Category: Church

Categories
Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday December 19TH 2021, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

Last Sunday I preached a full sermon to my church family. I preached on being “Holy & Redeemed”. It’s based on 1 Peter 1:13-23. Here’s an excerpt of that sermon:

Today I want to talk to you about being “Holy & Redeemed”. Let me start by asking you a couple of questions. Let me ask you this:  Who’s holy in here ?  Who’s holy in here ?  I’m holy. I’m holy because He is holy. That’s all. That’s the only reason I’m holy, No other reason. Because He is holy. Who’s redeemed in here ?  Same here. I’m redeemed. I’m redeemed because He redeemed me. Christ. Bought with a price. Set free by His blood. “Holy & Redeemed”. That’s me. That’s you.

Let’s jump-in to Scripture – starting with the Apostle Peter’s first letter – the first chapter – and verse 13:

So think clearly, and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

When I last spoke from Peter’s first letter – it was about “Salvation & Hope”. Without God’s salvation – there is no hope, for hope comes from God – and only God. God created hope. God provides hope. God is hope. You can’t get everlasting hope from anyone other than our God !  You can get temporary hope from the world, but it only lasts for a season. It’s false hope. It picks you up, and then it’s gone with the wind.

You know once God rescues and saves us from the darkness that we came from – you know that darkness. That time of no hope. That time of no future. That time of no Savior. Who wants to go back to that time ?  Who wants to go back to that darkness ? Anyone ?  I didn’t think so. God rescued and saved us from all of that.

And since He did that we can’t think like we used to think – back before we had “Salvation & Hope” – back before we were “Holy & Redeemed”. We used to think and act differently when the world owned and operated us – back before we knew God. But now our God is in control. We believe Him. We follow Him. We trust Him. He’s within us. And so the Bible says “think clearly” – “prepare your minds for action”. The King James Version puts it this way – “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind”.

“Gird up” – that means to bind about – to fix – to secure – like with a belt. Back in the Apostle Peter’s day – the First Century – a man had to tuck the hem of his long robe into his belt before he could work. Now – “gird up the loins of your mind” – that means to secure your mind with its full power. You know God created us with powerful minds. And we only use a small portion of them. Or do we ?

You know most people think that we actually use only about 10% of our brains. You’ve probably heard that before. Well – I am here to tell you – that is fake news. Science tells us – and I believe in science – I hope that you do too. Science tells us that we use all 100% of our brains – definitely not all at the same time. We can’t handle the enormous brain power that we have available to us – all at the same time. We use most of our brain power at any given time – while we’re awake – and even while we’re asleep. We use different parts of our brain while we’re asleep, and that’s why we dream, and that’s why oftentimes we don’t remember our dreams. Sometimes we do. We tend to remember the really weird dreams.

But here’s what I’m getting at. Back when the world told us what to say and do, and we said it, and we did it – we didn’t have to think too hard about it. It just came natural to us. Our brain power didn’t need to rev-up. It didn’t need to accelerate. It was in “cruise control” – if you will.

Our God wants us to use more of our minds than we used to when the world told us what to say and do – back during those lazy days. You remember those days – don’t you ?  Anyone still wanna go back to those days ?  No ?  I didn’t think so.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. Tomorrow it’s #Top10Monday, as I present my personal Top 10 hits this week that honor our God Almighty on the radio.

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Categories
Blogging Church Driving Food Military Nature Photography Politics Travel Weather

My November Vacation 2021 Road-Trip

#TravelThursday continues now with Part 3 of my 7-part blog series on my recent 18-day road-trip between South Florida and North Texas.

At the crack of dawn of Day 3 of my road-trip I was back on the road again – across the 4,205-foot-long Natchez-Vidalia Bridge high atop (125 feet above) the mighty Mississippi River below. When I crossed the bridge I was the only one, so there was not the usual stress involved in doing so like at the various other river crossings. (I’m scared of heights, so I get nervous driving on tall bridges. It’s exasperated by tailgaters.)

It was a clear, crisp, and cold Saturday morning in the upper-30s and lower-40s in the Louisiana “low country” near the river. It was my coldest morning in a long time. Luckily it was in the mid-to-upper-60s in my car with the heater on low.

I continued west-southwestward to Alexandria Louisiana where I left behind the old U.S. highway system and network of back roads, and I rejoined America’s Interstate highways via I-49. I took that northwestward up to Shreveport – Louisiana’s 3RD-largest city. About 400,000 residents live in its metro area. Louisiana State University (#LSU) has a large campus in Shreveport, and it’s also the home of the 22,000+ acre Barksdale Air Force Base.

I picked-up I-20 westward out of Shreveport, and I took that to Longview Texas – where I stopped for a Texas BBQ Lunch (which was not very good at all – think “gas station food”). I also left behind the Interstates, opting instead for U.S. 80, U.S. 69, and a series of state and local roads en route to my family’s house in the northeastern suburbs of Dallas.

I arrived at my brother’s and sister-in-law’s house right at 2 PM on Saturday November 13TH 2021. I drove 376 miles on this final leg, so that’s 1,357 miles in 3 days of driving to North Texas.

I had planned to visit a small church on the outskirts of my family’s neighborhood (less than a mile away from their house). I had previously (in the weeks prior) done a lot of research on churches (of all sizes) within the local area. I looked at about a dozen churches online. I eventually had it narrowed down to 3 churches, and then 2 churches, and then a single church. The church I finally selected (over the other 2) started its service at 10:45 AM on Sunday.

I ended-up not attending a church service. Family comes first, and immediate family comes before church family. My brother planned a family Lunch together to celebrate our Mom’s birthday, so we did that on my first Sunday there. We enjoyed a fun Lunch at a Japanese restaurant where you order off the menu, and then the cook arrives a few minutes later, gathers-up all of the ingredients, and then cooks your meal on the large hibachi grill right in front of you while putting on a show. It was a lot of fun, and the food was pretty good too.

2 days later (on Tuesday November 16TH 2021) on an unusually warm day in the 70s (approaching 80°F) I went on a short road-trip (within the road-trip) on my own. It was also planned well in advance. After a hot and delicious Breakfast at a historic downtown district diner I ventured about 20 miles southwestward into the city limits of Dallas.

I visited the 66-acre Dallas Arboretum And Botanical Garden. I’ve wanted to visit this place for a few years now, and now I’ve done so. I didn’t get to see all 66 acres of it, but I got to see a vast majority of it during my 3-hour visit. I know I say this often: I could’ve spent all day there. I actually bought my timed-admission and parking fee online the day before. (I think you have to do it that way. I’m not sure that you can just show-up whenever you feel like it and pay to get in during this post-COVID environment.) I took 40 photos of my trek through the arboretum. Most of them will make it onto my Flickr site, but here’s 4 of the best right here:

About 6 miles away was the George W. Bush Presidential Library And Museum at Southern Methodist University (#SMU), and that’s where I spent a couple of hours that afternoon. I had never been to a Presidential Library before. It was very educational, informative, and interesting. I’d like to visit other Presidential libraries around the country.

I drove an additional 47 miles on that Tuesday, so that’s 1,404 miles in 6 days of driving to North Texas and while there.

And that’s where I’ll end Part 3 of this 7-part blog series. I’ll continue with my road-trip adventures and experiences next #TravelThursday. I’ll tell you about a few places that I did not visit on that first Thursday in North Texas. (Again – family comes first.) And then I’ll tell you all about two places that I did visit the next day on that first Friday.

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Categories
Bible Blogging Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday December 12TH 2021, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

I’m preaching a full sermon this morning to my church family. I’ll be preaching on being “Holy & Redeemed” from Peter’s first letter. I’m looking forward to sharing with my brothers and sisters what God has placed on my heart today.

Today is the 3RD Sunday of Advent – also known as “Gaudete Sunday”. (“Gaudete” is pronounced “GOW-day-tay”.) Gaudete means “rejoice”. This day reminds us of the joy that is to come. We remember the hope we have because of the coming of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ – our King of Kings.

As the Bible says in Paul’s Letter to the Philippian church:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice !  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember – the Lord is coming soon. (4:4-5)

(And those 2 verses come right before these 2 memory verses.)

Don’t worry about anything. Instead – pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace – which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (4:6-7)

So Happy Gaudete Sunday. It’s Rejoice Sunday !  Rejoice today !  Rejoice every day !  You are not guaranteed the next day, so if you wake up tomorrow – REJOICE !

This is the day that our LORD has made. Let us – do what ? – rejoice. Let us be glad in it.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. Tomorrow it’s #Top10Monday, as I present my personal Top 10 hits this week that honor our God Almighty on the radio.

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Categories
Bible Blogging Christian Church Driving God Ministry Scripture Travel

Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday December 05TH 2021, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

I’ve returned home from yet another road-trip vacation, and this was a long one – one of the longest of my life. It started on Thursday November 11TH, and it ended on Sunday November 28TH – a total of 18 days. I’m blogging my road-trip adventures and experiences over the course of 7 Thursdays through December and into January. Part 1 of my 7-part series was posted this past #TravelThursday.

I missed 3 Sundays in a row with my church family here at home. I did not attend a church service during my road-trip even though it was in my plans to do so. I missed the pre-service fellowship. I missed singing about our God up on stage. I missed learning more about our God from our Pastor. I missed the post-service fellowship Lunch at a local restaurant. I missed it all – 3 times over. I’m excited about returning later this morning !

This past Wednesday December 01ST in the afternoon a bunch of us gathered at our church building to put up all of our Christmas decorations within our sanctuary. It all looks very festive now. We did a great job, but the important part of it all was the fellowship that got it done. God’s fellowship. God’s love among His children.

It’s the first Sunday of a brand new month, so we’ll observe and celebrate Communion this morning.

I may incorporate this Scripture into my Communion this morning:

Then Jesus said – “Come to Me – all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you – because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT)

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. Tomorrow it’s #Top10Monday, as I present my personal Top 10 hits this week that honor our God Almighty on the radio.

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries