It is always a blessing to us
to be in the Lord's house!
Pastor's message was about
striving for the mastery...
"And every man that
striveth for the mastery
is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown;
but we an incorruptible."
1 Corinthians 9:25
He related our Christian walk
as that to an Olympic race.
We, as believers, are in a "race"
and just as someone that trains
for an Olympic race
lives, eats, breathes for that race,
so ought we for ours.
What we do, eat, say, think on,
how we live, go about our day, etc...
effects how we run our race.
We should be striving (working hard)
for the mastery!
They do it for a corruptible crown,
we for an incorruptible.
We should be 100% for God!
We shouldn't be taking spiritual "vacations".
If we aren't moving forward, we are backsliding.
We ought to be running the course
that the Lord has set before us!
Our race is not over until we stop breathing...
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down
at the right hand of the throne of God."
~ Hebrews 12:1-2
What a blessing it was!
We, also, partook in the Lord's supper,
which is always such a precious time and blessing.
My heart was overflowing!
And if that wasn't enough,
the Lord continued in the evening service.
We had our "All Youth Service"
where the young people led the service.
The young man that did the preaching
talked about how we ought not to be satisfied
with what the Lord has done in the past...
Meaning there is much more to be done.
He talked about how he had seen people saved,
lives changed, etc... as God used him
but that we cannot become satisfied with that
and not allow God to use us to do more.
That we need to continue pressing toward the mark...
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth
unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
~ Philippians 3:13-14
He admonished us that when we get to Heaven,
enjoying its splendor and seeing our Savior's face,
there will still be many others
suffering an eternity in Hell.
We may become self-satisfied on Earth
but, in Heaven, will we be able to say,
"I did ALL I could. I did my BEST for Jesus"?
The Holy Spirit convicted hearts
and set a challenge before us!
In addition to the great preaching,
we had some wonderful special music from our youth.
The children's choir sang "Joy to the World"...
It's such a blessing working with them!
Ally played an offeratory on the piano
as Will took up the offering...
Also, Ally and her friend
sang a song for special music...
(Ally lost her guitar pick at the beginning. lol)
Afterwards, we had a fellowship!
Complete with pizza and brownies! Mmmm!
It was, truly, a blessed Lord's Day!
"I was glad when they said unto me,
Let us go into the house of the LORD."
~ Psalm 122:1
7 comments:
YUM BROWNIES~~~~
Ally is so talented... Is ally and her friend wearing matching dresses??
I The chairs at your church. Our church plans to one day get those. my Dh and I visit a church when we go out of town to see my dad... they have those chairs, they are SO cozy!!!!
Hope you all had a WONDERFUL New years......
Okay, that does it, we are switching to your church. I wonder how long of a commute it would be from north of the Twin Cities. lol I was just sharing with DiamondsintheRough (email) about our past Sunday - you don't want to know, but let's just say it's a far cry from your church. Enjoyed your pictures greatly. Our older computer doesn't show slides very well, but the little I caught was a blessing. I just love seeing our young people joyfully participating in church. Your children are doing sooo well. Yes, I agree, it is easy to just rest upon our past laurals, but we must keep on press for the mark no matter what age.
Blessings,
Jane
I love the video of the little kids sining, "Joy to the World." It is so cute. Especially when the one holds out the notes on the end of the verses! : )
We too had a VERY encouraging Lord's day.....
Thank you so much for sharing your notes with us..
Such a blessing
Deby
Kristy Jo ~ Yes, yum, brownies. ;o) We have plenty leftover, if you're interested. ;o)
Thank you... we are thankful the Lord has enabled Ally to learn music. She loves to play. And, yes, those are matching dresses that she and her friend are wearing. ;o)
The chairs are pretty comfy. It is nice, too, to have an arm rest. ;o)
I hope y'all have a wonderful new year, too.
PlainJane ~ We'd love to have you at church, though the commute would be rather "interesting". lol
Praying for your situation. ;o)
I'm glad you were able to see some of the videos. I, too, love seeing young people joyfully serving the Lord! It thrills my heart!
Abigail ~ I, too, love hearing the little ones singing. I, too, thought it was cute when one of the lil' girls held out the notes. Children are so precious. ;o)
Deby ~ Praise the Lord for your encouraging Lord's Day. What a blessing that is!
And praise the Lord the notes were a blessing, too. ;o)
~ Christina
oh, i wanted to take a video of my kids (all four) leaning close to the com screen, enjoying Ally playing and singing. But alas, the camera was out of reach.
I love that song, I'll Fly Away.
Oh yes! That little one who was singing "and heav;n and heav' and nature SANG!" I know, it's a twang thang. :O)
Blessings,
Suwei
apieceofcake.typepad.com/homeschooling_in_sg
I got tears in my eyes listening to Ally and her friend sing. She is very talented. The little kids were so sweet. You have a little star on your hands...she was adorable twisting her dress!
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