Good morning folks,
I realized (very early this AM) that I neglected to send a note regarding the Sunday service we attended last week. I thought I would start my day off right with a message to us all and a reminder to me as to what we saw and heard that morning.
The service we attended was for project 235 The Line of Abraham. It was a great privilege to attend the service and to actually attend a service in a project we are seeking to work with. Abraham had originally intended for us to attend a service elsewhere in the city, but at the last minute plans changed (aka God was at work). Around here you have to be flexible in your schedules and plans.
When we arrived the first service of the day had just ended and people were leaving . Many came up to welcome us, shake our hands, stroke Emily’s hair and cheek, and to wish us well.
We sat in the front two rows in the sanctuary (right in front of the speakers!!!) They have a sound system that Cliff, Jonathan, Ralph, and Matt would love to get their hands on. The speaker system was huge as was the overall sound. We had to wait approximately a 1/2 for the service to commence, but when it did WOW.
They opened with greetings and the first song was Open the Eyes of My Heart. What an awesome experience to be able to sing it in both Spanish and English at the same time (of course we took on the English lyrics while the remainder of the congregation sang in Spanish) The musica was incredible and the energy in the room was large. Sheldon we will have to see what we can do to get people to jump up and down, clap, etc 
Shortly after the service started, as I noted in a previous blog, the power went out. That certainly did not stop the worship team (a drummer, a keyboardist, four back up singers, a bass guitar player and an acoustic guitar player - he lead the worship). They simply moved off the stage, into the congregation and had the congregation move to the front so as all could hear.
We then prayed for a lady who was sick and in hospital.
The sermon was taken from Psalm 133:1 Speaking on Fellowship. That was extra special for us of course because of our international fellowship that day. The speaker was not the pastor, but rather a lay person of the congregation. He was great. Very dynamic, and dramatic in his delivery. Abraham translated for those who could hear him on the end of the rows while Bev wrote out some notes for those of us on the far end of the aisle. I am going to get a few more minutes for computer time and share with you all the notes she took (unedited, as if you were there listening to the Spanish, struggling to hear key words and at the same time reading the notes that were a great support).
“We need a church with life. That is we are here today. Acts 2: - the early church continues in love, fellowship, breaking of bread, etc. They shared love, fellowship. This makes a healthy church.
“When they built the Tower of Babel confused the languages. We all speak the same language but if we don’t understand each other we are in the same situation.
“Now I have many friends and they are sitting here. This is biblical Malachi 3:15 Oh what happened to me! 3:16 The lord listened to those who feared Him Maybe we suffer in these days but the day will come when we will see the difference between the righteous and the evil.
“When a church grows it means it is doing things right. When this church started these were only a few people. They all had children in the school.
“To become a Christian they thought he would have to leave his friends and amusements. He did not want to do it. The Holy Spirit had work in my life. I had to reach bottom to recognize God and accept Him.
“What we do for the Lord is not in vain. That is important. The story of the paralytic taken by his friends and they had to lower him through the roof to get to Jesus. They had confidence in Jesus that he could heal him. Jesus forgave this sins and healed him How do you think his friends felt to see him walking out healed.
“My friend was always inviting me to church. It was a long time before I went. Now we are very close friends. Look around at your friends. Do you see a difference between those in the church and those out.
“Friendship starts from inside out recognize what the Lord has done and continues to do for us. Do you know your children? You can tell by just a look what is happening to them. That is what God is like. We can act differently to what we feel but God knows. 1 Peter 1:22 ‘Love one another deeply with a pure heart -
“If a friend wakes you up at 3am and asks you to come over, it is not easy, but it shows real love. Love comes from the heart. It cannot be forced. God does that in our lives.
1 John 3:16 - because He first loved us we must give our lives for our friends. John the Baptist said he must become small and Jesus must become great. John gave us the example to follow.
“A pastor can become overloaded with the work. He needs others to support and aid him in the work. The Lord has put us where we are so we can bring toe gospel to those around us - one on one. It is hard work. You will be mocked. You build confidence in others that you can be trusted and then they will come to you and you can talk to them of God. Your church will see that your church is a good place to be.
“For a married person your best friend should be your spouse. For a single it should be your parents. In your church you need to have a communion with your friends there. Someone you can go to in time of trouble Prov 17:17
“We have to show ourselves as friends. a friend extends the hand to others. There are people who need us. That is why Jesus taught of love. He was our example. The bible talks of many friends, Mark and Barnabus, David and Jonathan, Jesus and His disciples.
“If you have a difference with someone in the church, don’t leave the church. Fix the problem. Many have left by the back door, no one knows what happened.
“We have to use our circumstances to reach out to others. We must make a difference. Our face says a lot about us. When Jesus is inside us our face becomes beautiful. Have you looked in a mirror? You are beautiful because the Lord is in you. It sends a message.
“In your house there should be a difference and your friends will see it. Many are looking for a word from us - I Love You. We forget about gifts given to us but we remember when someone is there for me.
“We want a healthy church to help others. It must come from inside us so through the Holy Spirit we can help others. We are all commissioned to do this job - to make a difference - to be a church full of love.
Well folks that was the message. After the message there was a call for those who needed prayer. Many people went forward and the speaker,a long with the pastor prayed over those in need.
It was a service embedded in my heart forever.
