Lyrics Wednesday

Lyrics

NewSong

CD:Rescue

Before The Day (Track #8)

Last night when I was sleeping
You were watching over me
While I dreamt about tomorrow
You knew my every need

Now another day is waiting
For me to make it through
And there's no way that I could face it without You

Before the day slips away
I want to stop and say
I love You I love You
Before the world rushes in again
I want to stop and say there's none above You
There's none above You
I'll just be still and know You are God
Be still and know You are God

There's something about the morning
The stillness of it all
It calms my heart to hear You
When You gently call

Here I am in Your presence
Where I long to be
Alone with You in the silence
Bring down Your love and Your mercy
Whisper softly to me

The chorus to this song is so powerful and moving. The Psalmist wrote, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Psalms 91:1-2NKJV. It is in the “secret place” that we can truly say, “Before the day slips away, I want to stop and say I love You I love You. Before the world rushes in again, I want to stop and say there's none above You. There's none above You. I'll just be still and know You are God. Be still and know You are God.” Is there a quiet place in your day when you step into a place with God to say “I love You”. My this is convicting. Stop right now, if you have not already today, and just say, “God, I love you. There is none above you. I’ll just be still and know you are God.”

Brain on a Chain - Philippians 2:5

Philippians 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: NIV

Attitude is a brain thing. What did Christ brain chain look like?

Humility – “made himself nothing” (v7)

Servant – “taking the form of a servant” (v7)

Obedient – “obedient to the point of death” (v8)

These are three characteristics that all of us should seek. Oswald Chambers wrote, “If you have only come as far as asking God for things, you have never come to the point of understanding the least bit of what surrender really means.” In surrender we find humility and when we think we have found it we can know that we have lost it. Surrender is the moment-by-moment task of a servant. Today, let God speak to you. He will prompt you to some things, people, and/or opportunities. I pray that each of us will be Obedient In The Moment (OITM). Put your brain on a chain with humility, service and obedience. You can do it.

Missions Story

In the streets mission(Harvest CHurch) Sunday April 25th 2-4pm

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This was posted by a member of the faith family @ Harvest Church

(Used by permission)

Sun at 5:55pmhis was an amazing expeience for my entire family! We had NEVER been invoved in anything like this before! We went not knowing what to expect at all, with lots of mixed emotions! We pulled up and everyone was unloading trucks, trunks of cars etc! They were sitting up tables and spreading out tarps on the ground. Clothes and other items all went to the tarps and were spread out in best of order as possible. Tables were set up and food was being placed on the tables. Hotdogs were being prepared also. Think about if a bunch of strange people pulled up in your neighborhod that noone else knew and had no idea what they were doing there! I would be alittle scared I think. They started coming closer and we greeted them and said we have plenty of food, clothes etc. Grab a bag and take what you need. Its all for you to take! It was amazing the see the faces and the comments... really, are you sure? One guy kept telling me God is gonna bless yall one day, he really is! Kids were being carried around and played with while parents were "Searching" through to find things they could use or need. Children were talking with other children and trying to help them find things also. My youngest Kensley was in awe. She said WOW mom they should do stuff like this in our neighborhood. I just smiled deep inside cause she had no idea really what she was really doing(like I said this was her first time) I gave her some bags and told her to give the people bags so they would not have to carry their stuff. She came back later and said I sold 2 of my bag..lol I said SOLD?? she said I mean gave.... I was like Whewwwwww!(Kids) She later came to me with an old green John deere ball cap and said I found what I want. I said you do not get to keep that. We are hear to give this to people who needs this stuff. She said but I need it. I said you have plenty of hats at home that you never even wear, these little children do not have not even one hat! I told her to go find a little boy that needed it and give it to him. I later saw a small child run through with a bag full of food and some clothes etc... with that old green John deere ball cap on...... He was wearing it with great pride too! lol I just smiled and said now that is just amazing!! If you have never been on one of this mission trips, I know they are really to help others, but they help the ones doing it and giving way more I think. I left there with great pride that God had sent me to anwer prayers in that neighboorhood today!

HClife April 25

I enjoy the time I get to teach in Sunday School. I hope that those in my class enjoy it as much as I do. This is a great time of learning, laughter and loving. Yesterday was real rich in our lesson as I know it was in all of our HC Sunday School Classes. Make sure you are active in this aspect of your HClife.

The HC Praise Team did a great job yesterday. I want to thank Luke for stepping up and doing a great job leading this group of talented people. The song choices were inspirational and tied in great with the message. Thank you Luke and the HC Praise Team. This sermon series has been so refreshing for me. As I study and prepare for these messages God is refreshing me in His BIGNESS. Everyone has need in their life and God is the total fulfillment of that need. Walk in His ways and see what He will and can do. As I wrote in an email this morning, “I pray that I and the faith family of HC will walk in the BIGNESS of God instead of the littleness of our own thinking.”.

Yesterday’s HC In The Streets was one great experience. We had about 50 people from the HC faith family. It was great to see people unloading food, clothes, toys, etc. and excited to give them away. Just a couple of stories so you might get the feel of what we experienced. One boy said, “This is the happiest day of my life.” Another said, “I’m so happy.” Just one great experience for all. We went to give and I think we ended up receiving. I know I was blessed.

The LIFEgroups have been a great success for so many. Last night the group that meets at David and Karen’s had 36 people. I like the way David put it in our conversations this morning. Every week it is like pealing an onion. A different layer comes off every week. People are laughing and crying together. If you are not involved in one, you are missing out. You will never experience what the LIFEgroups give in any other environment.

Yesterday the HClife was off the hook good.

Lyrics - Wash By The Water

Today I am going to begin what I’m going to call “Lyrics Wednesday”. Original huh?

This weeks song is by Needtobreath, Wash by the Water.

Even when the rain falls

Even when the flood starts rising

Even when the storm comes

I am washed by the water

Daddy was a preacher

She was his wife

Just tryin to make the world a little better

You know, shine a light

People started talking

Trying to hear their own voice

Those people tried to accuse my father

Said he made the wrong choice

Though it might be painful

You know that time will always tell

Those people have long since gone

My father never failed

Even if the Earth crumbles under my feet

Even if the ones I love turn around and crucify me

I won’t never ever let you down

I won’t fall

I won’t fall

I won’t fall as long as you’re around me

The Christian life is sometimes difficult. But the main thing is that Christ is all “around me”. Tonight at HC we talked about being “AT ONE” with God. When we are “AT ONE” we can stand. If you have not heard this song, it is worth your time. Click here to check it out.

Brain On A Chain - Free

I am going to make Tuesday’s “Brain on a Chain” day in my blog. We must put our brains on a chain. We can chase some of the most crazy things in our mind. So today, I being this weekly series with a look at “How do we find our yes?” This morning God reinforced a strong passage in my devotion time. I love the devotional My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. Today, the verse that began today’s devotion was, “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen” (2 Cor 1:20). There are times we will hear someone say, “I just believe” when speaking about something they want or need in their life. Others will say, “I have faith” while others still will stay “Just have faith”. He is what I believe about those statements. What if I say, “I have faith to believe that if I jump off this building I will not get hurt” or “I just believe that God is going to do this for me”. Does that mean they “will not get hurt” or that “God is going to”? I do not believe so. So, were do we find our “yes” as this verse says. Let’s break this verse down:

“For all the

Promises

of God

Find their Yes

In Him”

All : the whole amount, quantity, or extent of.

Promises - a : a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified b : a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act

God: the Greek is theos meaning the only and true God.

Find their yes: their surety is discovered

In Him: the Greek here is autos which is saying “in Myself”.

So, I can without a doubt put my faith, trust and belief in ALL the legally binding declarations that the only true God has given me. They will all be “Yes”.

Here is an example:

We have all said, heard and sang the line “the truth will set you free”. So, I can say that I have faith that the truth will set me free based on that statement alone. Well, I got good news for you that is not true. Let us read this in its context and see what the real promise of God is and where it finds its yes.

1 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The chain here is God’s Word. So, don’t let your brain go where the Word does not take it. The truth of this passage is:

“If you abide in my Word, you are truly my disciples” that is an action on our part to know and live the Word thus demonstrating that we are His disciples. When that happens “you will know the truth”. Consequently, your behavior changes because you abide in the Word and the truth is evident. It is then, and only then, that the truth will set you free. So the key is “ABIDING”. Today, keep your brain on a chain.

Takeaways from Sunday

Chris Kelley

I know that everyone was shocked to learn of Chris’ resignation. Chris did us an excellent job for the 18 months he was with us. He did a great job getting our Educational Ministry headed in the right direction and did much of the work planning our LIFEgroups. He led our Worship Arts Ministry with excellence and did a great job incorporating skits, drama, video and music. His willingness and vision to take the Vertical High School youth to another level was refreshing. I pray that in this new phase of Chris and Erin’s life that God richly blesses and uses them as I know He will. Erin did a great job working with Stacy in the GLOWORM ministry to our 3-5 year olds. The girls brought so much joy with their laughter and smile and I know those who taught them every week will greatly miss them.

Sunday School

This is such an important time each week in the life of a believer. I know that the teachers are working hard to prepare lessons each week. I love what one of our members said to me yesterday, “The study we are doing is just beating me up.” This is getting beat up in a good way. He said I think the whole church should have to do this study. That tells you that it is good.

LIFEgroups

This is becoming what our family looks so forward to each week. We laughed so hard last night some might have even cried. We were able to get to know each other even better. The reports continue to be encouraging from the LIFEgroups. If you are not part of a LIFEgroup yet, make sure you give it a chance. I promise you will enjoy this time with your church family. I believe it might be church at its best.

Worship

I want to thank Luke Williams, Brittany Henry and the adult praise band for doing a great job bringing us into God’s presence through praise and worship. God is worthy of our praise and is jealous for us. The sermon was probably the most boring I have ever delivered but also one that should be preached more. We must have total confidence in the Word of God. I am enjoying the WHO series. We will continue to look at “Who Is God?”. Before we move on to Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit? Who Am I? and Who are We? You can go to our web site and download the outlines of these series. Click Here

This Week

I am looking forward to WOW Wednesdays. WOW stands for Wide Open Worship. We are called to worship Him wide open. We will be continuing our series through the Bible as we look at Leviticus and its teaching on Atonement. Don’t miss is. Make sure you join us at 6:30. The AWANA and youth will have things happening as well. If you would like us to add your child to the afterschool program on Wednesdays, please make sure you contact Ricky Watson.

Saturday

I want to encourage the men to join us at 5 Points Baptist for the associational men’s breakfast. We have submitted nominations for man of the year and minister of the year. Please come and support our church and nominees April 24@ 8:30am.

In The Streets

April 24 @ 11 AM be at the FLC for our next In the Streets opportunity. We will be taking food, clothes and groceries to the West End area of Tuscaloosa. This is a great opportunity for you to be Christ to the community. If you have questions, please contact David Cottingham.