On Worship

Pastors are called to help the people of God worship Him by singing the Word of God, praying the Word of God, preaching the Word of God to them, reading the Word of God and showing the Word of God in the sacraments. It is by the Word of God that we are stirred towards Him as we see His excellencies. Sadly, many worship "leaders" think that they are leading in worship because they are leading songs and playing instruments. Real worship is taking delight in God as He reveals Himself in His Word. I fear there are some that do the outward task of leading in worship while neglecting the heart of the matter. Alistair Begg offers similiar sentiments in On Being a Pastor.

"Worship is what we were orginally created for, and then recreated for in Christ. It is tragic if we feel obliged to lead God's people in public praise and worship but are devoid of heartfelt praise and worship when we come before Him in secret--and yet that can be the case."
-- Alistair Begg

May we taste and see that the Lord is good as we behold Him in the Word.

ski trip

This is my first post on this blog. I am encouraged by what it has become; a place for accountability, teaching, sharing, fellowship, discipleship and love. Praise God. To all who post and read, continue to do so and pray that we may build each other up by the awesome power of God.
This year's water ski trip was very encouraging in that it showed all in attendance at the worship and preaching services, the great and mighty power of God. We had the opportunity to share in fellowship and worship with a church that truly desires to glorify our Lord. Faith Bible Church was used by God to show, not only the kids but also the leaders what a church who lives for God looks like. Thank you FBC and Praise God!
The preachers, Chris Mueller and Scott Artavanis were amazing. They were faithful to preach the word. Praise God! Mr. Mueller taught about the Sovereignty of God and on Life and Death from Ephesians 2. Then to close, Mr. Artavanis preached from 1 Thessalonians 1 and showed us some qualities of true believers.
My encouragement to all who had the privilege of joining us at camp is to not let yourselves get back to your old habits. Live for Christ! Be imitators, examples, & witnesses of Christ and repent always, for sin separates us from our Holy Lord, all while waiting for the 2nd coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Strive to be like the faithful Thessalonians!

Jesus really did pay it all.

When we sing "Jesus paid it all" we should know that he truly did pay it all. When Christ died he did not just pay for our sin, no he paid for so much more. When Christ died he bought everything blessing that God gives us. Everything God blesses us with is because the blood of Christ. Christ also bought the bad things in our life that God uses for good. Every bad thing that God uses for his will was bought with Christ's blood.

The only thing we deserve is eternity in hell. Thats it. Yet God in his grace and mercy offers us eternity in heaven. When I think about this I can not help but think about how sinful I am and how holy God is. Why would such a holy and just God offer his own son for a horrible sinner like me. The amazing thing is not only does God spare us from his wrath but he goes even further and blesses us.

All things come from God and all things were purchased for us by the blood of Christ. Praise Jesus, The spotless lamb of God who humbled himself for us. Praise his name forever.

God is..

i know God is...

holy
just
almighty
all powerful
in control
perfect
the beging and the end
the Father
the Son
the Holy Spirit
worthy
trustworhty
powerful
majestic


i also know He...

is love
has compasion
gives grace
shows mercy
is beautiful
is the redeemer
will never leave me

God has given me so much and yet i know He has the power to take it all away. i am certain that if all is taken from me He will never deprive me of the reltaionship i have with Him which is the ONLY thing i need. i want nothing but Him and all else is considered a perishable gift. thank you Lord for who you are and for the unconditional love you have for me, a sinner.

Born Again

1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Praise God that we are born again because of his great mercy.

Make a Joyful Noise

Psalm 100:1-5

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
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 steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Prayer

God, you are amazing, you are so righteous. God you are so mighty. I am so sinful. It is so awesome that you would love me. I pray that I would be glorifying to you in all I do. Please give me understanding from your word. Please God, allow me to be completely satisfied in you and you alone. God, without you I have, and am nothing. Thank you so much for loving me before I loved you. I pray that I would know nothing but Christ and him crucified.

In Jesus name, Amen

We all grew up singing it.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.”

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me still today,
Walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! Loves me still,
Though I’m very weak and ill,
That I might from sin be free
Bled and died upon the tree.


(The last stanza from the original is commonly omitted in hymnals)

God...

God is good
God is great
God is merciful
God is huge
God is all-powerful
God is amazing
God is sovereign
God is all we need
God deserves everything we have
God deserves our whole lives, not just a slice of the pie