Sunday May 28, 2017

Notes from Sunday's service.  (Thanks, Jean)

Dr. Spencer Barclay - Something to Think About

Theme: God will always be worshiped and praised whether we chose to or not.

-Throughout the bible it is clear God wants a relationship with us. We always should, but tragically often don’t not respond in kind to his overtures. Yet we read in the bible how nature responds much differently, and humans can learn a lot from nature.

Psalm 96:1 Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psalm 98:8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord,

Isaiah 55:12 “For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

The bible says if we do not respond to a relationship with God nature will.

Research studies have shown, healthy trees will nurture sick trees and that trees have feelings and that plants can even respond to music. There is a lot more to nature than we humans understand. If we do not take the opportunity to respond to a relationship with God, nature will.

Scripture states if we do not praise God even the rocks will cry out.

Luke 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Pastor Caroline Barclay-Theme: Full Joy

 As people, we need to strive to hear the Lord when the noise of the world is too loud. When the world fills us with empty promises and empty guarantees, we need the Lord to show us his way.

John 15:1-7-- this scripture speaks of Jesus the true vine.

Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. When we stay close to Jesus teachings we will have full joy. We are called to love those we know and don’t know and those who seem unlovable. This is when the fruit in our christian lives will be most evident to others. God delights in us and we are taught to delight in him. Being a blessing to others is living in the fullness of joy. Stay close to the true vine Jesus and be the branch that he wants you to be.