Moved to Worship

It has been a while since I last posted, but today I begin again with a renewed fire.

I have often heard people discuss a life of worship; one who is sold out for the service of Jesus our mighty king. Today I went to a memorial service which made me ponder a different source of worship.... a death in worship. You see Glenda Bland, the woman we were remembering and celebrating lived and died as an inspiration of what worship was intended to be! Glenda poured her all into living for Jesus, so much that when she died those who knew her worshiped God because they knew she would be worshiping Him as well.... In Person!

Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin and it's wretched penalty of death and separation from God have plagued us! Yet God in His mercy provided us an answer so we might once again live in true worship and communion with Him. He did this through the most awesome act of worship in the history of the world - God's son, Jesus, was obedient in worship (service) even unto death on a cross. Such an act of sacrifice, obedience, and worship has opened the door to salvation and worship to all who call on the name of Jesus!

So here is the question, "Will my life and death follow Christ's example and lead others to salvation and true worship of Jesus?" After the memorial service today, I began to ponder about what others will do when I die. I hope that my life and relationship with them reveals that my heart beats to worship Jesus! I hope that when I leave this life and stand in the presence of our Lord, those I leave behind will praise Jesus for allowing us to have had a life of worship together! Perhaps some of my favorite songs will be sung, such as "Blessed be the Name of the Lord," "Turn your eyes upon Jesus," "Oh What a Savior," and many others. I hope they are sung with a personal longing which pours out of hearts yearning for a closer communion with our Lord!

I want my life to help others worship God with all they have and all they are. Someday, upon my death and leaving this life to embrace eternity with my King, I pray all my friends and family, along with those who never met me but happen to attend the memorial service will all gather in true worship of Jesus! Then, let's have a reunion celebration in eternity, gathered with Jesus in the throne room of Heaven! Of what a day it will be!

A growing Community of Joy

In John 10:10 Christ said, "I have come that they might have life and have it to the full." This life of fullness is not only found in the future with our Lord in Heaven but also in His body of believers here on earth. God has blessed us with a community of redeemed and forgiven brothers and sisters. There are times we have all fallen short of what God desires (Rom 3:23), but He is just and faithful to forgive when we confess our sins(1 John 1:9). Likewise, we have been called to forgive each other as we have been forgiven. This gives us great reason for joyful celebration each day! (Phi 4:4)

There is a joy of redemption which comes to life in our fellowship. This is the richness of life following Christ; it is a gift from our Lord! I believe this is what is taking place at Hillcrest right now. As we launched our W@tCh ministry (Wednesday nights @ 6pm) and had a great picnic, we have seen how the fellowship of believers is a testimony of the joy we have been given in Christ. There has been fabulous food, great fellowship, a celebration of the relationships in Christ, as well as time to study God's life giving Word!

To unite and celebrate our Lord through our personal relationships which are centered on Him and His forgiveness is a beautiful and contagious thing! You are invited to share in the community of believers at Hillcrest Christian Church!

My Favorite Word.

I have a favorite word. I am not sure this is a common thing to have a favorite word, but it is true of me.

"Immanuel" is the word I love. It is found three times in scripture. The first two in Isaiah 7:14 and 8:8. The third is in Matthew 1:23, "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means, God with us.”

God with us. What does this mean? What is the extent is this promise in our lives today? How is it relevant to me as I walk through my daily life; or is it? Could it be that this is merely a simple translation of an old Hebrew word which today means very little? Some could argue that it is just one of the carefully worded prophecies of the Bible, but if one looks at the entire story, we find that it is "Immanuel… God With us" which is a promise revealing the entire story of God's relationship with Man!

God created everything, and everyone. He made all the plants and birds, fish, sea, mountains, steams, animals, and skies. Every creature was a work of God's creative mind. Yet the Magnum Opus of all he made was man! He breathed life into man, giving his favorite creation a soul, designed for an eternal relationship with his Creator! Unlike all the other things God made, man was designed in God's image. We were designed to represent God in every way, and to reflect His glory as we were in daily relationship with Him!

But all this changed when sin entered the world. God is holy, sinless, without blemish, and cannot be near to sin. Our sin separates us for God, and that broke His heart. The result of our sin is the great void, the place where God occupied in our heart and soul laying painfully empty. The rest of Scripture, from Genesis 3 to Revelation is all about addressing this void in our lives, and how God continued to call men and women to live by faith, working to re-establish the lost relationship.

God promised that He would send the one who would restore this relationship, who would rebuild the broken and comfort the mourning and save those who are dying away from God.

Over and over again throughout history, God would raise up leaders to call His people back to relationship with him. Men Like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, until he fulfilled the greatest promise of them all… Immanuel!

In a manger in Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes, a baby was laid. His cries were like all others, his physical needs the same as any other newborn boy. Yet this one is somehow different… he has been waited for and spoken of for centuries. The Child was the culmination of the promise to Abraham… the blessing to all people. This Child was the fulfillment of the promises to David, that one from his family would sit on his throne forever.

The prophet Isaiah wrote of this baby, centuries before his birth, with these words:
"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this."
• Is 9:1-7


What's more, Jesus promised that he would always be with us! "Immanuel" is a prophetic promise that God would not be separate from us again! When the gift of Immanuel is accepted, the Holy Spirit of God dwells in us. He is in us, with us, never to be apart. There could never be a greater Christmas gift!

Today, we can say that God is with us! Jesus is with us! The promise of Immanuel is still to be claimed today… it can be your gift this Christmas… The grandest gift, the greatest promise is given to you by our creator! He gives you the promise of an intimate relationship with the Lord of Ages! He longs to be with you… and He says so with a name which proclaims His promise… Immanuel.

All that wrapped up in my favorite word!