Recognizing Christ's Voice

By: Dr. Charles Stanley as written for InTouch Ministries; posted on Intouch.org

John 10:1-18

You may not want to think of yourself as a sheep, but that is a term Jesus used to describe His children. His sheep are all those who have trusted Him as Savior—and they are the ones for whom He laid down His life. Scripture says these sheep are identified by three characteristics: They know their Shepherd, hear His voice, and follow Him.

Our Shepherd knew us before the foundation of the world. He sought us when we were lost, calling us each by name into His flock. We responded in faith by following Jesus, and from that point onward, we’ve been growing in our knowledge of Him and in our ability to obey His voice.

Yet sometimes we are rebellious sheep who, because of self-centeredness, fail to heed Christ’s Word. We begin to ignore His directions and choose to listen to competing voices that promise to give us what we want. As we go our own way, it becomes harder to hear Christ’s voice.

When we have difficulty hearing the Lord, the best remedy is to surrender our personal desires and fix our attention on what God wants. Only then will we again be able to discern our Shepherd’s voice calling us back to Himself.

Order of Worship - Contemporary English Service

Give it all to Jesus

John 6:1-15

Pastor Ray Sanchez

Call to Worship - Psalm 78:1-7 Pastor Ray Sanchez

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable ; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;

Armed Forces Salute - Medley

Prayer

Ministry Opportunities

Greeting

Peace Like A River

I’ve got peace like a river (3X) in my soul!

I’ve got love like an ocean (3X) in my soul! I

I’ve got joy like a fountain (3X) in my soul!

I’ve got peace, love and joy like a river (3X) in my Soul

Shout To The North

Verse 1:

Men of faith rise up and sing, Of the great and glorious King

You are strong when you feel weak, In your brokenness complete.

Chorus:

Shout to the north and the south

Sing to the east and the west

Jesus is Savior to all Lord of heaven and earth

Verse 2:

Rise up women of the truth, Stand and sing to broken hearts,

Who can know the healing pow’r, Of our awesome King of love

Verse 3:

Rise up church with broken wings, fill this place with songs again,

Of our God who reigns on high, By His grace again we’ll fly!

Bridge:

We’ve been through fire, We’ve been through rain

We’ve been refined By the pow’r of HIs name We’ve fallen deeper In love with You You’ve burned The truth on our lips

Offering - Pastor Robin Wiley

Jesus Loves Me

Yes Jesus loves me Jesus loves me this I know Yes Jesus loves me For the Bible tells me so Yes Jesus loves me Little ones to HIm belong The Bible tells me so They are weak but He is strong

Children’s Blessing - Pastor Ray Sanchez

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Amazing grace how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost but now I’m found Was blind but now I see

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed

Chorus:

My chains are gone I’ve been set free My God my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy reigns Unending love amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me His word my hope secures He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun!

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, then when we first begun!

John 6:1-15

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

6 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii[a] worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Questions for discussion?

Giving all you have for athletics, academics, the arts, or in your work is important. What might we be holding on to (time, money, materials, social status, jobs, gifts) that we need to give completely over  to Jesus?

In what ways have you seen Jesus take small offerings and miraculously multiplied them?

Pray that God will let you know what parts of your life you need to give completely to him.

Shout To The North

Verse 3:

Rise up church with broken wings, fill this place with songs again,

Of our God who reigns on high, By His grace again we’ll fly!

Chorus:

Shout to the north and the south

Sing to the east and the west

Jesus is Savior to all Lord of heaven and earth

Benediction Prayer - Chris Kromer

Order of Service - Servicio en Español

Tienes Sed Juan 7:37-52 Pastor Joe Aguilar

Bienvenido

Armed Forces Salute – Medley

Call To Worship – Salmos 78:1-8 Victor Garcia

ESCUCHA, pueblo mío, mi ley: Inclinad vuestro oído á las palabras de mi boca. Abriré mi boca en parábola; Hablaré cosas reservadas de antiguo: Las cuales hemos oído y entendido; Que nuestros padres nos las contaron. No las encubriremos á sus hijos, Contando á la generación venidera las alabanzas de Jehová, Y su fortaleza, y sus maravillas que hizo. El estableció testimonio en Jacob, Y pusó ley en Israel; La cual mandó á nuestros padres Que la notificasen á sus hijos; Para que lo sepa la generación venidera, y los hijos que nacerán; Y los que se levantarán, lo cuenten á sus hijos; A fin de que pongan en Dios su confianza, Y no se olviden de las obras de Dios, Y guarden sus mandamientos: Y no sean como sus padres, Generación contumaz y rebelde; Generación que no apercibió su corazón, Ni fué fiel para con Dios su espíritu.

Tengo Paz Como Rio

Levanta su casa sobre la roca (3X) Y viviras

Tengo paz como un rio (3X) En mi ser

Tengo gozo en mi alma (3X) O Señor

Tengo amor en mi vida (3X) O Señor

Tengo amor, gozo, paz en mi vida (3X) O Señor

Anuncios

Eres Todopoderoso

La única razón de mi adoración Eres Tú mi Jesús Mi único motivo para vivir Eres Tú mi Señor Mi única verdad está en Ti Eres mi luz y mi salvación Mi único amor eres Tú Señor Y por siempre Te alabaré

Tú eres todopoderoso Eres grande y majestuoso

Eres fuerte invencible Y no hay nadie como Tú

Te Doy Gloria

Coro:

(Y) Te doy gloria gloria Te doy gloria gloria Te doy gloria gloria a Ti Jesus

Verso:

Cuan hermoso eres Jesús

Son Tus palabras es Tu amor

Cuan glorioso eres Jesús Es Tu poder fue Tu cruz

Pre-Coro:

La que me salvo me rescató Un momento ahí me dio libertad

Coro:

(Y) Te doy gloria gloria Te doy gloria gloria Te doy gloria gloria a Ti Jesus

Con una corona de espinos, Te hiciste Rey por siempre (4X)

Children’s Blessing – Juan Cerda

Cristo Te Ama

Cristo me ama bien lo sé

Su Palabra me hace ver;

Que los niños son de aquel,

Quien es nuestro amigo fiel.

Coro:

¡Cristo me ama! ¡Cristo me ama!

¡Cristo me ama! La Biblia dice así.

Ofrenda – Gil Cameron

Renuévame

Renuévame Señor Jesús Ya no quiero ser igual Renuévame Señor Jesús Pon en mí Tu corazón

Coro:

Porque todo lo que hay dentro de mí Necesita ser cambiado Señor Porque todo lo que hay dentro de mi corazón Necesita más de Ti

Benediction Prayer – Izzy Alfaro

A Divine Perspective for Prayer

By: Dr. Charles Stanley as written for InTouch Ministries, posted on Intouch.org

Ephesians 1:15-23

Scripture says to pray about everything (Phil. 4:6), but in bringing our petitions, it’s also important to maintain a divine perspective. Paul, for example, kept God’s character in the forefront of his thinking and aligned his requests with the Lord’s desires. In today’s passage, the apostle prayed that we would know God in three specific areas.

1. The hope of His calling (Eph. 1:18). Salvation gives us eternal hope based not on external conditions but on the promise of eternal life. Since this world will always disappoint us, we must fix our hope completely on the grace to be brought to us at Christ’s return (1 Peter 1:13).

2. The riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (Eph. 1:18). We have an imperishable, undefiled, unfading inheritance reserved for us in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). Nothing this world offers can compare to what we already have waiting for us.

3. The surpassing greatness of His power for believers (Eph. 1:19). God has not left us to do the best we can. His power is always working to transform us into Christ’s image and empower our obedience.

Keep praying for your physical and emotional needs, but don’t forget to add these spiritual requests as well.

You Can Trust God in Everything

By: Pastor Rick Warren as written for Daily Hope; posted on PastorRick.com

“For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does.” Psalm 33:4 (NLT)

One of the great questions of life is, “Who are you going to trust?” The way you answer this question will determine whether you’re happy or miserable, whether you succeed or fail, and whether you make something of your life or you waste it.

Who always has your best interest in mind? Who will help you make decisions important to your life? Should you trust popular opinion? That may not be a good idea since it constantly changes. Should you trust celebrities who set the latest trends? Trends change, and fads fade. Should you make critical life decisions based on what you read on social media? Just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s truly trustworthy or reliable.

What about trusting yourself? The truth is, our emotions can lie to us. The Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV). When we live by our emotions, we can be easily manipulated by other people and by our changing moods.

If you’re going to entrust your life and your future to someone or something, you’d better choose someone who has your best interest at heart, knows everything, is perfect, and will never lie to you. That kind of limits your options—to God.

No one is ever going to always tell you the truth. They’re going to shade it. They’re going to filter it. They’re going to make it sound nice. They won’t tell you what you need to hear. But what you need to hear is the truth, because it is the truth that sets you free. Lies about yourself, others, the world, and how life really is only keep you in bondage.

To be set free, you must have the truth. As I’ve said many times, the truth will set you free, but first it makes you miserable. We don’t like the truth. We don’t want to hear that most of the problems in our lives were brought on by poor decisions. We don’t want to hear that it’s our own stubbornness and ego and insecurity that cause the stress in our lives, but it’s true.

Psalm 33:4 says, “For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does” (NLT).

God said it, and that settles it—whether or not you believe it. God isn’t waiting on your opinion to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong. If God says it, it’s true.

You can trust God.

Talk It Over

• What will you trust God for today?

• Why is it often easier to believe the lies we hear from other people or the media instead of trusting in God’s truth?

• Do you accept all of God’s Word as truth? Why or why not?

Growing Through Our Adversity

BY: Dr. Charles Stanley as written for InTouch Ministries, posted on Intouch.org

WEDNESDAY04

James 1:2-4

What would happen if you approached a fork in the road and found two signs—one reading “Road of Comfort” and the other, “Road of Adversity”? Most of us would probably veer onto the path of comfort with a sigh of relief, because no one wants to experience pain, disappointment, or loss. Yet hardships are an essential part of the believer’s spiritual journey.

First of all, adversity reveals our view of the Lord. The more clearly we understand who God is and what He desires to accomplish in us, the stronger our faith and the greater our joy will be. But if we’re focused on the negative aspects of our circumstances, we may begin to doubt His loving sovereignty and good purposes.

Second, adversity teaches us the truth about ourselves. Sinful attitudes and misplaced priorities often come to the surface in times of affliction. Though we may just want the situation to improve, God intends to teach us through it. So it’s important that we have a willingness to learn.

Instead of seeing our difficulties as loss, we need to view them as a means God uses to build endurance. Then we may be, as James says, “lacking in nothing” (James 1:4).

Making An Impact

Scripture

Isaiah 61:1-4

61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;[a] he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;  3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

A few weeks ago I looked through a folder of photos taken at camp the past couple of years with our youth. We would try to go every year to Camp Zephyr in June or July. I reminisced about how passionate all the teens, (and even us adults!) were about our faith and sharing the Gospel when we got home. I shook my head wondering where all that passion and energy went. COVID happened. And the world kind of stopped. I felt defeated, like I wasn’t doing enough to motivate our kiddos to grow and share their faith with others around them. It’s a bit challenging now in this post COVID time with social distancing rules.  But this actually betrays a wrong understanding of how God wants his people to be on mission in the world.

Isaiah 61 is a great place to see how Jesus saves us and prepares us for the kind of mission he actually wants us to be on. God’s mission involves redeeming both physical/social and spiritual places of brokenness: Verses 1-3 show how Jesus gathers his people together and cares for both their physical needs (“beauty instead of ashes”, “praise instead of despair”) and reconciles their relationship with God (“oaks of righteousness”). But he doesn’t stop there! These trees get planted. Things that are planted are nurtured, and they grow. Verse 4 describes God’s people rebuilding, restoring, and renewing things that have been broken for generations. Complex issues like this aren’t fixed with a band-aid, but by the slow, intentional faithfulness of God’s people incarnating themselves in broken places over a long time.

Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to believe God wants us to have an impact in His world, pushing back against the brokenness of the fall. We either can throw ourselves into the task, often burning ourselves out in the process (because we aren’t Jesus!), or we can despair because the darkness seems too great for us to make a difference at all. But God saves us to be trees, planted in specific places, slowly growing and having an impact in the lives and systems that he intertwines us with, what Eugene Peterson once called “a long obedience in the same direction.” We can trust that God is using us now, and will continue to use us, to accomplish all of his purposes for the world, in His time. 

Questions to Consider:

Reflect:

• Are you more tempted to overwork yourself trying to fight sin and evil, or become depressed that it’s too much for you to make a difference? 

• When you see things happening around the world and in the lives of your friends, what aspects of brokenness in the world break your heart? 

• In your sphere of influence where do you see yourself making the most impact with sharing the Gospel story? Words or actions?

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for healing our wounds, caring for our broken hearts, and entering into a relationship with us because of Jesus. You encourage us that you are planting and empowering us to serve in this world alongside you. You are the king, and already victorious over sin and death, so we can serve without fear of failure or expectation to be a hero. Holy Spirit, give us hearts for the places even now you will plant us, passions for the rebuilding work to do, and patience that it will come in your timing. In Jesus Name, Amen!

A God of Grace

Gather:

Have you ever gotten a reward?

Have you ever gotten a reward you haven’t deserved?

Hear:

Ephesians 2:1-9

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this worldand of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Pause:

Meditate on this passage. What is God saying to you?

A God of Grace - by Charles Stanely (from intouch.org)

In all our attempts to know God, we must face the fact that ultimately He is beyond our understanding. From our perspective, His attributes may seem at odds with each other. For instance, He is a God of vengeance (Psalm 94:1) who will judge the earth (Psalm 98:9), but He is also described as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth (Ex. 34:6). God in His utter perfection is all of these things—without any contradiction at all. 

The Lord will judge unrepentant sinners, yet He is gracious to all who trust in His Son for forgiveness and salvation. Grace is His goodness and kindness lavished upon everyone who receives it. It’s totally undeserved because there is nothing we can do to make ourselves acceptable to Him. And on the other hand, we can do nothing to separate ourselves from His grace. This is God’s gift to believers in Christ, and it can never be taken away from us. 

We were saved by grace, are sustained by it every day of our Christian life, and will be recipients of the surpassing riches of divine grace for all eternity. What an amazing gift from our Father!

Bless:

Dear Lord,

Thank you for all the Bible passages that give us insight into your character and the mysterious nature of your perfection. Thank you for your gift of grace that we do not deserve. May we praise you for the goodness and kindness yo lavish upon us.

In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen!

11.01.20 Order of Worship - Our Divine Host Psalm 23

Call To Worship - Pastor Ray Sanchez

Psalm 34:1-10 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.  Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!  I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.  Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!  Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Open Up the Heavens

Verse:

We've waited for this day
We're gathered in your name
Calling out to you
Your glory like a fire
Awakening desire
Will burn our hearts with truth

You're the reason we're here
You're the reason we're singing

Chorus:

Open up the heavens
We want to see you
Open up the floodgates
A mighty river
Flowing from your heart
Filling every part of our praise

Verse:

Your presence in this place
Your glory on our face
We're looking to the sky
Descending like a cloud
You're standing with us now
Lord, unveil our eyes

You're the reason we're here
You're the reason we're singing

Chorus:

So open up the heavens
We want to see you
Open up the floodgates
A mighty river
Flowing from your heart
Filling every part of our praise

CCLI Song # 6304702
© 2012 Word Music, LLC | HBC Worship Music | Open Hands Music | Sony/ATV Timber Publishing | Stugio Music Publishing For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 920505

If Your Happy and You Know It

Children’s Blessing - Pastor Ray Sanchez

We Are One

Verse 1:

Make us one in the Body, Make us one in His Love Make us one in the Father, Spirit, Son Make us shine in our city, To our neighbors and friends Make them know we are one by our love

Chorus 1:

Many walks, Many tongues
Many lives bound together in the Son. We are one in the body,
We are one in His Love,
We are one in the Father, Spirit, Son.

Verse 2:

Let us love one another,
Let us put others first.
Let our deeds show the heart of loving hands Let us feed those who hunger
Let us teach those who thirst
Let our lives show we follow your commands

Chorus 1:

Many walks, Many tongues
Many lives bound together in the Son. We are one in the body,
We are one in His Love,
We are one in the Father, Spirit, Son.

Verse 3:

May we know You in spirit may we know You in truth May we know You our God the Great I Am May we shine to our nation Make us light to all men

Make Him known, Son of God, Son of Man

© 2013 Raysanchezmusic.com

Offering - Robin Wiley

You Are My Shepherd

Verse 1:

You are my shepherd, I shall not want.
You make me lie down in green pastures. Besides still waters, You restore my soul. You lead me in paths of righteousness
For the glory of your name!

Chorus:

Lord You lead me when I'm walking close to You.
Lord You shepherd me when I wander far from You.
Lord You rescued me Pulled me out of miry clay.
Lord you give me s give me strength when I face uncertain days

Verse 2:

Through death’s dark valley, I will not fear

Your rod and staff, they bring me comfort

You prepare a table in the presence of my foes.

You anoint my head with oil. My cup it overflows.

© 2020 Raysanchezmusic.com

Way Maker

Chorus (2X)

Way Maker, Miracle Worker,

Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness,

My God that is who You are

Tag (2X)

That is who You are, That is who You are, That is who You are, That is who You are!

Bridge (3X)

Even when I don't see it You're working. Even when I don't feel it You're working.

You never stop, You never stop working. You never stop, You never stop working.

CCLI Song # 7115744

Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu © 2016 Integrity Music Europe (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook)) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 920505

Scripture Reading - Helen Saldaña

Psalm 23 (KJV) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Sermon: Our Divine Host - Dr. Steven Parker

Questions for Reflection

How does this image of God preparing a table before us shape our understanding of the Lord’s Supper?

What other images come to mind when you partake of this symbolic meal?

Spend a few moments in prayer, communing with God, thanking the Lord for Christ’s sacrifice, looking toward His sure return.

Lord’s Supper Observance

Jesus Messiah

Verse 1

He became sin who knew no sin That we might become His righteousness He humbled Himself and carried the cross Love so amazing love so amazing

Chorus 1

Jesus Messiah Name above all names

Blessed Redeemer Emmanuel

The Rescue for sinners

The Ransom from heaven

Jesus Messiah Lord of all

Verse 2

His body the bread

His blood the wine

Broken and poured out all for love

The whole earth trembled and the veil was torn

Love so amazing love so amazing

Chorus 1

Jesus Messiah Name above all names

Blessed Redeemer Emmanuel

The Rescue for sinners

The Ransom from heaven

Jesus Messiah Lord of all

Bridge

All our hope is in You

All our hope is in You

All the glory to You God

The Light of the world

CCLI Song # 5183443
© 2008 Vamos Publishing | worshiptogether.com songs | sixsteps Music | Wondrously Made Songs For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 920505

Benediction Prayer - Charles Armstrong

01.11.20 9:30AM Orden de adoración - Me Conoces? Juan 7:14-36

Bienvenido

Llamada A La Adoración - Hermano Victor Garcia - Salmos 34:1-10

Bendeciré a Jehová en todo tiempo; Su alabanza estará de continuo en mi boca. En Jehová se gloriará mi alma; Lo oirán los mansos, y se alegrarán. Engrandeced a Jehová conmigo, y exaltemos a una su nombre. Busqué a Jehová, y él me oyó, y me libró de todos mis temores. Los que miraron a él fueron alumbrados, y sus rostros no fueron avergonzados. Este pobre clamó, y le oyó Jehová, y lo libró de todas sus angustias. El ángel de Jehová acampa alrededor de los que le temen, y los defiende. Gustad, y ved que es bueno Jehová; Dichoso el hombre que confía en él.  Temed a Jehová, vosotros sus santos, pues nada falta a los que le temen. Los leoncillos necesitan, y tienen hambre; Pero los que buscan a Jehová no tendrán falta de ningún bien.

Somos Uno

Verse 1:

Haznos uno en el Cuerpo

Haznos uno en su Amor

Haznos uno el la Santa Trinidad

Brillaremos en el pueblo Brillaremos al hombre

Y sabran que somos uno en Su amor

Chorus 1:

Muchas vidas
Muchas luengas
Unidos en el Nombre de Jesus Somos uno en su Cuerpo Somos uno en su Amor
Somos uno en la Santa Trinidad

Verse 2:

Amanse unos al otro
Cuida a tu projimo
Que tus manos demuestren su Amor

Dale al que tenga hambre
Dale al que tenga sed
Reflejen los mandamientos del Senor

Verse 3:

Llénanos con tu Espíritu
Y con tu Verdad
Conciendo que eres Dios el Gran Yo Soy

Haznos brillar a la gente
La nación y el projimo
Que conozcan al Hijo de Dios

© 2013 RaySanchezMusic.com

Anuncios

Somos El Pueblo De Dios

Verse 1:

Somos el pueblo de Dios Somos un pueblo especial Llamados para anunciar Las virtudes de Aquel Que nos llamó a Su luz

Chorus 1:

Y llevaremos Su gloria

A cada pueblo y nación

Trayéndoles esperanza

Y nuevas de salvación

Y Su amor nos impulsa

No nos podemos callar

Anunciaremos al mundo

De Su amor y verdad

Verse 2

Somos el pueblo de Dios Su sangre nos redimío Y Su Espíritu dió Para darnos poder

Y ser testigos de Él

© 2000 CanZion Producciones

Bendición de los niños - Hermano Juan Cerda

No Me Soltaras

Verse 1:

Aunque yo este en el valle de la muerte y dolor tu amor me quita todo temor.
Y si llego a estar en el centro de la tempestad no dudaré por que estas aquí

PRECORO:

Y no temeré del mal,

pues mi Dios conmigo esta

Y si Dios conmigo esta, de quien temeré?

de quien temeré?

CORO:

No,no,no me soltaras,en la calma la tormenta

No,no,no mE soltaras,en lo alto en lo bajo

No,no,no me soltaras,Dios nunca me dejarás.

Verse 2:

Puedo ver la luz que se acerca al que busca de ti, Gloriosa luz cual otra no hay.
Y terminarán los problemas mientras llega el fin, Viviremos conociéndote a ti.

PRECORO:

Y no temeré del mal,

pues mi Dios conmigo esta

Y si Dios conmigo esta, de quien temeré?

de quien temeré?

CORO:

No,no,no me soltaras,en la calma la tormenta

No,no,no mE soltaras,en lo alto en lo bajo

No,no,no me soltaras,Dios nunca me dejarás.

Verse 3:

Y puedo ver la luz que se acerca al que busca de ti,

Y terminarán los problemas mientras llega el fin,

voy a alabarte, voy a alabarte solo a ti

Ofrenda - Pastor Ray Sanchez

Sumergeme

Cansado del camino
Sediento de ti
Un desierto he cruzado
Sin fuerzas he quedado
Vengo a ti

Luché como soldado
Y a veces sufrí
Y aunque la lucha he ganado
Mi armadura he desgastado
Vengo a ti

Coro

Sumérgeme
En el río de tu espíritu
Necesito refrescar este seco corazón
Sediento de ti

Sumérgeme
En el río de tu espíritu
Necesito refrescar este seco corazón
Sediento de ti

Mensaje - Pastor Joe Aguilar

A Solas al Huerto Yo Voy

Verse 1:

A solas al huerto yo voy,
Cuando duerme aún la floresta,
Y en quietud y paz con Jesús estoy Oyendo absorto allí su voz.

Chorus:

El conmigo está, puedo oír su voz, Y que suyo, dice, seré, Y el encanto que hallo en Él allí, Con nadie tener podré

Verse 2:

Tan dulce es la voz del Señor, Que las aves guardan silencio, Y tan sólo se oye su voz de amor, Que inmensa paz al alma da

Verse 3:

Con Él encantado yo estoy,
Aunque en torno llegue la noche,
Más me ordena ir, y a escuchar yo voy, Su voz doquier la pena esté.

Oración de bendición - Hermano Izzy Alfaro

A Prayer to be Known as a Jesus Follower

BY: Maggie Meadows Cooper, as written for Your Daily Prayer posted on crosscards.com/dailydevotional

Lately, my heart has been hurting for so many people. The state of our country is overwhelming. It leaves many of us wondering what to say, what to do, and how to be helpers. The specifics of those things, I can’t answer. But I do know one thing.

In Acts 4, Peter and John were arrested for healing a crippled man and then preaching about Jesus. But when they were brought before the council, they never backed down. They stood strong for Jesus and here's what happened: "The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus." - Acts.4:13 (italics mine)

I'm as ordinary as they come. I have no special training in the Word, just a longing to share the Lord with others. But it's hard. It doesn't come naturally. I care what people think, too much sometimes. I don't want to be the weird one. There are times I push through and put it out there. But, there are more times I know exactly what I should say and back down because of fear.

My prayer is that even when I fail at being bold. Even when I don't share like I should. That those around me can still tell that I have been with Jesus.

For any of you who struggle with voicing your beliefs and sharing the Word out loud, like I do at times, you may wonder, well how will they know I've been with Jesus if I don't say it?

Many times believers don’t share the gospel in words. They share it with bold actions that resonate louder than many words ever could.

Here are a few areas to focus on:

1. The way you love people.  Not just the ones who you're supposed to love. Not just the ones who love you. I'm talking about the ones who you don't know. The ones who look different than you. The ones who might be stinky or awkward or might make you uncomfortable. Love 'em. Show it with a smile or a hand squeeze or a hug or food or service. Stand up for those who need you. Do something sacrificial, no matter how small, to give someone hope that they are worthy of love.

Love people well. And pray they see Jesus instead of you.

"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters." 1 John 3:16

2. Show grace (giving someone what they don’t deserve) and mercy (not giving someone what they do deserve). People make mistakes every day. They mess up your order in the drive-thru line. They snap at you for no reason. They forget to turn their blinkers on when they are turning. It would be easy to call the manager and let them have it, post nasty things on social media to let everyone know how horrible they are, or honk your horn repeatedly in these situations. But let me encourage you not to.

I was at a fast food drive-thru not too long ago and as the young girl handed me the bag of food, she let go before I quite had it. The bag fell on the ground and fries went everywhere. Bless her heart, she looked terrified. I quickly smiled at her, told her it was my fault, and that I should have had a better hold on it, and it was fine. She looked shocked at my response. I grabbed the bag and what was left inside and told her thank you and to have a great day. Relief flooded her face, and it blessed my heart.

That was Jesus. I wanted my fries... and so did my whining kids. But in that moment, grace was needed. And He helped me give it.

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

3. Forgive, forgive, forgive. Many times you are not in the wrong. Forgive anyway. Many times, the other party doesn't deserve it. Forgive anyway. Many times, you will not get a kind response in return. Forgive anyway. And feel a peace in your soul that is free of the burden of grudges and a huge list of wrongs that will weigh your mind, body, and spirit down. Do it because Jesus would, and  He will help you.

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you,not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!" Matthew 18:22

Let’s Pray –

Dear Jesus,

I may not have the perfect words. I may not know exactly what to do to help. But in all situations, help me to love people well, give grace and mercy abundantly, and forgive without reservation. Use my life to help plant seeds that You can use for Your glory. Let me be known as a Jesus follower.

In everything I do, help me remember Whose I am and Who I represent. More than anything, I want to be known as someone who has been with You.

In Your Mighty Name,

Amen.

Following The Good Shepherd In Tumultuous Times

By: Dr. Steven K. Parker

Reflection on the week:

•  Have you ever experienced the LORD’s protective care?  In what way?

• Have you ever experienced the LORD’s loving correction?  Describe that experience.

Approaching God’s word: Spend a few moments in silent prayer and meditation, asking God to reveal Himself to you as your guiding Good Shepherd.

Reading the text:  If you missed this week’s message, you can access it here. Spend some time today meditating on the beautiful words of this prayerful song.  Focus on the words, “your rod and your staff, they comfort me” as you read.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever. (Psalm 23)

Reflection on the passage:  

• What purposes would a shepherd’s rod and staff serve?

• How does the Good Shepherd work in our lives like that?

Pastoral Thoughts:  The steep, slippery path the shepherd at times leads the sheep down spells doom for the sheep if they get too close to the edge, so they hug close to the cliff.  But along the cliff are these deep nooks and crannies where a hungry predator could be waiting to jump out and grab one.  This image of “the valley of the shadow of death” is one with danger on the right and peril on the left as the sheep follow the shepherd.  The sheep are left to trust in the shepherd’s protective correction.  If the sheep get too close to the cliff’s edge and begin to slip, the shepherd can use his staff to hook them quickly and pull them back to safety.  The falling sheep could take comfort in that staff of correction.  If a hungry critter hops out of a cave to try and make a snack out of one of the lambs, the shepherd can use the rod that’s something like a baseball bat to convince the predator that mutton is not on the menu.  The sheep could take comfort in the shepherd’s protective rod and corrective staff.

We need that type of protection.  Life is scary.  We’re living in the midst of a pandemic, through a season of polarizing political rhetoric with a large helping of racial discord and economic uncertainty sprinkled into the mix.  Will we get sick and if we do, will we be like so many who have mild symptoms and get better or like those other cases where the spiral is quick and deadly?  Will we lose more loved ones to this virus?  Will we still have a job next month?  What’s our nation going to look like in the coming years in the wake of all this mess?  When we think of the dangerous threats that lurk all around our families, fear and anxiety can become an oppressive force.  Sometimes we are called to follow the LORD down paths that seem pretty unsure.  Even through those times, we can follow the Good Shepherd, trusting that He knows where we need to go, travels before us, and really will protect us along the way.  Hardships will come, enemies will attack, struggles might even wound us, but we really can take comfort in the rod and staff of the Good Shepherd.  The LORD’s protection is a great source of security as we walk by faith and not by sight.  Reflect upon times when you have experienced the Good Shepherd’s protective deliverance; praise God for working like that in your story!

We also need God’s correction.  Like sheep that stray a little too close to the cliff’s edge, we at times begin to lose our footing.  As we walk through Death Valley, sometimes we begin to slip.  The ground beneath us gives way and we fall.  Like Peter who walked on the water toward the Lord but got distracted by the winds and began to sink, we at times take our eyes off the Good Shepherd and begin to feel the waves overtaking us.  Peter cried out to Jesus and the Good Shepherd pulled Him up and walked with him across the waves and back to the boat.  We too can cry out to the LORD and feel the Good Shepherd’s staff stop our slide and pull us back to safety.  Sometimes a song touches our heart and through the act of worship, God directs us away from the edge and back to solid ground.  Sometimes through the scriptures, the Good Shepherd grabs us with His crook and pulls us back to safety.  Sometimes a sermon stomps on our toes and causes us to move our feet away from the cliff’s edge.  Sometimes, in a quiet moment of restful prayer or through some unforeseen circumstance, the Lord either whispers in our ear or slaps us upside the head and steers us away from a long fall.  Sometimes a door that seems promising slams in our face and we are so disappointed until we realize that God’s protective correction is at work in our lives, keeping us from heading down a path that would separate us from His plan.  Other times the loving, truthful words of a trusted friend are used by the Spirit to jerk us back to our senses and set us back on the right path.  Think about times in your own life when the Good Shepherd has worked to offer a loving corrective when you wandered off the narrow road.  Praise Him for that!

Going through this difficult season, it’s comforting to know that the Good Shepherd is still there protecting and correcting His sheep, guiding us in the right path.  As we turn to God in regular prayer, study, fellowship, worship, and devotional time like this, we can picture Jesus walking before us with a rod of protection and a staff of correction and declare in praise with the Psalmist: “Your rod and Your staff they comfort me!”

Further Reflection:

• Share a testimony of how God has worked in your story with protective correction.

• Spend a few moments in prayer, praising God for His loving work as our Good Shepherd.

Praying together:

            Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd in green pastures and beside still waters.  You are still the Good Shepherd in Death Valley.  Your rod and staff don’t always feel good when you use them to deliver us from things that might hurt us or separate us from your perfect plan.  Yet, we are grateful for your work in our story always.  May your kingdom come, and your will be done in our story always. Amen.

Looking ahead:   We hope you’ll join us for worship on Sunday as we continue this study on the 23rd Psalm titled: Following the Good Shepherd in Tumultuous Times.  This Sunday we will be having the first of four consecutive in-person parking lot revival services.  Each of these services will also be broadcast live online.  This week we will also be celebrating communion together, reflecting on the way our Good Shepherd causes our cup to overflow.  If you’re worshiping with us in-person for our parking lot service, we will have Lord’s Supper elements available to share. If you’re worshiping at home through our online platform, we encourage you to prepare beforehand with your own bread and cup (no need to make a special trip to the store, just use elements you have around your house like crackers or bread and juice or soda). More than the physical preparation of the elements, whether we’re worshiping online or in-person, let us all prepare our hearts to commune with God and one another through this important expression of our worship and fellowship.

How neighbors with conflicting political views stayed friends: Good news for peace and the best news of all

by: Dr. Jim Denison

“We don’t see them as Democrats. They’re the Mitchells. We know they are good people who live next door. We love them.”

In a country where 93 percent of us say civility is a problem, this story in the Wall Street Journal is welcome news. We meet the Gates family, who are lifelong Republicans, and the Mitchells, who are lifelong Democrats. The two families are next-door neighbors in suburban Pittsburgh. The Gates home displays a Trump yard sign; the Mitchell home displays a Biden sign. 

But next to each there is another sign which says, “WE [HEART] THEM” with an arrow pointing to the other family’s home and “One Nation” inside the heart drawing. 

What is the key to such civility among families who disagree politically? 

Each couple has three children, roughly the same ages. They share a love for hockey; the boys play on the same team. They gather for dinner together each Monday evening. As the Journal notes, “They don’t argue. They don’t label each other. They listen to each other’s perspective, look for common ground, and recognize that reasonable and good people can reach different conclusions.” 

Gillian Mitchell, age fourteen, says, “I’m not a voter, but I think people should be mature and not argue all the time or fight. Fighting just leads to more fighting.” 

“One of the best set of hearings” 

The US Senate is expected to vote later today on President Trump’s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. During a rare Saturday session, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced her support, making it more likely that Republicans will have enough votes to confirm Barrett’s nomination. 

However, as another example of how bitterly divided our partisan politics have become, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted twelve to none last week to advance the nomination to the full Senate. The vote was unanimous only because the ten Democrats on the committee boycotted the vote to protest what they called a “sham process.” 

After Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) thanked committee chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) last week for presiding over “one of the best set of hearings that I’ve participated in,” NBC News reported that “calls for her ouster from Democratic leadership were swift, unequivocal, and relentless.” 

Why Sudan’s agreement with Israel is so historic 

In other news, Israel and Sudan will normalize ties in a US-brokered deal. The agreement is part of what the Wall Street Journal calls “a broader diplomatic realignment in the Middle East.” 

Friday’s announcement follows accords Israel entered last month with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Unlike these countries, however, Sudan has engaged in armed conflict with Israel in the past as part of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the 1967 Six-Day War. 

Sudan also hosted the Arab League summit after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War at which eight Arab nations approved what is known as the “Three Nos”—no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, and no negotiations with Israel. 

The US designated Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993 for harboring Osama bin Laden and others and accused the African nation of supporting Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. US officials have suspected Iran of using Sudan to smuggle weapons to Hamas militants in Gaza. 

In other words, Sudan’s normalization of relations with Israel is truly historic. US and Israeli officials say they expect Morocco and Oman, along with several other Muslim and Arab nations, to join the so-called Abraham Accords in coming months as well. 

A Persian proverb on peace 

Neighbors who oppose each other politically can still be friends. Judge Barrett’s confirmation would end the divisive process of filling Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s vacant seat. Sudan and other Arab nations are taking unprecedented steps toward peace with Israel. All of this is good news in our divisive days.  

However, the November 3 election will not end political rancor; some fear that it will only exacerbate tensions. The confirmation of Judge Barrett would not end battles over the Supreme Court, as court-packing could prove an even more divisive issue. Israel’s agreement with Sudan will not lessen the threats posed by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, and it may exacerbate them. 

As urgent as political peacemaking is, the ultimate key to peace is not political. A Persian proverb quoted by Cal Thomas in his new book, America’s Expiration Date, is still relevant: “There can never be peace between nations until it is first known that true peace is within the souls of men.” 

The prophet said to God, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3). Jesus told his disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace” (John 16:33). Paul testified, “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). 

How to “become a loving person” 

Tomorrow, we’ll discuss some practical ways we can experience and share God’s peace in our divided culture. For today, let’s seek to be at peace with the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Ask your Lord to show you anything that is keeping you from “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7), then confess any sin or take any step he brings to mind. Ask the Spirit to produce the “fruit” of peace in your spirit (Galatians 5:22). 

Then determine to give others what God has given you. Frederick Buechner noted that by God’s sanctifying grace, “the forgiven person starts to become a forgiving person, the healed person to become a healing person, the loved person to become a loving person.” 

Will you be a “loving person” today?

Last Words

Scripture

Ephesians 6:10-20

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Locate the word “Finally” in the passage you have just read and place your finger on it. Many times in English when we use the word finally we mean something like “almost finished”, “getting done”, “concluding” or “winding up” but when the Apostle Paul uses the phrase he does in Ephesians 6:10 it means, “I placed this information at the end to emphasis it and make sure it was remembered and this is something of extreme importance” (Sparkling Gems from the Greek, Renner p, 68-69).

Following this phrase Paul repeats the command to “stand” 3 times demonstrating its importance in the lives of believers in Ephesus and today. I learned in seminary school early on when studying how to interpret the Bible; that we must pay great attention to words that are repeated in a passage. Every word written in our precious Bible by the ancient scholars, theologians and disciples of old have meaning in their use and placement.  

The early chapters of the book of Ephesians contain some of the deepest theological truths found anywhere in the New Testament and they form the basis on which we can with confidence in a mighty loving and Holy God, stand strong and firm no matter what comes our way. We can stand firm through this pandemic. We can stand firm through any financial hardship. We can stand firm through this difficult school year. We can stand firm through the losses we have suffered in our lives. We can stand firm because we know there is Hope! That is worth remembering!! 

Questions to Consider:

Reflect:

• Share a time in the past when Jesus helped you stand firm.

• Talk about at least three reasons standing firm can be hard for a Christian.

• In the next week what is one thing you could do to stand firm for Jesus in your life?

Prayer:

Father God, Thank you for all of the great truths you reveal in the book of Ephesians that you have given to us, your children, so we can stand firm in Jesus as individuals and as a family. Thank you for the armor you have provided and the command to put it on so that we may be strong and secure in You and your care as we love You and lovingly serve each other and a needy world. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Dropkick Me, Jesus

Matthew 28:19-20”Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in  the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 10:27-30 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Dropkick Me, Jesus (Lyrics by Paul Charles Craft)

Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
End over end, neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of them, righteous up rights
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life

Verse 1:

Make me, oh, make me, Lord, more than I am
Make me a piece in Your master game plan
Free from the earthly tempestion below
I've got the will, Lord, if You got the toe

Verse 2:

Bring on the brothers who've gone on before
And all of the sisters who've knocked on your door
All the departed, dear, loved ones of mine
Stick 'em up front in the offensive line

Verse 3:

A lowly bench warmer I'm contented to be
Until the time when you have need of me
The flash on the scoreboard that shines upon high
And the big Super Bowl way up in the sky

We get our theology (a fancy word that means what we believe about God) from all sorts of places. I’m not sure an old country song should be the basis of deep theological reflection, but there are some interesting pieces in the prayer, “Dropkick Me, Jesus” sung by Bobby Bare and written by Paul Charles Craft.

I love the humility in this song. “Make me…Lord, more than I am…[and] make me a piece in Your master game plan.” These lines demonstrate that we need Jesus and need to join in God’s great plan for the world. The offensive line is a nod to the “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) that have come before us and sitting on the bench and points to humility as we wait for our time in the big game. But while we shouldn’t be fighting for the stardom enjoyed by today’s athletes (and church leaders), the bench is not the place to which God has called us. The Great Commission at the end of Matthew reminds us that we all have a role to play in discipling, baptizing and teaching as a part of God’s kingdom.

Perhaps the greatest theological shortcoming in Dropkick, if taken literally, is pitting our will against God’s toe. The implication here is that I’ve got my life in order as long as Jesus is capable of kicking me through the uprights. Most likely, “I’ve got the will, Lord if You’ve got the toe” is meant to be ironic because we all know that Jesus has got the toe! The real question is do you have the will?

Jesus has already done everything he needs to do to bring us into his kingdom. Those of us who are believers are then called upon to “follow [him]” (John 10:27). And even though Jesus continues to protect us, his work on the cross has already gotten us through the goalposts of eternal life.

In these crazy times, I am thankful that we have the assurance of eternal life. But right now, it is more important to get off the bench and get into the game as we are called to bring glory to God in everything we do (Col. 3:17).

I don’t think that Bobby Bare or Paul Charles Craft wrote “Dropkick Me, Jesus” to be a theological treatise. Most likely, they just wanted to bring a smile to your face and figured even Christians need a good kick in the backside every now and again.

The One We Really Need Today

By: Lysa Terkeurst as posted on crosswalk.com Encouragement for Today October 22

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35 (NIV)

At times, I’ve looked at prayer requests like Amazon Prime deliveries.

I want to know I’ll get what I ask for. I want what’s delivered to look like what I expected and to arrive in record time. And then I will feel so close to God because He did what I wanted!

I’m not proud of this. I’m challenged by it. Because there’s something too human and predictable about that being the way prayer actually works. Then my prayers become orders I place, the answers as cheap as products, and the sender nothing more than a far-removed entity I give little thought to until I need something else.

I want to change this. I want to come to God with my needs, my desires, my hunger and recognize that whatever He places before me is His daily bread. When Jesus taught us what to pray each day, His first request was for daily bread. But isn’t it true that bread took on many different forms in the Bible?

Sometimes it looks like a loaf from the oven, (Leviticus 2:4) other times like manna from heaven, (Deuteronomy 8:3) or best of all, like Jesus who declared Himself as the bread of life. (John 6:35) All three are God’s perfect provision. But with our human eyes, we would probably only recognize the loaf of bread as good and most fitting, and what a tragedy that would be.

The loaf of bread may be what I want from God, but isn’t the loaf the least miraculous of all the forms of bread? It’s the kind of provision we have to work to receive from the ground, harvesting the wheat, processing it and then baking it — all with our own hands. But maybe that’s what I like so much about the loaf of bread. Since I’m working for it, I have a sense of control over it.

Manna represents what God simply gives. The manna that fell from heaven for the children of Israel was God’s perfect sustenance, even though it looked more like little seeds or flakes rather than loaves of bread. And yet it came directly from God, day by day, and kept more than 2 million Israelites alive in the desert for the 40 years they needed it. It was miraculous.

But even with manna, people had some part to play. They had to go outside their tents to pick it up. They didn’t grow it, but they could count on it.

Control and consistency make me feel like I’m trusting God when, in reality, I’m just counting on Him to the level that He comes through for me.

The best kind of bread, though, is the bread of life: Jesus Himself. This isn’t provision we work for or provision we simply pick up; this is provision in Christ deposited inside of us that nourishes and sustains us all the way down to our souls.

In John 6:35, “Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” Jesus is the most miraculous provision, and the one already given to us today — but maybe the one least recognized as being everything we need.

And I know you might be saying, “Look, Lysa, what’s in front of me is awful, so this doesn’t make me want to trust God more. It makes me trust Him less!” I understand that. I feel the same way about some of what’s in front of me right now too.

If we have Jesus today, we are living in answered prayer and provision. The One who brings about good, even from the awful we are seeing with our physical eyes, is actively working on our behalf right now. He is talking to the Father about you right now in ways that, if you could hear Him, would make you never afraid of what is in front of you. Never question His love for you or His goodness to you.

We see only what the human mind can imagine, but God is building something we cannot even fathom. We may see it in time, or not until eternity. But until we see it, we can know with certainty that whatever He gives us truly is His good provision, whether that good is for today or part of a much bigger plan.

So today, friends, we can pray what we need to pray. Pray all the words, let the tears flow into sobs and frustrations mixed with hope. And then, we can look at what’s right in front of us through what we know to be true about God. And trust Jesus to eventually make something beautiful from it.

Jesus, thank You for being the perfect sustenance that I need today. I look to You as the Bread of Life. Help me when I’m struggling as I wait for my prayers to be answered in Your perfect timing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Following The Good Shepherd In Tumultuous Times

By: Dr. Steven K. Parker

Reflection on the week:

·      What has been the scariest part of this year for you?

·      How has God’s presence been a comfort to you?

Approaching God’s word:

Spend a few moments in silent prayer and meditation, asking God to reveal His presence to you.

Reading the text:

If you missed this week’s message, you can access it here. Spend some time today meditating on the beautiful words of this prayerful song.  Focus on the words, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” as you read.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever. (Psalm 23)

Reflection on the passage:

• What are some Death Valley circumstances we face in life?

• How can our faith in the Good Shepherd strengthen us for times like that? 

Pastoral Thoughts: 

If this Psalm ended before we got to today’s focal verse, we might jump to some wrong conclusions about life.  If the LORD is our Shepherd, we have everything we need, He nourishes us, and leads us in the right paths, then we could reason that life with God must be a stroll down easy street.  You can fill huge church buildings with people who love the “name-it-and-claim-it” message that flows from that train of thought, but the turn that this psalm takes in vs. 4 steers us away from that false teaching.  From green pastures and still waters, suddenly the shepherd’s path leads us down “the valley of the shadow of death.”  It’s pretty easy to have faith when resting in lush pastures and being nourished by still waters; it’s much more difficult to walk in faith when the Good Shepherd leads down a path full of dark twists, harsh turns, deep ravines, and threatening predators.

This image of “the valley of the shadow of death” is one with danger on the right and peril to the left, but the sheep continue to follow the shepherd, even through Death Valley, because they have placed their trust in him and he has proven himself, time and again, to be faithful.  They have experienced the shepherd’s loving care and they follow him, believing that he’s going to take care of them today just like he’s taken care of them in the past.  Like sheep following the shepherd, we face dark, scary, dangerous times.  The road Jesus leads us down is one that is narrow and difficult (Matthew 7:14).  The great trump card of faith is that whatever the future brings, God will be there with us.  We can walk by faith and not by sight, because the Good Shepherd walks before us.  No matter what twists, turns, and scary paths lie ahead, we can walk with Death Valley Faith that says, “The Shepherd’s up there, so one way or another I’m going to be ok.”  Even when all we can see is danger to the right and peril to the left, when we follow close behind the Good Shepherd, we can walk with the confidence of faith. 

That kind of confidence grows as our faith becomes personal.  In today’s verse the pronouns that refer to God move from the 3rd person to the 2nd person.  In the opening verses the Psalmist sings about God: “He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”  These are beautiful words about God, but in Death Valley the Psalmist stops singing about God and starts singing to God: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me…”  In the Death Valley moments of life, all our pretense melts away and our theology had better be personal or it’s of no use to us.  In those Death Valley times we really can cry out to the God who knows our name and has counted the hairs on our head and invites us to know Him in a personal way.

Further Reflection:

·      Why is a faith that is personal so important when the path we are called to walk down is dark and scary? 

·      Spend a few moments in prayer, asking God to strengthen you through this Death Valley season.

Praying together:

            Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd in green pastures and beside still waters.  You are still the Good Shepherd in Death Valley.  Help us to remember that.  Amen.

Looking ahead:

We hope you’ll join us for worship on Sunday as we continue this study on the 23rd Psalm titled: Following the Good Shepherd in Tumultuous Times, considering what role God’s rod and staff play in our journey of faith.  Please pray for our church’s leadership as we make decisions regarding the timing of our re-launch of in-person services.  If you are feeling the need for face-to-face contact and want to be a part of our pre-re-launch services, please call the church office at 956-968-9585 and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Parking Lot Worship and Prayer Service, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, 6:15 pm, Broadcasted on 89.5 FM

Message and Prayer - Pastor Steven Parker

There is Power in the Blood

There is power, power, Wonder working power,

In the blood of the Lamb

There is power, power, Wonder working power,

In the precious blood of the Lamb

Verse 1:

Would you be free From your burden of sin?

There's power in the blood Power in the blood

Would you o'er evil a victory win?

There's wonderful power in the blood

Chorus:

There is power power Wonder working power

In the blood of the Lamb

There is power power Wonder working power

In the precious blood of the Lamb

Verse 2 (Spanish):

Quieres ser libre del orgullo y pasión

Tan solo hay poder en mi Jesús

Quieres vencer toda cruel tentación

Tan solo hay poder en Jesús

Chorus (Spanish):

Hay poder poder sin igual poder

En Jesús quien murió

Hay poder poder sin igual poder

En la sangre que Él vertió

Lewis Ellis Jones Words: Public Domain  Music: Public Domain

Lord I Lift Your Name on High

Lord I lift Your name on high.

Lord I love to sing Your praises.

I'm so glad You're in my life.

I'm so glad You came to save us

Chorus

You came from heaven to earth To show the way

From the earth to the cross My debt to pay

From the cross to the grave From the grave to the sky

Lord I lift Your name on high!

CCLI Song # 117947
© 1989 Maranatha Praise, Inc.
For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 920505

Scripture Reading by Baldo and Rosie Olmeda: Psalm 8

Prayer of Praise - Pastor Ray Sanchez

Friend of God

Who am I that you are mindful of me

That you hear me, when I call

Is it true that you are thinking of me

That you love me

Its amazing! Its amazing! Its amazing!

Chorus

I am a friend of God, (3X) He calls me friend

Eres mi amigo fiel (3X) Tu amigo soy

Bridge

Majestuoso, Poderoso, Tu amigo soy.

Majestuoso, Poderoso, Tu amigo soy.

God almighty, Lord of glory You have called me friend.

Chorus (2X)

I am a friend of God, (3X) He calls me friend

Eres mi amigo fiel (3X) Tu amigo soy

CCLI Song # 3991651

Israel Houghton | Michael Gungor © 2003 Integrity Worship Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook)) Integrity's Praise! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook))Sound Of The New Breed (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook))For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 920505

How Great Thou Art

Spanish Chorus

Mi corazon, entona la canción,

Cuan grande es Él, Cuan grande es Él (Repeat)

Verse 1

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder

Thy pow'r thru'out The universe displayed

Chorus (2X)

Then sings my soul My Savior God to Thee!

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

CCLI Song # 14181

Stuart Wesley Keene Hine © Copyright 1949 and 1953 Stuart Hine Trust CIO Stuart K. Hine Trust (Administration: USA All rights by Capitol CMG Publishing, except print rights for USA, North, Central and South America administered by Hope Publishing. All other non USA Americas rights by the Stuart Hine Trust. Rest of World – Integritymusic.com.)

Scripture Reading - Isabel Noriega: Psalm 30

Prayer of Pain - Pastor Robin Wiley

Weep With Me

Weep with me, Lord will You weep with me?

I don't need answers, All I need is to know that You care for me.

Hear my plea! Are You even listening? Lord, I will wrestle with Your heart, But I won't let You go

You know I believe. Help my unbelief!

Chorus 1

Yet I will praise You yet I will sing of Your name

Here in the shadows here I will offer my praise

What's true in the light is still true in the dark

You're good and You're kind And You care for this heart

Lord I believe that You weep with me

Verse 2

Part the seas Lord make a way for me.

Here in the midst of my lament I have faith Yes I still believe

That You love me Your plans are to prosper me

You're working everything for good Even when I can't see

You know I believe. Help my unbelief!

Chorus 1

Yet I will praise You yet I will sing of Your name

Here in the shadows here I will offer my praise

What's true in the light is still true in the dark

You're good and You're kind And You care for this heart

Lord I believe that You weep with me

Bridge

Turn my lament into a love song. From this lament raise up an anthem. (2X)

Chorus 1

Yet I will praise You yet I will sing of Your name

Here in the shadows here I will offer my praise

What's true in the light is still true in the dark

You're good and You're kind And You care for this heart

Lord I believe that You weep with me

© Capitol CMG Paragon, Rend Family Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing). CCLI Song No. 7101182. This chart is the property of First Baptist Church. CCLI No. 920505. Unauthorized distribution is prohibited. Words and music by Rend Collective.

Scripture Reading and Prayer - Gil and Rosie Cameron: Psalm 30

Prayer of Possibility - Pastor Joe Aguilar

Way Maker

Verse

You are here moving in our midst

I worship You, I worship You

You are here, working in this place

I worship You I worship You

Chorus (2X)

You are Way Maker, Miracle Worker,

Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness,

My God that is who You are

Verse 3

You are here turning lives around

I worship You, I worship You

You are here mending broken hearts I worship You

I worship You Lord

Chorus (2X)

You are Way Maker, Miracle Worker,

Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness,

My God that is who You are

Tag (2X)

That is who You are, That is who You are, That is who You are, That is who You are!

Bridge (3X)

Even when I don't see it You're working. Even when I don't feel it You're working.

You never stop, You never stop working. You never stop, You never stop working.

Chorus (2X)

Way Maker, Miracle Worker,

Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness,

My God that is who You are

Tag (2X)

That is who You are, That is who You are, That is who You are, That is who You are!

CCLI Song # 7115744

Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu © 2016 Integrity Music Europe (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook)) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 920505

Because He Lives

Chorus

Because He lives I can face tomorrow

Because He lives all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living Just because He lives

Verse 1

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus.

He came to love, heal and forgive.

He bled and died to buy my pardon

An empty grave is there to prove My Savior lives

Spanish Chorus

Porque Él vive Triunfaré mañana

Porque Él vive Ya no hay temor,

Porque yo sé Que el futuro es suyo,

La vida vale más y más, solo por Él.

Verse 3 (Spanglish)

Yo sé que un día, el río cruzaré

Con el dolor batallaré

And then as death, gives way to victory

I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He reigns!

Chorus

Because He lives I can face tomorrow

Because He lives all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living Just because He lives

CCLI Song # 16880

Gloria Gaither | William J. Gaither © 1971 Hanna Street Music (Admin. by Gaither Copyright Management) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 920505

Closing Prayer - Pastor Steven Parker

God Is with Us in This Pandemic

By: Anne Ferrell Tata

“All right then, the Lord Himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” 

Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)

We live in troubling times. We are facing a worldwide health crisis. The novel coronavirus has invaded almost every country in the world, and while scientists and politicians are trying to sound positive, no one knows the outcome.

The future appears bleak. What do we do? How do we respond?

Times such as these are a great motivator to look back and remember how God always comes through! The celebrated verse above, from Isaiah, is a steadfast reminder of the love of God for His people everywhere. At the time the prophecy was made, King Ahaz of Judah faced a terrifying situation with another type of invasion. King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah of Israel set out to invade Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. The two kings were mad because they wanted King Ahaz to join forces with them to fight the Assyrians.  The Prophet Isaiah counseled King Ahaz to trust God and not align himself with foreign allies.

The Bible says when King Ahaz heard the news of the invasion,

“the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.” Isaiah 7:2b (NLT)

The Lord instructed Isaiah to tell King Ahaz to stop worrying because he had nothing to fear.

But this is what the Sovereign Lord says: This invasion will never happen; it will never take place….” Isaiah 7: 7 (NLT)

And then through Isaiah, the Lord gave the King a sign to confirm His word.

“…Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel which means ‘God is with us.’” Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)

A child was born. The invasion never occurred.

The Old Testament prophetic sign was given as an immediate assurance of God’s presence, protection and provision. Centuries later, it had a messianic fulfillment. In the Gospel of Matthew, Matthew clearly views Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled in the birth of Jesus by the Virgin Mary.

“All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: ‘Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:22-23 (NLT)

When Isaiah announces, “Look!” He is saying something wonderful is about to happen! Something extraordinary! ‘God with us’ is a declaration of His presence.

The declaration is as much for us today as it was for King Ahaz and as it was for the early Christians. While we are prone to worry, let us try not to. When we are tempted to be afraid, let us remember the promise: Jesus is Immanuel: God with us! He is our hope in the midst of adversity. He is our comforter. He is our Shalom. He loves us. He forgives us. He guides us. He is our rock and our shield.

Immanuel, God With Us, is the best gift ever! With His presence, we are never alone.

During this time of fear and uncertainty, let us refuse to worry or be afraid, and instead, ponder the greatest gift ever given and rejoice!  

Digging Deeper:

How has God’s presence helped you to overcome fear and worry? Have you been able to experience the peace of God, the kind which exceeds anything you can understand?

How has your family responded to the current health crisis?

Can you describe your emotions and how your family is coping?

Copyright © 2020 Anne Ferrell Tata, used with permission.

Jesus Calling: Encountering Adversity

Jesus Calling: Encountering Adversity

Taken from a devotional book called: “Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence” – by Sarah Young

Scripture

Revelations 19:1
Rejoicing in Heaven

19 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

Psalm 91:1
My Refuge and My Fortress

91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

[Read from the point of view of Jesus speaking this message to your heart….]

Expect to encounter adversity in your life, remembering that you live in a deeply fallen world. Stop trying to find a way that circumvents difficulties. The main problem with an easy life is that it masks your need for Me. When you became a Christian, I infused My very life into you, empowering you to live on a supernatural plane by depending on Me.

Anticipate coming face-to-face with impossibilities: situations totally beyond your ability to handle. This awareness of your inadequacy is not something you should try to evade. It is precisely where I want you – the best place to encounter Me in My glory and power. When you see armies of problems marching towards you, cry out to Me! Allow Me to fight for you. Watch Me working on your behalf, as you rest in the shadow of My almighty presence.

Questions to Consider:

Reflect:

• What should we do when we face tests and trials?

• Why does God let bad things happen?

• How does God want me to respond to suffering and adversity?

Prayer:

As we come to God with our needs, our inward prayer should echo these words of the Psalmist: “1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame let not my enemies exult over me.” (Psalm 25:1–2).