And the world wonders why....

"With our hands lifted high and the world wonders why- we'll just tell them we're loving our King- Oh we'll tell them we're loving our King" ( a song from the worship time this morning)

Hey today I write with my heart filled with joy and sadness. First of all the joy- This morning I worshipped the Lord together with my brothers and sisters at the Nigerian Church in Wichita- The Redeemed Christian Church of God. What a blessing to share this experience with my parents, 2 sisters, and good friend Staci. The preaching was powerful and the music so beautiful and worshipful. They truly live like they believe Psalm 16:11

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
They truly rejoice in the presence of the Lord. =0)

Some thoughts from this mornings teaching
Sunday School

* We have been called by God to do a special assignment
* He's the boss! He asks for hunility and faithfulness as we serve Him for His glory!
* God will accomplish His plan with or without us. If we won't do it- someone else will. Elijah thought he was the last faithful man- God told him their were 7,000 more faithful followers of God in Israel.
* Don't ever think "I am the only one God can use in this position." For every Elijah their is an Elisha, every Moses a Joshua, and for the Eli's theirs a Samuel- If you won't follow God in everything he can use even a child who listens to God's voice to replace you.
*Will I be obedient or does God need to look for a replacement?
* Do your God-given assignment with joy, right from the heart!

The pastor dynamically shared the joy of the resurrection in His sermon from I Corinthians 15. Oh the hope that we who have faith in Christ share- not only for this life- but for the life to come!
"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
One day we will all be changed and be with the Lord forever!!
Speaking of our hope of Heaven and exalting His name together was so great! They even prayed for me as I go to Nigeria and do the assignment God has called me to do there. What an honor to be prayed for by this family of God!! My heart was filled with joy!

After church we went to the hospital where my parents visited a man from our home church (61) who was just diagnosed with terminal cancer. Apart from a miracle from God he has 6 months to live. And while we were there we heard that our friend- Doug Pearce (24) went to be with the Lord this morning. He had been battling cancer for a year. The e-mail his parents sent to the church this morning included this verse from I Corinthians 15:54

" Death has been swallowed up in victory."
It makes me wonder how God can handle the joys and sadnesses of this broken world he sent his Son to redeem. This morning a new life was celebrated during baby dedication. Also this morning- a dear man breathed his last breath on this earth. Rejoicing and sorrow in the body of Christ. The world wonders why we can still praise God. It's because of the hope we have through the work of Jesus Christ. For the believer death is not the end, it's the beginning of an eternity with Jesus Christ, Amen.

As I think about this joy and hope that we have in this life and the next-I know it does make the world wonder. How can we be filled with such joy? We are just loving our King. How can we have hope in the midst of sadness? Our hope is in a Risen Savior who had victory over death!

"With our hands lifted high and the world wonders why- we'll just tell them we're loving our King- Oh we'll tell them we're loving our King"
Let's praise the King of Kings! One day those of us who he's redeemed will see Him face to face.
(one day soon I hope)