“Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you”–Psalm 71:6 (ESV).
My Beloved Ones in Christ Jesus our Lord,
According to current estimates, the average global lifespan for a human being is about 73 years. The highest average, 85 years, is enjoyed among those living in Hong Kong. The lowest, 54 years, is experienced in the Central African Republic. Here in the USA, our average is about 79 years.
If you should make to 79 years, you will have lived for 28,835 days and 692,040 hours in all!
Psalm 71 is identified in the New American Standard Bible as the “Prayer of an Old Man for Deliverance.” In verse 9, for example, we see this very theme most clearly set forth. But what is remarkable about this ancient, inspired song is what is stated by the author in verse 6. In the Jewish Publication Society version of the Old Testament, the verse reads this way:
“While yet unborn, I depended upon You; in the womb of my mother, You were my support.”
The NASB renders it this way:
“By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother’s womb.”
What is claimed here is pretty remarkable, and powerfully encouraging!
If we follow the thought expressed in the NASB, we have before us a truth that every child of God may, and must, claim. From the very instant of your conception, your Father has “sustained” your life! Every second, every hour, every day, and every year, He has faithfully upheld you, cared for you, watched over you, and met all of your needs “according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Every breath you have taken, every heartbeat that has sent blood flowing throughout your body, and the firing of every neuron in your brain has been empowered by the One who personally formed you in the womb of your mother! At this very instant, every last one of the 37 trillion cells in your body is being sustained by your Creator! How incredible is that!
Never has there been even a nanosecond when you have not been lovingly and meticulously upheld by His omnipotent hand! This is exactly what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he explained to the philosophers of Athens that, “in Him we live and move and exist” (Acts 17:28).
Now, far from being just a fascinating slice of information, this truth is profoundly liberating for all who believe it. Embedded in Psalm 71 are some of the rich benefits of embracing and resting in this magnificent truth. Here’s what I mean:
Verse 6–We have all the reason we need to live continually in the spirit of praise.
Verse 14–We have a sure foundation for hope each day.
Verse 18–All of the strength we need for living faithfully is ours.
Verse 20–In each and every moment of distress that we might face, our Lord and Father will deliver us, even from the deepest depths of affliction!
Verse 23–Joy will fill our hearts and spill out of our mouths all day long!
So, today, like every day before, you are drawing your life in all of its infinite detail from your Heavenly Father! Nothing has been left to chance! He is at work in you, even down to the molecular level! His power, love, sovereignty, strength, and purpose extends even to your DNA! As He has from your conception (and even before in eternity past!), He loves you with an infinite love, every cell included! He is holding you up always and forever!
So rest assured that whatever number of days and years He has ordained for you will be days and hours experiencing His comprehensive care and gracious provision. He is, in fact, your very life from beginning throughout all eternity! And when you really believe this, you will live with a freedom and a confidence that only His redeemed children can know!
I love you with all my heart. And I pray for each of you without ceasing!
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro more than 1,100 of the 11, 238 athletes suffered injuries during the Games, with twenty percent of the injuries classified as ‘severe.’ The most dangerous sports that year proved to be BMX, boxing, mountain biking, taekwondo, water polo, and rugby. Obviously, competition at the Olympic level does involve a high degree of danger for the athletes. It’s just the inherent nature of virtually all competitive sports.
As you know, the world of the first-century Church was in many ways like ours, sports-obsessed. That’s why we find references to the Olympic Games in the Epistle to the Hebrews. As we have seen recently in our messages on Hebrews 12, the author likens the Christian life to a road race (12:1), and to a boxing match (12:11).
In 12:12-13 the athletic imagery is still in view. But this time we learn something of the inherent dangers there are for the Christian ‘athlete.’ In verse 12 we see the threat of exhaustion and weakness. In verse 13 we discover the peril of a joint becoming dislocated during an event. Of course, to experience such dangers and pains breeds despair and a whole host of other unpleasant reactions.
And this was precisely the case for the original readers of the Epistle. They were spiritually exhausted, and some were in need of healing (for their souls and bodies).
So, what do Christian ‘athletes’ need to do when in the throes of danger, despair, and injury?
The answer is discovered in verses 14-17. There we encounter a series of five exhortations for tired, afflicted, hurting Christian disciples.
Our look at these exhortations will get underway this Lord’s Day as we consider verses 12-14.
I can’t wait to be with you all in the presence of our Great King!
Love,
Mike
Announcements:
RUF Snacks:
It’s time to sign up for the March UAH RUF large group meeting snacks. Home-baked cookies would be a blessing for these young people. Other suggested items will be on the sign up sheet. The next RUF large group is Monday March 7. CPC sign is NEXT SUNDAY in the narthex. Judi Fikes will be there to answer any questions. We collect snacks on Sunday March 6 and deliver to campus for the Monday meeting.
Please let me know if you might be interested in bringing snacks to campus on Monday evening at 7 PM. The students appreciate it so much!
Please pray for the young men and women who attend the RUF large group meeting. Many hearts are turned to the Lord during these sessions.
Thank you for your help!
New Members Class:
Hello Church Family! It has been a very long time since we have been able to host a meal at the end of a new members’ class, but March 13th all that changes! We are so excited to show love and hospitality to our visitors and new members! In the past we have put together a taco salad bar and it worked so well we are planning the same for the 13th. Is this something that you would be interested in helping put together? The class runs from 2pm-6pm Sunday, March 13th. There are a few ways to help… Sign up to provide food (there will be a sign up sent out church wide by email); Help set up the day of the meal, this includes setting up coffee and water for breaks during the class (2pm-6pm); Help serve during the meal (6pm-7pm); Help clean up after the meal (7pm-8pm). If you would like to be part of any part of this event get in touch with S’ine Trent or Erica McNeese.
Below you will find the Winter/Spring dates for youth group, which meets at 4:30 PM at the church house.
March 6th
March 27th
April 3rd
April 24th
May 1st
May 22nd
Senior Fellows:
On March 1 at 9 AM the Senior Fellows will have breakfast and fellowship in the fellowship hall. Please email us at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org if you plan to join us.
Senior Sisters:
The Senior Sisters is a group of 50s and up women similar to the Senior Fellows who will meet for food, fellowship, and ministry. The next meeting will be at 10:30 AM on March 17. Please contact Kathy Hightower, Kathy Cooper, or Suellen Dempsey for more information regarding their next meeting and how you can help.
Women’s Ministry:
Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on March 3 beginning at 11 AM at the Timbers Edge Clubhouse located at 1 Timbers Main, Brownsboro. It’s potluck – feel free to bring a dish or just yourself. If you have questions or transportation needs please contact Pat Galecki at 256-244-0612
Winter Bible Studies: Winter bible studies have resumed! The Tuesday study for mothers meets at 9:30 AM at the church. Contact Amy Schnorrenberg for more info. The Wednesday women’s studies meet at 10 AM and 6 PM at the church. Contact Denise Scrip for more info.
Baby Shower: There will be a baby shower for Katie Jackson from 3-5 on May 1. Location TBD.
Men’s Ministry:
Please join our Friday Men’s Lunchtime Bible Study on Fridays at 11:30 AM.
For ten weeks, we will be studying the life of our Lord as guided by pastor and theologian Dr. Mark Jones in his book Knowing Christ. Dr. Jones takes the readers on a survey of the many aspects of our Lord’s life as revealed to us in the New Testament. We will cover subjects such as Christ’s incarnation, divinity, humanity, compassion, emotions, sinlessness, miracles, temptations, resurrection, exaltation, and many others.
All the men of CPC and guests are invited to join us as we get to know our Savior better!
Fellowship event: Please save the date for a fellowship event on Thursday, April 7th. We will enjoy a fun culinary evening facilitated by Joey McCool. Joey is a member of our church, experienced chef, and operator of a personal catering business. The event will be hosted by the Burgesses at their home in the Hampton Cove area. Further information and sign-up will be forthcoming as we get closer to the date.
Career/Singles:
Career/Singles meet on Sundays at the Daughtry home at 5:30 PM.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Janie Green, Bob Crossley (Pat Galecki’s Dad), Glen Mettler, Jean Terry, Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, and Elizabeth Holton. For additional details about these prayer needs, please check Healing Prayer Requests Expecting:Please pray for the Elliotts, expecting in March; the Jacksons, expecting in June; the Thornhills, expecting in August; the Thompsons, expecting in September. Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.
Online Donations:
If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:
“I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, the drunkards make songs about me”–Psalm 69:12
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ our Lord,
No one enjoys being on the receiving end of jokes, taunts, or slanderous verbal darts that pierce our hearts and bring a measure of shame to us. We’ve all been there. It may have been experienced first on the playground at school when some fellow-student ridiculed you for that new haircut, or your shoes or clothing, or even some unalterable physical feature that you are powerless to change.
As I write this, I suddenly recall something that was said about me twenty years ago by one of our pastoral interns at our Church in Florida. One Thursday (my day off back then) I stopped by our Church wearing shorts and a tee shirt. I had to gather some books from my study, and intended just to quickly pop in and pop out unnoticed by the other pastors and assistants. As I walked into the outer office area, to my shock everyone– pastors, interns, secretaries, and even the cleaning staff–was gathered there engaged in a discussion about the day’s news. With a great measure of embarrassment, I continued on to my study, retrieved the books I needed, and walked back through the group. As I headed out the door, one of the interns, scanning my choice of apparel and lack of musculature, said with a loud voice, ‘Hey Mike, in those shorts you look like a skinny-legged chicken riding a horse! Ha! Ha!’ As they say, with interns like that, who needs loud-mouthed drunken enemies!
In a much more serious vein, we’ve all experienced ridicule due to our commitment to our Savior. In Psalm 69 we learn that Israel’s great king David also suffered the taunts and slanderous words of his and his Lord’s adversaries.
At many places in this Psalm we see the devastating effects such verbal assaults had on him. For example, in verses 1-4 he admits to being drowned in the raging, loudly voiced adversity, and reduced to tears by the attacks of innumerable people who hated him with an unholy passion. In verse 20 he admits to a deeply broken heart and the feeling of total abandonment. All of this because at the “city gate” he was the punch-line of the jokes of his opponents who, like a drunken, mindless mob were singing tunes that blasphemed his God and called for the king’s personal destruction.
Not much has changed in the three-thousand years since David penned these inspired words!
Today, the “drunkards” still sit at the “city gate,” incessantly singing away as if no one will hold them accountable for their sins. Those who hate our Savior and His people occupy the citadels of earthly power and influence, our ‘city gates’ if you will. The movers and shakers of our nation and world have turned their intoxicated taunts towards our Lord’s precious Bride. We are the laughing stock of the world, the dregs of society, those on the wrong side of history, the Neanderthals who believe the Bible and speak of original sin, of salvation by a bloody cross, and of a Savior who rose from the dead and is the Lord and King of the universe!
As far as the world goes, the joke is on us. We are skinny-legged chickens who, according to our adversaries, have no standing in the world, no right to speak, and who must keep our religion to ourselves. It has always been this way.
While such a reality is deeply distressing, and even debilitating at times, there is great encouragement in this beloved Psalm for us on this new Monday.
In the very center of the Psalm, verse 19, David affirms a most empowering and liberating truth that we also need to discover and embrace:
“You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you.”
As you read through the entire Psalm, you can’t help but notice that this chapter was especially significant in the life of our Lord Jesus. Verse 9, for example, came into the minds of the Disciples when He cleansed the temple in Jerusalem (John 2:17). And verse 21 takes us to the crucifixion scene where our gracious Redeemer was offered “sour wine” as He hung on the cross (Matthew 27:34, 48). This is what it means when David says that his Lord does, in fact, “know my reproach.” The drunkards also sang their perverted tunes of rejection and ridicule as Jesus ministered to the lost. They mocked and scorned Him as He preached and taught of an eternal Kingdom of Life that may only be accessed through faith in Him.
The spirit of these same drunkards is alive and well today, and we are where the Covenant people have always been, on the wrong end of their jokes. Yet, perhaps ironically, it is a most blessed confirmation that we belong to Him! What the devil and his chorus of spiritually inebriated minions have designed for our embarrassment and eventual destruction, our Sovereign Savior intends for our good! After all, Jesus said,
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12).
When you hear those taunting songs coming from the power centers of our world, from the entertainment and information sectors, from academia, from the rich, the powerful, the famous, from apostate churches and their leaders, and even from your neighbor next door, remember your Savior! Remember His Kingdom! Remember His promise to you! Let them sing away. Soon enough their voices will fall silent, their songs will disappear. Our King will come. And the only voices heard on that Great Day will be those of the redeemed Bride of the Lamb, singing her songs of salvation and triumph!
I love you all with all my heart (chicken legs included!),
You will remember that last Sunday we began our look at Hebrews 12:3-11 and the subject of affliction, and how it is connected so mysteriously, yet beautifully, to our Father’s love for us. We’ve called this connection the ‘Beautiful Paradox of Affliction.’ And we do so because what is set forth in chapter 12 is nothing short of amazing and mysterious!
The author of this inspired letter is making the case that all of our experiences of suffering, affliction, pain of both soul and body, whatever their immediate cause (be it those sufferings that we know because we belong to Jesus, or those due to our sins and transgressions, or the sins of others against us) are tools in the Father’s hands to demonstrate His great love for us!
We also learned that afflictions come to us under the mighty and sovereign hand of our all-wise God, Who through them is actually confirming that we are His sons through faith in Christ Jesus!
All of our troubles, then, are instruments for the loving discipline of our Father!
Our sermon for this Sunday will be taken from verses 7-11, and we will organize our thoughts under three headings:
One: Affliction Is Essential for All Sons (vv. 7-8)
Two: Affliction Must Be Received by All Sons in the Right Way (v. 9)
Three: Affliction Yields Many Spiritual Benefits for All Sons (vv. 10-11)
I can’t wait to open the Word of our Father with you this Sunday!
I love you dearly,
Mike
Announcements:
New Members Class:
Hello Church Family! It has been a very long time since we have been able to host a meal at the end of a new members’ class, but March 13th all that changes! We are so excited to show love and hospitality to our visitors and new members! In the past we have put together a taco salad bar and it worked so well we are planning the same for the 13th. Is this something that you would be interested in helping put together? The class runs from 2pm-6pm Sunday, March 13th. There are a few ways to help… Sign up to provide food (there will be a sign up sent out church wide by email); Help set up the day of the meal, this includes setting up coffee and water for breaks during the class (2pm-6pm); Help serve during the meal (6pm-7pm); Help clean up after the meal (7pm-8pm). If you would like to be part of any part of this event get in touch with S’ine Trent or Erica McNeese.
We are so excited to host Vacation Bible School June 6-8 with a fellowship dinner June 9. If you have any interest in helping, please swing by and see us THIS Sunday in the hallway outside the fellowship hall at 10:15. You do not have to commit to helping at this time. Come grab a bite to eat and see what our needs are so you can take time to decide if/how you want to be involved. We will have a list of volunteer opportunities for you to look over. Thank you for your love of our children! We look forward to seeing you Sunday! Contact Amanda Dean or Erin Bower for more info!
Youth Group:
Below you will find the Winter/Spring dates for youth group, which meets at 4:30 PM at the church house.
February 20th
March 6th
March 27th
April 3rd
April 24th
May 1st
May 22nd
Senior Fellows:
On March 1 at 9 AM the Senior Fellows will have breakfast and fellowship in the fellowship hall. Please email us at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org if you plan to join us.
Senior Sisters:
The Senior Sisters is a group of 50s and up women similar to the Senior Fellows who will meet for food, fellowship, and ministry. The next meeting will be at 10:30 AM on March 17. Please contact Kathy Hightower, Kathy Cooper, or Suellen Dempsey for more information regarding their next meeting and how you can help.
Women’s Ministry:
Quarterly Potluck: There will be a potluck dinner at the home of Cheryl Johnson on February 22 at 6 PM. Please sign up HERE if you would like to attend or bring a dish.
Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on March 3 beginning at 11 AM at the Timbers Edge Clubhouse located at 1 Timbers Main, Brownsboro. It’s potluck – feel free to bring a dish or just yourself.
Winter Bible Studies: Winter bible studies have resumed! The Tuesday study for mothers meets at 9:30 AM at the church. Contact Amy Schnorrenberg for more info. The Wednesday women’s studies meet at 10 AM and 6 PM at the church. Contact Denise Scrip for more info.
Men’s Ministry:
Please join our Friday Men’s Lunchtime Bible Study on Fridays at 11:30 AM.
For ten weeks, we will be studying the life of our Lord as guided by pastor and theologian Dr. Mark Jones in his book Knowing Christ. Dr. Jones takes the readers on a survey of the many aspects of our Lord’s life as revealed to us in the New Testament. We will cover subjects such as Christ’s incarnation, divinity, humanity, compassion, emotions, sinlessness, miracles, temptations, resurrection, exaltation, and many others.
All the men of CPC and guests are invited to join us as we get to know our Savior better!
Career/Singles:
Career/Singles meet on Sundays at the Daughtry home at 5:30 PM.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Janie Green, Bob Crossley (Pat Galecki’s Dad), Glen Mettler, Jean Terry, Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, and Elizabeth Holton. For additional details about these prayer needs, please check Healing Prayer Requests Expecting: Please pray for the Elliotts, expecting in March; the Jacksons, expecting in June; the Thornhills, expecting in August. Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.
Online Donations:
If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:
“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.”
Psalm 51:15
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Psalm 51 is one of the better known Psalms and chapters in all of Holy Scripture. It was, of course, penned by David in the horrific aftermath of his sin with Bathsheba. One Old Testament commentator has noted that this penitential Psalm springs from the king’s “blackest moment of self-knowledge, yet it explores not only the depths of his guilt but some of the farthest reaches of salvation.”
The inspired words quoted above from verse 15 suggest to us that David’s guilt, which he now understood with more penetrating clarity than imaginable, had pressed him into silence. We gain even greater insight into this unnatural silence when we consider the words of Psalm 38:13-14, which were also written by David in a similar context:
“But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth. I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.”
All sins, especially of such nature as that committed by David, rob us of the ability to do the very thing which we were designed and created to do. It spoils one of the primary duties and privileges that we do not share with other creatures made by God; that of sounding our Father’s praise with our mouths.
Scripture teaches us that the praise of our sovereign and all-gracious God was mankind’s first assignment, daily responsibility, and ultimate destiny. Yet, due to our fall in the Garden of Eden, we’ve imposed a ‘gag order’ on ourselves. We’ve been shamed into silence. No longer is praise easy or ‘natural.’ It is, in one very real way, a matter of warfare.
Perhaps this is initially witnessed in the Garden episode of Genesis 3. There Adam and Eve hid from the presence of the Lord, being very careful not to make the slightest sound so as to expose their location and their heart-penetrating guilt.
What’s even more distressing is that sin’s power to silence praise is still operative even in the lives of those who have been redeemed by God’s grace. David, of course, was just such a man whose heart had been re-created by God’s life-giving Spirit. We rightly refer to him as one of ‘the Old Testament saints.’ Yet, when his sin became known and God broke his heart in the confrontation with the prophet Nathan, David’s mouth fell quiet. An awful spiritual paralysis overtook him, guilt swallowed him up, his joy was lost, his hope shattered, his vocal chords calcified, and Israel’s greatest king became terribly familiar with the silencing consequences of his transgressions.
David would sound a similar note in Psalm 32:3, also a penitential Psalm:
“For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.”
As we seek our encouragement from Psalm 51 today, let us first make one very significant observation:
David’s loss of the ability to praise the Lord was actually a signal of the genuineness of his faith.
Those who have never believed upon Christ Jesus are not broken in this way over their sins. Rather than falling silent under the heavy hand of the Spirit’s conviction, the unredeemed man or woman announces their innocence, blames others, justifies or excuses their actions, and continues to cover their guilt with an abundance of deceptive words.
In stark contrast to this, a heart that has been brought under the power of the Spirit and born again ultimately becomes “broken and contrite” before the holiness and majesty of God (v. 17), and it follows Job’s lead in declaring:
“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth” (Job 40:4).
In this case, silence is the ‘sound’ of repentance! Silence indicates that the guilty sinner is sensing the power of God’s Word to drill down even “to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Yet, there is something very encouraging here as well.
While Psalm 51 is a case-study in the proper response to our sins (vv. 1-6), it also reveals the pathway to regaining our primary purpose in life, that of declaring the praise of our Holy God at all times and in all seasons (vv. 7-13).
When our hearts are broken by our sin and guilt, when we have experienced the convicting power of the Word as applied by the Spirit, when we recognize and admit that we have failed to do as our Father has commanded, we should eventually, and by faith alone, emerge from the silence and cry out to the One who loves us and whose Son has already fully paid for our sins! And our faith-empowered cry for mercy, one which runs counter to our tendency to remain in the silence which sin produces, should be modeled after David’s supplication in Psalm 51:
“Purify me”
“Wash me”
“Make me to hear joy and gladness”
“Create in me a clean heart”
“Renew a steadfast spirit within me”
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation”
Such a prayer will be answered, every time!
And the result is not only a fresh awareness of the infinite grace of Jesus, but the liberation of our tongues to announce the Good News of salvation (v. 13), to joyfully sing of His righteousness (v. 14), and to declare His praise to all the world without fear (v. 15).
When it comes confession and praise, silence in never golden!
Let us ask our Father to open our mouths today with the assurance of His infinite mercy! Let us praise Him from broken and contrite hearts that are of precious value to Him! Let us use our voices not only to confess our sins, but to confess His greatness and majesty! And because the tomb of our Savior is empty, let us not remain a silent people!
You are my joy and my heart’s desire, and I love you all dearly!
Without a doubt, one of the most vexing questions we all face in life (if not the greatest of all) is, ‘Why do we suffer?’
This gnawing perplexity confronts the believer and unbeliever alike. Why are our lives, and the lives of those we dearly love, so often characterized by affliction and pain in both body and soul? Why do some of the most dedicated Christians we know seem to suffer the most? Does our suffering indicate that we have committed a sin and are now enduring the punishment that fits the crime? Has our Father forsaken us, forgotten us, or withdrawn His love?
Every generation of Christians has raised these same questions. This is why the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews addresses the subject of affliction in such detailed fashion in Hebrews 12:1-11.
On Sunday we will begin our journey through these verses, and we will seek to understand what we might call ‘The Blessed Paradox of Affliction.’ I encourage you to prayerfully mediate upon this passage, and pray that our Father will bless the proclamation of His Word as we gather before Him in worship.
Missions Report from Franky and Alaina Garcia
It will be our great joy to receive a missions report from Rev. Franky Garcia in worship this Sunday. Franky and Alaina serve the Lord in the Canadian capitol of Ottawa, where he is completing his residency as Assistant Pastor of Church Planting at Resurrection Church. We look forward to learning more about their work and how we might pray specifically for them as they prepare to plant a church in eastern Canada.
I love you all so very much!
Mike
Announcements:
Second Sunday Lunch:
Church Family,
Please join us for our February Second Sunday Fellowship meal after worship, February 13th. We will serve a luxurious BBQ baked potato bar with pulled pork, smoked turkey and lots of toppings. Drinks and a spread of desserts as well. Everyone is welcome to stay and eat! Click HERE to sign up if you’d like to bring something to help with the meal.
Sincerely in Christ,
Denise Brown
Family Forum:
We wanted to send you a reminder regarding our upcoming Family Forum ministry event at Christ Presbyterian Church. The last day to sign up for the event will be today Friday, February 11th! Are you in need of childcare during the event? Please contact us (email below) for any assistance you might need in order to attend the forum.
Our family forum is an opportunity for our church members to consider various topics on Christian discipleship, family, marriage, and parenting. Our sessions for this forum will orbit around the topic of parenting and sexuality. We will consider Biblical wisdom and guidance for parenting in an age of sexual chaos, promote awareness of helpful literature and resources for talking to your children and teens about sex and sexuality, and devote some time to discussion and Q/A.
While the forum will be directly helpful to parents, the event will be informative and useful to any who have a present or future interest in the discipleship of children. Please consider this opportunity as you consider your role as a parent, grandparent, or your general commitment to the nurture of covenant children in our fellowship!
The event begins at 5:30pm with an optional fellowship dinner preceding the sessions. If you choose to forgo the dinner, the form will begin at 6:15. The cost of the forum is free. For the dinner, a $10 (per person) donation is encouraged to help us offset the cost of food.
We are in the beginning stages of VBS planning. If you have any interest in helping, please join us Feb 20 at 10:15 in the hallway outside the fellowship hall for information on our needs. We are not asking for commitments at this time; simply showing you our plans and needs so that you can begin praying for VBS, the students, and volunteers and also praying and thinking through how you can be involved. Spoiler: there are ways to help even if you cannot be at VBS. We are excited for this amazing opportunity for our children to learn and grow and we look forward to sharing that excitement and vision with you! PS, there will be light breakfast food!
Youth Group:
Below you will find the Winter/Spring dates for youth group, which meets at 4:30 PM at the church house.
February 13th (Superbowl Fellowship and Games)
February 20th
March 6th
March 27th
April 3rd
April 24th
May 1st
May 22nd
Senior Fellows:
On February 17 at 10 AM Glen Mettler will give his Life Story/Testimony in the Church Fellowship Hall. A Chili Lunch will follow Glen’s presentation. Church members and friends are invited to hear Glen and have lunch with us. Please email us at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org if you plan to join us.
Senior Sisters:
A new ministry has started for women at Christ Presbyterian. The Senior Sisters is a group of 50s and up women similar to the Senior Fellows who will meet for food, fellowship, and ministry. The next meeting will be at 10:30 AM on February 17. Please contact Kathy Hightower, Kathy Cooper, or Suellen Dempsey for more information regarding their next meeting and how you can help.
Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on March 3 beginning at 11 AM at the Timbers Edge Clubhouse located at 1 Timbers Main, Brownsboro. It’s potluck – feel free to bring a dish or just yourself.
Winter Bible Studies:
Winter bible studies have resumed! The Tuesday study for mothers meets at 9:30 AM at the church. Contact Amy Schnorrenberg for more info. The Wednesday women’s studies meet at 10 AM and 6 PM at the church. Contact Denise Scrip for more info.
Men’s Ministry:
Please join our Friday Men’s Lunchtime Bible Study on Fridays at 11:30 AM.
For ten weeks, we will be studying the life of our Lord as guided by pastor and theologian Dr. Mark Jones in his book Knowing Christ. Dr. Jones takes the readers on a survey of the many aspects of our Lord’s life as revealed to us in the New Testament. We will cover subjects such as Christ’s incarnation, divinity, humanity, compassion, emotions, sinlessness, miracles, temptations, resurrection, exaltation, and many others.
All the men of CPC and guests are invited to join us as we get to know our Savior better!
Career/Singles:
Career/Singles meet on Sundays at the Daughtry home at 5:30 PM.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Bob Crossley (Pat Galecki’s Dad), Mark Kreitzer (Markus Kreitzer’s Dad), Glen Mettler, Jean Terry, Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, and Elizabeth Holton. For additional details about these prayer needs, please check Healing Prayer Requests Expecting: Please pray for the Elliotts, expecting in March; the Jacksons, expecting in June; the Thornhills, expecting in August. Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.
Online Donations:
If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God . . . .” Psalm 42:1-2
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Back in the early 1990’s as I was investigating and embracing Reformed and Covenant theology (what we Presbyterians love to call ‘Biblical truth’!), I experienced not only a theological renaissance in terms of the great doctrines of justification by faith alone and of God’s gracious sovereignty in salvation, but also in my understanding of the nature and glory of public worship. I’m ashamed to admit that prior to that time, even as a pastor, I had fallen into the belief that corporate worship on the Lord’s Day was more or less a ‘pep-rally’ for the saved, a time to pump up and entertain the saints (and to attract the unchurched). The public service of worship was, in my defective view, a mechanism for the creation of excitement in the church, and for keeping the members of the church motivated to be there in support of the many programs that our fellowship offered. After all, we had to keep up with, if not outpace, what other local churches in our area were offering. We dare not suffer any of our people departing our membership for greener pastures elsewhere!
All of that changed for me as our Father graciously and tenderly broke my heart with His Word, placed me in His ‘school of affliction,’ and began to show me the purpose of His Church and the goal, glory, power, and indispensable nature of public worship.
I bring all of this to your attention today because public worship is the setting for Psalm 42, the first psalm in Book Two of the Psalter (Psalms 42-72). It was penned long ago by the sons of Korah, and has as its central focus the thirst-quenching power of temple worship in Jerusalem (vv. 2, 4).
What this psalm teaches us is that something amazing should happen as we worship together as the body and bride of Christ. And it suggests that what does, in fact, happen in corporate worship is totally unique and does not and cannot occur or be experienced in any other context!
Now, to be sure, in corporate worship on Sundays we gather together in the presence of our King, which is impossible to do if we don’t actually gather together! And we share in the Sacraments, the two essential ‘means of grace’ that Jesus Himself committed to the Church that we may only participate in as a gathered community.
But there is something else that only happens among the great “throng” and “multitude” (v. 4) who appear together on the Lord’s Day. And it is set forth in the opening lines of this magnificent psalm:
It is only as we worship together as the one body of Christ that we have our spiritual thirst quenched!
We worship corporately, in other words, because we are thirsty for that which only our Sovereign Lord can grant us. And He has committed Himself to quenching this thirst as we come before Him each Lord’s Day.
This is not at all to imply that our private times of worship, prayer, and Scripture reading are fruitless, for such daily disciplines are essential to faithful Christian discipleship. Rather, it means that something unique occurs when we come together as one body, gathered together because we are united to Christ, with one mind and one heart seeking our Lord, and reaching up to Him out of a corporate thirst that only His Word to us and His presence with us can satisfy!
All of this is to say that our deepest spiritual longings are designed to be satisfied as we “appear before God” together (v. 2). What drives us to worship is our shared thirst, our panting for the Lord, “the living God” (v.2). Worship, then, is really for those who are thirsty for the Lord!
Frankly, there are likely as many motives for attending or neglecting Sunday worship as there are people! But in this psalm we learn that, above all, it is especially in our corporate encounter with our Lord that we find ourselves fulfilled, increasingly sanctified, more completely unified, better equipped as servants of His Kingdom, and more and more re-created in the image of the One who has loved us eternally!
On this new Monday we need to ask the Spirit of the Lord to make us pant for Christ, to make us deeply thirsty for the nourishing waters that He alone can give, and to lead us to faithfully come “to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise” (v. 4). Our purpose in assembling is not performative, not to entertain, not to attract other believers to our programs or style of worship, but to seek together the spiritual water that our Lord alone gives!
Perhaps our morning prayer should be, ‘Dear Lord, keep me thirsty for You. For only as I thirst for You with my brothers and sisters will we all be satisfied and Your Holy Name glorified.’
This Sunday, the Lord willing, we will resume our series of messages from the Epistle to the Hebrews. Our text will be Hebrews 12:1-3.
Interestingly enough, just yesterday the Winter Olympic Games began. And I mention this because this is what was on the mind of the author of Hebrews as he sought to exhort his readers to greater faithfulness to Christ, especially in light of the persecution many of them were suffering at the time.
In these verses he speaks of the Christian life in athletic terms, or ‘Olympic’ terms, if you will. We are to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (v. 1). The original readers of this letter were very familiar with the Olympic Games. The featured event was the pentathlon, which included a road race covering almost three miles. It is this grueling race, an excruciating combination of both speed and endurance, that is in view here in Hebrews 12:1.
As we all know, running such a race successfully requires much from the athlete. And this is the very truth that is applied to the Christian’s life in this passage. On Sunday we will learn much about the race we are in, and what must characterize our lives if we are to compete for God’s glory.
I love you all so very much!
Mike
Announcements:
Family Forum:
We wanted to send you a reminder regarding our upcoming Family Forum ministry event at Christ Presbyterian Church. The last day to sign up for the event will be Friday, February 11th. Are you in need of childcare during the event? Please contact us (email below) for any assistance you might need in order to attend the forum.
Our family forum is an opportunity for our church members to consider various topics on Christian discipleship, family, marriage, and parenting. Our sessions for this forum will orbit around the topic of parenting and sexuality. We will consider Biblical wisdom and guidance for parenting in an age of sexual chaos, promote awareness of helpful literature and resources for talking to your children and teens about sex and sexuality, and devote some time to discussion and Q/A.
While the forum will be directly helpful to parents, the event will be informative and useful to any who have a present or future interest in the discipleship of children. Please consider this opportunity as you consider your role as a parent, grandparent, or your general commitment to the nurture of covenant children in our fellowship!
The event begins at 5:30pm with an optional fellowship dinner preceding the sessions. If you choose to forgo the dinner, the form will begin at 6:15. The cost of the forum is free. For the dinner, a $10 (per person) donation is encouraged to help us offset the cost of food.
We are in the beginning stages of VBS planning. If you have any interest in helping, please join us Feb 20 at 10:15 in the hallway outside the fellowship hall for information on our needs. We are not asking for commitments at this time; simply showing you our plans and needs so that you can begin praying for VBS, the students, and volunteers and also praying and thinking through how you can be involved. Spoiler: there are ways to help even if you cannot be at VBS. We are excited for this amazing opportunity for our children to learn and grow and we look forward to sharing that excitement and vision with you! PS, there will be light breakfast food!
Youth Group:
Below you will find the Winter/Spring dates for youth group, which meets at 4:30 PM at the church house.
February 13th (Superbowl Fellowship and Games)
February 20th
March 6th
March 27th
April 3rd
April 24th
May 1st
May 22nd
Senior Fellows:
On February 17 at 10 AM Glen Mettler will give his Life Story/Testimony in the Church Fellowship Hall. A Chili Lunch will follow Glen’s presentation. Church members and friends are invited to hear Glen and have lunch with us. Please email us at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org if you plan to join us.
Senior Sisters:
A new ministry has started for women at Christ Presbyterian. The Senior Sisters is a group of 50s and up women similar to the Senior Fellows who will meet for food, fellowship, and ministry. Please contact Kathy Hightower, Kathy Cooper, or Suellen Dempsey for more information regarding their next meeting and how you can help.
Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on March 3 beginning at 11 AM at the Timbers Edge Clubhouse located at 1 Timbers Main, Brownsboro. It’s potluck – feel free to bring a dish or just yourself.
Winter Bible Studies:
Winter bible studies have resumed! The Tuesday study for mothers meets at 9:30 AM at the church. Contact Amy Schnorrenberg for more info. The Wednesday women’s studies meet at 10 AM and 6 PM at the church. Contact Denise Scrip for more info.
Men’s Ministry:
Beginning on Friday February 4, 2022 our Friday Men’s Lunchtime Bible Study will resume.
For ten weeks, we will be studying the life of our Lord as guided by pastor and theologian Dr. Mark Jones in his book Knowing Christ. Dr. Jones takes the readers on a survey of the many aspects of our Lord’s life as revealed to us in the New Testament. We will cover subjects such as Christ’s incarnation, divinity, humanity, compassion, emotions, sinlessness, miracles, temptations, resurrection, exaltation, and many others.
All the men of CPC and guests are invited to join us as we get to know our Savior better!
Career/Singles:
Career/Singles meet on Sundays at the Daughtry home at 5:30 PM.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Bob Crossley (Pat Galecki’s Dad), Mark Kreitzer (Markus Kreitzer’s Dad), Glen Mettler, Jean Terry, Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, and Elizabeth Holton. For additional details about these prayer needs, please check Healing Prayer Requests Expecting: Please pray for the Elliotts, expecting in March; the Jacksons, expecting in June; the Thornhills, expecting in August. Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.
Online Donations:
If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link: