We have a Father who listens and answers prayer.

Christianity is the only faith with a living God and a God who is listening to us.

Pray according to God's will.

14"For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a]in heaven and on earth derives its name." Ephesians 3:14-15

2 ways to learn how to pray: taught or caught

20 "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." Ephesians 2:20

9"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

We aren't given faith to get things.  Get your feet wet.

What we're asking for should glorify God.

He won't give us something that won't glorify God.

Be strengthened within.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,"
Ephesians 3:16

​ "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

If we focus on the problem the problem becomes who we are.

Put your heart and mind on the other side. If not where's our witness?


Our inner strength will grow when we focus on Christ.

If you don't push yourself beyond your capability you won't grow.

To do this we must be rooted in Christ.

"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,"
Ephesians 3:17

Be rooted in Christ.  Power to Serve God.  Ask to fully grasp the love of Christ.

"may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:18-19

Be filled every day.

Be loving toward all all the time.

Without the love we cannot be who we are meant to be.

God is more than we can comprehend.  We are to be filled for His glory daily.  Don't be overwhelmed with life. Be overwhelmed with God.

Desire for us to have this.He loves to see joy in His children. He loves to see His children living to their fullest potential.



​

Human error once again stopped us from sharing with you Shannon's sermon verbally, but we do have some notes. Hope they bless you. See below:

Paul had a list of challenges. He saw Jesus and was struck blind; then had to be led around. He was used to being respected and became an outcast. Even the church didn't trust him at first. He was shipwrecked, flogged, stoned. He knew hunger and cold. He was in prison for many years. Through all this (and not through incredibly "blessed" circumstances) he learned how to be content. 

"I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:12-13

It's not natural to be content. Our natural state is we want more of _______. We never have enough. Satan uses this against us. He says if you do this you'll have more. What a lie!

Satan did this with Jesus in Luke 4. The first temptation was to turn stones into bread -- temptation for necessarities. The second one was proving Himself (throw yourself off the building. Angels will catch you). The third was about having all the stuff you'd ever want (I'll give you the whole world. Just fall down and worship me). 

Jesus could have done any of that but that wasn't why He was sent. If He had given in, if He had cut corners to God's way, He would have negated His purpose. We will do the same if we live our way rather than God's way.   

If we are not living in the moment, we are missing out. You are not creating a memory by videotaping it. You create a memory by living it.

Find your joy on the inside. Can't allow that desire for more control us or we will cut corners when we shouldn't. We will fail. 

If our contentment isn't coming from within material stuff will take control. Without Christ there is no contentment.

​God has all the big things under His control.

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8

Put your mind on the beauty. This is a learned behavior. Look for the beauty!

We don't undersatnd the lack in other parts. We just have to look around and find the joy. 

Little things!

The big secret -- remember what we have. God takes care of the big things. Don't look horizontally for contentment. Look vertically -- look up to God. 

We gotta let go of the past (forgive everyone including yourself). Acknowledge baggage is there so God can deal with it for you. 

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

It isn't about self suffficiency. It isn't about our strength. God gives us strength. This verse is about contentment not about our own strength. We are insufficient. God is sufficient. Self-sufficiency will always fail. 

God doesn't give us unlimited strength. He has unlimited strength. 

It was neat to see the imperfection. When we aren't able to pull, He'll pull. He uses His strength to carry us. I can't do it alone. Be content with this. God's got us.

Life is not a DVD. We cannot fast forward through bad times.

Look at the other side of it. We can learn contentment. 

Chlldren. When they hurt they run to Mom and Dad. They know Mom and Dad will make it all better. This is how we need to be with Father God. We need to run to HIm with everything knowing He will make it better. 

Notes from today, 2/26/2017's service:

Visible haven on the other side.

1 Corinthians 15:12-19.

Everyone knew Jesus' tomb was empty.

If we don't believe in the resurrection of the dead, our faith is worthless.

The knowledge that God exists is not enough.

Too much religion and not enough resurrection.

It's not about being comfortable.

This world is fallen. 

It's easy for us to be comfortable in our faith.

Do you know?

Can you see the house on the other side of the cemetery? Is there evidence in my life where I'm walking?

Purpose vs browsing/strolling.

We cannot stroll in our faith.

#1 Are you living life as if this is all there is?

#2  What's the most important thing to you?

#3 What's the biggest priority in your life?

#4 Do you feel an urgency to call others to Christ?

There's only one person who really went to heaven who could tell us about it -- Jesus!

If we don't take the invitation our place will be empty.  Resurrection is what we'll happen to us.

Daniel 12:2.

People get prepared for a wedding.

We are getting ready to see the Bridegroom. 

Acknowledgement of what we've been given. Our life should be an expression of our faith.

Are we window shopping or living?

1 Corinthians 15:58:28-34.

(Must apologize in advance -- missed part of the sermon so no notes for when I had to take Hawk to the bathroom).

Notes from this morning's sermon:

Life gets heavy.

Matthew 11:28-30.

Oxen and work horses pull heavy loads but they won't be setting any land speed records.

heavy-laden = burden

Jesus says, "I'll trade you. Take my light yoke of following me and I'll take that load of worry you carry on your shoulders."

Jesus says, "Come to Me."

If you're tired, come.

We take our burdens and compound them by worrying about them. You have to let them go without any strings attached that you can pull on later to bring them back.

Some people let their burdens become their identity.

Luke 11:46: The pharisees gave the people burdens.

Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust Him to do everything. We get so used to a burden we can't let it go.

We often communicate with complaints.

Acknowledge Him.

Psalm 55:22: "Cast your burden."

Cast means we throw it at Him.

Casting a heavy wet net takes lot of strength.

Humble yourself.  Realize you can't do everything. Sometimes we can't do anything.

Start with prayer.

All that worry gives us nothing good. You can worry yourself sick.

Proverbs 34:17.

Isaiah 46:4.

God says He's got this. He will always be there. God is the only one who can bring us to Him. How do we let this go?

In His due time.

Paul's physical problem never went away. Yet, he had joy.

Read His Word. It is full of encouragement and promises of God taking care of us.

We have to get into prayer to get close to Jesus. We have to be in conversation with Him. Constant conversation. Ask. If you knock the door will be opened.

And give your brothers and sisters a chance to help. They want to.
​

​Following is a recording of the Christmas Eve Service at our church. Let me warn you -- it is a bit chaotic but if you dare to listen you'll hear lots of laughter, a bit of off-key singing (that's me); some great hymns and Shannon preaching. I didn't take any notes this time. Hope you all had a lovely Christmas.

This is the second sermon in the series Shannon is doing on people involved in the first Christmas.

Like I have recently I will share my notes in this blog before I post the recording. For those who live near Dupree, we will have our Christmas Program Service Sunday, Dec. 18 starting at 10 a.m. There will be refreshments afterwards. And there will be a Christmas Eve service at 4 p.m. Christmas Eve. 

Now onto the notes:

Lights are unique to Christmas.

It's exciting to celebrate a new event at Christmas.

Luke 2:21 -- 38

Preparation for Christmas!

Simeon and Anna had been anticipating Christ's arrival for decades.

Once Simeon saw Jesus he could have walked away -- instead he rejoiced, worshipped God and prophesied.

He prophesies Jesus is not just the Savior for Israel. He is also the Savior for the Gentiles.

At this time:

Rome was occupying Israel (and not nice about it).

Evil Herod was the king.

"A sword will pierce your own soul" Luke 2:35a

(Israel had been praying for the Messiah but they missed him because He didn't come as they thought He would. Do we miss God because He doesn't answer prayers the way we wanted Him too? Do we miss the answers?,,,,these are my thoughts while my mind wandered)

Consolation= to console, to comfort.

Jesus was the promised Comforter!

Anna -- spends all her time fasting and praying, A real prayer warrior. Prayer warriors in the church are often there all the time and become almost invisible, not noticed by others. People probably no longer noticed Anna, the old lady, at the temple. 

Redemption = brought out of slavery. You can't redeem yourself. Another person/party must redeen you.

"And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God" 

The quiet one got LOUD!

That kind of anticipation:

#1 Celebration of Jesus' birth.

#2 Anticipation of His return, the second coming!  Possibly be like Anna in anticipation of the 2nd coming.

So many lost. Time will be up. Every knee will bow (Romans 4:11).

Psalm 103:1-5

​Anticipating the future. That is our hope!

Boy, if you can, make it to church the next few Sundays. Shannon is doing a series of sermons on people who are part of the original Christmas story. Today he spoke about Zechariah.

He began with a monologue from Zechariah's perspective. I've included the monologue on a separate page. Click here to see it.

Following are the notes I took today. And following the notes I will put the Youtube link -- it does have a few pictures with it but you do not have to watch it. You can just listen to it (like a podcast).

the Notes:

The Jewish people had not had a prophet speak for 400 years! 

Somehow through the years God's people had lost their way.

Though He didn't speak through prophets to His people He was not inacttive. At this time in history Alexander the Great brought Greek and libraries to the area. The Romans built roads throughout the Roman empire. All of this was used eventually to spread the gospel around the world!

God was actively working. God had prepared the way logistically so the gospel could be spread. We are tarting to prepare for Christmas. God prepared these things for the Good News.

Galatians 4:4-5 -- in God's time. 400 years of waiting. For Zechariah, it took striking him dumb to understand. He lived in a tiny town. Never had praise like the big city priests most likely received. He was not important in people's eyes. But then he was chosen to go into the holy of holies. To be chosen was a very special thing. People didn't see Zechariah as special but God did. People probably saw him as cursed (since his wife was barren). God saw him as blessed. Zechariah had his eyes opened through that year of silence. His whole world changed.

Zechariah was able to sit and watch what was going on. He had time to study God's propheicies. He understood what Elijah's return really meant. Most of us can't hear our own voice. We miss what God is doing in others. Be an active listener, an active observer.

Luke 1:1-3 It is different from the other gospels.

Luke 1:5 -- Don't think the silence was a punishment but a gift of silence.

Luke 1:57-66 -- The neighbors had all sorts of ideas for the baby!

Luke 1:67 -- Zechariah prophesies.

I am now replacing the video (11/22/2016). The one I put up yesterday was only about 4 minutes long. I wondered why it was quick loading! So, I hope you have returned to listen to the entire sermon. Thanks for visiting!

Following are the notes I took yesterday during Shannon's sermon. My pen ran out of ink so I didn't take notes the entire time (I use a fountain pen -- love my fountain pen). The notes will be below followed by the podcast of the sermon. I won't put the links for the scripture. You can plug it in yourself at Biblegateway.com. Well, I guess I just gave you a link. Open that up and put in the scripture to read it yourself (or have your Bible handy). Notes are below:

I'm thankful for taxes, for clothes that are too tight, for big heating bills; loads of laundry (listen to see why he says these things).

Poverty better than persecution. 

The acknowledgement of God and His Divine Providence was reason they pulled away from England (talking about first colonists to America).

Thanksgiving -- special holiday. Began in 1789 declared by George Washington to acknowledge and worship God. Everything we have is from God -- we all join together to thank God.

Today we're so torn apart (in our country). 

We've lost the reason for Thanksgiving.

Founding documents of our country say we are a Christian nation. We can always be thankful for God.

Psalm 100:1-5 -- written as commands.

#1 Let the world know you are joyful. Shout loudly so all can hear you (then tells story about "I will tell your name!").

We have regained our very lives. The joy is not put on but spills out.

#2 Worship the LORD with Gladness, loud instruments. Make a joyful noise!

Fill our minds with worship. There's a blessing, a lifting of our spirits with music -- It brings forth emotions. Music is a gift from God.

#4 Know God is God in every cell of your body. Let that knowledge soak into your very DNA. God doesn't abandon His creation as human creators do. He continues to build is us. We are works in progress. 

Philippians 1:6

Sometimes to get blind to the need.

Our gratefulness should come from knowing who we are (at our worst) and who made us.

Psalm 103:8-12

Remember where all good things come from (James 1)

Do His bidding. Give ourselves to His mission. That the best way to live. Get out of the way and let God work.