praise Him! What’s yours?

Love you and mean it! 

Lyric of the Month
Christ is my firm foundation
The Rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaken
I've never been more glad

 Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Worship Ministry - September 2023

Testify 

“⁸ Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, ⁹who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, ¹⁰and which now has been manifested through the  appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹¹for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, ¹² which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. ¹³Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” 2 Timothy 1:8-14 

It is easy for us to stay quiet, going with the flow to not create any awkward situations or conflicts. We can live moral lives, being good people without ever really telling the world we belong to Jesus; never telling our neighbors our salvation story or inviting them to church so they can hear the truth of God’s redemption plan. We just let them assume we are Christians and hope that is good enough. 

Why? 

We all have a story to tell, a song to sing. God is good and has shown His blessings to each one of us in one way or another. God is loving and has helped us in our loneliest times of life. God is powerful and has shown His might when we needed to feel His presence. God is a provider and has shown up when we didn’t know where that next meal was coming from or how we were going to pay that bill. Without thinking too hard, I imagine each one of us can rattle off many examples of God’s presence in our lives. This is the story we tell to the world. This is the song we sing. 

All throughout scripture, as in the letter of 2 Timothy, the people of God testify of who He is, what He’s done, and what He is going to do. We are encouraged in 2 Timothy 1:8 to “not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord.” We are encouraged, too, through songs like “Blessed  Assurance” with choruses like, “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.” 

So be not ashamed to tell the world what God has done in your life. Even when there is fear in you, God is worth overcoming that fear. Let the world hear the “song” God has placed in your heart, and worship Him in all places, all times, always. 

I love you and mean it!

Lyric of the Month
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

2 Timothy 1:12
But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.