Someone just passed this devotion to me. It is today's reading from Oswald Chamber's, "My Utmost for His Highest." It goes right in line with what we talked about last night. For those who missed it, a video post will be up by tomorrow.
- Pastor Russ
A Life of Pure and Holy Sacrifice
He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow . . . —John 7:38
Jesus did not say, “He who believes in Me will realize all the blessings of the fullness of God,” but, in essence, “He who believes in Me will have everything he receives escape out of him.” Our Lord’s teaching was always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a person— His purpose is to make a person exactly like Himself, and the Son of God is characterized by self-expenditure. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain but what He pours through us that really counts. God’s purpose is not simply to make us beautiful, plump grapes, but to make us grapes so that He may squeeze the sweetness out of us. Our spiritual life cannot be measured by success as the world measures it, but only by what God pours through us— and we cannot measure that at all.
When Mary of Bethany “broke the flask . . . of very costly oil . . . and poured it on [Jesus’] head,” it was an act for which no one else saw any special occasion; in fact, “. . . there were some who . . . said, ’Why was this fragrant oil wasted?’ ” (Mark 14:3-4 ). But Jesus commended Mary for her extravagant act of devotion, and said, “. . . wherever this gospel is preached . . . what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” ( Mark 14:9 ). Our Lord is filled with overflowing joy whenever He sees any of us doing what Mary did— not being bound by a particular set of rules, but being totally surrendered to Him. God poured out the life of His Son “that the world through Him might be saved” ( John 3:17 ). Are we prepared to pour out our lives for Him?
“He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”— and hundreds of other lives will be continually refreshed. Now is the time for us to break “the flask” of our lives, to stop seeking our own satisfaction, and to pour out our lives before Him. Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him?
First Wednesday this week!
If you hadn't gotten a chance to RSVP and read the memo for about the changes to First Wednesday, get it here.Join us this Wednesday night:
Dinner is from 5:30-6:30 - Pizza, Salad, and Dessert
Service starts at 6:30 - including baptism, testimony, elder report, and teaching.
See you then!
-Pastor Russ
Friday Night Lights
Join us this Friday for the first ever JICS home football game! The boys are playing the number one ranked team, so they need our support. Whether you have children at the school or not, bring the whole family out for some Friday Night Football Fun! There will be hotdogs, hamburgers, fries and all the good food you expect at a game.
The game will be at Ft. Johnson Middle school on Camp Road. Click here for directions.
Tickets:
Adults - $6
JICS students - $2
non-JICS students - $4
3 and under - free
(special JICS alumni price of $1 - with guest for $3)
Why we can trust the Bible
I mentioned in the sermon yesterday that I would post this sermon. It is by Voddie Baucham, who is a national known apologist and has spoken at our church a few times. He goes into the validity of the manuscripts and how we can trust scripture. This is his area of experitise, so if you are interested in it, this is a great presentation.
You can find the series of sermons here.
(note: I do not know anything about the website these are posted on, this is just the one page I had that had them all loaded together. Feel free to search youtube for other versions.)
-Russ
You can find the series of sermons here.
(note: I do not know anything about the website these are posted on, this is just the one page I had that had them all loaded together. Feel free to search youtube for other versions.)
-Russ
The Word of God
William Cameron Townsend posing with two Gahuku chiefs in Papua New Guinea. Townsend founded Wycliffe Bible Translators (WBT) in Benton County in the 1930s. The WBT has assisted in the translation of more than 700 New Testaments and Bibles.
Click here for more information about Wycliffe and Bible translation around the world.
Tomorrow we continue our look at 2 Timothy in Chapter 3:10-17. All Scripture is God breathed and profitable for us! I am reflecting on the precious gift of having the Word of God in our language (which is the reason for the post and picture above.) Praying for those around the world who have yet to experience the joy of reading God's word in their language.
Read ahead for tomorrow. Come prepared to hear, receive, and be changed by His Word!
MAN Night this week
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.- Proverbs 27:17
All the Men (13+) are invited to join us tomorrow night for MAN Night. Dinner starts at 6PM and the meeting starts at 6:45. Jenn's making her meatloaf (which wowed us last time ... and actually won over quite a few meatloaf-shy men).
Make it a priority. See you then. -- Russ
This week a very important letter went out from me to the congregation. I would like for everyone to take a moment to read it and respond.If you haven't read it yet, you may download it here:
http://www.jicc.us/firstwed
I look forward to seeing everyone on Septemeber 1st! If you are new to the church ... this a great chance to plug in!
-- Pastor Russ
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