'For Refreshing'

An Interconnected Family

Sunday 25, July 2010 - In Ephesians 2, Paul talks about the unique organism that is the body of Christ.  Have you ever tried to analyze why and how God chooses to join people together?  Why is it so important to Him that we are connected, and what is that conn…READ MORE»

A Living, Active God

Sunday 18, July 2010 - Our God is real, living, and actively involved with His creation.  He is not like any of the other gods, deities, or “isms” that are available today, whose followers claim to have the truth. Everything that God is and ever…READ MORE»

Moving Into the Unknown

Sunday 11, July 2010 - Why did God frequently tell his people to move on or leave what was familiar for the unknown?  He said to Abraham, “Get out of your country, and leave your father’s house.”  We know that Jacob had to leave home to…READ MORE»

True Freedom In Christ

Sunday 4, July 2010 - On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry stood in the pulpit of St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia and spoke these words: “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?  Forbid it, Almight…READ MORE»

Hoping in God's Love

Sunday 27, June 2010 - Hope is the confident expectation of God’s goodness!  What can we really count on in life?  Someone once said the only sure thing is death and taxes.  Well, I’d like to refute that. The one sure thing that you ca…READ MORE»

We Are God's Inheritance

Sunday 20, June 2010 - When Jesus taught His disciples about prayer, He first emphasized the relationship of Father.  ”When you pray,” He said, “go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father.”  The relationship of Father is…READ MORE»

Our Righteous Judge

Sunday 13, June 2010 - Have you ever wondered, “Does God hear me?  Is He aware of me, and does He know the challenges I face?  And more importantly, will He do something about it?” All through the Psalms, King David records his cry to the L…READ MORE»

The Victory is Ours

Sunday 6, June 2010 - All of my life, I’ve heard people say, “I’ve looked in the back of the book, and we win!”  And, of course, this is encouraging and brings us hope.  But let’s face it, as Christians we are in a constant war.&…READ MORE»

The Divine Exchange

Sunday 30, May 2010 - One of the most amazing aspects of living in the Kingdom of God is our access to the benefits of the Kingdom on a daily basis through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus and the active ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Isaiah 61, whic…READ MORE»

The Gospel is Good News

Sunday 23, May 2010 - At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.  Taking the scroll, he read from Isaiah 61, which basically outlined his ministry and what he was sent to do. Times do not change much.  Th…READ MORE»

The Complete Word

Sunday 16, May 2010 - When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, Pilate asked the question that every generation before and since has been asking: “What is truth?”  Every political ideology, every world religion, every nationality and human culture has it…READ MORE»

I AM the LORD

Sunday 9, May 2010 - In Exodus 33 we read that Moses was facing the greatest challenge of his life.  He had taken charge of leading approximately 2 million people from slavery into freedom.  Basically Moses told God, “Look, this is a huge job and I can…READ MORE»

Hide and Seek

Sunday 2, May 2010 - The Scriptures often encourage us to seek the Lord, to seek his face.  Apparently this means more than a perfunctory nod in prayer over our early morning cup of coffee.  The word “seek,” by definition, implies a certain amoun…READ MORE»

Arise, O God

Sunday 25, April 2010 - ARISE, O GOD!  At least a dozen times in the Psalms, the Psalmist cries out, “Arise, O God!”  It was in the times of his greatest distress, or under the heaviest attack of his enemies, that David cried out, “Arise, do n…READ MORE»

Fully Abandoned in Worship

Sunday 18, April 2010 - I recently heard a message by Robert Stearns comparing the worship of the church to the worship that occurs in our modern day society.  As a culture we can become easily obsessed and fanatical over sports teams, celebrities, and causes. …READ MORE»

Worship in Everyday Life

Sunday 11, April 2010 - The Scriptures are filled with beautiful pictures of people whose lives brought glory to God and caused those around them to become more aware of Him— Abraham, Moses, Daniel, the three Hebrew children, Esther, and the Apostles — just t…READ MORE»

The Hope of Resurrection

Sunday 4, April 2010 - The Easter lily has become, for many, the symbol of the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.  It speaks of purity, virtue, innocence, life and majesty….and, of course, the resurrection.  It is said that the lily grows in th…READ MORE»

Living in Complete Surrender

Sunday 28, March 2010 - Jesus’ journey to the cross began in a manger and ended in a garden. In total surrender he prayed, “Not my will but yours be done.”  Jesus’ life can pretty much be summed up as furious desire and absolute surrender.…READ MORE»

The Winter is Over

Sunday 21, March 2010 - IT’S SPRING! – A time of new life when bare trees begin to flower, the frozen ground yields to the warmth of the sun, and life and beauty begin to spring forth out of what had been barren ground. “See the winter is past;…READ MORE»

God is Listening

Sunday 14, March 2010 - Have you ever wondered about the effectiveness of your prayers?  Are they reaching higher than the ceiling?  Are they registering in the heart of God? James 5:16 says, “The fervent prayers of a righteous man are powerful an…READ MORE»

Taking Time to Know Jesus

Sunday 7, March 2010 - Then Jesus said, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you do not know me?”  Relationships take time, especially our relationship with Jesus.  There is no short cut, no fast track.  It must be our daily qu…READ MORE»

The Bridge to Eternal Life

Sunday 28, February 2010 - Down through the ages, God has endeavored to bridge the gap between himself and man—a gap caused by man’s disobedience.  From his original Covenant of Innocence made in the Garden of Eden, to the laws he gave and the promises he m…READ MORE»

The Man for Others

Sunday 21, February 2010 - Have you ever wondered why Jesus’ life and ministry never wandered far from the borders of his home town?  He was, without doubt, the most effective evangelist or missionary who ever lived.  Mankind was his field of labor, and his…READ MORE»

Waking the Dead

Sunday 14, February 2010 - One of the most familiar stories in Scripture is that of the Good Samaritan, who found someone wounded, hurting, and half-dead, and went out of his way to do something about it.  Jesus told this story to challenge the religious people of his…READ MORE»

Following in Jesus' Footsteps

Sunday 7, February 2010 - Jesus invites us to follow him.  When he called his disciples, his purpose in asking them to follow him was to train them to take his place and continue his work.  In essence he was saying, “Come, follow me—Learn to do as I d…READ MORE»

Perseverance for the Journey

Sunday 31, January 2010 - In the classic story, Pilgrim’s Progress (written from a prison cell by John Bunyan), Christian sets out on a journey full of challenges and obstacles.  His desire to move forward in spite of all that confronts him is the core of this s…READ MORE»

The Transformational Words of God

Sunday 24, January 2010 - And God said, ”Let there be light, and there was light!”  The words of God are life.  When he speaks, transformation happens—from nothing to substance, from darkness to light, and from death to life.  His word is l…READ MORE»

Redeeming the Time With God

Sunday 17, January 2010 - Time: We are all given the same amount—365 days a year, 12 months, 52 weeks.  And yet, time seems to get away from us.  Where did yesterday go?  What did I accomplish?  We work at our jobs, day in and day out, and yet som…READ MORE»

Making Room for God

Sunday 10, January 2010 - Our desires and God’s desires are much the same for this New Year…that our hunger and capacity for him would increase.  HE MUST INCREASE! Isaiah 54:2 exhorts us to enlarge the place of our tent, to broaden our habitation,…READ MORE»

More of Him and Less of Us

Sunday 3, January 2010 - The new year is upon us!  My prayer and desire for 2010 is found in John 30:10:”He must increase (become greater), and I must decrease (become less).” Last week our Pastor talked about the increase of the Kingdom of…READ MORE»

And His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful

Sunday 27, December 2009 - There are so many awesome names given to our Lord Jesus Christ, but none are as beautiful as “Wonderful.”  This word in the Hebrew actually means, “A Miracle!”  So, whenever we speak his name, Wonderful, we are sp…READ MORE»

The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulders

Sunday 20, December 2009 - The strength of leadership and the resting place of authority is in the shoulders.  This was where the high priest wore the ephod—his garment of responsibility, which bore the names of the people before the Lord.  The yoke of labor…READ MORE»

Unto Us a Son is Given

Sunday 13, December 2009 - Over the ages it has been a tradition for the family inheritance and title to pass from father to firstborn son.  Even today, there is the hope that the son will follow in his father’s footsteps; if not vocationally, at least spirituall…READ MORE»

Unto Us a Child is Born

Sunday 6, December 2009 - There is nothing sweeter or more miraculous than the birth of a new baby.  It is God’s plan to perpetuate the generations.  He has built this into all of nature, this wonderful ability to reproduce life. Yet there were time…READ MORE»

Rejoice in the Journey

Sunday 29, November 2009 - “Blessed are those whose strength is in you; who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.” Psalm 84:5 Our Father, the Good Shepherd, is always leading us into new experiences in our relationship with him.  From the ti…READ MORE»

God Wants to Bless Us

Sunday 22, November 2009 - “The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them.”  Numbers 23:21 This declaration came over the nation of Israel when all of their enemies were doing their best to curse and defeat them. …READ MORE»

The Power of Words

Sunday 15, November 2009 - “If anyone says to this mountain, ’Go throw yourself into the sea’, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.”  Mark 11:23 We are all occasio…READ MORE»

It's Time to Arise

Sunday 8, November 2009 - “ARISE, my people!  Let your light shine for all the nations to see. For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you!”  Isaiah 60:1 (LB) This entire chapter is a thrilling picture of what the Lord desires to…READ MORE»

Leaving the Comfortable

Sunday 1, November 2009 - "What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.  They will continue to grow in strength.”  Psalm 84:5 God told Abraham, “Leave your country…and go to th…READ MORE»

Living in God's Timetable

Sunday 25, October 2009 - “In the 600th year of Noah’s life, the 17th day of the 2nd month, on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the flood gates of the heavens were open." Genesis 7:11 God has set times on his ete…READ MORE»

The Growth of Our Faith

Sunday 18, October 2009 - “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3 How do we go about measuring the growth of our faith?  It seems impossible and imp…READ MORE»

Use What You Have First

Sunday 11, October 2009 - “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you…Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.” Matthew 13:11-12 Smith Wigglesworth once said, “Vision comes to…READ MORE»

All We Need is Faith

Sunday 4, October 2009 - “By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought that made the difference.” Hebrews 11:4 (The Message) FAITH!  It is the basis of our salvation.&n…READ MORE»