1, November 21, 20141, November 20, 2014

How Does This Manna Taste to You?…Nov. 23rd

Being a ‘picky eater’ is what we would call the child who sits and stares at his food. And those infamous words, “I don’t like this!” are usually preceded by 30 minutes of sitting alone at the table watching the plate grow cold. Are we mean parents for insisting our kids eat what has been placed before them? Some might say ‘yes,’ while some believe otherwise. Worthy parents would never give their child something that wasn’t good for them, or would cause them harm. We provided for our children food that is nourishing and for their benefit.

And you know that God does the same. He gives us every good thing and blesses us in ways we can’t see. Still there are days when we sit down and say, “…but I don’t like this.” Perhaps the Israelite nation had this down pat as they ‘grumbled against the Lord.’ Whether it was manna from heaven or fresh quail, we read how “the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron.” Exodus 16 Sunday mornings we look heavenward and count our blessings. But this week consider your meal and answer the question, “How does this manna taste to you?”

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, Nov. 23, 2014

You’ll notice the following songs come from the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“All Things Praise Thee” – 43

The hymn we’ll open with is a prayer that we might offer to God an acceptable, worthy praise. Each of the three verses begin with, ‘All things praise Thee…’ Praise flows to our God from the heavens and from the earth. From the silence of the night to the burning of the day God’s creation is constantly praising Him. The statement we make as we sing each of these verses is “Lord, may we!” It’s not a question, “may we worship God?” It’s an exclamation…May we Worship God as He deserves! Hour Of Prayer

“Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer” – 849

An hour of prayer…are you kidding me? If we spend more than a few minutes bowing our head and praying, our minds begin to wander. How could we spend an HOUR, a ‘blessed hour,’ in prayer? If we’re honest with ourselves it’s all a matter of the heart. When our hearts ‘lowly bend’ we come before God in a humble state of obedience. Who among us will sit for 3 hours watching a ball game? Or 2 hours in the theater? We do what we enjoy and we find blessing in that hour. You just have to decide if it will it be a blessed hour of prayer…or a blessed hour of play?

“In Christ Alone” – no book

As we prepare for the Lord’s Supper, this song of admonition serves as a memorial of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. While verse one consist of recognizing Him as our Cornerstone, solid ground and Comforter, verse two takes us from His birth to His crucifixion. Those who know this song cherish the third verse. As we begin singing softly of His burial, our voices ‘burst forth’ as we sing of His resurrection. The final verse gives us assurance in Christ as we sing, ‘No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand…’ How could anyone complain about the blessings we find in Christ?

“I Am Mine No More” – 683

A simple, short, three verse song with a simple message, “It’s not about me.” Not only do I give up any false pretension of being in control, we continue in the second verse proclaiming Jesus as Lord. The concluding verse anticipates His return. If “I am mine no more,” and if “Jesus is my Lord” when “He will come again…He’ll take me home.” Simple, but still how many will still grumble and complain about one of these steps?

“O Thou Fount of Every Blessing” – 226

The words of this old hymn are dated back to the mid-1700’s. Taking a reference from I Samuel (Ebenezer) and sprinkling in some poetic terms, this song of admonition should get us all to thinking. If you take nothing else from this song, you must focus in on the third verse. “O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let Thy goodness like a fetter (chains) bind my wandering heart to Thee; (the original words continue) Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, O take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above.” Do you realize what you’re saying? You said that you want God’s goodness to chain you up to Him. Funny, but isn’t that kind of what we want to do with our children when they reject the good things we give them?

“Kneel at the Cross” – 945

As our invitation we’ll kneel before the cross and sing of ‘giving our idols up.’ The things we value in this life are worthless when compared to living for Christ. We are a blessed people, but do we turn toward the world rather than looking toward Him?

“When Upon Life’s Billows” – 742

Can you count your blessings? When was the last time you even tried? Undoubtedly we would be lost in thought trying to make a list of how much our God has given us. This old hymn encourages us to remember how much God has blessed us. When the storm of life is threatening us, when we’re discouraged, when we’re burdened or when we’re ‘amid the conflict,’ we can still find blessings from our God. Unless we’re too distracted by the complaining. Maybe we really should answer the question…”How does this manna taste to you?”

1, February 14, 20141, March 10, 2014

Marrying a Stranger…Feb. 16th

The formal wedding ceremony is one we are all familiar with. But this morning we’ll look at a very different ‘wedding’ found within the pages of God’s word. Consider this thought; would you marry someone you’ve never met? It’s one thing to have an arranged marriage, but what if the first look you have at your wife is her coming to you behind a veil? (Maybe this is where we get the idea of the wedding veil.)

In Genesis 24, following the death of his wife Sarah, Abraham gives directions to his ‘oldest’ servant to go back to his homeland (Ur of the Chaldeans) and look for a wife for his son, Issac. The instructions are clear and God’s providential work is amazing to read. But the faith of these men is something to consider. To make a long story short; a girl is found, Rebecca, and she goes along with a stranger, Abraham’s servant, to meet a stranger, Issac, whom she will marry on sight, no pun intended. Reading the whole account in Genesis 24:1-67 gives new meaning to…’marrying a stranger.’

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, February 16, 2014

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“All Things Praise Thee” – 43

“All things praise Thee, Lord most high, heaven and earth and sea and sky…All things praise Thee night to night…and day by day…All things praise Thee, heaven’s high shrine (seraph & archangels)…” This song identifies those who praise God from within His creation. Each verse, therefore, concludes with the saints singing, “…All things praise Thee – Lord, my we!”

“O Worship the King” – 144

As a continuation of this medley we go from singing, “…This their (heaven’s high shrine’s) highest bliss (greatest joy is) to be, ever praising – Lord may we!” to “O worship the King…”! Humbling yourself to worship God allows you to see how ‘feeble’ you (we) really are. We are children of dust, but we know Who we trust!

“When My Love to Christ Grows Weak” – 350

All five verses of this song build in progression as we remember the Lord’s Supper. 1) When I start to lose my love for Christ, I need to look no further than His last few hours in the Garden of Gethsemane. 2) Then, in thought, I walk through that garden, to see Him weeping and praying alone. 3) This scene helps me stop and think about those times when my love for my fellowman is weak (which is more often than I’d like to admit). How can I love my brother better? Looking to the cross on Golgotha (Calvary) I find strength for my faith. 4) Reflectively, in this fourth verse, I stand at the cross and see “…His agony…His anguish…His faith.” 5) And finally we turn from death, to life with a new lesson learned. We are stronger after we suffer, and there is a power sacrifice. Thanks be to God for His self-sacrifice! May we learn from Him.

“Behold a Stranger” – 919

An invitation song we may recognize, but this morning we’ll sing it after the Lord’s Supper. Our reason is found in the second verse. But notice how verse one builds upon verse two; “Behold a Stranger at the door! He gently knocks, has knocked before, has waited long, is waiting still; you treat no other friend so ill (unkindly). But will He prove a Friend indeed? He will! The very Friend you need! The Man of Nazareth, it is He, with garments dyed (stained) at Calvary.”

“In His Presence” – 99

A beautiful contemporary song that is simple in word as well as musical structure. “In His presence there is comfort, in His presence there is peace. When we seek the Father’s heart we find such blessed assurance…”

“O Thou Fount of Every Blessing” – 226

Perhaps one of my favorite hymns (we’re singing to Him) as we consider the Old English wording. Notice especially verse two; “Here I raise my Ebenezer…” my stone of help, my reminder because, ‘thus far the Lord has helped me.’ Or as the KJV reads, ‘Hither by Thy help I’ve come.’ A clear reference from I Samuel 7:12. Yet verse three also is one to note; “O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee…” Translated, “Every day I’m in debt to God for the grace He has given me. Lord, let Your goodness chain my wandering heart to You.” But here’s why, “(I am) Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. (I am) Prone to leave the God I love.” We have wandering hearts and wandering eyes. Would that God chain us up with His goodness.

“There’s a Stranger at the Door” – 908

With our lesson being about ‘marrying a stranger’, I thought we’d sing again about the Stranger at the door. But this time we will be offering an invitation to those who might ‘let the Savior in.’ Again, a reference from the scriptures as we read the words of Christ in Revelation 3:19, 20; ‘Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.’ Will you, have you, let Him into your heart?

Wait for a few seconds before this song begins…

“Faithful Love” – no book

Marriage is all about love. As Christ loves His bride, so we ought to love our spouse. The scripture states plainly, Issac loved Rebecca (Genesis 24:67). He married a stranger, but he loved and cherished her. Our Savior is faithful and His love is unequaled. In faithful love He came to earth to show the Father’s love to us. And in so doing, thanks be to God, the groom and the bride will never be strangers.

1, October 25, 20131, October 25, 2013

He Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear…Oct. 27th

Have you ever considered the difference between hearing and listening? We hear the sound of the traffic on the highway, but we listen when the driver behind us honks. In frustration some may say, “Yeah, I hear you!” But though their ears have heard the voice, the mind hasn’t processed (or even rejects) the message. Many today would say, “I hear you, but I’m not listening to you.” This can be a dangerous mistake for sure.

This Sunday morning we’re blessed to ‘listen’ to another lesson presented by one of our own ministers, Robert Taylor. Come join us for worship and do more than just hear a good sermon, open your ears and listen to the message from God’s holy word? Join us as we explore God’s Word and consider how we’ll use our ears!

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, October 27, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“What a Mighty God We Serve” -993

Technically, this isn’t a difficult song. The words are repetitive and the message is a basic reminder; “What a mighty God we serve! What a mighty God we serve! Angels bow before Him, heaven and earth adore Him. What a mighty God we serve!” You hear the message, but are you listening to what you’re saying? He IS mighty and He is worthy to be served…but HOW are you serving Him?

“O Thou Fount of Every Blessing” – 226

This author has talked in depth of the interpretation of this hymn written in old English Robert Robinson in the mid-1700’s. Words like “Ebenezer”, “fetter” and “interpose” have left many to discard this song as antiquated. But we must do more than just sing (hear) this message from yesteryear. Listen to the meaning when you sing verse three; “O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! {I know, and can never forget, the grace God gives me every day will never be repaid} Let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee; {Father, please keep your loving kindness tied around my heart} Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. {I am all to liable to wander away from you, like a little child, please keep close to You}. Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.” {As a matter of fact, take my heart and keep it in Your care until you call me home.}

“In Christ Alone” – no book

Consider this song of encouragement as we prepare our minds to commemorate our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection. We begin this song recognizing our Cornerstone, solid ground and Comforter as Christ…alone. Verse two takes us from His birth to His crucifixion and for those who know this song ‘listen’ to the emotion found in the third verse. And though we begin softly singing of His burial, our voices ‘burst forth’ as we proclaim His resurrection. The final verse gives us the assurance of our security in Christ. Children of God understand that, “…no power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand…”

“I Am Mine No More” – 683

Though the author and composer of this song are unknown, the message is very clear. Would that we do more than just say, “I am mine no more…”, but that our lives would reflect a change in our priority. When you say something is more important than something else, it’s only proven by your next step. The difference between hearing and listening…

“Open Our Eyes Lord” – 766

Written in 1976, this song calls us to open our eyes and see how Jesus is alive in our world. But Robert Cull goes a step further as he penned the next verse; “Open our eyes, Lord and help us to listen…” My daddy would tell us boys, ‘You have one mouth and two ears…you should listen twice as much as you talk’ We might not be bigger talkers, but how are we with looking for God and listening to His words?

“Heaven Came Down” – 517

As we prepare for this morning’s lesson, let’s sing this spiritual song about living a Christian life. A beautiful message but notice the second verse; “Born of the Spirit with life from above into God’s family divine. Justified fully through Calvary’s love, O what a standing is mine! And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came. Took of the offer of grace He did proffer, He saved me! O praise His dear name…” To proffer is to give a gift expecting an answer, either accept it or not. He has given us salvation. What will you do with His offer? Everyone in the auditorium will hear the offer, but will you listen to the message?

“Only a Step” – 940

How far away from God do you think you are? What kind of step(s) do you need to take to get right with Christ? Our invitation song begins with the call to “Hear the sweet voice of Jesus…” It all starts with hearing the message, but how many will listen to the ‘call?’ In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way…No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The writer of this song encourages us with the understanding that Jesus is only a step away. Those who have been baptized into Christ at one time stepped into the watery grave of baptism. If you are not a child of God and you wonder how far away is He? The answer is simple…He’s only a step away.

“I’ll Be Listening” – 988

As a young boy, when my mother called…I had better answer. If I heard her and choose not to respond (refuse to listen), the consequences might include holding my dad’s hand. All the while he held a switch with his other. We hear God’s call and many have listened to His message of salvation. He will call again at the end of time, but though ‘every knee will bow’ (everyone will listen then), only those who have been faithful will be received. “When the Savior calls, I will answer…I’ll be somewhere listening for my name!”