But He has overcome the world! See John 16:33
Here is a page with encouraging scriptures to help you through any of life's truly difficult times.
http://www.persevering.org/scriptures.html
Friday, May 31, 2013
Hope and Heaven
This week’s Theme is Hope and Heaven. There are a lot of hymns focused on
heaven, so it was difficult to choose. And, of course, I Can Only Imagine, one of my favorite Mercy Me songs goes very well. The Bible has quite a bit to say about heaven, however there is a lot we still will not know until we get there. We know we will be surrounded by His glory, as the song goes, but do we really have a true idea how we will respond to being before a holy God? The only way to truly find out is to accept His salvation here on this earth, and look forward to what is to come! Let us live worthy for Him, so one day we can sing Worthy Is the Lamb to our Savior!
"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming."
James 5:7
"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."
1 John 3:2-3
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words."
I Thessalonians 4:16-18
"Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:1-4
Kiwi
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
One more resource before I call it an evening (or morning...)
Check out www.hymnpod.com for some good piano renditions of classic hymns. It's a great resource for those of us who cannot play an instrument to save our lives. Free mp3 downloads of hundreds of hymns, all ready for personal devotions, enjoyment, or, in my case, congregational use.
Here's his most recent listing of hymns available:
http://www.hymnpod.com/hymn-listings/
His most recent publication on his podcast - Grace Greater Than Our Sin. I look forward to using this one in the not too distant future. We have not sung this one in years, and it's proclamation that God's grace is greater than all our sin is nothing short of a wonderful mystery we can be thankful for each day!
Check out www.hymnpod.com for some good piano renditions of classic hymns. It's a great resource for those of us who cannot play an instrument to save our lives. Free mp3 downloads of hundreds of hymns, all ready for personal devotions, enjoyment, or, in my case, congregational use.
Here's his most recent listing of hymns available:
http://www.hymnpod.com/hymn-listings/
His most recent publication on his podcast - Grace Greater Than Our Sin. I look forward to using this one in the not too distant future. We have not sung this one in years, and it's proclamation that God's grace is greater than all our sin is nothing short of a wonderful mystery we can be thankful for each day!
Mother's Day Humor:
One song I do find myself wanting to sing every year is Faith of Our Mothers, simply because there are so very few good hymns or songs dedicated to motherhood. Here are some alternative lyrics I found while looking around for some ideas.
Faith of our mothers, living yet,
after church meetings, house-breaking pets,
Car-pooling Little League, lessons at 2,
None would get done if it weren't for you.
Faith of our mothers! Holy faith!
We will be true to you always.
Faith of our mothers, living still,
in spite of doc'tring others while ill,
Working long hours and dinner at 5,
Only by God's grace are they alive!
Faith of our mothers! Holy faith!
We will be true to you always.
Faith of our mothers passed on to each
child and grandchild, nephew and niece,
Sharing their faith, their hope, and their love,
Grant them your strength and peace from above.
Faith of our mothers! Holy faith!
We will be true to you always.
Happy Mother's Day!
Copyright © 1993 James N. Watkins
For more from James Watkins, see www.jameswatkins.com. James Watkins is a Christian author, speaker, teacher, and self-proclaimed threat to society (see http://www.jameswatkins.com/threat.htm). His website is entitled "Hope and Humor", an online ministry of the River Community Church.
One song I do find myself wanting to sing every year is Faith of Our Mothers, simply because there are so very few good hymns or songs dedicated to motherhood. Here are some alternative lyrics I found while looking around for some ideas.
Faith of our mothers, living yet,
after church meetings, house-breaking pets,
Car-pooling Little League, lessons at 2,
None would get done if it weren't for you.
Faith of our mothers! Holy faith!
We will be true to you always.
Faith of our mothers, living still,
in spite of doc'tring others while ill,
Working long hours and dinner at 5,
Only by God's grace are they alive!
Faith of our mothers! Holy faith!
We will be true to you always.
Faith of our mothers passed on to each
child and grandchild, nephew and niece,
Sharing their faith, their hope, and their love,
Grant them your strength and peace from above.
Faith of our mothers! Holy faith!
We will be true to you always.
Happy Mother's Day!
Copyright © 1993 James N. Watkins
For more from James Watkins, see www.jameswatkins.com. James Watkins is a Christian author, speaker, teacher, and self-proclaimed threat to society (see http://www.jameswatkins.com/threat.htm). His website is entitled "Hope and Humor", an online ministry of the River Community Church.
Mother's Day is upon us, and thus comes the complicated song & hymn selections for this year's service. Each year, it is more difficult, as there are only so many songs to choose which include thoughts about our mothers' roles in our Christian upbringing. This year, I stumbled upon this website from the Baptist Press, which offers many ideas for conducting a Mother's Day service.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=25634
Some ideas I like from the site: Mother's Day videos, Mother's brunch (we just had a breakfast conducted by the men at our church just a few weeks ago...very good), a special children's parade, or presenting gifts to the women in your congregation.
A side note on videos: Videos are very easy to come by, and I have a few downloaded from Sharefaith I can use each year. Sharefaith is a Christian-based website, which for a subscription of around $129 or so (sometimes you can get a discount), you can download all sorts of worship backgrounds, motion backgrounds, bulletin templates, clipart, videos, and even website templates. It has been a tremendous value to me over the past several years. However, we no longer subscribe to their service, due to budget constraints. (But I recommend you check it out for yourself!) Or just try Youtube...amazing resource! (Remember to be as careful as possible about copyright infringement...)
The most important reminder from the Baptist Press article is the last - WORSHIP HIM, NOT HER. While honoring our mothers and fathers on their respective days, it is important to remember (and I need reminded from time to time) that the service should be about honoring the Lord, and not His creation. The article goes on to say: "Many unchurched family members will attend worship with their moms. Tell them how Jesus can change their life! It's a great day for a baptism, baby dedication or children's choir song. Joyfully honor mom on Mother's Day, but focus on the only One worthy of worship -- our God."
Thus, for this year's service, I selected hymns which honor God's characteristics which we can find in a godly person. His faithfulness, holiness, goodness, mercy, and guidance are all things we hope to find in a godly mother, and are ideals we can all strive toward to become more like Jesus.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=25634
Some ideas I like from the site: Mother's Day videos, Mother's brunch (we just had a breakfast conducted by the men at our church just a few weeks ago...very good), a special children's parade, or presenting gifts to the women in your congregation.
A side note on videos: Videos are very easy to come by, and I have a few downloaded from Sharefaith I can use each year. Sharefaith is a Christian-based website, which for a subscription of around $129 or so (sometimes you can get a discount), you can download all sorts of worship backgrounds, motion backgrounds, bulletin templates, clipart, videos, and even website templates. It has been a tremendous value to me over the past several years. However, we no longer subscribe to their service, due to budget constraints. (But I recommend you check it out for yourself!) Or just try Youtube...amazing resource! (Remember to be as careful as possible about copyright infringement...)
The most important reminder from the Baptist Press article is the last - WORSHIP HIM, NOT HER. While honoring our mothers and fathers on their respective days, it is important to remember (and I need reminded from time to time) that the service should be about honoring the Lord, and not His creation. The article goes on to say: "Many unchurched family members will attend worship with their moms. Tell them how Jesus can change their life! It's a great day for a baptism, baby dedication or children's choir song. Joyfully honor mom on Mother's Day, but focus on the only One worthy of worship -- our God."
Thus, for this year's service, I selected hymns which honor God's characteristics which we can find in a godly person. His faithfulness, holiness, goodness, mercy, and guidance are all things we hope to find in a godly mother, and are ideals we can all strive toward to become more like Jesus.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
"But in your hearts, revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
I Peter 3:15
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Galations 5:22-23
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 5:27
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9
Our theme this week for our music is the Fruit of the Spirit. I have been challenged this past week to keep pressing on, with the joy of Christ, even when things seem to not go the way I want them to. We can always turn our problems over to the Lord - whether they be at work, home, or elsewhere. Remember, we are not of this world; we cannot let the things of this world overtake us. Jesus himself said we would have troubles, but we should trust in Him because He has overcome the world. The Fruits of the Spirit come from Him. We may or may not be happy in our circumstances, but our joy is in the Lord.
Kiwi
I Peter 3:15
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Galations 5:22-23
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 5:27
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9
Our theme this week for our music is the Fruit of the Spirit. I have been challenged this past week to keep pressing on, with the joy of Christ, even when things seem to not go the way I want them to. We can always turn our problems over to the Lord - whether they be at work, home, or elsewhere. Remember, we are not of this world; we cannot let the things of this world overtake us. Jesus himself said we would have troubles, but we should trust in Him because He has overcome the world. The Fruits of the Spirit come from Him. We may or may not be happy in our circumstances, but our joy is in the Lord.
Kiwi
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