Friday, March 6, 2015

"What a Day!"



What an incredible blessing it was to worship the Lord on our first day of worship as the family of HBC in our new worship center. We had upwards of 700 people including many guests, some former members and long-time friends and many new friends as well. “Surely the Lord has done great things” (Joel 2:21).

It seemed surreal standing on the platform this past Sunday. It wasn’t that long ago that we stood on a grass field marked out with chalk showing us where the building would be located. And it wasn’t that long ago when we witnessed the pouring of the cement in the very spot where I stood to preach. Below the pulpit area there is a Gideons Bible encased in about 4 feet of cement. You could say that I’m literally standing on the promises of God!

I mentioned Sunday that in light of our incredible blessings and God’s great faithfulness, what should be our appropriate response to God? The only appropriate response is that of worship! With grateful hearts filled with praise, . . .
            1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our maker; 7 For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.  
Psalm 95

I want to thank all of our folks who made it possible for us to be in our new facility. We couldn’t do it without you! Our building is still a work in progress and there will be a few things needed here and there, so please be prayerful and patient. I also want to thank the many people who served in one of the “First Impressions” teams. I think you will agree, we have an incredible need in these areas. As a church we need to seize the opportunity that we have right now, to walk through this “open door” that God has provided, and to “make the most of every opportunity” that is presented to us (Eph. 5:16). As a church fellowship we will “seize the day” when each of us understands “what the Lord’s will is” (5:17) and when we fully yield to God’s control over our lives (5:18). Church, let’s ask “What does Christ our Lord want? What is His will?” And then, let’s listen and obey. If you would like to serve in in one our “First Impressions” teams, please call Rhonda Alain or drop by the Welcome Center this Sunday.

Don’t forget that our Dedication Sunday will be on Sunday, March 22nd. We will have many special guests with us on this day and it will be a wonderful celebration of God’s goodness and faithfulness. The service will be followed by a dinner and time of fellowship. You will not want to miss it. Speaking of guests, why not invite someone to worship this Sunday. “Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). God’s Word has the power to change our lives and the lives of our family and friends. However, we have to expose people to God’s life-changing Word before the Word can do its work. So let’s fill God’s house for His glory because He’s worthy of worship, and so that people can hear the life-giving Word of God!

Looking forward to what God is going to do through His Church, the body of Christ.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3


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