WORSHIP PROGRAM, JULY 2O

Come and Listen by Crowder……………………….Emj

Psalm 8

Filled with your glory by Starfield…………….……Gmj

What can wash away our sin (Spanish first)……….Amj

Nothing but the blood by Redman…………………Amj

PROGRAM 7.13.08

Home by Daughtry……………………………………..Fmj 

Song of the redeemed by Hall………………………..F#m

Take it to the streets by Redman…………………..Amj

How beautiful the blood by Fee…………………….Amj

Communion : Beautiful the blood  by fee

Program 7.06.08

Home………………………………..……………………..……Fmj

Opening scripture: Job 11:5-6

Oh worship the King…………………………………….F#mj

Marvelous light……………………………………………Amj

Found ……….…………………………………………………F#mj

Lead me to the cross……………………………………F#m

Message

Jonah……………………………………………………………..Bm

Psalm 37:23-24  If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm;  24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.    

Clearly in the Christian walk these two verses remind us that: WE WILL “STUMBLE”, but yet WE “WILL NOT FALL.” So today as you may be facing some difficulties that maybe you feel you do not desserve or yet are a result of you actions, remember that you WILL NOT FALL. You may be down but you will rise. There is hope, mercy and abounding love in Christ. He himself states that “peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you” (John 14:27).     

Just think for a sec, how does the world give peace? How is it that in the world we live in we find peace? or better yet how are we led to believe that we have found or will find peace?………….maybe when we have our MBA diploma nicely decorated in a frame? Maybe when we are SURE that we’ll be receiving X amount of $ directly deposited to our checking account every Friday. Maybe when we are in harmony with every family member, friend or co-worker?  Or maybe when we are free of many sicknesses?     

The definition of peace according to dictionary.com: a ”normal, non-warring condition” Christ teaches us that our peace does not rely on earthly situations, catastrophes, richness or pestilences but on his sacrifice: The Cross.

Go outside by Robbie Seay band…………………….G#

Psalm 36

 5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. 7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find ^[b] refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. 

Song of Hope by Robbie Seay band……………………Amj

None but Jesus by United………………………………Gmj

Emmanuel by MercyMe…………………………………Amj

Today’s devotional is loaded with encouragement. First of all, I like to read my devo’s from Christian Classics. Everyday they offer a mixture of 3 scriptures such as: a psalm, an Old Testament and New Testament. The following are portions that spoke to my life this morning.

First, I read Psalm 27

13 I believe [1] that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Then I read Isaiah 49

 15-18“Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I’d never forget you—never. Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands.23:…”Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”

And of course I cannot forget my favorite portion of today’s scripture:

Psalm 27

 6And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

God’s word is amazing. This scripture reveals to us how much He loves us. It also reiterates the importance of waiting. By doing so it makes us aware that being Christians does not mean to be happy 24/7. Instead there will be trials or better yet moments that really really suck. But in the midst of it all Christ encourages us to do what the psalmist did “offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, sing and make melody to the Lord.” 

There are many items of this chapter that I find interesting such as the order and structure in which it is written. Normally when we write we have to present an argument so that we can then discuss and support the thesis. However, in this chapter God begins declaring His sovereignty and unconditional love for His people and concludes revealing the argument/thesis which is how filthy we are with sin.

First let’s remember, sin is not just some inappropriate behavior; instead it is living a lifestyle that does not line up with God’s character. I like the way the Message puts it:

22-24“But you didn’t pay a bit of attention to me, Jacob.You so quickly tired of me, Israel.You wouldn’t even bring sheep for offerings in worship.You couldn’t be bothered with sacrifices.It wasn’t that I asked that much from you.I didn’t expect expensive presents.But you didn’t even do the minimum—so stingy with me, so closefisted.Yet you haven’t been stingy with your sins.You’ve been plenty generous with them—and I’m fed up.

For this very reason God reveals to us the need of a savior/redeemer who would lead us in a path and make harmony with Him. And yes this person would be Jesus, who does not keep a list of our sins.

25“But I, yes I, am the onewho takes care of your sins—that’s what I do.I don’t keep a list of your sins.

And better yet as the book Romans states in the eighth chapter:“Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins…”

So in a couple of hours I’ll have the honor to marry my pastor, Derek and future wife Miranda, and am looking forward to this ceremony. When Derek first ask me to marry them I did not know what to say, because in one hand the Bible does not give clear instructions about marriage, because after all Christ is really the one bringing these two together. On the other hand, I also figured that if Christ has mandated that we lead people to Him (through His Spirit) and baptize them; and even notified us that we could even perform greater miracles than He did. So why not partake in leading the unity of a marriage ceremony?

I find it amazing how much we all in leadership staff are learning about ministry because really we do not have much experience but yet Christ has set us in this role and is teaching us to not be intimidated. Basically, to boast, as Derek preached on last Sunday, on the power of Christ’s sacrifice at the Cross. For the reason that is not easy being called “pastor” and having or being responsible for spiritual care of a number of persons. But yet we delight in fulfilling the call Christ has given us. And find joy in building Christ center fellowship with the amazing people He keeps bringing to His church.

We must take our Lords promises seriously and gratefully

1 Corinthians 2

9However, as it is written:

   “No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

   no mind has conceived 

what God has prepared for those who love him”

Psalm 12:6

6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.