Category: Bible

Sebring Strong

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date January 24, 2019

moon over sebring

Yesterday afternoon after I got home from work I sat down at my computer to begin my normal routine. I brought up Twitter to catch-up on the latest tweets, and I glanced over to see what was trending. I saw Sebring over there. For a second I thought it was trending simply because I’ve tweeted a lot recently about Sebring. But then I saw why Sebring was trending. There was a mass shooting at a bank during the busy lunch hour in Sebring where 5 innocent lives were lost. This bank is about a half-mile (within eyesight) from the hotel I stayed at for 3 nights this past Christmas.

I then Googled Sebring Florida to read and see all of the shocking and horrific details of the day. I shed tears, and I lifted-up Sebring Florida in prayer to my Lord & Comforter Jesus Christ.

Sadly the entire nation has now heard of Sebring Florida, and they’ve seen a map of the state to see where it’s located at, as well as photos and videos and live reports of the deadly scene.

I had never heard of Sebring Florida up until just a few years ago. Then I started driving through it over and over again to and from North Florida and beyond. The more I drove through Sebring – the more I admired it from my car. Sebring intrigued me. It piqued my interest. I decided that I needed an extended visit in Sebring to discover and explore the area. That time was this past Christmas. My suspicions were confirmed. I fell in love with the city, its places, and its people. I confirmed that I want to retire there in a few years, and I want to live the rest of my life there. I think I already know where exactly (the specific neighborhood) I wish to live. I also think I know where I wish to work part-time and volunteer (two separate places) – to keep me busy. On my next visit I hope to find a church family there. I can’t wait to get back up there. I’m looking forward to taking-in the sights and sounds of Sebring.

The peaceful and quiet “forgotten” town of Sebring Florida – nowhere near any Interstate highway or expressway – just experienced perhaps its deadliest and most violent day in its 107-year history. I am in deep sorrow alongside my future neighbors – from 180 miles away.

God blesses those who mourn – for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4 NLT)

#SebringStrong #HighlandsStrong

Bible Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date January 20, 2019

Today I celebrate 12 years as part of a church family. It was a full dozen years ago on this Sunday of January of 2007 (the 21ST that year) that I anxiously and nervously walked in to a movie theatre less than 3 miles from home to attend a church service for a church I had been hearing about on the radio and reading about on the World Wide Web (before Myspace, WordPress, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc.).

Life Pointe Church in Homestead Florida was my first church family. I was immediately welcomed with love, hugs, and opened arms on that morning. Within 15 minutes I realized that I had a new home on Sunday mornings.

That was my church family for a little over 8 years from January 2007 to March 2015. I left Life Pointe to join another church family a mile down the road, and to resurrect my fantastic journey which had stalled at that point.

I am now a leader at Living Waters Full Gospel Church, a Reverend, and a Licensed Minister. I am a Pastor-In-Training. I am preparing myself for bigger and better things in my not-too-distant future. God’s plans.

But let’s go back to 2006. My salvation began unexpectedly late that summer during the latter part of August of that year. I wasn’t planning it. It just happened. That’s how God works. He had a plan for me, and it was executed magnificently. I was saved for about a month or two before I realized it. I didn’t even know what salvation was all about until He led me to His Word via His music and Scripture on a local Christian radio station.

I’m a firm believer that you can’t fully and effectively believe and follow God unless you are an integral part of a church family. I figured that out during my first 3 months on this fantastic journey. I used the next 2 months after that to find a church family online.

Just as our bodies have many parts, and each part has a special function – so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In His grace – God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy – speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others – serve them well. If you are a teacher – teach well. If your gift is to encourage others – be encouraging. If it is giving – give generously. If God has given you leadership ability – take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others – do it gladly. (Romans 12:4-8 NLT)

Don’t be an orphan on your fantastic journey. Find a church family that will help you grow in Christ. Find a church family that you can walk with, as you move forward at a steady pace towards eternity with God in Heaven.

Bible Christian Church God Ministry Music Radio Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date January 13, 2019

What an amazing concert experience at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Florida ! Almost 20,000 brothers and sisters in Christ made this the largest church family for a night that I’ve ever been a part of. This was Winter Jam 2019 !

As I walked in to the arena Dan Bremnes was already performing (as part of the preshow). Hollyn officially kicked-off the show at 6 PM, and then after her set was NewSong. They actually created Winter Jam back in the 1990s, and they themselves have been performing together for almost 40 years. They kicked-off their set with “I Am A Christian (And My Name Is Pilgrim)”. I loved this song immediately, and I loved their entire set. They are my kind of band (and older than me too). I’m a new fan of NewSong.

Jen Ledger was up next. She rocked the house with her new spinoff band. She’s been the drummer for Skillet for the past 11 years – since she was 18. Skillet headlined Winter Jam 2018 one year ago this weekend. I was there.

Mandisa was awesome as always. I’ve seen her twice before, and I’m a fan. I sang along to all of her hits. Danny Gokey joined her for “Bleed The Same”, and he was the next artist up. I didn’t realize how many hits he’s had over the past 5 years. He and Mandisa are two of the more successful artists to come out of the “American Idol” franchise; although, mainstream Top 40 radio have largely ignored them. When you sing about our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ your fate is sealed. You won’t get played on mainstream radio. Mainstream television will ignore you too.

After a brief intermission Rend Collective put on a lively Irish set, and everyone was up and dancing. Everyone in the arena turned Irish. (I’m already part Irish.)

Newsboys were the final act of the night, and this was my 3RD Newsboys show in the past 14½ months. I feel like a groupie now. What can I say about Newsboys ? They rocked the house. Nobody was sitting down. Everybody was singing and dancing in the aisles. My Fitbit went crazy during their set. We did church together on this night.

For the 3RD time I saw the original Newsboys perform a crazy psychedelic version of their Christian radio # 1 smash from 25 years ago “Shine”. I had never heard this song until 14½ months ago. I love it.

Shine.
Make ’em wonder whatcha got.
Make ’em wish that they were not.
On the outside looking bored.

Shine.
Let it shine before all men.
Let ’em see good works and then.
Let ’em glorify the Lord.

Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:16 NLT)

Bible Christian Church God Music Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date January 6, 2019

Today at Living Waters Full Gospel Church we celebrated God’s Glory in 2019 with Praise, Worship, & Celebration, and another powerful sermon from our Lead Pastor Bob who continued his “Journey To The Cross” series.

We also observed and celebrated Communion for the first time in 2019. (We do so on the first Sunday of every month.) Here’s a portion of how I led that:

Let me share God’s Word with you – about living water – from John Chapter 7 – and as the Bible says:

On the last day – the climax of the festival – Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to Me ! Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink ! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from His heart.’”

That’s Verses 37 and 38, and the next Verse 39 does something very unique. It actually explains the previous two verses. Verse 39 reads:

(When He said “living water” He was speaking of the Spirit – who would be given to everyone believing in Him. But the Spirit had not yet been given – because Jesus had not yet entered into His glory.)

Jesus was preaching in Jerusalem at the Festival Of Shelters – the 7-day Fall harvest festival – also known as the Feast Of Tabernacles – or Sukkot. We learned more about this festival about 3 months ago when Pastor Bob preached about it.

See the Fall festival occurs right at the end of the 6-month dry season for the region. Water is precious at that time of the year. Jesus stepped forth and proclaimed that anyone looking for fresh moving water – living water – should come to Him and drink. He is the source of living water. Water that renews.

On each day of the festival the believers prayed for rain – living water. On the last day of the festival – “The Great Day” – they prayed for rain – 7 times.

Let’s be renewed on this great day. Let’s be renewed in 2019 …

Communion

Next Saturday night I’ll be at “Winter Jam 2019” in Tampa Florida with thousands of my brothers and sisters in Christ praising and worshipping our Lord, and singing and dancing with such artists as Hollyn, Newsong, Ledger, Rend Collective, Mandisa, Danny Gokey, and Newsboys United. On my next Sunday Scripture I’ll review the big show !

Until then may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.