Table of Blessings! 2022
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.
You can listen to this service by clicking below:
You can watch this service by clicking HERE.
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Seize the Moment – Day 977
Today’s hymn focus will be
“We Gather Together”
Psalm 100:4 (NASB95)
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.”
Once again, I find myself without much of a voice due to a recurring ear infection. But that is not about to stop me from bringing God praise. In addition to this phone call, tomorrow morning we will be encouraged as a church through the testimonies of three families, giving praise to God for what He has done in and through their lives this past year.
Today’s hymn was written in the 16th century by an anonymous Dutch author to encourage their fellow congregants to worship and give God praise. During this time, the church was being oppressed by a Spanish rulership and they wanted religious freedom. In the late 1800’s, the hymn entitled “Prayer of Thanksgiving” was translated into English by Theodore Baker, a musicologist from New York who had studied in Leipzig, Germany. It was then published as a traditional Thanksgiving hymn in 1894.
It can be found in our hymn book as hymn 561.
We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens, His will to make known.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
We Gather Together
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
Sing praises to his name; he forgets not his own.
Whose kingdom calls all to the love which endures.
So from the beginning the fight we were winning:
You, Lord, were at our side; all glory be yours!
And pray that you still our defender will be.
Let your congregation escape tribulation:
Your name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
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Seize the Moment – Day 963
Today’s Modern day hymn focus will be
Make Room
Romans 6:13 (NLT)
Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
Written in 2020 by Community Music’s husband and wife team Lucas Cortazio and Evelyn Heideriqui , along with writers Josh Farro and Bekah White, created this song as a prayer for God to take His rightful place, demonstrating that it is up to us to open up and allow Him access to our hearts and lives. This song glorifies God while pleading with both believers and non-believers to lay down their lives in total surrender. It is only of our own free will that this can happen because God is a gentleman and does not force His way, but lovingly calls us to surrender to Him, making Him Lord of our lives.
And I will make room for You to do whatever you want to,
to do whatever you want to.
And I will make room for You to do whatever you want to
To do whatever You want to.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Make Room
Here is where I lay it down
Every burden, every crown
This is my surrender
This is my surrender
Here is where I lay it down
Every lie and every doubt
This is my surrender
And I will make room for You
To do whatever You want to
To do whatever You want to
And I will make room for You
To do whatever You want to
To do whatever You want to, oh
Have Your way, have Your way, Jesus, oh
We surrender all, we surrender all, Jesus
Have Your way, Jesus, have Your way, Jesus
Shake up the ground of all my tradition
Break down the walls of all my religion
Your way is better
Oh Your way is better
Shake up the ground of all my tradition
Break down the walls of all my religion
Your way is better, Jesus
Oh Your way is better
Shake up the ground of all my tradition
Break down the walls of all my religion
Your way is better, Jesus
Your way is better
Shake up the ground of all my tradition
Break down the walls of all my religion
Your way is better
Oh Your way is better
Here is where I lay it down
You are all I’m chasing now
This is my surrender
This is my surrender
Here is where I lay it down
You are all I’m chasing now
This is my surrender
This is my surrender
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Train to Live on Mission – Week 34
Battle Drill #34:
Building up Heart & Mind
Pastor Jerry shared last week about learning resilience, and that it is more than just being tough and having a ‘thick skin”, learning from the example of Paul’s life and skills. Today I would like to take follow up on that thought and take us through the fundamentals that this resilience comes out of… the building up of your heart and mind.
Proverbs 24:3-5, 10-12
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power.
I. It starts with the heart, for the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.
It takes a heart of integrity! Look at King David! It was said of him:
Psalm 78:72
“He shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them”
His son, King Solomon wrote:
Proverbs 4:23
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
A. Know the field manual: He Weighs the Heart
Romans 10:9-10
“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
1 Samuel 16:7
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for [a]God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Thessalonians 2:4
“but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”
God uses the Word to measure
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
B. Importance of Training Together: It Brings Unity
ILLUS: “Don’t Lose Heart” by Steven Curtis Chapman
It is the home of your hope and faith
2 Chronicles 30:12
“The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.”
Acts 4:32-33
“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.”
C. Seek the Commander’s Approval: More than just good intentions
1 Tim. 1:5
“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
Heb. 10:22
“ let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Benefit: God will guard your heart
Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 24:3-5
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power.
A. Know the field manual: Set your mind
ILLUS: On the line of scrimmage – no flinching
Romans 8:5
Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
1 Peter 1:13
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Psalm 26:2
“Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.”
B. Importance of Training Together: We Need Each Other!
ILLUS: Things we can’t go without: Air/3 minutes; Water/3 days; Food/3 weeks; Fellowship/3 months.
Starts having impact on our overall well-being.
Human touch inspires positive thinking & expands trust, reduces social anxiety & stress, boosts immune system & lowers blood pressure.”
In an article published in a secular psychology magazine, the writer stated:
“It’s ironic that during a highly contagious pandemic where our immune systems are being the most stressed, we are being deprived of something (human touch) that is so essential to our body’s function.” *
How the early church started
Acts 2:42
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Philippians 2:5 (ESV)
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus”
Hebrews 10:24-25
“and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
C. Seek the Commander’s Approval: Put God first!
Proverbs 24:12
“If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?”
ILLUS: Reading or hearing the instructions.
Proverbs 3:6
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Colossians 3:17,23-24
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father… Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
How do we Live on Mission? K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Silly)
You can listen to the message here:
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
FOOTNOTE:
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Seize the Moment – Day 956
Today’s hymn focus will be
Blessed Be Your Name
Psalm 34:1 (NASB95)
“I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
This modern-day hymn was written by Matt & Beth Redman, who also have written songs we sing like “The Heart of Worship”, “Your Grace Finds Me”, and “10,000 Reasons”. In September 2001, they were visiting in California just after 9/11 occurred. They saw the effects that it was having on people and churches and the brokenness that was being felt. As they visited churches, they heard the powerful messages of pastors expressing the pain of the nation and God’s heart for His people, but there seemed to be a lack of songs that gave people a voice in worship. They were inspired to write this hymn to give a voice to the lament, but also reflect in Whom our hope of victory is placed.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name.
We need to wake up to the fact that God is with us in every season of our lives, even those times that may seem dark and sad. When we remember that the sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes with the morning, we can trade the sadness for gladness.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Blessed Be Your Name
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Seize the Moment – Day 949
Today’s hymn focus will be
Like a Mighty Sea
John 4:14 (NASB95)
“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
Growing up in the church, Tina and I remember some of the hymns by page number that were being called out during a service or because they were a family member’s favorite. Today’s hymn is such a song, as it was HYMN 215 “Like A Mighty Sea”, which was Tina’s grandpa’s requested hymn.
Written in 1900 by Henry J. Zelley, a Taylor University Graduate, and put to music by Henry Lake Gilmour, this hymn serves as a call to salvation and as a reminder of where the source of life comes from, which is the throne of God. Every parched and thirsty soul is invited to plunge beneath the waves of His never-ending love and grace.
Like a mighty sea, like a mighty sea, comes the love of Jesus
sweeping over me
The waves of glory roll, the Savior to extol, comes the love of Jesus
sweeping o’er my soul
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Like a Mighty Sea
To sweep from highest heaven to this poor heart of mine;
I stand upon the promise, in Jesus’ name I plead;
Oh, send the gracious current to satisfy my need.
Like a mighty sea, like a mighty sea,
Comes the love of Jesus sweeping over me;
The waves of glory roll, the shouts I can’t control;
Comes the love of Jesus sweeping o’er my soul.
That come to bring refreshing down from the throne above;
The earnest of the shower, just now to us is giv’n,
And now we wait, expecting the floods of grace from heav’n. [Refrain]
The floodtide of salvation, with pow’r to cleanse from sin;
It’s surging through my being and takes my sin away,
It keeps me shouting glory! through all the happy day. [Refrain]
A torrent of salvation in saving, cleansing pow’r:
I hear the billows surging, I see them mount and roll;
Oh, glory, hallelujah! they’re sweeping through my soul. [Refrain]
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Seize the Moment Day 942
Take My Life
Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
The original hymn was written in 1876 by Frances Havergal. The daughter of an Anglican minister, she was referred to as the ‘consecrated poet’, striving to live her life that was fully dedicated to Christ, always sensitive to the needs of others. She gave the hymn a sense of prayerful petition by starting each verse with the compulsory verb of “take”.
In May of 2013, Chris Tomlin and Louie Gigglio put a modern twist on the hymn, making sure to keep the integrity and meaning of the verses, while adding a new chorus that reiterated the consecration and personal commitment to the Lord. Like Frances, these two men convey the message of the song with strong conviction and invitation for others to do the same.
Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Take My Life
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.
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Seize the Moment – Day 935
Today’s hymn focus will be
Come People of the Risen King
Philippians 2:11 (NASB95)
“ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
This song is a wonderful call to worship written by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townsend in 2008. Much like to hymns of the past, they took us through progressive steps as to why we are to express our praise, inviting us in the process with them, calling us to declare God’s grace and mercy and how we are to express our gratitude and consecration to Him.
Using a melody style that is reflective of the times is also something that the hymn writers of old used to do. It helps to make the song memorable so we can walk away with that song in our hearts. We are being invited to come and rejoice in the gospel, no matter where we are in this life.
Rejoice, rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice, o Church of Christ, rejoice!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Come People of the Risen King
Come, people of the risen King
Who delight to bring Him praise
Come all and tune your hearts to sing
To the morning star of grace
From the shifting shadows of the earth
We will lift our eyes to Him
Where steady arms of mercy reach
To gather children in
[Refrain]
Rejoice, rejoice
Let every tongue rejoice
One heart one voice
Oh, church of Christ rejoice
[Verse 2]
Come those whose joy is morning sun
And those weeping through the night
Come those who tell of battles won
And those struggling in the fight
For His perfect love will never change
And His mercies never cease
But follow us through all our days
With the certain hope of peace
[Verse 3]
Come, young and old from every land
Men and women of the faith
Come those with full or empty hands
Find the riches of His grace
Over all the world His people sing
Shore to shore we hear them call
The truth that cries through every age
Our God is all in all
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Seize the Moment – Day 928
Today’s hymn focus will be
“Glorious Day”
“ and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”
In 2009, Mark Hall, the frontman and songwriter for Casting Crowns, wrote the music for a glorious old hymn. He took the strong lyrics of this hymn that depicted the life of Christ, a hymn he grew up on and rearranged it because people were not singing it much anymore.
The original hymn, ‘One Day’ was written by John Wilbur Chapman who was born in Richmond, Indiana. Written about 1908, he was a passionate evangelist, he wrote this hymn to provide a memorable way to share the gospel.
Both of these men wanted this message to be declared loud and clear:
Living He loved me, dying He saved me, buried He carried my sin far away
Rising He justified freely forever; One day He’s coming, O glorious day!1 Peter 2:24dkl
O glorious day!
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Glorious Day
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Seize the Moment – Day 921
Today’s modern day hymn focus will be
Great is the Lord
Psalm 145:3-4 (NASB95)
“ Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
And His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.”
In 1982, Michael W. Smith and his wife Debbie were active members of a church in Nashville TN where he also led worship. During that season of their lives, they would often sit together at night, open up the scriptures and allow God to inspire their hearts. One night, God took them to the above passage. While she wrote a few lines, he played the melody, and they saw them come together practically at the same time.
The next Sunday, he taught the song to the congregation of Belmont Church, and they were greatly moved to a spirit of worship, lifting their voices in praise as they sang this song.
Great is the Lord, He is holy and just, by His power we trust in His love
Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true, by His mercy He proves He is love
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Great is the Lord
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