HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR SONG? - Bulletin 04-13-14

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR SONG?

Since PSALMS has become a vital part of our daily reading through the Bible, here’s a “psalm story” by Annie Chapman: 

“All alone, she sat in the back of the church. The rest of the 500 women at the women's conference that weekend had already exited the auditorium. I was gathering up my books, papers, and props when I saw her at the back of the room.  I walked over to where she was sitting; her head was bowed low, and her shoulders were drooping. I sat down, and she began to tell me her story.

She was the mother of three. Her oldest son, suffering from muscular dystrophy, had been confined to a wheelchair for most of his 17 years. Her other two children had a variety of learning and emotional challenges.

With her head still bent, she whispered, "I'm married to a mean, hateful man who makes my life miserable. He won't help me with our son. He even refuses to help while I hold our son when he goes to the bathroom.”

"I buried my father this week," the woman continued. "At the funeral I learned that my father had disinherited me from his estate because he hated my husband."  Then she told me something that still haunts me: "I came this weekend with one prayer," she said. "I asked God to kill my husband. I prayed, 'Lord, I need a way out! I feel like a bird in a cage.'"

Finally she lifted her eyes and said, "When I prayed that prayer, God spoke to me as clearly as I've ever sensed His voice. He said, 'Even a bird in a cage sings.'"

With tears running down her face she asked, "What am I supposed to do with that? How do I live with that answer?"  Feeling utterly impotent, I replied, ‘If God says,'sing,' you need to find your song.’”

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HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR SONG?  Psalms 27:6  “Surrounded by my enemies... I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy...”  

             

God is good!  Mr. Steve

GOD USES YOUTH TO DO GREAT THINGS! - Bulletin 04-06-14

GOD USES YOUTH TO DO GREAT THINGS! 

Megan is now an eleven year-old granddaughter of one my closest friends.  Over the past 9 years, my friend has sent me “Meagan Stories.”  Since we have just read about David & Goliath, I couldn’t resist sharing the following story he sent me when Megan was six:

“Like many of us, Megan’s parents are experiencing a bump in the road financially.  Their power was shut off due to late payment which was finally resolved with the power being restored around midnight a few weeks ago.  

Over the past month or so, Megan’s Wednesday night Bible class has focused on Jesus being the light and our role in being the light of the world.  Throughout the class, Megan has been completing the worksheets for Bible bucks, etc.  So when Megan and her mother came home (to a dark house) and realized the power was out – Megan lifted up her little hands and said, “Well, Mom, it’s a good thing God is our light!”

I’ve heard a number of Megan stories from my Grandfather friend over the years and am always encouraged by Megan’s young, but very personal faith!  Here’s the rest of the story:

“That night, Megan’s mother counseled her six year-old not to tell anyone at school about their power being disconnected because it would be embarrassing to Mommy and Daddy.  The next morning, Megan went to school and told her teacher, “Something awful has happened but I can’t tell you because it would embarrass Mommy and Daddy.”

The teacher and her classmates pressed for the story, but Megan held her ground, “I can't tell you because Mommy said it would be embarrassing.”

What is the message here?  Here are several I see from this six year-old:

1. Honor God – especially in the darkest of times!  Megan’s right: HE IS OUR LIGHT!  (1 John 1:5)
2. Honor parents – even when peer pressure says otherwise. (Ephesians 6:1-3)
3. Never compromise faithful character – God has always used this for great spiritual wattage!  (Hebrews 11:1-12:4)
4. The Holy Spirit definitely teaches great truths through young children so we had better pay close attention!                   

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!  Mr. Steve

FOLLOWSHIP - Bulletin 03-30-14

 FOLLOWSHIP!

Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me (Matthew 16:24).”    

True or False: 

_____One of the easiest things in the world to do is…… FOLLOW!  

_____One of the hardest things in the world to do is……FOLLOW!

Which one is TRUE?  YES!   It is so easy to follow the crowd and do what everyone else does and say what everyone else says.  It is so hard to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and go where He leads and do what He says!

AS THE GREATEST LEADER OF ALL TIME, JESUS MAJORED IN BEING LED …. FOLLOWSHIP!                                                                                                          “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1).”  

"Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner (John 5:19).” 

"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me (John 5:30).” 

In 1890, Ernest W. Blandly wrote the words to the old song “Where He Leads Me I Will Follow.”  Sing the first verse and refrain with me: 

I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling,“Take thy cross and follow, follow Me. “Where He leads me I will follow, Where He leads me I will follow, Where He leads me I will follow; I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way.”

                                                                                                                 If you asked Jesus where leadership begins, i believe He would say, “FOLLOWSHIP!”  But not just any kind of followship  HOLY SPIRIT FOLLOWSHIP!  “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Romans 8:14).”

 God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!  Mr. Steve