Never The Same Again

Advent Series – Part 2

“And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,  47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,  48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;  49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.  50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.  51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;  52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;  53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.  54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,  55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever."  56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.” 

- Luke 1:46-56

The Light Invades The Darkness

Advent Series – Part 1

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.”
- Isaiah 9:2

“1:5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea… 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”
- Luke 1:5, 2:1-5

Praying: "O Lord Thank you"

Prayer From God Series – Part 6

“Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying, "I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. 3 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. 4 Then I said, 'I am driven away from your sight; Yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.' 5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head 6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God. 7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. 8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love (grace). 9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!" 10 And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.”                

- Jonah 2:1-10

Praying: "O Lord Help me"

Prayer From God Series – Part 5

“And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.  22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon."  23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us."  24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me."  26 And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."  27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."  28 Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.”

- Matthew 15:21-28

We are Ambassadors of Christ!

“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.  19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”  21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Praying: "O God I Know You Are For Me"

Prayer From God Series – Part 4

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING TO THE DOVE ON FAR-OFF TEREBINTHS. A MIKTAM OF DAVID, WHEN THE PHILISTINES SEIZED HIM IN GATH. Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me;  2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.  3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?  5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.  6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life.  7 For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!  8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?  9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.  10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise,  11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?  12 I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.  13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”

- Psalm 56:1-13

God & Government

“19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”

- Daniel 2:19-21

Praying: "O God, You Have Only Begun to Show Me Your Greatness"

Prayer From God Series – Part 3

"23 And I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying,  24 'O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?  25 Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.'  26 But the LORD was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the LORD said to me, 'Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again.  27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan.  28 But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.'”

- Deuteronomy 3:23-28