Chosen – Taken from The Beach Is Calling

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You have been chosen by God himself – you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God’s very own – all this so that you may show to others how God called you our of the darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 TLB

I sometimes forget to bring my shell bag to the beach and consequently end up filling my pockets with the unique, beautiful shells I can’t resist picking up. I see them and find it impossible to leave them in the sand, their intricacies unappreciated. Isn’t it amazing to know that God chose us? He sees us with an unlimited potential to make the world more beautiful. He brought us into His wonderful light to make our lives a shining example of His magnificent love. We belong to Him, we’re His beloved, and when He picked us up out of the mire and darkness, our names left an eternal imprint on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16).

When we go through tough seasons in like it can feel like we’re the shells left in the sand. Unseen and walked past, our pain and heartache quietly ignored. In out hearts we know that’s a terrible lie the enemy launches against everything we know is true of our Father. God is close to the brokenhearted and He fells our pain as deeply as we do. And He will never ignore the names inscribed on His hands. Our lives are a journey into His waiting arms, an incredible gift to be enjoyed and grateful for every step of the way. Even when the difficult parts get long and we get anxious. He’s faithful to calm and comfort us.

The next time we feel unseen or it feels like our prayers aren’t getting through, let’s imagine God bending down to pick us up – because He will. He’ll send a friend to encourage us. He’ll put someone in our path to reveal His heart. Or He’ll meet our need in the most unexpected way. “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” ( Isaiah 46:4 NIV)

Remember that even in the challenges, we are the chosen and the carried.

Father,
Thank you for picking me up and carrying me through.


Happy Sunday Morning!!!

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Good Morning!!! Just a reminder: This morning we have two different services. The Annual Homecoming Meeting/Service is at 10 am. Our regular service will be at 11 am as usual. We can’t wait to see you!!!

You are Welcome Here!!!

Defeat Evil

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Romans 12:21
Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.

Father,
When we confront temptation, when we stand face to face with evil, we pray that You would give us strength and that You would use Your power to block the path of evil.

Kindness

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So lift your hands and thank God for His marvelous kindness and for all His miracles of mercy for those He loves. How He satisfies the souls of the thirsty ones and fills the hungry with all that is good!!
Psalm 107:8-9 TPT

Do the riches of his extraordinary kindness make you take Him for granted and despise Him? Haven’t you experienced how kind and understanding He has been to you? Don’t mistake His tolerance for acceptance. Do you realize that all the wealth of His extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance?
Romans 2:4 TPT

As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of a man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal – it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13-14 NLT

Joy In Trouble

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Romans 5:3
We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience.

Sometimes people question God – “Is pain my punishment?” You’ve heard the expression “The rain falls on the just and the unjust” – or better, the unjust and the unjust, for we are all sinners. All of us are or will be victims of pain – it’s simply a fact of our existence, regardless of how good or how bad we are. Life isn’t fair? No, but there is One who justifies life and understands that pain.

Waiting To Embrace Us

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Psalm 125:2
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, the Lord surrounds His people now and forever.

We have a Father who is filled with compassion, a feeling Father who hurts when His children hurt. We serve a God who says that even when we’re under pressure, and feel like nothing is going to go right, He’s waiting for us, to embrace us whether we succeed or fail.

The Tender-Hearted Jesus

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John 11:33
When Jesus saw Mary crying and the Jews who came with her also crying, He was upset and was deeply troubled.

Most of the people in the world have never seen the Jesus of the New Testament – a Redeemer whose eyes would swell with tears and whose heart would beat with passion. Most people serve a Redeemer only when they need a favor – a sort of magic Lord who’s ignored except in time of crises. We can’t imitate a magic Jesus. The tender-hearted Jesus of the New Testament demands imitation by those who follow Him.

Grace Is A Free Gift

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Romans 3:23-24
Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard, and all need to be made right with God by His Grace, which is a free gift.

What is grace? It’s what someone gives us out of the goodness of their hearts, not out of the perfection of ours. The story of grace is the goods news that says that when we come, He gives. That’s what grace is.