The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less than Scoffield's notes and Scripture Press....wait, that's not quite how the song goes. But they are familiar words, aren't they? Then..."on Christ the solid rock I stand."  It's about having the confidence to weather the storm. Just like real storms, life storms require us to act, not just react. Here are 3...count them... 3 ways we can praise God in any storm of life: 1. Prepare by having a strong foundation. The book of James says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.“ When you meet trials. It is going to happen. Trials will come. Prepare yourself for these by building your foundation on Christ and His word.   Praise God for equipping you to enter a storm! 2. Take shelter with godly company. In the midst of trials you should surround yourself with people of God who will first and foremost pray for and you.  They can speak truth to you when your heart betrays you and your weatherproofing GETS SOGGY!  When your foundation feels like it is cracking and failing you, true Christian fellowship is the glue that will hold you together.  “You are safer with God in the middle of a storm, than you are anywhere else without Him.” Praise God for bringing people in to your life who offer you love and support – you don't have to weather a storm alone! 3. Anticipate the sunshine, every storm has an end. Storms won't last forever, but in the midst of trials, having hope can seem impossible at the least and improbable at the most. If all you're left with is broken pieces, have hope because God WILL take the broken pieces and turns them into something beautiful.   God doesn't always calm the storms, sometimes he calms us.  .Praise God that when all is stripped away you still have Him! “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) We are having a great time...but missing you all. See you on Sunday...and as always I'm Just Sayin'. -Kelly (and Brenda too!)

Joy Joy Joy

This is one of those songs, do you remember...."I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy....down in my heart. Where?"

Yes you can thank me later for having that song in your head for the rest of the day.  But what if....that joy went from our heads to our hearts?

Do you remember the other little song...."If you want joy you must ask for it......?"

Exactly what is joy?

It is the enjoyment of God and the good things that come from the His hands. 

If our freedom in Christ is a piece of cake....joy is the frosting. (probably chocolate)

If the Bible gives us words of worship....joy supplies the music. 

True joy can only be had as part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).   It is that overwhelming sense of comfort and contentment that floods our soul.

Romans 15:13 NIV

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Joy? Ask!

I'm just sayin' ...

--Kelly

Grace Notes

GRACE....  These are grace notes.  Yep - grace notes.  Small, insignificant, marred and counting -- for nothing.  Nothing - zip - nada - zero!

Yet they are referred to as "grace notes." Why?

These notes are kind of funny, they decorate and enhance the note to which they are attached - but only from a position of submission and service.  By sheer definition they cannot stand alone.  These notes are printed much smaller than the principal note...and sometimes with a slash through the stem.

Grace notes - have no mathematical value... Nothing - zip - nada - zero!

Hold on there...slash Grace (ouch.)  I don't mind being small, insignificant or even marred.  Counting for nothing...well let's just hold on.

Grace as a verb can mean the following things, beauty, enrich, elevate, honor, favor, dignify, distinguish...a simple grace note does all of this to the principal note.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul writes...

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses...

Grace is the Master Musician playing our lives like instruments of worship - in a symphony of worship every Grace note counts.

See Ya Sunday...

Just Sayin'

Kelly