Sunday Highlights July 11, 2010

We concluded our Sunday services today with an evening worship service in our new sanctuary. God has given it to us for a place of worship, and that's just what we did. Even though we are a long way from finishing, and our only air conditioning consisted of a raised roll-up door and a box fan, it was an awesome time in the presence of God.

We sang together, I'm So Glad, Jesus Lifted Me and an old Andre Crouch song, I've Got Confidence. Then after a time of sharing we sang, "For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth. Thou art exalted far above all the earth. I exalt Thee. I exalt Thee. I exalt Thee, O Lord."

Then we shared from Philippians 3:7-9, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."

Mike shared some of his personal testimony. What was really awesome was the victory he was experiencing today. This morning he had shared that this was the the anniversary of Teresa's passing, but he came forward and asked for prayer. Mike had been at Sunday School and our Morning Worship Service, and had plans to go to the Memorial Gardens after service. Last year had been so very difficult. Mike knew that he needed the strength that only God can give in times like these, and he found it! This year, as he faced the pain of the second anniversary, God's strength was made perfect in weakness. Mike finished the day strong, in His strength, focused on Christ. Instead of focusing on the loss, he had chosen to focus on what God had given, and rely on the Holy Spirit to sustain him.

We closed our first service in the new building with prayer. As I knelt on the concrete floor in the unfinished building, God's presence was there in such a way that while we prayed I forgot the heat. What an awesome day!