―Pray daily for a great outpouring of the Spirit on the Church and on the world. This is the grand need of the day—it is the thing that we need far more than money, machinery, and men. The “company of preachers” in Christendom is far greater than it was in the days of Paul; but the actual spiritual work done in the earth, in proportion to the means used, is undoubtedly far less. We need more of the presence of the Holy Spirit— more in the pulpit, and more in the congregation—more in the pastoral visit, and more in the school. Where He is, there will be life, health, growth, and fruitfulness. Where He is not—all will be dead, tame, formal, sleepy, and cold. Then let everyone who desires to see an increase of pure and undefiled religion, pray daily for more of the presence of the Holy Spirit in every branch of the visible Church of Christ —J.C. Ryle
What I am reflecting on this Good Friday morning…
I love how Isaiah 53 reads in the message:
Is. 53.2   The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look.  3 He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. 4 But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures.
5 But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. 6 We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And GOD has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him, on him.Â
Is. 53.7   He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence.  8 Justice miscarried, and he was led off—and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people.
 9 They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true. 10  Still, it’s what GOD had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life. And GOD’S plan will deeply prosper through him.
Scripture Memory
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.†(Psalm 119:11 NIV)
I remember this being one of the first verses I memorized as an elementary school student at my Christian school. At the time, I didn’t fully realize the impact of this verse could potentially have on my life, but now I put it into practice daily.
As a believer I have been tempted over and over again — probably much like you, and I have found the more I learn of the Bible, and put it into practice the better I do at living out my faith.
The process of “hiding” God’s word in my heart has been a valuable spiritual discipline for me.It has enabled me to stand strong while being tempted and given me confidence when faced with difficult situations.
So let me challenge you do something as we wrap up this week:
1. Take some time to spend in God’s Word.
2. Find a verse dealing with your current situation and commit it to memory.
3. Pray that God will help you live out the scriptures in a powerful and practical way.
These three things have made a huge difference in my life!
Be Jesus to someone today.
Merry Christmas
The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2: 1 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire.2 This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria.3 Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for.4 So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there.5 He went with Mary, his fiancŽe, who was pregnant.
6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.7 She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel. 8 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep.9 Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified.10 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: 11 A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.12 This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
13Â At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:14Â Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
Disturb Us, Lord
Disturb us, Lord
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
 Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
 For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new heaven to dim.
 Disturbs us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
 We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope and love.
Sir Francis Drake-1577
Starting Point
This Wednesday night at 7pm, we are kicking off a new Life Group at Harvest, and there is still room for you! This group is called Starting Point. Here is a little background info on the group:
What is Starting Point?
Starting Point is a conversational environment where people can explore faith and experience community. Starting Point groups are a safe place for people with questions about faith, as well as those who want to learn about the Bible and Christianity. Groups meet for about 10 weeks and together explore the grand story of the Bible. One of the goals of Starting Point is to help participants find their places in the story.
Who is it for?
Seekers – those who are curious about God, Jesus, the Bible, or Christianity
Starters – those who have just begun a relationship with Jesus Christ
Returners – those who have some church experience, but have been away for a while
Check out the video by clicking here.
If you are interested in taking advantage of this group you can sign up by clicking here.
Powerful Prayer
I read this prayer from Mother Teresa this morning and thought it was to good not to pass it along.
“Dear Jesus, Help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go, flood our souls with your Spirit and life. Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly that our lives may only be a radiance of yours. Shine through us and be so in us that every soul we come in contact with may feel your presence in our soul. Let them look up and see no longer us but only Jesus. Stay with us and then we begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be the light to others. The light, O Jesus, will be all from you. None of it will be ours. It will be your shining on others through us. Let us thus praise you in the way you love best by shining on those around us. Let us preach you without preaching not by words but by our example by the catching force the sympathetic influence of what we do the evident fullness of the love our heart bear to you.”
Lord, let it be so in me!
