Unexpected surprises in our lives

Jealousy and envy - PH - 16 Feb 2014

God Made You to Make a Difference

God calls you to a service far beyond anything you could ever imagine. You were put on earth to make a contribution.

You weren't created just to consume resources - to eat, breath, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life.

The Bible says, "God . . . has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10 TEV) These "good deeds" are your service to the world. Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God.

When most people think of this "special work," they think of pastors, priests, and professional clergy, but God says every member of his family is to minister. In the Bible, the words servant and minister are synonyms, as are service and ministry. If you are a Christian, you are a minister, and when you're serving, you're ministering.

Have you ever wondered why God doesn't just immediately take us to heaven the moment we accept his grace? Once you are saved, God intends to use you to fulfill his purposes. God has a ministry for you in his church and a mission for you in the world.

Is there anything holding you back from accepting God's call to serve him?

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Motivation is a key to achievement and success

   Motivation is a key to performance. Youth must be motivated and inspired to seek excellence. Motivation is a big word that means "why you do the things you do." If an attitude of excellence exists among youth, then these youth develop a sense of pride that pushes them to do their best in every endeavor. They are not satisfied with lackluster performances in school, home or church. They want to give their best.

   Good teachers are those who are able to motivate. Just about anyone who has graduated from a college can stand in a class and recite information and grade a report. However, it takes a unique person to motivate students. Good teachers are those who constantly seek ways to motivate students and not just make it through the day. These are the ones that turn on the light for millions of children everyday, encouraging them to reach higher and achieve more.

   What is the value of a coach? Mostly, the value of a coach is in his ability to motivate players to give their best. There are millions of coaches that can design plays and demonstrate executions. The best of them are the ones who can motivate players to "want to be the best."

   While coaches motivate players to be the best, the church should work to motivate youth to do their best; there is a difference.

   God doesn't expect us to win, he expects us to do our best!    God doesn't expect us to be the champion, he expects us to give our own championship performance, which is the best we can do!    God doesn't expect us to be first, he expects us to give everything we have in the pursuit of being first and when we have done our best, he is pleased.

   This is a crucial difference between what the church teaches and what the world recognizes. The world recognizes the victor, the winner and the champion. God recognizes the competitor who gives his best in the process.

   The world gives trophies, praise and sometimes dollars.    God gives everlasting life in the kingdom of God.       That's why Jesus encouraged believers to seek first the kingdom of God. Getting the praise of God is important to a believer, winning is secondary. We are praised by God if we play by the rules and give our best, even if we lose the contest.

    The motivation of every youth should be to hear God say, "Well done my good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things now I will make you master over many."

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Come through the cross - Pastor Julian Rosales - 9 Feb 2014

Your presence is heaven to me (Darlene Z)

Who is like You Lord in all the earth

Matchless love and beauty, 

endless worth

Nothing in this world will satisfy

Jesus You're the cup that 

won't run dry

Your presence is Heaven to me

Your presence is Heaven to me

Treasure of my heart and of my soul

In my weakness You are merciful

Redeemer of my past 

and present wrongs

Holder of my future days to come

Your presence is Heaven to me

Your presence is Heaven to me

Your presence is Heaven to me

Your presence is Heaven to me

Oh Jesus, oh Jesus

Your presence is Heaven to me

Oh Jesus, oh Jesus

Your presence is Heaven to me

All my days on earth I will await

The moment that I see You face to face

Nothing in this world will satisfy

'Cause Jesus You're the cup 

that won't run dry

Nothing in this world can satisfy

Jesus You're the cup 

that won't run dry

Jesus You're the cup 

that won't run dry

Your presence is Heaven to me

Your presence is Heaven to me

Your presence is Heaven to me

Your presence is Heaven to me

Oh Jesus, oh Jesus

Your presence is Heaven to me

Oh Jesus, oh Jesus

Your presence is Heaven to me

Holy Spirit (Kim Walker)

There's nothing worth more 

that will ever come close

No thing can compare, 

You're our living hope

Your Presence Lord

I've tasted and seen, 

of the sweetest of Loves

Where my heart becomes free, 

and my shame is undone

Your Presence Lord

Chorus

Holy Spirit You are welcome here

Come flood this place 

and fill the atmosphere

Your Glory God is what 

our hearts long for

To be overcome by 

Your Presence Lord

Let us become more aware 

of Your Presence

Let us experience the Glory 

of Your Goodness