CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 98:1-9
1. Sing to the Lord a new song for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2. The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations.
3. He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
2. The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations.
3. He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
5. Make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,
6. With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
5. Make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,
6. With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
7. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
8. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
9. Let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.
8. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
9. Let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.
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SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR YOUR HOME Dr. Richard Carlson
This is one of the easiest suggestions to implement in this entire book. Yet, it is so powerful that it’s worth doing—starting right now. Think about your home for a minute. Whether you live in a tiny apartment, a room in someone else’s house, or your own home, it’s yours to use. It’s your space. What in the world would you do without it? How would you survive?
It’s remarkable to reflect on how fortunate you are to have a home, a place to rest, a haven of potential peace. But when was the last time you slowed down enough to really look around? Notice the walls, the overall environment, the floors and windows. When was the last time you consciously expressed gratitude for your home? I’ve met many people who have never ever, taken this step of thanks.
Take a deep breath and express gratitude for your lovely home. Despite its imperfections, it’s yours. You live in your home. It protects you from the elements of hot and cold, and against everything from insects to strangers. It helps keep you alive and comfortable. Yet, for the most part, it is taken entirely for granted.
Sure, sometimes we’ll say “Thank you” as a routine part of a prayer or ceremony. But what I’m suggesting here is quite different. I’m asking you to take a few moments every day, for the rest of your life, to quietly reflect on the joy of having a home—whatever it looks like and however hard you work to maintain it.
Gratitude is a very powerful emotion. It brings forth the best in you and helps you maintain your emotional bearings. It helps you be happy. If you’re at all like me, you’re going to be amazed at how good you’ll feel the first time you take part in this exercise. You’ll probably wonder why you haven’t been doing it all along. Enjoy the feelings of gratitude and, perhaps for the first time, really enjoy the privilege of having a home.
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The worship service for today is live streamed. It can be heard later on YouTube and the Church website (www.bellevuebaptistchurchchicago.org) To listen to the service go to Church website and select the media tab for the sermon
Music by: Deacon Garlan Garner
Video and Audio by: Mr. Michael Harris
The Pastor’s weekly sermon can be heard on the church website (www.bellevuebaptistchurchchicago.org) To listen to the service go to church website and select the media tab for the sermon.
PRAYER FOCUS PRAYING ALWAYS
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and request. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and request. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
Dr. Frank Laubach gives many ideas for experiments in prayer:
Pray for whoever comes to memory.
Pray when you can’t sleep at night.
Pray for whoever comes to memory.
Pray when you can’t sleep at night.
Pray while taking a walk.
Pray, using a prayer list of missionaries, pastors, of the sick and sorrowing, neighbors, and coworkers.
Pray while reading a newspaper – pause and pray for accident victims, for world leaders.
Pray, using a prayer list of missionaries, pastors, of the sick and sorrowing, neighbors, and coworkers.
Pray while reading a newspaper – pause and pray for accident victims, for world leaders.
Pray for the Lord to give you open doors to witness.
Paul, recognizing the kind of world in which he lived, with Satan’s powers so intense, tells his friends to pray at all times in the Spirit. And Paul also reminds the Ephesians to pray for all Christians, “and also me.”
Paul, recognizing the kind of world in which he lived, with Satan’s powers so intense, tells his friends to pray at all times in the Spirit. And Paul also reminds the Ephesians to pray for all Christians, “and also me.”
Why not follow Paul’s example and ask many of our friends and fellow church members to pray for us. And then, let us “give ourselves wholly to prayer…and pray on every occasion in the power of the Spirit.” By Conrad M. Thompson