The Lord is With You

SCRIPTURE
The Lord was with Joseph and blessed him greatly as he served in the home of Egyptian master.  Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.  

Genesis 39:2-3

OBSERVATION
I can't imagine how tragic that moment was for Joseph when he was mistreated and sold into slavery by his own brothers.  I am sure he felt betrayed.  Yet all along God, the Master Planner, had envisioned what lies ahead for Joseph.  He was with him.

APPLICATION
God, in His master plan, can't be altered.  Joseph was destined to save people.  If it were not for Joseph, the people would have died of starvation.  God's long term plan to rescue Joseph from death is beyond comprehension.  God is always for us and not against us.  He will lead us if we let Him guide us.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank you for displaying Your plan to Your children.  You have showed us in Joseph a great example of how a Godly man trusted you even in his great despair.  Yet, he emerged victorious because of Your love for him.  I pray, Lord, that we will have that faith to trust You and know Your purpose: to give us life, not death; to succeed and not fail; to lead and not fall.  Amen.

Nenita Kuyper

Worship Department/Soprano

The Good Shepherd

SCRIPTURE
"Suppose one of you has one hundred sheep and loses one.  Does he not leave the ninety-nine in open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Rejoice with me, I have found my lost sheep!"

Luke 15:4-7

OBSERVATION
The Good Shepherd is relentless in the finding and recovering of his lost sheep and its return to the flock.  The Good Shepherd's main purpose in life is to protect his entire flock and deliver them and keep them from harm.  I especially love the part of the verse that state that he put the lamb on his shoulders, allowing the lamp to rest and recover.

APPLICATION
I want to have an increased passion and awareness for those around me that are still lost and wandering.  Whether they have never had the opportunity to come to Jesus or those who have had a relationship with Christ but have turned away and are walking in darkness, with no communion with Jesus Christ.

PRAYER
Father God, I want to know that I am equipped by You to reach out and gather the lost sheep of Your flock.  I realize that I must act on my conviction, not just stand idly by and watch life and souls slip away.  I humbly ask that YOu place opportunities in my path that You have given me and that You would also give me the boldness to speak the correct words, Your words, in every situation.

John Reiland

Worship Team/Percussion

Give Up Everything!

SCRIPTURE
"In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple."

Luke 14:33

OBSERVATION
Jesus tells us that we must truly die to ourselves and live for Him, not just sometimes, but ALL the time.

APPLICATION
I must be prepared to grow in, and learn, the Gospel.  I must Seek GOD will all my heart and be full of faith so that everyone I meet will see just how amazing GOD's blessings can be in their lives.  Spread the GOOD news!

PRAYER
Jesus, I give everything I have to You.  I pray for guidance as I pray, study and grow in Your Word.  Help me to increase my faith and be a blessing to someone everyday.  Amen.

Maureen Randall

Worship Department

Soprano

Come On In

SCRIPTURE
“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’” (Luke 13:24-25)

OBSERVATION
The door is currently open to us all, but the day will come when our Lord shall rise up again and at that time the door shall be closed. Entering the kingdom is an act of will and sacrifice that some will choose not to make and therefore be left knocking and pleading outside of the kingdom door.

APPLICATION
Although I have taken that step inside the door, this scripture reminds me of those close to me who have not yet done so. It reminds me of my obligation to step out if faith to share God’s word with them and to live my life in a Godly way so that God’s light will shine through me and draw them inside the door of His kingdom.

PRAYER
Lord, thank you for opening up your kingdom to us all, despite where we’ve been or where we currently are in our walk with you. Lord, I lift up those near and far who have yet to take that step. I ask that you use me Lord as you wish to bring others closer to you. Prepare my heart and tongue Lord for when those opportunities arise. In your precious name, Amen.

Jennifer Rodgers
Worship Department
Soprano/Section Leader

Seek God First

SCRIPTURE
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God: and all these things shall be added unto you.(KJV). Luke 12:31

OBSERVATION
Seeking the kingdom of God, means to to put Jesus first above all things going on in your life.

APPLICATION
To me this means if your gonna talk the talk , walk the walk . it does no good to read the Bible, or go to church. if you keep it all to yourself, what you learn needs to be applied into your daily life. After all what greater testomony is there than your walk with God.

PRAYER
Father God thank you for who you are and what you represent in my life .Help me Lord to put you first everyday. may the scriptures that I read become the armour I put on everyday. and may my walk with you plant seeds in everyone I come into contact with everyday. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Joseph Leon, Sr.
Worship Department
Tenor/Section Leader

Given Power and Authority

SCRIPTURE
Luke 9:1-2 When Jesus had called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.


OBSERVATION
Jesus Himself gave his twelve disciples their power and authority to do the things referenced in Luke 9:1-2. After His death and resurrection, He sent the Holy Spirit to provide the authority and power to believers which we all have once we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Only recently have I begun to call upon that power and authority. Sometimes we feel we have to reach a certain high level of spirituality or to have some 'divine spiritual intervention' to access the power and authority of the kingdom of God. Luke 10:19 tells us that God has given us authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy.

I know now that all it takes is to ask for the power and to begin taking the steps of faith in using that power and authority. This scripture makes it pretty clear - we are to drive out demons, cure diseases, heal the sick and preach the kingdom of God.


APPLICATION
Am I doing all that I am supposed to do? I want to make sure that I am using my full potential in Holy Spirit-given power and authority. I also know that my spiritual growth in the use of these gifts is based on God's timing. I know that I can preach the kingdom of God in more ways than I currently am. So I need to be keenly aware of what opportunities God is presenting to me so that I can act on each of them.

PRAYER
Father, I ask that you continue to grow me up spiritually so that I can become powerful and use the authority given by You to do Your work. I know that You have specific tasks for me alone and I want to be obedient in fulfilling them. Please sensitize me to the opportunities around me to talk to people about You and the abundant life You offer to each of us, now and eternally. Amen.

Who Will Love Him More?

SCRIPTURE
Luke 7:41-43 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who has the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

OBSERVATION
Jesus knew what Simon, the Pharisee, was thinking about the 'sinful' woman who was fussing over Jesus (Luke 7:36-41). Simon was thinking that if Jesus was a prophet, he'd know what kind of woman she was. Jesus proceeds to explain to Simon, in a parable, how the person who needs to be saved the most, will be the most appreciative.

As I think about different people from different walks of life, who have been saved by Jesus, I can see how this would make sense. A murderer, drug addict, or the like may be more appreciative having been delivered from a pretty terrible life. I don't think that makes lifetime Christians, or those middle of the road sinners like me, any less appreciative of the price Jesus paid or the gift we have received. But, there can be a greater awareness of the lifestyle you've been brought out of or the danger you were once in.

My blog yesterday was about not judging others who look or act differently than us. These are many of the ones God loves and is wanting to save. But, at the end of the day, we are all lost and damned until we receive Jesus' gift.

APPLICATION
I don't want to ever take for granted what Jesus has done for me and my life. Not only the price He paid, but where I might be today were it not for Him. I can only imagine the downward spiral my life may have gone into had I remained on the path I was on.

As I look upon others, I can't become prideful. I was there once or easily could have been without my Jesus.

PRAYER
My prayer today is short. THANK YOU, JESUS! I don't even want to think about where I might be without You.