November Worship Assignments
November 2009 Worship Assignments
Oct
29
Oct
22
It Just makes sense or Lessons from grasshoppers
One grasshopper seems insignificant as it leaps across a field. Imagine however that one grasshopper is joining forces with 1000s upon 1000s of grasshoppers. The resulting swarm can and soon will devour all the vegetation in its path. The field will no longer be the same. Grasshoppers demonstrate the power of working together for a common cause. It is important to note that what they cannot do by themselves, they are able to effectively accomplish together. Guess what? This scenario is described in the Bible. In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, the wise man Agur observed, “The locusts have no king, yet they all advance in ranks” Proverbs 30:27. No one takes a leadership role, they simply work together to accomplish what needs to be done.
I believe that we can learn from these little creatures. Take a close look at ourselves. What am I able to do simply by myself for the cause of Christ? I know and understand that there are many things possible, but could I not make greater advances for the cause of Christ when I am united by the bonds of love with the other members of the Maple Hill family. I lay down petty differences that in the grand scheme of things really do not matter. I don’t talk about old so and so, who seemingly never does anything for the cause of Christ. I am not continually critical of someone because they are not as “good at….” as I am. I don’t think that Wayne is preaching to everyone else but me.
I sense that when we spend our time in petty differences we fail to do all we can to accomplish great things for the Lord. Feelings are hurt, desires to serve are crushed, feelings of uncertainty persist and the work of the Lord is hampered. When Christians are united in serving the Lord, they can become a mighty force for God in fulfilling his purposes. We can and should be able to make a difference in our community. Let each of us challenge ourselves to enjoy and contribute to the strength and fellowship of the unified body of Christ here at Maple Hill. An effective congregation will demonstrate the good sense of the grasshopper or the locust by our cooperation and unity in the Holy Spirit. We know the fields are white ready to harvest. Let each determine in our lives that we are ready to be a united force of labors ready and willing to into the fields of harvest. We can accomplish more together than we can alone.
Prayer Thought: Thank you Lord for making me special. Thank you for making everyone at Maple Hill special.
Oct
21
Oct
21
Streaming Audio and MP3s
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Oct
21
Oct
15
An Honor
Every once in awhile, you run across one of those verses in the Bible that makes you wonder what is taking place. I found one of those passages the other day. It is in a story found in II Kings 3:1-12. The verse is actually verse 11. Jehoshaphat is the king of Israel and Elisha has come into his presence. An officer of the king says; “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” What was he saying about this man of God? Both Elijah and Elisha were great prophets of God. Remember though, it was Elisha who was the servant of Elijah. After some research, I discovered that it was a way of saying that Elisha had been Elijah’s servant. Before Elisha became God’s spokesman, he had humbly served in Elijah’s shadow. It is interesting to note that in the Lord’s work, rank or position is not nearly as important as being willing to serve wherever He places you, even if it’s “pouring water.”
As I often have to do, I ask about my work in the Lord’s Kingdom? Do I find myself willing to do what needs to be done? What if that work gets no notoriety, will I still be as excited about doing the work? What if it is a task that no one really wants to tackle because of the time involved? What if it involved me using a talent I have, but caused me to get out of my comfort zone? What if no one ever said thank you for a job well done? I think most of us like a pat on the back, but is that our motivating factor of service?
I recently read an article about a memorial park in the Philippines. It is located in the city of Manila. The park commemorates the men and women of the US Armed Forces who gave their lives there during World War II. Their names are inscribed on marble pillars. Those who won the Congressional Medal of Honor have a star by their names. One of the entries is unusual. The words engraved by the star are Walter Peterson, Chief Water Bearer. The article went on to say that it was uncertain as to what the duties actually were, but that evidently he served the troops and did his duty well enough to receive our country’s highest award. As I read about this seemingly unknown man, I had to ask myself about my service to the Lord. Does it seem insignificant with no public attention? No matter! I need to do it well, whatever it might be that I am doing. As I do this, I can remember two things; one, there is no such thing as insignificant service for Christ and two, someday the Lord Himself will award me His “Medal of Honor.”
Prayer Thought: Thank you Lord for giving me the opportunity to serve you and thank you for remembering my service.
Oct
12
Carlos Zuluaga September 2009 Report
I Thank my God every time I remember you. In all
My prayers for all you, I always pray with joy.
Because of your partnership in the gospel from
The first day until now.
Philippians 1: 3-6
And I know than it is the same feeling than you have for my, and this friendship encourage to my every day to continue working here in the God’s kingdom in Tuluá city and around of this city, my brothers this is my activities report of the September month.
I always talking about the growing of the church through baptisms than we have every month well in this opportunity allow me show you how we are growing but not thanks of my preaching or evangelistic work, the three of September thanks God was born Manuela Monrroy she is daughter of sister Jenifer and Esteban Monrroy, thanks God Manuela is a strong babe and is growing in the church, we are preying for this new home because here and in all world the family is attacked every day by the evil in special the young couple like this more now with a big responsibility like is, her new babe.
I was with them in the clinic and I see the happiness of all family around of this family and it is good because I know than the member of the church look to me no only like preacher of the church their see like a member real of his family and always I teach about it because I think than it is the real communion in Christ Jesus than we may fell the pain of every brother, and in this case the happiness of all the family, God Bless Manuela, and I hope see grow in years and in the fear of our Lord.
Well now let me talking about the work in La Union north of Valle, this month I invited brother Luis Felipe Capiro and we has been there brothers and people than visit us was very happy, you know brother Capiro is from Miami and always is good in special to this brothers see and know brothers from other places and best other country, because he talk with brothers about the church in United States, and other places than he was visit, also about the different cultures, but the conclusions is in Christ we are only Christians, he preach to and he talk about the Christian life, in the life of humanity and after we share the lunch and brother Capiro also was very happy and he say us than he will go all times than I go to La Union; and other Sunday I was and I teach in class in Power Point about foundation of the church and I use the tool than you gave to my like is the computer, and in the next month I will go and show them the cd’s than you send to my and I know than brothers and visits will learning so much, thanks brothers again for this wonderful help and tool for work.
Well while I may, I will help this brothers in La Union, because like in many places in Colombia many people wish listen about Jesus but is difficult may preach in all Colombia because is big, but we together put our sand grain and God give the growing.
I was talking you Than I am preaching since some month ago in a place near to Tuluá name of this place is El Guayabal, well Brother Luis Felipe Capiro is a man very strong and he go with me to all this places and he say than if we have some baptisms here in the Guyabal he may came every Sunday morning and make the worship for this people so this people not have to go to Tuluá in the afternoon than is the time than we have for our worship, I say him well we need time but maybe this is a project for the next year, for now every Wednesday in the afternoon we have a meeting in a home of Lucia Unas, she is a student of one biblical curse and she is happy opening her hose for study the Bible with others persons, and we wish to show the evangelistic Cd’s than you send to my, every Monday at night please pray for fruits in this little place.
In Congregation in Las Americas we continue working with the meeting in brothers home Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at night also we have biblical class Wednesday, and Saturday, our worship continue Sunday afternoon. We are very happy because it many people have questions and this is the opportunity than we have to preach and teach, almost every day in the morning like in the afternoon I have biblical studies with people than visit us, and also I use the curse “What the Bible Say?” and every lesson I take again the bat answers and since there we begin to study, and also about the questions than the people have about not only of Bible also about many theme than their have, always I say than I do Not have all answer but the bible have the answers necessary for all about we need for our salvation, I also visit this person and first we are friends, and I know than very soon Jesus will be us brothers in HIM. And members of the Christian Family.
My dears this is my report of this month the activities than you see here is thanks you, because you encourage to my to follow ahead, thanks for you prayers I feel it in all moment, I believe than this is my impulse every day, God Bless you in all your activities like HE is with my.
In Christ Jesus your servant.
Carlos Julio Zuluaga V .
Oct
9
Oct
8
God’s Morning Miracle
Like many of you, I find myself having to get up in the morning and it is still dark. I mean pitch dark! I usually make the coffee and pour a bowl of cereal for Elaine and me. By the time I am through making lunches for the day, the sun is beginning to peak over the horizon. As it does the darkness of the sky changes to orange and yellow colors. A new day is dawning, a day that I have never had the opportunity to experience. The wonderful thing about this day is that it begins with God’s “morning miracle” of the sun rising in the sky. A new day filled with hope, a day filled with activities, a day to serve, a day to read God’s word. Some days I take for granted the rising of the sun. Other mornings, His miracle seems to be more pronounced than the day before. Do we ever pause just to say thank you Lord for this display of your power and might in our lives?
Through the years I have grown particularly fond of a passage found in Lamentations 3: 22-24. Read again with me these beloved words; “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Did you catch that phrase “…new every morning…” It is a joy in life to know that as I start my day, each and every day, that God’s love and compassion for me never grows weak, doesn’t wear out, and is not exhausted. Then I multiply that over and over for all the people who greet each new day and think that this is true for them just as it is for me. When I try to get this in my mind, I can truly say it is a “morning miracle.”
As I think about this “morning miracle” I can’t help but be thankful for being blessed so richly. But then I ask myself, what I am going to do with this blessing. Keeping it to myself? Do I Let it become my own little secret that I fail to share with others? We all see the sun rise and set, but do we understand that God, our creator and sustainer of life, designed it, planned for it, placed it in the sky for you and I. When I look up in the sky and see the sun glowing in all of its brilliance am I reminded of the words of John; “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5). It will be wonderful one day to be with God forever and ever. To experience His love and compassion over and over, only this time it will be in a much more intimate way, for we will be in his presence. The next morning you experience this “morning miracle” think about God’s love and how grand it will be to be with him forever.
Prayer Thought: Thank you God for daily blessing our lives in such a powerful way.