Thrive

Know this truth:  As followers of Jesus Christ, we are never alone.

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16 (NASB)

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Let this be a time of worship to God.  Pray each prayer and add your own personal message to God.  Read each scripture as though reading it for the first time – listen carefully for the voice of God.  Listen to each song paying close attention to the lyrics provided.  These songs were carefully chosen.  Even if the music is not your favorite style of music, know that the musicians performing are sincerely making music to the Lord.  Try to feel the passion in their words and their musical expression.  Give thought to the message presented and confirm the truth therein by opening your Bible and taking some time to do your own personal study.  May you be greatly blessed.

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Let’s Pray Together

Almighty Creator of the universe, watching over us all, we praise your holy name.  Guide us toward your approaching kingdom as loyal followers of your every desire.  Thank you for all that you provide in our lives.  Bless us Father with your goodness and mercy, as we stumble our way through this life, and provide us with the ability to bless others in the same manner.  Keep our minds ever vigilant to the disruptive powers of the evil one.  Guide us on a path that avoids destruction.  You alone are our protector and deliverer.  We ask these things in the Holy name of Jesus.  Amen.

Thrive

Beyond all else, we need to stay well connected to the source that sustains our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).  We need to stay connected to God.  It is the power of God that allows us to thrive.  Without God we are nothing.

“Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?  Can reeds thrive without water?”  Job 8:11 (NIV)

The godless thrive on external prosperity; fed by materialistic trinkets, their total sense of well-being is dependent on their next purchase.  Those of us who have trusted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior have been granted a righteousness that will survive the test of time.

“Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”  Proverbs 11:28  (NIV)

As followers of Jesus, we are blessed with a never-ending source that will fuel our spirits and sustain our lives from now until the end of time.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  John 6:35 (NIV)

No matter what manner of wickedness is in pursuit, we are protected and supported by our loving Father.  This world and all of its darkness has no power over the awesome light of Jesus.

“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.”  Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Know this truth:  As followers of Jesus Christ, we are never alone.

Let this music speak to your heart.

May God Be Everywhere I Go – Mosaic MSC

I’ve come alive in the strength of Heaven

Eyes are open wide in the light of the sun

I’ve come alive in Your grace and mercy

Darkness fades away until there is none

Your light to guide me

Your hands to hold me

Your presence when I’m alone

Your heart is beating forever with me

Your voice will call me home

May God be everywhere I go

We have come alive to see Your beauty

Hear the melody of Your song

The crisp and open fields You have set before me

In the sight of You, I’m free to run

Your light to guide me

Your hands to hold me

Your presence when I’m alone

Your heart is beating forever with me

Your voice will call me home

May God be everywhere I go

May God be everywhere I go

Always, always before me

Always beside me

Always, always You love me

Always, always

Always, always before me

Always beside me

Always, always You love me

Always, always

Always, always before me

Always beside me

Always, always You love me

Always, always

Your light to guide me

Your hands to hold me

Your presence when I’m alone

Your heart is beating forever with me

Your voice will call me home

May God be everywhere I go

May God be everywhere I go

Life is Hard

As followers of Jesus, we are travelers moving through this world toward our eternal destiny in the kingdom of God.  This journey is not a leisurely trip.  This journey is more akin to an athlete’s rigorous conditioning regiment leading up to the Olympic Games.  We are in training to win.  Fortunately, we are well-supported in our effort.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)

All we need to do is stay focused on God and everything we need to complete our training will be provided.  With our hearts dedicated to following the footsteps of Jesus, and serving God by serving others, we fuel and empower our spiritual strength.  All of the struggles that we endure on a daily basis are specifically designed by God to be within our ability to overcome.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

We are tempted by the enemy to abandon our loving spirit on a regular basis.  We are tempted to relinquish our joy.  Our patience is tempted.  Our kindness is tested.  Our faithfulness is tested.  Our gentleness and self-control are constantly under attack.  In each and every one of these situations, God is available to us.  God is pointing the way.  It is in His power that we are able to endure all of these attacks.

It is this time, right now, in worship and praise to God, that brings us closer to him and reinvigorates our spiritual fitness.

We can’t do this on our own.  We need God!

Let this music speak to your heart.

I just need U. – TobyMac

Last night put the heavy on me

Woke up and I’m feeling lonely

This world gotta a way of showing me (showing me)

Some days it’ll lift you up

Some days it’ll call your bluff

Man, most of my days I ain’t got enough

And all I know

Is You’re my only hope

When I’m up when I’m down (uh, huh)

When the wolves come around (tell me)

When my feet hit the ground

I just need, I just need You

On my darkest days (uh, huh)

When I’m losing faith (tell me)

No, it ain’t gon’ change

I just need, I just need You

Lord, I need You

Yeah, I just need You

Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me

Thy rod and thy staff

They comfort me when I’m beat down, broken

Hold my heart when it’s split wide open

Turn these eyes to my sole protector

Break the will of this born defector

Cuz’ all I know, all I know

Is You’re my only hope

When I’m up when I’m down (uh, huh)

When the wolves come around (tell me)

When my feet hit the ground

I just need, I just need You

On my darkest days (uh, huh)

When I’m losing faith (tell me)

No, it ain’t gon’ change

I just need, I just need You

Lord, I need You

Yeah, I just need You

When You pull me closer, I come to life

When You pull me closer, I come to life

When You pull me closer, I come to life

When You pull me closer, I come to life

When I’m up when I’m down

When my feet hit the ground

On my darkest days

No, it ain’t gon’ change

Oh Lord, I need You

When I’m up when I’m down

When the wolves come around

When my feet hit the ground

Yeah, I need, I need, I need, I need You

On my darkest days

When I’m losing faith

No, it ain’t gon’ change

Ain’t no way this thing gon’ change, it’s You

It’s You, I need

It’s You, I need

On my darkest days

When I’m losing faith

I need You, I need, It’s You, I need

Every single day, every breath I take

I need You, I need You

What We’re Made For

Knowing that we are in the hands of God, loved and protected, sustained and uplifted; we can cast away our worries and fears.

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

You are a unique creation of God and when you stay connected to him, you are unstoppable.

“The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”  Job 33:4 (NIV)

Your eternal life is guaranteed by your personal relationship to the one true God.

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”  John 17:3 (NIV)

As believers, our simple mission going forward is to love God with all of our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  This is what we were made for.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:2 (NIV)

When we live our lives in this manner we become a beacon of light exposing the glory of God to everyone we come into contact with, thereby spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

When we stay connected to God by following in the footsteps of Jesus, we thrive.

Let this music speak to your heart.

Thrive – Casting Crowns

Here in this worn and weary land

Where many a dream has died

Like a tree planted by the water

We never will run dry

So living water flowing through

God we thirst for more of You

Fill our hearts and flood our souls

With one desire

Just to know You and

To make You known

We lift Your name on High

Shine like the sun make darkness run and hide

We know we were made for so much more

Than ordinary lives

It’s time for us to more than just survive

We were made to thrive

Into Your word we’re digging deep

To know our Father’s heart

Into the world we’re reaching out

To show them who You are

So living water flowing through

God we thirst for more of You

Fill our hearts and flood our souls

With one desire

Just to know You and

To make You known

We lift Your name on High

Shine like the sun make darkness run and hide

We know we were made for so much more

Than ordinary lives

It’s time for us to more than just survive

We were made to thrive

Joy Unspeakable, Faith Unsinkable, Love Unstoppable, Anything is possible

Joy Unspeakable, Faith Unsinkable, Love Unstoppable, Anything is possible

Joy Unspeakable, Faith Unsinkable, Love Unstoppable, Anything is possible

Joy Unspeakable, Faith Unsinkable, Love Unstoppable, Anything is possible

Just to know You and

To make You known

We lift Your name on High

Shine like the sun make darkness run and hide

We know we were made for so much more

Than ordinary lives

It’s time for us to more than just survive

We were made to thrive

Hey!

We were made to Thrive

Thank you for spending this time worshiping God.

His door is now open to you.  You are in God’s presence.  Don’t leave without Him.  Keep Him with you throughout your day.

Go in peace.

All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context.  Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations.  In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon.  Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.

The Road to Serving God