1, September 12, 20141, September 12, 2014

The Awesome Power of Negative Fellowship…Sept. 14th

An ‘oxymoron’ is a statement that places side by side two elements that seem to be in contradiction of each other. Words and ideals that just don’t seem to match. Phrases like a dark light, a mournful optimist, deafening silence, or jumbo shrimp are referred to as an oxymoron. But consider something awesome (inspiring and outstanding) as being negative…could we be talking about an oxymoron during Sunday morning’s lesson?

In I Corinthians chapter 15, as Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, he makes this statement; “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’ “ Quoting a Greek poet, Paul, by inspiration is telling Christians to be careful about our fellowship. Some individuals we associate with can have a negative influence on our life. So maybe you should ask yourself if the fellowship you are ‘enjoying’ is positive or negative. Are you concerned about “the awesome power of negative fellowship?”

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

Sunday morning, September 14, 2014

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

“I Stand in Awe” – 96

How do you view God? Is He awesome? Do you revere Him, bow before Him and serve Him? Or is He just someone on your check list? We sing this hymn simply stating, “You (God) are beautiful beyond description, too marvelous for words. Too wonderful for comprehension, like NOTHING ever seen or heard…” So how do you see God? Is He indescribable, beyond your comprehension? If so…do you stand in awe of Him?

“I Shall Not Be Moved” – 976

Follow the medley as we continue singing “I Stand in Awe”: “Holy God to Whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of You!” “Glory Hallelujah! I shall not be moved, anchored in Jehovah, I shall not be moved…” As we stand in awe of our God’s majesty and power, may we, like a tree planted by the waters, never be moved from our conviction.

“How Firm a Foundation” – 457

And as we finish the thought process from the first two songs in our medley we conclude “I Shall Not Be Moved”: “…just like a tree that’s planted by the water, I shall not be moved.” “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word…” The music will flow, but more importantly let us follow the train of thought; I stand in awe of God’s power, and in that strong belief I shall not be moved. Because I have a firm foundation on which I stand.

“Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me” – 603

This morning, between our first two prayers, we’ll sing of our Savior’s guidance in this old maritime hymn. “Chart and compass came from Thee…” We have God’s word as our guide to direct us through this life. It will help us navigate the waters of friendship so we find the awesome power of a positive fellowship.

“My Jesus, I Love Thee” – 701

Before we partake of the Lord’s Supper we’ll focus on our Savior’s love. Verse two provides this thought, “I love Thee (Jesus), because (You) has first loved me, and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree; I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow; If ever I love Thee, my Jesus, (it is) now.”

“Create in Me a Clean Heart” – no book

A contemporary hymn that comes straight from the text, so maybe it’s a psalm? The words of King David in Psalm 51:10-12, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” Is this your prayer? Do you desire a clean heart and a renewed, right, spirit? Do you fear being ‘cast away’ from God’s presence? Consider this; if our fellowship is surrounded by negative influences, we will be separated from His Spirit.

“Cleanse Me” – 420

This hymn isn’t too popular today, but during World War II this tune accompanied the words to “Now is the Hour” by Gracie Field. Today we sing this hymn using the words from Psalm 139. “Search me, O God, and know my heart today; Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts I pray. See if there be some wicked way in me; cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.” Am I being negatively influenced by those with whom I fellowship? Pray for God to guide your heart, your thoughts and your friendship!

“Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims” – 537

Before our lesson we’ll sing of our journey toward heaven. When was the last time you let the songs of the saints ‘cheer your journey?’ On a path that is dim, and with hills where the dark storms gather, we need a fellowship that is positive and God-focused. Let’s stay close to each other as we keep our ‘longing eyes’ on the smile of the blessed Giver.

“Jesus Is Tenderly Calling” – 947 Standing on the Promises

If you have struggled in your fellowship choices and you have wandered from the sunshine of God’s love, it’s time to ‘come home.’ Not only is Jesus ‘tenderly calling,’ but He’s waiting too. But you’d best not delay…Jesus is calling today!

“Standing on the Promises” – 452

A popular spiritual song confirming ‘where we stand,’ who we fellowship with and to what we hold fast. But choosing the positive fellowship over the negative isn’t always easy. Remember, there is an awesome power in negative fellowship. You might say those influences can be strong, howling storms of doubt and fear. Fortunately, by the living word of God, as I stand on His promises, I shall prevail.

1, March 5, 20141, March 10, 2014

Faded Memories…but Eternal Fellowship!

College days in the small west-Texas town of Lubbock seem like a life time ago. But the memories created with that group of men and women on that small campus will be etched in my mind forever. The Acappella Chorus under the direction of Dr. Wayne Hinds was my main stay for four years. Studying in the Education Department with Dr. Joyce Hardin, and the Bible Department with Dr. Leon Crouch seem like a memory of days long ago at ‘good ole LCC.’ But there was another group that captured a good share of my time on this campus. A group of men who shared a unique fellowship together; a social club by the name of KOINONIA. We were proud of our club and the legacy we shared. On our jerseys and on our pledge badges we worn the Greek name for fellowship. We understood the definition to be simply, ‘Christian fellowship (sharing mutual interest) or communion with God.’ And that was our objective, our goal… communion with God and with one another.

But now those old shirts have faded, and the miles have come between many of us. And unfortunately, the fellowship for many of us has failed too. Some, have left the faith they once cherished while others, after re-examining their belief, lost the ‘shared mutual interest’ of other Christians. Yet for those of us who still hold fast to a true communion with God and His people, will forever trust Him and follow the pattern set forth in His Word. We have maintained a walk with Christ that doesn’t turn to the right or to the left (Deuteronomy 28:14); a narrow walk with Him (Matthew 7:14).

Unfortunately, some assume since this walk is narrow and there’s not much give (turning from side to side) that they’re alone and walking without support. A feeling even Elijah felt in I Kings 19, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of host; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left…” With desperation staring him in the face, Elijah was certain his ‘fellowship’ was gone. But we must never forget that we have an enormous cloud of witnesses who have passed ahead of us. There is a fellowship of believers who walk daily in the truth of God’s word. But even if there were no other hand to hold, no other strong arm to lean on…we have fellowship with Christ. I John 1:3 provides the basis of our assurance; “…what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus, safe and secure from all alarms…
Leaning on the everlasting arms.”

Where is your fellowship? Who will you lean on during the dark days of dread? This world may offer you some fond memories and deep treasures, but never lose the ‘mutual interest’ of the One who can make your life worth living. Find KOINONIA with the Father and with Christ’s church. Look to Him, and never be alone.

1, May 20, 20131, May 21, 2013

Can We Improve the Service?

What makes service good and or bad? Perhaps the best example of ‘service’ comes when you consider your waiter or waitress. They offer a service for the customer that can either be useful or not.

Have you ever visited an elegant restaurant? As you walked in you receive a gracious welcome from your host. You are seated quickly, but then wait, and wait and wait for your menu. Throughout the evening your glass goes unfilled, and your questions unanswered. Most would consider this ‘poor’ service. Some might even say this is rotten service. Regardless, you are anticipating someone from this establishment to ‘serve’ you.

Another type of ‘service’ comes each Sunday morning many of us join together to worship our God. We sing and pray, partake of the Lord’s Supper and listen to a message from God’s word. We call this time together the “worship service.” But who are we serving during this time? Is this time of worship designed to serve men or God? We certainly should be trying to ‘get something’ out of the sermon, and be admonished from the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3), but is this ‘service’ more than just a personal exercise? Ask yourself…am I looking to be served, or am I preparing myself to serve?

Before you come together with the saints for ‘services’, I encourage you to think about your attitude toward worship. What draws you to join the congregation of God’s people on the first day of the week? Would that our attitude reflect that of the Psalmist who wrote, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us enter into the house of the Lord’.” Psalm 122:1

If we’re truthful about the matter, people view worship services in a various ways. God meant this time to be an opportunity to grow closer to Him. This is an opportunity to give our best to the Creator. A chance to show Him how much we love Him by uniting in songs of praise and offering prayers in Jesus’ name. We should respect our Heavenly Father, and the method in which we serve and worship Him.

Consider some ideas as to how we might ‘improve’ our service when we come together to worship:

1) Attend every time the doors are open. Others will see that worship is a priority to you. You’ll be demonstrating your desire to be with the family of God and not ‘forsaking’ the assembly (Hebrews 10:25).

2) Arrive early and when possible, stay late. This will show your brothers and sisters in Christ that you really want to be there. It also helps as we encourage others . Much of what we do is really not for ourselves, but for others. (Remember…we’ve come to serve!) By coming early and staying late you might be the one who helps someone in need of encouragement.

3) Be positive with other Christians about the worship time and about one another. No place is ever going to be perfect, and rarely do all worship services meet all of our expectations and desires. But then again remember, we’ve come to serve…WHO?

4) Take more responsibility (and pride) as you participate. Bringing excitement and enthusiasm to the service will strengthen everyone involved. Consider this, do you like it when your waitress serves you with a smile?

5) Believe that spending time in worship is worthwhile. Sing and pray with all your heart. It is not how well we sing that matters to God, it’s our attitude about singing that counts. I truly believe that while we listen to the voice of the singer, God listens to the singer’s heart.

Perhaps these five points will help us as we consider our worship service next Sunday. Remember, often what we receive depends on how much we are willing to give. Most would agree it comes down to answering the following question,

“What can we do to improve the service?”

1, October 15, 20121, July 21, 2014

Taking a Look at Sunday Morning

I am thankful for my church family…

Having just returned from a trip the evening before, we were late getting to church service and decided not to interrupt class 20 minutes late. After getting some work done in the office, we sat down early in the auditorium.

Though we left on vacation following the morning services last week, it seemed like a long time since we’d been with our church family.

At first, it was dark in the auditorium, then a few people started to arrive. One sweet lady, dressed in high heels and using a walking cane, was escorted to her seat by her grown son who then returned pushing her husband in a wheelchair. They sat on the second seat from the front, settled in their pew while the son figured out where to store the folded wheel chair. He sat with them.

A few others, mostly folks walking slowly due to age, came in the auditorium finding their pews and settling in for worship before class was dismissed and the masses arrived.

One man came walking down our aisle and suddenly the lights came on. Smiling he told us they automatically come on when he enters! We shared small talk and he settled in his pew awaiting the rest of his family.

For 15 minutes people strolled in the auditorium, some stopped to chat before sitting down, others hurriedly walked past looking towards ‘their’ pew. Some, knowing we’d been out of town, asked about our trip. Another was excited to show me she too had recently gotten an iPhone, she asked if I would like to go to classes with her. Another brother shared with me a picture of a fancy faucet he had just installed in their renovated bathroom. And yet another dear brother, short on time, asked me a question about his LOA group (our church’s small group). One of our young men, on his first visit home from college, stopped to give me a hug and chat briefly before others wanted his attention too. A sweet lady in the pew in front of me wanted to chat about her LOA plans that were scheduled for the evening.

I glanced around the auditorium and saw a sister across the way that hadn’t been to worship in quite some time…I said a prayer of thanksgiving. Families are all in place now, some with guests from out of town. The college students came in close to the starting time and sat in a row together in their normal spot.

Now it’s time for the welcome and announcements and our weekly ‘meet and greet’. Then worship begins. It’s a joy to begin worship in prayer and then song. A brother in front of us realizes contribution is early in the service so he pulls out a couple bills from his wallet and tries to throw them down the row for his daughter & friend to put in the plate…except neither girl saw the money and his wife sat on one of the bills. Oh well, at least, he tried.

Before I know it, worship is over and it’s time to visit on our way out the door. As I walk through the north end a new grandma is busy visiting with her LOA friends about her wonderful new grandson! I lose track of time visiting and can’t find my husband; I’m assuming he went to the van to wait for me…not so this time. In the van I do some more waiting and observe several families leaving from the parking lot. One couple has a wedding gift and they see the person in the parking lot they need to give it to! A college student and his younger brother come out and drive the suburban closer to the exit waiting for the rest of the family – I’m guessing it felt good to him to be back in that role, and the family certainly loved the familiarity of it too.

The sun was shining but there’s coolness in the air. Today is our LOA Sunday and there is of buzz in the family as many have plans with their small group.

It’s such a blessing to be a part of God’s family, sharing and caring for each other in every way! I look forward to any opportunity I have to be with my family, but it seemed especially sweet yesterday after being gone for a week.

I thank God that he gives us everything we need, each other, our church family.

Donna

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” I John 4:8

In the family of God we are a blessed people!

Thanks Donna for reminding us of the joy we have in the Kingdom of God.