Sunday March 29, 2015

Here's an update on Sunday's service.  (Thanks, Heather)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning... and what a great morning it is!!! The sun is shining bright here in Stellarton. With no clouds in the sky!! ... Great day for a flight to Cuba, I'd say!! ;)

 

Here's a quick excerpt from last night...

 Something to think About:

 

- "I Desire Jesus" (song)

- Who actually 'desires' Jesus?

- Signs are important! Like 'Bridge out 500m'

- If you're traveling, you are dependent on signs

- Signs are like prophesies... they tell you what gonna happen in the near future.

- Most of the Bible is prophesy

- Without these prophesies (ex: Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelations) it's like reading a novel without the final chapter

- Signs tell us of Jesus return.

- There are more prophesies about His second coming than there was of His first

- Prophesy gives you the chance/opportunity to change now for what's ahead.

- We can rationalize, and philosophize about them... but it's definitely something to think about! ;)

 

Pastor Todd and Pastor Caroline joined together and spoke on Palm Sunday:

- 'Trust in God'.. the perfect creator of all things

- Zachariah 9:9 prophesized about the coming of Christ

- Mathew 21:1-11 tells of Christ coming into town on Palm Sunday, fulfilling the prophesy MANY years before.

- The Cross... do you wear if as just a piece of jewelry?! do you wear it as a resemblance of Christ?!

- The Cross is a sign of hope to billions of people

- We are separated from Christ because of our sins... but the Cross allows us a way to God through Christ.

- Romans 5:12

- Romans 6:23

- We inherited that sin... And Jesus came to be that bridge to God

- Ephesians 2:8, 9

- Old Testament: sins are purified by blood of an innocent sacrifice... a lamb. Christ became our lamb!

- John 1:29.

- This week let our hearts remember the betrayal, the arrest, the death and the burial of our Christ.

- ... Then let's rejoice next Sunday, Easter Sunday!!

- "Cherish the old Rugged Cross" (song)

- He stretched out his hands and said "I love you THIS much!"

 

Cheers

Sunday March 8, 2015

Some of the highlights of Sunday's service.  (Thanks, Jean)

If you would like to hear Rev. Dave MacLean's sermon, and Something to Think About, go to Master's Hand YouTube channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrUaNS-N8LPEpsbWiJDYloQ/feed

Dr. Barclay's Something to Think About:

Mark 1:21-28

There are Demons all around us, inside and outside the church. Jesus cast out Demons out of the Synagogue on the Sabbath day.

The Demons recognized Christ's  Lordship and  authority  immediately and knew exactly who was rebuking them.

There is strong evidence that supports attending church regularly may prolong your life on earth. People with strong religious faith, who attend church regularly, read their Bible and pray  are less likely to suffer depression. They have a stronger immune systems and live healthier lifestyles. They have more resilience in life's hard situations and a continued reliance upon God.

Leviticus 26:14-16

God has warned us many times disobedience and disrespect for God has severe and tragic consequences.

Living a wholesome and Godly lifestyle is rewarded in this life and the next.

Pastor Dave  Mac Lean

God wants us to have abundant life.

We need to renovate and update our spiritual minds and attitudes the way we update and renovate our homes.

1 Timothy 4:1-11

The enemy wants to sneak in false doctrine into the church to deceive Christians.

We can hold fast and believe in the Apostles creed, but still not have abundant life.

We must not just believe, but we need to also obey God.

It is not enough just to be saved. We must  live holy lives abandoning lusts of the flesh.

It is the job of Christians to pray for their neighbor , not to gossip about them.

We can not let the troubles of this life dictate our lives. We are to let Jesus dictate our lives.

Colossians 2:20

When Jesus lives inside us our actions will reflect his presence.

When we are in God's presence depression and bad attitudes have to flee.

The more we study God's word the greater he can dwell in our lives.

1 Corinthians 2:9

 Christ has such wonderful things prepared for us the Christian journey is worth every step of the way.

Sunday March 1, 2015

Hello!! :)  Hope you're all home and cozy by this time of the night. It's another snowy and slippery night out there.

Here are some notes from last night.

Spencer's 'Something to think about'

- Remember the Pepsi vs Coca-cola commercials?! They told you what you wanted, but not much about the product.

- $600 Billion dollars is used to convince you of what you think you want.

- Do we as Christians/the church do the same?! Do we tell the whole truth?!

- Mark 8: Jesus fed the multitude, performed healings... but finished saying if they followed Him, they will have to carry death and persecution.

- Why did Jesus only have a small number of followers?! ... The Truth hurts!

- Santa's a myth, the Easter Bunny's a myth... Jesus too?! (people might ask themselves)

- We need to get back to the Truth, and build churches again... and not shut them down.

Pastor Caroline is feeling much better from last week, and brought the Word.

- She confessed to be a sound sleeper... However, when God wakes you, its with a little whisper; as what happened to her.

- She was awaken with a child-like version of the Easter Story; simple and understandable.

- The Easter Story reminds us of the penalty Jesus was given for taking our sins.

- She was given this story, and printed it as bookmarks, which she gave out during church (please see image attached)

- All lines but one has 3 words... which represents Father, Son, Holy Spirit... Beginning, Middle, End... Love, Mercy, and Grace'

- The first six lines of the bookmark gives us the invitation; the next three tell us of the promise; the remaining lines tell us of Truth.

- Pastor Caroline expressed her thankfulness that God speaks to her in a simple way to be understood (as are we).

- The Last Supper represents the covenant with God for the sins past, present, and future.

- ... We WILL live again.

- John 3:16, 17 Good News: 'For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior.'

During communion we sang 'How Deep the Father's Love for Me'; oh how fitting!

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

I hope your heart sings this week... 'His wounds have paid my ransom.'

Good night!!

Service of Feb. 22, 2015

Some notes from Sunday's Service  (Thanks, Heather)

Yet another Wintery day... I was even sent home from work. Craziness... but now safe at home :)

Here's what you may have missed in service Sunday past...

Here's some notes from Spencer's 'Something to think about':

- We build many buildings but are making them harder to get into

- People struggle with the following when thinking of 'church'...

1. Perception of church

- 'I'm too bad a person; can't go to church.'

- But the Saints of the church were not 'saints'!

- Everyone has problems.

- Do people think you have no problems when you attend church??

- 'I'm too good for church.'

- 1 Corinthians 1

- Church seems unnecessary

2. Organization of the church

- Matthew 16:15-18

- Basis should not be rules! But about the Rock!

3. The People

- We need to be reminded that God made all!! ... all kinds of people (ex: what music they like, what the wear, what they prefer...)

- God loves all!!

** 'Church', relationship with Christ: There's no doorknob, no keypad... Just OPEN THE DOOR!

Although Pastor Caroline was sick last week she made two great references: #1 "Although I didn't feel good, I felt good in God" and "I was blessed in the rest." Sometimes God 'prepares a place' where you have no choice but to be still and hear from him; blessed are those times of renewal and refreshing :)  Here is what Pastor Caroline brought to us...

- 1 Corinthians 13 (the LOVE chapter). Read it. Then read it the second time and substitute 'God' for 'Love'... God is love!  This is agape love!

- Romans 12. 'Life in God's Service' (good, pleasing and perfect)

- Are you being pleased??

- Do you come to church to be pleased? Pleased by the music... pleased by the message.

- We need to be pleasing to God.

- He is soooo pleased of the things you do in His name... EVERYTHING... big and small.

- God doesn't want us to be busy!... He wants us to be pleasing.

- You can be busy, but not busy doing things that God is asking of you.

- #1 We are to please God... #2. There are many in the body of Christ. (many different people)

- Different people mean different likes/dislikes/expectations

- Clothes?! It's not what's on the outside; it's what's going on, on the inside... are you open for God?

- Structure of services

- A 'Halleluiah and Amen' church

- Music too loud; too youth orientated

- End of service: leave in quiet reverence; alter call, prayer circle... ALL are pleasing

- What's the happy medium??

- We are not in the pleasing business... we are to be in the God pleasing business!!

- Again, God is soooo please of the things you do in His name!

- He wants us obedient to Him

- We are many people with many talents by the grace given by God.

- Please the father and He will be please with you, and through you.

- If you come to church to be 'pleased', come next week with the mind/heart thought to come and please God!

- and be open to what God wants to show you :)

As you can see, God put this service together well again tonight, as Pastor Caroline's and Spencer's message worked hand-in-hand :)

Be safe out there, and remember God Love you... YES, even you, with all your flaws and imperfections. :)

Cheers

Sunday February 8, 2015

Some notes from Sunday evening's service.  (Thanks, Heather)

Was it another 'Manic Monday' today? :D

Here's some notes from last night, remembering that Pastor Caroline and Spencer being done, means no 'Something to think about' :(  However, I'm sure notes from Pastor Dave's message will give you cause for thought!!

- Do you believe God can heal?

- There's a difference between belief and faith.

- God put faith in us to obtain great things!

- Faith can move mountains

- Learn to walk with Faith.

- 2 Corinthians 5:17

- When did 'ALL things become new in you?... When you asked Jesus into your life!

- Proverbs 4:20, 21 (pay attention to His words)

- Matthew 6:23 (seek first His kingdom)

- If you had to work hard, you wouldn't have time to seek Him. That's why He wants to GIVE you health, finances, peace

- When you listen to His words you will find you have prosperity, finances, joy, peace

- God is the God of impossibilities.

- We have to incline our ear to Him.

- Instead of dwelling on the bad... dwell on the good!! Even if Mrs. So-and-so 'makes good fudge' :D :D

- Why is it so hard to believe we can't be healed, we can't get a 'good' job, etc

- In all things, give thanks... be joyful.

- Story of David. Young boy, anointed to be King, but not til years later. Was is an easy journey? Did people say nasty things about him? Yes, but he kept the Faith!

- Story of Joseph. Was to be a ruler. But before this happened, he was sold into slavery by his brothers, then put into jail for 13yrs. Yet he kept the Faith!

- God’s love isn’t based on your goodness or badness… it’s based on HIM.

- We have to learn to walk by faith, not by sight

- Confess health over your body! Don’t confess defeat on your life!

- Tithes: What if God asked 20% and not 10%?! You’d be blessed 20% ;)

- He’s looking for cheerful givers!!

- You need to let go of the little… so He can give you the plenty

- He’s not out to be angry at the world… John 3:16

- You’ll never be holier than you are right now, in God’s eyes.

- He’s given you a new Spirit, not a new mind… so we have some ‘renovations’ to take care of.

- If you were to think, ‘there are hypocrites in church, so I’m not going’… Think of it like this. If you had a child being bullied in school, do you not let him/her go?! NO, ‘cause it hurts your child! They need to learn, grow, be taught…

- Hebrews 10:10+

- When you get to heaven, if all sins are forgiven, what are we being judged on?? We are judged on if we received Christ!

- Christians are examined on what they’ve done in their earthly bodies.

- Obeying God is always the right Choice! And Jesus gives good company.

- Victory – Faith. If we stay in the Faith, we will have Victory!

- If you believe it, you will see it… and people will prosper with you along the way.

Something I've been taught as a teen and youth... 'Garbage in... Garbage out!'  2015 WILL be the most prosperous year yet. Say this to yourself... and have Faith!! :)

Cheers

Service of Sunday February 1, 2015

Some notes from Sunday's service.  (Thanks, Jean)

Dr. Barclay talked about the importance of wood throughout scripture.

From the beginning to the end in both the Old and New Testaments.

Genesis Chapter 3- Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the tree in the midst of the Garden.

Exodus 4-Through the Wooden Rod God controlled the evil that Satan did through the Serpent.

Salvation for the Israelite people did not end on Passover; they still had to follow God and obey. 

Jesus died on a wooden Cross for our Salvation.

Dr. Barclay stated that God wants us to learn and study his word. God never intended that learning from the Bible should be hard difficult or complicated.

Pauline V. gave an amazing testimony of being healed from cancer and having no disabilities or lasting effects from a massive stroke.

Dr. Solimon stressed the importance of continued prayer, to keep praying faithfully for every need and never give up.

Pastor Caroline Barclay spoke on the theme of understanding the Trinity.

2 Corinthians 3:14

Father God

Jesus the Son

Holy Spirit the Comforter

Yet still the three in one, are all members of the God Head.

Christians here on this earth will never be perfect. However, we do have a perfect example to follow in Jesus.

God knew we would go through hard and sorrowful times so he sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us.

With the comfort of the Holy Spirit we would have no need to feel alone because we would have the continued assurance the Lord is with us.

Humans are three in one Body, Mind and Spirit. God is three in one Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Communion was observed at the end out the service and the old Hymn, "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need" was sung followed by a time of prayer.

Brady Croft

This is Brady Croft. What a delight he is. We met this week and I presented him with the cheque our ministry donated to him to help provide meals to children in Africa. This young boy is doing what Jesus would do, feeding the hungry, and it was a pleasure to be able as a ministry to contribute to this worthy cause. Blessings all around. God is good!

- Pastor Caroline

Brady accepting a donation from Pastor Caroline Barclay of Master's Hand Ministry