Calling all PowerKids…STEP RIGHT UP!!!

We had so much fun last month learning about RESOURCEFULNESS! Who knew how resourceful people were in the Bible times! People like Moses and Hezekiah, just to name a few…and the kids were amazingly resourceful themselves last week as they used newspaper, masking tape and file folders to make Moses costumes! The results were incredible!

Can you believe that this Sunday is the first day of February? With a new month comes a new virtue and we are so excited to unveil the surprise this Sunday morning! So, Mom’s and Dad’s, make sure your PowerKid is ready for FAIRly fabulous fun this week at Kid’s Church! We hear there’s a king who’s supposed to make an appearance in the court…hmmmm….see you there!!

Anticipation

Did you know that Jesus is coming back?  The Bible says that every person who calls on His name, trust in Him, and walks in His ways will be saved.  But when is He coming.?  No one knows for sure but our hearts can grow in anticipation when we see an increase in extreme violence, war and natural disasters. These are “signs of the times.”

Jesus said, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)

Jesus, today I will allow my heart to grow in anticipation for your soon and coming return.  You will right all wrong, bless those who follow you and redeem all of us back to yourself.  Help me to stay focused on your and share you love with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Into All the World

The gospel of Jesus Christ is so incredible that it needs to be shared with everyone everywhere.  In fact, the Gospel of Matthew declares that when every ethnic group in the world has head the good news, Jesus will come back!

“Go and make disciples of all the ethnic groups of the world, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19)

Dear Heavenly Father, today I will join the effort of sharing the good news to the entire world; to every country; and to every ethnic people.  You deserve to be worshipped among all peoples!  Give me a heart for those that are unreached with the Good News and show me what I can do to be a part of declaring your name among the nations. In Jesus name, Amen.

Follow Justice

Following God’s ways is a journey of choices and actions.  The choices are what you believe and the actions are how you live out what you believe.  Jesus compared it to the fruit of tree.  You can tell the type of tree based on the fruit it bears.  One evidence of God’s journey is doing “justice.”

“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Heavenly Father, I realize that to walk with you I must carry out justice in my world. It is not sufficient for me to see the dark impact of evil in this world and complain. Grant me the courage and wisdom to begin to defend those whose lives are mistreated and to work for justice for those who remain defenseless.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Why Is My Heart Sick?

I was perusing craigslist as a break from grading papers. If you have not visited this online classified website, you have not experienced the thrill of an online garage sale, flea market, and junkyard all wrapped up in one. Actually, there are some really good deals on some nice stuff out there right now. The steep downturn in the economy is requiring many people to sell much of what they have. As I looked at a recurring theme throughout the ads—I need money to pay bills, or I need money for tuition—I was reminded of what my grandmother told me when I was very young. She said stay out of debt and you will be rich. She rather prophetically said, there will come a day when you can drive down the road and see anything you want being sold for a dime on the dollar. If you don’t owe anyone anything, she said, you will be able to afford whatever you want.

Well, I can’t necessarily afford everything I want, but I am amazed at how true what my grandmother said turned out to be. I was then reminded of Proverbs 13:12, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. How many people are absolutely heartsick today because their hope is in those things they can no longer have. For those whose life has been filled with fun and pleasure but no recognition that all good things come from our Heavenly Father, their hope has been deferred; it has been sidetracked by a world economic situation over which they have no control.

Where is your hope today? If your hope is fully in Christ and the eternal promises he represents for all of us, the deepest longings of your heart are constantly fulfilled. To hope in Him is to embrace hope that will never be deferred. It is a hope that is not subject to this world or any economic crisis this world may experience. Why not exchange a sick heart for a tree of life that never stops bearing good fruit, no matter what goes on around us. 

Just Serve One

The desire for more in this world is a never-ending trap of materialism, disappointment and despair. Perhaps this is why the Scripture says that the “love of money is the root of all evil.” (I Timothy 6:10)  One of the simplest and profound ways to serve God is to loosen the grip that money has on your life.

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You can not serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

Dear Lord, for too long I have attempted to juggle my loyalties between you and the pleasures of this world.  I see now that I need to stop pursuing pleasures and pursue you whole-heartedly.  You alone are my treasure and my priority.  Today I release control of my material possessions and promise to use them as a blessing for your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

CrosStone explores the persecuted Church in China

Come and join us this week at CrosStone as we explore the persecuted Church in China through an “all-play” event.  We are excited about Wednesday’s CrosStone meeting.  Through food, fellowship, family, and fearsome secret police, we will learn what it feels like to have to sneak around to worship God.

So often, we hear about the persecution that our brothers and sisters in Christ experience on an everyday basis, but rarely do we concieve of what it would be like for us to suffer the same hardship.  Being able to stand boldly and publically proclaim faith in Christ is a luxury that we take for granted.   Our prayer is that what we experience at CrosStone this week will motivate us to pray fervently for those who are persecuted and to thank God daily for our liberty.

Please invite your friends to join us on Wednesday, January 28 at 7:00 in the CrosStone room

SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!!

Mr. Jeff

Deliver us from Evil

There is a difference between right and wrong and good and evil. Many people today are timid to speak of the reality of an evil force, but Jesus even mentioned the force of evil in the Lord’s Prayer: “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”  The power of God can deliver you from the forces of the evil one!

“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” (Matt 10:1)

Lord, you alone have the power, might and dominion to overcome evil.  I know that the reason you came to this work was to destroy the works of the evil one.  Today I receive the authority that you have granted to submit to you, resist the influence of evil and to drive evil away from my life in Jesus name, Amen.

Can You Handle This Video?

Hey People,

Thanks for coming out the the scavenger hunt!  It was a great time.  Keep an eye out for a picture slide show.  See you Wednesday at 7!

Pastor Matt

Healing

So much of life is lived out between the difficulties of “coping” and heroic efforts of “overcoming” the crippling effects of brokenness. Broken dreams, broken hearts and broken relationships.   But life with Jesus can point you in a different direction.  Rather than coping with hidden pain or mustering up the strength to overcome the “issues” that confront us, Jesus’ offers the opportunity to be transformed AND to walk in a way that transforms others.

“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” (Matt 10:1)

Dear Father, today I desire to move past coping with, or even struggling to overcome, the emotional “issues” that surround my past and present.  Instead I am turning to your son, Jesus, and asking for healing that can radically transform me.  I also am asking for the boldness to walk in your authority so that as I am healed I will be able to bring your transforming power to those around me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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