January 8th Devotional

Posted on January 8, 2015 by drscott
Dear Beloved,
Thank you all again for your faithfulness in leading in worship this upcomingSunday.  I really appreciate your servant hearts and know that God will bless our efforts (and our sacrifices) in a very special way.  I have not been this excited about a single worship service since we hosted the ordination service last year for annual conference!  I still have the long list of the bishop’s favorite hymns and contemporary praise and worship songs (both lists were equal in # btw…) and enjoyed serving our diversified attendees.  Wherever two or more are gathered in His name…God is there!  And God will be with us this Sunday too.  Count on it!  Be blessed!
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Softly I Announce My Presence. Shimmering hues of radiance tap gently at your consciousness, seeking entrance. Though I have all power in heaven and on earth, I am infinitely tender with you. The weaker you are, the more gently I approach you. Let your weakness be a door to My Presence. Whenever you feel inadequate remember that I am your ever-present Help.

Hope in Me, and you will be protected from depression and self-pity. Hope is like a golden cord connecting you to heaven. The more you cling to this cord, the more I hear the weight of your burdens; thus, you are lightened. Heaviness is not of My kingdom. Cling to hope, and My rays of Light will reach you through the darkness. 

Psalm 46:1  1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Romans 12:12 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 15:13  13May 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.

Daily Devotional from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young

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January 7th Devotional

Posted on January 7, 2015 by drscott
Dear Friends,
Praise, adoration and thanksgiving are truly all we have to offer our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  What else could we give the King of the Universe?  So, it makes sense to thank Him in all circumstances.  I remember Ceasar Rentie talking about his aunt who would say “Thank you Jesus” no matter what was happening.  If something broke in the house or the car wouldn’t start, she’d say “Thank you Jesus!”  At the time, he thought it really strange, but now, as a mature Christian, it all makes sense.  May you be blessed in His presence in all circumstances.  Peace and Love, Scott
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It Is Impossible To Praise Or Thank Me Too Much.  As it is written, I inhabit the praises of My people.  Sometimes your adoration is a spontaneous overflow of Joy, in response to radiant beauty or rich blessings.  At other times your praise is more disciplined and measured-an act of your will.  I dwell equally in both types of praise.  Thankfulness, also, is a royal road to draw near to Me.  A thankful heart has plenty of room for Me.

When you thank Me for the many pleasures I provide, you affirm that I am God, from whom all blessings flow.  When adversity strikes and you thank Me anyway, your trust in My sovereignty is a showpiece in invisible realms.  Fill up the spare moments of your life with praise and thanksgiving.  This joyous discipline will help you live in the intimacy of My Presence. 

Psalm 22:3 (KJV)  3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Psalm 146:1-2 1 Praise the LORD.  Praise the LORD, O my soul. 2 I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Daily Devotional from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young

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January 6th Devotional

Posted on January 6, 2015 by drscott
Dear Friends,
A beautiful reminder to not put human limitations on our Lord and Savior and to live in the limitless spirit realm.  Be blessed!  Hugs, Scott
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I Am Able to do far beyond all that you ask or imagine.  Come to Me with positive expectations, knowing that there is no limit to what I can accomplish.  Ask My Spirit to control your mind, so that you can think great thoughts of Me.  Do not be discouraged by the fact that many of your prayers are yet unanswered.  Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon Me, to trust Me in the dark.  The more extreme your circumstances, the more likely you are to see My Power and Glory at work in the situation.  Instead of letting difficulties draw you into worrying, try to view them as setting the scene for My glorious intervention.  Keep your eyes and your mind wide open to all that I am doing in your life.

Ephesians 3:20-21 20Now to him who is able to doimmeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Romans 8:6 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

Isaiah 40:30-31 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Revelation 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!”


Daily Devotional from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young
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January 5th Devotional

Posted on January 5, 2015 by drscott
Dear Friends,
A very happy new year to you all as we embrace 2015 with boldness and courage!  Where does this come from you might ask?  Our faith and trust in God!  So many books have been written on how to be successful in life, how to live the victorious life and how to be a “winner” in life.  Our book is the Bible and our champion is none other than Christ Himself.  Read on for encouragement and enlightenment and may you have a blessed year in Christ.  Peace and Love, Scott
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You Can Achieve The Victorious Life through living in deep dependence on Me.  People usually associate victory with success: not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes.  But those who are successful in their own strength tend to go their own way, forgetting about Me.  It is through problems and failure, weakness and neediness, that you learn to rely on Me.

True dependence is not simply asking Me to bless what you have decided to do.  It is coming to Me with an open mind and heart, inviting Me to plant My desires within you.  I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach.  You know that in yourself you cannot achieve such a goal.  Thus begins your journey of profound reliance on Me.  It is a faith-walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on Me as much as you need.  This is not a path of continual success but of multiple failures.  However, each failure is followed by a growth spurt, nourished by increased reliance on Me.  Enjoy the blessedness of a victorious life, through deepening your dependence on Me.

Psalm 34:17-18 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV 7 We walk by faith, not by sight.

Daily Devotional from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young

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December 29 devotional

Posted on December 29, 2014 by drscott
Dear Friends,
I hope you are all enjoying some well-deserved time off and rest.  One of the things I love to do during the holidays is catch up on some reading.  My mom sent me a book called “Killing Jesus”.  I know, the title is a bit jarring to say the least, but it has been on the NY Times best selling list for a while now and is written as an historical account of the life and times of Jesus.  I’m only half way through (I’m a terribly slow reader) but what trikes me is the hedonistic and brutality of the Romans during Jesus’ time.  I knew it was bad, but the book goes into more detail about the common practices of the Roman soldiers, the rulers of the day (including the Jewish ones) and the fate that awaited anyone who would challenge the authorities who ruled with an iron fist.  There was no love, forgiveness, grace, peace etc. until Jesus came along and preached it!  Thank you God for coming into our world to preach the Good news and for giving your life for us.  A Merry Christmas indeed!  May God bless you all today and every day as you trust in Him.  Peace and Love! Scott
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Trust Me with every fiber of your being!  What I can accomplish in and through you is proportional to how much you depend on Me.  One aspect of this is the degree to which you trust Me in a crisis or major decision.  Some people fail miserably here, while others are at their best in tough times.  Another aspect is even more telling: the constancy of your trust in Me.  People who rely on Me in the midst of adversity may forget about Me when life is flowing smoothly.  Difficult times can jolt you into awareness of your need for Me, whereas smooth sailing can lull you into the stupor of self-sufficiency.

I care as much about your tiny trust-steps through daily life as about your dramatic leaps of faith.  You may think that no one notices, but the One who is always beside you sees everything-and rejoices.  Consistently trusting in Me is vital to flourishing in My Presence.

Psalm 40:4 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

Psalm 56:3-4 3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you.  4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.  What can mortal man do to me?

Psalm 62:8  8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Isaiah 26:3-4 3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.  4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

Daily Devotional from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young

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Go Tell it on the Mountain

Posted on December 17, 2014 by drscott

Here is the recording for this week’s anthem:

Go Tell It On The Mountain

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January 11th Special Worship Service

Posted on December 17, 2014 by drscott

As you may have heard, we are having a special worship service on January 11th. This will be the only worship service this weekend and a great opportunity to gather together as a church!

We will be having a blended worship service that morning so that all of the participants will be able to find something that will connect for them.

That being said, we will be doing some music that may not be familiar to everyone, so I am posting these videos to help you over the Christmas break to become familiar with them:) Click on the videos below to watch.

Blessed Assurance (this is a recording-click on the title to hear it)

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December 10th Devotional

Posted on December 10, 2014 by drscott
Dear Beloved,
It’s been a rather busy week so far for me and it will continue to be busy I’m sure.  You all are just a busy as I am (especially since you all are involved in the Christmas show!) so, I know you understand how I am feeling right now.  We try desperately to control our lives and sometimes all of those around us too!  I think about Mary and Joseph during weeks like this.  Traveling with a pregnant wife who’s carrying the Son of God, the Messiah, to Bethlehem where they will have to make do with a stable/cave dwelling as the birthplace of Jesus.  God provided then, just as He does now, for all of our needs.  Troubles will always be with us, but so is God, and in that, we find peace.  Love and Hugs, Scott
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Make Me The Focal Point of your search for security. In your private thoughts, you are still trying to order your world so that it is predictable and feels safe. Not only is this an impossible goal, but it is also counterproductive to spiritual growth. When your private world feels unsteady and you grip My hand for support, you are living in conscious dependence on Me.

Instead of yearning for a problem-free life, rejoice that trouble can highlight your awareness of My Presence. In the darkness of adversity, you are able to see more clearly the radiance of My Face. Accept the value of problems in this life, considering them pure joy. Remember that you have an eternity of trouble free living awaiting you in heaven.

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you;do not be dismayed,for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 139:10 …even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds

Daily Devotional from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young

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December 8th Devotional

Posted on December 8, 2014 by drscott
Dear Friends,
It’s ok to be needy with God.  As today’s devotional perfectly points out, we are designed with a very strong, ever present need of God.  Problem is that many try to fill this void with other things.  Best of all, Christ is with us and we are His.  Amen!

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Your Needs And My Riches are a perfect fit.  I never meant for you to be self-sufficient.  Instead, I designed you to need Me not only for daily bread but also for fulfillment of deep yearnings.  I carefully crafted your longings and feelings of incompleteness, to point you to Me.  Therefore, do not try to bury or deny these feelings.  Beware also of trying to pacify these longings with lesser gods: people, possessions, power.

Come to Me in all your neediness, with defenses down and with desire to be blessed.  As you spend time in My Presence, your deepest longings are fulfilled.  Rejoice in your neediness, which enables you to find intimate completion in Me. 

Philippians 4:19 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:2-3 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Daily Devotional from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young

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Orchestra Agenda

Posted on December 4, 2014 by drscott

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