One day, the IT Director called me about a particular set of numbers. My monitor is 15", and I couldn't see it. I finally went to his office, and there it was on his 25" screen.
I started thinking about this incident and realized we often have a limited view of situations, while God sees the big picture. He knows the beginning and the end.
Have you gone to Him for the big picture?
Brandon
Sunday Morning, 3/25/12
Worship Team Practice is scheduled for Thursday, 3/29/12, at 7:00 P.M., in the sanctuary.
The Ladies' Brunch will be held in the Children's Church Auditorium on Saturday, March 31st, at 10:00 A.M. Please bring a breakfast item and your Bible.
Our Palm Sunday & Visitor Sunday service will take place on 4/1/12, at 10:00 A.M. Come out and invite a friend.
Jesus and the disciples are in the boat, and a storm suddenly hits them. While He's asleep, they're doing what anyone would do in that situation - they're bailing water out of the boat.
Finally, when all their efforts met with failure, they woke Him up. He rebukes them, and asks why they feared. Why didn't they have faith? Is Jesus frustrated here or angry?
He's angry. We think God should look at our efforts and make up the difference. See how hard we're working? Instead of congratulating them, He's asking why they have no faith.
When does frustration arise?
1) When we do all we know to do
2) With all diligence
3) And fail to get the results we need.
Frustration is defined as: a feeling of dissatisfaction, often accompanied by anxiety or depression, resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems.
What makes God angry?
1) Laziness - not doing what we know to do.
2) Neglect - We get distracted, and don't do what God considers a priority.
3) Disobedience - Outright refusal to obey God.
Frustration is reached by:
1) Using the wrong tools for the task at hand.
2) Using the right tool in the wrong way.
3) Using no tool.
4) Taking on what we are not graced or gifted to do.
Application:
Anger is directed at us for the purpose of change or correction.
Frustration builds in us for the purpose of dismay, discouragement, and/or dysfunction. When we're moved by urgency, we're more apt to make a mistake. We become less effective.
To get the full message, please go to the Sermon Player. You'll be able to listen on your computer, download it to your MP3 player, or Podcast for FREE.
If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 A.M. Please note our Easter Sunday Service will begin at 9:30 A.M. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, PA. The church phone number is (215) 343-7686. We'd love to meet you!
We should be done by 2:30 P.M.
Church Website: http://www.zoe-ministries.org
Blog: http://zoeministriesblog.blogspot.com
Sermon Player: http://zcf.sermon.net
On Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at 7:30 P.M., Pastor Steve will teach on Joshua 23-24.
On Thursday, March 22, 2012, the Worship Team will meet for their practice at 7:00 P.M.
On Saturday, March 24, 2012, at 8:00 A.M., the Men's Breakfast will be held in the Children's Church Auditorium. Please bring a breakfast item and your Bible!
Moses was aware of God's calling on his life, but he didn't know when or how it would be fulfilled. Like so many of us today, he started exploring ways to come into that calling.
His efforts got him into major trouble with Pharoah, who sought to kill him for slaying the Egyptian. Moses learned the hard way that what begins divinely cannot be fulfilled humanly. Works of the flesh do not stay buried for long, and works of the Spirit cannot be hidden.
Frustration comes from 3 sources:
1) Ourselves - We get frustrated when we cannot do something.
2) Others - When they ask or demand things of us we don't want to do, we get frustrated.
3) God - When He's expecting something we don't feel we can do.
Gideon was frustrated with his own lack of ability and God's overwhelming call. Moses chafed at the people's lack of acceptance and God's insistence.
Moses goes off to Midian, and things work out well. He delivers the 7 daughters of Reuel from harassment by shepherds and marries one of them. So, he becomes their protector, has a family, and everything is going fine except...God's call still weighs on him. Just because life good doesn't mean we're in God's will. We try to become content in something else.
There are 4 responses to God's call:
1) No, I can't do that. (Lack of ability)
2) No, I don't want to do that. (A lack of willingness to obey)
3) Yes, I'll get to that soon. (I should do what God is asking, but not now.)
4) Yes, I'll do that now. (I not only recognize I should do this, but also obey.)
To hear the entire message, please visit the Sermon Player. You can listen on your computer or download it to your MP3 player or podcast for FREE.
If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 A.M. The church is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, PA. Our phone number is (215) 343-7686.
The leak in the Ladies' Room is mostly fixed now, but there is still some work needed in the sink area.
Fluorescent bulbs - DONE!
The Men's Breakfast will be delayed one week to March 24th because Keith will be out of town.
Do you often feel frustrated? In Judges, we see the frustration of Israel over the Midianites stealing their harvests and animals and leaving them impoverished.
What is frustration, and where does it come from?
1) Frustration comes from a dissatisfaction with the where, the what, and the how. For Israel, it is the latter two.
2) We can be frustrated with where we are in life, what's going on in our lives, and who we are with.
3) Frustration is us undergoing pressure without standing firm.
Special Note: The Hebrew mindset was if God did not stop a situation, He caused it. This is refuted in other areas of scripture. We also plainly see how the actions of people brought about unwanted consequences.
The angel of the Lord comes to Gideon while he is threshing grain inside a winepress and addresses him as, "mighty man of valor." This task was normally done outdoors where the wind could separate the wheat from the chaff. Gideon is indoors, afraid the Midianites will seize the grain if they see him. The "mighty man of valor" is hiding.
God often sees qualities in us that we don't know are there. Gideon did not display this characteristic. This causes frustration to rise up in Gideon. He changes what the Lord said to him just slightly, using the words, "us," in his response.
When frustration sets in, we feel:
1) Powerless
2) Confused
3) Unjustly treated
To hear the entire message, go to our website, and click on the Sermon Player. You can also download it to your MP3 player or podcast FREE.
If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 A.M. We're located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, PA. The church phone number is (215) 343-7686. We'd love to meet you!
1) Many of the fluorescent bulbs in both buildings need changing.
2) The leak in the ladies' room is mostly fixed now, but there is still some work the sink area needs.
3) The sanctuary needs to be connected to the WiFi network.
Let Pastor Steve know if you can help.
Am I Doing my own thing, Discovering what God wants me to do, or Serving in the role He has given me?
Note: When looking at Matthew 24 and 25, not everything in these chapters is for us. Some of it applies to those in the Tribulation period.
Preparation
1) The Ten Virgins
A) All believed in the Bridegroom's return.
B) All were waiting for it.
C) Only some were ready.
2) What made them ready? Notice this was a short timeframe.
Faithfulness
1) The Man who called his servants.
A) He gave each of his servants a certain amount of money. Those who saw an increase were praised for their faithfulness and given more.
B) The unfaithful servant was judged on what he knew, right or wrong, and what he did with what he had.
It is imperative we have a right understand of God. Having a wrong understanding will impact what we do.
Recognition - Matt. 25:31-46
1) The Son of man returns
A) What they did with the good they had
B) What they did with what time they had
C) What they did with what opportunities they had
This passage talks about the Tribulation. People cannot buy and sell without the mark of the beast. So, giving away clothing or other necessities presents a hardship. Visiting people in jail (Christians) requires faith because they could be arrested without the mark.
What God Expects of Me
1) Prepare for what is coming.
2) Be Faithful with what has been entrusted to you.
3) Recognize the opportunities around you.
To hear the entire message, go to our website, and click on the Sermon Player. The website link for the blog is still missing, but you can access it here. You can also download the message to your MP3 player or podcast Free.
If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 A.M. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, PA 18976. The church phone number is (215) 343-7686. We'd love to meet you!
1) Nursery
2) Building Maintenance Team
3) Outreach Team
If you can help, please contact Pastor Steve or Connie. Thank you!
