Monday, September 10, 2007
Sermon Notes from September 9th
My sermon from Sunday... check out Jean Guichard's fascinating photos at http://www.jean-guichard.com/ and make sure to watch the animation on the first page.
------------------------
REST:
We can find it at any moment.
September 9th, 2007
INTRO:
This morning I would like to talk about something that I think is very central to the Christian faith, but something that many of us... including myself... have not fully grasped... or really have in our everyday lives. I know it is hot in here and I know that most of us are probably looking forward to enjoying the afternoon off... but please try and follow what I have to say, I think it is something that could really change your life. As I said before, whenever I used to listen to a sermon, I would always ask myself the question. “SO WHAT? HOW DOES THIS AFFECT MY LIFE ON MONDAY?” I hope that what I have to say is something that will affect your everyday life. What I want to talk about today is inner peace. Something that all Christians should be full of, and yet many of us are as stressed out and sometimes even more stressed out then those who don't know the Lord.
How many of you have something in your life right now that worries you? Raise your hand and keep them up. Something that keeps you awake at night? Something that makes you feel uneasy or uncertain about your future. Something that steals your peace... raise your hand and keep them up? Things that make you feel afraid and that you don't know what to do about? Things that burden your heart and make you feel like you can't carry the load sometimes... things that make you feel paralyzed? How many are worried about money? Raise your hand and look around... did you know that Christ has an answer for each of us and that it is not his will that we live under burdens and under fear! .... and that the answer is not always to take away the thing or the situation affecting us... but to bring us his peace and his presence in the midst of the struggle. To comfort us and bring us peace though there is a storm around us. Scripture is very clear that struggles and pain and fear are normal:
1 Peter 4:12 says... surprised at a strange thing happening
1 Peter 1:6 says... distressed by various trials
Now those two verses talk about trials as a tool for God to develop our character, but I want you just to see the point that trials are a normal part of life. I want to tell you about something that I experienced this week that made me loose my peace... that made me worry and made me anxious.
--Tell story about the credit card and online banking thing.
Now most of wish that our lives were like this... SHOW PICTURE OF CALM OCEAN , but in reality most of our lives are something like this... SHOW PICTURE OF ROUGH OCEAN . Life can be rough... we can feel like we are sinking... there is no solid ground around... dark clouds are looming... things that we trust in can't seem to be found... they are floating away...
There is a famous french photographer named named Jean Guichard. If you are interested in some of his photographs, come talk to me after the service and I can help you find his website. He has a lot of fascinating photos. One of his specialties is light houses. He was made famous by a set of photos that he took of a lighthouse being hit by some huge waves off the coast of France I believe. SHOW PICTURES OF LIGHTHOUSE AND DESCRIBE WHAT IS HAPPENING.
I think that this is an excellent illustration for us. God does not always stop the waves, but provides us protection and rest from them. If you don't hear anything else today I want you to hear the fact that Jesus is your lighthouse. Though things around you seem out of control, there is a place you can run to and be safe. In the arms of the Lord. Before we open the word, lets pray together. Please stand with me.
-Pray!
SCRIPTURE:
1) Psalm 46:1-3:
-Though the whole world falls apart, we have no reason to fear because God is a very present help in trouble. God is present. Though the waters roar and foam... our lighthouse stands strong. Though there is turmoil in our lives... there is a secret and safe place that we can go to find rest for our souls... we can be with God. I remember when I was stressing out about the credit card, its like I had totally forgotten about all the times that he helped me before... like I had forgotten scriptures that I had read or testimonies that I have heard... of God's promises to help, of evidence of him helping me in the past and seeing God work in other people's lives. No matter what we are going through... GOD IS PRESENT. In fact it says in this scripture that God is very present.
I want you to be assured this morning that God is ready to comfort you whereever you are at. It does not matter what you are going through God is available. It may even be a sin you are dealing with in your life... God is ready to comfort you and keep you safe and to wrap his arms around you in the midst of whatever you are going through. Remember he may not always calm the waves... but he can be trusted to carry you through.
-Matthew 14:28-32
-Sometimes you just need to take your eyes off of the storm and look to Christ.
2) Psalm 23:1-4
-God is a God who can restore your soul. Have your struggles left you weak and broken... do you feel worn out. Sometimes the things we go through are beyond what we can deal with and they leave us broken... they leave us weakened... they seem to steal our strength. Read Psalm 23:1-4.
-God is a God who restores souls... There is something about the presence of God that brings life. Those of you who raised your hands... that thing that you are dealing with... it may be wearing you down, but God is available and ready to restore your soul. There is nothing like God's presence and his spirit to bring new life and restoration to your soul. You could take 5 months of holiday, but without God's presence... you will never feel rested.
-In North America there are people really into restoring old cars... but when they restore them...
-Ilustration with the shirt...
-God want's to bring a change from the inside out... are you trying hard to appear happy and that you got it together... there is a better way. God want's to get inside your heart and heal you. He wants to restore you. Now I am going to need a volunteer.
3) Matthew 11:28-30
-It's easy. Just let go of things and come to him. Read the first verse. Jesus did not make things complicated.. he just said come to me and I will give you rest. I think that sometimes we make the Christian walk too complicated... when all along Jesus told us that his kingdom belongs to little children. Why should we complicate or make things difficult. Jesus simply put it, come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you. What is a yoke? No caribou ever has two yokes on... in order to find rest you need to let go of your burdens... you need to take off your yoke. You need to let go of your burdens... stop hold onto everything so tightly. My credit card issue!... it was so stressful because I was holding onto it so tightly.
Jesus is gentle and humble in heart... his yoke is easy and his burden is light. I don't want to say much more because I believe that Christ's words are quite clear.
APPLICATION:
Since Patrick and Inneke left the burden of the responsibility of HFTN has slowly been falling onto me... and at times it has not been easy. There have been many issues and uncertainties to deal with as there have been some hard days and many changes with things here... it has at times been a heavy load. Every week there are concerns and issues that need attention... some of them serious, some of them not so serious. Last weekend I felt very overwhelmed by all that was going on and by some uncertainties that I see in our future.
And last Saturday I escaped to my secret prayer place that I found and can tell you about if you ask nicely... and cried out to God. As I prayed I heard God saying to me something that my mom and dad wrote in the bible that they gave me, something very simple, but very profound... you are secure and God is enough.
His love for you is greater then anything which you could ever experience and you cannot be separated from his love. Though everything falls apart, you are secure in his love for you. He will hold you close. His love is far more powerful then anything that you could ever imagine.
TAKE HOME:
--5minutes of silence (Psalm 91?)
--I exalt thee
BABY DEDICATION:
Call everyone forward.
Deut. 6:6,7
Proverbs 22:6
1) Address the church, have them stand.
This is a new member of our community and the body of Christ. We are all one body and responsible for Zephaniah. I want you all to commit to praying for Ana and for Zephaniah. There will be days when she needs us and needs our prayers. We must also commit to being examples to Zephaniah. Examples in our relationship with God, to be passionate and dedicated to the Lord ourselves and to be examples how we love and nuture the family members in our lives.
2) Address the extended people:
Ana asked you here today because she trusts you and wants you to play a part in her life and in Zephaniahs life. I would like you to commit yourselves not only to Zephaniah, but especially to Ana. There will be days when Ana will not know what to do as a parent, when she will come to the end of her rope. When being a parent is just too heavy for her. She will need encouragement. She will need you to ask how she is doing... and find out what is bothering her. She will need you to speak wisdom into her life and to challenge her when she is not doing things right. But most importantly, she will need your love. She will need you to tell her that you care about her and that you are thinking of her. Zephaniah will be relying on Ana and Ana will be relying on you and on the Lord.
3) Address Ana:
Deut. 6:6,7
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Ana, you are responsible to teach and train Zephaniah about life, about God, and about the person of Jesus Christ. You can only do this with Christ's strength. Ask any parent in here and they will tell you that it is not easy... but you can do all things with Christ strengthening you. We cannot forsee all that will happen, but Christ will be with you all the time. Commit to doing your best and to trusting God for everything else.
4) Annoint Zephaniah. Have all at front dip their fingers in oil and annoint each part...
-feet
-hands
-ears
-mouth
-eyes
-mind
5) Prayer
VERSE:
D G A D Bm
For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth.
G A D
Thou art exalted far above all gods.
D G A D Bm
For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth.
G A7 D
Thou art exalted far above all gods.
CHORUS:
D A G D
I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, O Lord.
D A G D
I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, O Lord.
http://www.dawicks.blogspot.com/
------------------------
REST:
We can find it at any moment.
September 9th, 2007
INTRO:
This morning I would like to talk about something that I think is very central to the Christian faith, but something that many of us... including myself... have not fully grasped... or really have in our everyday lives. I know it is hot in here and I know that most of us are probably looking forward to enjoying the afternoon off... but please try and follow what I have to say, I think it is something that could really change your life. As I said before, whenever I used to listen to a sermon, I would always ask myself the question. “SO WHAT? HOW DOES THIS AFFECT MY LIFE ON MONDAY?” I hope that what I have to say is something that will affect your everyday life. What I want to talk about today is inner peace. Something that all Christians should be full of, and yet many of us are as stressed out and sometimes even more stressed out then those who don't know the Lord.
How many of you have something in your life right now that worries you? Raise your hand and keep them up. Something that keeps you awake at night? Something that makes you feel uneasy or uncertain about your future. Something that steals your peace... raise your hand and keep them up? Things that make you feel afraid and that you don't know what to do about? Things that burden your heart and make you feel like you can't carry the load sometimes... things that make you feel paralyzed? How many are worried about money? Raise your hand and look around... did you know that Christ has an answer for each of us and that it is not his will that we live under burdens and under fear! .... and that the answer is not always to take away the thing or the situation affecting us... but to bring us his peace and his presence in the midst of the struggle. To comfort us and bring us peace though there is a storm around us. Scripture is very clear that struggles and pain and fear are normal:
1 Peter 4:12 says... surprised at a strange thing happening
1 Peter 1:6 says... distressed by various trials
Now those two verses talk about trials as a tool for God to develop our character, but I want you just to see the point that trials are a normal part of life. I want to tell you about something that I experienced this week that made me loose my peace... that made me worry and made me anxious.
--Tell story about the credit card and online banking thing.
Now most of wish that our lives were like this... SHOW PICTURE OF CALM OCEAN , but in reality most of our lives are something like this... SHOW PICTURE OF ROUGH OCEAN . Life can be rough... we can feel like we are sinking... there is no solid ground around... dark clouds are looming... things that we trust in can't seem to be found... they are floating away...
There is a famous french photographer named named Jean Guichard. If you are interested in some of his photographs, come talk to me after the service and I can help you find his website. He has a lot of fascinating photos. One of his specialties is light houses. He was made famous by a set of photos that he took of a lighthouse being hit by some huge waves off the coast of France I believe. SHOW PICTURES OF LIGHTHOUSE AND DESCRIBE WHAT IS HAPPENING.
I think that this is an excellent illustration for us. God does not always stop the waves, but provides us protection and rest from them. If you don't hear anything else today I want you to hear the fact that Jesus is your lighthouse. Though things around you seem out of control, there is a place you can run to and be safe. In the arms of the Lord. Before we open the word, lets pray together. Please stand with me.
-Pray!
SCRIPTURE:
1) Psalm 46:1-3:
-Though the whole world falls apart, we have no reason to fear because God is a very present help in trouble. God is present. Though the waters roar and foam... our lighthouse stands strong. Though there is turmoil in our lives... there is a secret and safe place that we can go to find rest for our souls... we can be with God. I remember when I was stressing out about the credit card, its like I had totally forgotten about all the times that he helped me before... like I had forgotten scriptures that I had read or testimonies that I have heard... of God's promises to help, of evidence of him helping me in the past and seeing God work in other people's lives. No matter what we are going through... GOD IS PRESENT. In fact it says in this scripture that God is very present.
I want you to be assured this morning that God is ready to comfort you whereever you are at. It does not matter what you are going through God is available. It may even be a sin you are dealing with in your life... God is ready to comfort you and keep you safe and to wrap his arms around you in the midst of whatever you are going through. Remember he may not always calm the waves... but he can be trusted to carry you through.
-Matthew 14:28-32
-Sometimes you just need to take your eyes off of the storm and look to Christ.
2) Psalm 23:1-4
-God is a God who can restore your soul. Have your struggles left you weak and broken... do you feel worn out. Sometimes the things we go through are beyond what we can deal with and they leave us broken... they leave us weakened... they seem to steal our strength. Read Psalm 23:1-4.
-God is a God who restores souls... There is something about the presence of God that brings life. Those of you who raised your hands... that thing that you are dealing with... it may be wearing you down, but God is available and ready to restore your soul. There is nothing like God's presence and his spirit to bring new life and restoration to your soul. You could take 5 months of holiday, but without God's presence... you will never feel rested.
-In North America there are people really into restoring old cars... but when they restore them...
-Ilustration with the shirt...
-God want's to bring a change from the inside out... are you trying hard to appear happy and that you got it together... there is a better way. God want's to get inside your heart and heal you. He wants to restore you. Now I am going to need a volunteer.
3) Matthew 11:28-30
-It's easy. Just let go of things and come to him. Read the first verse. Jesus did not make things complicated.. he just said come to me and I will give you rest. I think that sometimes we make the Christian walk too complicated... when all along Jesus told us that his kingdom belongs to little children. Why should we complicate or make things difficult. Jesus simply put it, come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you. What is a yoke? No caribou ever has two yokes on... in order to find rest you need to let go of your burdens... you need to take off your yoke. You need to let go of your burdens... stop hold onto everything so tightly. My credit card issue!... it was so stressful because I was holding onto it so tightly.
Jesus is gentle and humble in heart... his yoke is easy and his burden is light. I don't want to say much more because I believe that Christ's words are quite clear.
APPLICATION:
Since Patrick and Inneke left the burden of the responsibility of HFTN has slowly been falling onto me... and at times it has not been easy. There have been many issues and uncertainties to deal with as there have been some hard days and many changes with things here... it has at times been a heavy load. Every week there are concerns and issues that need attention... some of them serious, some of them not so serious. Last weekend I felt very overwhelmed by all that was going on and by some uncertainties that I see in our future.
And last Saturday I escaped to my secret prayer place that I found and can tell you about if you ask nicely... and cried out to God. As I prayed I heard God saying to me something that my mom and dad wrote in the bible that they gave me, something very simple, but very profound... you are secure and God is enough.
His love for you is greater then anything which you could ever experience and you cannot be separated from his love. Though everything falls apart, you are secure in his love for you. He will hold you close. His love is far more powerful then anything that you could ever imagine.
TAKE HOME:
--5minutes of silence (Psalm 91?)
--I exalt thee
BABY DEDICATION:
Call everyone forward.
Deut. 6:6,7
Proverbs 22:6
1) Address the church, have them stand.
This is a new member of our community and the body of Christ. We are all one body and responsible for Zephaniah. I want you all to commit to praying for Ana and for Zephaniah. There will be days when she needs us and needs our prayers. We must also commit to being examples to Zephaniah. Examples in our relationship with God, to be passionate and dedicated to the Lord ourselves and to be examples how we love and nuture the family members in our lives.
2) Address the extended people:
Ana asked you here today because she trusts you and wants you to play a part in her life and in Zephaniahs life. I would like you to commit yourselves not only to Zephaniah, but especially to Ana. There will be days when Ana will not know what to do as a parent, when she will come to the end of her rope. When being a parent is just too heavy for her. She will need encouragement. She will need you to ask how she is doing... and find out what is bothering her. She will need you to speak wisdom into her life and to challenge her when she is not doing things right. But most importantly, she will need your love. She will need you to tell her that you care about her and that you are thinking of her. Zephaniah will be relying on Ana and Ana will be relying on you and on the Lord.
3) Address Ana:
Deut. 6:6,7
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Ana, you are responsible to teach and train Zephaniah about life, about God, and about the person of Jesus Christ. You can only do this with Christ's strength. Ask any parent in here and they will tell you that it is not easy... but you can do all things with Christ strengthening you. We cannot forsee all that will happen, but Christ will be with you all the time. Commit to doing your best and to trusting God for everything else.
4) Annoint Zephaniah. Have all at front dip their fingers in oil and annoint each part...
-feet
-hands
-ears
-mouth
-eyes
-mind
5) Prayer
VERSE:
D G A D Bm
For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth.
G A D
Thou art exalted far above all gods.
D G A D Bm
For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth.
G A7 D
Thou art exalted far above all gods.
CHORUS:
D A G D
I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, O Lord.
D A G D
I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, O Lord.
http://www.dawicks.blogspot.com/
Newsletter for September
Things have been going good here in Agdao. The two weeks with three pastors from Harvest Church in New Jersey was amazing. This church had actually been involved in founding the ministry and so it was wonderful to get some spiritual guidance and renewal from some of our spiritual fathers. They held youth services, did personal counselling and conducted a seminar called “Walking in Freedom.” It was well attended by several of our youth, volunteers, staff, and surprisingly by several of the mothers who are involved in the Tabitha feeding program. They also did some teaching on unity and I believe it was a very fruitful and timely visit. I think that it really refreshed a lot of our staff, who have been feeling very burdened lately.
I have been meeting with three of the young guys who volunteer and work with us once a week. I have been encouraging them to in turn meet with three other guys themselves once a week. I hope that I can multiply the effort and time that I spend with them. The goal of the meeting is to share and encourage one another in our walk with God and to hold each other accountable. They are good guys and I see potential in all of them to become leaders in the community here and to reach others far more effectively then I could. Sometimes the language barrier can pose a problem, but we do our best to understand one another... hey it helps me to continue learning Bisayan (the language spoken here). My bible study is also going good. I have had about 7-10 guys coming these days and we are going through some material on how to be a Godly man and how to treat women in our lives. Every week I try and bring a woman in to explain how they like to be treated by men.
The church has been running really well. I am preaching again this Sunday. I think I will preach on the sufficiency and security of Christ's love for us. I really want our people to find rest for their souls in the arms of Christ. Our numbers have been steadily growing and by the number of communion cups that we went through on Sunday there was well over 100 people in our service... not that numbers tell the story but it is encouraging to see so many new faces in the crowd.
The feeding program has seen a steady increase in numbers and we are over a hundred. I think that the last count was about 110 kids. The staff has done a really good job reorganizing the way things are done to accommodate more kids. If there was one thing I would like to show you it is the Tabitha feeding program. It really is the heart of HFTN here in Davao. I guess I am out of space again... I love and miss you all! Please pray for the following:
For God's wisdom and annointing for all our staff
For Financial provision for the ministry for 2008
-That God's kingdom would come to Agdao and lives would be changed
-That God would raise up leaders to bring change to this community
-That God would bring his structure and plan to HFTN
http://www.dawicks.blogspot.com/
I have been meeting with three of the young guys who volunteer and work with us once a week. I have been encouraging them to in turn meet with three other guys themselves once a week. I hope that I can multiply the effort and time that I spend with them. The goal of the meeting is to share and encourage one another in our walk with God and to hold each other accountable. They are good guys and I see potential in all of them to become leaders in the community here and to reach others far more effectively then I could. Sometimes the language barrier can pose a problem, but we do our best to understand one another... hey it helps me to continue learning Bisayan (the language spoken here). My bible study is also going good. I have had about 7-10 guys coming these days and we are going through some material on how to be a Godly man and how to treat women in our lives. Every week I try and bring a woman in to explain how they like to be treated by men.
The church has been running really well. I am preaching again this Sunday. I think I will preach on the sufficiency and security of Christ's love for us. I really want our people to find rest for their souls in the arms of Christ. Our numbers have been steadily growing and by the number of communion cups that we went through on Sunday there was well over 100 people in our service... not that numbers tell the story but it is encouraging to see so many new faces in the crowd.
The feeding program has seen a steady increase in numbers and we are over a hundred. I think that the last count was about 110 kids. The staff has done a really good job reorganizing the way things are done to accommodate more kids. If there was one thing I would like to show you it is the Tabitha feeding program. It really is the heart of HFTN here in Davao. I guess I am out of space again... I love and miss you all! Please pray for the following:
For God's wisdom and annointing for all our staff
For Financial provision for the ministry for 2008
-That God's kingdom would come to Agdao and lives would be changed
-That God would raise up leaders to bring change to this community
-That God would bring his structure and plan to HFTN
http://www.dawicks.blogspot.com/
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