29 December 2013 - ENCS

After a video recapping 2013 the congregation did see

Pastor Larry Matsuwaki spoke about Jesus and humility

Baby Jesus was wrapped in linen cloth, Luke 2:12 does say

For the King of Kings, royal robes should have been the way

Jesus humbled himself on earth, per Philippians chapter two

We should adopt the same approach in all that we say and do

 

Remember that as worship leader, Satan was by God's side

But then he fell from heaven because of his immense pride

Per Proverbs 16:17-18, pride comes before the fall

Jesus' message to walk humbly applies to us all

The letter "I" is in the center of both "pride" and "sin"

That is of course where Satan's attacks often begin

At us, he will throw fear, criticism, and sickness

Getting us to say "I can't" and thinking of God less

We need to focus on God and serve one another

For ego-boosting appreciation we should not bother

 

In Matthew 18:1, the disciples failed a basic test

They asked Jesus who among them was the best

Jesus' answer as recorded in verses three and four

Emphasized the importance of humility even more

1 Peter 5:5 talks of the importance of being submissive

Being clothed in humility is thus the way we should live

 

Humility, as C S Lewis' famous saying does clearly impress

Is not thinking less of one's self, but thinking of one's self less

Saint Augustine said pride changed angels into devils

But it is humility that can take men to angelic levels

In summary, Pastor referred to 2 Chronicles seven verse fourteen

If we humble ourselves and pray, our sins will be washed clean

22 December 2013 - ENCS

Pastor Larry said that God brings life to barren places

That fact should be enough to bring smiles to our faces

For if we learn to depend on God when desperate we are

Then He will enable us to do great things near and afar

 

The barren woman was Israel in Isaiah 54 verse one

But it also foreshadowed old Elizabeth having a son

There were in fact miraculous pregnancies twofold
A barren lady and a teen virgin, as Luke one told

This in itself would have been very big news

But more so because their sons God did use

It was God's plans John and Jesus did fulfill

He also wants to enable us to do His will

Pastor then pointed us to Isaiah fifty five verse eleven

Our actions should be based on His word from heaven

 

The sermon title was "Jesus is the greatest gift within you"

Luke 1:37 says that with God, nothing is impossible to do

About Mary, Isaiah seven verse fourteen does say

And her son Immanuel - God is with us every day

Isaiah said that in the midst of a difficult environment

God would deliver for our blessings are heaven sent

Isaiah 40 verse 31 says that those who hope in the Lord

Will renew their strength, more powerful than the sword

But it is important to remember that patient we must be

In His own time, God always comes through, we will see

We must guard what He gives us, per 2 Timothy 1:14

For He has entrusted it to us, for plans often not seen

We should not let the enemy rob us of our confidence

Thanks to Jesus, its sting death can no longer dispense

But when we sin, confidence is precisely what we lose

Until we earnestly repent and God's path we choose

Earlier in 2 Timothy, Paul says to fan God's gift to flame

For the Holy Spirit which lives in us shares His name

Pastor said that with God, nothing happens by accident

His healing and redemption are obviously heaven sent 

 

In conclusion, Pastor asked if for God we would make space

So we can receive Jesus to help us run the rest of life's race

22 December 2013 - Giving and Loving

"You can give without loving but cannot love without giving"

That is a saying I heard this morning that encapsulates living

And as per John 3:16, God loves us so

He sent His only son to vanquish the foe

Similarly, you can obey while understanding not

But with true understanding comes obeying a lot

 

As we are in the midst of the Christmas season

Let me continually remember the real reason

And then, with true understanding and love

Let me freely give and obey my God above

18 December 2013 - 1 Corinthians 6:9-20

I listened to Aussie youth pastor Mark Joy talk Monday night

Using this text, he spoke about how to treat our bodies right

He read from the New King James Version or translation

For this NIV-reader, it required quite intense concentration

Remember that our bodies are temples for the Holy Ghost

Treating them well is a prerequisite to being a good host

 

He said that on tolerance, today's society puts a lot of value

But Paul says not to be deceived, in verse nine we do view

"The unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God", says Paul

He mentions several types of sins and sinners, but that is not all

For although these people will not inherit the Kingdom of God

We should remember that down that road many of us have trod

We had to change the way that we choose to live

In order to get the grace that only God can give

 

And then in verse twelve an important point we do see

All things are permissible but beneficial they may not be

Because our bodies are not for us to do with as we want

This is quite clear no matter what the translation or font

Our "bodies are members of Christ" per verse fifteen

So we should treat them that way, even when unseen

For if "two become one" whether with good or bad

We should opt for Christ, as sin only makes God sad

As such, boundaries are something that we all need

If from the grips of sinful temptation we are to be freed

A sin against our own body is sexual immorality

Other sins are outside the body, in verse 18 we see

 

And because our bodies are temples, bought with a price

They should honor God, doing things not naughty but nice

This applies to our mouths, our ears, our eyes, and our heart

To fully honor God, each part of our body must do its part

And if we look after our own temple of God well all the time

His Holy Spirit will watch and cleanse us from our sinful grime

14 December 2013 - Change

"Plus ca change" starts a French expression of fame

"The more things change, the more they stay the same"
It can of course be taken in a couple of different ways

Some think of it as an existentialist view on our days

Others tend to give "people never change" the nod

I prefer to believe that the only true constant is God

So, yes, the more things change, the more God stays the same

No matter how far we may stray, His love is there for us to claim

 

So dear God, please keep your light shining on my path

I would much prefer that than to face your eternal wrath

I know that on your path I have not constantly stayed

Put more harshly, on many occasions I have strayed

And for every sinful thought, word, and deed

Your forgiveness and grace I definitely need

I thank you for your never-changing eternal truth

And for protecting me even when I was a youth

I know that you have great plans for me even today

So I can change despite what the expression may say

8 December 2013 - Integrity

The Bible talks about the importance of integrity as a trait

When we practice it, we honor our God who is so great

"The man of integrity walks securely" Solomon did state

In Proverbs chapter ten, in the verse after number eight

"The integrity of the upright guides them" we later see

For Solomon wrote this in chapter eleven verse three

 

But at the same time, it is not just about keeping one's word

Remember how John the Baptist's head was offed with a sword

For King Herod, in Luke chapter six verse twenty six

Made good on his oath even though it put him in a fix

Above doing what was right, he valued his oath and his face

So in history's annals he now commands a very low place

 

I guess that integrity is about doing right in God's eyes

By doing so, one obviously tells the truth instead of lies

But it might also mean doing things that to others look wrong

To do so, one's faith in God must be exceptionally strong

 

There are times when I too fall back on "keeping my word"

Even when the logic of doing so has become quite absurd

Dear God, please let me see that yours is the right path

So that I feel your immense love instead of your wrath

29 November 2013 - Thanksgiving in the Bible

In the Bible there are many verses about Thanksgiving

Which are applicable for every day that we are living

 

We see in Nehemiah twelve verses forty six and forty seven

That the entire nation gave thanksgiving to God in heaven

In Psalm ninety five verses two and three

Again thanksgiving to God we do see

In First Corinthians one verses four and five, Paul did write

We should thank God for grace which makes all things right

In Second Corinthians four verses fifteen and sixteen

Grace leading more people to thanksgiving is seen

In Second Corinthians nine verses eleven and twelve

Into generosity and thanksgiving Paul did then delve

Later in Ephesians one verse fifteen and sixteen

Paul's never-ending thanksgiving to God is seen

In First Timothy four verses four and five

True thanksgiving we do not need to contrive

From First Chronicles sixteen verse thirty four

We should give thanks to God forever more

Psalms seven verse seventeen and twenty eight verse seven

Speak about giving thanks to our righteous Lord in heaven

Psalms one hundred verse four and one hundred six verse one

Talk of praising God for His name and all the things he has done

In Isaiah chapter twelve verse number four

Give thanks for God for his deeds of yore

In chapter thirty three verse eleven, Jeremiah does say

To give thanks to the Lord Almighty forever and a day

From First Thessalonians five verse eighteen

"Give thanks in all circumstances" is seen

 

We all have so much to be thankful for all the time

And that is one of the points of this simple rhyme

But more important than the "what" is the "who"

For God who deserves thanks our whole life through

 

I know and acknowledge that by God I have been blessed

Of course what His Son did for me outweighs all of the rest

But that does not deter me from giving thanks for other things

A loving family, caring friends, even the morning bird that sings

Being able to worship God without persecution fear

Having a house and food on the table year after year 

Dear God, please never let me get complacent about this

For to do so would be very ungrateful and of course remiss

 

So no matter where you may be living

I wish you a Happy Thanks-giving

25 November 2013 - Name Above All Names

Alistair Begg and Sinclair Ferguson wrote a book

Their "Name Above All Names" is worth a look

The title refers to Philippians two verse nine

In the center of a favorite passage of mine

The authors identify attributes numbering seven

Which characterize Jesus who came from heaven

 

"The seed of the woman" is the first

He came to defeat the serpent cursed

This is clear in Genesis three verse fifteen

In 1 John three verse eight this is also seen

 

"The true prophet" is the second

Through Jesus, God beckoned

Per verse 25 and 26 of John chapter 4

In Hebrews 1:1-2 we read some more

 

"The great high priest" is the third

Seated on the throne of grace we heard

And per Hebrews four from verse fourteen

Anything we face, Jesus has felt and seen

 

"The conquering king" is the fourth

A lowly donkey belied Jesus' worth

In John 12:15 and Luke 1:33

This reference we clearly see

 

"The Son of Man" is the fifth

That Jesus said this is not a myth

It was foretold in Daniel 7 verse thirteen

In Mark 8:31 his suffering was foreseen

 

"The suffering servant" is number six

Taking His Father's cup he did not nix

Isaiah 53:3-5 speaks of Jesus being afflicted

Luke 22:42-44 confirms what was predicted

 

"The Lamb on the throne" is the last

Jesus died to atone for our sinful past

John 1:29 mentions the Lamb that came to earth

In Revelations 5, only He is deemed to have worth

 

There is really nothing else that I can add

These seven attributes make me very glad

Without Him, I would pay the price for my fall

I am thankful that Jesus came to save us all

24 November 2013 - Psalm 136

Some say that repetition is good for the soul

In most cases, remembering is the goal

Twenty six times in this psalm we see the same line

That is a strong message, not just a random sign

 

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good" start the words

"His love endures forever"

"Give thanks to the God of gods" and "Lord of lords"

"His love endures forever"

To Him who governs the day and the night

"His love endures forever"

To Him who filled the Egyptians with fright

"His love endures forever"

To Him who struck down many a mighty king

"His love endures forever"

To Him who gave His people everything

"His love endures forever"

To Him who "freed us from our enemies"

"His love endures forever"

To Him who provides food with ease

"His love endures forever"

To Him on whom we can always depend

"His love endures forever"

"Give thanks to the God of heaven" it does end

"His love endures forever"

 

These four words carry a great deal of weight

And reflect perhaps our God's greatest trait

"His love" is perfect, awesome, and absolute

That it "endures forever" we cannot dispute

 

Dear God, your love is there; this is know

In my heart and soul, please let it grow

By doing this, from me blessings will flow

And others can then see your loving glow

Never let me be content with the status quo

For as long as I live on this earth below

23 November 2011 - God in the New Testament

In the Bible, God reveals himself in every book

At biblestudytools.com, I did thus take a look

 

Matthew: the Messiah who is King does appear

Mark: the Messiah who is a Servant premier

Luke: the Messiah who is a Deliverer afresh

John: the Messiah who is God in the flesh

Acts: the Spirit who dwells in His people's hearts

Romans: the righteousness of God He imparts

1 Corinthians: the power and love of God does always flow

2 Corinthians: the down payment of what is to come, we know

Galatians: our very life, we are told very clearly

Ephesians: the unity of our church he loves dearly

 

Philippians: the joy of our life, for whom Paul sings

Colossians: holds the supreme position in all things

1 Thessalonians: our comfort in the last days

2 Thessalonians: our returning King we do praise

1 Timothy: Savior of the worst sinners ever known

2 Timothy: Leader of the leaders, setting the tone

Titus: of truth, the concrete foundation

Philemon: our Mediator and solution

Hebrews: our High Priest so pure

James: our faith he does mature

 

1 Peter: our hope in times of suffering

2 Peter: guarding against false teaching

1 John: the source of all Christian fellowship

2 John: God in the flesh, He does us equip

3 John: the Source of all truth in what He does say

Jude: protects us from stumbling along the way

Revelation: the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

As is the case throughout all of the Bible's words

 

He is the Alpha and the Omega, Beginning and End

He is coming again as our Redeemer and Friend

23 November 2013 - God in the Old Testament

In the Bible, God reveals Himself in every book

At biblestudytools.com, I did thus take a look

 

Genesis: as the Creator, Redeemer, I AM

Exodus: after the plagues, the Passover Lamb

Leviticus: the High Priest we now know

Numbers: as water in the desert He did show

Deuteronomy: for us, He became the curse

Joshua: commanding the army that does not reverse

Judges: from injustice, He did us deliver

Ruth: kinsman-redeemer and blessing giver

1 Samuel: the Prophet, Priest, and King from above

2 Samuel: appearing as the King of grace and love

 

1 Kings: the Ruler greater than Solomon

2 Kings: a powerful prophet bested by none

1 Chronicles: the Son of David coming to rule the earth

2 Chronicles: the King reigning eternally with immense worth

Ezra: a priest proclaiming freedom for His people

Nehemiah: restoring the broken down steeple

Esther: the Protector of his People all around

Job: the Mediator, even when people frowned

Psalms: our song in the morning and at night

Proverbs: our wisdom telling us what is right

 

Ecclesiastes: our constant and true meaning for life

Song of Solomon: Author of faithfulness like a wife

Isaiah: a long-suffering servant was He

Jeremiah: the weeping Messiah we see

Lamentations: assuming for us God's wrath

Ezekiel: the Son of Man as a righteous path

Daniel: the stranger in the famous oven of fire

Hosea: the faithful husband who will never tire

Joel: sending His Spirit to those He blessed

Amos: delivering justice to the oppressed

 

Obadiah: judging those who do evil seen and unseen

Jonah: the greatest missionary there has even been

Micah: casting our sin into the forgetfulness sea

Nahum: proclaiming world peace that there will be

Habakkuk: crushing injustice with every step he does take

Zephaniah: the Warrior who saves those that He did make

Haggai: restoring our worship about which we can rave

Zechariah: prophecies a Messiah who will the world save

Malachi: the Son of righteousness who brings healing

And throughout, He appears with passion and feeling

17 November 2013 - ENCS

Pastor Larry spoke on one of his aspirations

"How to sustain a movement for generations"

 

To start a movement, it takes elements three

First the people, very committed they must be

They must not be comfortable with complacency

As per Matthew 7:12 and Isaiah 54:2 we see

Second the people must be willing to sacrifice

What happens to some even today is not nice

Third, by disciple-making disciples it must be sustained

This allows the passing of the baton, Pastor explained

As an example, Jesus was easily the top

He started a movement that nothing can stop

He wanted change and even sacrificed his life

He made disciples, the gospel stories are rife

 

Pastor then asked us "how far is our reach"

Lessons from Colossians 1:21-22 he did teach

Reaching has three components, Pastor did say

If we follow them, we will be well on our way

 

First is to reach with the gospel, or to share

Our testimony shows others that we care

If by "each one, reach one" we can abide

In time, many of us will have to sit outside

We saw a video from Tacloban which did bless

For the church there focuses on joy not sadness

 

Second is that we must reach missionally

We must act with a purpose continually

In this way we can touch many others with love

As in Matthew 8:1-4, the leprosy Jesus got rid of

In another way, sometimes like the leper we feel

But Jesus will reach for us and our afflictions heal

Pastor then shared about Nate Saint who was a martyr

For Nate, not reaching out would have been a nonstarter

 

Third is to influence a culture by establishing value

We must establish and live our lives that way too

Pastor said each one of us can make an impact

This way, we can change the world - that's a fact

From Jeremiah 1 verses nine and ten we did read

To destroy and overthrow, build and plant we need

 

If we continue our current actions, Pastor did conclude

In a century, how will our family and nation be viewed?

We need to change today in order to impact tomorrow

By building a Christ-like legacy, bringing joy not sorrow

In order to help extend our reach and prayer

We must, Pastor Larry said, "dare to share"

10 November 2013 - ENCS

The Catching Fire series Pastor Charles did continue today

He said that God wants us to experience power His way

Living with His power is how we were designed to be

As highlighted by several passages that we did see

 

Pastor Charles first referred to Acts chapter one verse eight

Jesus' final words spoke of the Holy Spirit and its power great

The church cannot operate without this awesome power

With it, we can be witnesses globally until our final hour

 

Pastor then read from Acts chapter two verses one to four

The tongues of fire came from heaven, not through the door

On one hundred and twenty believers flames came to rest

They spoke in tongues for with the Spirit they were blessed

 

God has promised the Holy Spirit for each of us as well

He always keeps His promises, as the Bible does tell

The Holy Spirit is part of our eternal inheritance

Something God has planned, not a circumstance

 

An esteemed writer compared baptism to the pickling process

Step one is being dipped in boiling water for a minute or less

Then the fruit is submerged in vinegar and spices to be transformed

Similarly, we should be an example for the world - not be conformed

 

In Luke 24 verse 49, Jesus did instruct his disciples to stay

Until they were clothed with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day

Remember what is said in verse twenty five of Hebrews seven

That for believers, Christ Jesus lives to intercede from heaven

 

The core of the message from Pastor Charles today

Is that Jesus left us a message and showed us the way

The Holy Spirit gives us great strength and power

Which we should use every day and every hour

10 November 2013 - Words and Works

"Do not merely listen to the word" says James 1:22

We deceive ourselves if what it says, we do not do

In chapter two verse seventeen, James also said

That "faith..., if not accompanied by action, is dead"

First Corinthians 15:58 contains another famous clarion call

"Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord" said Paul

 

These strong words do not come from the same author or book

But are linked in concept and therefore deserve a deeper look

God's words should serve to awaken me and stir my heart

And this in turn should lead to passionate action on my part

I must do this day by day, in the cold as well as in the heat

For then, and only then, will my life's work be truly complete

 

So dear God, I ask that as I awake, you convict my soul

Before the day's chores and interruptions take their toll

As a side note, to be able read your word at my leisure

Is indeed a blessing as well as a pleasure that I treasure

To keep my word means following Yours too

Please let me remember that in all that I do

3 November 2013 - Idols

After three straight worship nights, it is time to turn the page

In my head is a line from Jimmy Needham's "Clear The Stage"

"Anything that I put before God is an idol" he sings

This can refer to people, places, actions, or things

 

Here are some of that song's powerful lyrics

No matter who sings it, the message sticks

"We must not worship something that's not even worth it
Clear the stage make some space for the one who deserves it
Anything I put before my God is an idol
Anything I want with all my heart is an idol
And anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol
And anything that I give all my love is an idol

We can sing all we want to and still get it wrong"

The chorus ends with "Worship is more than a song"

 

There was so much more that came out of those nights

And those will no doubt influence what this poet writes

But for now, these idols I must identify and from myself rid

Out of love for God, whether or not the law does forbid

Coming up with my list of my idols will not be easy

And it will undoubtedly at times make me queasy

Anything that gets in the way of serving God

Must be eliminated, as per the lyrical prod

1 November 2013 - ENCS Music Encounter

At the Spirit-filled ENCS Music Encounter last night

Wayne Huirua spoke on "Priesthood" and its might

He based his talk on Deuteronomy ten verse eight

Which talks of the Levites and their tasks so great

 

To bear the ark of the covenant was the first of three

We also have to carry God's Presence for all to see

The Levites became priests by purging Israel of sin

This unfortunately involved killing lots of their kin

For us to be priests of God, then for His sake

We have to purge our sin, whatever it may take

If we are to lead others in the week and on Sunday

We have to do so by example and show them the way

To remind people of God's Presence was the purpose of the ark

When the Spirit is in us today, the difference is also visibly stark

Wayne spoke of our shoulders and the Holy Spirit dove

Which looks for a safe place when it alights from above

 

To minister unto Jehovah was point number two

This included having lots of menial tasks to do

When the pillar of fire moved, the Levites packed everything

Over time, they got bored and did complain instead of sing

We can all often fall into the same complacency trap

Getting too used to miracles, our enthusiasm may sap

 

But if the worship of people we are to facilitate

A vibrant environment we must foster and create

In this way we can bless lots of people

Building relationships under the steeple

 

Wayne then spoke about what qualifies us to be a priest

It is the same whether we are from the west or the east

We must confess our sins for the Presence to carry

And live what we are singing, not do the contrary

God told Abraham that he would be richly blessed

In this way, Abraham was a priest before the rest

The king of Salem appeared after Abraham's long trek

Abraham was ordained by God through Melchizedek

To do so, he had to walk by faith and in God trust

God will not bless a lie, so full honesty is a must

 

Our challenge is to recognize His authority in our lives

When we acknowledge this, our worship surely revives

We must use Jesus' authority by using the new way

And when he tells us to do something, just say okay

For as long as we try to do His will, we get His grace

And we can then lead worship in any setting or place

We must be careful, for any hypocrisy does impede

But with His authority, we have the authority to lead

29 October 2013 - Encouragement!

From the Bible and friends encouraging words are in constant supply

To share some of them in some simple verse, is what today I will try

 

"This is what the Lord says to you", per 2 Chronicles 20:15

"Do not be afraid or discouraged" is a Biblical line oft seen

Verse seventeen says "go out to face [the battle] tomorrow"

"And the Lord will be with you" so feel joy and peace, not sorrow

 

Philippians 3:20 says that our problems on earth are only for a season

These should not worry us as we are "citizens of heaven", Paul did reason

 

"And we know that in all things", God is powerful and great

He "works for the good of those who love him" per Romans 8:28

 

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you"

So wrote David in Psalm fifty five verse twenty two

This is repeated almost verbatim in First Peter five verse seven

"Because He cares for you", "cast your anxiety" on God in heaven

 

These are words that serve to encourage and uplift me

Whether in a Bible, online, or in an email I may see

And while I thank God for all of those reminders so apt

I also thank my friends whose messages keep me rapt

28 October 2013 - Luke 6:10-15

"Whoever can be trusted with very little" says verse ten

"Can also be trusted with much", again and again

The converse holds true for those who are dishonest

For they will be dishonest with much if put to the test

And "if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth"

"Who will trust you with true riches" without good spiritual health

"No servant can serve two masters" per verse thirteen

For one he will love while for the other hatred will be seen

The Pharisees justified themselves in the eyes of man

But God knew their hearts like only Our Creator can

"What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight"

Put another way, what is popular on earth is not always right

 

This passage is often used in relation to finance

Which is natural due to a reading at first glance

But to other aspects of life it applies just as much

In fact, it applies to everything I do or touch

Whether it is money, talents, or opportunities

Each represents a chance that I must seize

To do what pleases God by putting Him first

For in His love I want to be eternally immersed

27 October 2013 - ENCS

From Nashville, Pastor Kevin Yorke made a long trip

He spoke to us today on the topic of leadership

The world faces many leadership crises, Kevin did say

Leadership involves being a catalyst for change every day

We can be catalysts for both physical and spiritual change

Especially in those places which have some values strange

 

He referred to the book of Judges and Deborah

She was a unique judge who is viewed with awe

The Israelites cried to the Lord for help one year

Because Sisera's oppression had them living in fear

Commandments from God she did the mighty Barak instruct

But due to a lack of faith, true leadership and honor he ducked

She accompanied Barak to battle, but with him was quite candid

Deborah prophesied that to a woman Sisera would be handed

This shows that God often chooses unlikely people to lead

There are many examples of this in the Bible we do read

 

The first step of being a leader, Pastor did not make us guess

He said that God taps us because we are going to say yes

Nonetheless, he said, it is never easy to lead

But God is there, just waiting for us to proceed

This is in contrast to several of the Israelite tribes

Whose unwillingness to fight led to Deborah's jibes

Pastor added that when leaders lead, not all will follow

When we say yes, we will be let down by some we know

 

But when we lead and are in trouble, God will intervene

As with rain that stopped Sisera's chariots in that scene

Godly leaders will give God the glory, as a matter of course

And give credit to others, even if they were a weak force

 

By saying yes to God, we are chosen to lead

The talents He has given us are all we need

26 October 2013 - Psalm 84:4-12

"Blessed are those who dwell in your house"

"They are ever praising you", not like a mouse

"Blessed are those who strength is in you"

"Whose hearts are set on pilgrimage" too

"They go from strength to strength" says verse seven

Until "each appears before God in Zion", or heaven

It is far better to spend one day in God's courts

"Than a thousand elsewhere", the psalmist retorts

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield"

Favor and honor He always does wield

"Blessed is the one who trusts" in the Lord Almighty

That is something to which all believers must agree

 

This psalm serves to encourage, uplift, and remind

Its sentiments should always be in my heart and mind

I love the line ending with "a thousand elsewhere"

As it serves to reinforce how much God does care

It is also the chorus of a wonderful song

One to which I will always sing along

But the core message of this passage for me

Is contained on the "blessed are" lines I see

To dwell in God's house and in Him find my strength 

Will no doubt serve me well for all my life's length

25 October 2013 - Psalm 42:1-5

"As the deer pants for streams of water" starts Psalm 42

The psalmist goes on to say "so my soul pants for you"

And then "my tears have been my food day and night"

As I wonder where is my God who will make this right

"These things I remember as I pour out my soul"

When I went to God's house, protection was my goal

"Why, my soul, are you downcast?" verse five does say

"Why so disturbed within me?" on the glorious day

So "put your hope in God, for I will praise Him"

"My Savior and My God" are not said on a whim

 

In response to a prayer, I was kindly sent this verse

The message is apt and concise, but far from terse

Verse five holds a key message that forever should last

God's Presence is here; there is no reason to be downcast

When I think back on all the wondrous things God has done

I am encouraged every day with the rising of the morning sun

Knowing this merely makes me want His Presence even more

And it is available right here, resting in my heart, my core

Dear God, let your Presence shine through me

So that joyful, peaceful, and rejuvenated I may be

20 October 2013 - 2 Peter 3:8-18

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends”

Is how this passage starts - and also ends

“With the Lord a day is like a thousand years”, Peter did say

He continued with “and a thousand years are like a day”

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise” to anyone

For “He is patient”, waiting for repentance to be done

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief” into a store

At that time, “the heavens will disappear with a roar”

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way”

We “ought to live holy and godly lives” today

And since we look forward to the day of His return

(Even if it means that many things here will burn)

We should “make every effort to be found spotless”

As well as at peace with God and also blameless

For “our Lord’s patience means salvation” for us all

Peter reminded that this was also written by Paul

Therefore, with this knowledge, we should be on our guard

So that we do not err and from our secure position fall hard

“In the grace and knowledge” of our Lord we should grow

Giving Him glory now and forever is what we should show

 

A good reminder of perspective this passage shall be

To live a “holy and godly” life is still an aim for me

I am far from spotless, blameless, or at peace

And I often wonder if my errors will ever cease

But about God’s power and mercy I do know

With this knowledge, my faith will again grow

I thank God for such reminders from Peter and Paul

And endeavor to make “give glory” my clarion call

 

13 October 2013 - Psalm 13

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” David said

And “how long will you hide your face from me?” instead

“How long must I wrestle with…thoughts” on my part

Followed by “and every day have sorrow in my heart?”

“How long will my enemy triumph over me?”

Lord, “please look on me and answer” my plea

“Give light to my eyes” or in death I will sleep

Then “my enemy…will rejoice” and not weep

But David says “I trust in your unfailing love”
“My heart rejoices in your salvation” from above

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me”

That is the key message from verse six we do see

 

David wrote this being pursued by a jealous Saul

“How long?” is repeated by David four times in all

He talks about wrestling with thoughts not right

That parallels Isaac’s struggle that infamous night

But despite his angst about the ongoing feud

By reiterating his faith, David did still conclude

 

A powerful lesson that serves to remind me

No matter what, faithful to God I should be

Over us, He does watch, protect, and guide

For He loves us and never leaves our side

As such, there is no challenge that is too big

To Him, the biggest log around is merely a twig

If I put my trust in Him and Him alone

Great mercies and power will be shown

 

So dear Lord, hear this my fervent prayer

Please do not allow me to ever despair

For I know that about me, you truly do care

Your abounding love is what I do declare

6 October 2013 - 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly" Paul said
But "whoever sows generously will...reap generously" instead
Each of us should give based on what we feel in our heart
For God loves a cheerful giver so blessings He will impart
Verse eleven states that "you will be enriched in every way"
"So that you can be generous on every occasion" each day

To encourage generosity was the point of this part of Paul's letter
Considering our talents and time makes the message even better
For Whatever God gives us, He wants us to share and others bless
I have not listened to this exhortation all the time, I humbly confess
I know that my stewardship legacy is defined through the week
Dear God, it is your Word, your desires, and your path that I seek
Please open my eyes and my heart so I can better follow your way
So that I do more things that please you every hour of every day

29 September 2013 - ENCS

One year on and on the same passage I was asked to speak 

The conclusion is that from it, more lessons we should seek

God has a sense of humour, I said as an aside

For today's title came from last year's final slide

A lesson learned is that when our minas and talents grow

Stewardship is what we do with them, as we now know

 

"Be A Good Steward...Going Beyond Finances" was today's topic

About stewardship of talents, opportunities, and self I also did pick

Managing what we have been given is how stewardship is defined

Making a profit for our Master is our objective, I did remind

The concept of stewardship is evident in Luke 19 verses 12 - 27

There is a parallel between the rich man and God in heaven

 

In the finance field, savings equals investments economists say

We need savings to fund growth - and to help on a rainy day

We must tithe first, as in Proverbs 11:24 we do see

Else we are robbing God, per Malachi chapter three

Second, some savings we should set aside, per 1 Corinthians 16:2

That is also what erudite Benjamin Franklin said we should do

Keeping track of what we spend is helpful hint the third

So we can know what we can change, so we heard

From a spiritual angle, everything comes from God above

So we should tithe and bless others freely and with love

Then He blesses us even more, the virtuous cycle does continue

These may not be financial, but they will be more than a few

When we bless others, we are often in return blessed

For compared to receiving, giving to others is the best

But savings do not equal investments in a spiritual perspective

For saving lives and souls - not dollars -  is how we should live

"He who dies with the most toys still dies" is an expression neat

For remember that when we die, it is God whom we will meet

He sent his Son to save us, a sacrificial gift that was so great

To be good stewards, a profit on this gift we must generate

 

With talents and gifts that are all different we are indeed blessed

Per 1 Timothy 4:14, not neglecting our gifts should be our quest

Since all our gifts come from God, they must be considered good

We should thank Him for the gifts and use them, that is understood

These gifts therefore belong to God and we should tithe them too

Tithing our talents ten percent of the time is the least we can do

God's gifts to us are in fact both a privilege and a responsibility

We should use them for His glory so that others can His love see

Our response-ability is how we respond to each of God-given gift

For in utilising these talents and abilities, others we should uplift

 

But our talents would be wasted without having an opportunity

Luckily, opportunities abound every day, as we can easily see

In his letter to the Ephesians 5 verse 15-16, so wrote Paul

We are to be very careful and make the most of opportunities all

It is a waste to have faith without any deeds, James did say

We have a platform in the marketplace to use every day

As Christians we are held to higher standards here on earth

But that merely gives us more chances to show God's worth

Doing the right thing, based on my memory and records

Leads to its own set of earthly and heavenly rewards

God's GPS, or God's Positioning System keeps on recalibrating

No matter what we do, more opportunities He is always creating

There are God-incidences that happen all of our days

For "every blessing you pour out, I turn back to praise"

"Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future"

"Today is a gift and the present", that's for sure

Taking advantage of opportunities, I did then quip

Is how we can create a legacy of stewardship

 

If I did not talk about stewardship of self I would be remiss

In Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 6, Paul talked about this

Our bodies are a living sacrifice and are used to honor God

So in taking care of our bodies, we should not be slipshod

Remember that Jesus' spirit in us does continually reside

And to utilise our talents, to healthy habits we must abide

 

In conclusion, remember that God looks at our deeds and our heart

For "stewardship is heart work" is the core message I tried to impart

God gives us plenty and challenges us to be stewards good

Our legacy is what we do with our talents, that is understood

What matters is not what is said on Sunday, but done in the week

That is where our stewardship legacy is defined, so to speak

Of our finances, talents, opportunities, and self we are responsible

When we are good stewards of these, the results will be incredible

22 September 2013 - ENCS

About “Being A Servant”, today Rachel Ong did speak

At Matthew chapter 20 verse 26 we first did peek

“You must be a servant” in order to “become great”
This follows the example of Jesus, she did state

She then mentioned four in God’s “Hall of Fame”

Samson, David, Solomon, and Joseph by name
They all descended from Abraham and were leaders
That all were tempted is known to biblical readers
There were also differences, Rachel did impart
Samson the strong man, David the shepherd heart
Solomon the wise leader, and Joseph the servant
The latter stayed strong despite temptation fervent
Joseph is the only one who did not into immorality fall
Because on his servant heart he did continually call

Rachel said that a true servant has traits numbering four

Although these can easily lead one to generate more
A desire to do great things for those they served is first
Also to concentrate on being profitable without being reversed
Always having an attitude of joyfulness was third
Fourth was not holding grudges, even when slurred
It is clear that these four traits did Joseph possess
So in resisting temptation, he had lots of success

To develop a servant heart, Rachel mentioned four ways

These are useful reminders to remember all of our days
First is a desire to accomplish great things for God
Rachel gave John chapter 14 verse 12 a big nod
Second is to turn manual tasks into expressions of love
Per 1 Corinthians 10:31, do all for the glory of God above
To develop the five essential qualities of a servant was third
Availability, initiative, diligence, creativity, and wisdom we heard
The fourth step is to develop competence and skill
Per Proverbs 22:29, don’t be just run-of-the-mill

Jesus was the ultimate servant-leader when here on earth

What others said and did to him did not determine his worth
He humbled himself, Paul said in Philippians two verse seven
Even though he had strength and wisdom from heaven
By taking on this servant mentality, he did not ever sin
In the end, he sacrificed his life so salvation we could win
As per the song, we should dare to do more
By serving others, we open heaven’s door

15 September 2013 - ENCS

The "Price Tag" series was continued by the talented Arnie

On the big screen in front, Luke 10:25-37 we all did see

The Good Samaritan showed much mercy in the parable

While the priest and the Levite had acted rather terrible

"Hold-Up or Uphold" was the title of Arnie's sermon

That he was passionate was easy to determine

The definition of "hold up" is often linked to "impede"

Arnie reminded us of this before he did then proceed

 

Would we hold-up the blessing or uphold being a blessing?

The way Arnie put it, there was not much room for guessing

The priest and the Levite were supposed to serve the Lord

But they did not help the man, sticking instead to the word

They let their tradition outweigh compassion in this case

They relied on the law instead of letting its heart embrace

Arnie asked how often we ignore it when we see a need

He told us of two cases where he could do a good deed

In the first instance, the opportunity to help he did decline

He learned his lesson, so the second instance went fine

Arnie said that we can be generous even if we are not rich

As long as from God's ways and paths we do not switch

Remember that we will never know what God is able to do

Unless we are willing to let Him see His plan through

 

Arnie asked if we would hold up caring

Or if we would prefer to uphold sharing

Samaritans were considered outcasts by those outside

By taking action, he broke tradition and a cultural divide

His journey was interrupted but he did not go berserk

Even if we are interrupted, we can still do God's work

And we should remember that if we see someone in need

If we take actions, others will most assuredly follow our lead

Sometimes dirt on our hands must be seen

In order to help someone else become clean

 

Arnie's third was whether we would hold up inner strife

Or if it was not better to uphold God's will for our life

Between Jesus and the Samaritan, Arnie drew a parallel

And the inn represents the church, he went on to tell

Good works are the result of our faith

But God can use others, Arnie did saith

Remember that God wants to share His joy

With every woman and man, girl and boy

 

Arnie referred to Ephesians two verses eight to ten

Which talked about being saved by faith again

This is a gift from God in heaven above

We do not need to earn God's love

His love never changes, so said birthday boy Arnie

For God in this world, our feet and hands can be

Sharing God's gift of grace with others is of course nice

It is possible because Jesus paid the ultimate price

 

In conclusion, an acronym Arnie did dispense

That Grace is God's Riches At Christ's Expense

8 September 2013 - ENCS

Pastor Josh continued the series on Price Tag

Despite the overhead projections having a snag

His reference text was from Luke chapter fifteen

The story of the prodigal son, one often seen

Taking his inheritance, reckless was his living

He spent on himself, never once to others giving

He clearly did not handle his resources well

We need practical accountability, Pastor did tell

 

Pastor then referred to Galatians six verse seven

Our actions should never mock our God in heaven

For in the end, we will reap what we sow

God watches everything, this we know

If our thoughts and actions prioritise God above

Then we will end up with a life of peace and love

 

Since God has adopted us, per Romans eight

We are worthy heirs, so should not consternate

And no matter how far from Him we may wander

Our inheritance from God we can never squander

For He will always await us with a living embrace

Our return will bring a joyous smile to His face

 

The father in the parable was a good steward

His resources grew, they were not skewered

As a result, he had plenty with which to celebrate

Therein was another message, Pastor did state

In response to his jealous and confused elder son

Whose focus was on all the serving he had done

The relationship matters most, the father did point out

The parallel with God is clear, there is no doubt

 

Pastor Josh reminded us of the concept of value

Both quantity and quality count, that is very true

For quality, above all else God's love does rate

And for quantity, of course eternal life is great

For God is the way, the truth. and the life

Following His path, we will avoid all strife

 

He then referred to verses 8 and 9 in Philippians 3

For Jesus' sake Paul lost all things, we did see

If Jesus is our priority, it should impact what we do

Opportunities to bless and forgive others are not few

Pastor said that we can still our lives enjoy

As long as this approach to life we do employ

1 September 2013 - ENCS

Pastor Larry started a new series titled "Price Tag"

His enthusiasm ensured that things did not drag

The main message he shared with us right at the start

Finances are less important than the condition of our heart

He referred to Matthew 6 verses nineteen to twenty one

Earthly treasures do not count when our life here is done

All of the time, we need to guard our heart

So that from His path we do not depart

Later in Matthew, we "cannot serve two masters" Jesus said

We will end up hating the one and loving the other instead

This holds for money, relationships, or some other thing

We must choose one of those or - not and - God the King

Pastor implied that this should be our clarion call

That our God must be "God of all or not at all"

 

"What does giving it our all look like?", he then did ask

In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus took many people to task

The poor lady gave everything she had so was blessed

Even though the magnitude was much less than the rest

For it was from her heart that to God she gave

From us a similar loving heart God does crave

 

"What does not giving God our all look like?" was next

He referred to Solomon in the Ecclesiastes chapter 2 text

Solomon was the richest, most powerful, and wisest king

But after searching, he knew he was missing something

He said that there was "nothing really worthwhile anywhere"

We need to focus on what really matters, a pursuit a bit rare

 

Pastor said that giving our all looks like a trusting relationship

Following Mary's example in John 12:3, Pastor did then quip

She washed Jesus' feet with very expensive perfume

Although this brought gripes from others in the room

With other things, our relationship with God we cannot share

We must make it clear in our thoughts, actions, and prayer

 

God wants a relationship with us, this should be clear

He can supernaturally provide, so we should not fear

We should not lean on our own understanding

And above all, Jesus should be our everything

25 August 2013 - ENCS

Despite his PowerPoint disappearing, perhaps due to spam

Pastor Charles spoke on "The Nature of the Lion and the Lamb"

He started by turning to Revelations 5 verses five and six

On the bolded words Lion and Lamb our eyes did transfix

Interestingly, this is the only reference to Lion in the book

As opposed to thirty Lambs if we gave a thorough look

As a side note, in reference to First Peter five verse eight

The devil is only like a Lion, Pastor Charles set that straight

 

God's character is being formed in us all the time

Like the pressing of gold, that is pure with no grime

He wants us to have authority like the Lion

As well as the demeanour of the Lamb's scion

Sin separates us from His image, Pastor did say

So we have to make sure that we wash it away

It is not acceptable to say "but that is who I am"

Just to try to escape the consequences of a jam

We must let God do His work in and on our heart

Then His character from our personality will not part

 

The Lamb by nature has no defense except to run or call out

Calling to God for help is a good thing, of that there is no doubt

In the same vein, the Lamb does not retaliate even when he could

Jesus forgave the soldiers when they nailed Him to the wood

We should also remember that the Lamb is humble

Being a servant-minister, that prevents a big stumble

In that way, silence is a perfect response to a verbal attack

Turn away a rant with a soft answer instead of fighting back

 

The Lion on the other hand by nature does not retreat

Not intimidated, with boldness adversity he does meet

We should have this same Lion-like boldness with our faith

Look to the early church as an example, Pastor did saith

The Lion gives authority to pray and share the good news

Like Joshua and Caleb, being confident they did choose

For a life of negativity leads to a life that is forgettable

But our life can leave a legacy, otherwise it is regrettable

 

In conclusion, Pastor said that is our calling to be like both

As a Lion and as a Lamb, we can continue to see growth

God wants us to use the right nature at the right time

To ignore this calling is effectively a heavenly crime

In our nature, both a Lion and Lamb we should see

So that we can be everything God wants us to be

11 August 2013 - ENCS

Aptly, as we just concluded the National Day celebration

Gerald Giam spoke on "How righteousness exalts a nation"

 

His main text was Proverbs fourteen verse thirty four

He referred to other passages, but this was the core

"Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace"

That decides whether a smile or frown is on God's face

Per Amos 5:12, God knows how great our sins are

Whether they occur at home, in the office, or afar

Righteousness is living a life that honours God

Even when nobody is watching, however odd

In Daniel's three friends, righteousness was seen

As told in Daniel chapter three, from verse sixteen

In Daniel six verse five, Daniel of course did the same

Refusing to worship the king, as God he would defame

 

Gerald then talked about being raised high when we exalt

As contrasted with being condemned when sin is our fault

In Deuteronomy 28:1-5, this promise by God was conveyed

Obey God's commands and His blessings will then cascade

This can be seen in today's world, Gerald did point out

Corrupt countries prosper less, of that there is no doubt

Righteous laws and social equality bring similar rewards

Prosperity and growth are blessings God then accords

 

In Isaiah 42:6, into righteousness God does us call

He wants us to be a beacon of light for one and all

We need to stand up in our community and workplace

Bestowing on others righteousness, care, and grace

Democracy reflects the will of the people, good or bad

So about elected officials, we should not be happy or sad

He then referred to Second Chronicles seven verse fourteen

God's people should humble themselves and pray, it is seen

To Proverbs, chapter twenty nine verse two, he did return

If wicked people rule a nation, there is cause for concern

As a church, we need to speak up, as per Esther 4: 14

If we are silent too long, bad things are too often seen

 

Gerald said we each operate within a given sphere

We can most influence those to whom we are near

That is where we are called to advance his righteousness

Our family, colleagues, neighbours, and friends we can bless

He referred to Martin Luther King's comments on wrong vs right

Who said that for a nation, a righteous leader must be the light

Regardless of whether something is not popular, politic, or safe

A good leader must do the right thing, even if to many it does chafe

 

In summary, from Matthew chapter five verse six Gerald did quote

"Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness" Jesus did note

28 July 2013 - ENCS

The “Living on a Prayer” series was continued by Pastor Josh Harris

The rest of the pastoral team was near Disney, not the one in Paris

In Matthew 6:9-12, Jesus teaches us how to pray

It is much more than knowing what we should say

Today Pastor Josh focused on verse thirteen

The words “temptation” and “evil” were both seen

 

He then handed over to Pastor Mark Benevente

About flying in enemy territory he had lots to say

He referred to Jesus' words from Matthew 12:43

That evil spirits try to multiply we did hear and see

Pastor said this should highlight the importance

Of inner healing or sanctification and deliverance

If we replace an ungodly belief with the right one

When the enemy returns, our soul will him shun

 

When faced with an offense, Pastor Mark said

The key is how we decided to respond instead

We can choose to either judge or to forgive

The latter is obviously the best way to live

 

If we judge others, according to Matthew 7:1-2

We will likewise be judged on all that we may do

And if this is the path that we learn to expect

We end up taking inner vows to try to protect

In the end, this of course will not succeed

For only through God can we ever be freed

 

When we forgive others, we help ourselves too

In fact, blessing our enemies is what we should do

Then from Christ will our protection come

He is stronger than anything in any kingdom

Bottom line, God has given us a way out

Of that there really should be no doubt

 

Pastor Josh again then stepped to the fore

He talked about temptation a little more

Sometimes obeying God will lead us there

But only when He knows how we will fare

So while "lead us not into" we can pray

If it is His will, we must surely obey

That He "will deliver us from evil" we must trust

Through our entire life, from "dust to dust"

We must choose between wisdom and temptation

Walking in freedom comes with salvation

14 July 2013 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke about “Livin’ on a Prayer”

When he finished, we were half way there

This series focuses on part of Matthew six

On the Lord’s Prayer, we did our eyes fix

Jesus first taught his disciples how to pray

The same approach can be used every day

 

Josh mentioned the importance of verse nine

For a relationship with God we should pine

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name”

For He is holy and worthy - forever the same

Since prayer is relational and a dialogue

We must communicate clearly, not in a fog

 

Verse number ten begins “Your kingdom come”

To focus on our kingdom would be rather dumb

For as long as we can focus on His kingdom first

Everything will turn out for the best, not the worst

From 1 Samuel 15, we read the story of King Saul

He obeyed some of God’s commands, but not all

This partial obedience was rebellious sin, not nice

Samuel then said “To obey is better than sacrifice”

David took a better approach when he saw the ark

Leaping and dancing in public, the contrast was stark

His house would endure forever, God then said

Because in front of himself, David put God ahead

 

The prayer continues with “Your will be done”

That should apply to everything under the sun

And “on earth as it is in heaven”

Before we get to verse eleven

Remember that Jesus submitted to God’s will

Even knowing that the Romans would him kill

There is no greater love than dying for a friend

Jesus did that for us when he met his earthly end

What God wants from us, we often already know

The challenge is in choosing that tough path to go

 

He continued “Give us this day our daily bread”

Asking God for things honours him instead

We know that for our needs He will provide

That is what happens with Him on our side

Of course, God sent Jesus as bread from above

This is the most obvious sign of His immense love

So we can experience part of heaven from today

A relationship with Christ will show us the way

7 July 2013 - Psalm 66:3

"Say to God 'How awesome are your deeds!'"

"So great is your power" compared to our needs

 

Our God really does continue to find ways to amaze

Just three weeks ago all we could see was the haze

I woke up this morning and saw the sky painted blue

It was an indication of everything that God can do

If he can change the weather in a short heartbeat

Then of course He can help us our problems defeat

30 June 2013 - ENCS

Pastor Josh continued the series on "The Code"

His passion for honour and value really showed

He said blessings often result from honouring others

Per Ephesians 6, especially our fathers and mothers

Another way to think of honour is as a value

There is a quantity and a quality in all we do

 

All of God's commandments we cannot even know

But focus on the core, from which the rest all flow

In Matthew 22:37, Jesus distilled it all into one statement

To love God completely is the greatest commandment

We cannot love Jesus without loving others as well

For Jesus' feet move with compassion, Josh did tell

And as we love Jesus, His love will enter into our heart

Then from the path of loving others we will not depart

 

Josh referred to eighties music and the love theme

But "the search is over" since Jesus' actions redeem

And if there is any doubt about what Jesus meant

John 6: 29 says "to believe in the one He has sent"

To do this right actually requires lots of hard work, Josh said

Reading the Word and in tough times, trusting God instead

Instead of cursing our enemies, we should forgive and bless

Even if their actions were intended to put us into a big mess

Put another way, our enemies we should not hate, but love

That is how we can best honour our heavenly father above

 

In short, we should listen to and believe God's word, then obey

Putting our trust in God is what faith is all about, Josh did say

And per Hebrews 11:6, without faith we cannot please God

In subsequent verses, Noah, Abraham, and others get a nod

Remember that if for some reasons we delay our obedience

His response will be delayed, for this is disobedience in a sense

 

Compared to any problem, God is bigger and stronger

David realised that, so Goliath was not alive much longer

This truth and God's deeds we must tell the next generation

By setting their hope in God they can have a strong foundation

About hope, two unchangeable things are in Hebrews 6:18-19

We are to be encouraged and use it as an anchor, it is seen

 

1 Corinthians 13:13 mentions faith, hope, and love

All three are important but the latter is rated far above

If we invest in these, we will receive the eternal reward

For our life's quality and quantity will please the Lord

Then Josh had us turn to First John chapter five verse three

"Obey His commands, which are not burdensome" we see

That is a good way to sum up Josh's message today

Telling us to honour, value, have faith, love, and obey

23 June 2013 - ENCS

Pastor Larry continued the series entitled "The Code"

On a morning where through the haze the sun showed

On that topic, he reminded us not to complain every day

Instead, we should look to God in heaven and pray

For his sermon, Pastor talked about the purpose for our life

It comes from God and helps us to avoid internal strife

Pastor tried to answer questions numbering three

On the screen several passages we also did see

 

"What is God's purpose for my life?" was number one

In conjunction with His will, His plan for us is done

Reading from Ephesians 1:11-12, as written by Paul

This concept of predestined plans applies to us all

Then onto verse four Pastor Larry did shed some light

Christ wants us to be "holy and blameless in his sight"

He then turned to Jeremiah twenty nine verse eleven

There are plans for our future, developed in heaven

This confirms that our purpose comes from above

The hope and protection are signs of His great love

Genesis 25 verses 32-34 Pastor Larry did then cite

We should not be like Esau, who despised his birthright

He then turned to Romans 1 verses twenty to twenty seven

We should recognise the invisible qualities of God in heaven

For otherwise, even a wise man will become a fool

Paul's words were said in love, they were not cruel

For those who exchange the truth of God for a lie

Will pay a penalty here on earth and when they die

We should determine how to glorify God at work and at home

Ensuring that our heart and thoughts do not from Him roam

 

"How do we follow God's purpose?" was number two

Per Romans 12:2, the way forward is clear and true

To the ways of this world we should not conform

The renewing of our mind enables us to transform

For then God's will we can approve and test

For it is pleasing and perfect - easily the best

 

"What happens when we follow God's purpose?" was number three

Nothing can stop those with God, as in Acts 5:38-39 we can see

For if the purpose is human, it is sure to fail

God's purpose and plans will always prevail

We may not always understand what is going on

But when with God, the word "impossible" is gone

 

Bottom line, we should follow God's purpose and Him glorify

In and through our lives, and the eternal rewards will be high