Tag: worship
Sunday rest and reflection!
Sunday October 26th, 2014
Dear Friends,
I am so thankful to be able to meet with others of Christ’s family! It is an honor to gather to worship Jesus Christ and hear His Word! We must live by faith in the times that try our souls and faith comes by hearing God’s Word! Let’s honor our Lord by gathering today! A Sabbath rest in Christ is a mark of God’s people. We rest one day and worship with His people! See you in church!
In His Love, Pastor John and Mary
Sunday rest and reflection!
Sunday September 21, 2014
Dear Friends,
Sunday is a day that Christians around the world gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Jesus is the head of the Church and the Cornerstone of it’s foundation! His blood shed for us demonstrates His great love and powerful obedience to the Father. We gather to worship, pray, and be equipped to go into our world with the message of Jesus Christ!
Join us today for a challenging mission’s message from a choice missionary of our fellowship. Come to worship and pray for God’s empowerment to reach our world! Jesus is coming soon!
In His Love, Pastor John and Mary
Sunday rest and reflection!
Sunday July 20th, 2014
Dear Friends,
Summer is flying by! What a blessing to see the crops growing and a harvest maturing! Gardens are producing all kinds of vegetables and fruits and sweet corn is delicious! What an opportunity to gather with God’s people and thank Him for the abundance we enjoy! He is the source of all blessings and we are indebted to Him! Worship, prayer, and a listening ear for His Word will bless you on Sunday! He is worthy of our gathering and praise!
In His Love, Pastor John and Mary
The Worship connection!
Scripture reading for March 27th: 2nd Samuel 5-7
King David had a heart for God and His presence. David was a psalmist, musician, and worshiper himself. He knew God by personal experience. He attempted to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem with a cart pulled by oxen and guided by Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab the priest. David and the men of Israel were celebrating with all their might, when the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark. God struck Uzzah for touching the Ark and the celebration ended abruptly! (2nd Samuel 6:7-9)
After some research, David again decided to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem. This time the Ark was carried on the shoulders of the priests with blood sacrifice. David took off his kingly robes and put on a linen ephod and danced before the Lord with all his might. The house of Israel followed with the sounding of trumpets and loud shouting. (2nd Samuel 6:12-15) As the procession entered the city, Michal, David’s wife, saw David dancing and leaping before the Ark and wrongly judged he was putting on a show for the women. As a result, she became barren and was judged by the Lord!(2nd Samuel 6:20-23)
God wants us to enjoy His presence and has made specific instructions about how man may come into His presence. When we come in our own way, we disrespect God and bring judgment. We must be careful today to come humbly before the Lord and treat His presence with respect. We must be covered by the sacrifice of Christ’s blood.
David wanted the Presence of God in his city and the nation he ruled. David realized that God was King and that he owed Him whole-hearted worship. He disrobed and danced with all his might as an offering of himself to the Lord. This was acceptable to God because of David’s heart attitude! In Michal’s eyes, David’s worship wasn’t “dignified”! We must be not be critical of others’ ways of worship.
Take time today and examine your own worship of the Lord. Are you giving God “all your might”? Are you hungry to have His presence with you whereever you are? Show Him an extravagant life of worship this week!
Sunday Rest and Reflection!
Sunday February 23rd, 2014
Dear Friends,
Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ! What a wonderful day to gather with God’s people and worship our Lord! What a privilege to call on His Name in prayer, knowing that He has told us that we can ask Him for anything and He will do it! What exciting kingdom vision and understanding we will gain by faith as we listen to God’s Word! Our world will be changed as we gather to worship, pray and listen!
God bless you and your family! May the blessings of our Lord make you rich in faith to do His will on earth as it is in Heaven! In His Love, Pastor John
Sunday Rest and Reflection!
Sunday February 9th, 2014
Dear Friends of God,
Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man! This is another opportunity to connect with God and His people for prayer, worship and the Word! Pastor Brent will be preaching today on relationships. Come to give yourself to God in worship, to pray for other and encourage them, and to listen to God’s Word for instruction and transformation! God loves to meet with His Bride!
In His Love, Pastor John
Sing a new song!
Scripture reading for June 21st: Psalm 90-97
Psalms 95-97 are focused on the glory of God and worship! I enjoy these psalms because of their expressions of joy and rejoicing in God Himself. They call all of mankind and nature into the chorus of worship that adores God. It is helpful to our worship to explore them and make them part of our own adoration of our Father God.
Singing for joy and shouting out loud are mentioned in Psalm 95:1. God’s people are urged to bow down in worship and kneel before their maker. (Psalm 95:6) Our posture, as well as our voices, instruments, and songs, indicates humility and honor. He is the great King above all gods, creator of heaven and earth!
Psalm 96 opens with an exhortation to sing a ‘new song’ to the Lord. All other nations and peoples had gods that were idols, but Israel alone knew the one true God who was worthy of praise! (Psalm 96:8) God was so arrayed in glory and majesty that a new song would come to those who contemplated His beauty and strength! As they beheld the Lord in worship, new songs of joy and praise flow out of their hearts and burst from their lips! The old songs were not adequate to express their adoration!
The Holy Spirit’s infilling often brings a new level of worship to the believer. From the Holy Spirit comes ‘spiritual songs’ given for worship of our Lord! From the Spirit comes a new song bringing praise to the King! (Ephesians 5:18-20) At times in different corporate worship settings, I have experienced the Spirit bringing forth a ‘new song’ from the congregation that took us into the heavenly realm and put us in harmony with those worshiping around the throne!
In Psalms 96 and 97 the heavens rejoice and the earth is glad. The sea resounds and all the creatures in it give glory the Lord. The fields are jubilant and the trees sing in harmony as the Lord comes. Mountains melt like wax in His presence and the earth sees Him and trembles! All the peoples see His Glory and His people rejoice and are glad. Those worshiping idols are put to shame! For God comes to judge the earth and the peoples in righteousness and truth!
Take time today to offer heartfelt worship to the Lord! Do a self-evaluation of your readiness to see Him as Savior and Judge!
Sunday Message: “Preparing for the journey!”–Summer series!
Dear friends,
Another wonderful day of worship and fellowship in the house of God has rolled around! Being in God’s house and gathering with people of faith is uplifting to the soul and pleasing to God! Good Shepherd will welcome you if you need a place to gather or have been out of fellowship for a time. We will also honor 6 graduates of High School and 6 college graduates. We are located at 3031 Bittel Road in Owensboro and church is at 10:30!
Today we will begin a new illustrated sermon series called “For the Journey!” Come find out where the journey leads us each week as we travel this summer on a ‘camping’ trip up the Appalachian trail. Each week will deal with an aspect of following Jesus Christ as a committed disciple! This summer journey is designed to be fun and challenging to our souls! Don’t miss it!
In His Love,
Pastor John and Mary
In His Love, Pastor John and Mary
Priorities for God’s blessing!
Scripture reading for May 1: 2nd Chronicles 29-32
Today we find our country in economic and political turmoil in the midst of an election year. We find many of our children leaving the path of the Lord and going into captivity in the world system of humanism and self-gratification. Many in the church are restless and confused. When we read the word of God, we find that nothing is really new.
This was the case 2700 years ago in Judah under King Hezekiah. The wrath of God was being poured out on the nation because they had forsaken Him! Women and children were in captivity and the nation was in terror and fear. (2nd Chronicles 29:8-9) King Hezekiah began to set things in order. His plan of action was to set priorities that would bring success and the blessing of God again. The first step was to reopen the temple and repair it’s doors. (2nd Chronicles 29:3-6) He brought in the priests and Levites and had them consecrate themselves and then cleanse the temple. They did a quick work of removing all defilements from King Ahaz and restoring the utensils and furniture that he had removed.
The next thing was to gather all the leaders and renew the covenant with the Lord by sacrifice. Sin must be confessed and atoned for. The blood was sprinkled on the altar. (2nd Chronicles 29:24) The king and the people sang and worshiped as the sacrifices were being offered. The Levites played and led the singing. The people worshiped and offered themselves with joy and gladness! The people brought thank offerings and sacrifices for themselves.
If you find your life in turmoil and your family in captivity, the plan of Hezekiah might work well for you. Is your soul in disrepair? Is it cluttered with idols and remnants of the world system? Begin by removing the clutter and idols and turn to the Lord in humble repentance. Consecrate your life to the Lord again and establish a regular pattern of worship. Claim the blood of the last and only perfect sacrifice to be sufficient to atone for your sins! Jesus Christ has done all that is needed to cleanse your soul! He wants your life to be marked by joy! He can do a “quick work” in your life too! These ancient words from Hezekiah are as true today as then!