The Adopted…June 22nd

During the early 70’s, my mom and dad served the West Texas region as ‘foster parents’ for children who were waiting adoption. In some situations we received new born babies so early, we were given the responsibility of giving them their name. A huge obligation, but though we ‘fostered’ these young children for months, we never took the step to adopt them.

Perhaps it was because my folks were already feeding 4 boys, and they weren’t sure about feeding five? But the adoption process is more than just signing some papers and putting food on the table. The responsibilities and obligations of adopting a child includes offering security, ensuring stability and providing an inheritance in the family’s estate. As a ‘child of God,’ we go through an adoption process to be in God’s family. Christians understand there is security and stability in Christ, but more importantly the adoption process ensures that we are heirs in our Father’s kingdom. Ask yourself, have I been adopted? Join us Sunday morning as we consider adoption and…”The Adopted.”

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

Sunday morning, June 22, 2014

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

“Praise Him! Praise Him!” – 300

What a beautiful call to worship as we join our voices in praise to our Father; “Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer…” If the truth be known we’re actually sing as edification to one another at the same time we’re singing praise to our God. Are you praising Him today? On Sunday morning will you lift your voice and ‘tell of His excellent greatness?’

“May I Call You Father” – 769

This song fits perfectly with the message of today’s lesson; as adopted children into the family of God we come before Him seeking to call Him our Father. But notice the words we sing; “…I’ve hurt You, Jesus, I’ve hurt You with my sin.” So the question is sincere, with the pain I have caused I humbly ask, can I call God my Father? Within the adoption process the answer is clear…YES!

“Come Share the Lord” – 364

Another great support to this lesson as we sing to remember the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection. “We are now a family of which the Lord is head. Though unseen He meets us here in the breaking of the bread.” Though the blood of Jesus, and because of God’s redeeming grace, we are a family. Come share the Lord and recognize the Father of our heavenly family.

“The Love of God” – 133

Written almost 100 years ago, this spiritual song shares a great message of God’s love. Singing we try to put into perspective the vastness of His love. “Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky…” Now consider the words of John; “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25

“Redeemed” – 514

How many of us love to proclaim our salvation? Do we show just how happy we are in Jesus? Some would rather not repeat a phrase over and over again while singing, but perhaps this time it’s justified. “Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed, redeemed…His child (through adoption) and forever I am!” Don’t be afraid to proclaim your membership in the family of God.

“Jesus Paid It All” – 922

How much would an adopted child owe for his membership into someone’s family? On the contrary, the adopting parents must ‘pay the price’ for their child. The child isn’t free and yet that little one isn’t charged membership into the family. The same is true in God’s Family; Jesus paid the cost for our adoption process. Who do you owe to be able to ‘stand before the throne of God?’ Jesus paid it ALL…all to Him I owe!

“God’s Family” – 744

In a family there are times when we laugh together, and there are times when we cry together (either out of frustration or sadness). The same is said for the family of God! We sing this song realizing we are adopted into God’s family when we are baptized into His death. Accept His salvation (the adoption) and be part of the family…‘that’s been born again.’

1, January 11, 20141, July 22, 2014

What Will You Will?…Jan 12th

As a young boy I was blessed with a grandmother who showered me with gifts, money and meals. Two hundred pounds later I can say it was much more than I ever needed or deserved. She didn’t do it out of compulsion or guilt, she gave because she wanted to. She ‘willed’ that I would be comfortable with earthly gifts, but she (and my parents) knew life was more than things.

Parents and grandparents give to their children much more than meets the eye. But all too often we focus on the tangible, the here and now. What did you get me for Christmas? How long until I get to trade in for a new phone? How much allowance will I get this year? Is this the extent of what we will leave for our children? Is our ‘will’ of monetary value only, or is there something more we’ll give them. Christ left for us an inheritance far more valuable then silver or gold. Join us Sunday morning when we’ll hear a stirring lesson about…our wills.

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

Sunday morning, January 12, 2014

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

“Higher Ground” no book

A great traditional hymn with a newer twist. We’ve sung this great song for years, but in recent years we’ve learned a new version (listen to it below). But as always, don’t miss the message. We have trials in this life that get us down and depress our spirits. This morning we’ll open this time of worship with a hymn of encouragement. “I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day; still praying as I onward bound, ‘Lord plant my feet on higher ground…”

“Breathe on Me, Breath of God” – 418

This hymn has a contemporary feel, but it was penned more than 130 years ago. A call for God to ‘breathe’ upon His children with a blessing! Notice the second verse, “Breathe on me, breath of God, until my heart is pure, until my will is one with Thine, to do and to endure.”

“The Old Rugged Cross” – 313

We’ll take this old spiritual song and break it up into three parts. Verse one will be sung before the bread, verse two before the fruit of the vine and the third verse after the cup. You’ll want to remember this second verse, “O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary…’ How much do you cherish the cross of Christ? Where would we be without it?

“God Give Us Christian Homes” – 843

As we think about new resolutions for the year how many of us will make a priority of making our “…homes where the Bible is loved and taught?” Let this song be a reminder that everyone has a responsibility in a Christian home. Fathers are to be true and strong, mothers strive to show others God’s way is best and children are led. Are our children willing to be led? We need to make sure that in our homes ‘the Master’s will is sought.’ Parents, we need to be sure we prepare to leave a heavenly legacy for our families.

“My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” – 538

Where is your hope? In what do you trust? David wrote in Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” This song before our lesson is a great reminder of what is most important. What should we pass on to our children? Nothing less than a hope that is built on Jesus’ blood. We shouldn’t trust in the ‘sweetest frame’ (our physical well-being), but in the name above all other names…Jesus!

“My Jesus As Thou Wilt” – 698

Words that date back 310 years (1704) but resonate with Christ’s own words in the garden, “Not My will but Thine.” Considering what we ‘will’, it only makes sense that this song serve as our invitation song. “O may Thy will be mine.”

“A Wonderful Savior” – 503

What a song of rejoicing as we sing to encourage each other that God is in control. He takes care of us, comforts us and hides us. Interesting to think that God hides us in His hand, but considering the trials of this world we do fine peace in knowing that God covers His people. This old spiritual song reflects Exodus 33:22 as God spoke to Moses. “and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand…” Indeed, a wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord.

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.