Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 98 – Joy
by TJ Bates If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. -John 15:10-11 When I sing one of the many hymns or praise songs that have been written about God's joy and love, I can't help but feel joyful. But how do I capture his true joy
Joy: The Fruit of the Spirit of Christ
By Alastair Hayward The Scripture verses we are looking at are Isaiah 65:18 and Galatians 5:22-25. In this corona time, it can be particularly difficult to be joyful as the regulations seem to change every week, sometimes even more often. Each time the rules seem to get stricter. Last Christmas, our plans were thrown into disarray when the UK announced a stricter, Tier 4 lockdown. Our son was to be in Munich for the holidays, but he had to cancel his plans.
Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 83 – The Journey
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. -Jude 1:24-25 Doesn't this verse make your heart soar with hope? "It is the entire gospel in a nutshell." "A great part of keeping up prayer in the face of great odds or discouragement is the
Depression and the Holidays
by Dr. Ryan Noel Fraser, author of Overcoming the Blues: Finding Christ-Centered Hope and Joy through Serving Others It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving week. Henry, a caring minister, had just closed out the morning service and was standing at the church door greeting and shaking worshipers’ hands as they left. Standing in line was a 44-year-old, divorced mother of two teenagers. She was attempting to smile, but her sad eyes told a different story. “Hi, Jeanette, how have you been getting
Thanksgiving—A Time of Gratitude and Joy
As we enter the holiday season, beginning with Harvest and Thanksgiving, we all know of someone (it could even be ourselves) who is facing a situation that suggests anything but gratitude and joy. For some, this will be the first time they spend it without their spouses or other loved ones. We want holidays to be merry, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, the Cleveland Clinic cited some of the below as factors that tend to make the holidays
Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 5 – The Father’s House
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." -John 14:1-3 Talk about great expectations! We have a place prepared for
From the Pastor: How Do We Discern God’s Guidance in Adversity?
For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. -Psalm 48:14 In talking to friends here and back in the USA, through this time of lockdown, stressful situations, and restrictions, it appears many are seeking God’s guidance and help. So how do we discern God's guidance? What we learn from others is that God’s leading “was done in such a way that I couldn’t possibly have missed the point. The whole experience
Weekly Invite – 19 April 2020
Sunday, 19 April YouTube @ 16:00 hrs Worship Sermon: What Is There to Fear? Scripture: Psalm 27 Pastor John Snyder, preaching SF Sunday Virtual Worship Service on YouTube YouTube Live Link: : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJWldAjIzgBrYebB10RukTg/live Subscribe to the SF YouTube Channel, hit the subscribe button at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJWldAjIzgBrYebB10RukTg Starnberg Fellowship Zoom Meetup - Sunday Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/981145966?pwd=S2lvV3VFNEhEVGxadkdvT1lPa0FBZz09 Meeting ID: 981 145 966 A time to connect with each other after worship. Please note: Due to Zoom security concerns, we understand if you don't wish to join the Zoom meetings. _____________ MUSIC & LYRICS Joy of the Lord Though the tears may fall My
From the Pastor: Love, Suffering, Grief, and Joy: The Last Four Days of Holy Week
If you were asked to associate one word each for the four days from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, what would those four words be? For me, they are as follows: Maundy Thursday – Love A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. –John 13:34 Jesus’ new commandment is intended for the disciples’ welfare, for them to enjoy lives of meaning and purpose. In his ministry, he gives us a model
2020: Nothing Will Separate Us from the Love of God
Well, that was 2019. And what a year it was! For Shirin, Sarah, Stephanie, and me, it was one of the most memorable on record, packed with surprises—the good and the bad. Do you remember reading Paul’s list of unexpected events in his life? Thankfully, ours was not close to that! Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was
