Wk 46

PRE-WORSHIP TALK

I AM THANKFUL: Acting on His Word and Spirit

The Word of God and the ability to Give Thanks are part of a valid Christian Faith.

The Word coupled with Thanksgiving reflects a heart that is actively sharing God’s blessings and joy with other

The power of the Word of God and a heart of Thanks is capable of

Creating

Transforming

and influencing lives to discover the One who made them.

You can worship...

and give THANKS today even in the midst of sickness, depression, loss of job, and failed relationships because:

The Word of God is alive and active, it is powerful...

Hebrews 4:12 NLT

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Death and life...

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

So, We CHOOSE LIFE—BE A WORSHIPPER!

God’s Word always produces fruit...

Isaiah 55:11 NLT

11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

WE KNOW—Man shall not live by bread alone...

Matthew 4:4 NKJV

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

YES, You can Worship today in spite of the week behind you or the week before because… GOD IS WITH YOU AND WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU!!

WORSHIP—WORSHIP

Great are you Lord

Rest on Us

Give me Faith

Generosity and Obedience

The Bible teaches that Christian giving should be done in light of the Christ’s Sacrifice.

Many Christians argue about whether the tithe is 10 percent of our income as the standard for giving to the Church.

Disputants usually want to show that less than 10 percent is fine.

Paul scuttles the whole debate in one verse. He says:

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).

Christ’s self-giving should be the standard for our giving!

We begin from the base of the tithe and then aim to emulate His self-sacrifice.

Our giving is to be inspired and instructed by Christ’s inexpressible gift.

In light of such a challenge, we need to ask personally without judging others...

Is your giving inspired by Christ’s sacrifice?

Ever how great or how little!

UPDATE

FaithLink Nov. 9th 5pm

Fire Pit MidWeek 630p

OBD- OUR DAILY BREAD

CURRENT SERIES: I Am Thankful- Acting on His Word and Spirit

LESSON:

Being Thankful and declaring God’s Word can be diminished through struggles in life that we go through.

The pressures get us distracted.

EXAMPLE: morning routine

as we leave to go to school I often say, “Did you take your vitamins this morning.”

It’s not griping — like “You forgot again!”

No, it’s just a reminder as they are trying to remember everything else...

computer

homework

something they promised a friend

breakfast

brush their hair- teeth and

20 other things.

WE NEED TO BE REMINDED TO PONDER ON GOD’S WORD IN THE HEAT OF THE STORM!!

ANOTHER EXAMPLE: Stuff you need to do

what are things that you find you have to do everyday or weekly that takes lots of energy and makes the week go by in a BLURRRR?

doctor appt

shopping

medication

bills

church events

birthdays/anniversaries

social media

friends

maintenance

AND WHEN WE FORGET SOMETHING....

do you condemn yourself, or feel that others are judging you?

A NEW SONG THAT I HAVE BEEN SINGING TO MYSELF IS… Made for More by Josh Baldwin and Jenn Johnson

Verse

I know who I am 'cause I know who You are

The cross of salvation was only the start

Now I am chosen, free and forgiven

I have a future and it's worth the living

Chorus

'Cause I wasn't made to be tending a grave

I was called by name

Born and raised back to life again

I was made for more

So why would I make a bed in my shame

When a fountain of grace is running my way

I know I am Yours And I was made for more

So would it help you to be reminded how to overcome and combat stress?

It’s no secret that stress levels continue to rise—both here and around the world. And when you’re stressed, you’re not at your best.

Your relationships, your work, your health, and your God given opportunities suffer.

But you don’t have to give in to stress.

I want to give you seven principles of stress management according to the life of Christ outlined by Rick Warren:

7 Principles to Combat Stress

by RICK WARREN

Know who you are.

Stress increases when you try to be someone you’re not. Jesus said, “I testify on my own behalf” (John 8:18 GNT).

He didn’t need other people to validate his worth. You don’t either. So don’t get trapped in copying and comparing. God made you you for a purpose, and Jesus died for you. That shows your worth.

Know what you’re living for.

If you’re just trying to please other people, you’ll always disappoint someone. Instead, simplify your life by living only for God, the One who made you.

That’s what Jesus did:

“I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants” (John 5:30 GNT).

Know your calling.

You don’t have to be everything to everybody. God has shaped you in a specific way for a specific calling.

Jesus understood his calling. He said,

“I know where I came from and where I am going” (John 8:14 NIV).

Discover your calling—and then spend your life on the things that move you toward that purpose.

Focus on what matters most.

Life is full of distractions. And many of those distractions are actually good things. But, ultimately, they’ll wear you out and sidetrack you from the best thing.

The apostle Paul said,

“This one thing I do . . .” (Philippians 3:13 KJV).

Instead of dabbling in many things, he focused on the mission God gave him.

Listen to God.

Don’t just talk to him. Listen to him. How do you do that?

Get quiet enough to sense what God is saying to you.

Read the Bible, and

think about it over and over.

Take to heart the instruction of Psalm 46:10:

“Be still, and know that I am God” (NIV).

When you meditate on God’s Word, it will set the mood for your day and lower your stress.

Connect with Other Believers.

In the Bible, one of the first things God said is this:

“It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18 NIV).

God is relational. We see that in the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And here on earth Jesus lived in community—with his disciples and others.

You, too, need a small group of believers you can count on. When life’s stresses come up, you can carry them together.

Take time to recharge.

In the Phillips Translation, a paraphrase, Matthew 11:19 says about Jesus,

“The Son of Man came, enjoying life.”

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not merely endured. If you’re always too busy to take a walk on a pretty morning, you’re too busy.

If you’re always too busy to enjoy time with the people you love, you’re too busy.

God didn’t wire you for continuous work. You need to take time to recharge.

Are you feeling weighed down by stress?

Look over this list one more time

pick one thing you can do today to approach life’s stresses with the peace of Jesus.

GOD’S WORD SAYS, I AM...

(Taken from the Bondage Breaker Youth Edition)